Over 26 million people have taken the CliftonStrengths assessment, making it one of the most popular personality tests in the world. But unlike free alternatives, this one costs real money. So what exactly are you paying for? And more importantly, does it actually deliver results that justify the price tag?
What is the Gallup CliftonStrengths Test?
The CliftonStrengths test, also known simply as “the Gallup test,” is an online assessment meant to measure what you naturally do well.
Unlike most tests of this type, this one assesses so-called talent themes, which are repeating natural patterns of thought, mood, or action rather than simply assigning personality “type.”
It highlights your unique strengths across 34 themes, grouped into four domains:
- Executing – turning ideas into action (e.g., Responsibility, Discipline)
- Influencing – inspiring and persuading others (e.g., Competition, Self-Confidence)
- Relationship Building – creating trust and connection (e.g., Empathy, Adaptability)
- Strategic Thinking – analyzing and planning (e.g., Analytical, Futuristic)
Donald O. Clifton, often called the “father of strengths-based psychology,” created the test in the late 1990s. His goal was to shift attention from fixing weaknesses to developing what people already do well.
Originally launched as the StrengthsFinder in 2001, the tool was updated and rebranded as CliftonStrengths in 2015. Since then, more than 26 million people worldwide have taken it, making it one of the most widely used personal development assessments.
Quick Facts About the CliftonStrengths (Gallup) Test:
- Questions: 177
- Duration: 30–40 minutes
- Method: Timed choices between paired statements. Choose statements that best reflect how you think or act
- Reports: Top 5 ($24.99), Full 34 ($59.99)
- Languages: Available in 20+ languages (English, Spanish, etc.)
- Free version? No. Free alternatives exist, but are not Gallup-verified
How the CliftonStrengths Test Works
You’re given 177 paired statements (e.g., “I like to make decisions quickly” vs. “I like to analyze before acting”). For each pair, you select which statement feels more like you, and to what degree (a scale of 1–5).
Each question is timed to 20 seconds. The idea is to capture your intuitive preference rather than overthinking. If you don’t answer, it moves on automatically.
The software he software analyzes your choices, looking for patterns across all answers. Each decision shifts your statistical “weight” toward certain talent themes. It’s not just about the individual answers but also the consistency of your preferences.
At the end, the system ranks all 34 themes for you and generates a personalized report.
The Top 5 Report highlights a person’s five strongest themes and gives a short explanation of how they may use them. The Full 34 Report provides a ranking of all themes, detailed descriptions, and suggestions for applying them.
Benefits of CliftonStrengths: What You Gain
Gallup’s philosophy is straightforward:
We achieve far more by developing our strengths than by trying to fix our weaknesses.
In practice, this means raising awareness of your natural talents and investing in them so they become real advantages.
The Gallup CliftonStrengths test helps people understand why they make certain choices and how they perceive the world. It can be used both individually but also for entire teams.
Gallup’s research shows that people who focus on using their strengths are 3x more satisfied with their quality of life and 6x more engaged in their responsibilities.
Employees who work in areas aligned with their strengths tend to deliver better customer service, achieve higher performance, and enjoy their work more. Teams that actively apply CliftonStrengths insights also report higher profitability, stronger collaboration, and better results overall.
How to Use Individual Results
Unlike many personality tests that focus on weaknesses, the CliftonStrengths assessment highlights your natural talents and strengths and shows you how to use them to improve performance.
Your dominant strengths tend to stay consistent over time, but how they show up in your work and relationships can evolve as you gain new experiences.
Gallup suggests a simple 3-step process to apply your results:
- Name it – Identify and describe your natural talents in your own words.
- Claim it – Recognize how these strengths already influence your daily life and career.
- Aim it – Put them to work intentionally to achieve personal and professional goals.
By following this framework, individuals and teams can turn insights into action, building on what they do best rather than trying to “fix” what they lack.
