Free strengths tests, compared
Updated
The two best-known free strengths tests are the VIA Survey and the basic HIGH5 test. VIA ranks 24 character strengths in 96 questions (10 to 15 minutes); HIGH5 gives your top five in 120 questions (15 to 20 minutes). CliftonStrengths, from Gallup, is paid. All three ask you about yourself; for the outside view, ask your friends.
| Test | Price | Length | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIA Survey | Free (in-depth reports paid) | 96 questions, 10 to 15 min | 24 character strengths, ranked |
| HIGH5 | Basic test free (reports paid) | 120 questions, 15 to 20 min | Your top five strengths |
| CliftonStrengths Top 5 | $24.99 | About 30 min | Your top 5 of 34 themes |
| CliftonStrengths 34 | $59.99 | About 30 min | All 34 themes, ranked |
| Friendselfie (this site) | Free | Friends share one moment each; optional self test of 24 choices between two sentences | The strengths your friends see, in their words |
Which one to pick
- For character, free: the VIA Survey (what to expect).
- For your top five only, free: the basic HIGH5 test.
- For talents at work, paid: CliftonStrengths (the free alternatives).
- For how others see you: ask three to five friends for a moment when you were at your best.
What a self-test doesn't cover
Every test above asks you about yourself, so it measures how you see yourself. That view is good for inner traits and weaker for traits we care about, like how smart or creative you are, which the people who know you judge better (Vazire and Carlson, 2011).
Add a friend's first name and get a link to text them. Each friend shares a moment, no app or sign-up. You see the strengths that come back. Free.
Ask my friendsQuestions
Is there a free strengths test?
Yes. The VIA Survey is free (96 questions, 10 to 15 minutes) and ranks 24 character strengths. The basic HIGH5 test is also free and gives your top five.
What is the best free strengths test?
For character strengths, the VIA Survey, based on the classification of Peterson and Seligman (2004). For your top five only, HIGH5. Add your friends' view to either one.
Is CliftonStrengths free?
No. On November 9, 2026, Gallup listed CliftonStrengths Top 5 at $24.99 and CliftonStrengths 34 at $59.99.
Sources
- VIA Institute on Character, Frequently Asked Questions, read November 9, 2026
- HIGH5 strengths test, read November 9, 2026
- Gallup, Compare CliftonStrengths Assessment Options (prices), read November 9, 2026
- Gallup, How CliftonStrengths Works, read November 9, 2026
- Simine Vazire and Erika N. Carlson, Others Sometimes Know Us Better Than We Know Ourselves, Current Directions in Psychological Science 20(2), 104-108, 2011