Want to know quickly what we think? Our favorite is Resume.io because has a clean interface, helps you build your resume, and has a built-in tracking feature.
Resume builders are cheap, easy to use tools that help with layout, keywords, design and formatting of your resume.
Our research team analyzed and used 21 different resume builders to figure out which were the easiest to use and produced the highest quality resumes. We compared their templates, user interfaces, and any additional tools they provided to help with resume building and job searching. In the end, we were left with our finalists, all of which can help you build a custom, eye-catching resume from scratch at little or no cost.
We put together this guide to the best resume builders to help you choose the one that’s right for you. For more extensive help with crafting your resume, I suggest using resume writing services such as TopStack Resume. With TopStack Resume, you pay AFTER you view the first draft of your resume.
Check out our reviews below to learn more about each resume builder and who it’s best for.
The 5 Best Resume Builders in 2024
- Resume.io - Best Overall
- JobScan - Best For ATS Optimization
- Resumonk - Best Budget-Friendly Option
- MyPerfectResume - Best For Resume Assistance And Extra Tools
- VisualCV - Best For Online Resumes
Other Resume Builders We Considered
We also considered these 17 resume builders, but they didn’t make our final cut. Some were too bland while others had a cluttered and confusing interface that made for a frustrating experience. But if you’re not happy with any of our top picks, you may find something you like with one of these.
- Career Igniter
- Creddle
- CVMaker
- Enhancv
- DoYouBuzz
- Ineedaresume
- Kukook Resumes
- LiveCareer Resume Builder
- Qwilr Resume Builder
- Resume.com
- Resume Genius
- Resunate
- Standard Resume
- Super Resume
- Uptowork
- Vizualize.m
Full Reviews of the Best Resume Builders
Resume.io - Best Overall
Resume.io is the best resume builder for customizing your resume for each specific job application. In addition to helping you build your resume, Resume.io has an applicant tracking feature that helps you track the employers and jobs you apply to.
Where It Excels
- User friendly. Resume.io has a clean, uncluttered, easy-to-use interface. Creating a resume with Resume.io is done in three simple steps. First, you add content using their fill-in-the-blank prompts. Second, you choose your colors and template style. Third, you download. Resume.io walks you through this three-step process so that you don’t have to worry about writer’s block or feeling overwhelmed.
- Personalized. It lets you fully customize your resume depending on your desired career.
- Tracker. You can track your job applications with Resume.io.
- Interview Assistance. Interview School access with videos of interview examples to help you prepare better.
- 7-day money-back guarantee. This lets you cancel a subscription if you are not satisfied with them.
Where It Falls Short
- Variety. Resume.io only offers 12 template varieties, which is less than some of the other companies we reviewed. However, that also may help eliminate some decision fatigue by having fewer templates to choose from.
Pricing
- Free Plan: $0 (resume can only be downloaded for free as a TXT file)
- 7-Day Trial: $2.95
- 6 Month Subscription: $44.95
- 12 Month Subscription: $74.95
Create A Professional Resume In Minutes Use professional field-tested resume templates that follow the exact ‘resume rules’ employers look for. 
JobScan - Best For ATS Optimization
JobScan specializes in making sure your resume passes the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Different companies use different ATS for screening. JobScan stays up-to-date on the research of the top systems and provides you with ATS-specific tips for your resume.
Where It Excels
- User friendly. JobScan’s site is easy to use, and you are guided through every step. You can import your existing resume and then add a job you want to apply for, to see how well your resume stacks up compared to the job description.
- ATS assistance. JobScan will provide specific ATS tips based on the resume you upload. JobScan will also run a skill keyword comparison. This will review the hard and soft skills and keywords that appear most often in the job description and see how your resume stacks up.
- Tracker. The JobScan platform also allows you to track the jobs you have applied to, versions of your resume and interviews you have landed.
Where It Falls Short
- Not for beginners. JobScan is ideal for those with a solid resume, as it focuses on refining your content through keywords, skills, and ATS tips. Formatting assistance is not provided, but JobScan Premium members can use Power Edit to upload a docx file, edit their resume based on keyword and formatting suggestions, see their score increase as they work, and export the final resume.
Pricing
- Free version: $0
- Monthly: $49.95 per month
- One Month Free: $89.95 every three months after trial
Pricing is upfront and easy to understand. Each plan builds on the previous plan and offers a variety of services including power edits for resumes, ATS job matches, cover letter templates and more.
Get ATS-Friendly Resume Templates Optimize your resume to get more interviews
Resumonk - Best Budget-Friendly Option
Resumonk has an impressive library of professional resume templates, and resources to help you get the most out of your resume if you're on a budget. They have a list of over 500 resume keywords, that really comes in hand when most companies are using computers to scan your resume first.