How Can Employers Use the CliftonStrengths Survey
Team Building and Leadership Training
Team reports are one of the most practical ways companies use the Gallup CliftonStrengths test. While the individual report tells you about your top themes, a team report aggregates everyone’s results and highlights how the group functions together.
By knowing each team member’s strengths, managers can assign tasks that align with natural abilities, improving collaboration and reducing burnout. Teams that know each other’s strengths can work together with more trust and less conflict.
Performance Management Applications
Leaders also use strengths-based assessments to guide performance reviews and career development plans, ensuring employees are working in roles where they can thrive. Employees feel more motivated and valued because they can use their talents every day.
Organizations that integrate CliftonStrengths into their culture often see improvements in engagement and performance across entire departments.
Recruitment and Hiring
Many organizations use the Gallup test as part of their talent acquisition strategy. It helps recruiters and hiring managers understand how candidates might approach problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership. While it should never be the sole deciding factor, it can provide insights beyond a resume.
CliftonStrengths Reports & Pricing
Gallup offers two versions of the report:
| Feature | Top 5 Report | Full 34 Report |
| Price | $24.99 | $59.99 |
| Talents shown | 5 strongest | Ranking of all 34 |
| Report length | ~10 pages | ~25 pages |
| Focus | Quick insights | In-depth development |
| Best for | First-time users | Coaches, leaders, personal growth plans |
Concerns and Criticisms of CliftonStrengths
Although CliftonStrengths is popular, it is not without criticism. Some psychologists have pointed out that the test lacks full peer-reviewed validation and that the Gallup Organization has not made all of its research methods fully transparent. Others argue that results may sometimes feel too broad or self-affirming, similar to other personality assessments.
Another concern is accessibility. The test is not free, and the cost can be a barrier for individuals or smaller organizations who want to use it.
These points do not undermine the usefulness of CliftonStrengths, but they are important to consider so that expectations are realistic.
Alternatives to CliftonStrengths
If you’re exploring options, consider these alternatives:
- Big Five Personality Assessment (OCEAN) – Measures five core personality dimensions (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism) with strong academic research support.
- VIA Character Strengths Survey – Focuses on 24 character strengths and is available for free, though with less depth than CliftonStrengths.
- DISC Assessment – Examines behavioral styles in work environments, widely used in corporate settings.
Conclusion: Is The Gallup Test Worth It?
The CliftonStrengths test has become one of the most widely used tools for self-development and team effectiveness.
For individuals, it can guide career choices, build confidence, and improve daily performance. For teams, it creates stronger collaboration, greater trust, and measurable improvements in results.
So is it worth it? While it’s not the only assessment out there, CliftonStrengths is a practical way to bring structure into how we think about talent.
Our Recommendations
Use it as a starting point, not an endpoint. View your results as conversation starters about your natural patterns, not absolute definitions of your capabilities or limitations.
Focus on development, not limitation. Rather than using results to justify avoiding certain challenges, use them to identify how you can approach difficulties through your natural strengths.
Combine insights with action. The real value emerges when you actively experiment with applying your themes in real-world situations.
FAQ
- What is the Gallup CliftonStrengths test?
It’s a 177-question online assessment that identifies your natural talent themes across 34 categories, grouped into four domains: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking. - How is CliftonStrengths different from MBTI or DISC?
Unlike MBTI or DISC, which assign you a personality “type,” CliftonStrengths ranks your unique strengths. It’s less about labeling and more about helping you focus on what you naturally do best. - How long does the Gallup test take?
The full CliftonStrengths assessment takes about 30–45 minutes, with each question timed to 20 seconds. - Is the Gallup test scientifically valid?
While Gallup’s internal studies support the test’s reliability and usefulness, the lack of public peer-reviewed data raises questions about full scientific validation and transparency. Some critics also point to potential biases within the test. - What are some scientifically validated alternatives to the Gallup test?
One widely accepted alternative is the Big Five Personality Traits model (OCEAN), which measures five core personality dimensions: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.
This model is strongly supported by academic research and widely used in psychology.
