best free resume builder online 2022

10 Best Free Resume Builders

By Biron Clark

Published: February 15, 2024

Resume/CV | Reviews

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

There are quite a few free online resume sites, but some are MUCH better than others.

Some also appear to be free but will make you pay at the very end or you won’t be able to download your newly-created resume.

So in this article, I’m going to review the 10 best resume sites that offer completely free resume builders.

These are the websites that offer the best resume templates, best building software and user experience, and don’t charge you to download a printable resume.

Top 10 Free Online Resume Builders

1. cultivated culture.

Cultivated Culture provides free tools and information to job seekers. It’s run by Austin Belcak, who’s spent his recent career developing formulas for crafting effective resumes, writing engaging cover letters, and landing high-paying jobs at some of the world’s top companies.

His free resume builder includes eight resume templates that are ATS friendly , full design customization, and expert advice throughout the process to help you craft the perfect resume.

The tool is user-friendly and makes writing a resume simple. Here’s how it works:

• Choose your resume template.
• Select a color scheme.
• Create your resume. You’ll be able to add information to the various sections of your resume , including personal information, experience, education, and skills . You can remove and add sections as needed.
• Once you’re happy with your resume click “Finalize.” Here you’ll be able to adjust the font size, line spacing, and margins.
• Download your resume as a PDF or Word file, or save it to your Google Drive.

You can use this tool to build an unlimited number of resumes.

Cultivated Culture also offers two other free tools that will help you develop a more professional resume. They have a scanner that offers suggestions and keywords based on your desired role and also provides a feature to help you write more effective bullet points.

2. NovoResume

NovoResume is an online resume builder that offers eight free templates to choose from, a content optimizer, pre-written resume samples, a cover letter builder, and templates for your cover letter.

After you choose one of their resume template options you’re taken straight into their resume builder. You have to sign up for a free account before continuing, but this just takes a moment.

The free version of NovoResume allows you to build one single-page resume. Click on any of the resume sections to edit and customize it however you like. You can also change the font, template, design, or layout throughout the process if you’re not happy with the way it’s looking. 

If you want a little more flexibility you can upgrade to the premium resume builder, which lets you create unlimited resumes and gives you access to additional fonts, templates, and various customization options.

3. LiveCareer

LiveCareer offers a free resume builder designed by certified resume writers. They also offer example resumes, templates, a cover letter builder, cover letter templates, and everything else you need to build an eye-catching resume.

The first thing you’ll notice about their resume builder is the number of templates they offer. There are over 30 templates to choose from, which gives you the freedom to create a resume that suits you. They’ll also recommend templates for you, based on your level of experience and the job title you’re applying for.

Once you choose one of their templates you have the choice of starting from scratch or uploading your current resume for LiveCareer to reformat. 

When creating a new resume, the resume builder will walk you through each section one at a time and ask you to provide the required information. During the resume-building process, LiveCareer will suggest bullet points that are related to the job titles you list in your work experience.

They’ll even provide a pre-written summary for you based on all the information you provide (although you also have the option to write your own summary if you like).

After you’re done you can download your resume to your computer in a PDF, Word document, or plain text. 

With LiveCareer’s free resume builder, you can make multiple resumes and download them in plain text format. However, if you want unlimited downloads in Word or PDF you’ll need to upgrade to one of their premium options. While there isn’t a free 30-day trial, for just $2.95 you can try it for 14 days. However, after 14 days, the plan auto-renews at $23.95, billed every 4 weeks, unless you cancel it .

Zety offers all the tools you need to build a resume that will catch an employer’s attention. In addition to their online resume builder, they give you access to over 20 resume templates, writing tips, pre-written examples, a cover letter builder, templates for your cover letters, and more. 

Once you select one of their resume templates, you can choose to start a resume from scratch or build off of an existing document (Zety will reformat it for you).

