Choose the best fit for you with our guide to the best CV makers

Let's be honest, and come straight out with it. After all, we're all adults here. At TopCV, we would like your custom. It's as simple as that. We are a global, highly accomplished CV-writing service that helps customers secure roles, while providing essential services that aid the job search. So an article about the best CV makers is obviously going to include our sister companies. It would be daft not to, and terrible business sense.

Which is the best CV creator?

There. That's got that out of the way. It's all about transparency.

So even though these best CV makers are numbered, they're not ranked in any particular order. After reviewing these sites and their offerings, we've listed them below with as much information as possible in order for you to make up your own mind as to which one is the best fit for you.

Included with each of the best CV makers is the average price you'd be expected to pay, as well as each one's USP (unique selling point).

Now, let's take a look at the best CV makers around for the UK market.

1. Resume.io/uk

This is a UK site, totally dedicated to UK job seekers, despite using the US term “resume” in its title. It's true to say that some examples lean towards Americanisms, such as citing Stanford University in an example education section and with addresses on some of the CV examples written the American way, but once you get past that, it's a simple and easy-to-use CV builder that guides you through each stage.

There are pre-written phrases which you can customise, an automatic spell checker, and over 250 CV examples to give you some inspiration, along with 18 recruiter-tested templates. This means you'll be well on your way to creating a comprehensive CV with this CV builder.

Once you've uploaded your CV, there are personalised statistics where you can see how often your CV is viewed, for how long, and from which location. There's also a job tracking function to keep all of your job applications and tailored CVs in an easily accessible place. You can even upload your documents in either PDF or Word formats.

USP: A live preview function that shows your CV on one side of the screen so you see it take shape as you add in all of your information.

Cost: There is a free plan, but, not surprisingly, it's limited. The 7-day trial, however, is a steal at £2.95, where you can use all the premium features. It will automatically renew to a monthly subscription of £19.95 once the 7 days are up, so you need to be on the ball to cancel it if you want. Other options are £44.95 for six months and £74.95 for a year, which are highly competitive rates.

2. Career.io/uk

Again, this is the UK arm of an American site, and is a great tool to use if writing isn't your strong point. There are artificial intelligence (AI) phrases to pick and choose from to help you throughout. While it provides blocks of text, you can select the particular phrases that suit your situation, and weave them into your new CV. It offers over 25 templates, an advanced spell check function, and the option to download in different formats. There's also a scoring system once you've created your CV, which gives suggestions on how to further improve your job search documents, including cover letters.

USP: A tool that works in 33 different languages, this CV maker especially useful if you're applying for roles in other countries.

Cost: As with Resume.io, there is a limited free version where you can create a CV in a text format. The premium package, offering advanced features and personalised support, is $24.95 a month.

3. CV Genius

There are 15 templates, including six that have a splash of colour, if that's your thing. There's also extra hints and tips, like a section on which are the right skills to put in your CV, and many CV examples across all professional levels, from school leavers and graduates, to executive professionals and leaders. This CV maker has automatic formatting, so you can choose your preferred template, and the software lays out all the information for you within that.

USP: There are writing tips from CV experts as you go through the stages of drafting your new CV, so you know you're adding in the right information that can help towards securing an interview.

Cost: A free version of your CV in a text format is available, but if you require more flexibility, there is a £2.90 subscription option for 14 days where you get full access to unlimited CVs and cover letters.

4. Zety

This has simple, easy-to-follow instructions, and an eye-catching home page. It claims to be able to guide you through the entire recruitment process, until you land your dream job. It boasts 1,400 career guides, with these guides being recognised by over 200 organisations and universities worldwide. There are over 18 templates to choose from, plus a free CV template that you can copy and use.

Even though it talks about CVs, you can see that the phone number is a US one. Aside from that, you are able to add on extra sections to your CV such as your language skills.

USP: You can build a CV in as little as five minutes, so if you're really strapped for time, this is an absolute winner.

