Last Updated on 15/10/2025 by Liza Brits
3 Best Online CV Builders in 2025 to Help You Get Noticed Fast!
The job market is competitive, and your CV is your first impression. In 2025, you need a CV that not only showcases your skills and experience, but also looks professional and is easy for recruiters (and their Applicant Tracking Systems) to digest.
Luckily, creating a standout CV doesn’t have to be a headache. Online CV builders have revolutionized the process, offering user-friendly interfaces, stunning templates, and expert guidance.
Can I Use a Free Online Resume Builder?
Free online resume builders are ideal for everyone’s budget, but let’s have a look at the pros and cons:
✅ Pros:
- Cost-Effective: The most obvious advantage is that they are free to use. This makes them accessible to everyone, regardless of budget.
- Basic Functionality: They usually offer a variety of templates and basic formatting options, which can help you quickly create a presentable resume.
- Ease of Use: Many free builders are designed to be user-friendly, with drag-and-drop interfaces that make it easy to add and edit sections.
- Good Starting Point: They are a good option if you are just starting out with your resume or if you only need a simple, basic resume.
- Plenty of Options: There are numerous free resume builders available online, so you have a wide selection to choose from.
❌ Cons:
- Limited Templates and Customization: Free builders often have fewer template options, and the level of customization might be limited. You might not be able to create a resume that truly stands out.
- Branding and Watermarks: Some free builders may include their branding or watermarks on your finished resume, which can appear unprofessional.
- Basic Features: Advanced features, like applicant tracking system (ATS) optimization, custom font choices, and advanced formatting options, may be missing.
- Potential for Ads: Many free platforms rely on advertising, which can be distracting and interfere with your workflow.
- Limited Support: Customer support might be minimal or nonexistent, so if you have issues, you may be on your own.
- Potential Data Privacy Concerns: It’s crucial to be careful with free platforms and ensure you are using reputable websites. Some might have dubious privacy policies.
💡 Why Use a Paid Online Resume Builder?
✅ Pros:
- Premium Templates: Paid builders often offer a wider selection of professionally-designed, modern templates that can help you create a more visually appealing resume.
- Advanced Customization: You’ll typically have more control over design elements, such as font choices, colors, spacing, and section layouts.
- ATS Optimization: Many paid platforms include features that optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems, increasing your chances of getting noticed by recruiters.
- Advanced Features: You might have access to features like cover letter builders, career advice, and built-in grammar/spell checkers.
- No Watermarks or Branding: Your finished resume will be free of watermarks and the platform’s branding.
- Customer Support: Paid platforms usually offer better customer support in case you encounter any problems or have questions.
- Data Privacy: Paid services typically have more robust data privacy policies as they are accountable to their paying customers.
❌ Cons:
- Subscription costs: Subscription fees can range from a few dollars per month to around $25/ month.
- Not Always Necessary: If you only need a simple resume, the features of a paid platform might be overkill.
- Potential for Over-Design: Too many options can sometimes lead to over-designed resumes that are cluttered and hard to read.
- Lock-In: Some services may require a subscription, and you might need to continue paying even after you’ve finished your resume.
We’ve done extensive research and analyzed user feedback to bring you the 3 best online CV builders that will make crafting your CV fast and easy in 2025:
Let’s dive into why we have chosen these 3 as our top recommendations for you.
1. LiveCareer – Your Speedy Path to a Polished CV
LiveCareer is one of the most established and widely used resume-building platforms available today. With over a decade in the industry, it offers a professional, user-friendly experience that helps job seekers create high-quality resumes and cover letters in just minutes.
Why it stands out: Paste a job description to get a match score, live previews, expert tips, broad template options, and a generous refund window.
Best for: Job seekers targeting specific roles or industries who need tailored resumes fast.
✅ Key Features & Pros
- Job-Specific Phrases and Bullet Points: Choose from thousands of pre-written descriptions tailored to different roles and industries.
- Step-by-Step Resume Wizard: Guided prompts walk you through the resume-building process with ease.
- Professional Resume Templates: A wide range of modern and classic templates that pass ATS (applicant tracking systems).
- Cover Letter Builder: Easily create a matching cover letter with auto-suggestions based on your resume content.
- Multiple Language and Region Support: Trusted by international users across all geographies.
- Save, Edit, and Download Anytime: Save your resumes in the cloud and return anytime to make updates or export to PDF, DOC, or TXT.
- Beginner-Friendly Interface: No design or writing skills required. Ideal for first-timers.
- ATS-Friendly Templates: Modern formats designed to pass resume-scanning software used by employers.
- Job-Tailored Suggestions: Pick from expertly written content that matches your target job title.
- Cover Letter Included: Save time with a guided cover letter builder that matches your resume.
- High Trust Factor: Used by over 10 million job seekers worldwide, backed by a strong reputation.
❌ Considerations
- Subscription is required to access all features.
