The most effective character checks present distinctive insights into your strengths, weaknesses, preferences, values, motivations, and extra. 

And a greater self-understanding allows you to make higher selections, choose the very best profession, and enhance your relationships.

In different phrases, they empower you to design your excellent life.

Apart from self-exploration, character assessments broaden your understanding of individuals. It helps you respect the variations between you and others.

For this assessment, I took each standard on-line character take a look at. And I’ll record the 7 greatest character checks you may take free of charge. 

Let’s dive in!

Disclosure: This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks, so when you purchase one thing by means of my hyperlink, I earn a small fee at no further price to you. Notice that I solely endorse merchandise that I’ve personally purchased and loved.

Verdict: The most effective free character checks

Right here’s a summarized overview of the very best varieties of character checks:

1. The Myers-Briggs Sort Indicator (MBTI), often known as the 16 personalities, is the preferred take a look at. And right here’s why: The outcomes are straightforward to grasp and supply an outline of every part you wish to learn about your self and the way you work together with others.
2. The Enneagram Character Check measures your character alongside 9 varieties. Every sort has its personal set of motivations, fears, wishes, values, and beliefs. Like MBTI, it’s a broad character take a look at to grasp your self, although from a special perspective.
3. The Huge 5 Character Check measures your character alongside 5 dimensions. It’s thought-about probably the most legitimate and dependable take a look at. And it’s extensively utilized by well being care professionals as a result of the measured traits are extra steady than different checks. Nonetheless, the report is much less detailed than the primary two checks, making it tougher for folk such as you and me to grasp.
4. The DISC Character Check measures your character alongside 4 dimensions: dominance, affect, steadiness, and compliance. It’s a work-related take a look at that reveals your communication fashion and the way you favor to work with others. The free DISC evaluation is a superb software to enhance your effectiveness in your profession.
5. The HIGH 5 Strengths Check measures 20 energy traits over 4 classes. This take a look at helps you determine your distinctive abilities and use them to your benefit. Taking a strength-based character take a look at empowers you to choose the suitable profession path, lead along with your superpowers, and have a extra fulfilling life.
6. The VIA Character Strengths Check measures 24 character traits like braveness, gratitude, and hope. It’s a great tool for figuring out your core values. And the take a look at additionally gives actionable concepts to include actions and habits to stay extra in alignment along with your most essential rules.
7. The Emotional Intelligence Check measures your skill to grasp and handle your individual feelings, in addition to the feelings of others. The insights present a benchmark for bettering your communication, relationships, and work efficiency.

Bonus: The Profession Aptitude Check measures your pursuits, expertise, and values. It’s a profession take a look at that helps you determine what roles might go well with you nicely. Excellent when you’re trying to brainstorm potential profession paths.

What are character checks?

Character checks are psychological assessments that measure your character traits, traits, and habits. The outcomes present insights into the way you usually assume, really feel, and behave.

Self-discovery and self-awareness are two highly effective advantages you’ll achieve from these checks. For instance, I discovered how my character impacts my ideas and habits, particularly my introverted traits.

However why do we have now character checks within the first place?

A quick historical past of character checks

Character checks have been round for the reason that early 1900s. 

One of many earliest checks to measure character was the Woodworth Private Information Sheet. And the aim was to evaluate troopers for shell shock, a fight stress response.

Within the Nineteen Twenties, the well-known Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung developed a well-liked principle of human character. He supposed to assist others higher perceive themselves so they might stay extra fulfilling lives.

And he divided folks into 4 varieties: 

• Introverts
• Extroverts
• Sensors
• Intuitives

Jung’s character principle types the premise of the Myers-Briggs character take a look at, which stays the preferred character evaluation right this moment.

One other take a look at that stood the take a look at of time is the Huge 5. The five-factor mannequin was recognized round 1930 and is probably the most accepted mannequin of character in psychology and medical settings.

Since then, the recognition of character assessments skyrocketed. And greater than 100 million folks per 12 months take character quizzes.

