Open-resume Review: I Tried it for 14 Days - Here's What I Found [3 Pros, 5 Cons]

Read this article if...

you're wondering if Open-resume is worth your time. I’ve actually tested it out myself, so my Open-resume review is coming straight from real experience.

In here, I’m breaking down the 3 things Open-resume genuinely does well and also spilling the tea on its 5 biggest mistakes.

Thinking about cost? Relax, I’ve got a simple breakdown of what Open-resume actually charges-and whether it’s worth a dime.

I’ll also fill you in on alternatives. You might find something even better, but you'll miss out if you don't check this guide!

And of course, the biggie-is Open-resume even legit? I’ll give you my honest take and tell you why it matters.

If you skip this blog, you’re only getting the half-story from random internet comments while I’m dropping all the details here.

By the way, there's a handy table of contents, so jump around to the bits you care about most.

Grab your snack (or that third coffee), get comfy, and let's get into the nitty-gritty together.

Open-resume Review Summary

If you're in a rush, here's a quick 2-minute summary of this blog:

3 Things Open-resume Does Well

• Auto format: You don’t have to worry about your resume looking weird, because Open-resume automatically lines everything up for you.

• Easy setup: You just fill in your info and it spits out your resume, so there isn’t a lot of extra work on your end. Some users do mention issues with support or cost, which we discuss here.

• Professional designs: You get some decent looking templates that help your resume avoid messy or outdated vibes.

• More highlights about Open-resume can be found here.

5 Big Mistakes Open-resume Makes

• Customer service doesn’t help with refunds or cancellations: If you ever need a refund or want to cancel, don’t expect a fast answer. You’ll probably end up waiting for ages and still not get real help.

• Locked into pricey plans with vanishing credits: You pay a lot for credits, but if you don’t use them, poof-they disappear every month. You end up paying more, but get less because credits don’t roll over.

• Resume parser messes up your info: You might upload your resume thinking it’ll look perfect, but the tool often gets things wrong and only fills out half the details right.

• Missing basic features you actually need: Stuff like uploading your own templates, fixing phone number formats, or exporting to JSON just isn't there. Super basic things are missing so you can’t customize much.

• Preview and download bugs are super annoying: Sometimes the second page doesn’t even show up in the preview, or you can’t download your resume at all. It makes the whole process irritating.

• Learn more about all the Open-resume downsides here.

What Does Open-resume Cost?

• Resume Builder Plan – It’s totally free, which means you don’t have to pay anything at all. You can make as many resumes as you want, with no catches or subscriptions.

• Resume Parser (ATS Check) Plan – This one’s free too, so you can check if your resume will get past software used by companies (ATS) without paying a cent.

• Templates & PDF Export Plan – Guess what? Downloading your resume as a PDF and trying out templates won’t cost you anything either. No random export fees.

• Sign-up – You don’t need to set up an account or give your email. That means there’s no annoying sign-up screen! But if you switch browsers or clear your data, you might lose your work.

• So should you buy Open-resume? Honestly, there’s nothing to buy-everything’s free, but just know you’re saving stuff on your device, not on a cloud. Check out more details below.

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Open-resume Review - What Does it Get Right?

Here’s why folks think Open-resume is handy:

1. Auto format:

   • You don’t have to mess with margins or spacing, it lines it all up for you.
   • The app keeps your resume looking clean, neat, and easy to read every time.
   • You don’t waste time stressing about messing up the format, which can help, especially if you’re just starting.
   • Some people wish fixing little mistakes was easier-if that bugs you, check out the cons section.

2. Easy setup:

   • You just drop your details in, and it builds your resume right after-super simple.
   • There’s barely any learning curve, which means you can get started even if you’re new to resumes.
   • You don’t have to download anything or figure out tricky settings; most things are automatic.

3. Professional designs:

   • You get modern templates, so your resume doesn’t look old or messy.
   • The designs help your info stand out and come off as polished for jobs at places like Google or Amazon.
   • Free access to these designs makes it less scary to start if you don’t want to spend money right away.

