The best resume builders oftentimes come with generative AI tools to streamline the resume writing process and optimize your documents for applicant tracking systems (ATS). They’re also packed with helpful features, including unique yet professional templates that make your application stand out from the crowd. After building our own resumes using a plethora of sites, we named Kickresume our top choice for most job seekers thanks to its simple interface, worthwhile AI tools and sizable template library.
The best resume builders can help you take the next steps in your career.
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILER
Aside from Kickresume, we picked five other resume builders to that appeal to a variety of job seekers. There’s Zety, which breaks down resume writing into easy-to-follow steps, and Resume Now helps you create professional documents in just 15 minutes. Below, see our full list of the best resume builders. If you’d prefer more hands-on assistance to land that dream role, check out our guide to the best resume writing services.
Subscription: Starts at $7/month | Free options: Yes | Number of templates: 44 | Cover letter included: Yes
Pros:
Solid AI tools
Large template library
Optional proofreading service
Transparent pricing for paid services
Cons:
Limited options for free templates
Customer service usually takes a day to reply
Kickresume earned our title of the best resume builder overall because its AI features make creating a resume from scratch quick and easy regardless of your desired role or skill level. Built upon OpenAI’s GPT-4 large language model, Kickresume’s AI tool kit produces text that’s indistinguishable from human writers. When I tested out the free version of the service, it produced well-written bullet points that describe the average responsibilities of my job title. Plus, it allowed me to edit the AI-produced text to make sure my skills and experiences are highlighted to my liking. Because the company’s AI tool does a lot of the initial brainstorming for you, I was able to build out a satisfactory resume and cover letter in less than 20 minutes.
Aside from AI features, Kickresume comes with a robust library of ATS-friendly templates–including a handful of free options–that make your resume pop. There’s also optional proofreading services, personal website templates, interview prep and chat support. If you prefer to work off your phone instead of a computer, you can use the dedicated mobile app, available on iOS and Android.
Best Budget Resume Builder
Completely Free With Indeed Integration
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTOS: RESUME.COM
Resume.com
Subscription: None | Free options: Yes | Number of templates: 15 | Cover letter included: Yes
Pros:
Free to use
Integrated with Indeed
PDF export makes applying easy
Cons:
Limited templates
Indeed resume is set to public by default
If you’re seeking to build a resume without breaking the bank, Resume.com is a solid choice. With no subscription or membership fees, Resume.com lets you create multiple resumes, edit them and download them free of charge. There are 15 different resume templates to choose from, and they can be paired with one of six cover letter templates. When I tried to fill out one of Resume.com’s templates myself, I found that it was easy enough to complete. For each section–from work experience to the professional summary–Resume.com provides tips and examples, which makes creating a good resume a little easier.
Integrated with Indeed, Resume.com asks that you sign in with your Indeed account before you export your resume. You can also link the resume to your Indeed profile, but it will be set to public by default. Like Kickresume, the website offers a generative AI writing tool. However, it takes a bit longer to use, as you need to copy and paste the job description of the role you’re applying for before it can provide a response.
Best Fast Resume Builder
Speedy And Efficient AI Features That Save Time
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTOS: RESUME NOW
Resume Now
Subscription: $5.85/month | Free options: No | Number of templates: 40+ | Cover letter included: Yes
Pros:
Powerful AI tools speed up the building process
Live customer support for extra assistance
Cons:
Pricing isn’t transparent
No one-time download option
Resume Now is one of the fastest resume-building tools available, in part because of its AI tools that suggest content based on your previous roles. The company’s website says you can “write a resume in just 15 minutes” using them. When I tried the AI tools out myself, that timeframe was pretty accurate. From start to finish, it took me between 10 to 15 minutes to build a basic resume that lists my skills, experiences, education and certifications. The AI tools are fairly easy to use, too. They give you the option to generate content based on your prompts or enhance the pre-existing writing in your resume. There’s also a built-in spell check feature to catch any typos.
That said, the pricing isn’t transparent. While building a resume is free, it starts at $1.45 for 14-day limited access and then $5.85/month in order to take advantage of the full suite of Resume Now’s features.
Best Simple Resume Builder
Follow Along With Easy Steps And Tips
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTOS: ZETY
Zety
Subscription: $5.95/month | Free options: Yes | Number of templates: 60+ | Cover letter included: Yes
Pros:
Easy to follow instructions
Automatically suggests content
Completeness bar keeps track of your progress
Cons:
Free option only allows text file downloads
No live customer service text chat
Zety holds your hand through each part of the resume writing process, from listing your skills and education to word-smithing your work experience descriptions. You start by answering, “How long have you been working?” From there, Zety suggests dozens of resume templates that are suitable for your work experience. It then takes you through each section of the resume building process, which you answer by filling in various fields. It also provides “pro tips” and automatically generates bulleted descriptions to help list your experiences in the best possible way. My favorite part is the completeness bar that keeps tabs on your progress as you fill out each section. It kept me motivated and gave me a sense of how much farther I had to go.
Zety’s Basic Package is free, but you can only download it as a text (.txt) file. The Pro Package, which lets you export in PDF and .doc. files, costs $1.95 for a 14-day trial and then $5.95 per month. It also opens up other premium features like resume scoring and job matching.
