Tool profile
SHL: cost, fit and limits
SHL is a talent assessment provider, with SHL Global Management Limited named as controller in its privacy notice, offering personality, cognitive, situational judgement and skills tests, simulations, video interviews and outsourced assessment and development centers.
What to know first
SHL sells through a product catalog and a Buy Online route rather than published plans or prices. The catalog includes OPQ personality, SHL Verify cognitive tests, a Global Skills Assessment that measures 96 behavioral skills in 15 minutes and a skills and simulations library covering call center, business, coding, technical and language evaluation. The AI named on the pages is Sheldon, a support chat, and AI Readiness content, plus an EU AI Act guidance page.
SHL at a glance
| Maker | SHL Global Management Limited, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Entry price | Quote only |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Pre-Employment Assessment Software in 2026, rank 13 of 13 |
| Website | shl.com |
Who SHL is best for
Large organizations that want established instruments
OPQ personality and SHL Verify cognitive tests are long-standing products in the catalog, suited to graduate programs, leadership selection and development.
Teams needing simulations for operational roles
The skills and simulations library covers call center, business skills, coding, technical skills and language evaluation in one place. Each library area is named on the site.
Employers running assessment centers
Outsourced assessment and development centers are listed, so SHL can run in-person or virtual exercises for senior selection. These run alongside online tests.
SHL plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Online store | Not published | The online purchase route named on the site; the pages opened show no tiers, contents or prices for what can be bought. |
| Assessment catalog | Not published | Personality (OPQ), cognitive (SHL Verify), situational judgement and the Global Skills Assessment; the catalog page lists products without any prices. |
| Simulations and centers | Not published | Skills and simulations library, video interviews and outsourced assessment and development centers (VADC); available through sales contact only. |
Checked November 2026.
What SHL does
- OPQ personality
- A personality questionnaire in the catalog, used in selection and development, with the catalog page listing it next to the cognitive and judgement instruments. Details are catalog level.
- Global Skills Assessment
- Measures 96 behavioral skills in 15 minutes, a short format meant to give a broad profile instead of a deep test of one skill. The page gives no further scoring detail.
- Skills and simulations library
- Covers call center, business skills, coding, technical skills and language evaluation, so one vendor can supply tests for operational and professional roles. Pricing per area is not shown.
- Sheldon support chat
- Sheldon is an AI support chat for quick answers and guidance on the site, which supports buyers rather than scoring candidates. It supports buyers and does not score candidates.
- EU AI Act guidance
- A page of guidance on the EU AI Act sits on the site, useful context for employers that use automated screening within the European Union.
How SHL handles your data
SHL's privacy notice says personal data is kept as long as reasonably necessary to provide services, with no periods, and that staff in other countries may process it with transfer safeguards. SHL US LLC is certified to the EU-U.S., UK Extension and Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Frameworks. The notice gives contact addresses in Utrecht and England but no registered country for the controller. A Security and Compliance page exists that we did not open, so SOC and ISO status are not confirmed, and hosting region and training use are not stated.
Where SHL falls short in practice
- No visible pricing. The only purchase route is a Buy Online link and no prices or tiers appear on the pages opened, which makes budgeting a conversation with sales.
- AI not described for candidates. The pages opened mention an AI support chat and AI Readiness content but no AI scoring or proctoring, so AI claims for the assessments themselves cannot be checked.
- Unclear controller location. The registered country of the controller is not stated, and Galileo, mentioned on the page, is a Josh Bersin Company product rather than SHL's. Ask which entity contracts.
Works with
Alternatives to SHL
SHL: common questions
Does SHL use AI to score candidates?
The pages we opened name Sheldon, an AI support chat, and AI Readiness content, but they do not describe AI scoring or AI proctoring for candidates. The catalog page does not detail AI features of the assessments. Ask SHL which products use machine learning and what documentation exists for them.
How do you buy SHL assessments?
The site shows a Buy Online link to the SHL online store and no prices on the catalog or homepage. Larger programs go through sales conversations. Ask which products can be bought online, what minimum quantities apply and whether an enterprise agreement changes the price.
What is the SHL Global Skills Assessment?
It is a catalog product that measures 96 behavioral skills in 15 minutes. The site presents it alongside OPQ personality, SHL Verify cognitive and situational judgement tests. Ask for validity evidence for the roles you hire and how scores map to your own competency framework.
Which privacy frameworks does SHL name?
The privacy notice states that SHL US LLC is certified to the EU-U.S., UK Extension and Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Frameworks. A Security and Compliance page exists, which we did not open, so SOC and ISO status are unconfirmed. Ask for current reports before a security review.
Does SHL have guidance on the EU AI Act?
Yes, the site has an EU AI Act guidance page. We did not rely on its contents here. Employment screening AI is treated as high risk under the Act, so ask SHL which of your chosen products it considers to be in scope and what documentation it provides.