As a hiring manager with 6 years of experience who’s spent hundreds (maybe even thousands) of hours reviewing resumes, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to write a resume that impresses employers.
Resume builder websites like Kickresume can make that process easier. But not every resume builder is equal, so I decided to test Kickresume’s product to see if it’s worth your time (and money).
Our free-to-use resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.
Kickresume builder customer reviews
Based in Slovakia, Kickresume has been helping job seekers with their resumes and cover letters since 2013. They have over 2,000 reviews on Trustpilot, with an average rating of 4.6/5 stars.
Additionally, Kickresume has received positive feedback from users across different platforms, with people citing their ease of use and template designs.
How much does Kickresume cost?
Kickresume offers both free and paid plans:
Free plan:
- 4 basic templates
- Create 1 resume and 1 cover letter
- Basic editing features
- PDF downloads only
Premium monthly plan: $15/month
- All templates (50+)
- Unlimited resumes and cover letters
- Advanced customization
- All file formats
- AI writing suggestions
- Website portfolio builder
Premium yearly plan: $8/month (billed annually at $96)
- Same features as monthly plan
- 47% savings compared to monthly billing
Student and teacher discount:
- 6 month free Premium account
What I liked about the Kickresume builder
I tested Kickresume’s builder myself to see how it compares to similar services. Here’s what we found:
1. You can import your resume from LinkedIn
Like most resume builders, Kickresume gives you the option to upload your current resume to help jumpstart the resume creation process.
However, what sets it apart is that you can also get started by importing information from your LinkedIn profile.
I thought this was a great feature, and made the process of updating my resume even easier.
2. Split screen preview
One of Kickresume’s standout features is its split-screen view, which shows your changes in real time.
This helps you catch formatting issues immediately and see exactly how your final resume will look before you download it.
3. AI tools
Kickresume’s builder isn’t just for formatting a resume – it also helped me generate content and rewrite sections using AI.
I thought the suggestions provided were generic, but still useful in strengthening a few job descriptions. Additionally, I think the suggestions would provide a helpful jumping-off point for entry-level job seekers who aren’t sure how to structure their work experience section or describe their experience.
Kickresume also has a variety of AI tools available in their builder, such as a resume checker and even an automated “Career Coach.” However, these tools are only available for Premium users.
4. Extensive formatting options
Unlike some other more rigid resume builders, Kickresume allows you to easily modify your resume’s formatting by dragging and dropping content.
Additionally, details like line spacing, font sizes, and even heading capitalization are fully customizable.
This gives you a lot of flexibility when designing your resume, and if you put in the extra effort you can get a polished end result.
5. Six months free Premium access for students and teachers
While I didn’t qualify for it, I appreciate that Kickresume shows its commitment to education by offering 6 months of free Premium access to students and teachers. This makes it a solid option for people who are just starting their careers and could use help creating their first professional resume.
6. Extensive template options
Assuming you pay for a premium plan, Kickresume provides over 50 different resume templates, which is quite a bit more than a lot of competitors.
Kickresume also has a lot of variety in designs, so whether you need a more creative resume or something a bit more buttoned up, they’ll almost certainly have something that works for you.
What I didn’t like about Kickresume
While there are quite a few great features found in Kickresume’s free builder, there are some aspects to it I didn’t like.
1. Limited free templates
Kickresume’s free version only includes 4 templates, which might be too restrictive for users wanting more design options without paying for a subscription.
These templates are in black and white, and have almost no design elements to them.
2. You can’t add additional sections
The rigid structure of the builder doesn’t allow free users to add custom sections, such as certifications, awards, volunteer work, projects, and publications.
This greatly limits your ability to showcase unique achievements or skills that don’t fit standard categories.
3. Difficult to fill the page
Each block of information is added randomly and I struggled to get my resume to fill the page, leaving me with an awkwardly filled- resume.
After spending some time trying to rectify this I was still left with a resume with blank space at the bottom that looked unprofessional.
4. You can only add 2 skills to your skills section
You can only add 2 skills to your skills section on the free plan. If you wish to add more, you need to upgrade to Premium.
For each resume, we recommend listing a mix of 5-10 hard and soft skills so only providing 2 skills is not adequate.
5. Charts and graphs are used to measure skills
Nearly all of Kickresume’s templates use bars and percentages to measure skill levels.
While they look fancy, these skill bars take up space, can be distracting, and frequently cause problems when uploading your resume to applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Additionally, skill bars aren’t effective because they don’t actually communicate anything about your proficiency in that skill. For example, what does having “80% Communication Skills” actually mean? If you don’t know, then most employers won’t either.
If you’re adding skills to your resume, it’s best to stick with a traditional list of technical strengths.
6. Limited AI usage
The highlight of Kickresume’s builder is its AI integration that helps you upgrade your resume.
However, after using these AI features a handful of times on the free plan, I no longer had access and was told to upgrade to Premium.
Frequently asked questions about Kickresume
Still not sure about Kickresume? I’ve answered a few common questions about them below:
Is Kickresume free?
Kickresume’s resume builder is a freemium product. In other words, you can build a basic resume for free, but the vast majority of their templates and customization options require you to pay for a subscription.
With a subscription, Kickresume costs $19 per month..
Is Kickresume legit?
Yes, Kickresume is a legitimate service that’s been operating since 2013. It has strong user reviews on trusted platforms and secure payment processing.
Is Kickresume worth it?
Kickresume’s Premium plan is worth it if you:
- Want modern, professional templates
- Need AI-powered writing assistance
- Are a student or teacher (free Premium access for 6 months)
- Plan to create multiple resume versions
- Need both resumes and cover letters
Consider their free option if you:
- Only need a basic template
- Want to download multiple PDF versions or watermarked Word documents
- Don’t need much AI assistance
Additional resume builder reviews
Don’t think the Kickresume builder is right for you? Read our reviews of some alternative resume builders here:
- Resume Genius reviews
- Zety reviews
- MyPerfectResume reviews
- Jobscan reviews
- Novoresume reviews
- Resume Now reviews
- ResumeNerd reviews
- Resume.io reviews
- LiveCareer review
- Canva reviews
- Teal resume builder reviews
- Rocket Resume reviews
- Enhancv reviews
- Best AI resume builders
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