It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of resume-building apps out there. How can you possibly wade through all of them? And how could you possibly know which ones are right for you?
We did the heavy lifting so that you don’t have to. Here are 5 of the best apps for building your resume!
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Resume Building
When you apply for a new job, you want to put your best foot forward. To do that, you should display your work experience, strengths, and accomplishments in an eye-catching resume. If you want to add some sparkle and professionalism to this document, apps can help. These seven options come with templates and tools to make your CV the best it can be.
- Canva
Canva resume builder
Canva tastefully brings text and images together. David Nield
You can use Canva for all kinds of design projects, and one of its greatest applications is putting together a fantastic-looking resume. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a graphic designer, this app gives you maximum visual impact for minimal effort. You’ll be amazed at what you can produce—we’d recommend trying out Canva before any other app on the list.
Once you opt to create a new design, just say you’re looking to build a resume, and Canva will present a host of gorgeous templates. You need to pay for some of them, but many options come free. Pick one, then edit the preloaded text with your own details. You can easily add shapes and images, change the background, and tweak the appearance in other ways.
Canva works equally well on the web or as mobile app for both iOS and Android. It’s free, although you can buy a premium subscription that provides easier collaboration and more export options—but you don’t really need its features to build a CV.
Canva on the web, iOS, and Android, free with some for-purchase templates and a $13 per month premium subscription option
- VisualCV
VisualCV resume builder
Start off with a template in VisualCV and work from there. David Nield
When you’re designing a resume, VisualCV’s what-you-see-is-what-you-get interface will help you make it look as good as possible. Based on our experience with the app, you can put together a very professional and compelling CV in just a few minutes.
Choose from one of many high-quality templates, or start from a blank page if you prefer. Then drop in text boxes, shapes, and images as needed. The process of editing text and moving objects around the page is very straightforward and intuitive. When you’re happy with the resulting resume, you can export it as a PDF or receive a link that lets you share it on the web.
This web app works right in your browser, so it’s extremely convenient. If there’s one disappointment about VisualCV, it’s that some of the best templates hide behind a $12 a month Pro subscription. If you do pony up for it, you’ll receive access to analytics that tell you how often your CV has been viewed, among other bonuses. We recommend that you give the free version a try first to see if VisualCV suits your needs.
VisualCV on the web, free with a $12 per month subscription option
- CakeResume
CakeResume resume builder
CakeResume has a simple drag-and-drop interface. David Nield
CakeResume is hard to top: It features a beautifully-designed interface that’s easy to learn how to use, offers a ton of great templates, and comes with features that let you connect directly to employers.
Rather than starting out with templates, CakeResume begins by asking you a few questions about your areas of expertise and the types of roles you’re looking for—it will use this information to fill out your CV later. Then, you can drag and drop different elements—images, divider lines, image blocks, and more—into position. Finally, you can link out to examples of your work, social media channels, or any other website. When you’re done, either share the finished document as a webpage or save it as a PDF.
While we would like to see more templates from this app, we like CakeResume’s ease of use and its mix of an online personal landing page with a more traditional CV. If you upgrade to a subscription account for $8 to $16 a month, you can access more advanced layout options and track your resume’s analytics.
CakeResume on the web, free with $8 to $16 per month subscription options
- CV Engineer
CV Engineer resume builder
CV Engineer lets you build a resume from your phone. David Nield
If you’d prefer to compile your resume on your phone, then CV Engineer is one of the best mobile options. Its layouts aren’t exactly the most advanced, but they’re simple to put together on a handset, and will still organize your information well.
Your first step is to fill out the various sections—skills, interests, references, education, and so on. For each section, CV Engineer will provide little advice snippets recommending the sorts of subjects to cover and providing some examples. After you’ve entered your information, the app puts everything together for you. Then you save the finished product to your Google Drive account as a PDF, or send it to someone as an email attachment.
Payment works on the honor system: You can use everything for free, but if the resume you build with CV Engineer lands you a job, you can tip the developer £2 (about $2.50) or £5 (about $6.30). That’s better than many resume-building mobile apps, which won’t let you export your documents until you’ve coughed up some cash.
CV Engineer for iOS and Android, free with optional $2.50 to $6.30 tip
- Resume.com
Resume.com resume builder
The web app Resume.com puts together your CV with just a few clicks. David Nield
This web app certainly nabbed the right URL, and it gets just about every other aspect of resume-building right as well. If you want to prepare a good-looking document in minutes, it’s one of the best choices out there.
