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Personality tests and type models compared

There is no best personality test. Every model answers one particular question well, and the same model gives you little to work with when you ask it something else.

This page puts seven models side by side: Big Five, MBTI, 16Personalities, DISC, CliftonStrengths, Wealth Dynamics and CORE Types. For each one you'll see what it describes, what it costs, which languages it comes in and where it stops. Our own included.

One thing up front, because it explains the whole table: these models aren't interchangeable. The Big Five describe a person in general. CORE Types asks the narrowest question, namely your role in your own company. The other models sit somewhere in between.

The matrix

Model What it describes Result Built for Time Cost Language Where it stops
Big Five (OCEAN) 5 personality dimensions as continuous traits Scores per dimension, no types Research, general self-knowledge Depends on the questionnaire; NEO-PI-3 5 to 30 minutes according to the publisher1 IPIP questionnaires in the public domain2; BFI-2 free for non-commercial research3; NEO-PI-3 kit $473, ordering requires proof of qualification1 English; German BFI-2 available3 No official consumer test; describes the person in general and gives no recommendation for action
MBTI 4 preference pairs; according to the publisher explicitly not traits, ability or character4 Four-letter type code such as ESTJ Self-reflection, team language, development About 45 minutes including type verification5 $59.95 (MBTIonline)5 English; questionnaire in German and other languages through certified practitioners6 Not intended for selecting job candidates, according to the publisher7
16Personalities 5 scales; by its own account based on the Big Five, without Jungian functions8 Five-character code such as INFJ-T General public, low-threshold entry About 10 minutes9 Test free; Premium Career Suite €2910 English, German and other languages11 Not the official MBTI, even though the letters suggest it5
DISC Behavioural style in communication and collaboration; according to a Wiley partner not intelligence, aptitude, mental health or values12 Profile across 4 dimensions Teams, leadership, sales Not stated on the provider pages we checked persolog Persönlichkeits-Profil questionnaire €85.90 incl. VAT, full profile from €114.0513; Everything DiSC Workplace profile €449 excl. VAT (German distributor)14 English, German1314 Describes how someone communicates, not which role they should take in the business
CliftonStrengths 34 talent themes in 4 domains Ranking of themes, Top 5 or all 34 Development, coaching, higher education About 30 minutes15 Top 5 $24.99, all 34 $59.9916 English, German and other languages17 Built for development, not selection, according to Gallup18; a ranking of 34 themes doesn't make a decision for you
Wealth Dynamics 8 profiles on 4 base frequencies, plus a fifth frequency called Spirit19 Profile, path to wealth, role models Entrepreneurs; organisations through Talent Dynamics20 Under 10 minutes according to the provider21 Test $9721; add-ons $106 to $99522; free short version "Genius Test"20 English; German version unknown Describes a career path, not a role decision in the running business
CORE Types 4 types: Constructor, Operator, Rainmaker, Explorer; 16 hybrid profiles from primary and secondary type, plus intensity; with CORE Dynamics your values profile23 Type profile with role suggestions; in your personal CORE profile 16 sections with next-hire profile and actions for 7, 30 or 90 days24 Entrepreneurs and their coaches, focus on owners of small agencies and consultancies QuickCheck about 15 minutes, assessment for your personal CORE profile about 30 minutes24 QuickCheck free (today via the waitlist); CORE Navigator with your personal CORE profile and Sprints & Checklists €247 plus VAT, one-time25 English and German Shows only your side, not a team diagnostic; doesn't screen candidates; says nothing about offer, pricing or market; young product without a large community26

How to read the matrix

Trait or type. The Big Five give you a score on a scale for each dimension. Every other model in the table sorts you into a type, a profile or a ranking. A type is easier to remember and easier to talk about. A score tells you how close you sit to the line with the neighbouring type. Both have their place; just know which one you're looking at.

Who a model was built for shapes the answer. MBTI, DISC and CliftonStrengths were designed for development and collaboration. Wealth Dynamics and CORE Types were built for entrepreneurs but ask different questions: Wealth Dynamics asks about your path to wealth over a whole career, CORE about your role in the company you run today.

None of these results is made for selecting applicants. Gallup and the MBTI publisher say so themselves, and CORE doesn't screen candidates either. More on that below.

The second matrix: values, pressure and two people

The matrix above shows what a model describes and what it costs. It leaves out two questions owners ask all the time: what happens to me when things get tight, and what does that mean for working as a pair?

