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Free PLS-SEM software, with fsQCA built in

Build your structural equation model by drawing it, then get measurement and structural results, mediation, moderation and fuzzy-set QCA in one place. Every table is ready for your thesis or journal article.

Open the app Try it with sample data
Data never leaves your device Nothing to install Exports to Word and Excel

Created by Bibin Xavier · How to cite

0.351***0.224***0.181***0.440***0.211*** PEEETRBIUB R² = 0.413R² = 0.241 PE × TR
A moderated mediation model estimated in PLS-SEM Studio with 5,000 bootstrap subsamples.
What you can do

Everything a PLS-SEM study needs

The complete partial least squares structural equation modeling workflow, from data screening to publication-ready tables, without writing code.

Measurement model

Loadings, weights, Cronbach's alpha, ρA, composite reliability, AVE, HTMT, Fornell–Larcker and cross-loadings, with every threshold flagged.

Structural model

Path coefficients with bootstrapped t, p and confidence intervals, R², f², VIF, SRMR and hypothesis decisions.

Mediation analysis

Specific, total and serial indirect effects, found automatically and classified by mediation type.

Moderation analysis

Two-stage interaction terms, simple slopes, slope plots, conditional indirect effects and the index of moderated mediation.

fsQCA

Calibrate latent variable scores, test necessity, build the truth table and get complex, parsimonious and intermediate solutions.

Exports that save hours

Word, Excel, HTML, CSV, LaTeX and JSON, a 300 dpi path diagram, and a drafted methods paragraph.

How it works

From survey data to results in four steps

01

Load your data

Drop in a CSV or Excel file. Descriptive statistics, skewness and kurtosis appear right away.

02

Draw the model

Items named like TR1, TR2, TR3 are grouped into constructs with one click. Then draw arrows from causes to effects.

03

Run the analysis

Estimation, bootstrapping, blindfolding and PLSpredict run in the background in seconds.

04

Export and write

Download the tables and the figure, copy the methods paragraph, and add fsQCA if your study calls for it.

Visual model builder

Build the model by drawing it, not coding it

You do not need to learn syntax. Constructs are created from your item names, paths are drawn with two clicks, and moderators are added by choosing the path they change.

  • One-click grouping of items into constructs
  • Draw, move and erase paths directly on the canvas, with undo
  • Reflective and formative constructs side by side
  • Mediation routes listed live as you draw
  • A text editor for those who prefer lavaan-style syntax
Visual PLS-SEM model builder with construct list and a drawn path model
Reporting

Results that follow current reporting guidelines

Every table follows Hair, Hult, Ringle and Sarstedt (2022) and is flagged against common thresholds, so you can see at a glance what passes and what needs attention.

Reliabilityα, ρA, ρC between 0.70 and 0.95
Convergent validityAVE of at least 0.50
Discriminant validityHTMT below 0.85 or 0.90, with CIs
CollinearityIndicator and inner VIF below 3
Effect sizef² of 0.02, 0.15 and 0.35
PredictionQ² and PLSpredict against LM
PLS-SEM path coefficient table with bootstrapped t values, p values, confidence intervals and f² effect sizes
Configurational analysis

fsQCA on your latent variable scores

Many journals now ask authors to complement PLS-SEM with fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Here it takes one more click, using the construct scores you just estimated.

  • Direct calibration with percentile or theory-based anchors
  • Necessity analysis with consistency, coverage and relevance
  • Truth table with frequency, consistency and PRI cut-offs
  • Complex, parsimonious and intermediate solutions
  • Configuration chart with core and peripheral conditions

Read the fsQCA tutorial →

Publication-ready PLS-SEM path diagram with loadings, path coefficients and R² values
Compared

A free alternative to desktop PLS-SEM software

PLS-SEM Studio covers the analyses most theses and journal articles report, in the browser, at no cost.

What you needPLS-SEM StudioTypical desktop PLS software
PriceFreePaid licence or limited free tier
InstallationNone, runs in the browserDownload and install
Data privacyData stays on your deviceLocal
Measurement and structural modelIncludedIncluded
Mediation and moderationIncluded, with automatic mediation typesIncluded
PLSpredict and SRMRIncludedIncluded in most
fsQCA on latent variable scoresBuilt inSeparate software needed
Word, Excel and LaTeX tablesOne clickVaries
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is PLS-SEM Studio really free?

Yes. Every feature is free with no trial period, no account and no limits on sample size, number of constructs or bootstrap subsamples. It runs entirely in your web browser.

Is my data uploaded to a server?

No. Your data file is read and analysed inside your browser tab. Nothing is sent to our server, so you can analyse confidential survey data safely. Closing the tab clears it unless you save a project file to your own computer.

Is this a free alternative to SmartPLS?

For the core PLS-SEM workflow, yes: reflective and formative measurement models, reliability and validity, HTMT, bootstrapping, mediation, moderation, PLSpredict and model fit. Importance-performance map analysis (IPMA and cIPMA) and necessary condition analysis (NCA) are available as separate free tools on FreeStatisticalTools.com. Commercial packages such as SmartPLS offer further methods, for example multigroup analysis, CTA-PLS, higher-order construct wizards and endogeneity tests. PLS-SEM Studio adds fsQCA on the latent variable scores, which most PLS tools do not include.

Which PLS-SEM results does it report?