Just pick one of many neatly-designed templates, which range from reserved to colorful, and add your personal details when prompted. You have full control over the headings and descriptions, and can reorder sections or completely cut out the ones that don’t apply to you. It also features a handy LinkedIn profile importer, so it can automatically fill out your information based on the details you’ve uploaded to LinkedIn. Once you finish, you can share the document online, save it as a Microsoft Word document, or export it as a PDF.
However, once you select a template, you don’t have much artistic control over how your document looks—colors, fonts, and so on. In other words, if you want to make more detailed visual edits, look elsewhere. Still, Resume.com is very fast and completely free, so you can always try it out before moving on to a different web app.
Resume.com on the web, free
- Google Slides
Google Slides resume builder
Google Slides gives you more flexibility with your resume. David Nield
When you sit down to craft a resume, Google Slides might not be the first tool you think of. Think again: It’s free, gives you full control over your layouts, and lets you share your resume online in an interactive format.
Either stick with one slide and combine images, text, and shapes on a single page, or set up several slides to display experience, education, and other details on stand-alone pages. If you don’t want to start from scratch, Google Slides offers a handful of professional-looking templates. Because it’s a slideshow app, Slides lets you include animations—you might make your employment history fade into view, one role at a time—in the online display. When you’re done, you can publish the slideshow to the web and then just email the link to recruiters, or you can save it as a Microsoft PowerPoint file or a static PDF.
This option might take a bit more time, but the result will stand out from your competitors’ still, unmoving CVs. And it’s free, so you won’t waste money if you test it out but then ultimately opt for another app.
Google Slides on the web, iOS, and Android, free
- Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word resume builder
Microsoft Word includes some impressive resume templates. David Nield
You might dismiss Microsoft Word because you don’t think it’s capable of producing eye-catching layouts—or you simply don’t want to pay for it. Still, it’s worth considering for two reasons: It does actually have good layout tools, and it offers dozens of templates for you to play with.
That means you can pull up a template and take a huge step toward a very good-looking resume. Just edit the text already in the template, and you’re good to go. And if you want to make adjustments or even start from scratch, Word lets you combine images, text, tables, and shapes very easily.
Although you can find free versions of Word on the web and as mobile apps, you’ll want access to all the templates to create your resume. For that, you need to buy the desktop version for $70 a year (which gets you continual updates) or a one-time fee of $150 (which doesn’t cover updates). That might seem too steep, but bear in mind that price also covers the rest of Microsoft Office.
free app to create resume
Writing your résumé can be a stressful experience, mainly because there are so many resources and opinions out there on how to get it right. Knowing which guide to follow can be tricky, as well as what the best approach is when it comes to the right format, content, use of colour, and whether to include a photo or not! Thanks to CV and résumé apps, it’s never been easier to create an attention-grabbing document with the click of a button. But, with so many fantastic apps and software available, you must make your decision wisely. Your app of choice must be up to date with the latest recruitment trends to avoid creating an outdated résumé. Lucky for you, we’ve put together a list of the best résumé maker apps out there to create the perfect application.
TRY READING: The Perfect Résumé Structure
- Resume Star: Pro CV Maker
Free on Android, iOS and desktop With a 4.9-star rating on the App Store, Resume Star has great reviews all round. As one iOS user put it: ‘This is the best, easiest way to create and get your résumé out there. Clean, professional results. Got me an interview in this tight, competitive market!’ The app is equipped with impressive features designed to help you land a job interview. Whether you want to create a résumé in PDF format, an online portfolio or a cover letter, you can do so with Resume Star’s state-of-the-art, customisable features through your mobile device. What’s more, it features 16 professional, field-tested templates with easily customisable fields. You can navigate the menu with ease and create a clean and efficient résumé that is tailored for the specific job, without fuss. - CV Engineer
Free on Android Built by a former professional recruitment consultant (turned software developer), this fluid, user-friendly app allows you to create your résumé for free (with the option of a goodwill payment). With an array of formatting options, CV Engineer has a straightforward interface and splits your résumé into easy-to-save sections so that you can review each part with ease. You can also save and share your résumé in PDF via Google Drive, Gmail, WhatsApp and more. The app’s latest version sports even more photo templates, offering a wider selection to choose from.
