The Best App for Teaching Statistics & How to Switch – Software designed for teachers & students to improve upon RStudio, SPSS, and siblings

This report evaluates various statistical software options for teaching, focusing on the transition from SPSS to more modern, open-source alternatives. The analysis includes a detailed comparison of several R-based graphical user interfaces (GUI's), highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in an educational context. Key Findings: JASP and jamovi emerged as the leading open-source and R-based choices for those who prefer not to face the steeper learning curve of RStudio. JASP and jamovi offer a comprehensive, modern feature set, strong community support, robust usability and accessibility features, and rapid development that integrates new and updated methods quickly. Qualitative Evaluation: The report also provides an in-depth review of Rcmdr, Rattle, R-Instat, RAF, RKWard, and BlueSky - highlighting BlueSky's move to a closed-source model and the implications for inclusiveness, reproducibility, and trust. Quantitative Ranking: Finally, a detailed ranking system was developed, considering release frequency, developer activity, user-friendliness, the availability of teaching materials, and more.