Kickresume is one of the many resume builder websites available online that promise to land you a job. But does their product really work? I tested their resume builder to find out.
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).
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
Monthly plan: $19/month
- All templates (40+)
- Unlimited resumes and cover letters
- Advanced customization
- All file formats
- AI writing suggestions
- Website portfolio builder
Quarterly plan: $39 every 3 months
- Same features as monthly plan
Yearly plan: $84/year
- Same features as monthly plan
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.
Comparison of Kickresume and Resume Genius
Here’s a quick reference table to compare the different pricing plans between Resume Genius and Kickresume:
Comparison between Resume Genius and Kickresume
| Plan | Resume Genius | Kickresume |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 – Unlimited plain text downloads | $0 – Limited features, no skills section |
| Trial/Starter | $2.95 for 14 days – Full Access | [No trial plan offered] |
| Monthly | $23.95/month – Full Access | $19/month – Full Access |
| Quarterly | [No quarterly plan] | $13/month (billed $39 quarterly) – Full Access |
| Annual | $7.95/month (billed $95.40/year) – Full Access | $7/month (billed $84/year) – Full Access |
AI Features
Kickresume’s resume builder integrates AI generation into the resume writing process. However, the feature is buggy and sometimes it feels like it’d be faster to just use ChatGPT.
For example, it generated these bullet points with empty bullet points in between them. And, it was stuck on “Generating” forever, so I couldn’t actually edit the field at all.
In contrast, the Resume Genius resume builder is a custom-built tool for generating bullet points for any job. It lets you choose which bullet points to add, and they’re instantly customizable:
Skill levels
Kickresume automatically adds skill levels to each skill you enter (either represented by words like “Professional”, “Full”, “Limited”, and “Elementary”, or by graphics).
This makes it seem like it’s standard practice to include this in a resume, but it’s not. Skill levels are only appropriate in specific cases.
The skill levels feature has to be manually turned off for each skill you enter, which just adds extra work for you.
Resume Genius offers templates with skill levels and those without, so you can choose which suits your needs best.
Ease of use
The Resume Genius resume builder has a simpler user interface than Kickresume’s resume builder. It guides you through writing each section in a visually uncluttered way.
Kickresume’s editing page, on the other hand, has three vertical columns and overwhelms the user with popups and unrelated features:
Overwhelmed by too many buttons?
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
- Monster resume builder
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About the Author
8
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Conrad Benz is a Content Manager and Hiring Manager at Resume Genius. With nearly a decade of experience as a career services professional, Conrad is passionate about helping people navigate the job search process and find fulfilling work.
You can find Conrad’s career insights in publications like Typsy, Resume Library, and more.
Conrad graduated with a B.A. in International Relations from Goucher College in Maryland and currently lives in Taipei, Taiwan, where he helps ensure every article on Resume Genius provides job seekers with the information they need to succeed.
If you want to reach Conrad for a quote or media-related inquiry, you can contact him at [conrad] @ [resumegenius.com].
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