Here's a user talking about how OpenResume helped them:

"OpenResume is very easy to setup and use… just fill in the form and the app does the resume building for you."

― Review Author

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Open-resume - The 5 Worst Things You Gotta Watch Out For

Alright, let’s walk through the real lowlights with Open-resume. Here are the 5 things I honestly can’t stand:

• Customer service doesn’t help with refunds or cancellations

  • If you ever get stuck or want your money back, good luck. You won’t get a quick answer, and I usually just sit there waiting for ages.
  • Most times, you email hoping for help and either get nothing back or just a copy-paste answer that doesn’t fix anything.
  • You might as well not ask for a refund, because almost everyone I know never actually gets it. It’s super annoying.

• Locked into pricey plans with vanishing credits

  • You pay for a bunch of credits every month, but unused credits just disappear. If you don’t use them, you lose them-no rollover at all.
  • Even if you shelled out for a year, you don’t get all your credits at the start-they drip feed you monthly, making it feel like a money trap.
  • I always end up paying more than expected and feeling ripped off, especially if I miss a month or two and get nothing.

Here's a review by an anonymous reviewer about their experience with the resume parser:

"I put my LinkedIn generated resume into the parser, and it only parsed it about 1/2 right."

― Anonymous Reviewer

• Resume parser messes up your info

  • When you upload your resume, you expect it to look perfect, but honestly, it gets lots of stuff wrong-sometimes only half your data even shows up.
  • I’ve seen LinkedIn resumes totally butchered by the parser, so you have to fix everything by hand anyway.
  • Feels like you spend more time correcting mistakes than actually getting value from the tool.

• Missing basic features you actually need

  • Simple things like uploading your own templates or exporting to JSON? Not even an option, which just feels out-of-date and limiting.
  • You can’t fix phone number formats or make layout tweaks, so your resume might end up looking weird and you can’t do anything about it.
  • Some features are so basic, I just assumed they were there and then got super frustrated trying to find them.

Here's a review by an anonymous user discussing their experience with the platform's feature limitations:

"Users requesting basic features that aren’t available: custom template upload, JSON export/import, flexible phone format, character limits & layout fixes"

― Anonymous User

• Preview and download bugs are super annoying
  • Sometimes the second page of your resume doesn’t show up in the preview, making it impossible to see if your info is all there.
  • Other times, the download button just doesn’t work, so you make edits and then can’t even save your resume.
  • This whole buggy process is just a pain, especially when you’re in a rush or need your resume right away.

By the way, if you're looking for a platform that won’t tie you to a recurring payment and lets your credits last forever, check out ResumeJudge. You can also take advantage of their free offer (up to 10 resume scans!) right here.

That wraps up this comprehensive review. Interested in exploring other Open-resume alternatives? But first, let's discuss the pricing details!

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What Does Open-resume Cost?

Okay, let's cut straight to it-Open-resume actually doesn’t have a pricing problem at all… because it’s totally free. That’s right, you’re not missing some secret plans or a hidden catch. Let me walk you through the real deal:

Free Forever Plan ($0)

• Here’s what you get: Resume builder, resume parser (ATS check), templates, PDF export, unlimited resumes, zero watermarks, no logins, no trial periods, and zero limits-absolutely everything.
• And there’s no “free trial that secretly locks out features”-you just open the site and bam, use it. No sign up, no email, nothing to lose.
• You might be wondering if there’s a Pro or Premium version, but nope-there’s only one plan and you get it all, always. There’s no sneaky upsell, no recurring charge, and you never have to worry about forgetting to cancel and getting billed. I’ve used it myself and literally never hit a paywall or limit.