You’ll find Zety and LiveCareer’s resume builders are virtually identical (they seem to be built on the same platform), and they have all the same features and download options. Zety also has the same payment structure, where to download multiple resumes or gain access to their more advanced tool options, you’ll need to purchase a premium subscription.

5. USA Jobs

USA Jobs provides the best resume builder software when applying for government jobs.

Their online resume builder is geared toward the exact application process and requirements of the typical government role.

(And those requirements are quite overwhelming if you haven’t applied to many government jobs in the past, so it’s fantastic that their software helps.)

You’ll need to set up an account with USA Jobs to get started, but it’s well worth it.

After joining, follow these steps to start creating a resume for government jobs:

• Sign into your account.
• Go to your Documents.
• Click “Upload” if you want to edit an existing resume or “Build Resume” if you want to create a new one.

From here, you can add text to the various sections of your resume (work experience, previous job title, education, references, etc.). There’s also a section where you can add additional information, like job training, languages, and affiliations. Once you finish your resume you’ll be able to access it in your documents list and can use it to apply to various government positions.

The big difference between USA Jobs’s resume builder and other similar tools is the amount of information it asks you to include. For example, federal government recruiters review, audit, and score a wide variety of information, and this builder ensures you don’t omit anything that the recruiters require for you to be considered.

I found out about this tool through a colleague on LinkedIn, and here’s how they explained it:

So, if you’re applying to any government jobs, this is THE resume builder to use .

6. My Perfect Resume

My Perfect Resume offers free resume builder software and over 30 proven resume templates to help you get started. They also provide a resume optimizer, cover letter builder, cover letter templates, and several different customization options to help you land your dream job.

This resume builder uses the same platform as LiveCareer and Zety. You start by indicating how long you’ve been working and based on that My Perfect Resume will recommend a few templates for you. Then they’ll walk you through each section so you can fill in the correct information. They’ll offer suggestions along the way and will even write your bullets for you if you wish.

Once you’ve completed the process you can download your resume as a PDF, Word document, or plain text file. To enjoy unlimited downloads in Word or PDF, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid account. There is no free trial, but a 14-day full access for $2.95. After two weeks, the subscription auto-renews at $23.95 billed every 4 weeks, unless you cancel it.

7. Resume.com

Resume.com is a completely free resume builder. They also offer information on how to write an effective cover letter, career advice for job seekers, and more.

Their resume builder is simple to use:

• Enter the type of job you want to apply for.
• Choose a resume template. Resume.com offers 15 different templates.
• Click on each section of the template to edit it. Tips are provided for each section to help you craft the perfect resume.
• When you’re finished, you can choose to print or download your resume as a PDF or text file.

In addition to resume building, Resume.com partnered with Indeed. You’ll use a single account for both platforms. By creating a resume, you agree to create a public resume on Indeed and to receive job opportunities from employers. However, you can change this at any point.

JobScan is known mainly for its flagship software that allows you to match your resume up to the job description before applying (also known as tailoring a resume ).

However, they recently launched a free resume builder that’s among one of the best we’ve seen. It features great resume templates and design options, and it also offers writing guides, cover letter templates, and more.

I’d certainly put this among the free best resume-making sites available right now.

Once you begin, their resume builder gives you the option of building a resume from scratch or editing an existing file. You can even download your LinkedIn profile as a PDF and parse it as an “existing resume.”

If you choose to create a new resume you’ll start by picking one of the three resume templates they have to offer. Then you’ll simply fill in the required information for each section of the resume. Additionally, unlike other resume builders, Jobscan offers 15 Google Docs resume templates, designed by their team.

JobScan provides labeled fields for all the details you need to provide for every section, and a number of these fields are required to ensure you don’t miss anything.

If you already have a resume you’re reasonably happy with you can upload it to the resume builder and JobScan will reformat it and fill in your information based on what’s provided in your resume.

Once you’re done building your professional resume you’ll have the option to scan it based on the job you’re applying for.