Pricing
- $2.95 for a 14-day trial
- $5.95 per month (billed yearly at $71.40)
The Verdict: LiveCareer is an excellent choice for those who want to create a professional-looking CV quickly with the help of expert-written content.
Visit their website for more information.
2. VisualCV – Design-Forward CVs Made Simple
Why it stands out: Stylish, modern templates, ability to create multiple versions of your CV for different roles, analytics to track CV views and downloads.
Best for: Creative professionals, freelancers, and candidates who want their CV to make a strong visual impact.
✅ Key Features & Pros
- Professional Templates – Over 30+ resume templates.
- Resume Skills Suggestions – Has a collection of over 500+ resume skills suggestions.
- Easy to Use – Drag-and-drop interface makes resume building fast and simple.
- Multiple Versions – Create and manage more than one CV to target different roles.
- Analytics – Track when and how often your CV has been viewed (great for online sharing).
- Export Options – Download in PDF or share with a unique online link.
- LinkedIn Resume Builder – Premium designs that you can easily export into PDF.
- International CV Guide – Guides to help you create country-specific CVs.
- Cover Letters – 50+ cover letter examples and guidance on how to write a standout cover letter.
- Pro Services – Professional resume writing services and resume reviews
- Career Journal – Write and create journal entries directly from your email inbox of your accomplishments, project updates, awards, etc.
❌ Considerations
- Free Version is Limited – Most advanced templates and features require a paid plan.
- Branding on Free CVs – Free resumes may include VisualCV branding, which isn’t ideal for professional applications.
- Higher Price Point – Compared to some other CV builders, the premium plans are on the pricier side.
Pricing
- Free account (Trial all resume templates, create 1 resume, preview resume formatting, career journal trial access)
- $16 per month (billed quarterly)
- $25 per month (billed monthly)
The Verdict: VisualCV is perfect for individuals who want a visually striking and modern CV without the hassle of complex design software.
Visit their website for more information.
3. Zety – Professional CVs with Expert Advice at Your Fingertips
Zety is one of the most trusted and widely used resume builders in the world, offering job seekers a fast, polished way to create professional resumes, CVs, and cover letters. With intelligent prompts, beautifully designed templates, and job-tailored suggestions, it’s ideal for anyone looking to land interviews faster in 2025.
Why it stands out: Step-by-step wizard, ATS templates, AI writing help, job description analyzer. Trusted in multiple top-resume lists for 2025.
Best for: Mid-to-senior professionals who want a refined, optimized resume quickly.
✅ Key Features & Pros
- Step-by-Step Resume Builder: A guided resume-building wizard that simplifies the process, even if you have zero experience.
- Content Suggestions for Every Job: Choose from thousands of expert-written bullet points and summaries that fit your job title.
- Professional Resume Templates: Modern, clean designs that are fully customizable and optimized for ATS (applicant tracking systems).
- Cover Letter Builder: Build a matching, job-specific cover letter in just minutes with suggested phrasing and formatting.
- Job-Specific Examples: Bullet points and summaries tailored to your industry and experience level.
- Modern Sleek Templates: Choose from over 20 customizable professional designs that recruiters love where you are able to change the design, layout, colours, and fonts.
- Cover Letter Integration: Create a matching cover letter without starting from scratch.
- Strong ATS-Compatibility: Templates are optimized to pass resume-scanning software used by most employers.
- Multiple Resume Formats: Download in PDF, Word, or TXT, ideal for both online and printed applications. Free to download resume in TXT format
❌ Considerations
- Subscription is required to download your resume in formats other than TXT.
Pricing
- Free basic package (resume builder, resume templates, cover letter builder, cover letter templates, download in TXT format)
- $1.95 for a 14-day trial
- $25.95 billed every four weeks
- $5.95 per month for annual package (billed as $71.40 upfront)
The Verdict: Zety is a solid all-around choice for anyone who wants to create a professional and effective CV quickly, with expert guidance readily available.
Visit their site for more information.
❓ Which is Right for You?
Choose a Free Resume Builder if:
- You are on a tight budget.
- You need a simple, basic resume.
- You are comfortable with limited customization.
- You are just starting your job search.
- You don’t need advanced features or ATS optimization.
Choose a Paid Resume Builder if:
- You’re applying for competitive roles.
- You want a sleek, modern design that stands out.
- You need your resume to be ATS-friendly.
- You want extra features like cover letter builders or expert writing tips.
- You value design control, support, and data security.
Conclusion
Creating a compelling CV doesn’t have to be a time-consuming and stressful task. These 4 top online CV builders offer fast, easy, and effective ways to craft a resume that will impress potential employers in 2025. Whether you prioritize speed, design, guidance, or overall professionalism, one of these platforms is sure to meet your needs and help you take the next step in your career journey. Good luck!/sep
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Affiliate Disclosure
Some of our articles may include links to products, services, or resources that we believe could be helpful to job seekers and employers, some of which are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. These commissions help support our research team, so we can continue reviewing, testing, and sharing the most effective tools and resources for job seekers and employers.