That’s why we’ve many offspring right this moment.

However…

What’s the goal of a character take a look at?

The primary goal of character testing is to evaluate your traits to determine patterns of ideas, emotions, and behaviors. 

Understanding these patterns and different character biases allows you to make higher selections, enhance your relationships, and discover extra achievement at work and in on a regular basis life.

The advantages of character assessments in a nutshell:

• Extra self-awareness: Character checks can reveal your strengths, weaknesses, and motives. For instance, it led me to uncover many unconscious behavioral patterns.
• Higher self-management: Discovering your unconscious patterns allows you to navigate them higher. Because of this, you’ll achieve extra management over your ideas and feelings.
• Profession improvement: You’ll achieve perception into optimum profession paths to your character sort. For instance, I used them to stop my finance job and pursue a extra fulfilling profession in on-line advertising and marketing.
• Relationships: Character assessments reveal preferences and desires in relationships, each from your self and others. For instance, I constructed extra significant connections as soon as I understood the facility of my introverted strengths – versus attempting to be an extrovert.
• Psychological well being evaluation: Character assessments can be utilized to evaluate psychological well being and character issues, equivalent to nervousness and despair.

It’s essential to notice that character assessments should not excellent. 

Whereas character sort performs a task, so do different elements. Apart from, these checks solely present a snapshot of a person’s character. And chances are you’ll typically disagree with the take a look at outcomes.

And that’s okay.

In any case, character checks are merely instruments that present enter for self-reflection and useful concepts to stay a extra fulfilling life.

So, what are…

The most well-liked varieties of character checks

So that you wish to take a character take a look at however surprise the place to start out?

That’s comprehensible. 

In any case, there are a lot of completely different character assessments accessible. And it may be difficult to know which one is best for you. 

There are some things to contemplate:

• The take a look at’s goal: What do you hope to get from it?
• The take a look at’s format: Some are shorter, whereas others are longer.
• The reliability of the take a look at: Are you able to belief the take a look at outcome’s accuracy?
• The price of the take a look at: They vary from free to a number of $100’s.

We’ll cowl these questions for every of the preferred checks.

They’re all free to take. And every possibility presents an inexpensive improve to the premium report back to dive deeper into your outcomes and get actionable concepts.

Listed here are the very best character sort checks:

#1: Myers-Briggs Sort Indicator (16 Personalities Check)

The Myers-Briggs Sort Indicator (MBTI) is the preferred character testing software. It divides folks into 16 character varieties. And that’s why you would possibly understand it by “The 16 Personalities Check”.

The 16 personalities stem from the doable combos within the following 4 dimensions: 

• Introversion/Extraversion
• Sensing/Instinct
• Pondering/Feeling
• Judging/Perceiving

Your preferences type your MBTI code. 

For instance, mine is INTJ: introversion, instinct, pondering, and judging.

MBTI additionally presents detailed descriptions of every character sort, together with strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and values. And I really like this take a look at as a result of it gives simply comprehensible, actionable concepts.

And right here’s what you need to know:

• Function: The Myers-Briggs take a look at is the preferred take a look at for a number of causes. It’s well-established. It gives actionable concepts for progress and self-exploration. And it presents detailed insights over your complete spectrum of your character: out of your power and values to your communication and way of life. 
• Format: Reply 130 questions, taking 15~20 minutes to finish.
• Reliability: Sure, it’s dependable and legitimate. It’s additionally some of the researched character checks. And though there’s some criticism from healthcare professionals, it presents clear insights for folk such as you and me. That’s why I contemplate this the very best character take a look at.
• Prices: Free to get your MBTI sort, with the choice to pay for an in-depth report. The premium report delves into the 4 dimensions and breaks every into 6 sides. It additionally gives private strengths, the very best profession paths to your character sort, pitfalls to keep away from, and actionable concepts to unlock your greatest self.

General, the MBTI is useful if you wish to perceive your self higher and make selections that align along with your character sort.

It’s the very best character evaluation available on the market for people.

