Top of page
Skip to main content
Contact

Download SmartPLS officially and choose an appropriate license

Official SmartPLS download, trial, activation and project migration guidance.

Research softwarePrepared by Lê Minh2 min
Start reading

Install software from verifiable sources

  1. Official source

    Verify the developer

  2. License

    Choose an appropriate license

  3. Compatibility

    Check operating system and version

  4. Verification

    Open sample data and record the environment

Conceptual diagram. A downloadable file does not establish a right to use the software.

Source: Lê Minh · Conceptual illustration, not software output.

People seeking SmartPLS 3.3.3 may need to open an older project or learn PLS-SEM. First establish the required version and entitlement. A publicly shared installer does not prove that software is free forever or that a license is transferable.

Download from the developer

The SmartPLS download page supplies platform-specific installers, system requirements and release notes. Use this source rather than a repackaged archive. Ask support about availability and entitlement if an exact older release is necessary.

The current page focuses on SmartPLS 4. This does not require immediately migrating every older project. Keep a backup before opening a project in another version and consult compatibility guidance. Do not overwrite the only project copy while testing conversion.

Trial and licenses

The official trial policy describes a 30-day trial, limited to once per computer and requiring email confirmation. Recheck the conditions before registering. A time-limited trial differs from student or paid licensing; initial access does not imply unlimited free use.

For institutional access, ask the administrator about available licenses, seats and connection instructions. For individual access, inspect terms and scope through SmartPLS before purchasing. This article does not fix a price or promise perpetual rights for a third-party key.

Install and activate

  1. Check the platform, project-folder permissions and release requirements.
  2. Download from SmartPLS, install and choose a separate project workspace.
  3. Select trial or licensed activation as appropriate. The activation instructions describe Switch License and entering a valid key or institutional server.
  4. Open a sample project and confirm data import and saving. Do not use sensitive research data for installation testing.

Migrate and document the version

Preserve the original project, data and output. Compare model specification, missing-data treatment, algorithm and bootstrap settings. Investigate version differences through documentation rather than assuming the data are wrong.

Software comparisons should use release notes and current documentation. For example, SmartPLS 3 should not be described as lacking HTMT: the official HTMT documentation discusses its computation from version 3.2.1 onward. Report the exact version and settings used in a publication.