TraitLab Pro vs. HIGH5: Multi-Framework vs. Free Strengths
HIGH5 is the budget-friendly alternative to CliftonStrengths — a free strengths assessment that identifies your top 5 from 38 themes, with paid team packages starting at $19 per employee. If your only goal is strengths-based team building on a tight budget, HIGH5 is hard to argue with. It even includes facilitation guides and presentation decks. The tradeoff is scope: HIGH5 measures strengths and only strengths. No Big Five personality traits, no Enneagram, no working style or interpersonal style data. TraitLab Pro costs more ($24-49 per assessment) but covers all of those in a single sitting — and grounds everything in the Big Five, the most validated personality framework in psychology.
Quick Verdict
Choose TraitLab Pro if you need personality data beyond strengths — Big Five traits, working style, interpersonal dynamics, Enneagram, and Jungian typology — for coaching or multi-dimensional team development.
Choose HIGH5 if you want a free-to-start, strengths-focused team exercise with built-in facilitation materials and the lowest possible per-person cost.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Assessment
| TraitLab Pro | HIGH5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Personality Model | Big Five + established frameworks (Enneagram, Jungian, RIASEC) | Proprietary strengths model — 38 strength themes grouped into four domains (Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, Strategic Thinking) |
| Traits/Dimensions Measured | Customizable: Personality Traits, Strengths, Working Style, Interpersonal Style, Jungian Typology, Enneagram Typology | 38 strengths; results show top 5 (free) or full ranking (paid) |
| Scientific Basis | Peer-reviewed, research-validated instruments | Based on positive psychology principles; proprietary framework refined through continuous testing; not independently validated in peer-reviewed literature |
| Customizability | Mix-and-match assessment areas; compact 20-min option | Fixed strengths assessment; no customization of what is measured |
Personality Model
TraitLab Pro
Big Five + established frameworks (Enneagram, Jungian, RIASEC)
HIGH5
Proprietary strengths model — 38 strength themes grouped into four domains (Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, Strategic Thinking)
Traits/Dimensions Measured
TraitLab Pro
Customizable: Personality Traits, Strengths, Working Style, Interpersonal Style, Jungian Typology, Enneagram Typology
HIGH5
38 strengths; results show top 5 (free) or full ranking (paid)
Scientific Basis
TraitLab Pro
Peer-reviewed, research-validated instruments
HIGH5
Based on positive psychology principles; proprietary framework refined through continuous testing; not independently validated in peer-reviewed literature
Customizability
TraitLab Pro
Mix-and-match assessment areas; compact 20-min option
HIGH5
Fixed strengths assessment; no customization of what is measured
Implementation
| TraitLab Pro | HIGH5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Model | Fully self-serve; free account creation | Fully self-serve; free individual assessment; paid team features |
| Certification/Training Required | None | None; optional certified HIGH5 coach network available |
| Time to First Assessment | Minutes (sign up, purchase credits, send link) | Minutes (free assessment, no purchase required) |
| ATS/HR System Integration | No | No |
| Scalability | Any scale; credit-based, no minimums | Any scale; team packages with per-employee pricing; minimum 3 members for team analytics |
Setup Model
TraitLab Pro
Fully self-serve; free account creation
HIGH5
Fully self-serve; free individual assessment; paid team features
Certification/Training Required
TraitLab Pro
None
HIGH5
None; optional certified HIGH5 coach network available
Time to First Assessment
TraitLab Pro
Minutes (sign up, purchase credits, send link)
HIGH5
Minutes (free assessment, no purchase required)
ATS/HR System Integration
TraitLab Pro
No
HIGH5
No
Scalability
TraitLab Pro
Any scale; credit-based, no minimums
HIGH5
Any scale; team packages with per-employee pricing; minimum 3 members for team analytics
User Experience
| TraitLab Pro | HIGH5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment Duration | 10-60 min (customizable); 20 min compact option | 15-20 minutes |
| Device Support | Mobile and desktop | Mobile and desktop |
| Question Format | Short multiple choice | Series of questions/prompts (no time limit) |
| Results Delivery | Instant, digital, self-serve for both test taker and admin | Instant; free report shows top strength; paid upgrades show full profile and team analytics |
| Admin Portal | Yes — view, compare, manage all results | Team dashboard with culture map, strengths grid, facilitation guides, and team contributions analysis |
Assessment Duration
TraitLab Pro
10-60 min (customizable); 20 min compact option
HIGH5
15-20 minutes
Device Support
TraitLab Pro
Mobile and desktop
HIGH5
Mobile and desktop
Question Format
TraitLab Pro
Short multiple choice
HIGH5
Series of questions/prompts (no time limit)
Results Delivery
TraitLab Pro
Instant, digital, self-serve for both test taker and admin
HIGH5
Instant; free report shows top strength; paid upgrades show full profile and team analytics
Admin Portal
TraitLab Pro
Yes — view, compare, manage all results
HIGH5
