Best AI for Resume Writing: Get Hired with AI in 2026

Writing a resume is one of those tasks where AI genuinely saves time. Instead of staring at a blank page trying to describe your last three years of work, you can let an AI tool generate bullet points, optimize for applicant tracking systems (ATS), and tailor your resume to specific job descriptions. But not all AI resume builders are created equal. For more details, check out our AI for academic writing. We also cover this topic in our guide to best AI resume writers.

We tested six dedicated resume builders and evaluated how ChatGPT performs as a DIY alternative. This guide covers what each tool costs, how its AI features work, and which one gives you the best shot at getting past ATS filters and into interviews. See also: best free AI writing tools. We also cover this topic in our guide to AI for email writing.

TL;DR: Top 3 Picks

1. Teal — Best overall AI resume builder. Free tier with unlimited resumes and downloads, AI keyword matching against job descriptions, and a built-in job tracker. Premium at $29/month unlocks full AI rewriting.
2. Kickresume — Best for students and creatives. 40+ ATS-optimized templates, GPT-5 powered content generation, and free access for students with ISIC/UNiDAYS. Premium from $7/month (annual).
3. Rezi — Best for ATS optimization. Real-time ATS scoring against specific job descriptions, AI keyword targeting, and a $149 lifetime plan that is hard to beat on value.

Comparison Table

Tool	Free Plan	Paid Price	AI Features	ATS Optimization	Templates	Rating
Teal	Yes (unlimited resumes)	$29/month	Keyword matching, AI rewriting	Strong	100+	4.6/5
Kickresume	Yes (limited)	$7/month (annual)	GPT-5 content, career map	Strong	40+	4.5/5
Rezi	Yes (1 resume)	$29/month or $149 lifetime	ATS scoring, keyword targeting	Best	Multiple	4.4/5
Enhancv	7-day free trial	$16-$25/month	Bullet rewriting, summary gen	Good	15	4.4/5
Resume.io	Yes (1 resume, limited)	$2.95 trial / $29.95/month	Phrase suggestions, job tailoring	Good	30+	4.3/5
ChatGPT	Yes	$20/month (Plus)	Full drafting, any format	Manual	None (DIY)	4.2/5

Teal

What It Does

Teal is more than a resume builder — it is a full job search platform. You can create unlimited resumes for free, match them against job descriptions with AI keyword analysis, track applications, and manage your entire job search in one place. The free tier is the most generous of any resume builder we tested.

Key Features

• Unlimited free resumes with downloads (no watermarks on free plan)
• AI keyword matching that scores your resume against any job description
• 100+ ATS-friendly templates in the free plan
• Chrome extension for bookmarking jobs from any job board
• Job application tracker with status updates and interview scheduling
• AI resume rewriting (Teal+ premium) that transforms bullet points for specific roles
• LinkedIn resume import that converts your profile into a resume in seconds
• Cover letter generator (Teal+ premium)
• Autofill for job application forms
• LinkedIn profile analyzer with improvement suggestions

Pricing

Plan	Price	Key Features
Free	$0	Unlimited resumes, downloads, job tracking, AI match score
Teal+	$29/month or $79/quarter	AI rewriting, premium templates, cover letters, autofill

No credit card required for free plan. Teal+ also available at ~$9-$13/week.

Pros and Cons

Pros:
– Best free tier in the market — unlimited resumes and downloads with no watermarks
– Job tracking and keyword matching make the free plan genuinely useful
– Chrome extension saves time bookmarking positions
– Full job search platform, not just a resume builder

Cons:
– AI-generated bullet points can be generic — they tend to rework job description keywords rather than reflect your actual experience
– $29/month for premium is expensive compared to competitors
– Limited design templates compared to Kickresume or Enhancv
– Weekly pricing option ($9-$13/week) adds up quickly if you forget to cancel

Kickresume

What It Does

Kickresume is an AI-powered career toolkit that combines resume building with cover letters, a personal website builder, and a career map. Its AI is powered by GPT-5 and GPT-4.1, trained on successful resumes to generate job-specific content. It stands out for its visually appealing templates that still pass ATS scans.

Key Features

• AI Resume Writer powered by GPT-5 that generates tailored content in seconds
• AI Cover Letter Builder that matches your resume
• 40+ ATS-optimized templates that balance design with parseability
• Resume Checker that compares your resume against a database of successful resumes
• Career Map that suggests career paths based on your skills and experience
• Personal website builder that converts resume data into a portfolio site
• 20,000+ pre-written phrases for 3,200+ job titles
• LinkedIn import for quick resume generation
• Mobile apps for iOS and Android
• Free for students with ISIC, ITIC, or UNiDAYS

Pricing

Plan	Price	Key Features
Free	$0	Limited customization, basic templates
Yearly	$84/year ($7/month)	All features, AI tools, 40+ templates

14-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.