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Resume.io
Resume.io
Used by job-seekers to generate over 40 million resumes to date, Resume.io offers a wide range of templates to suit both your career field and your professional style. Once you select a template, you can build your resume from scratch or let the website’s powerful AI tools do the work by pulling from an existing document or your LinkedIn profile. Plus, if you share a job description, the builder will suggest keywords to optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems. While a free Resume.io account lets you download one resume as a TXT file, a Premium subscription provides full use of the builder (including unlimited PDF downloads), as well as access to 17 other professional resources including a job tracker, interview simulator, career exploration tool and more.
Best Straightforward Resume Builder
A Simple-To-Follow Three Step Process
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTOS: MYPERFECTRESUME
MyPerfectResume
Subscription: $7.95/month | Free options: Yes | Number of templates: 60+ | Cover letter included: Yes
Pros:
Simple interface
Many template options
Completeness bar tracks your progress
Cons:
Non-transparent pricing
Free option only allows text file downloads
MyPerfectResume is quick and easy to use in my experience. It breaks down the resume building process into three simple-to-follow steps: Pick one of the templates, build your resume by following the website’s step-by-step instructions and then tweak the content to your preferences. In fact, it has a very similar interface to Zety with straightforward steps and a completeness bar that tracks your progress. You start by answering how long you’ve been working, and based on your experience level, you’re guided down a specific path with relevant templates.
Its quirk: you can’t see how much it costs to download your resume until after you build it. While downloading a text file is free, it costs $2.95 for a 14-day trial and then $7.95 per month to download other formats and take advantage of more advanced features.
Best Value Resume Builder
An Affordable Option With Plenty Of Features
ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTOS: RESUMECOMPANION
ResumeCompanion
Subscription: $7.95/month | Free options: No | Number of templates: 16 | Cover letter included: Yes
Pros:
Simple to follow and fill out
Over a dozen template options
Job search and tracking tools available
Cons:
Can’t edit old resumes without subscription
ResumeCompanion is a no-frills resume builder that allows you to create professional-looking documents without hassle. Like many of the other services on our list, ResumeCompanion breaks down each section into easy-to-fill-out fields. It also generates content suggestions based on your work experience to help you put your best foot forward. When I built my own resume using ResumeCompanion, I noticed that there were over a dozen sleek and professional templates that would be suitable for a variety of roles. This was a nice change of pace compared to some of the other resume builders’ templates I’ve seen with vivid colors and creative details that could be a bit over the top for some people.
There isn’t a free download option available, but ResumeCompanion does provide a few extras with its $7.95 per month subscription fee, including tracking tools to help you in your job search.
Updates writer Alexandra Garrett helps cover all things tech. She has experience writing and reviewing everything from laptops to headphones and software services.
For this guide, Garrett tested out each of the resume builders on our list by creating her own resume using the free version of the websites.
This article and its updates are overseen by consumer tech editor Rebecca Isaacs. Isaacs has worked as a tech journalist for five years and regularly attends trade shows and tech conferences to report on the latest products to hit the market.
We also consulted several resume experts while writing this guide, including head of operations and partnerships at Huntr.co, Sam Wright, as well as former career coach and current co-founder of Careerspan Logan Currie.
How We Chose The Best Resume Builders
Resume builders can seem similar at first glance. To determine which ones are truly the best, we leveraged our testing experience and robust research to compare key features. By deep diving into specifications, we were able to weigh the advantages of each service and ultimately narrow down the field to the six resume builders above.
We sought out reputable resume builders with a proven track record for producing professional documents. To do this, we consulted customer reviews and tried out the services ourselves–we created our own resume using the free version of each website.
Every resume builder offers a unique suite of features. To separate the wheat from the chaff, we examined each services’ user interface, AI tools, template options and customer support, along with additional job search resources like informational blog posts and interview prep.
Because no two job seekers are the same, we made sure to include a variety of resume builders to cater to a plethora of needs, including professionals who need a speedy resume in less than 15 minutes and novices who need easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which Is The Best Resume Builder?
According to former career coach and current co-founder of Careerspan Logan Currie, a good resume builder should focus on storytelling. “The most important feature isn’t a template or an ATS checker–It’s the ability to help you identify and articulate your unique value proposition," says Currie. When it comes to which resume builder does this best, we recommend Kickresume for most people. Its interface streamlines the resume-making process, so you can focus on telling your unique story. It also offers a suite of worthwhile extras, such as proofreading services, personal website templates, interview prep, chat support and a mobile app.
Is It Worth Paying For A Resume Builder?
Resume builders help take some of the guesswork out of creating professional-looking documents. They often come with step-by-instructions, handy tips and optimized templates that help you get your foot in the door. In short, they help you save time and curb the stress of applying for new roles.
What Is An ATS-Friendly Resume?
An ATS-friendly resume is a document that is written and formatted to be easy to read by the applicant tracking system software commonly used by employers to sort through candidates before they reach a human HR representative. Most of the resume builders on our list offer templates that are designed with ATS software in mind.
That said, you can also run an ATS check. “Many builders and free online tools offer quick compatibility scans,” says Sam Wright, head of operations and partnerships at Huntr.co. “Always message the support chat of these tools and ask if they tested the templates against the big ATS systems [including] Greenhouse [and] Workday.”