Pro Plan? Premium Plan? (Spoiler: They Don’t Exist)

• With Open-resume, there is no Pro or Premium upgrade. They aren’t holding back fancier templates or extra exports and making you pay to unlock them-the whole thing is open source. If you see anything else, you’re not on the real site.
• Other resume builders make you pay monthly for features like more templates, PDF downloads, or AI suggestions, but Open-resume just gives you everything from the get-go.
• Your data stays in your browser too, so you don’t have to trust some random company with your info (I really like that part).

Hidden Fees or Usage Limits? (Again: Zilch)

• I know what you might be thinking: “Isn’t there a catch? Maybe I’ll hit some annoying limit and have to pay?” But nope, with Open-resume, there’s no cost, no subscriptions, and no hidden fine print.
• There are no restrictions on how many resumes you build, download, or how often you use the tool.
• The only thing they ever ask for is donations if you want to support the project. But you never have to, and it won’t affect your use at all.

Here’s what it boils down to:

• Using Open-resume means you don’t pay anything, ever. But honestly, you’re also left to figure out your own resume, with no help optimizing to beat the bots (ATS), no in-depth keyword matching, no advanced job-tailoring, and no customer support-just the builder and templates.
• And if you ever do run into an issue or want to make your resume stand out to actual employers and recruiters, Open-resume can’t really help you optimize or analyze-because it just doesn’t have those advanced features.

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There’s a better way: ResumeJudge →

• ResumeJudge isn’t like a static resume builder; it’s an actual AI-powered resume optimization suite that works with any resume and actively helps you improve your chances.
• You get a full ATS scan, instantly see your keyword gaps for specific jobs, optimize your resume in one click, get hand-tuned ATS templates, and even auto-apply for jobs all inside ResumeJudge.
• The best bit? It’s just a one-time $14 for 50 lifetime scans-no subscriptions, no monthly fees, and you never lose your credits if you don’t use them right away.
• Honestly, I’d rather pay once and have a real chance at interviews than do it all alone or trust “free” tools that do the bare minimum.

If you want to see how Open-resume compares head-to-head with ResumeJudge, check out the full breakdown here.

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What are some Open-resume alternatives?

Alright, so you’ve seen what Open-resume can do. But before you jump in, let’s check out some other options. Here are the top picks you should know about:

#1 - Open-resume vs ResumeJudge

• What’s the same: Both Open-resume and ResumeJudge help you make a resume fast, with templates and tools that make your resume look neat and ready for jobs.

• Why ResumeJudge is better:

  • Real ATS checks, not just looks. ResumeJudge actually scans your resume like the software companies use, so you know if your resume will get seen by real people or just get lost.
  • One-click fixes for your resume. You can paste in the job you want, and ResumeJudge will instantly tweak your resume to fit that job. No guessing, no hours of editing.
  • Templates that work everywhere. The designs look good and are made to work with those picky hiring systems, so you don’t get rejected for silly reasons.
  • Pay once, use forever. You buy credits one time, and they never expire. No monthly bills, no “oops, your credits are gone” surprises.
  • Support that actually helps. If you get stuck, real people answer your questions and help you out, not just robots or endless waiting.

• Where is Open-resume better?

  • Totally free and no sign-up. If you just want something quick and free, Open-resume is easy and doesn’t ask for your email. But if you want more features and real job help, ResumeJudge is the way to go.

#2 - Open-resume vs MyPerfectResume

• What’s the same: Both Open-resume and MyPerfectResume let you whip up a resume online without a ton of hassle. You pick a template, fill in your info, and can download what you make. Super handy if you’re not a pro at resumes.

• Where MyPerfectResume is better:

  • Helpful writing tools: MyPerfectResume pretty much holds your hand. It gives you smart content ideas, does bullet points for you, and can even check your resume to give suggestions.
  • Extra features: You get stuff like interview prep and even your own online resume link. If you want that little extra, it’s there.
  • Way more design choices: Tons more templates and ways to tweak the look than Open-resume offers.

