Kickresume is a popular resume builder known for its design-forward templates and bundled website builder. But the free plan is limited: you get 4 resume templates, 4 cover letter templates, and restricted customization. The 40 premium templates, full AI writer, and ATS checker are all locked behind a paid plan.
Premium costs $24/month, $18/month on the quarterly plan ($54), or $8/month annually ($96/year). Students and teachers get 6 months free — a genuinely good deal, but only if you qualify.
We tested the top alternatives to find which ones give you what Kickresume charges for: full template access, AI writing, and ATS optimization.
Only 4 free templates. Kickresume has 40 resume templates total, but 36 of them require a Premium subscription. The 4 free options are basic and look noticeably less polished than the premium designs.
AI writer is gated. Kickresume’s AI-powered resume writer — the feature that helps you generate bullet points and summaries — is limited or unavailable on the free plan. Full AI access requires Premium.
ATS checker is paid only. The tool that checks whether your resume will pass Applicant Tracking Systems is locked behind the paywall. You can’t verify ATS compatibility without upgrading.
The website builder adds bloat. Kickresume bundles a personal website builder into the product. If you just need a resume, you’re paying for features you won’t use.
Pricing adds up. At $24/month, Kickresume is one of the more expensive resume builders. The annual plan ($96/year) is reasonable, but requires upfront commitment.
JobScoutly is a completely free resume builder with no premium tier. Everything Kickresume locks behind $24/month, JobScoutly offers at no cost:
No premium tier. No student discount needed. Free for everyone.
Best for: Anyone who wants full template access, AI writing, and ATS checking without paying — the features Kickresume reserves for Premium subscribers.
Indeed’s built-in resume builder is genuinely free — unlimited resumes, free PDF downloads, no watermark. It integrates directly with Indeed’s job board for one-click applications.
The tradeoff: limited templates, no AI optimization, no cover letters, and basic formatting. It’s a straightforward builder without the design polish Kickresume is known for.
Pricing: Free Best for: People who need a quick, simple resume and are already applying on Indeed. Limitation: No AI features, no cover letters, limited design options.
Novoresume has a clean interface with strong support for European CV formats. The design quality is comparable to Kickresume’s premium templates, and it offers matching cover letter + resume design sets.
The free plan is limited: 1 resume, 1 page max, with a watermark. Premium costs $21.99/month, $39.99/quarter, or $139.99/year. Unlike most competitors, Novoresume does NOT auto-renew.
Pricing: Free (1 resume, watermark) / $21.99/month Best for: People in Europe who need EU-format CVs, or anyone who wants matching resume + cover letter designs and is willing to pay. Limitation: Free tier has a watermark, 1 resume, 1 page. No job matching.
| Feature | Kickresume | JobScoutly | Indeed | Novoresume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free templates | 4 basic | All ATS | Limited | Basic (3 fonts) |
| Premium templates | 40 ($24/mo) | N/A — all free | N/A | Paid ($21.99/mo) |
| AI writing | Limited free / Full paid | Free | No | Paid |
| ATS checker | Paid only | Free (Job Match Analyzer) | No | No |
| Cover letters | 4 free / 40 paid | No | No | Paid |
| PDF download | Free | Free | Free | Free (watermarked) |
| Website builder | Yes (premium) | No | No | No |
| Student discount | 6 months free | N/A — always free | N/A | No |
| Price | $24/mo / $8/mo annual | Free | Free | $21.99/mo |
Yes, but limited. The free plan gives you 4 resume templates, 4 cover letter templates, and access to pre-written phrases. The 40 premium templates, full AI writer, and ATS checker require a paid plan starting at $24/month (or $8/month on the annual plan).
JobScoutly is the best free alternative — all ATS templates, AI writing, and job matching at no cost. Indeed is a basic free option. Novoresume has strong EU CV support but its free tier includes a watermark.
Yes. Students and teachers get 6 months of Premium free with full access to all templates, AI tools, and customization. This is one of Kickresume’s strongest advantages — but only if you have a qualifying email.
4 resume templates and 4 cover letter templates. The remaining 40 resume templates and 40 cover letter templates require Premium.
It depends. If you want creative, design-forward templates and a personal website builder, Kickresume’s premium tier is well-designed. If you primarily need ATS-friendly templates, AI writing, and job matching, JobScoutly offers all of that for free.