Take the MBTI take a look at free of charge

#2: Enneagram Character Check

The Enneagram is a more moderen character take a look at. And whereas it’s much less established than the MBTI, it’s gaining recognition.

The Enneagram gives a deep understanding of the next 9 character varieties:

1. The Reformer is principled, idealistic, and self-controlled.
2. The Helper is caring, interpersonal, and beneficiant.
3. The Achiever is bold, image-conscious, and pragmatic.
4. The Individualist is delicate, withdrawn, and self-absorbed.
5. The Investigator is intense, cerebral, and secretive.
6. The Loyalist is cautious, dutiful, and fearful.
7. The Fanatic is optimistic, fun-loving, and spontaneous.
8. The Challenger is highly effective, decisive, and impartial.
9. The Peacemaker is accepting, optimistic, and adaptive.

I’m sort #5: The Investigator, adopted carefully by #1: The Reformer.

And within the report, I discovered extra about my strengths and weaknesses, motivations, fears, beliefs, core wishes, and distinctive manner of viewing the world.

Right here’s what else you need to learn about this take a look at:

• Function: The Enneagram take a look at gives broad insights into your character sort, just like the MBTI take a look at. The distinction lies in its perspective, offering distinctive insights. So it’s one other highly effective possibility for self-discovery and self-improvement.
• Format: Reply 105 questions, taking 10~20 minutes to finish.
• Reliability: Though the Enneagram isn’t as established, the take a look at is dependable and legitimate. I took this take a look at for the primary time for this assessment, and I can say that I perceive its rising recognition.
• Prices: Free to get your Enneagram Sort. And when you pay for the complete report, you’ll study extra about your motivations, fears, strengths, wishes, core beliefs, superpowers, blindspots, and extra.

Though I had heard in regards to the take a look at earlier than, I by no means took it till scripting this assessment. And I’m fairly joyful that I did as a result of the report gives distinctive insights and actionable “Progress Duties”.

Take the Enneagram take a look at free of charge

#3: Huge 5 Character Check

Just like the MBTI, the Huge 5 is without doubt one of the older character checks. And plenty of healthcare professionals contemplate this take a look at extra dependable and legitimate.

The primary purpose?

The Huge 5 character traits keep comparatively steady over time, recognized underneath the acronym OCEAN:

• Openness to expertise
• Conscientiousness
• Extraversion
• Agreeableness
• Neuroticism

My greatest rating was in conscientiousness. 

And I scored decrease than common on extraversion and neuroticism.

However it’s not about excessive or low.

All sides comes with its strengths and pitfalls.

The draw back is that the five-factor mannequin is that it lacks an in depth description like the primary two checks. So it’s tougher to extract actionable takeaways with out the assistance of a character psychologist.

That’s why I ranked it third on this record.

• Function: The Huge 5 additionally gives broad insights into your traits however primarily focuses on traits that keep steady over time. So when you’re nonetheless younger or wish to create a life plan, chances are you’ll worth this take a look at probably the most.
• Format: Reply 60 questions, taking 5~10 minutes to finish.
• Reliability: It’s some of the dependable and legitimate strategies to evaluate character, in response to healthcare professionals.
• Prices: Free, with the choice to pay for an in-depth report. This report gives particulars about your Huge 5 preferences. You’ll additionally achieve insights into your character patterns and the way they apply to your inside, social, and work life.

Though the outcomes are much less detailed than the opposite two checks, you may nonetheless achieve many insights from this take a look at. And when you’re searching for probably the most dependable take a look at with steady outcomes, the Huge 5 is your only option.

Take the Huge 5 Check free of charge

#4: DISC Character Check

The DISC character take a look at can also be an older software. And it’s some of the authoritative profession assessments for understanding your character and habits in a piece setting. 

So you could have achieved a number of of those profession checks already.

