The Best Resume Builders of 2025

When I started my job search, I found myself staring at a blank screen, trying to rewrite my resume from scratch. I tried Word templates, free builders with watermarks, even ChatGPT but everything came out generic, flat, or totally incorrectly formatted.

So I started testing resume tools, apps, softwares - dozens of them. Most weren’t worth the time. But a few actually helped me create a resume online that not only got interviews but land a job I thought would be impossible.

If you’re feeling stuck, I hope this helps.

Even after weeks of job hunting and testing resume apps, templates, and builders, there wasn’t time to try them all. So I focused on the ones that felt promising — and cut anything that seemed overpriced, outdated, or sketchy.

For the builders that made the cut, here’s what I judged them on:
‍
🤖 AI That Actually Helps: The best builders didn’t just spit out generic lines — they turned my bullet points into strong, tailored achievements. I wanted AI that could take what I actually did and turn it into something polished, action-packed, and worth reading.

📄 ATS Compatibility: Would it pass through applicant tracking systems without breaking the format or getting filtered out?

🛠 Customization: Could I tweak sections, rearrange layouts, and make it feel like my resume?

✅ Template Quality: Did my resume actually look clean, modern, and professional or like something from 2008?

‍📈 Export Options: Was it easy to download in the right format (PDF, Word)?

💸 Cost: Did the price feel fair or were there surprise charges just to export or use?

🎆 WINNER 🎆
Job Ready Resume

4.8/5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I love:

ATS-optimized output that actually passes modern filters

Resume tailored to the exact job you're applying for

Built-in AI shows you what’s weak or missing, then fixes it

Templates are modern, clean, & auto-adjust to your content

Created by real recruiters and career coaches

Generate multiple resume versions for different job types... automatically

What could be better:

Not ideal for hyper-creative roles.

Use this Resume Builder

Overall Rating

A friend recommended this one... hands down, Job Ready Resume was the only builder that felt like it was working with me, not just giving me a pretty template.

I’d paste in a job description, type in my title, and the AI would pull real bullet points based on what employers are actually looking for. It helped me match the language, highlight the right skills, and sound way more confident — without making things up.

It also flagged weak or generic phrases and rewrote them with strong action verbs and actual results — like turning “helped with marketing” into “executed multi-channel campaigns that increased engagement by 30%.”

If you want a resume that actually fits the job you’re applying to, this is the one.

🤖 AI That Actually Helps ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5.0)
‍
📄 ATS Compatibility ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.8/5.0)
‍
🛠 Customization ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5.0)

✅ Template Quality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5.0)
‍
📈 Export Options ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5.0)
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💸 Cost  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7/5.0)

I also took a look at Trustpilot reviews to get a sense of what other people were saying.

Seriously, I wasn’t expecting much but their AI blew me away!

My Final Verdict

• 🤖 AI That Actually Helps
  ‍This is where Job Ready Resume blew the others away. I could paste in rough bullet points, list out random projects, or even just enter my job title — and it instantly pulled in polished, ATS-friendly suggestions that actually sounded like me. It didn’t just rewrite things in fancy words — it reflected what I actually did, but made it stronger and sharper.

• 📄 ATS Compatibility
  Every resume I exported from Job Ready Resume passed my ATS checks without issues. The formatting was simple, clean, and consistent — no columns, tables, or broken layouts. I tested it through multiple free ATS scan tools and nothing ever got flagged.

• 🛠 Customization
  I liked that I could rearrange sections, hide the ones I didn’t need, and even upload my existing resume instead of starting from zero. The editing felt smooth — and even when I made big changes, the layout didn’t fall apart. It wasn’t 100% drag-and-drop like Notion, but it didn’t need to be.

• ✅ Template Quality
  The templates were modern, minimal, and hiring-ready. Nothing felt too flashy or gimmicky. I didn’t need to fight the formatting, and everything looked like something I’d be proud to send out. Multiple recruiters actually complimented the look of my resume — which never happened before.

• 📈 Export Options
  Downloading was seamless — I could export in both PDF and Word without any weird formatting issues. There were no hidden upsells at the final step, which was a huge relief. I could also create and save multiple versions for different roles I was applying to.

Runner up:
Resume Now

4.1/5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I love:

Solid range of templates and styles

Quick to get started lots of content on best practices.