JobScan will give your resume a grade ( match rate score) that’s judged on several factors, including skills match, education match, ATS tips, keywords, word count, and more. Based on these results, you’ll be able to build a resume that’s perfectly suited to the job you’re applying for.

9. Kickresume

Kickresume is one of the best resume builders I was able to find while researching. You’ll have to create an account before using it, however, this process only takes a moment.

Once you’re inside the resume builder you have the option of starting a resume from scratch, importing your resume from your LinkedIn profile, using one of their example resumes, or creating a new resume with AI.

Click on the different sections and fill in the fields to make your resume. You can also add and remove sections to personalize the document.

Click “Customization” along the left-hand side to change the colors, format, font, and template. There’s also an option to have it proofread by a professional, although there is a charge for this service.

When you’re happy with your resume, click “Download” to export it as a PDF file or Word doc, email it to yourself, or save it to Dropbox.

Kickresume also has a premium option. The free option should be good enough for most, as it allows you to build unlimited resumes and gives you access to plenty of resume examples and pre-written phrases for you to use.

But if you want access to all the resume templates and tools you might want to consider the premium option. You can choose a monthly, quarterly, or yearly plan. While they don’t have a free trial they do offer a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Indeed is known mostly as a job search tool to find employment opportunities in your local area. However, the company also offers a free resume builder to help job seekers perfect their resume before applying for postings.

Once you choose one of their eight different templates you’re taken to the resume builder where you can edit the document. You can switch templates at any time, adjust the color scheme, and add or remove sections. Once you’re satisfied with what you created about can download your resume as a PDF file.

While there are better resume builders out there, if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to create a resume, this one is a good choice.

Caution: Before Using ANY Online Resume Builder

There’s one more piece of information you should know before acting on ANY of the online resume builder reviews above.

In my experience, too many job seekers focus on an eye-catching resume design when applying for jobs or emailing recruiters , but they don’t put enough focus on writing great content and information that will appeal to the reader. So no matter which of these top 10 resume builders you choose, focus mostly on the text and information you add, not the design.

In fact, I still recommend a single-column layout.

And the truth is, if I were creating my own resume today, I’d use a regular Word template, not any online software or tool.

I discussed this with a colleague on LinkedIn here:

Microsoft Office has good templates available , and Hloom is another good site for templates.

I can understand if you don’t want to tinker with resume formatting , spacing, etc., and everything that comes with creating it in a Word doc, but that’s what I’d personally do.

Just keep this in mind when choosing any drag-and-drop software above; you should always pick a design that lets you focus on the content and info because that’s what employers want to see. Don’t choose a format that doesn’t give much space to describe your recent work, accomplishments, etc.

Because the FIRST place I look as a recruiter is your work history, under your one or two most recent roles.

I’d also never recommend a resume layout that doesn’t begin with your employment history on the top half of page 1.

Employment experience is often the first thing hiring managers look for (unless you’re an entry-level job seeker), and you should never make them scroll far down the page (or look on page 2) to find it.

Conclusion: Choosing the Best Online Resume Site for You

There isn’t one single best resume builder for all people in all industries, but the 10 choices above provide good, basic options that are user-friendly and will impress hiring managers.

I recommend visiting a few of the sites above and seeing which builder and templates look best to you. Each site offers different features/options, so you’ll want to get a sense of which one feels best to you before creating and downloading a resume.

And if you read my “Caution” statement above and decide to build your own resume in a document rather than in an online app, I have many free resources to help you here.

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

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The 17 Best Free Resume Builders We've Ever Discovered

Updated: April 25, 2024

Published: March 19, 2019

According to GetFive, only 30% of resumes are approved by applicant tracking systems (ATS). Once the resumes are approved, a hiring manager will only spend an average of six seconds reading each resume.

If those stats stress you out, I hear you. Writing a great resume that gets you noticed is tough — that’s why I’m here to encourage you to try a resume builder.

In this post, I've compiled a list of the best free resume builders that will help you create a personalized professional resume that passes ATS, stands out to the hiring manager, and helps you land your next job interview.

