7 of the Best Free and Cheap Resume Builders

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If you’re in need of a new resume in a hurry, using a free or cheap resume builder online can be a simple and convenient option. 

In this article, I’ll take a close look at seven of the best free and cheap resume builders online. 

I’ve looked into the most popular free and cheap resume builders to see which ones can help you create the most comprehensive, professional resumes in the simplest way possible. 

This article was updated in January 2024 and I review it every 6 months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

Choosing a Free Resume Builder Online

Building a resume can be intimidating, especially if you’re starting from scratch or haven’t updated your resume in a while.

While you can build a great resume yourself, you can also use a free or cheap resume builder online that offers pre-built templates and a little guidance. Resume builders can be a bit limiting, but if you’re pressed for time or not sure where to start, one of the websites below may help.

WebsiteBest for...PDF Download
Resume.comSimple resumesFree
Resume GeniusA guided experience$2.95
Indeed Resume BuilderOnline job seekersFree
CanvaCreative resumesFree
MyPerfectResumeResume optimization$2.95
Resume.ioActive LinkedIn users$2.95
NovoResumeBuilding a fast resumeFree

While some of the resources on this list don’t offer free PDF downloads, they do all offer free resume builders and the option to download a .txt file of your finished resume.

I used several free and cheap resume builders, including those listed above, to see which free options offered the best final products. I considered how easy the website was to navigate, whether or not the resume builder offered meaningful guidance throughout the process, how much creative flexibility the tool offered and what was available for free. 

Below, you’ll find more detailed information on each resume builder including how to get started, how to build a resume and what you can expect from the finished product.

Resume.com

Resume.com: build a free resume online

Best for simple resumes

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If you’re looking for a simple, clean and quick resume, Resume.com is a great resource to check out. To get started, scroll over the “Resume” tab and click “Resume Builder” or click “Get Started.” When you do, Resume.com will ask you to enter a job title. Then you’ll be able to choose from 15 different templates. 

Once you’ve selected a template, you can fill out more detailed information directly on your new resume. In addition to your name and contact information, other preset sections included a summary, work experience, skills, education and languages. On the right side of the screen, you’ll find tools to add a custom section, print or save your resume and a link to view general tips on resume building. You can also create a free account to save your resume.

In addition to the free resume builder, Resume.com also offers resume samples, advice on how to write a resume, a cover letter builder, a job search tool and additional career resources and advice. When I created a free resume with Resume.com, here were the biggest pros and cons that I found:

Pros:Cons:
Easy to use. The resume builder is straightforward and intuitive. It’s easy to add or remove sections, edit text and save your work.Customization. While you can edit sections and choose a template, you can’t customize the font, colors or layout. 
Additional resources. Resume.com offers a free cover letter builder, job search tool and other resources including resume samples and guides. Lack of guidance. Beyond the general resume tips, there isn’t much guidance on how to format your resume or what information to include.

Resume Genius

Best for a guided experience

Resume Genius offers an online resume builder that can help you create a professional resume in minutes. To begin, visit the website and click “Build My Resume Now.” Then you’ll be able to select a template, enter your information and download or print your final product. 

Resume Genius offers over 500 different templates that are a little more colorful and creative than the options available at Resume.com. Once you’ve selected a template, you can create a new resume from scratch or upload your current resume and have the builder move everything to your new template for you. I opted to create a resume from scratch. I answered a few questions about my work experience and education before I was able to fill out additional details. 

Resume Genius will walk you through the required information fields as if you were simply filling out a form online. There is space for contact information, work experience, education, certifications, additional skills, career objectives and references. Once you’re finished entering your information, the website will format your resume for you. Unfortunately, you will have to create an account to download your resume, and download formats are limited with the free version of Resume Genius.