Where It Excels
- User friendly. Resumonk's tools are easy to use, and they walk you through every step of data entry. You can even import your Linkedin profile to populate your background and specifics. This comes in handy in a pinch.
- Versatile. Resumonk can handle multiple resumes. This is super helpful if you want to tailor your resume to specific employers. They can also handle your cover letter and CV templates. Uploading photos and selecting different fonts is also a breeze.
- Affordable. Perhaps the best part of Resumonk is their pricing. For not that much money, you can buy unlimited access to Resumonk.
Where It Falls Short
- Simple. Overall design of the site is "no frills." It doesn't do a lot of extra services such as full resume writing, or distribution. Resumonk is designed to do one thing - get a time and budget crunched job seeker a great looking resume. So if you think you need some extra help, choose one of our other top pics.
Pricing
- Free version: $0 (this includes Resumonk branding)
- Premium plan: $29 (access for 1 year)
- Forever plan: $99 (access forever)
Pricing is upfront and easy to understand. The average employee will change jobs 5 times in their career, to me it makes sense to pay up for the Forever plan if you can afford it.
Get Professional Resume Templates On A Budget Unlock the Power of AI to Craft Your Perfect Resume
MyPerfectResume - Best For Resume Assistance And Extra Tools
MyPerfectResume walks you through every step of the resume-building process from choosing a template to showcasing your skills. It gives you suggestions on how to increase your appeal to employers, so it’s a great choice if you’re new to resumes or need help with self-promotion. The company also offers professional resume writing and a suite of other career resources that could make it your one-stop-shop for job hunting.
Where It Excels
- Personalized. MyPerfectResume starts with a short quiz to identify any unique challenges in your work history, such as gaps, or career change. Based on your answers, it suggests a layout and industry-specific phrases to modify as desired. You can edit sections in any order and return to them anytime.
- Extra features. MyPerfectResume offers a resume builder, cover letter assistance, and customization services. The Auto Cover Letter tool creates custom letters based on job postings. The Resume Customizer scans postings for keywords and offers tailored advice. For a fee, you can also have your resume professionally written or reviewed.
- Job search. MyPerfectResume serves as a job site too and once you’ve completed your profile, you’ll begin to see new jobs that match your skills in your dashboard. Clicking on one will bring up the job details and information about how well you fit what the company is looking for. If it’s something you’re interested in, click on the link and you’ll be redirected to the application page. Your dashboard also contains job search advice, including advice on how to answer common interview questions.
Where It Falls Short
- No free trials. You can create a resume for free on MyPerfectResume, but you have to sign up for a subscription in order to download or print it. Plans start at $2.95 for 14 days’ full access. This could be all you need, but you have to remember to unsubscribe before the two weeks are up or you’ll start getting billed monthly.
- Limited. MyPerfectResume has 12 templates to choose from, but you can’t alter the layout, fonts or color scheme in any way. It would be nice to have this option, but unless design is a top priority for you, its omission shouldn’t be a concern. The available templates are clean and professional and there are options to suit every style.
Pricing
- 14-Day Full Access: $2.95, then $24.95
- Monthly Access: $71.40/year
- Professional Resume Review: $19.95
- Cover Letter Writing: $60
- Resume Writing - Early Career: $99
- Resume Writing - Experience Pro: $199
- Resume Writing - Leaders & Specialists: $299
Read the complete My Perfect Resume Review.
Create Your Perfect Resume Today Build a professional resume in minutes 
VisualCV- Best For Online Resumes
You can download and print resumes from VisualCV, but it’s best for those who already have a resume online and would like to keep it that way. Its Pro subscription plan includes a personal link on the VisualCV site. You can also use a custom domain if you have a website of your own. Analytics help you track when and how often your resume is viewed, so you can try out different versions and see what kind of a response you get. Unfortunately, none of these services are included in the free plan, so you’ll have to subscribe for access.
Where It Excels
- User Friendly. VisualCV can help you get to work quickly, whether you’re editing an existing resume or starting from scratch. You can import your LinkedIn profile or choose a blank template and start writing. VisualCV also provides sample resumes and CVs for a variety of industries, and starting with one of these can give you suggestions on what to include. Editing text is as simple as clicking and typing and all changes are automatically saved. You can alter the layout and template at any time and make edits to the fonts and margins.
- Tracker. The Pro plan gives you access to all templates and a personal domain name where an online copy is stored. You can direct employers here or replace the VisualCV domain name with your own website domain, if you have one. Your online account tracks how many times your resume has been viewed and downloaded. Multiple versions are tracked separately, so you can see which one performs the best. And when you do need a paper copy, you can export it as either a PDF or a Google Doc.