12 Free Customizable Resume Templates

Fill out this form to access your free professionally-designed templates, available on:

• Microsoft Word
• Google Docs
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Google Slides

Download Free

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Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Why use a resume builder?

Writing a polished resume is second nature for some job applicants. But for others (and maybe most of us), creating a strong resume can be a struggle.

If you're one of the many people who need a little extra support, here are a few ways I think a resume builder can help out.

Resume builders offer templates, clean designs, and tips that speed up resume writing. They also make the process less stressful.

Offers Writing Tips

It takes a lot of work to promote yourself. And even if you enjoy self-promotion, writing isn't a skill everyone has. A resume builder can help you use the best words and phrases to show your experience and knowledge.

Improves Design

Each industry has different expectations for what a great resume looks like. If you're not familiar with design skills or tools, resume builders offer free templates to make your resume look as good as it sounds.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Recruiters often use ATS systems to scan resumes. And a good resume builder will help with formatting to make sure that your resume is easy for these systems to read.

Best Free Resume Builders

• Zety: Best for Expert Resume Creation Tips
• Resume Genius: Best for Easy and Fast Resume Creation
• Wepik: Best for Customizing Pre-Made Resumes
• My Perfect Resume: Best for Guided Resume Creation Help
• Standard Resume: Best for Active LinkedIn Users
• Kickresume: Best for Quick and AI-Assisted Resume Creation
• Canva: Best for Design Creativity and Expression
• Pixpa: Best for Creating Online Resume Websites
• Indeed: Best for In-Platform Job Seekers
• Resume.com: Best for Minimalist Resume Creation
• Novoresume: Best for ATS-Friendly Resume Building
• VisualCV: Best for Multimedia Resumes
• CakeResume: Best for Resumes With an Online Portfolio
• Resume Now: Best for Time-Saving Resume Creation
• ResumeNerd: Best for Resume Writing Help
• Jofibo: Best for Comprehensive Guides
• Hloom: Best for Resume Templates

We’ve discovered the best free resume builders on the market. These resume builders are great for all jobseekers, from entry-level to executive level.

Each free resume builder has a simple interface, customization options, and templates that help you create the perfect resume for your next job.

Featured Resource : HubSpot Resume Templates

Image Source

Zety is an excellent online resume builder because of its state-of-the-art templates. You can quickly start from scratch and input your information, or upload an existing resume.

I enjoyed this feature because it saves a lot of time if you already have a resume and want that as your starting point.

My favorite element of this tool, though, is that the site will walk you through the process. All you need to do is fill out the information, and then — voila! You have a resume.

In order to download your resume, you’ll need to make an account, and then pay for a 14-day access fee, which is $1.95. If you decide to pay the fee, you’re then granted unlimited downloads and edits.

It’s available in .pdf, a .docx, or .txt formatting.

Zety is best for those looking for expert help in creating their resumes. The tool provides tips and prompts to help you create the content for your resume . There are also a variety of customization options to ensure your resume fits your needs.

Available Resume Templates

There are 18 resume templates to choose from, including Cascade, Crisp, and Concept.

Zety is a fast and easy resume-building tool and I like that it offers writing help at crucial moments in the process. But you won't be able to take advantage of its simple and attractive resume templates without paying a small fee.

2. Resume Genius : Best for Easy and Fast Resume Creation

Resume Genius is undoubtedly one of the easiest and fastest free resume tools you have at your disposal.

With a clean and easy-to-use interface, the tool walks you (speedily) through the sections of your resume, including education, work experience, and references. It even auto-generates parts of the resume for you, which you can then edit.

Resume Genius provides you with easy fill-in-the-blank sections so you can have an impressive, comprehensive resume in no time. It also gives you the option to upload a resume, which it auto-fills into your template.

I think this resume builder is on par with Zety but is about a dollar more expensive.

Resume Genius is best for those looking for step-by-step guidance when creating a resume. The tool offers tips and advice at each stage of the process.