Best CV/Résumé Formats to Land a Job
TRY READING:
Best CV/Résumé Formats to Land a Job - Intelligent CV Resume Builder
Free on Android Considered one of the best résumé-maker apps around, Resume Builder is a cutting-edge tool offering a vast choice of templates available in a selection of 15 colours. One of the most notable features on this app is its résumé writing service and support feature, meaning if you get stuck or need some additional help, Intelligent CV has you covered. It also comes with CV/résumé examples for each section, which are based on research and interviews with HR professionals from across Europe. If you want to create a résumé that focuses on what hiring managers are expecting, this is the app for you. - Resume Builder+ Professional
Free on iOS (paid plans also available) This three-step résumé builder has millions of users from across the globe. Complete with more than 100 professionally designed résumé templates, this award-winning app enables you to create a professional document in minutes, even offline. This exceptional app is regularly updated with new features and improvements. It offers a seamless résumé creation process, as well as the ability to add unique elements to make your résumé shine. Another notable feature is the job description suggestions and writing tips, which are ideal if you find yourself struggling to word your résumé correctly. - OnlineCV
Free on desktop (paid plans also available) If you want to create a visually appealing and quickly scannable résumé that gets noticed by recruiters, OnlineCV’s super-intuitive online résumé builder is the way to go. With a selection of stylish templates to choose from, OnlineCV’s interactive tools provide you with step-by-step instructions and specialist suggestions to help you maximise your chances of landing your next job. You can also easily change between templates, as well as seamlessly edit colours, fonts and styles to get your résumé just right – on any device and at any time. All templates are formatted for ATS, so the only thing you need to focus on is your résumé’s content. Once you’ve perfected your design, meanwhile, you can quickly download your document as a TXT or PDF file or even share a direct link to your résumé with prospective employers. Simple! - Resume Builder by Nobody
Free on iOS (paid plans also available) This résumé app allows you to focus on the content first (which, let’s face it, is the most important aspect). Once you’re ready, you can select one of the 25 available résumé templates, all of which have customisable colours, text size, line spacing, section spacing and margins. Boasting plenty of exciting features, this app comes complete with Live Preview (on iPad), Flexible Editor, AR Preview and PDF Export. So, you can edit your résumé from your iPad or iPhone, while the app can be used with multiple devices provided you have Cloud Storage support. - Resume Builder, Resume Creator
$2.99 on iOS This ultra-modern résumé builder app will transform your iPhone or iPad into a portable résumé creator! Plus, it features numerous templates that allow you to put together an appealing document with an edge! Simply add your information, select your template and then, add and rearrange sections. Once created, you can preview your CV/résumé before emailing it or printing it with the click of a button. The app also comes with a built-in cover letter support, while you can also include a personalised handwritten signature. - Aristoz Resume Builder
Free on Android Aristoz is a popular résumé app that is ideal for those looking to apply for an internship, entry-level job or an executive role. It has a light user-interface with a rich array of features and is truly time-effective, unlike some of the other apps out there!
SEE ALSO: Best CV/Résumé Writing Services to Consider - Resume Genius
Free on desktop This outstanding résumé maker is used by over 10 million people from across the globe! Resume Genius is jam-packed with a diverse library of templates, from classic and elegant designs to more creative and modern options. Another impressive feature is the many tips and tricks on offer, while there is also a live chat feature that helps you get quick answers to your résumé-related questions. With Resume Genius, you’ll be sure to create a brilliant résumé and cover letter with minimal effort – but maximum impact! - Resumaker
Free on Android and iOS Resumaker is an ideal résumé builder for entry-level candidates as well as mid-level professionals, executives and anyone looking for a career change. If you want to take your résumé to the next level, this is the ultimate choice, with an extensive library of templates that are perfectly suited for job seekers across all levels and industries. - PathSource Resume
Free on Android (paid plans also available) Their slogan? ‘Quick. Easy. Done.’ What more could you want from a résumé maker? This popular app has been distinguished for its user-friendly functionality, allowing you to create a beautifully designed résumé using a vast choice of colours. Whether you’re seeking a professional, simple, modern or creative look, PathSource Resume’s field-tested templates are designed to help you get you hired faster. Meanwhile, it’s regular updates keep the content fresh and up to date with the latest hiring trends.
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