Best CV Makers (2026): 11 Online CV Builders Compared

Most people don't need a designer to write a good CV. They need a clean layout, the right sections in the right order and a file that opens cleanly on the other side.

That's what a CV maker does. The eleven tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you'd like to understand what a template-based builder is doing for you first, my guide on creating a free resume with an online template maker walks through it.

CV makers side by side

I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site says the tool, or a plan or version of it, is free or open source. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Canva	Design platform with CV templates	A designed CV from a template	Yes
CV Creator	UK online CV builder	A guided CV with UK templates	Not stated
CV Genius	AI CV and cover letter maker	Answering questions to draft a CV	Yes
CVwizard	Online CV builder	Filling in details and picking a layout	Not stated
Enhancv	AI CV builder with ATS check	Tailoring one CV to each job	Yes
FlowCV	Free resume and CV builder	A first CV, free forever	Yes
GetYourCV	Free AI CV maker	Free PDFs without a watermark	Yes
Kickresume	Resume and cover letter builder	Matching CV and cover letter	Not stated
MyPerfectCV	UK CV maker	Building a CV in three steps	Not stated
Novoresume	Online CV maker	An ATS-friendly PDF with no card	Yes
Reactive Resume	Open source resume builder	Owning your CV data	Yes

Eleven CV makers to try

Canva

Best for: Creatives and graduates who want a visually designed CV built from a template in a drag-and-drop editor they may already use.

CV Creator

Best for: UK applicants who want to choose a design, add experience and skills step by step and download the finished CV as a PDF.

CV Genius

Best for: People who'd rather answer a few simple questions and let AI draft both the CV and the cover letter for them.

CVwizard

Best for: Anyone who wants a short three-step process: enter the details, pick a template, then download the document and keep editing.

Enhancv

Best for: Applicants who want an AI writer, an ATS check and one-click tailoring to each job inside the same CV builder.

FlowCV

Best for: Students and first-time job hunters who want their first CV free with unlimited downloads before deciding whether they need more.

GetYourCV

Best for: Anyone who wants an AI-assisted CV they can download as a PDF without a watermark on it.

Kickresume

Best for: Job hunters who want a CV and cover letter from one builder, written to fit each job description they apply for.

MyPerfectCV

Best for: UK applicants who want a template, guided wording and a finished CV in three simple steps from a CV specialist.

Novoresume

Best for: Graduates and professionals who want an ATS-friendly CV as a PDF with no watermark and no credit card asked for.

Reactive Resume

Best for: Privacy-minded and technical users who want a free, open source builder rather than an account on a commercial CV site.

Which CV maker fits your job hunt

• A designed CV from a template: Canva.
• A guided CV with UK layouts: CV Creator or MyPerfectCV.
• Answering questions and letting AI draft it: CV Genius.
• A short fill-in-and-download process: CVwizard.
• Tailoring one CV to each advert: Enhancv.
• A free first CV: FlowCV or GetYourCV.
• A CV and cover letter that match: Kickresume.
• An ATS-friendly PDF with no card asked for: Novoresume.
• Keeping your data in an open source tool: Reactive Resume.

What the National Careers Service says to leave off

The National Careers Service, the government's careers advice service for England, says you should not include your age, your date of birth, whether you're married or your nationality on a CV. It also says you should tailor your CV to the job or opportunity you're applying for, using the job advert as your guide.

That matters because plenty of CV templates still come with a date of birth line, a photo box and a personal details block near the top. They look tidy, but they're giving an employer information you've been told not to share. Delete those fields before you download, whichever tool you use.

Template builder, AI writer or open source?

A template builder is the quickest route if you already know what you want to say. You pick a layout, type into each section and download.

An AI writer drafts bullet points and summaries for you from your job titles or an old CV. It saves time on a blank page, but you'll need to edit every line so it sounds like you and only claims what you can prove.

Open source builders suit people who care where their data lives. They're more basic to look at, and you won't get the polished templates, but nothing sits in a commercial account.

Seven checks before you download your CV

1. Have you removed your age, date of birth and marital status?
2. Does the layout still read cleanly with no columns or graphics?
3. Could a recruiter scan the first half page and know what you do?
4. Can you download a PDF without a watermark?
5. Does the file name include your name, not 'CV final 3'?
6. Have you matched the wording to this job advert?
7. Can you come back and edit it next week?

Your CV and profile should match, and our guide to LinkedIn profile tools rates tools that polish the second one.

Signs your CV maker is working against you

• It adds a date of birth field. Delete it.
• The download carries a watermark. Try another export.
• Your text sits in columns. Test a single column.
• Every job gets the same CV. Tailor the top third.

Do you make a CV builder? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on choosing a CV maker

Build one strong master CV in whichever tool you like, then save a copy for each job and change the top third: the profile, the first role and the skills. That's the part a recruiter reads first, and it's where tailoring makes the biggest difference.

If your skills section is the weak spot, my guide to writing the skills section of your resume shows what to keep, what to cut and how to back each skill up.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CV maker?

It's an online tool that gives you a CV layout and guided sections, so you can type in your experience and download a finished CV, usually as a PDF.

Are CV makers free?

Some have a free version or a free first CV, and one is open source. Check the free plan column above, then confirm what you can download on each vendor's site.

What should I leave off my CV?

The National Careers Service says not to include your age, date of birth, whether you're married or your nationality.

Is a CV the same as a resume?

In the UK, a CV is the usual word for the document you send with a job application. Many tools call it a resume, and most of them handle both.

Should I use an AI CV writer?

It's a good way to get past a blank page. Edit every line it writes so it sounds like you and only claims what you can back up.

How often should I change my CV?

Tailor it for every application. The National Careers Service advises matching your CV to the job you're applying for.