The DISC elements embody 4 key personalities:

• Pushed personalities are assertive, decisive, and goal-oriented. They typically take cost and are seen as leaders by others.
• Influential personalities are outgoing, persuasive, and enthusiastic. They construct relationships and are seen as motivators.
• Supportive personalities are affected person, dependable, and supportive. They comply with by means of on duties and are actual group gamers.
• Readability personalities are organized, exact, and accountable. They comply with the foundations and are seen as perfectionists.

My DISC fashion is Readability. 

However you may fall anyplace in every of the 4 quadrants. And inside Readability, I fall extra in the direction of the Pushed aspect. 

So, my DISC sort is Cd. 

Right here’s what it’s good to know in regards to the DISC take a look at:

• Function: DISC reveals your communication fashion and habits in social conditions, particularly within the office. You should utilize these strengths and weaknesses to sharpen your communication expertise and enhance your relationships.
• Format: Reply 54 questions, taking 5~10 minutes to finish.
• Reliability: Whereas there’s some validity to the DISC take a look at, it’s much less dependable and legitimate than the opposite choices. And since there are solely 4 quadrants, the outcomes can really feel extra stereotypical. That mentioned, I gained an correct perspective on my kinds, strengths, and pitfalls.
• Prices: Free to unlock your main fashion. And the complete report dives deeper into your kinds and use them. A piece additionally clarifies how your DISC fashion interacts with different DISC character varieties.

General, the DISC take a look at gives insights into your communication fashion and social preferences. So look no additional if you wish to enhance your relationship expertise within the office.

Take the DISC take a look at free of charge

#5: HIGH 5 Strengths Check

The HIGH5 Check is a more moderen strengths-based character take a look at designed to be extra holistic and inclusive. It combines optimistic and character psychology to supply each theoretical and relevant insights.

HIGH5 measures 20 strengths throughout 4 classes:

The take a look at goals that will help you determine and align your self along with your strengths. In any case, main along with your strengths will increase efficiency, motivation, and total satisfaction.

It’s your distinctive option to achieve an edge in your profession.

For instance, listed here are my outcomes:

Within the HIGH5 take a look at assessment, I dive extra in-depth. However listed here are the important thing factors you need to learn about:

• Function: HIGH5 reveals your prime 5 strengths – or your complete order of your prime 20 within the paid report. And whenever you incorporate your energy into your work and life, it will increase your efficiency and satisfaction.
• Format: Reply 120 questions, taking 10~20 minutes to finish.
• Reliability: The take a look at is dependable and legitimate. However it’s additionally comparatively new and nonetheless being researched and improved.
• Prices: Free to get your prime 5 strengths. Upgrading to the complete report gives an outline of your prime 20, together with detailed insights and actionable concepts to use your prime 5 strengths.

You should utilize the HIGH5 take a look at to steer along with your superpowers to extend total satisfaction.

For instance, I goal to work 80% of the time inside my energy and 20% of the time in my space of weak spot. And designing my life round my strengths elevated pleasure, well-being, and productiveness.

Take the HIGH5 take a look at free of charge

#6: VIA Character Strengths Survey

VIA stands for Values in Motion. 

And it’s a more moderen however distinctive character take a look at that measures 24 optimistic character traits.

And when you’re questioning, sure, that’s the whole order of my VIA Character Strengths Profile.

You achieve a rating for every of those qualities from zero to 5:

Right here’s what else it’s good to know:

• Function: You’ll study extra in regards to the traits that contribute most to your well-being. And whenever you align your selections and actions along with your values, you’ll unlock a extra genuine and fulfilling life. 
• Format: Reply 96 questions, taking 10~quarter-hour to finish.
• Reliability: The VIA take a look at is a dependable and legitimate evaluation for measuring your character traits and strengths.
• Prices: Free to get your prime 5 character strengths. Then, there are two upgrades. An in-depth prime 5 report for $20 or the complete character strengths report for $49. I purchased the latter, however the first possibility gives higher worth for cash and is de facto all most individuals want.

General, the VIA character take a look at presents an effective way to discover your optimistic values additional. Utilizing them lets you make tough selections. And I’ve achieved so a number of occasions with nice success.

