Enneagram vs. 16 Personalities
The Enneagram explores why you behave the way you do. 16 Personalities offers a quick, accessible snapshot of your cognitive style and temperament. This guide breaks down how they compare and when to use each one.
At-a-Glance Comparison
How the Enneagram and 16 Personalities compare across the factors that matter when choosing a personality framework.
| Dimension | EEnneagram | 1616 Personalities |
|---|---|---|
What It Measures | Core motivations & fears | Cognitive preferences & temperament |
Number of Types | 9 types (+ wings & subtypes) | 16 types in 4 temperament groups |
Assessment Length | ~15-30 minutes | ~10-15 minutes (free online tests) |
Scientific Backing | Rooted in spiritual traditions, limited empirical validation | Based on Jungian theory, widely popularized online |
Complexity | High. Wings, subtypes, growth/stress lines | Low-moderate. 4-letter codes grouped by temperament |
Best For | Personal growth & self-awareness | Quick self-discovery & team icebreakers |
Results Format | Type number with wing & growth paths | 4-letter code + temperament group (e.g. ENFP "Diplomat") |
Core motivations & fears
Cognitive preferences & temperament
9 types (+ wings & subtypes)
16 types in 4 temperament groups
~15-30 minutes
~10-15 minutes (free online tests)
Rooted in spiritual traditions, limited empirical validation
Based on Jungian theory, widely popularized online
High. Wings, subtypes, growth/stress lines
Low-moderate. 4-letter codes grouped by temperament
Personal growth & self-awareness
Quick self-discovery & team icebreakers
Type number with wing & growth paths
4-letter code + temperament group (e.g. ENFP "Diplomat")
What Each Assessment Measures
The Enneagram and 16 Personalities answer different questions about personality.
Enneagram
Why you behave that way
The Enneagram maps core motivations, fears, and desires across 9 personality types. Each type has wings, subtypes, and growth/stress lines that add layers of nuance.
- Focuses on WHY people behave the way they do
- Psychological and motivational depth
- Growth paths and stress patterns
- Rooted in spiritual traditions with growing modern use
16 Personalities
A quick snapshot of your cognitive style
16 Personalities categorizes people into 16 types across four temperament groups: Analysts, Diplomats, Sentinels, and Explorers. Each type gets a 4-letter code and a descriptive role name.
- Focuses on cognitive preferences and temperament style
- Free online tests made it a cultural phenomenon
- Most people already know their 4-letter type
- Crystal offers a 16-personality test
Which Assessment Fits Your Use Case?
The right choice depends on your goal. Here's how they line up.
Quick team icebreakers
Best fit: 16 PersonalitiesMost people already know their type. Easy to share
Personal growth
Best fit: EnneagramGrowth paths, stress lines, and subtypes go deeper
Onboarding conversations
Best fit: 16 PersonalitiesLow barrier to entry. Fun and accessible
Leadership development
Best fit: EnneagramReveals motivations and blind spots under stress
Self-discovery
Best fit: Both16P for a quick snapshot, Enneagram for ongoing growth
Relationship dynamics
Best fit: EnneagramCompatibility through understanding core fears and desires
The Assessment Experience
What it's actually like to take each test, from format to learning curve.
Taking the Enneagram
Format
Agree/disagree statements exploring your motivations, fears, and desires.
Time
15-30 minutes depending on the test. More introspective questions take longer.
Results
Your core type number, wing, and growth/stress lines with development insights.
Learning curve
Steeper. Understanding wings, subtypes, and growth paths takes dedicated study.
Taking the 16 Personalities
Format
Agree/disagree statements about preferences and tendencies. Quick and straightforward.
Time
10-15 minutes. Short enough to complete during a coffee break.
Results
A 4-letter type code with temperament group and a detailed personality profile.
Learning curve
Low. The 4-letter system and temperament groups are intuitive and easy to remember.
Understanding Your Results
Both frameworks produce a personality profile, but what you get back looks quite different.
Enneagram Results
Growth-focused- Your core type (1-9) and primary wing
- Core motivation, fear, and desire for your type
- Growth and stress direction paths
- Subtype variations (self-preservation, social, one-to-one)
- Levels of development for deeper self-awareness
16 Personalities Results
Accessible & shareable- 4-letter type code (e.g. ENFP, ISTJ)
- Temperament group (Analyst, Diplomat, Sentinel, Explorer)
- Strengths and weaknesses for your type
- Career and relationship tendencies
- Easy to share and discuss with others
Crystal offers both. Take your Enneagram test and 16-personalities test on one platform and see how the two profiles work together.
Can You Use Both Together?
Yes, and many people get the most value by using both. They measure different things and work well together.
The Enneagram reveals the motivations behind your behavior: why feedback triggers defensiveness, why you overcommit, why certain situations drain you. It maps growth paths and stress patterns for ongoing personal development.
16 Personalities gives you a quick, shareable snapshot of your cognitive style and temperament. It is a great starting point for self-discovery and an easy way to compare profiles with friends and teammates.
Crystal offers both: an Enneagram test and a 16-personalities test. You can take both on one platform and see how they work together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Enneagram or 16 Personalities more accurate?
Neither has strong empirical validation compared to the Big Five. The Enneagram is valued for its depth in exploring motivations and growth paths. 16 Personalities has retest inconsistencies similar to MBTI. Both can offer useful personal insights, but neither should be treated as a diagnostic tool.
Can you use Enneagram and 16 Personalities together?
Yes, and many people find the combination valuable. The Enneagram covers why you behave the way you do: your core motivations, fears, and growth patterns. 16 Personalities provides a quick, accessible snapshot of your cognitive style and temperament. Using both gives you motivational depth paired with an easy-to-share profile. Crystal offers both assessments on one platform.
Which is better for teams, Enneagram or 16 Personalities?
16 Personalities is better for team icebreakers and quick introductions because most people already know their type and the results are easy to share. The Enneagram is better for deeper team development, coaching, and understanding conflict patterns. Many teams start with 16 Personalities and add the Enneagram later.
Are 16 Personalities and Myers-Briggs the same thing?
They share the same Jungian theoretical foundation, but MBTI is a proprietary instrument from The Myers-Briggs Company. 16 Personalities is the popularized, free version that uses the same 4-letter type codes and organizes them into temperament groups (Analysts, Diplomats, Sentinels, Explorers). Crystal offers its own 16-personality test.
What's the difference between Enneagram and 16 Personalities?
The main difference is depth versus accessibility. The Enneagram uses 9 types with wings, subtypes, and growth/stress lines to explore core motivations and fears. It takes more time to learn but offers deeper growth insights. 16 Personalities uses 16 four-letter type codes grouped into 4 temperament categories for a quick, shareable snapshot of cognitive style.
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