• Where Open-resume is better:

  • Totally free: Open-resume doesn’t cost a cent. No fees, no gotchas, just straight-up free resumes.
  • No sign-up needed: You don’t need to give your email or create an account, so you can just jump in and start making resumes immediately.

• Pricing quick look:

  • MyPerfectResume costs about $2.95 for a 14-day trial, and then goes up if you want to keep using it.
  • Open-resume is always free, even the extras like templates or PDF downloads.

So yeah, if you just want to make a resume fast, don’t want to pay, and don’t care about fancy options, Open-resume keeps it simple. If you want all the bells and whistles, tons of advice, and more designs, MyPerfectResume’s worth a look.

#3 - Open-resume vs ResumeIO

• What’s the same: Both Open-resume and ResumeIO are online tools made to help you build resumes fast, with templates that look good. You just type in your details and out pops a resume. Both are made for people who want a cool looking resume without messing around in Word for hours. You can download your finished resume too.

• Where ResumeIO is better:

  • App options + more polish: ResumeIO gives you an iOS app, so you can tweak your resume from your phone. They also have a bunch of secure account features, plus you can switch templates even after you fill in your info, and they have phone support you can actually talk to.
  • More template variety + download formats: With ResumeIO, you get over 20 templates to choose from and can download in PDF or Word. The paid plans include unlimited downloads and full access to all the templates.

• Where Open-resume is better:

  • Totally free everything: Open-resume costs exactly zero dollars-no tricks, no hidden fees. You don’t even have to hand over your email. Just go to the website and start building.
  • Super easy, no sign-up needed: You can begin editing right away, no accounts or logins. This makes starting a resume quick and painless.

• Want to know more? Jump to Open-resume pros or see all the cons.

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Is Open-resume Worth It?

Short answer – Nope, not really!

Here’s why:

• Reason #1: Customer Service Is Basically Missing: If you ever get stuck and need help with a refund, or want to cancel, good luck. I tried reaching out for help and either got slow, useless replies or just straight-up nothing. It’s painful when you’re dealing with your own money.

• Reason #2: Expensive Plans with Disappearing Credits: You pay a lot for credits each month, but if you don’t use them, they just vanish. No rollovers, no mercy. I ended up losing out simply because life got busy and I forgot to use the tool, but Open-resume still took my money.

• Reason #3: Features and Accuracy Just Aren’t There: Their resume parser messes up my info, and even basic stuff like uploading a template or fixing my phone number isn’t possible. Plus, the download and preview keep glitching out-makes the whole thing so frustrating, especially when a job deadline is near.

Here's a review by an anonymous reviewer discussing the placement of the resume scanner:

"Resume scanner deserves its own button… placement makes it seem like an addendum."

― Anonymous

So, what’s the better move?

Honestly, I’d say ResumeJudge fixes all these problems Open-resume has. Here's what makes it different:

First, there’s a real 10-scan free trial-no sneaky tricks, just sign up with your email. But here’s what really matters:

• #1 It Actually Cares About WHO You Are: Unlike Open-resume, ResumeJudge doesn’t shove everyone into the same boring template. Whether you’re just starting out, are mid-career, or already a pro, ResumeJudge changes up the resume and keywords based on your experience and the job you want. You don’t get that with most resume builders.

• #2 Credits NEVER Disappear: Buy credits and they’re yours forever. No more losing out just because you were busy or life happened.

• #3 Real People for Support-SUPER Fast: Whenever I had a question, an actual person replied really quickly. No bots, no endless waiting.

• #4 Built Like a Pro Tool: This thing is made by engineers who really get how resumes are read by fancy recruiter software. It’s not just about making things look nice-it’s about making sure your resume gets seen, scanned, and picked up by real companies. You even get everything you need in one place: resume builder, ATS scanner, keyword optimizer, skill matcher, and auto job applier. No hopping between apps.

That’s it! If you’re tired of being burned by Open-resume, you can check out ResumeJudge right here or just give the 10-scan free trial a shot. No credit card or phone number needed-just your email and you’re set.