Best AI Resume & CV Builders in 2026: Rezi vs Kickresume vs JobSprout

Choosing a CV builder shouldn't require a PhD. You need to know: what does it cost, what can it do, and will they hold your resume hostage behind a paywall?

This is a straightforward comparison of the leading CV and cover letter builders: JobSprout, Rezi, Kickresume, Zety, Enhancv and Novorésumé.

No marketing fluff. Just the facts that matter when you're trying to land your next job.

The Complete Comparison

Here's everything you need to know in one table:

What Actually Matters: Key Takeaways

1. Pricing Reality Check

Most Affordable (Monthly):

• JobSprout at $12/month (or $84/year, $120 lifetime)
• Novorésumé at ~$20/month
• Kickresume at $24/month
• Zety at ~$24/month (but no free downloads)
• Enhancv at ~$25/month (or ~$13/month on 6-month plan)

Most Expensive:

• Rezi at $29/month (or $149 lifetime)

Lifetime Options:

• JobSprout: $120 lifetime
• Rezi: $149 lifetime
• Everyone else: subscription only

2. Download Restrictions: The Hidden Gotcha

Many builders let you build for "free" then charge to download. Here's the truth:

Truly Unlimited Free Downloads:

• JobSprout (unlimited PDFs, basic templates only on free)
• Kickresume (unlimited PDFs, basic templates only on free)

Severely Limited:

• Zety (build for free, pay to download. The classic bait-and-switch)
• Rezi (max 3 PDFs total. That's lifetime, not monthly)
• Enhancv (7-day trial only, all downloads watermarked until you pay)
• Novorésumé (1-page only, no premium content)

3. AI Writing: Precision vs. Generation

There are two philosophies:

Surgical/Precise AI (you stay in control):

• JobSprout: Select any text from a single word to entire sections. Choose tone, length, style. Plus an AI Assistant that knows your CV, work history, and target role. Ask it anything: "Make this more confident," "Tailor this for startups," "Check my grammar." No more copying your CV into ChatGPT and re-explaining your situation every time.
• Rezi: Bullet-level editing with ATS focus and keyword optimization.

Broad Auto-Generation (AI writes for you):

• Kickresume: Entire resume from job title, AI bullet suggestions.
• Zety: Pre-written phrases and step-by-step wizard with AI suggestions.
• Enhancv: Job description tailoring, bullet rewriting, creative section suggestions.

Manual/Basic AI:

• Novorésumé: Has AI writing assistance for content improvement and suggestions.

4. Cover Letters: What's Actually Included?

This is where free plans really diverge:

Free Plan Includes Cover Letters:

• JobSprout: ✅ Yes, with full AI and unlimited downloads
• Kickresume: ⚠️ 4 basic templates with unlimited downloads, but AI generation requires Premium

Limited/Watermarked:

• Enhancv: Cover letters available but watermarked (7-day trial only)

Free Plan Does NOT Include Cover Letters:

• Rezi: Pro plan required
• Zety: Payment required
• Novorésumé: Premium plan required

Key Insight: JobSprout offers the most complete free cover letter experience with full AI assistance. Kickresume has basic templates but locks AI behind Premium. Enhancv watermarks free downloads. Everyone else requires payment.

5. The Typesetting Difference

Only one platform uses professional typesetting instead of basic HTML/CSS:

JobSprout uses Typst, a modern typesetting system similar to LaTeX. This means:

• Mathematical precision in spacing and layout
• Perfect kerning (letter spacing) and line spacing
• Professional, print-quality output
• The visual quality of LaTeX without the learning curve

Everyone else uses HTML/CSS rendering, which works well but doesn't achieve the same professional typesetting quality.

Why this matters: In competitive hiring, visual quality signals attention to detail. A professionally typeset CV stands out in a pile of 100+ applications.

6. ATS (Applicant Tracking System) Compatibility

All platforms claim to be "ATS-friendly," but some go further:

Built-in ATS Tools:

• Rezi: "Rezi Score" for ATS performance, keyword targeting (strongest ATS focus)
• Kickresume: ATS checker (Pro plan)
• Zety: ATS-friendly templates, keyword suggestions
• Enhancv: ATS check tool (Pro only), but creative templates may cause parsing issues
• Novorésumé: Free ATS checker, AI content suggestions

ATS-Friendly by Design (no scoring):

• JobSprout: Clean structure, simple formatting, ATS-safe templates

Caution: Enhancv's design-heavy templates with charts, icons, and creative sections may not parse well with older ATS systems. Their Pro ATS checker helps, but visual elements can still cause issues.

