SPM
SPM is free, open-source desktop software for analyzing brain-imaging data from different cohorts and subject time series.
What SPM is
SPM is free, open-source desktop software for analyzing brain-imaging data from different cohorts and subject time series. Its current release is designed for fMRI, PET, SPECT, EEG, and MEG analysis. SPM provides statistical tests, regression models, Bayesian analysis, and scripting support for constructing and assessing spatially extended statistical processes. It imports NIfTI, Analyze, DICOM converted to NIfTI, OPM binary, TSV, JSON, FIF, and LVM data. The software is written in MATLAB and C and is licensed under GPL-2.0. Installation is recommended within MATLAB, with GNU Octave and a standalone edition available without a MATLAB license. Standalone SPM includes MATLAB Runtime, documented as requiring about 2.5 GB. Online tutorials, datasets, and courses support learning. Community extensions are available as toolboxes, utilities, batch systems, and templates, although compatibility and usability are not guaranteed. SPM 25.01 is listed as the latest version.
Good
- Free GPL-2.0 open-source software
- Supports fMRI, PET, SPECT, EEG, and MEG
- Statistical, regression, and Bayesian methods
- Scriptable analysis workflows
- Broad scientific data-format support
Watch out
- Standalone runtime requires about 2.5 GB
- MATLAB is the recommended installation
- Some community extensions may be incompatible
- Author responses on discussion lists are not guaranteed
Who it suits
It suits researchers and analysts working with neuroimaging or electrophysiology data on Linux, macOS, or Windows desktop systems.
Verdict
SPM provides a broad, scriptable toolkit for brain-imaging analysis across major modalities and formats. Users should account for installation choices, runtime storage, and the limits of community extensions.
Plans and prices
From SPM's own pricing page, checked 10 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| SPM | Free | Free and open-source neuroimaging software |
The facts
Each one read from SPM's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Bayesian analysis
- Yeschecked 25 Sep 2001
- Current release
- The software page lists SPM 25.01 as the latest version.checked 10 Oct 2001
- Data import formats
- NIfTI (.nii), Analyze (.hdr/.img), DICOM (converted to NIfTI), OPM binary/TSV/JSON, FIF and LVMchecked 25 Sep 2001
- Deployment
- desktopchecked 25 Sep 2001
- Development
- SPM development takes place on GitHub, where users can access development versions, report issues, request features and propose code changes.checked 10 Oct 2001
- Extensions
- Community-created extensions are listed as toolboxes, utilities, batch systems and templates, and the SPM developers disclaim responsibility for their usability and warn that some may be incompatible.checked 10 Oct 2001
- Implementation
- SPM is written in MATLAB and C.checked 10 Oct 2001
- Installation
- The recommended installation is within MATLAB; alternatives include GNU Octave and precompiled Standalone SPM without a MATLAB license.checked 10 Oct 2001
- Learning resources
- SPM provides online tutorials and datasets with instructions for analyzing them, and offers courses online and in person.checked 10 Oct 2001
- License
- SPM is open-source software available under the GPL-2.0 license.checked 10 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- SPM analyzes brain imaging data sequences, including images from different cohorts and time series from the same subject.checked 10 Oct 2001
- Regression models
- Yeschecked 25 Sep 2001
- Scripting support
- Yeschecked 25 Sep 2001
- Standalone runtime
- Standalone SPM includes the MATLAB Runtime, which the documentation says requires about 2.5 GB.checked 10 Oct 2001
- Statistical methods
- SPM implements methods for constructing and assessing spatially extended statistical processes to test hypotheses about functional imaging data.checked 10 Oct 2001
- Statistical tests
- Yeschecked 25 Sep 2001
- Support
- The SPM discussion list offers community discussion and help, but a response from an SPM author is not guaranteed because of resource limitations.checked 10 Oct 2001
- Supported modalities
- The current release is designed for fMRI, PET, SPECT, EEG and MEG analysis.checked 10 Oct 2001
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 25 Sep 2001
The company
- Maker
- The SPM site identifies the Functional Imaging Laboratory at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology in London, UK, and says the software is made by its members and collaborators.checked 10 Oct 2001
Where it runs
- Platforms
- SPM works on Windows, macOS and Linux.checked 10 Oct 2001
