Platform Comparison · 2026
EmployTest vs SHL
SHL vs EmployTest comes down to the size of the commitment. EmployTest serves small and mid-sized businesses that buy test credits in blocks and use them when a role opens. SHL serves large hiring programs, with annual subscriptions priced by how many candidates you expect to assess.
- 4.7 / 5 on CapterraVerified customer reviews
- Starts at $229 for 5 testsNo annual commitment
- Best Value 2026Capterra Award Winner
At a Glance
Where each platform comes out ahead
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Pricing for SMBs
EmployTest Wins
Credit packs in blocks starting at $229 for 5 tests, with no annual commitment. SHL sells annual subscriptions banded by candidate volume, with no US rate card published.
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Ease of Setup
EmployTest Wins
Create an account and send your first test the same day. SHL’s solution subscriptions bring implementation advisers and administrator training with them.
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Test Customization
EmployTest Wins
Mix topics from across 200+ tests into one assessment built around your job description, at no extra charge. SHL offers customization through its professional services team.
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Personality and Behavioral Testing
Tie
Both platforms assess behavioral traits. SHL uses its OPQ32 questionnaire. EmployTest returns Caution, Moderate, and High trait ratings written so a hiring manager can act on them without any training.
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ATS Integrations
SHL Wins
Integration with more than 80 applicant tracking systems, including Workday, iCIMS, Oracle, and SmartRecruiters.
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Global Reach
SHL Wins
Assessment delivery across many countries, with a dedicated language evaluation product and regional support teams.
Full Comparison
Feature by feature breakdown
Every point that matters for your hiring decision, side by side.
| Feature | EmployTest | SHL |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $229 for 5 tests, one-time, no annual commitmentLOWER | No published US rate card. SHL’s May 2022 UK price list shows annual subscriptions from about £3,085, roughly $3,840 at the rate then |
| Pricing Model | Credit packs in blocks. Buy credits, use them when you hire.FLEXIBLE | Annual solution subscription, banded by candidate volume |
| What You Get For It | Every test in the catalog, on every packALL INCLUDED | A pre-selected suite matched to the role family, such as Professional, Graduate, Managerial, or Technology |
| Annual Commitment | None. Credits stay valid for one year.FLEXIBLE | Yes on solution subscriptions. SHL Online offers a self-service route for smaller volumes |
| Setup Time | Create an account and send a test the same dayFASTEST | Same-day through SHL Online. Solution subscriptions bring implementation advisers and administrator training |
| Target Company Size | Small and mid-sized businessesSMB FOCUSED | Large hiring programs, graduate schemes, volume and BPO hiring |
| Assessment Library | 200+ tests across office skills, clerical, behavioral, and cognitive | Covers many different types of tests across many different roles and industries |
| Custom Tests | Mix topics into one assessment matched to your job description, included on every packSELF-SERVE | Customization available through SHL’s professional services team |
| Capterra Rating | 4.7/5 (144+ reviews)HIGHER RATED | No comparable US Capterra listing |
What we could verify, and what we could not
SHL publishes no rate card for the US market. Working out what it costs means either requesting a quote or reading the price lists it files with the UK government, which is where the figures on this page come from.
SHL Online, the company’s self-service channel for smaller employers, keeps its catalog and prices behind a registration step. We created no account and made no assumptions about what sits behind it. Everything stated here about SHL comes from material anyone can read without signing up.
Two SHL price documents are public. A May 2022 solution subscription list filed with the UK Digital Marketplace, and a current government service listing (service ID 704579213621572) quoting £4,500 to £1,000,000 a licence, roughly $5,600 to $1.24 million. Both are UK public-sector figures, so treat them as an indication of scale rather than as a US quote.
The Core Difference
Two platforms sized for two different hiring programs
SHL and EmployTest both put objective data in front of a hiring manager. They arrive at it from opposite ends of the market. SHL grew up serving high-volume hiring programs across multiple countries, and its suites, services, and pricing bands all reflect that. EmployTest was built for the office manager filling one admin seat and the operations lead filling four.
The short version: if you run a small or mid-sized business and want flexible credit-pack testing with custom assessments you build yourself, EmployTest fits. If you run a large multi-country hiring program that needs many different types of tests covering many different roles, SHL earns its price.