Take the VIA Character take a look at free of charge

#7: Emotional Intelligence Check

The Emotional Intelligence (EI) take a look at measures your skill to grasp and handle your individual feelings, in addition to the feelings of others.

Truity’s EI take a look at is a very free on-line take a look at that measures:

• Self-awareness: Do you perceive your emotions and the way they have an effect on your ideas and habits?
• Self-management: Are you able to management your feelings and keep calm underneath stress?
• Motivation: Do you set targets and work in the direction of them?
• Empathy: How do you reply to the feelings of others?
• Social expertise: How do you talk and work together with others?

For instance, my EQ profile is The Rock. And its description states that I can management and regulate my feelings, even in tough circumstances.

Right here’s what you need to know in regards to the take a look at:

• Function: You’ll achieve insights into your emotional strengths and weaknesses in a private and social context. This gives a benchmark that will help you perceive the place to enhance.
• Format: Reply 55 questions, taking 5~10 minutes to finish.
• Reliability: Emotional intelligence checks are thought-about legitimate and dependable. However they’re additionally comparatively new and never absolutely developed but.
• Prices: Free – with no choice to improve. Sadly, the insights aren’t very actionable. That mentioned, your outcomes present a useful benchmark for additional self-improvement.

Whereas IQ dominated the office during the last century, EI has turn into a extra essential issue over the earlier a long time.

However not solely is it a necessary talent for profession and enterprise success, however it additionally results in higher relationships and deeper achievement.

Take the emotional intelligence take a look at free of charge

Different character checks you would possibly’ve heard about

Many different character testing assessments exist. 

However they’re both much less standard, centered on one space, or complicated and subsequently solely utilized by character psychologists in medical practices.

Right here’s a fast overview:

• The Profession Aptitude Check measures your pursuits, skills, and values that will help you determine profession paths that suit you. This profession take a look at is constructed on two well-researched fashions: the Hollands Code and the Huge 5. It’s an amazing possibility if you wish to discover profession choices.
• True Colours is a well-liked on-line character take a look at that measures 4 personalities: pink, orange, yellow, and inexperienced. It assesses your communication fashion and teamwork potential. Nonetheless, it lacks scientific principle and isn’t as well-researched as others.
• The HEXACO Character Stock Mannequin relies on the Huge 5 however measures two further traits. Its six dimensions embody honesty-humility, emotionality, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to expertise. And whereas the HEXACO character stock is a more moderen mannequin, it’s gaining recognition in analysis and medical follow.
• The Revised NEO Character Stock is without doubt one of the most generally used character checks in analysis and medical follow. It’s one other take a look at constructed on prime of the Huge 5 personalities. And whilst you can take the Revised NEO Character Stock, it’s fairly costly, takes 45 minutes, and is hottest in medical analysis.
• The Darkish Triad Check measures three darker traits: narcissism, machiavellianism, and psychopathy. It’s a controversial take a look at that goals to measure job efficiency, felony habits, and relationship satisfaction.
• The Hogan Character Stock measures character varieties related to job efficiency, equivalent to ambition and sociability. Employers typically use it to evaluate job candidates.
• The Hogan Improvement Survey is a extra complete model of the Hogan character stock. And it measures a wider vary of character traits, together with emotional intelligence, stress tolerance, and management potential.
• The Eysenck Character Stock measures three character traits: extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism. It’s a basic and extensively used take a look at. However it’s pretty brief and thought of outdated.
• The Eysenck Character Questionnaire is just like the Eysenck Character Stock however even shorter. It’s cheaper but additionally much less dependable and legitimate.
• The Minnesota Multiphasic Character Stock measures many character traits and presents an in depth character profile. Nonetheless, it’s additionally lengthy and complicated. That’s why clinicians and never people primarily use it.
• The Keirsey Temperament Sorter relies on the MBTI mannequin and measures 4 character dimensions: sensing, instinct, pondering, and feeling. It’s a basic however not as well-researched.
• The Character Evaluation Stock (PAI) is a character take a look at that’s thought-about to be dependable and legitimate. Nonetheless, it’s additionally lengthy, costly, and complicated. And it’s mostly utilized by certified clinicians to evaluate a person’s character and psychological well being issues.