When I created a free resume with Resume Genius, here were the biggest pros and cons that I found:

Pros:Cons:
Guidance. The resume builder asks you to enter each piece of information into a form field and then formats it for you afterward. It provides a step-by-step experience for each section. Limited features. While it’s free to create a resume with Resume Genius, you can download it for free only as a .txt file. You’ll have to pay at least $2.95 to download it as a PDF.
Easy to use. This is a free, straightforward resume-building tool that makes it easy for anyone to create a quality resume. Customization. The templates are great, but you aren’t able to customize the format much beyond the information you enter.

Indeed Resume Builder

Indeed Resume Builder

Best for online job seekers

If you’re actively looking for a job, there’s a good chance you’ve come across Indeed. The job posting website offers a free resume builder that’s great for applying to jobs on any platform. To begin, visit the website and click “Build your free resume.” 

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Indeed’s Resume Builder offers eight different templates. Once you’ve selected one, you’ll be able to add and edit your information directly on the resume. In addition to your name and contact information, default sections include work experience, skills and education. Click on each highlighted section to enter the relevant information. Once you’ve entered the information for a section, Indeed will format it appropriately and add it to the resume.

To the left of the resume, you can click on the “Sections” tab to add, remove or reorder sections. In addition to the “Sections” tab, you’ll also see a “Style” tab where you can choose the resume’s accent color and font. 

When I created a free resume with Indeed, here were the biggest pros and cons that I found:

Pros:Cons:
Customization. Even after you’ve chosen a template, you can customize the style of the resume including the accent color, font, sections and more.Limited templates. Indeed Resume Builder only offers eight templates which are all pretty simple and similar.
Online application. You can download and print the resume you’ve created on this site for any job. You can also make it visible by employers on your Indeed profile.Lack of guidance. While the resume builder includes a great list of optional sections to include, there aren’t any built-in tips.

If you’re thinking about applying for jobs on Indeed, be sure to check out these five things to know.

Canva

Best for creative resumes

Canva offers the largest selection of resume templates and a full range of customization. This makes it great for creating unique resumes. To get started, visit the website and click “Create a resume.” to begin designing right away. 

Once you’ve selected a template, you can click on different elements to edit the resume directly in preview mode. You can edit text, change the design elements, freely move sections and more. You can even change the background and upload images. Unfortunately, there is no guidance on what information to include in your resume. 

It’s free to create an account to save your work, but it isn’t required. Once you’re finished, you can click “Download” to save your resume in a variety of formats including PDF. When I created a free resume with Canva, here are the biggest pros and cons that I found:

Pros:Cons:
Customization. You can customize every element of your resume including the design.Lack of guidance. There is absolutely no guidance on how to build a resume beyond the included templates. If you want to build a resume with Canva, be sure you know what to include.
Templates. There are 11,800 templates currently available. If you’re looking for something creative, this is definitely the resource for you.Not intuitive. If you don’t already know how to use Canva or a similar design program, it may be a little overwhelming at first. But the introductory video and guided tour are really helpful.

MyPerfectResume

Best for resume optimization

MyPerfectResume is another option for building a professional resume online. To begin, visit the website and click “Create my resume.” Once you do, you’ll be able to answer a few questions about your work experience. MyPerfectResume will then recommend templates for you. There are over 30 templates to choose from and multiple different accent colors. 

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Once you’ve chosen a template, you can choose whether or not you’d like your resume optimized by MyPerfectResume’s tool. If you do, you’ll receive a resume strength rating once you’re finished. Next, you’ll be able to create a resume from scratch or upload an existing resume to optimize. I chose to create a new resume. You’ll then be guided to enter details including your name and contact information, work history, education and skills. Finally, you’ll be able to write a summary to include and choose any additional sections. 

Once you’re finished, you’ll be prompted to create an account. After you do, you’ll see a payment page. A 14-day trial with full access costs $2.95. Still, you can back out to MyPerfectResume’s website after creating an account, click on resumes and download a .txt file for free.

