If you’re reading this post, there’s a high chance that you’re trying to work out if you’re an INTP vs. ENTP personality type. These two types are sometimes confused because they share a number of characteristics. Both types are resourceful, intellectual, and creative. They also have an incredible ability to think outside the box.
But there are also some core differences between how these types think and experience the world. In this post, we explore these differences. If you’re unclear about your type, we hope this helps you.
So here are five differences between the INTP vs. ENTP personality types:
1. Communication style.
INTPs and ENTPs are both direct and logic-oriented in the way they communicate. While both have strong opinions and stand up for what they think is right, ENTPs tend to be more outspoken than INTPs.
INTPs tend to speak in a quieter voice and come across as reserved. They listen more than they talk and sometimes drift off because they get caught up in their thoughts. When having a conversation, INTPs will likely use subtle gestures.
In general, INTPs will keep their thoughts to themselves when they first meet people. Nonetheless, they are genuinely curious about other people’s points of view, and when they are interested in a topic, they will ask a lot of questions.
INTPs can need time to collect their thoughts, and they might not always respond in the moment. On the other hand, ENTPs tend to speak more loudly. They come across as energetic and enthusiastic.
ENTPs often use broad gestures to communicate their thoughts and tend to be comfortable initiating conversations, certainly more so than INTPs.
In addition, ENTPs are generally more comfortable with eye contact. They come across as friendly, even though, in reality, they may take a while to open up.
ENTPs often clarify their thoughts by talking through things, which means their opinions may change quite literally as they are speaking. They may restate their thoughts and will often seek input from others.
2. Making decisions.
INTPs and ENTPs both make decisions based on what makes logical sense to them. This is because they have strong opinions about how things should work. In addition, both types have a deep need for things to be “correct.”
INTPs tend to take more time to make a decision. Even though there’s a high chance that they know what best aligns with what makes logical sense to them, they prefer to take time to make sure that it’s definitely the case.
Essentially, they need to run each decision through their inner framework of knowledge before coming to a conclusion. This is because INTPs are very in tune with their inner world.
ENTPs are more likely to make a decision based on what feels most natural in the moment. They make choices based on criteria similar to INTPs, but they are usually quicker to come to a conclusion about how they want to move forward.
This is because they feel less of a need to process their thoughts internally compared to INTPs. That’s not to say that ENTPs don’t think deeply. However, at times, ENTPs can be impulsive. INTPs can make rash decisions, too, but it’s a rarer occurrence.
3. Friendships.
Both INTPs and ENTPs value deep, meaningful connections. But they tend to thrive in different situations. INTPs feel most comfortable in intimate settings with a small number of people, whereas ENTPs need to engage with others more in order to feel their happiest.
INTPs prefer one-on-one interactions with people. Meeting a friend for a quiet coffee or going for a walk in the park suits an INTP perfectly. They need more alone time, too, and they can find large groups overwhelming.
This extends to the way they work. INTPs often prefer to work alone, and they can find busy offices distracting, especially if they need to concentrate. It’s fairly rare for INTPs to strike up conversations with strangers, and they will often have a small group of close friends.
ENTPs enjoy group interactions more than INTPs. They appreciate deep connections just as much, but they feel more energized from being in a bigger group.
If an ENTP spends the evening discussing abstract topics with a group of friends over dinner, they’ll come away feeling motivated and full of enthusiasm.
ENTPs feel most comfortable working with other people, and they enjoy collaborating. In addition, ENTPs are more likely than INTPs to initiate conversations with people that they don’t know, and they tend to have larger social circles.
4. Openness.
Even though it can take time for both types to truly open up, ENTPs are more open than INTPs. This is especially the case when it comes to sharing their everyday lives.
INTPs are particularly difficult to get to know. They can certainly hold a conversation when they want to, but they don’t usually give much away, particularly when you first meet them.
It might almost seem like they are guarding their thoughts and feelings. INTPs are private, which means they are careful to decide who they let into their inner world.
They aren’t necessarily shy; it’s more that they prefer to avoid spending time and energy talking about things that they don’t see as valuable or interesting. ENTPs tend to be more open. They are less cautious about what they choose to give away about themselves.
Of course, it takes time to build trust with ENTPs, more so than you might think, which means they won’t be sharing their deepest, darkest secrets with you right away. But they are more willing to talk about what’s going on in their life, how their work is going, their current passions, etc. This means it’s easier to get to know an ENTP, at least to a certain extent.
5. Solitude.
INTPs need more alone time than ENTPs because they are more sensitive to external stimuli, such as noise and bright lights.
While INTPs value deep connections, they recharge in solitude. Socializing, particularly with large groups or in loud places, can be exhausting for INTPs. They can start to feel drained quite quickly. If they don’t get enough alone time, they tend to become irritable and restless.
ENTPs tend to spend more time with people and interacting with the world than INTPs. However, it’s worth noting that ENTPs need alone time too. They’re one of the most ‘introverted extroverts’.
The main difference is that they are able to spend much longer without alone time than INTPs. Up until a point, they draw energy from social settings, particularly if the situation involves brainstorming and discussing deep topics.
INTP vs. ENTP frequently asked questions
So now we have explained the key differences between the INTP vs. ENTP personality types. Even for those who have explored personality types in depth, it can still be hard to tell the difference between these two types.
Let’s now look at some frequently asked questions about each personality to help make it clearer for you.
Are INTPs vs. ENTPs more unconventional?
It’s a tough question to answer, as it really depends on how you define “unconventional.” Overall, it’s fair to say that both INTPs and ENTPs are pretty unconventional. After all, they’re both intuitive, thinking, and perceiving personality types, which means they’re more likely to go with their gut instinct than the average person.
Plus, when it comes to social norms and expectations, both INTPs and ENTPs are pretty nonconformist. They’re the type of people who are more likely to march to the beat of their own drum, and they’re not afraid to stand up for what they believe in – even if it means going against the grain.
Where they differ slightly is that ENTPs are more likely to take risks, so they can come across as more unconventional to others. INTPs have a more inwardly focused, unconventional side.
Are INTPs vs. ENTPs more independent?
INTPs and ENTPs are both independent compared to a lot of other personality types.
However, they tend to achieve independence in different ways. ENTPs are often more outgoing and assertive than INTPs, which means they appear more independent in their actions and choices. ENTPs are also less likely to second-guess themselves, which can lead to a greater sense of confidence in their decisions.
INTPs, on the other hand, are more introspective and thoughtful in their approach to independence. They typically take more time to make decisions and may do thorough research before taking action. However, once an INTP has made up their mind, they are just as confident and self-assured as an ENTP. In general, INTPs are more self-sufficient than ENTPs and tend to need less external validation.
Are INTPs vs. ENTPs more imaginative?
When it comes to imagination, both INTPs and ENTPs tend to excel. These two personality types are often drawn to fields that combine creativity with logic. They are both highly intuitive and are inspired by the world around them.
Some might say that INTPs are more imaginative because they have a very rich inner life. INTPs are also more likely to spend time daydreaming and exploring their inner world. This allows them to come up with creative solutions, but it might take them some time.
Some people might say that ENTPs are more imaginative because they’re always coming up with new ideas and thinking outside the box. ENTPs are more likely to be drawn to outside stimulation. They are constantly seeking new experiences and adventures. While this can make them very imaginative, it can also mean that they are less able to focus on one task or project. ENTPs are more likely to be able to brainstorm in the moment.
Final thoughts on INTP vs. ENTP differences
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our individual INTP and ENTP posts, which delve deeper into each personality type. Last but not least, you might also like our blog post about INTJ vs. ENTP differences.
