Resume builders compared
Most resume builders are free until you click Download. This table shows, for each one, whether you pay to get the PDF, whether it is watermarked, and how well applicant tracking systems read it. Click a name for the full side-by-side, including where each one beats CV Forge.
| Builder | Pay to download? | Watermark | ATS readability |
|---|---|---|---|
| CV Forge | No. You can build and download a PDF free, without an account for the first try | Free PDFs carry a small "CV FORGE — FREE" mark; Pro PDFs have none | Single-column text PDF (real selectable text, standard fonts), plus a free ATS Match Score against the job ad |
| Zety | Yes: you only find out when you click Download (plain-text export aside) | No watermark once paid | Many templates are ATS-friendly; some designs use columns and icons |
| Resume.io | Yes for PDF; a plain-text export is free | No watermark once paid | Clean templates, generally parsed well |
| Novoresume | No for the basic one-page version | No watermark on the free one-page PDF | Templates are ATS-aware; two-column layouts are common |
| Kickresume | No for the free templates | No watermark on free templates | Mixed: some templates are design-heavy |
| Enhancv | Free PDF is limited in sections and content length | Free version shows Enhancv branding | Ships an ATS checker; some layouts are visual |
| Canva | No: free templates download free | No watermark on free elements; premium elements are watermarked until paid | Weak: many templates use columns, graphics and text in shapes that ATS parsers mangle |
| Resume Genius | Yes: payment is asked at download time | No watermark once paid | Standard, mostly ATS-friendly templates |
| LiveCareer | Yes: payment is asked at download time | No watermark once paid | Standard templates, mostly ATS-friendly |
| MyPerfectResume | Yes: payment is asked at download time | No watermark once paid | Standard templates, mostly ATS-friendly |
| Resume Now | Yes: payment is asked at download time | No watermark once paid | Standard templates, mostly ATS-friendly |
| Rezi | Free plan allows a limited number of downloads | No watermark | Strong: built around ATS parsing, single-column output |
| Teal | No: free resumes download free | No watermark | Clean, ATS-friendly templates plus job-description matching |
| VisualCV | No, but the free PDF is branded | Free PDFs carry VisualCV branding | Mixed: several visual templates |
| Resume Worded | It is a resume checker first: the free score is limited, the full line-by-line report and unlimited reviews need Pro | Not a PDF builder at heart: it scores and rewrites the resume you bring | Scores your resume for ATS and recruiter readability; Pro adds job-description targeting |
| FlowCV | No | No watermark on free PDFs | Clean single-column options available |
Prices checked on 2026-09-26 on their public pricing pages (US prices); they change often and vary by country. Check the current offer on their site before buying. Trademarks belong to their owners; CV Forge is not affiliated with them.