Job board, cover letter & writing service add-on (but pricey)

Options to build from scratch or upload existing resume

What could be better:

The builder felt a bit outdated compared to others

The free version only exports plain text — basically unusable

I canceled, but still got charged days later

The cancellation link was confusing and CX was unhelpful

Edits reset when switching formats or templates

Try this Resume Maker

Overall Rating

Resume Now was pretty good honestly. They have a solid library of resume tips, blogs, and videos which made me feel like I was in good hands. But once I got into the builder itself, it felt more like filling out a form than actually crafting a resume. I couldn’t rearrange sections, and switching formats kept breaking my edits.

The one cool thing was that they had a feature where I could upload my existing resume instead of starting from scratch (a big plus if you’ve already got something decent to work with). But the format came out all weird, characters in the text were messed up and even though I could fix those it definitely added more time.

When it got to the suggestions and final resume it was pretty unimpressive. The suggestions were basic and felt like I was just increasing word count without adding any value. The tool just didn’t seem to apply most of the same best practices their content talks about which was ironic.

My biggest complaint was while I canceled my trial on time, I still saw a charge hit my card later.

I went online and found I wasn’t alone many other people mentioned hidden fees, lost resumes, and no refunds. And at times, it felt like the product was clunky by design so it would push you toward their expensive writing service instead.

• 🤖 AI Suggestions
  Basically nonexistent. There were a few pre-written blurbs, but they weren’t tailored at all. I ended up rewriting everything myself.

• ✅ Template Quality
  There’s a decent selection, and some of the templates look clean and professional. But a few felt outdated or overly basic. I had to dig to find one that didn’t feel generic.

• 📄 ATS Compatibility
  No major red flags here. Most of the formats passed ATS scans when I tested them. They’re pretty minimal, which helps

• 🛠 Customization
  This was a weak point. I couldn’t reorder sections, and switching between templates reset some of my edits. It felt clunky like the builder hadn’t been updated in years.

• 📤 Export Options
  The free version only exports as plain text. No PDF, no Word. It felt like a bait-and-switch — I couldn’t actually use what I built unless I paid again.

• 📈 Cost
  The trial looked affordable, but canceling was a mess. I followed the steps, but still got charged. I wasn’t alone — one user wrote, “Even after canceling, they kept billing me. I had to file a dispute with my bank.”

Third Place:
Resume.io

3.8/5.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What I love:

Clean, modern templates

Built-in job tracker and interview tools

Easy to edit and preview your resume

What could be better:

Limited AI: Mostly generic filler and surface level suggestions

Only 4 templates available for Word export (DOCX)

Lots of bad reviews about canceling and being charged later

No customer support team (don't expect a response) 

Not ATS friendly or compatible

Try this Resume Maker

Overall Rating

At first glance, Resume.io really impressed me. The editor is clean and easy to use, and I liked that I could drag and drop sections or upload an existing resume. The templates felt professional, and the built-in job tools were a nice bonus.

But after spending hours perfecting my resume, I hit a paywall and things went downhill.

I canceled my trial right away, but still got charged weeks later. When I couldn’t find a clear way to reach support, I looked online and found tons of similar complaints people being billed after canceling, even after deleting their accounts.

This was super unfortunate, I really wanted to like the tool. The builder itself is solid, but the billing experience left me uneasy and the number of bad reviews are hard to ignore.

If you’re just trying it out, I’d tread carefully.

The number of bad reviews due to billing is shocking...

• 🤖 AI Suggestions
  Some helpful phrasing prompts, especially for standard roles, but it felt more like templated filler than true personalization.

• ✅ Template Quality
  The designs are sleek and modern definitely a step up from Word templates. But not all are available in every format, which was frustrating.

• 📄 ATS Compatibility
  Most templates claim to be ATS-friendly, and the formatting held up well in test scans. This part felt solid.

• 🛠 Customization
  Pretty smooth. I could drag, drop, and edit easily but a few templates didn’t let me rearrange sections without starting over.

• 📤 Export Options
  Only 4 templates can be exported as Word docs. The rest are locked to PDF, and you need to pay before you can download anything usable.

• 📈 Cost
  This was the red flag. I canceled, still got charged, and couldn’t get help. One user said they were billed months after canceling even after deleting their account. That stuck with me.

Why I Chose Job Ready Resume

After a year of trying different builders, diving into Reddit threads, and experimenting with free and paid tools, Job Ready Resume is hands down my favorite.

It’s my go-to recommendation for anyone looking for a resume builder that actually works.