Thomas International has been part of the talent assessment landscape since 1981 and has a loyal following across many industries. The combination of behavioural profiling and cognitive testing covers two meaningful dimensions of candidate potential, and the platform is widely used across mid-market organisations in the UK and internationally.
The main thing that drives teams to consider alternatives is the DISC model at the heart of the behavioural assessment. DISC has well-documented scientific limitations compared to Big Five-based personality frameworks, forcing behaviour into four quadrants that don't reflect the full complexity of personality, and the predictive validity evidence for DISC is weaker than for Big Five models. If that's the concern, or if the platform simply feels dated for your hiring brand, here are the alternatives worth considering.
Test Partnership
Test Partnership is the most direct alternative for teams that want to move away from DISC towards a more scientifically grounded personality model. The personality questionnaire is rooted in the Big Five framework, which has a considerably stronger body of validity research and produces results that are more interpretable and defensible for hiring decisions.
Alongside personality, Test Partnership offers a full cognitive assessment suite covering numerical, verbal, and inductive reasoning, plus MindmetriQ, a gamified cognitive format that is engaging for candidates and resistant to AI assistance. The platform is modern, self-service, and backed by strong customer support, which makes it a practical step up from Thomas on multiple dimensions at once.
Predictive Index
Predictive Index occupies similar territory to Thomas: a behavioural assessment combined with a short cognitive test, built for organisations that want a quick, accessible read on a candidate's working style alongside their cognitive ability. PI has a particularly strong following in North America and has invested more in its platform and reporting in recent years than Thomas has.
The main caveat is that PI also uses a proprietary behavioural model rather than Big Five, so it shares the same fundamental limitation as Thomas from a scientific validity standpoint. For teams that want to stay in the DISC-adjacent behavioural space but with a more modern platform and wider brand recognition, PI is the most natural comparison.
Hogan
Hogan is worth considering if the concern is that Thomas's personality measurement lacks depth, particularly for senior or leadership hiring. The Hogan suite, covering bright-side personality (HPI), derailers (HDS), and motives and values (MVPI), is one of the most thoroughly researched personality assessment tools available and provides considerably more nuance than a DISC profile.
The trade-offs are cost and access: Hogan is more expensive than Thomas and some assessments require certified administrators. It is best suited to leadership and senior selection rather than volume screening, but for those use cases it is a meaningful upgrade on the depth of personality insight Thomas provides.
Criteria
Criteria offers a straightforward cognitive and personality battery at a price point that competes well with Thomas. The cognitive assessment is well-validated, and the personality tool provides a useful measure alongside it without the DISC framework's limitations.
Criteria won't offer the same behavioural profiling depth or the development tools that Thomas has built around its platform, but for teams whose primary use case is pre-employment screening rather than ongoing development, it is a dependable and accessible alternative.
Conclusion and next steps
If the DISC model's scientific limitations are the main concern, Test Partnership offers the clearest upgrade: Big Five-aligned personality, strong cognitive testing, and a modern platform. For teams that want to stay in the behavioural space with a more widely known tool, Predictive Index is the most natural comparison. For deeper personality insight on senior roles, Hogan is the benchmark. And for straightforward cognitive and personality screening without the DISC framework, Criteria is a practical and well-priced option.
You can explore Test Partnership's personality tests and aptitude tests, or find out more about why organisations choose Test Partnership.
Sources: Thomas International, Thomas International on G2, Predictive Index, Predictive Index on G2, Hogan Assessments, Hogan on G2, Criteria, Criteria on G2.
Joshua Hancock
Digital Marketing Manager at Test Partnership. Over 7 years experience as a writer, content strategist, SEO and digital marketer.