Model Values Behaviour under pressure Two people
Big Five (OCEAN) No ranking of personal values; the NEO facet "Values" under Openness describes the readiness to re-examine beliefs27 Neuroticism describes how strongly someone reacts to strain, not what they then do No two-person report in the PAR catalogue1
MBTI No; sorts preferences4 Descriptions of how the processes show up under extreme stress; derived from the type, not measured separately28 Comparison Report: Work Styles for two people, $47, certified practitioners only29
16Personalities No The Identity scale (Assertive or Turbulent) describes how easily someone is affected by pressure8 A "Sample Relationship Analysis" page exists; scope and price couldn't be checked30
DISC No; values explicitly excluded according to a Wiley partner12 Not described on the provider pages we checked Everything DiSC Comparison Report for two participants, at no extra charge for participants31
CliftonStrengths No; the Belief theme shows whether someone is guided by firm values, but Gallup doesn't say which ones32 Not described on the provider pages we checked Partnership Insights in Gallup Access for everyone with a result33
Wealth Dynamics No; "value" in the official eGuide means value created in the market34 Not described in the eGuide; the Flow Factor is a separate state test34 Team workshop from 5 people35; Talent Dynamics for organisations20
CORE Types and CORE Dynamics Yes; the values profile shows which values guide your decisions day to day36 Stress shift: which values take over when things get tight, with concrete countermeasures36 Each person takes their own profile and you put both side by side; there is no joint duo profile today37

What the second matrix shows

Several providers offer a two-person report. CORE doesn't, today. MBTI, Everything DiSC and CliftonStrengths each have a report for two people. They compare preferences, communication style or talents and are meant for people who already work together. With CORE, you put two individual profiles side by side. You see where you both want to do the same work and which seat stays empty. Who decides what, you settle in conversation; the seat map for co-founder duos gives you a template.

Values and pressure together. Among the provider information we checked, only CORE links a values profile to the question of what shifts under pressure. The other models have a different purpose, so this isn't an oversight on their part. If you want to know how you communicate, you don't need a values profile.

Cost at a glance

Model Free entry Full version
Big Five Yes, freely usable questionnaires (IPIP public domain, BFI-2 for non-commercial research) NEO-PI-3 kit $473, proof of qualification required
MBTI No $59.95 (MBTIonline)
16Personalities Yes €29 for the Premium Career Suite
DISC No persolog from €85.90 incl. VAT; Everything DiSC Workplace profile €449 excl. VAT (German distributor)
CliftonStrengths No $24.99 for Top 5, $59.99 for all 34
Wealth Dynamics Yes, the short "Genius Test" $97
CORE Types Yes, QuickCheck with no payment details, today via the waitlist personal CORE profile €247 plus VAT, one-time

Prices as of 26 October 2026, in each provider's own currency and not converted. 16Personalities shows prices in different currencies depending on region.

Which model for which question

Your question Model that fits
How am I wired as a person in general? Big Five
How do I come across in conversations, and why does my team talk past each other? DISC; more in DISC tells you how your client communicates
What are my talents, and how do I develop my team? CliftonStrengths; more in Gallup StrengthsFinder for founders
How do we find a shared language for self-reflection in the team? MBTI or 16Personalities
What is my natural path as an entrepreneur, and who are my role models? Wealth Dynamics
Which role suits me in my own company, and what do I hand over? CORE Types
What happens to me when things get tight, and which values guide my decisions? CORE Dynamics
How do we improve how we work together as an existing pair? Everything DiSC, MBTI or CliftonStrengths; each has a two-person report
Who do I hire, and who not? None of these results; see below

Where the models stop

When it comes to selecting applicants, several providers draw a clear line themselves.

Gallup is the most direct: CliftonStrengths "was calibrated for development" and is "not calibrated for selection", and Gallup doesn't support using it in a selection context.18 The MBTI publisher writes that the instrument "is not intended for use in selection of job candidates".7 For DISC, a Wiley partner writes that the model doesn't measure aptitude.12

CORE Types isn't a selection tool either. CORE doesn't screen candidates, not even with the next-hire profile. The next-hire profile describes the complement you're missing, so you can define the role more precisely before you start looking.38 More in Generic personality tests don't deliver a hiring decision.

