Saville vs SHL: an honest look at which fits you
Both are established, research-led providers. Where they differ is what you get: a return you can demonstrate to Finance, results anyone in the business can use, and the same science from hiring through development.
Where each one is strong
Saville vs SHL comes down to fit. SHL suits organizations that want one supplier for almost every test type, including skills tests and interview technology. Saville suits teams that want a return they can model before they buy, results anyone in the business can use, and the same science from hiring through development.
Where SHL is strong
One supplier for almost everything. Cognitive tests, personality questionnaires, skills tests and interview technology sit in one catalog, so a large organization can standardize on a single provider.
Global scale. SHL says it works with more than 10,000 organizations in over 150 countries, so it can support very large, multinational hiring programs.
A self-serve route. Smaller teams can choose, buy and launch assessments online without an implementation project.
Choose SHL if you want one supplier for every assessment type, including skills tests and interview technology.
Where Saville is strong
A return you can demonstrate to Finance. Our ROI calculator models the cost of a wrong hire in your own numbers before you commit. The evidence behind it is independently reviewed: the British Psychological Society rated Wave, our suite of assessments, 27 out of 30.
Easy for anyone in the business to use. When you hire, AI can draft a Success Profile from your job description and your experts review it, cutting stakeholder time spent building Success Profiles by up to 89% (internal comparison: a 180-minute workshop against about 20 minutes of expert review). We then build the interview questions from each candidate’s results, so hiring managers know what to ask.
One science from hiring through development. The same science behind your hiring decisions runs development and high potential identification, so HR and managers work from one consistent language about people. We also offer a separate AI plugin (MCP) that draws on your Wave Connect Develop data, so a manager can ask Copilot, ChatGPT or Claude about a real person minutes before a real conversation.
Choose Saville if you want a return you can demonstrate to Finance, results anyone in the business can use, and one science from hiring through development.
What better hiring decisions are worth
Results from our own research and clients, not a comparison with SHL.
1 in 5 to around 1 in 50
We reduce the odds of a serious hiring mistake from 1 in 5 to around 1 in 50.
Source: Project Epsom, Saville Assessment validation research
+$248,000
Salespeople who performed well on our assessments sold an extra $248,000 per year on average.
Source: global insurer case study
3 weeks to 48 hours
Decision-making times cut from 3 weeks to 48 hours, with estimated cost down 70%.
Source: Jaguar Land Rover case study
What your candidates go through
With Saville, you choose the depth of assessment that fits the role, from a short behavioral read at the shortlist to a fuller questionnaire for senior hires, so candidates spend time in proportion to the job. Every candidate can get feedback, whether or not they are hired, and practice material is free before the real thing.
“Wave Connect was really easy to deploy and then interpret. It has added value to our recruitment conversations because all candidates, regardless of success in application or not, get developmental feedback impartially from the assessment. Allowed us to be specific about our requirements and shortlist in a consistent and unbiased way.”
Saville vs SHL: common questions
Yes, for organizations that want a focused set of behavioral, aptitude and leadership assessments with interview questions built from the results. If you need skills tests and interview technology from the same supplier, SHL’s broader catalog may suit you better.
Both publish research behind their assessments. We would rather point you to independent evidence than make claims about another provider: the British Psychological Society’s review rated Wave, our suite of assessments, 27 out of 30 across six technical areas.
Yes. Results can flow into the HR system you already use, or you can run everything in Wave Connect, our assessment platform. We agree the setup with you before you start, so it fits how you already work.
We price per candidate, with all reports at your level included, or pay as you go per report. Costs depend on your volumes and the roles you hire for, so the fairest comparison is a quote built on your numbers. See how our pricing works.
Yes. The same science covers hiring, development, high potential and leadership, so everyone works from one consistent language about people. Alongside our development platform, a separate AI plugin (MCP) lets people ask Copilot, ChatGPT or Claude questions answered from their Wave Connect Develop data.
See the difference in a demo
Tell us how you hire today and we will show you what changes, using your roles and your numbers.
This comparison uses information SHL publishes on its own website, reviewed on October 8, 2026. SHL and OPQ are trademarks of their owner. If anything here is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.