Another great feature I like is that Resume Genius’ search options help you build an ATS-optimized resume that’s customized to fit your industry and position.

Resume Genius has lots of templates varying, and allows you to change the color schemes. I like that its resume builder tools let you scroll through different templates to see how each one looks with your information.

I think this resume builder is pretty intuitive to use and offers helpful suggestions to polish your resume. I enjoyed how fast it was to set up, and the tips it offers. The templates are nice, but the fee is something to keep in mind.

3. Wepik : Best for Customizing Pre-Made Resumes

If you’re like me and don’t have that much graphic design knowledge, that’s no longer an issue thanks to Wepik, a user-friendly editing tool.

This tool allows users to create the most professional and attractive visual branding documents with ease.

Once you’ve picked your perfect resume, import and complete your information into the template including your academic background, contact information, and business experience.

With one more click, download the document in your preferred format, and you'll be more than prepared to share your professional profile in minutes.

Wepik is a great tool for small businesses and individuals looking to create a quick, professional-looking resume and cover letter.

You’ll have access to completely free premium-level features within the online editor, such as a broad library of pictures, fonts, and graphic elements.

This tool includes over 100 resume templates. Wepik also has thousands of ready-made templates for cover letters, name tags, cards, and more.

I think Wepik makes it easy to plug your work experience into a beautiful template. Unlike the previous resume builders, it works more like a visual editor and doesn't offer as much writing help as other tools.

But this tool does offer AI writing help, and you can download your finished resume in PNG, JPG, or PDF formats.

4. My Perfect Resume : Best for Guided Resume Creation Help

My Perfect Resume allows you to either start from scratch and input information into a blank template or upload a pre-existing resume if you already have one.

Plus, the tool offers you expert recommendations as you move throughout the process, including suggested phrases you can include for specific roles.

My Perfect Resume also enables you to include optional sections like certifications, accomplishments, and affiliations.

This is vital, particularly if you‘re just starting out or switching industries. This tool is particularly useful if you’re applying for a creative role and want to add color or a unique design to your resume.

To use My Perfect Resume for free, click the“Download” button once you reach the final step of the builder instead of selecting “Finish Resume.” Then, choose “Plain Text (.txt)” to download your resume for free.

My Perfect Resume is excellent for those looking for guided help when creating their resumes.

I like that the tool recommends templates based on your experience level and provides expert recommendations for skills to include based on your job titles.

This tool has over 40 resume templates. It automatically shares template options based on how long you've been working. You can also filter templates by categories like Modern, Traditional, or Creative.

I found this tool to be super user-friendly. It does a good job of anticipating and resolving challenges in the resume-making process. It also gives you a chance to experiment with templates before and after you‘re done editing your resume.

But to make the most of its optimized templates, you’ll need to pay a fee. Also, compared to other tools on the list, there are fewer customization options here.

5. Standard Resume : Best for Active LinkedIn Users

I like that Standard Resume allows you to import your qualifications straight from LinkedIn. It’s a time-saver if your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date.

The white background and minimalist features enable you to focus on what really matters — your content. You can switch back and forth between “Write” and “Design” to see how your resume looks as you go along.

To download it as a PDF, you‘ll need a paid plan, but you can share it online for free when you’re finished. Best of all, the tool also makes your resume mobile-responsive so that you can view it on your smartphone.

Standard Resume is great for LinkedIn users looking to quickly create an ATS-compatible resume. The tool uses your LinkedIn profile to automatically build a professional resume.

Standard Resume also provides tips and best practices you can consult as you complete your resume draft.

Standard Resume offers 12 streamlined resume templates, including Yew, Venables, and Cordova.

I think this is a good option, especially since the “Review Score” feature offers a clear score and a set of recommendations to improve your resume before you start designing.

It also offers an easy way to share an attractive resume online. But you'll need a paid plan to download your resume as a PDF.