The detailed comparison

Further reading: the four CORE Types, CORE Dynamics, our methodology and the FAQ. If you want to see whether CORE fits you before paying anything, secure your spot for the free QuickCheck.

FAQ

Which personality test is free?

The Big Five questionnaires from the IPIP are in the public domain, and the BFI-2 is free for non-commercial research. The basic 16Personalities test is free, as are the short "Genius Test" from Wealth Dynamics and the CORE QuickCheck, for which you secure a spot through the waitlist today. MBTI, DISC and CliftonStrengths have no free official version. The MBTI publisher points out that free look-alike tests online don't use the official instrument.

How long does each personality test take?

According to the providers, 16Personalities takes about 10 minutes and Wealth Dynamics under 10 minutes. CliftonStrengths takes about 30 minutes. MBTIonline takes about 45 minutes including the step where you confirm your type. For the NEO-PI-3, the publisher gives 5 to 30 minutes. The CORE QuickCheck takes about 15 minutes and your personal CORE profile about 30. The DISC provider pages we checked don't state a time.

Which personality test shows how I behave under stress?

Hardly any of them measure it directly. The Big Five describe through Neuroticism how strongly someone reacts to strain, but not what they then do. 16Personalities covers something similar with its Identity scale. The MBTI describes how the processes show up under extreme stress, but derives this from the type. For DISC, CliftonStrengths and Wealth Dynamics, we found no stress model on the provider pages. CORE Dynamics shows which values lead day to day and which take over when things get tight, and gives you countermeasures.

Is there a personality test for two people?

Yes, several. Everything DiSC has a Comparison Report for two participants at no extra charge for participants. Gallup offers Partnership Insights in Gallup Access. The MBTI has the Comparison Report: Work Styles, which only certified practitioners can order. These reports are meant for people who already work together. With CORE Navigator, each person takes their own profile and you put both side by side; there is no joint duo profile today.

Which personality test can I use for hiring decisions?

For several models in this comparison, the provider itself says no. Gallup writes that CliftonStrengths is built for development, not selection. The MBTI publisher writes that its instrument isn't intended for selecting job candidates. CORE Navigator doesn't screen candidates either. Where a profile helps is before you search: you work out which complement you're missing and define the role more precisely.

What is the difference between a type model and a trait model?

A trait model such as the Big Five describes you with scores on several scales, without putting you in a group. A type model such as MBTI, 16Personalities, Wealth Dynamics or CORE Types assigns you a type or profile. Types are easier to remember and to discuss in a team. Scales show how pronounced a trait is. CORE Types takes something from both: you get a primary and a secondary type, plus the intensity, meaning how strongly you live your type.

Sources

All retrieved on 2026-10-26 unless stated otherwise. Wealth Dynamics is a registered trademark of Genius Group Limited.

Footnotes

  1. PAR, NEO-PI-3: lowest kit price "NEO-PI-3 Print Administration Kit with Score Reports: Normative Update" $473.00, administration time "5 to 30 minutes", qualification level "S"; report catalogue with Score Reports, Interpretive Reports, NEO Feedback Summary and NEO Professional Development Report, no report for two people. Source ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. International Personality Item Pool: "The items and scales are in the public domain". Source ↩

  3. Berkeley Personality Lab, BFI-2: freely available for non-commercial research, commercial use on request. Source. German version: Danner, Rammstedt et al., GESIS ZIS 247. Source ↩ ↩2

  4. Myers & Briggs Foundation: "The MBTI assessment sorts for preferences; it does not measure traits, ability, skill, or character." Source ↩ ↩2

  5. MBTIonline, price $59.95; "The assessment and best-fit type verification process takes about 45 minutes."; on free tests: "none of them actually uses the official MBTI assessment". Source ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  6. The Myers-Briggs Company, Language availability: MBTI Step I questionnaire in German among other languages. Source ↩

  7. The Myers-Briggs Company, MBTI Facts: "The MBTI® assessment is not intended for use in selection of job candidates". Source ↩ ↩2

  8. 16Personalities, Our Theory: "we have not incorporated Jungian concepts such as cognitive functions", rebalanced Big Five; five aspects Mind, Energy, Nature, Tactics, Identity; Identity describes how easily someone is affected by pressure. Source ↩ ↩2

  9. 16Personalities, home page: "Only 10 minutes". Source ↩

  10. 16Personalities, Premium Career Suite "€ 29" when retrieved on 2026-10-26; the currency shown depends on region. Source ↩