Outer loadings and weights, indicator VIF, Cronbach's alpha, rho_A, composite reliability (rho_C), AVE, Fornell–Larcker, HTMT with confidence intervals, cross-loadings, path coefficients with t and p values, R², adjusted R², f², inner VIF, SRMR, total effects, blindfolding Q² and PLSpredict with a linear-model benchmark.

How do I test mediation?

Draw the paths of your mediation model, for example X → M → Y and X → Y. The app finds every indirect route, including serial and parallel mediation, tests it with bootstrap confidence intervals and classifies the result as complementary, competitive, indirect-only, direct-only or no effect (Zhao, Lynch and Chen, 2010).

How do I test moderation?

In the model builder, choose a moderator and the path it changes. The interaction term is created with the two-stage approach. You get the interaction effect, its f², simple slopes at one standard deviation below and above the mean, a simple slope plot and, where relevant, conditional indirect effects with the index of moderated mediation.

What is fsQCA and why combine it with PLS-SEM?

Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) finds combinations of conditions that lead to an outcome, while PLS-SEM estimates the net effect of each predictor. Running fsQCA on the PLS latent variable scores shows several equifinal paths to the outcome and is increasingly expected in management, marketing, tourism and information systems journals.

Which file formats can I use?

Import CSV, TSV, TXT, XLSX, XLS and ODS files. Export all tables to Excel, Word (.docx), HTML, CSV and LaTeX, the full results to JSON, the latent variable scores to CSV and the path diagram to SVG or 300 dpi PNG.

How many bootstrap subsamples should I use?

Use 5,000 subsamples for final results, as recommended by Hair et al. (2022). 500 or 1,000 are fine for a quick first look. A typical model with 300 cases finishes 5,000 subsamples in well under a minute.

How do I cite PLS-SEM Studio?

Please cite the software and the website whenever you use it in research: Xavier, B. (2026). PLS-SEM Studio: Free PLS-SEM and fsQCA software [Web application]. https://freestatisticaltools.com/pls-sem/ A BibTeX entry is provided in the How to cite section of the home page.

Who created PLS-SEM Studio?

PLS-SEM Studio was created by Bibin Xavier as part of FreeStatisticalTools.com, a collection of more than 90 free statistical tools. You can connect with him on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/bibinxavier.

What is the difference between PLS-SEM and CB-SEM?

PLS-SEM builds constructs as weighted composites and maximises explained variance in the outcomes, so it suits prediction, complex models, formative constructs and smaller samples. CB-SEM estimates common factors and tests how well the model reproduces the covariance matrix, with fit indices such as CFI, TLI and RMSEA. If you need CB-SEM or a confirmatory factor analysis, use the free CB-SEM and CFA tools on FreeStatisticalTools.com.

Can I clean and recode my data before running PLS-SEM?

Yes. The free data cleaning and coding tool on FreeStatisticalTools.com lets you set variable types and value labels, reverse-code items, handle missing values and remove duplicates, then download a clean CSV to open here.

Does it work on Mac, Windows, Linux and tablets?

Yes. Any modern browser works, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari on desktop, laptop and tablet. A larger screen is more comfortable for building diagrams.

How to cite

Please cite PLS-SEM Studio in your research

The tool is free because researchers support it by citing it. Whenever you use PLS-SEM Studio for a thesis, article, conference paper or report, please cite the software and this website.

APA 7

Xavier, B. (2026). PLS-SEM Studio: Free PLS-SEM and fsQCA software [Web application]. FreeStatisticalTools.com. https://freestatisticaltools.com/pls-sem/

BibTeX 

@software{xavier_plssem_2026,
  author = {Xavier, Bibin},
  title = {{PLS-SEM Studio}: Free {PLS-SEM} and {fsQCA} Software},
  publisher = {FreeStatisticalTools.com},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://freestatisticaltools.com/pls-sem/},
  note = {Web application}
}

Suggested sentence for your methods section: “The model was estimated with PLS-SEM Studio (Xavier, 2026), available at https://freestatisticaltools.com/pls-sem/.” Created by Bibin Xavier.

More free tools

Free tools for the rest of your SEM study

PLS-SEM Studio is part of FreeStatisticalTools.com. These tools cover the analyses that usually sit around a PLS-SEM model, from data preparation to covariance-based SEM.

Data Cleaning and Coding ToolSet variable types, recode and reverse-code items, handle missing data CB-SEM: Structural Equation Modeling OnlineCovariance-based SEM with CFI, TLI, RMSEA and SRMR Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) OnlineConfirmatory factor analysis with standardized loadings Reliability and Validity AnalysisCronbach's alpha, CR, AVE, HTMT and Fornell–Larcker HTMT Calculator for Discriminant ValidityDiscriminant validity from your item data Harman’s Single Factor Test for Common Method BiasCheck common method bias Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA)Importance-performance map analysis Combined Importance-Performance Map Analysis (cIPMA)Combined IPMA with necessary condition analysis Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) OnlineNecessary condition analysis with ceiling lines Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling (MASEM)Meta-analytic SEM from correlation matrices Mediation Analysis CalculatorPROCESS-style mediation with bootstrap CIs Moderation Analysis CalculatorInteractions, simple slopes and Johnson–Neyman

Start your PLS-SEM analysis now

Free, private and ready in seconds. Bring a CSV or Excel file, or explore the sample study first.

Open the app Read the PLS-SEM tutorial