6. Kickresume: Best for Quick and AI-assisted Resume Creation

Kickresume stands out as a versatile resume builder that offers both AI-assisted and manual resume creation options. With the help of OpenAI's GPT-4 model, you can generate a unique and tailored resume by simply answering a few questions.

To use Kickresume for free, simply stick to its basic features and templates that are not marked as “Premium.”

Create a full resume manually or with help from AI by navigating to “Your documents” on the dashboard and choosing either “New resume,” “New resume with AI,” or “Import from LinkedIn.”

When creating an AI resume, provide your name, recent job title, and select a template. Kickresume will then generate a resume, which you can modify and download in PDF format.

Kickresume is ideal for those who need assistance with their first drafts, want to create a resume quickly, or simply don't enjoy writing resumes.

The AI-generated content saves time, incorporates relevant keywords, and ensures your resume stands out.

Kickresume offers 35+ professionally designed resume templates. Four of these templates are available for free, while the remaining are premium options.

Kickresume is a powerful, easy-to-use resume-building tool that simplifies the resume creation process.

Although some personalization may still be required, the AI-generated content saves valuable time and ensures relevancy thanks to its use of keywords. I think this builder is a good option if you don’t mind paying.

Plus, you’ll get access to proofreading and other features.

7. Canva : Best for Design Creativity and Expression

If you‘re applying for a creative role or want a resume that truly lets you stand out, you might consider using one of Canva’s hundreds of free designer templates.

Canva‘s selections are incredibly varied and unique, so you’ll undoubtedly find one you like, and inputting resume sections can be as easy as copy-and-paste.

Canva is best for those looking for resume design creativity and expression.

Although not specifically designed for resume building, the tool offers a wide variety of templates, layouts, and designs to choose from when creating your resume.

Hundreds of templates, organized in categories, such as Graphic Design, Corporate, and Creative. This makes it easy to choose based on your preferred industry.

In my experience, Canva can help you create a unique and visually stunning resume.

But if you're looking for help formatting, writing, or editing your resume, you may want to look for another tool, since Canva focuses more on design and layout.

8. Pixpa : Best for Creating Online Resume Websites

Pixpa provides an excellent solution for creating professional online resume websites that showcase your skills, experience, and accomplishments in a visually appealing and user-friendly manner.

It is particularly beneficial for job seekers, freelancers, and creative professionals who want to make a strong impression in the competitive job market.

With Pixpa, users can easily create visually stunning and customized resume websites that go beyond traditional paper resumes.

Pixpa is ideally suited for individuals who want to stand out in the job market and present their credentials effectively.

It caters to jobseekers, freelancers, creative professionals, and anyone looking to create a unique and visually striking online resume.

Pixpa offers 30+ beautiful personal and CV website templates that can be fully customized. Overall, there are 150+ templates available.

I think Pixpa is a reliable resume website builder that offers a user-friendly interface and customizable templates.

9. Indeed : Best for In-Platform Job Seekers

Creating an Indeed resume is an incredibly quick process. Best of all, the site allows you to automatically share your resume with employers on Indeed as soon as you‘re finished.

If you’ve already completed a resume, it's still a good idea to upload it to the site for exposure to potential employers.

While Indeed doesn‘t offer as many options for creativity as some of the others on this list, it’s an impressive option if you want to create a more traditional resume and start sharing it right away.

Just add your pre-written resume content, add it to a template, and download your resume as a PDF.

In my experience, Indeed’s free resume builder is best for those looking to jumpstart their job search immediately after creating their resume.

It guides you through the resume creation process with expert advice and prompts to help your resume catch employers’ attention. Resumes created using Indeed’s free resume builder are designed to be viewed and picked up by ATS.

This resume builder has eight simple templates, including Executive, Modern, and Minimalist.

Indeed’s resume builder is a straightforward option, which I enjoyed. They aren’t trying to sell you a product or require you to make an account. This resume builder is most useful if you've already used a resume template to write each section.