Cost: Similar to a lot of the other best CV makers in this article, you can get a free text version of your updated CV. Otherwise, the paid trial access is $2.70 (about £2), which auto-renews at $23.70 (about £18-19) every four weeks.

5. LiveCareer 

This site has over 100,000 pre-written phrases that you can insert into your CV as you build. It also offers 41 different templates, each with 25 different colour options, totalling over 100 CV looks to choose from. But when you first enter into building your CV, it only offers up to 5 templates, so dig a little deeper, clicking on “See All Templates” further down the page to get the full amount. Skills are all important in a CV, and this CV maker auto-suggests key skills that you could incorporate, once you've entered your career experience.

USP: Part of the service offers a comprehensive review by an experienced analyst once you've created a CV, though be warned that they might try the hard sell by inviting you to employ the services of a professional CV writer.

Cost: There's the usual smaller price of £1.45 (14-day limited access) or £1.99 (14-day full access), which automatically renews at £13.50 every four weeks (if you don't cancel), so you need to be savvy about realising when your two weeks are up. 

6. myPerfectCV

Ensuring your CV stands out from the crowd, while making sure it sails through the applicant tracking systems that companies use, is of top priority nowadays. This CV maker has 32 templates, with 25 colours, perfect for customising your CV so you get it exactly the way you want it. You can start from scratch or improve your existing CV, and there's a nice touch of a counter, constantly going up and down, which shows how many people are currently using the site to build their CV.

USP: This CV maker has embraced mobile tech, and has an app with cross-platform access for every device you own, so you can draft your CV on your phone whenever you need to.

Cost: There are simple steps available to make a free CV, or you can pay £2.95 (full-access trial) to have your CV in DOCX, TXT or PDF formats. You can cancel if you're not happy with your CV, and will be refunded the full amount, as long as you do that within 14 days.

7. Kickresume

Supposedly trusted by 5 million successful job seekers across the globe, this site offers an AI resume builder that's powered by OpenAI's GPT-4, the world's most powerful language model. It apparently produces content that reads like it's written by a person. There's a standard version as well, but you do have to pay extra for sections such as the skills section and hobbies. There are also real-life examples of KickResume customers who've been hired, to give that bit of extra motivation. With over 40 templates, you are spoilt for choice, and can scroll along a line from creative to conservative, to settle on the right one for you.

USP: You can turn your CV into a personal website in one click, so a prospective employer can find you online.

Cost: There's the usual freebie offering just 4 templates, then it's €19 (£16) on a rolling monthly basis, €36 (£30) for three months, and €84 (roughly £70) for a year. 

8. CV Maker

With the time taken to build a CV Maker CV standing at 15 minutes, it's one of the slightly longer CV makers out there. It's very US-based, but there's a lot of extra information around how to craft a new CV, which is useful. There are 9 templates but no pre-written content, and unfortunately, there are quite a lot of errors on the website itself, which doesn't fill you with much confidence in the site as a whole.

USP: You can download specific example CVs, such as a university graduate looking for an HR role or a staff nurse CV, to adapt to your own experiences.

Cost: It costs £0.99 for a 7-day trial, which then leaps up to £19.99 a month. 

9. CV Help

There's not a lot of information available when you first go into this site, so you do have to dig a little deeper into the website to access more information before starting. It states that the builder has been created by recruitment experts, there are tips on how to use the CV builder, and different templates, from popular, to creative and classic formats. 

USP: This is a UK-based CV maker service, so you know it's got your best interests at heart as a UK customer.

Cost: There's the free version, like all the other CV makers, and a 14-day full-access plan at £1.90, which auto-renews at £17.90 every four weeks.

What is the best CV maker for free?

Who doesn't like something for nothing? So here's a little treat for you – 5 CV makers that are free, with no obligations or hidden fees.

1. CV Library

As CV Library is already a job board, it makes sense for the company to have added value for clients by offering a CV builder. There's just one template and no colour options, with the drawback being that your CV could look exactly like others who've used the same site. But remember, it's free, so you can't have it all ways. 

