SmartPLS 4 vs SAS CALIS
Research Speed vs Enterprise Syntax
Overview
SAS CALIS is a robust enterprise SEM procedure.
SmartPLS 4 emphasizes speed, clarity, and accessibility for academic projects, with CB‑SEM & PLS‑SEM in a single GUI.
SmartPLS 4 emphasizes speed, clarity, and accessibility for academic projects, with CB‑SEM & PLS‑SEM in a single GUI.
Why Institutions Choose SmartPLS
SmartPLS replaces enterprise PROC syntax with a visual, unified SEM platform, speeding onboarding and reducing support tickets.
Departments benefit from multi-method coverage and publication-ready outputs, aligning teaching and research deliverables.
Departments benefit from multi-method coverage and publication-ready outputs, aligning teaching and research deliverables.
Key Differences
| Feature | SmartPLS 4 | SAS CALIS |
|---|---|---|
| Method Coverage | CB-SEM and PLS-SEM (incl. PROCESS, GSCA, Regression, NCA) | CB-SEM |
| Interface | GUI based | script based |
| Usability | Modern GUI. Drag-and-drop modeling. | Code-centric (PROC) |
| Learning Curve | Low | High |
| Platform & OS Support | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux (mac via specific setups) |
| Licensing Model | Commercial license (academic/site options) | Commercial (enterprise) |
Sources (short)
- SmartPLS: https://www.smartpls.com
- Sas calis: https://documentation.sas.com
Note on comparability and sources
This comparison reflects SmartPLS 4.1.1.5 versus SAS/STAT PROC CALIS Viya Stable 2025.06 (docs current), as of 11 Oct 2025. The information is based on publicly available vendor/user documentation, release notes, and hands‑on use. Please include concrete version numbers and this as‑of date when citing. Product and brand names belong to their respective owners and are used for identification only.
