TraitLab Pro vs. Sigma: Modern Platform vs. Research Instruments
Sigma Assessment Systems publishes some of the most respected personality instruments in academic psychology — the Personality Research Form (PRF) and Jackson Personality Inventory-Revised (JPI-R) have decades of peer-reviewed validation behind them. TraitLab Pro builds on similarly established science (Big Five, Enneagram, Jungian typology) but packages it as a modern, self-serve platform designed for coaches, HR professionals, and team leads rather than clinical psychologists. The tradeoff here is between academic-grade individual instruments with deep research pedigrees and a unified platform that delivers six frameworks from a single assessment without professional qualification requirements.
Quick Verdict
Choose TraitLab Pro if you want accessible, multi-framework personality insights from one assessment without professional qualification barriers — especially for team development and coaching.
Choose Sigma Assessment Systems if you are a psychologist or I/O consultant who needs specific research-grade instruments like the PRF or JPI-R for academic or clinical work.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Assessment
| TraitLab Pro | Sigma Assessment Systems | |
|---|---|---|
| Personality Model | Big Five + established frameworks (Enneagram, Jungian, RIASEC) | Multiple research instruments: Personality Research Form (PRF), Jackson Personality Inventory-Revised (JPI-R), Six Factor Personality Questionnaire (SFPQ), MEIA-R (emotional intelligence) |
| Traits/Dimensions Measured | Customizable: Personality Traits, Strengths, Working Style, Interpersonal Style, Jungian Typology, Enneagram Typology | PRF: 22 personality traits; JPI-R: 15 personality scales; SFPQ: six broad personality factors; MEIA-R: emotional intelligence facets |
| Scientific Basis | Peer-reviewed, research-validated instruments based on Big Five | Highly cited academic instruments; PRF and JPI developed by Douglas Jackson; extensive peer-reviewed validation |
| Customizability | Mix-and-match assessment areas; compact 20-min option | Fixed instruments; choose from portfolio based on assessment need |
Personality Model
TraitLab Pro
Big Five + established frameworks (Enneagram, Jungian, RIASEC)
Sigma Assessment Systems
Multiple research instruments: Personality Research Form (PRF), Jackson Personality Inventory-Revised (JPI-R), Six Factor Personality Questionnaire (SFPQ), MEIA-R (emotional intelligence)
Traits/Dimensions Measured
TraitLab Pro
Customizable: Personality Traits, Strengths, Working Style, Interpersonal Style, Jungian Typology, Enneagram Typology
Sigma Assessment Systems
PRF: 22 personality traits; JPI-R: 15 personality scales; SFPQ: six broad personality factors; MEIA-R: emotional intelligence facets
Scientific Basis
TraitLab Pro
Peer-reviewed, research-validated instruments based on Big Five
Sigma Assessment Systems
Highly cited academic instruments; PRF and JPI developed by Douglas Jackson; extensive peer-reviewed validation
Customizability
TraitLab Pro
Mix-and-match assessment areas; compact 20-min option
Sigma Assessment Systems
Fixed instruments; choose from portfolio based on assessment need
Implementation
| TraitLab Pro | Sigma Assessment Systems | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Model | Fully self-serve; free account creation | Purchase through SigmaTesting.com platform; qualifications may be required |
| Certification/Training Required | None | Some instruments require professional qualifications (psychology background) |
| Time to First Assessment | Minutes (sign up, purchase credits, send link) | Order and setup through SigmaTesting platform; qualification verification if needed |
| ATS/HR System Integration | No | No (focused on assessment delivery, not hiring workflow) |
| Scalability | Any scale; credit-based, no minimums | $50 minimum purchase; scales through credit purchases |
Setup Model
TraitLab Pro
Fully self-serve; free account creation
Sigma Assessment Systems
Purchase through SigmaTesting.com platform; qualifications may be required
Certification/Training Required
TraitLab Pro
None
Sigma Assessment Systems
Some instruments require professional qualifications (psychology background)
Time to First Assessment
TraitLab Pro
Minutes (sign up, purchase credits, send link)
Sigma Assessment Systems
Order and setup through SigmaTesting platform; qualification verification if needed
ATS/HR System Integration
TraitLab Pro
No
Sigma Assessment Systems
No (focused on assessment delivery, not hiring workflow)
Scalability
TraitLab Pro
Any scale; credit-based, no minimums
Sigma Assessment Systems
$50 minimum purchase; scales through credit purchases
User Experience
| TraitLab Pro | Sigma Assessment Systems | |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment Duration | 10-60 min (customizable); 20 min compact option | Varies by instrument: shorter questionnaires to comprehensive inventories |
| Device Support | Mobile and desktop | Online via SigmaTesting platform |
| Question Format | Short multiple choice | Varies by instrument: true/false, Likert scales, preference items |
| Results Delivery | Instant, digital, self-serve for both test taker and admin | Reports generated through SigmaTesting platform; professional interpretation recommended |
| Admin Portal | Yes — view, compare, manage all results | SigmaTesting dashboard for managing assessments and reports |
Assessment Duration
TraitLab Pro
10-60 min (customizable); 20 min compact option
Sigma Assessment Systems
Varies by instrument: shorter questionnaires to comprehensive inventories