When I created a free resume with MyPerfectResume, here are the biggest pros and cons that I found: 

Pros:Cons:
Resume guidance. The website prompts you to enter information for each section of your resume and formats it for you along the way.Lack of customization. You can choose your template, accent color and included sections, but you can’t edit the format of the resume or create custom sections.
Easy to use. The site walks you through how to build your resume step by step. It also includes an optional optimization tool and tips along the way.Limited features. To download a PDF version of your resume, you’ll have to pay at least $2.95. A .txt file is all that’s available for free.

Resume.io

Best for active LinkedIn users

Resume.io

Like a few other resources on this list, Resume.io offers an excellent free resume builder online but limited free download options. Still, if you need some inspiration on where to start, it can be a great website. To begin, click “Create my resume” from the homepage. 

Resume.io offers 29 different templates to choose from. All of the templates are available to download for free as .txt files, but you’ll have to pay $2.95 to download a PDF. Once you’ve selected a template, you’ll be able to log in with Facebook, Google or LinkedIn to pre-fill some of your resume data. You can also skip this step and create a free account. Either way, you’ll be able to enter some personal details, a professional summary, employment history, education background, websites and social media links, skills and more. 

Once you’re finished entering information, you can click on the blue page icon in the bottom-right corner to preview and download your resume. You can click the three dots in the upper-right corner of the preview page to download a .txt file or pay to download the PDF.

When I built a free resume with Resume.io, here are a few of the biggest pros and cons that I found.

Pros:Cons:
Easy to use. The website has a relatively intuitive format and it’s easy to enter/select any relevant information.Limited features. Resumes are only available to download as a .txt file for free. You’ll have to pay at least $2.95 to download a PDF.
Social media import. You can log in with an existing social media account, such as LinkedIn, to import information automatically.Customization. The resume builder prompts you to enter relevant information and automatically formats it into the selected template. You can edit your text, but you can’t edit the format.

NovoResume

NovoResume free online resume builder

Best for building a fast resume

If you’re looking for a totally free PDF download, NovoResume is a great builder to consider. While NovoResume does offer premium memberships, you can create a basic one-page resume for free. 

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To begin, click “Get Started Now” on the homepage. From there, you can choose from eight free resume templates. The themes include basic, executive, college, creative, functional, modern, professional and simple. Once you’ve selected a template, you’ll have to create a free account.

After you’ve logged in, you can enter your experience level and begin directly editing your resume. Pre-set categories include work experience, education, skills, personal projects, achievements, languages and interests. Across the top of the page, you can click on the editing tools to rearrange and customize your resume’s layout. Once you’re finished, click “Download” to save it.

Pros:Cons:
Customization. While you can’t customize your resume on NovoResume to the extent that you can on Canva, you do have some creative control over the layout and format of your resume.Lack of guidance. The resume builder makes it easy to directly edit your resume in the template, but there is no guided process to help you determine what information to include.
Free PDF downloads. You can customize, edit and download a PDF version of one resume for free. Premium memberships are available, but the free tools offer everything you need to get started.Not intuitive. The tools in the resume builder aren’t labeled, so it can take some trial and error to figure out.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in need of a fast, professional resume, using a free or cheap resume builder online may be a great option for you. Just keep in mind that online resume builders can do only so much. To make a truly great professional resume, you’ll need to be sure you know what to include

If you just need a simple resume, try Resume.com first. NovoResume is another great resource for building a quick resume online. For a more guided experience, Resume Genius offers a great builder that walks you through the process step by step. 

If you plan on applying to jobs through Indeed, start with the free resume builder on Indeed’s website. If you’re an active LinkedIn user, you may also enjoy the automatic import features on Resume.io. 

For more creative freedom, Canva’s free resume builder offers great flexibility. Finally, if you need help improving your current resume, MyPerfectResume offers a built-in optimization tool.

Have you used a free or cheap resume builder that isn’t on our list? Let us know in our Clark.com Community.

Article Updates
  • January 26, 2024: Updated Canva and Resume.io’s template quantity, and the time statistic for Resume Genius
  • July 18, 2023: Updated Canva’s free resume-building process as well as the number of templates available
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