PLS-SEM in R
lavaan does covariance-based SEM, not PLS-SEM — for PLS in R you use a different package such as cSEM or seminr, written in code. R is the free gold standard, but it is script-based. Explonia runs the same standard PLS-SEM algorithm in the browser, so on the same data and settings the output is directly comparable.
How PLS-SEM is actually done in R
A common point of confusion: lavaan does not do PLS-SEM. lavaan is for covariance-based SEM (CB-SEM) and CFA. For partial least squares SEM you use a different package:
- seminr — a readable syntax for specifying measurement and structural models, then estimating with the PLS algorithm and bootstrapping.
- cSEM — a broader composite-SEM package with the PLS estimator and many advanced procedures.
You define constructs, indicators and paths in code, run the estimator, then bootstrap for confidence intervals and read loadings, AVE, CR, rho_A, HTMT, path coefficients, R², f² and Q².
Why R is great — and why it is friction
R is the free gold standard: open, transparent, fully reproducible, and what we check Explonia's covariance-based analyses against. The friction is that it is code-based — you write and debug syntax, manage packages and versions, and a typo can silently change a model. For researchers who do not live in R, that is a real barrier between collecting data and getting trustworthy estimates. Data collection also happens in a separate tool.
How Explonia does it
Explonia runs PLS-SEM with the same standard PLS algorithm and bootstrapping, on a visual canvas in the browser — no package management and no syntax. You get the full measurement-model and structural-model output (loadings/weights, AVE, CR, rho_A, HTMT, paths with bootstrap CIs, R², f², Q²). It is the same algorithm, so on the same data and settings the output is directly comparable; bootstrap CIs are stochastic, so they vary slightly between runs. See validation. The “Article description” drafts a first APA paragraph from your estimates.
Note one honest limit: advanced PLS steps such as PLS-MICOM are not live in Explonia — R packages and SmartPLS lead there.
Reference table
| In R | In Explonia |
|---|---|
| lavaan (does NOT do PLS-SEM) | Use the PLS-SEM analysis, not CB-SEM |
| seminr / cSEM model in code | Draw constructs and paths on a canvas |
| bootstrap() for confidence intervals | Bootstrap confidence intervals built in |
| Read loadings, AVE, CR, HTMT, paths | Same output on screen |
Frequently asked questions
Can lavaan do PLS-SEM?
No. lavaan does covariance-based SEM and CFA, not partial least squares SEM. For PLS-SEM in R you use a different package such as seminr or cSEM.
Is R more accurate than Explonia for PLS-SEM?
No — it is the same standard algorithm, so on the same data and settings the output is directly comparable. PLS-SEM has no exact open-source R reference, so we check it for internal consistency; our CB-SEM, CFA and reliability results are checked against the R gold standard. We aim to match R, not beat it. Bootstrap confidence intervals are stochastic and vary slightly between runs in either tool.
What does Explonia not do that R packages do?
Advanced PLS procedures such as PLS-MICOM (measurement invariance of composites) are not live in Explonia. cSEM in R and SmartPLS lead on those steps.
How to cite this page
If this page helped your research, you can cite it (APA 7):
Szymkowiak, A. (2026). How to Do PLS-SEM in R (lavaan Can't). Explonia. https://explonia.com/migrate/pls-sem-in-r/
Last updated: June 2026
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