Looking for a CliftonStrengths Alternative? An Honest Comparison

What CliftonStrengths offers

Gallup’s how-it-works page describes a 30-minute assessment in which you see paired statements and choose the one that describes you best. Your results rank 34 themes grouped into four domains. The idea is that you get more from developing your top themes than from fixing your lowest ones.

When we read Gallup’s products page on October 27, 2026, it listed:

• CliftonStrengths Top 5, $24.99. The assessment, insights and definitions for your top five themes, and action items.
• CliftonStrengths 34, $59.99. All 34 themes ranked, with areas of excellence, notes on blind spots, managing lesser strengths and your domain distribution.
• Upgrade from Top 5 to 34, $49.99.
• CliftonStrengths for Managers, Leaders or Sales, $49.99 each. Role-specific insights, hindrances to watch for and reflection questions.
• CliftonStrengths for Students, $24.99. With educator rates for bulk purchases.

What Depth Profile offers

Depth Profile starts with a free assessment: about 80 questions covering the Big Five, an MBTI-style type, creativity style and introversion. Built on the public-domain IPIP item pool for the Big Five, with attachment items adapted from the ECR-R and career items from Holland's RIASEC model. Free add-ons cover relationships, career (RIASEC interests and career anchors), the Enneagram and communication style.

The free result gives you your Big Five scores and an archetype. The Full Depth Report, $19 once, adds:

• A long-form portrait written by AI from your scores and answers
• A written facet reading for each trait (descriptive, not facet scores)
• Attachment and career chapters, if you took those free add-ons
• A 30-day growth plan built around three experiments aimed at your blind spots
• 50 AI prompts for ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, built from your scores
• Four bonus deep-dive assessments, PDF export and a 30-day money-back guarantee

The sample report shows the main sections and a few of the 50 prompts for an invented profile. These are our own short forms. They are not independently validated, and this is a self-reflection tool, not a clinical one.

Side by side

Where CliftonStrengths is the better choice

• Your workplace already uses it. If your manager and team talk in theme names, your own results fit straight into those conversations. Our report will not.
• You want a strengths-only frame. Some people find a list of what they do well more motivating than a report that also covers costs. CliftonStrengths is designed around that.
• You want a role-specific report. Gallup sells versions for managers, leaders, sales and students. We do not.
• You plan to work with a strengths coach. Gallup runs a coach certification program.

Where Depth Profile is the better choice

• You want to see your scores before paying. Our Big Five scores are free. Gallup’s products page lists no free version.
• You want the costs as well as the strengths. The report names blind spots and builds a 30-day plan around them. The self-improvement guide explains why that matters.
• You want a trait model. The Big Five measures five traits on continuous scales and has a large independent research base. See how trait models compare with type models.
• You want work and relationships in one place. The career and attachment chapters are read alongside your Big Five.
• You want the full report for less. All 34 themes cost $59.99 on Gallup’s page. Our full report is $19.

If you were looking at CliftonStrengths for a career question

Many people buy CliftonStrengths while deciding what to do next at work. Talents help, but interests are often the stronger guide to what you will enjoy. Our free career assessment gives you a RIASEC Holland code and career anchors, and the report’s career chapter combines them with your Big Five into job titles to look at and an ideal work environment checklist. The career change guide walks through how to use it.

The practical answer

If your team uses Gallup’s language or you want a strengths-only view, buy CliftonStrengths. If you want a written account of your traits, including blind spots, at a lower price, take our free assessment, look at your scores, and read the sample report before deciding. Full details are on the pricing page.