Software · head to head
Alteryx vs SAS
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Alteryx starter is $250 per user per month billed annually, and the Professional and Enterprise editions are quote-only; SAS sAS publishes no rate, no minimum and no named cost driver; the how to buy page offers only a customized price quote based on your requirements and deployment preferences
- They diverge on capability: Alteryx covers Data preparation, SAS covers Statistical analysis.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Alteryx and SAS actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Alteryx
- Data preparation
- Data blending
- Predictive analytics
- Spatial analytics
- Reporting
- Snowflake
- AWS
- Tableau
Only in SAS
- Statistical analysis
- Machine learning
- Forecasting
- Text analytics
- Optimization
- Hadoop
- Spark
- Cloud platforms
Both cover
- Python
- R
- Windows support
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Alteryx
- Data preparation and building AI-ready datasetsnot SAS
- Predictive analytics without writing codenot SAS
- Automating and orchestrating repeatable analytics workflowsnot SAS
- Enterprise reporting with governed, reusable logicnot SAS
- Connecting to Snowflake, Databricks and cloud warehouses alongside on-premises systemsnot SAS
SAS
- Regulated statistical analysis and clinical reportingnot Alteryx
- Enterprise data management, visualization and decisioning on one licensed platformnot Alteryx
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Alteryx
- Starter is $250 per user per month billed annually, and the Professional and Enterprise editions are quote-only
- Automation runs are metered, with 50 included on Starter and 15,000 on Professional, and more must be bought
- Cost depends on three separate dimensions at once: edition, user role and automation capacity
- Advanced analytics, governance and orchestration are withheld from the entry edition
SAS
- SAS publishes no rate, no minimum and no named cost driver; the how to buy page offers only a customized price quote based on your requirements and deployment preferences
- Most new and existing customers are routed through authorized resellers rather than buying direct
- Cloud marketplace purchases require choosing between pay as you go and bring your own licence, each with different licensing terms
Pricing, plan by plan
Alteryx
Free- TrialFree
- 14-day trial
- Full features
- Designer Desktop$5195/year
- Data prep
- Blending
- Analytics
SAS
Free- SAS OnDemand for AcademicsFree
- Academic use
- Core SAS
- SAS ViyaFree
- Full platform
- Cloud-native
- AI/ML
Which should you pick?
Choose Alteryx if
- You need data preparation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Web.
- You also want data blending.
Choose SAS if
- You need statistical analysis.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, Web.
- You also want machine learning.
Questions people ask
- Is Alteryx or SAS better?
- Neither clearly leads. Alteryx starts at Free and SAS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Alteryx or SAS?
- Alteryx starts at Free and SAS at Free.
- Does Alteryx or SAS run on more platforms?
- Alteryx runs on Windows, Web. SAS runs on Linux, Windows, Web.
- Can I use Alteryx for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Alteryx best used for?
- Alteryx is most often used for data preparation and building ai-ready datasets, predictive analytics without writing code, automating and orchestrating repeatable analytics workflows, enterprise reporting with governed, reusable logic. Of those, data preparation and building ai-ready datasets and predictive analytics without writing code are not what SAS is typically brought in for.
- What can Alteryx do that SAS cannot?
- Alteryx covers Data preparation, Data blending, Predictive analytics, Spatial analytics. SAS covers Statistical analysis, Machine learning, Forecasting, Text analytics. Both handle Python, R, Windows support, Web support.