Where It Falls Short
- Limited free version. VisualCV’s free plan comes with a number of restrictions that limit its usefulness. There are only three free templates to choose from and all of them are fairly basic. They come with VisualCV branding on the bottom of every page, which undermines the professional appearance most people are looking for. The free plan can be a good introduction to VisualCV’s tool and features.
Pricing
- Free account: $0
- Pro Plan: $13/month, paid quarterly or $20/month paid monthly
Create An Online Resume Quickly VisualCV is everything you need to create an online resume and make your next career move.
Resume Builder vs Resume Writing Service: What Matters for You
When creating a resume, you have a few choices. You can do it yourself, use a resume builder or hire a professional resume writer to create one for you. The right choice for you depends on your writing skills, time and budget.
Do-It-Yourself
You always have the option of building a resume completely on your own. The advantage of this is that it’s free, but it takes a lot more effort on your part. In addition to writing all the content, you also have to be the graphic designer. That’s great if you have these skills, but if you don’t, you’re limited in what you’re able to create. A resume builder or a professional resume writing service can assist with this.
Resume Builder
A resume builder tool enables you to enter your information into a template, so you get an original look and layout without having to do any design work yourself. The best resume builder tools also give you advice on how to improve your resume and customize it to suit the job you’re applying for. You’re still responsible for writing the content yourself, but once you have it written, you can plug that information into any other template with just a few clicks. A few of these services are free — and many like to advertise that they are — but most require you to pay at least a few dollars if you want to download your resume once it’s finished
AI Resume Builder
AI resume builders are another option. Unlike traditional resume builders that rely on pre-defined templates and user input, AI resume builders harness the power of artificial intelligence to offer personalized suggestions, optimize content, and even generate entire sections of a resume based on the user's professional background and job aspirations.
This innovative approach ensures that each resume is not only tailored to the job seeker's unique profile but also optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that many employers use to screen resumes.
AI resume builders stand out by providing a more interactive and intelligent process. They can analyze job descriptions and match the user's experience and skills with what employers are looking for, suggesting specific improvements and highlighting skills that should be emphasized. This level of customization goes beyond the capabilities of traditional resume builders, offering a more dynamic and effective way to create a resume that stands out.
Professional Resume Writing Services
Professional resume writing services are often expensive, but they take all the work off your hands. A professional writer will gather information about you and your work history and turn it into a dynamic, original resume. It usually takes a few days to create one of these, and the originality of the final product largely depends on the company and the writer you choose. We don’t discuss these services in this guide. If you want to learn more, check out our professional resume writing services review where TopResume is our preferred pick.
How We Chose the Best Resume Builders
When evaluating resume builders, we focused on three main things: ease of use, customization, and extra job search tools.
Ease Of Use
The whole point of using a resume builder is to simplify the process of creating a resume. A confusing tool that keeps you jumping through hoops doesn’t fit that bill. We made sure that all of our recommendations were simple and easy to use with clear instructions on how to edit, save, and download your resume when it’s finished. We also looked at how easy it was to transfer your information between templates and whether you could upload an existing resume or LinkedIn profile so you don’t have to start from scratch.
Extras
Extras are additional services provided by the resume builder to assist you in finding and securing a job. For example, VisualCV offers a personalized web page for your resume and analytics to track how many people are seeing it. These additional services are often part of a monthly subscription, although there are some, like a cover letter and professional resume writing, that can be purchased for a one-time fee. These services aren’t for everyone, but they can be useful if you want a little extra assistance with your job hunt.
A Note On Price
There are a number of resume builders that claim to be free, but when you try to download your completed product, you’re asked to upgrade your account in order to do so. Many of these sites sign you up for a subscription when you do this, and if you don’t unsubscribe, you’ll start seeing monthly charges on your credit card bill. Look into what you’re paying for and how often you’ll be charged before you hand over any money. And if you’re not interested in any services beyond resume creation, make sure you unsubscribe as soon as you’ve completed your resume.
Customization
A good resume builder gives you plenty of opportunities to customize your resume to suit your style. That process begins with a good selection of basic templates. Ideally, you’d also be able to edit the color scheme and layout and add sections as needed. The best resume builders help you customize the content as well. MyPerfectResume, for example, takes you through a questionnaire designed to pick out the best template for your situation and then gives you suggestions of specific phrases you can use to make yourself stand out from other candidates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a good resume?
A good resume quickly conveys who you are, what your skills are and why you’d be a good fit for the company you’re applying to. There are many different opinions on how to do this, and the right approach for you will depend on your background and experiences. Below, we’ve listed a few basic guidelines that should help you improve any resume.