It‘s a quick way to make your resume look clean and professional, but if you’re looking for writing help or advice, you may want a more comprehensive tool.

10. Resume.com : Best for Minimalist Resume Creation

With Resume.com, you can build a beautiful resume in minutes.

This tool is an excellent choice if you're looking for recommendations on what to include in your resume. This resume website also has popular templates for various job categories to help you stand out from the competition.

To use this for free, when you‘re at the last stage, you’ll see a pop-up that says to create an account — instead, just click “Skip for now.” Then, in the top right-hand corner, you can click the download button.

Resume.com is great for jobseekers looking to quickly create a professional resume. This 100% free resume builder provides resume examples to help you during the process.

This tool offers 15 simple resume templates, including Apollo, Tempe, and Terra.

Resum.com is easy to use and offers general tips to inspire your resume creation.

That said, if you haven‘t already written a resume you love, it doesn’t offer any personalized help to improve your resume.

11. Novoresume : Best for ATS-Friendly Resume Building

If you want a quick, modern, and professional resume, check out Novoresume.

This tool is especially popular for creative industries such as graphic design, writing, or marketing. Its drag-and-drop editor helps you customize your resume to your needs.

Plus, its “Content Analyzer” tool can give you ideas for content, formatting, and design. I think it’s an excellent resume builder if you're changing careers or need an all-in-one resume tool.

Novoresume is an excellent choice if you want an ATS-friendly resume. The platform checks for relevant keywords and resume format for ATS system like iTacit .

Its templates are eye-catching but still meet the strict ATS guidelines. Plus, Noveresume has a free ATS checker to scan your final document.

This tool offers eight free resume templates and more with the premium version.

Novoresume offers a range of features to create a well-designed and easy-to-read resume that you can quickly download to PDF.

But many features come with premium pricing, and I didn’t like that there's no option to upload an existing resume for editing.

12. VisualCV : Best for Multimedia Resumes

Creative industries like photography, advertising, and design often like to see a resume with visual appeal. While many resume builders offer fetching designs, Visual CV offers a drag-and-drop editor to create a truly custom resume.

This tool also gives you a chance to track the performance of your online resume and multimedia extras. This lets you update your resume and attachments with data-driven ideas.

I liked that it also gives you three options for creating a resume: import your existing resume, work off of a pre-written resume, or start from scratch.

The pre-written feature exists in some other resume builders, but mostly as an AI-generated paragraph for certain parts of the resume.

Besides an appealing resume, creatives often submit multimedia applications with an online portfolio, videos, images, or links. This resume builder makes it simple to add media directly to your resume, adding interaction and visual engagement.

This tool has over 20 attractive templates, including Denali, Quartz, and Fuji.

Visual CV is a great way to create an attractive and professional resume with loads of premium choices. While technically a free tool, without upgrading to a paid account, you'll have a large watermark on your new resume PDF.

13. CakeResume : Best for Resumes With an Online Portfolio

CakeResume is one of the best resume websites for creative resumes. It offers customizable templates and a rich media editor to embed videos, images, and PDF files directly into your resume. It also includes resume optimization for ATS.

Make your resume stand out without coding experience using this simple interface and drag-and-drop tools.

Once you've designed your resume, you can preview it to make sure your final resume is formatted correctly, then click “Download PDF” to save your new resume.

This resume builder is for job seekers who want to add an online portfolio, video, quote, or slideshow to their resume.

Your online portfolio can include recent projects to help you stand out from other candidates and get to the job interview stage.

CakeResume offers 10+ multimedia-friendly resume templates.

This resume builder is excellent for creating resumes that incorporate other media or important links. But it doesn‘t include tips for writing, so it’s useful to use a resume template for drafting your resume before using this resume design tool.

I also wish that there was an option to import your existing resume, but the option to import from LinkedIn is good.

14. Resume Now : Best for Time-Saving Resume Creation

Creating a custom resume for each job application is ideal, but it can also be a headache because of the time drafting a resume can take.