There are numerous extra character inventories. However we coated the preferred ones and lots of extra that you just received’t ever actually need – except you’ve particular causes or love these items.

Find out how to use your character take a look at outcomes?

Let’s stress the truth that a web-based evaluation doesn’t outline you.

For instance, there are nonetheless a gazillion variations between you and somebody with the identical Myers-Briggs sort.

So whereas these checks present superior insights, they’re instruments. 

And instruments are solely helpful in the suitable context. And character checks are most useful in gaining enter for self-reflection and experimentation.

Right here’s how you need to use the outcomes:

• Enhance self-awareness: Replicate in your outcomes to determine how the findings relate to your life. What matches what you understand about your self? And do you perceive the place the take a look at outcomes are coming from – even when you disagree?
• Readability your subsequent steps: What actionable perception are you able to extract? And how are you going to experiment and implement these concepts? The easiest way to search out what works for you is thru trial and error.
• Enhance your communication: What do your outcomes let you know about your preferences? How do others view your fashion? And what concepts are you able to attempt to enhance your social interactions?
• Design each space of your life: What selections must you take to stay in alignment along with your true self? What habits must you construct? How will you lead along with your strengths? And the way do your solutions apply to your targets, profession, and relationships?
• Handle your stress: What key insights did you get out of your character assessments about stress? And how are you going to optimize your life to handle stress higher?
• Replicate, experiment and keep essential: Exams reveal many insights and actionable concepts. However not every part will give you the results you want. So mirror in your findings and experiment with concepts to see what works.

Chances are you’ll discover many questions within the bullets above.

And that’s since you should increase curiosity. Learn and mirror in your outcomes with an open however essential thoughts to extract the very best insights. 

That’s higher than passively studying your outcomes.

And if you wish to take it up a notch, right here’s…

Why you need to take a number of checks

Not solely do I typically take many various checks without delay, however I additionally take the identical checks a number of occasions over time.

Now, it’s true…

I’m a private improvement junkie. 

And I geek out over character checks…

And though I typically achieve related insights, I at all times extract new nuggets and concepts to discover. That’s why I’ve taken 20+ character assessments. And the MBTI, Huge 5, and DISC checks greater than as soon as. 

Right here’s why you need to too:

• No single take a look at is ideal. Each character take a look at has its cons and professionals. And doing a number of checks gives a deeper understanding of your character. 
• Completely different checks measure various things. Some character checks focus in your cognitive fashion, whereas others focus extra on emotional stability. Taking a number of checks covers all features of your character.
• Your character can change over time. And you may monitor your character improvement by taking a number of checks at numerous levels.

And though I like to recommend taking two completely different checks, one will be sufficient too. In that case, make sure you take a broad take a look at (I like to recommend #1 or #2). 

Both manner, a very powerful factor is to mirror in your outcomes – and to place the actionable insights into motion. 

That’s when a web-based character take a look at turns into most beneficial.

What’s subsequent?

We explored the world of character checks and their potential for private progress and self-discovery. It’s essential to keep in mind that the outcomes by no means outline you. That’s the one entice you should be careful for. 

Reflecting in your result’s key to self-awareness. And appearing on actionable concepts allows you to create a extra genuine and fulfilling life.

The most effective character checks available on the market are:

1. Myers-Briggs Sort Indicator
2. Huge 5 Character Check
3. Enneagram Character Check
4. DISC Character Check
5. HIGH 5 Strengths Check
6. VIA Character Strengths Check
7. Emotional Intelligence Check

And when you’re fascinated with taking a profession take a look at to discover your choices, I like to recommend taking the Profession Aptitude Check.

Take motion: Problem your self to take a character take a look at. Get the complete report and browse it for enjoyable the primary time. The following day, learn it a second time and take notes. Lastly, assessment the report once more and write down concepts for self-improvement.

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