EmployTest is the right choice if you…
- Run a small or mid-sized business and want to buy testing in small blocks
- Need to build a custom test matched to your own job description
- Need to know what it costs before you talk to anyone
- Need to verify Office, clerical, and data entry skills for admin and operations roles
- Hire in bursts and want credits that stay valid for a full year
- Fill roles across several departments and want every test included on one pack
- Prefer a result you can read in a minute, with a percentile rank and clear trait ratings
SHL is worth considering if you…
- Run high-volume hiring across multiple countries
- Need the depth of the OPQ32 and the Verify cognitive range
- Need many different types of tests covering many different roles and industries
- Need coding simulations and language evaluation on the same platform
- Use Workday, iCIMS, Oracle, or SmartRecruiters and want assessments wired into it
- Can commit to an annual subscription priced on candidate volume
Where EmployTest Wins
Four advantages EmployTest has over SHL
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Credit Packs Instead Of An Annual Subscription
SHL sells solution subscriptions banded by how many candidates you plan to assess in a year. Its May 2022 UK price list puts the smallest Professional band at about £3,085, roughly $3,840 at the rate then, climbing past £50,000 at higher volumes. That works when you can forecast hiring twelve months out. EmployTest works on credits. Buy a block, use it when roles open, and add more when you need them.
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Prices And Tests Published Up Front
Our pack prices and the full test catalog sit on the site, readable without an account. SHL publishes no US rate card, and viewing the SHL Online catalog and pricing means registering first. When you are deciding whether testing is worth trying at all, being able to check the price in ten seconds matters.
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Every Test Included On Every Pack
SHL sells pre-selected suites matched to a role family, so Professional, Graduate, Managerial, and Technology come as separate purchases. Hiring an accountant this month and a warehouse supervisor next month can mean more than one subscription. Every EmployTest credit opens the whole catalog, whatever the role.
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Start Testing The Same Day
SHL builds implementation advisers and administrator training into its solution subscriptions, which suits a large HR function rolling assessment out across departments. Create an EmployTest account, pick a test, and email it to an applicant. No onboarding project sits in front of you.
Customer Reviews
What EmployTest customers say
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“What really stands out are the various assessments available within the platform, which we’ll be using as a key tool during our recruiting process. The features are intuitive and well-designed, making it easy to evaluate candidates efficiently and consistently.”
Chief of StaffProfessional Services -
“We vetted a number of testing programs, but truly were impressed by how well EmployTest simulated real-world skills and actions. We also appreciate being able to customize the tests if we need to remove or add an element.”
Talent Acquisition SpecialistHospital & Healthcare -
“The system is incredibly easy to use. The library of tests is fairly extensive. Our team felt confident using these and it saved a lot of time for HR and the hiring manager. AND great customer support.”
Human Resources DirectorMedia Production
FAQ
Common questions about EmployTest vs SHL
How much does SHL cost?
SHL publishes no rate card for the US. Its UK government filings are the clearest public figures. A May 2022 solution subscription list shows the Professional suite starting around £3,085 a year, roughly $3,840 at the rate then, and reaching £50,230 at the highest listed volume. A current UK service listing quotes £4,500 to £1,000,000 a licence. Those are UK public-sector figures, so a US quote may differ.
What is the main difference between EmployTest and SHL?
Scale and transparency. SHL runs a psychometric library spanning well over a thousand assessments across 40 industry sectors and 30-plus languages, sold as annual suites matched to a role family. EmployTest runs a focused catalog of 200-plus tests, published with its prices, sold in credit packs that open the whole library. SHL suits a large hiring program. EmployTest suits a company filling a few seats.
Does SHL have an option for small businesses?
Yes. SHL Online is a self-service channel described on SHL’s own site as built for small and medium enterprises, with pre-configured assessments and quick setup. It is a real option worth looking at. Viewing its catalog and pricing means creating an account first, which is the main practical difference when you are still deciding whether to test at all.
Does EmployTest measure personality like SHL does?
Both platforms assess behavioral traits. SHL uses the OPQ32 questionnaire and its own cognitive range. EmployTest reports trait ratings of Caution, Moderate, and High alongside cognitive reasoning tests, written so a hiring manager can act on them without any training required. A tie, with SHL going wider on psychometric variety and EmployTest keeping results immediately usable.
Which platform is better for a small or mid-sized business?
EmployTest, for most. A company hiring a handful of people a year rarely assesses enough candidates to justify an annual assessment subscription tied to one role family. Buying a credit block, testing the applicants in front of you, and stopping when the role is filled matches how smaller teams actually hire.
Can I try EmployTest before buying?
Yes. Free sample tests let you take what your applicants will take before you spend anything. You can also book a demo. The starting credit pack is $229 for 5 tests with no annual commitment.
Verify job skills without an annual subscription
Free sample tests, no annual commitment, and you can send your first test today. See why 13,000+ customers chose EmployTest.
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SHL information sourced from shl.com, the SHL Online self-service portal, UK Digital Marketplace filings including the May 2022 solution subscription price list and service listing 704579213621572, reseller listings for the SHL Kx assessment suite, Gartner and Exponent Private Equity press releases, and third-party review platforms. Currency converted at the May 2022 monthly average of 1.2448 USD to the pound. UK public-sector pricing may differ from a US quote. Data accurate as of September 2026.