  11. 16Personalities, German version: Source ↩

  12. DiSC Profiles 4U (Wiley Authorized Partner): "DiSC® evaluates aspects of your personality, excluding measures of intelligence, aptitude, mental health, or values." Source ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  13. persolog shop: "persolog® Persönlichkeits-Profil Fragebogen (IN107)" €85.90, "persolog® Persönlichkeits-Profil (IN100)" from €114.05, both incl. VAT plus shipping. Source ↩ ↩2

  14. disg-modell.de, Workplace profile (sold in the German shop as "Everything DiSG") €449.00 excl. VAT. Source ↩ ↩2

  15. Gallup, CliftonStrengths: "During this 30-minute assessment, you'll see paired statements". Source ↩

  16. Gallup, CliftonStrengths Top 5 "$24.99", CliftonStrengths 34 "$59.99". Source ↩

  17. Gallup, availability by language, German for assessment and reports. Source ↩

  18. Kristin Barry, Gallup, webcast of 16 October 2019: "the CliftonStrengths assessment was calibrated for development", "it's not calibrated for selection", "Gallup really doesn't encourage or support or defend its use in a selection context." Source ↩ ↩2

  19. Wealth Dynamics eGuide (official), pp. 22 to 39. Source. Details in the CORE Types and Wealth Dynamics comparison. ↩

  20. GeniusU, Talent Dynamics for organisations since 2009; "The Genius Test is a free 'light' version of the Wealth Dynamics and Talent Dynamics tests". Source ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  21. wealthdynamics.geniusu.com, "$97", "Under 10 Minutes". Source ↩ ↩2

  22. GeniusU shop, "Wealth Dynamics 5.0 Assessment" with add-on packages from $106 to $995. Source ↩

  23. core-navigator.com, FAQ "What does CORE stand for in CORE Navigator?" and FAQ "Can my CORE Type change?". ↩

  24. core-navigator.com, FAQ "What do I get from the free CORE Navigator QuickCheck?", FAQ "What does CORE Navigator include beyond the free QuickCheck?" and FAQ "How long does the CORE Navigator QuickCheck take?". ↩ ↩2

  25. core-navigator.com, FAQ "How much does CORE Navigator cost?". ↩

  26. core-navigator.com, FAQ "What are CORE Navigator's limits for decisions about tasks and hiring?". ↩

  27. The NEO facet "Values" under Openness describes the readiness to re-examine social, political and religious beliefs. On the distinction between personality traits and personal values: Roccas, S., Sagiv, L., Schwartz, S. H. & Knafo, A. (2002). The Big Five personality factors and personal values. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(6), 789-801. Source ↩

  28. Myers & Briggs Foundation, Type Dynamics: Processes: "Under extreme stress, such as illness, fatigue, physical or psychological trauma, and major life transitions, the inferior process may emerge without conscious intention". Source ↩

  29. The Myers-Briggs Company (Asia-Pacific shop): "The MBTI® Form M Comparison Report: Work Styles is a 13 page narrative report designed for two people", "$47.00", "You must be certified to purchase Restricted products." Source ↩

  30. 16Personalities, "Sample Relationship Analysis". Source. The page builds its content in the browser; only the name is confirmed. ↩

  31. Wiley authorized partner: Comparison Report "can be created for any two participants to illustrate their similarities and differences", "participants get unlimited access, at no additional charge". Source ↩

  32. Gallup, Belief: people with this theme hold enduring core values; Gallup doesn't assign specific values to the theme. Source ↩

  33. Gallup, "Partnership Insights are built into Gallup Access for every CliftonStrengths user." Source ↩

  34. Wealth Dynamics eGuide, full-text check: "pressure" doesn't appear, "stress" only as a benefit; "value" in the economic sense of WEALTH = VALUE x LEVERAGE; Flow Factor as a separate assessment. Source ↩ ↩2

  35. GeniusU, Team Dynamics Workshop, "Team of 5 people - $2,500". Source ↩

  36. core-navigator.com, CORE Dynamics page with stress shift and counter-moves. ↩ ↩2

  37. core-navigator.com, FAQ "We're two founders and we decide too slowly. What does CORE Navigator give us?". ↩

  38. core-navigator.com, FAQ "Can I use CORE Navigator to select applicants?". ↩