Pros and Cons

Pros:
– Best template design of any resume builder — visually appealing and ATS-friendly
– GPT-5 powered content generation produces relevant, specific bullet points
– Free for students is a huge advantage
– Career Map is a unique and useful planning tool
– 4.6/5 Trustpilot rating from 3,400+ reviews

Cons:
– Free plan is very limited — most useful features require payment
– Website builder produces basic results
– Some templates with charts and icons may not parse well in older ATS systems
– $7/month requires annual commitment For more details, check out our free AI tools in 2026. We also cover this topic in our guide to best free AI tools.

Rezi

What It Does

Rezi is built around one core idea: getting your resume past ATS filters. Its AI analyzes job descriptions, identifies crucial keywords, and helps you incorporate them naturally into your resume. The real-time ATS scoring system lets you see exactly how your resume measures up before you submit it. Trusted by over 4 million users.

Key Features

• ATS scoring that evaluates your resume against a specific job description
• AI keyword targeting that identifies and incorporates crucial keywords without stuffing
• Real-time content analysis that spots missing information and common errors
• AI writing assistant for generating bullet points and summaries from scratch
• Cover letter generator matching your resume and target job
• Auto-formatting that adjusts font, spacing, and layout across templates
• LinkedIn import and AI Skills Explorer
• Expert resume reviews by professional writers (Pro plan)
• Exports to PDF, DOCX, and Google Drive
• $149 lifetime plan available

Pricing

Plan	Price	Key Features
Free	$0	1 resume, limited AI, 3 PDF downloads
Pro	$29/month	Unlimited resumes, full AI, 1 expert review/month
Lifetime	$149 (one-time)	Everything in Pro forever, expert reviews from $8 each

30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.

Pros and Cons

Pros:
– Best ATS optimization of any resume builder we tested
– $149 lifetime plan is outstanding long-term value
– ATS scoring against specific job descriptions is actionable and specific
– Auto-formatting saves time when experimenting with templates
– No credit card required for free plan

Cons:
– Free plan limits you to a single resume
– AI-generated content is functional but not as polished as Kickresume’s GPT-5 output
– Template variety is smaller than competitors
– Interface feels more utilitarian than visually appealing

Enhancv

What It Does

Enhancv focuses on making your resume stand out visually while keeping it ATS-compliant. Its drag-and-drop editor gives you full control over layout, and unique sections like “Day of My Life” or “Life Philosophy” help inject personality. The AI assistant offers real-time suggestions and can rewrite bullet points for better impact.

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop editor with full layout control
• 15 customizable templates with modern designs
• AI inline assistant that suggests better wording in real-time
• Bullet point generator that rewrites for tone, brevity, or impact
• Summary generator tailored to specific job descriptions
• Resume tailoring with match score and keyword recommendations
• Resume translation into 9+ languages with formatting preserved
• Job application tracker with visual dashboard
• ATS checker built into the editor
• Exports to PDF or TXT in A4 and US Letter sizes

Pricing

Plan	Price	Key Features
Free Trial	$0 (7 days)	Full access to all features
Pro	$16-$25/month	All features, no watermark, cloud storage for 300 docs

No credit card required for trial. Monthly, quarterly, and 6-month billing available.

Pros and Cons

Pros:
– Best drag-and-drop editor for creative customization
– Unique sections add personality that standard builders lack
– AI inline suggestions improve writing as you type
– Enhancv users have landed jobs at Spotify, JP Morgan, and Microsoft
– 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating

Cons:
– No permanent free plan — only a 7-day trial
– Visually complex designs may not parse well in some ATS systems
– No DOCX export option, which some employers require
– Pricing is higher than Kickresume or Rezi for similar AI features
– Some users report occasional software bugs

Resume.io

What It Does

Resume.io is a straightforward resume builder with a clean interface and strong template selection. Its AI suggests phrases and action verbs based on your role, and you can paste a job listing URL to let the AI tailor your resume automatically. It is one of the most widely used resume builders with 54,000+ Trustpilot reviews.

Key Features

• 30+ recruiter-tested templates organized by category (creative, simple, professional, modern)
• AI phrase suggestions based on machine learning analysis of professional resumes
• Job-specific tailoring by pasting a job listing link
• Job Tracker for monitoring applications, interviews, and offers
• AI Interview Prep tool with practice questions
• First 90 Day Plan generator for new roles
• Career Pathways feature for exploring options
• US salary analyzer for negotiation prep
• Export to PDF, DOCX, or TXT
• Available in multiple languages

Pricing

Plan	Price	Key Features
Free	$0	1 resume, 1 cover letter (limited template, TXT/basic PDF only)
7-Day Trial	$2.95	Full access to all templates and features
Quarterly	$49.95/quarter	All features, all templates
Monthly	$29.95/month	Same as quarterly, higher per-month cost

7-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.

