Enhancv and Kickresume are the two most design-focused resume builders available. Both prioritize visual impact over ATS optimization, offering modern templates, creative layouts, and extensive customization. The difference is in access. Enhancv locks nearly everything behind a paywall with no usable free tier. Kickresume offers one of the most generous free plans in the market. This comparison breaks down where each wins on design, pricing, and practicality, and where both fall short for active job seekers.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Enhancv | Kickresume | ResumeTailorApp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Templates | Modern, story-driven | 40+ creative + professional | ATS-optimized, clean |
| AI Writer | Pro+ only | Yes (GPT-4) | Yes (GPT-4 Turbo) |
| Job Tailoring | One-click (paid) | Build-time only | