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Machine Learning · head to head

IBM SPSS vs Milvus

IBM SPSS logo

IBM SPSS

Machine Learning

Statistical analysis software for data science

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Milvus logo

Milvus

Machine Learning

Open-source vector database for scalable similarity search

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IBM SPSS add-on packages are priced separately from the base subscription, and the promotional 45% discount on them excludes renewals; Milvus vector dimensions are capped at 32,768
  • They diverge on capability: IBM SPSS covers Statistical analysis, Milvus covers Billion-scale vectors.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IBM SPSS and Milvus actually diverge.

Attributes where IBM SPSS and Milvus differ
AttributeIBM SPSSMilvus
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsLinux, Mac, WindowsLinux, Mac, Windows, Web
Founded19112017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Machine Learning).

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 IBM SPSS

  • Statistical analysis
  • Predictive modeling
  • Data visualization
  • Survey analysis
  • Decision trees
  • Python
  • R
  • Excel

Only in Milvus

  • Billion-scale vectors
  • Multiple index types
  • GPU acceleration
  • Hybrid search
  • Data partitioning
  • PyTorch
  • TensorFlow
  • Hugging Face

Both cover

  • Linux support
  • Mac support
  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

IBM SPSS

  • Statistical testing and regression analysis for academic and market researchnot Milvus
  • Predictive modelling and forecasting without writing codenot Milvus

Milvus

  • Self hosting a vector database for semantic searchnot IBM SPSS
  • Storing and querying embeddings for retrieval augmented generationnot IBM SPSS
  • Similarity search over images, audio or text at scalenot IBM SPSS

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

IBM SPSS

  • Add-on packages are priced separately from the base subscription, and the promotional 45% discount on them excludes renewals
  • Subscription cost renews at the then current price at the end of the first year, so the advertised rate applies to the first term only
  • Prices shown are described by IBM as indicative, vary by country and exclude applicable taxes and duties
  • Extended access periods of 12 months or more are handled as tailored pricing rather than a published rate
  • Advanced statistics, custom tables, decision trees and forecasting are separate add-ons rather than part of the base product

Milvus

  • Vector dimensions are capped at 32,768
  • A collection is limited to 64 fields, 1,024 partitions and 16 shards
  • Only 1 index is allowed per field
  • Search returns at most 16,384 vectors as top-k, and nq is capped at 16,384
  • Input and output per RPC is capped at 64 MB for insert, search and query
  • VARCHAR values are limited to 65,535 characters
  • Data loaded into query nodes cannot exceed 90% of available memory
  • An instance supports at most 65,536 collections

Pricing, plan by plan

IBM SPSS

Free
  • TrialFree
    • 14-day trial
    • Full features
  • Base$99/month
    • Core statistics
    • Data management

Milvus

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full features
    • Self-hosted
    • Community support
  • Zilliz CloudFree
    • Managed service
    • Free tier available

Which should you pick?

Choose IBM SPSS if

  • You need statistical analysis.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Mac, Windows.
  • You also want predictive modeling.
IBM SPSS review

Choose Milvus if

  • You need billion-scale vectors.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Mac, Windows, Web.
  • You also want multiple index types.
Milvus review

Questions people ask

Is IBM SPSS or Milvus better?
Neither clearly leads. IBM SPSS starts at Free and Milvus at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IBM SPSS or Milvus?
IBM SPSS starts at Free and Milvus at Free.
Does IBM SPSS or Milvus run on more platforms?
IBM SPSS runs on Linux, Mac, Windows. Milvus runs on Linux, Mac, Windows, Web.
Can I use IBM SPSS for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is IBM SPSS best used for?
IBM SPSS is most often used for statistical testing and regression analysis for academic and market research, predictive modelling and forecasting without writing code. Of those, statistical testing and regression analysis for academic and market research and predictive modelling and forecasting without writing code are not what Milvus is typically brought in for.
What can IBM SPSS do that Milvus cannot?
IBM SPSS covers Statistical analysis, Predictive modeling, Data visualization, Survey analysis. Milvus covers Billion-scale vectors, Multiple index types, GPU acceleration, Hybrid search. Both handle Linux support, Mac support, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Milvus: How much does Milvus cost?

Milvus is open-source and free to use and modify. The self-hosted version has no licensing cost. Zilliz Cloud (the managed SaaS version) does not publish pricing on the website.

Source
Milvus: Is there a free or open-source version of Milvus?

Yes, Milvus is fully open-source and available for free. Milvus Lite is a lightweight option for learning and prototyping that can be installed via pip.

Source
Milvus: Does Milvus offer a managed cloud service?

Yes, Zilliz Cloud is a fully managed Milvus cloud offering with serverless and dedicated cluster options. Pricing must be requested from the company as it is not listed on the public website.

Source
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