Get the employer’s attention
A recent Ladders study showed that employers spend six seconds on average reading each resume — that’s it. So your first goal is to keep them reading past that. Start with an executive summary that explains why you’d be a good choice for the position. Avoid generic phrases like “Enthusiastic, hard worker looking for an exciting new opportunity.” That statement could apply to hundreds of applicants and it doesn’t say why you, specifically, would be a good fit.
Instead, talk about how the skills you have would translate well to the position you’re applying to. Don’t go too deep into your credentials here. There’s plenty of room for that in the later sections of your resume. Keep it to three or four sentences that contain the most pertinent information an employer should know about you. Think about it like an elevator pitch. You only have a few moments to make an impression, so you want to use them wisely.
Want to expand your job search? Check out our list of free job posting sites to know where employers are posting!
List specific achievements
Your resume will be more impactful if you provide specific details about your professional accomplishments. For example, “Managed a team of 20 salespeople and increased company revenue by 5 percent over six months” says far more about your capabilities than “Effective sales manager who helps promote company growth.” The more detail you give prospective employers, the more they’ll remember you. In most cases, it’s best to list your work history and achievements in reverse chronological order so the most recent information is at the top.
Customize your resume for the position
Look through the posting for the job you’re applying to and make note of any key skills and phrases that are used. Employ these same words in your own resume and call out your prior experiences that match the requirements on the job listing. Some large companies that receive thousands of resumes a year use special software to scan for keywords and filter out those that don’t have them. By tailoring your resume to the job you’re applying to, you stand a better chance of making it through these filters and getting in front of a hiring manager.
Limit it to one page
Keep your resume to a single page whenever possible, unless doing so would cause it to look cluttered. Eliminate any fluffy words and don’t use pronouns. Write concisely and avoid large blocks of text. These often get skipped, especially when yours is the 30th application a hiring manager has looked at in the last half hour. There’s always time to go into greater detail at a job interview, but first you have to get there, and you’ll have better luck if your resume is short and to the point.
Be professional
Your resume should be neat and well-organized. Don’t go over the top with a bunch of different fonts and a large photo of yourself. These are distracting and can quickly eat up the precious few seconds most employers will spend looking at your resume. Proofread the document before you send it out. This is especially important when writing is part of the job description, but it applies to everyone. Poor grammar and misspelled words impress no one.
What's the difference between a resume and a CV and which do I need?
A resume and a curriculum vitae (CV) are both summaries of your professional history and accomplishments, but they’re formatted slightly differently and used in different settings. A resume is a short, one-page summary that highlights your education, work history and professional accomplishments. A CV covers all of this as well as awards, professional licenses and published research in a detailed two- to three-page document.
A resume will suffice for most jobs, except certain academic and scientific posts. When applying for a professorship, for example, employers want to make sure candidates are knowledgeable and well-known in their field, so they need details about your previous work, including grants you’ve received and any studies or research you’ve been a part of. Many international positions require CVs as well, so keep this in mind if you’re considering a move overseas. A job posting should specify whether a resume or CV is preferred, so check the listing to make sure you’re sending the right one.
When choosing a resume builder, make sure you pick one that accommodates the type of document you need. All of them should be able to assist you in creating a resume, but some don’t have any CV templates. This doesn’t mean you can’t use them. It’ll just take more work to customize the template so that it contains all the additional sections you need. Or you can always choose a tool like SlashCV that was originally designed with CVs in mind.
What do I put on my resume if I have little to no experience?
Everyone finds themselves in this position when they’re first starting out. A short work history can make writing a resume more challenging, but there are a few simple things you can do to make yourself stand out from the other recent high school and college grads.
Focus on your skills
Employers want to know why you’re valuable to them. Having a list of previous achievements to point to is useful, but it’s not necessary. Talk about the skills you bring to the table and how that fits in with the job’s requirements. Things like time management, problem-solving, research and organizational skills will be welcome in almost every profession. And if you are fortunate enough to have some internships or work experience under your belt, you should also list these, even if they weren’t in your field. Any consistent job experience demonstrates that you’re responsible enough to show up and do the work that’s asked of you.
Limit talk about your education
Education is an important part of everyone’s resume, but it’s generally less important than your skills and professional accomplishments. Some recent graduates are tempted to focus heavily on the education section of their resume to make up for their short work history, but this is often less effective than emphasizing your skills. Remember, employers are more concerned with what you can do for them than what you’ve done in the past.
Try to gain some experience
If you’re sending out your resume and not getting any responses, it may be worth exploring internship or volunteer opportunities in your field. Even if they don’t pay, they can give you the experience you need to get your foot in the door. They can also teach you more about what you want to do and how you work best. Some companies will even hire interns on for a full-time position after the program is over.
Bottom Line
Using a resume builder can help your resume stand out from others and increase your odds of passing the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). If you don’t know where to start, we would recommend taking advantage of TopResume’s free resume review.