Your CV will be in a PDF format, which means you have to return to the platform every time you want to edit it. On the bright side, you can see your CV being updated in real time as you add in more information. But it's not easy to edit the pre-written content, except for the professional profile at the top of the CV. That means you either have to craft your own content, which defeats the whole purpose of employing a CV Maker, or you have to put up with content that's vague and probably doesn't really apply to your situation.

2. Student Job

Not surprisingly aimed at students, as the title suggests, this builder offers 4 free templates and availability in a few different European languages, such as Spanish, German, and French. There's even a list of jobs in cities commonly thought of as student cities, such as Bristol, Liverpool, and Manchester, to spur you on in getting your CV ready. There are application tips, career advice, and a focus on entry-level applicants.

3. Reed

Another job search website in this list, Reed offers the most basic of CV makers. But it's free, and aligned to the job board, with the advantage of you being able to apply for jobs on the site as soon as you're happy with your new CV. There's no pre-written content, so all of the details must be written by you. However, you can save your CV in DOCX, so once you've downloaded it, you can edit away.

4. Barclays

Hang on… what's a bank doing on this list? Well, it's part of Barclays' Life Skills programme, aimed at teaching youngsters just that. This includes how to build an effective CV that's ready for the job market. Unlike many of the other best CV makers who claim you can draft a CV in a few minutes, the Barclays' page states from the outset that it will take between 60 and 90 minutes to build a CV, and that's mainly because there's no generated content or support with writing the details. One fun optional feature is that you can link the tool to your social media accounts, such as Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter), to help fill out some basic information, but be mindful of adding content from there that might not be appropriate for a CV.

5. Canva

This is another site heavily leaning towards the US market, so just ignore the word “resume” throughout! According to the site, you'll save hours by choosing from hundreds of templates, having all your different CVs saved, and using the AI-generated function. With many designs, this site has more to offer, though a lot of them include a photo, which is not advised for a UK CV, unless you are applying for a job where what you look like matters, such as being an actor or a model.

Which is better – a CV maker or a CV writing service? 

What's the difference between a CV maker and a CV writing service? Quite a lot actually… 

So let's detail out the pros and cons of each below.

CV maker pros

  • The cost is reasonable, with some sites offering a free service.

  • You can download your completed CV in different formats.

  • Many CV makers offer a cover letter service that complements the CV that you've just created with them.

CV maker cons

  • A lot of them lean more towards the US market, so you have to really fight to find a UK-based one.

  • The pre-designed templates can be restrictive, with no freedom to customise to how you want them.

  • There's no guidance that can draw out pertinent information from you, as all the content has to either come from you, or from an AI-generated function. 

Professional CV writing service pros

  • You'll get a completely personalised service and a high-quality product that's polished, professional, and error-free, while incorporating best CV practice.

  • You're more likely to secure an interview quicker with a CV that's been written by a CV writer.

  • The in-depth knowledge of recruitment trends and industry insights that a CV writer possesses will serve you better in the long run during your job search, quelling any anxiety you might be feeling. 

Professional CV writing service cons

  • The cost, as some professional CV writing services come with a hefty bill, though they can start from £50, which isn't that much more than some of the CV makers out there.

  • It takes time to craft a professional document of a high calibre, so if you're in a real hurry, choosing a CV writing service will take longer than putting together a CV from a CV maker, as some claim you can do that in as little as 5 minutes.

  • Err, that's it …

With these differences made clear, it's almost like choosing between two very different services that really don't compare. It's either a DIY job, or paying an expert to do it for you.

Start making your CV today!

Now that you have a good idea of the different and best CV makers around, it's time to choose the best one for you. Take the time to peruse each one before making a decision, and then go for it.

If you feel that tackling one of the best CV makers to get your CV up to scratch is beyond you, let us help. Upload your current CV into our free CV review tool for insights on refining your CV or visit our career advice page for expert blogs, including how to get your CV into ship-shape fashion. 

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