Team dashboard with culture map, strengths grid, facilitation guides, and team contributions analysis
Pricing
| TraitLab Pro | HIGH5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per-assessment credits; transparent, published pricing | Freemium: free individual assessment; paid team packages |
| Entry Price | $49/assessment (1 credit) | Free (individual top strength); Team "Discover" package at $19/employee |
| Volume Price | $24/assessment (100+ credits) | Higher-tier team packages available (pricing not fully public) |
| Annual Minimums/Subscriptions | None | No minimums for free tier; team packages are per-employee one-time |
| Hidden Costs | None | Full individual reports and advanced team features require paid upgrades |
| Free Tier/Trial | Free account; credits required for assessments | Free individual strengths assessment with top strength revealed |
Pricing Model
TraitLab Pro
Per-assessment credits; transparent, published pricing
HIGH5
Freemium: free individual assessment; paid team packages
Entry Price
TraitLab Pro
$49/assessment (1 credit)
HIGH5
Free (individual top strength); Team "Discover" package at $19/employee
Volume Price
TraitLab Pro
$24/assessment (100+ credits)
HIGH5
Higher-tier team packages available (pricing not fully public)
Annual Minimums/Subscriptions
TraitLab Pro
None
HIGH5
No minimums for free tier; team packages are per-employee one-time
Hidden Costs
TraitLab Pro
None
HIGH5
Full individual reports and advanced team features require paid upgrades
Free Tier/Trial
TraitLab Pro
Free account; credits required for assessments
HIGH5
Free individual strengths assessment with top strength revealed
Use Case Fit
| TraitLab Pro | HIGH5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-employment Screening & Hiring | Not supported | Not supported (explicitly states should not be used for hiring) |
| Employee Development & Team Building | Primary | Primary |
| Leadership Development & Succession Planning | Secondary | Secondary |
| Coaching & Professional Development | Primary | Primary |
Pre-employment Screening & Hiring
TraitLab Pro
Not supported
HIGH5
Not supported (explicitly states should not be used for hiring)
Employee Development & Team Building
TraitLab Pro
Primary
HIGH5
Primary
Leadership Development & Succession Planning
TraitLab Pro
Secondary
HIGH5
Secondary
Coaching & Professional Development
TraitLab Pro
Primary
HIGH5
Primary
Key Differences
HIGH5's Advantages
-
Free individual assessment eliminates all cost barriers for initial adoption
-
Very low team pricing ($19/employee for Discover package) vs. $24-49 for TraitLab Pro
-
Ready-made facilitation guides and presentation decks for team workshops included
-
Team Culture Map and Strengths Grid provide visual team-level analysis
-
Team Contributions feature shows how individual strengths complement the group
-
Strengths-positive framing is inherently encouraging and team-friendly
TraitLab Pro's Advantages
-
Research-validated Big Five framework vs. proprietary strengths taxonomy without independent peer-reviewed validation
-
Much broader assessment scope — personality traits, working style, interpersonal style, Enneagram, Jungian typology, and career interests, not just strengths
-
Dimensional measurement provides granular personality data beyond ranked strength themes
-
Customizable assessment configuration vs. fixed strengths-only assessment
-
Admin portal allows cross-framework comparison, not just strengths visualization
-
Single integrated assessment covers multiple frameworks in one sitting
HIGH5
Strengths
-
Free entry point makes adoption frictionless — individuals can try before any organizational purchase
-
Team analytics with culture maps, strengths grids, and contribution analysis are well-designed for workshop facilitation
-
Built-in presentation decks and facilitator guides reduce prep time for team building sessions
-
Explicit stance against using assessments for hiring aligns with responsible assessment use
-
Strengths-positive framing creates psychologically safe team discussions
Weaknesses
-
Measures only strengths — no personality traits, working style, career interests, or typology frameworks
-
Proprietary strengths model without independent validation in peer-reviewed research
-
Free tier reveals only one strength, creating pressure to upgrade for useful team data
-
Limited to a single framework — no Big Five, Enneagram, or other complementary perspectives
-
Less established than CliftonStrengths, which it closely resembles, potentially creating credibility concerns
The Bottom Line
HIGH5 excels at one thing: making strengths-based team building accessible to anyone with zero budget. The free assessment, $19 team packages, and ready-made workshop materials remove every adoption barrier. But strengths are only one lens on personality. Coaches and HR professionals who need to understand how someone handles conflict, what drives their working style, or where they fall on Big Five dimensions will not find that data in HIGH5. TraitLab Pro fills that gap — six frameworks from one assessment, built on peer-reviewed science. The two tools can even complement each other: HIGH5 for a quick strengths workshop, TraitLab Pro for the deeper development conversation.
See What TraitLab Pro Measures
Six validated personality frameworks from a single 20-minute assessment. No certification required.