Pros and Cons

Pros:
– Clean, intuitive interface that requires no learning curve
– Template quality is high across all categories
– Job Tracker and Interview Prep add value beyond resume building
– 4.3/5 Trustpilot rating from 54,000+ reviews

Cons:
– Free plan is extremely limited (one template, basic exports)
– $2.95 trial auto-converts to $49.95/quarter — many users report unexpected charges
– At $29.95/month, it is one of the most expensive monthly options
– AI phrase suggestions can be generic and need editing
– Pricing practices have generated significant user complaints

ChatGPT for Resumes

What It Does

ChatGPT is not a dedicated resume builder, but many job seekers use it as a free alternative. You can paste your work history and a job description, then ask ChatGPT to write tailored bullet points, professional summaries, and even full resumes in plain text. You then format the output in Google Docs, Word, or a separate template.

Key Features

• Full resume drafting from work history and job descriptions
• Bullet point generation tailored to specific roles and industries
• ATS keyword optimization when prompted correctly
• Cover letter writing that matches your resume
• Interview prep with practice questions and answers
• Multiple formatting options when prompted (you handle the actual design)
• Voice mode for describing your experience conversationally

Pricing

Plan	Price	Key Features
Free	$0	GPT-5.2 Instant (limited, ad-supported)
Plus	$20/month	GPT-5.2 Thinking, better reasoning

Pros and Cons

Pros:
– Most flexible option — no constraints on format, style, or content
– Free tier is sufficient for generating resume content
– Can handle unusual situations (career changes, gaps, non-traditional paths)
– Produces good ATS-optimized content when given the right prompts
– Can iterate quickly on multiple versions

Cons:
– No visual templates — you need a separate tool for formatting
– No ATS scoring or keyword matching against job descriptions
– Output quality depends heavily on your prompts
– No job tracking, application management, or integrated tools
– Cannot import from LinkedIn or other sources automatically

FAQ

Do ATS-optimized resumes actually make a difference?

Yes. Most large employers use ATS software to screen resumes before a human sees them. An ATS looks for specific keywords, proper formatting, and standard section headers. Studies suggest 70-75% of resumes are filtered out by ATS before reaching a recruiter. Tools like Rezi and Teal that score your resume against specific job descriptions help you get past this filter.

Can recruiters tell if a resume was written by AI?

Experienced recruiters can sometimes spot AI-generated resumes because of generic phrasing, buzzword overuse, and a lack of specific accomplishments. The key is using AI to generate a starting point, then adding specific numbers, results, and details from your actual experience. A bullet point like “Managed a team of 8 engineers and reduced deployment time by 40%” beats a generic “Led cross-functional team to improve operational efficiency” every time.

Which AI resume builder has the best free plan?

Teal offers the best free plan by a significant margin. You get unlimited resumes, free downloads with no watermarks, AI keyword matching, and a job application tracker — all without paying. Rezi is second with a free plan that includes one resume, limited AI, and three PDF downloads. Most other tools either restrict you to a short trial or add watermarks to free exports. For a deeper look, see our roundup of AI job application tools.

Is the Rezi $149 lifetime plan worth it?

If you expect to update your resume more than a few times over the next several years, the lifetime plan is excellent value. You get everything in the Pro plan ($29/month) permanently. At $149, it pays for itself in about 5 months compared to the monthly plan. The only missing feature is the free monthly expert review, which costs $8 per review on the lifetime plan.

Should I use ChatGPT instead of a dedicated resume builder?

ChatGPT is a good choice if you are comfortable with formatting and just need help with content. It is especially useful for career changers or people with non-traditional backgrounds, since it can frame any experience for any role. However, you lose ATS scoring, keyword matching, template design, and job tracking. A common approach is to use ChatGPT to draft content, then paste it into a free builder like Teal for formatting and ATS optimization.

Conclusion

Here is how to choose the right AI resume builder for your situation:

• Best free option: Teal. Unlimited resumes, free downloads, keyword matching, and job tracking at no cost. The premium plan adds AI rewriting for $29/month.
• Best for students: Kickresume. Free with student verification (ISIC/UNiDAYS), 40+ templates, GPT-5 content generation, and a career map. Premium from $7/month.
• Best for ATS optimization: Rezi. Real-time ATS scoring, keyword targeting, and a $149 lifetime plan that delivers the best long-term value.
• Best for creative professionals: Enhancv. Drag-and-drop editor with unique sections and modern designs that stand out while remaining ATS-readable.
• Best DIY approach: ChatGPT. Use it to generate content, then format in a free builder like Teal.

For most job seekers, starting with Teal’s free plan is the right move. Create your resume, match it against a few job descriptions, and see where the keyword gaps are. If you need more polished AI-generated content, upgrade to Teal+ or switch to Kickresume or Rezi for their stronger AI writing tools. For more details, check out our AI email writing tools. For a deeper look, see our roundup of best AI writing tools.