Who Each Tool Is Actually Best For

JobSprout

Choose if:

• You want to stand out visually in the first 15 seconds (print-quality PDFs)
• You want an AI Assistant that knows your full context (CV, work history, target role) so you can ask it anything
• You want precise AI control at word/phrase/section level with tone and length options
• You're budget-conscious but don't want to sacrifice quality ($84/year or $120 lifetime)
• You hate paywalls: unlimited downloads on free tier

Skip if:

• You need extensive template variety right now (library is growing)
• You must have LinkedIn import or interview prep immediately

Rezi

Choose if:

• ATS optimization is your top priority
• You want keyword targeting and a "Rezi Score"
• You need bullet-level AI editing focused on ATS
• You want the strongest ATS focus available

Skip if:

• You're on a tight budget ($29/month or $149 lifetime)
• You need more than 3 PDF downloads total on the free plan (lifetime limit)
• You want fine-tuned tone/length AI controls

Kickresume

Choose if:

• You want an all-in-one career suite (CV + cover + interview prep)
• You need LinkedIn import
• You want mobile apps (iOS & Android)
• You value GPT-4 powered cover letters
• You're a student (free Premium for 180 days)

Skip if:

• You want precise AI control (tone/length options)
• You need more than 4 templates on the free plan

Zety

Choose if:

• You're new to resume building and want guided help
• You prefer a step-by-step wizard approach
• You want lots of template options
• You're okay paying to download

Skip if:

• You want any free downloads (payment required to export)
• You're budget-conscious and want to avoid surprise paywalls
• You want precise AI control over your content

Enhancv

Choose if:

• You're in a creative field (design, marketing, media, advertising)
• Visual design and personality expression matter for your role
• You want unique resume sections like "Day of My Life" or "Life Philosophy"
• You're applying to startups or modern companies with creative cultures
• You want extensive design customization (colors, fonts, layouts, charts)

Skip if:

• You want a genuinely free plan (Enhancv's "free" is a 7-day trial with watermarks)
• ATS compatibility is critical (design-heavy templates may not parse well)
• You're in traditional industries (finance, law, consulting)
• You want unlimited free downloads

Novorésumé

Choose if:

• You prefer manual building with AI assistance
• You want a simple, no-frills interface
• You're in conservative industries
• You're okay with a 1-page free resume

Skip if:

• You need AI writing assistance (has basic AI but simpler than competitors)
• You need cover letters on free plan (premium only)
• You want more than 1 page on free tier

The Bottom Line

Best Overall Value: JobSprout offers print-quality PDFs, a context-aware AI Assistant, and precise editing controls at $84/year or $120 lifetime, with unlimited downloads even on free. The only platform with professional typesetting and full AI on free tier.

Best for ATS Obsessives: Rezi has the strongest ATS focus with keyword targeting and resume scoring.

Best All-in-One Suite: Kickresume includes interview prep, portfolio tools, LinkedIn import, and mobile apps alongside CV building.

Best for Beginners: Zety offers a guided wizard that walks you through each step (but watch out for the download paywall).

Best for Creative Fields: Enhancv delivers visually stunning, design-forward resumes with unique sections for expressing personality. Ideal for designers, marketers, and creative professionals.

Best for Simplicity: Novorésumé provides a straightforward, manual-focused interface with AI assistance.

Best Free Plan: Kickresume (4 templates, unlimited downloads) and JobSprout (500 AI credits, unlimited downloads) are both strong options. Avoid Zety and Enhancv if you want free downloads without restrictions.

What Makes JobSprout Different

We built JobSprout around three core beliefs:

1. Professional typesetting matters. Your CV should look like it was professionally typeset, not thrown together in Word. That's why we use Typst.

2. AI should know your context. Other tools make you re-explain your situation every time. JobSprout's AI Assistant knows your CV, work history, and target role. Ask it anything. Want to tailor your summary for a specific company? Check grammar across your whole document? Make a section more confident? Just ask. This is what "AI that assists" actually looks like.

3. No download hostage-taking. Once you create your CV, you should be able to download it as many times as you need. No tricks, no limits.

If that resonates with you, try JobSprout. It's free to start, and you won't hit a paywall when you try to download.

Have Feedback or Questions?

Did we miss something? Have you tried multiple platforms and want to share your experience?

Reach out:

• Email: david@jobsprout.ai
• LinkedIn: David Culemann

We update this comparison regularly as platforms evolve. Your feedback helps us keep it accurate.

Last Updated: January 2026 Information accurate as of: January 2026

Pricing and features are subject to change. Always verify current details on each platform's website.