Device Support
TraitLab Pro
Mobile and desktop
Sigma Assessment Systems
Online via SigmaTesting platform
Question Format
TraitLab Pro
Short multiple choice
Sigma Assessment Systems
Varies by instrument: true/false, Likert scales, preference items
Results Delivery
TraitLab Pro
Instant, digital, self-serve for both test taker and admin
Sigma Assessment Systems
Reports generated through SigmaTesting platform; professional interpretation recommended
Admin Portal
TraitLab Pro
Yes — view, compare, manage all results
Sigma Assessment Systems
SigmaTesting dashboard for managing assessments and reports
Pricing
| TraitLab Pro | Sigma Assessment Systems | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per-assessment credits; transparent, published pricing | Per-assessment through SigmaTesting.com; ~$26-30 USD/CAD per test |
| Entry Price | $49/assessment (1 credit) | ~$26-30/assessment |
| Volume Price | $24/assessment (100+ credits) | Volume pricing available; consulting services priced separately |
| Annual Minimums/Subscriptions | None | $50 minimum purchase |
| Hidden Costs | None (no training, certification, or consulting fees) | Consulting services (executive coaching, succession planning) are separate; professional qualification may be required |
| Free Tier/Trial | Free account; credits required for assessments | No free tier |
Pricing Model
TraitLab Pro
Per-assessment credits; transparent, published pricing
Sigma Assessment Systems
Per-assessment through SigmaTesting.com; ~$26-30 USD/CAD per test
Entry Price
TraitLab Pro
$49/assessment (1 credit)
Sigma Assessment Systems
~$26-30/assessment
Volume Price
TraitLab Pro
$24/assessment (100+ credits)
Sigma Assessment Systems
Volume pricing available; consulting services priced separately
Annual Minimums/Subscriptions
TraitLab Pro
None
Sigma Assessment Systems
$50 minimum purchase
Hidden Costs
TraitLab Pro
None (no training, certification, or consulting fees)
Sigma Assessment Systems
Consulting services (executive coaching, succession planning) are separate; professional qualification may be required
Free Tier/Trial
TraitLab Pro
Free account; credits required for assessments
Sigma Assessment Systems
No free tier
Use Case Fit
| TraitLab Pro | Sigma Assessment Systems | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-employment Screening & Hiring | Not supported | Secondary |
| Employee Development & Team Building | Primary | Secondary |
| Leadership Development & Succession Planning | Secondary | Primary (consulting services) |
| Coaching & Professional Development | Primary | Primary (for qualified professionals) |
Pre-employment Screening & Hiring
TraitLab Pro
Not supported
Sigma Assessment Systems
Secondary
Employee Development & Team Building
TraitLab Pro
Primary
Sigma Assessment Systems
Secondary
Leadership Development & Succession Planning
TraitLab Pro
Secondary
Sigma Assessment Systems
Primary (consulting services)
Coaching & Professional Development
TraitLab Pro
Primary
Sigma Assessment Systems
Primary (for qualified professionals)
Key Differences
Sigma Assessment Systems's Advantages
-
Research-grade instruments with extensive academic citation history
-
PRF and JPI are among the most highly validated personality instruments in psychology
-
Lower per-assessment cost (~$26-30 vs. $24-49)
-
Executive coaching and succession planning consulting services available
-
4M+ assessments conducted over 55+ years
-
Deep credibility with clinical and academic audiences
TraitLab Pro's Advantages
-
Fully self-serve with no professional qualification requirements
-
Six assessment frameworks in one platform vs. separate instruments
-
Modern, mobile-friendly assessment experience
-
Instant results delivered directly to test takers and admins
-
No professional qualification barriers — accessible to managers, coaches, and HR
-
Compact 20-minute assessment option covering multiple frameworks
Sigma Assessment Systems
Strengths
-
Academically rigorous instruments with decades of peer-reviewed validation
-
Comprehensive consulting services for leadership and succession planning
-
Lower per-assessment pricing
-
Deep credibility in psychology and I/O consulting communities
-
Broad instrument portfolio covering personality, emotional intelligence, and more
Weaknesses
-
Some instruments require professional qualifications — limits accessibility
-
Less modern user experience compared to contemporary platforms
-
No ATS integration; focused on assessment delivery, not hiring workflow
-
Individual instruments rather than an integrated, multi-framework platform
-
Not designed for self-serve team-building or employee development at scale
-
Consulting services add significant additional cost
The Bottom Line
Sigma and TraitLab Pro both value scientific rigor, but they serve different audiences. Sigma's instruments — the PRF (22 traits), JPI-R (15 scales), and SFPQ (6 factors) — are individually respected in academic psychology, and Sigma's per-assessment pricing (~$26-30) is competitive. But some instruments require professional qualifications, each covers a single framework, and the platform experience reflects its academic roots. TraitLab Pro delivers six frameworks from one 20-60 minute assessment at $24-49 per credit, accessible to anyone. For credentialed professionals who need specific research instruments, Sigma has the deeper catalog. For everyone else doing development and coaching work, TraitLab Pro is more practical.
See What TraitLab Pro Measures
Six validated personality frameworks from a single 20-minute assessment. No certification required.