But Resume Now is an intuitive resume builder with a ton of customization choices. It offers key phrase and skill suggestions for both ATS and the recruiter you need to impress.

Smart templates, a clear interface, and useful advice make this a great tool for resume building in no time.

To download your resume, instead of clicking “Save and Next” at the bottom of the screen, click “Download.” Then, select Plain Text to download your resume for free. Other resume download formats will mean a charge.

Resume Now uses powerful templates and useful tools to speed up the resume creation process. This makes it perfect for job seekers who want to create a personalized resume for each application.

You can also make your resume interactive and track resume engagement once you've finished.

Resume Now offers over 30 attractive resume templates.

This is a comprehensive tool for efficient and effective resume building, but you lose the unique quality of the templates when using the free version only.

I like that you don’t need to make an account to start (although they will send you marketing emails once you input your email into your resume). I also like the option to import your resume, as it saves time.

15. ResumeNerd : Best for Resume Writing Help

ResumeNerd is a super helpful tool for new job seekers who are creating resumes.

It offers dozens of pre-written bullet points, expert resume coaching, and customizable designs. If you're not sure how to write a resume , this could be the resume builder for you.

Another bonus this builder offers is industry-specific resume samples. That said, if you're looking for a free tool, this free download is .txt format only.

This resume builder is a top choice for help with writing a resume.

Its features include writing suggestions and pre-written sections for highlighting skills and experience. This tool is also super user-friendly for creating quick and polished resumes.

This resume builder offers 13 unique templates, including Hospitality, Impresa, and Heron.

ResumeNerd is a helpful resume builder for people building a first resume, but the suggestions and tips may not be as useful for people with more work history.

However, I do like the option to start your job search while building the resume to get tips on the specific skills you should add for that targeted position.

16. Jofibo : Best for Comprehensive Guides

Jofibo is known for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface where you just have to enter your data and professional experiences.

The resume builder is one of the cheapest alternatives and lets you test all features for free before you decide whether or not to buy a subscription.

I like that Jofibo is there for you all the way during your job search.

With their comprehensive guides on how to write a resume, a cover letter, or how to prepare for a job interview you can always count on them for help. This tool offers expert tips during the entire resume writing process.

One of their biggest forces is their easy-to-use interface where everything is customizable down to the last detail.

There are 12 resume templates available which are all optimized for ATS. You can easily shift between templates when creating your resume.

Jofibo is very easy to use and does not require any technical skills or knowledge to get started. The templates all offer a high level of customization so that you can create documents that match the exact requirements you may have.

You can try all features for free but if you want to download your documents, you will need to pay a small fee.

17. Hloom : Best for Resume Templates

Whether you need a modern, creative, or traditional template, Hloom can help job seekers in any industry. This customizable and easy-to-use resume builder can help you create an eye-catching and ATS-friendly resume or CV .

This tool is comprehensive too — you can add fonts or images to amp up your design or use the resume writing tips to improve your resume.

Hloom offers a selection of over 400 professional resume templates. You can edit any template to your specific needs, saving time and effort.

This platform also offers cover letter and reference templates to keep your personal branding consistent across your job applications.

HLoom has over 400 templates available and offers categories to help you find the best template for your needs.

I think HLoom is a simple and straightforward resume builder that offers a range of templates and tips for resume creation.

Like many other tools, users need to pay to get all the benefits of designed templates, as it limits free downloads to Plain Text files.

What’s the best resume builder?

The answer to that question depends on your needs. All the tools and tips I have shared above should help guide you to the resume builder that is the best fit for you and your needs.

Building a resume can feel overwhelming, and like you're staring at a blank canvas. But with an online resume builder, you can get recommendations, formatting and content tips, and build a beautiful document that will stand out and highlight your skills.

Choose the resume builder that meets your needs and fits your industry and personal style, and you’ll be well on your way to earning a second look from hiring managers.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in March 2019 and was updated for comprehensiveness.

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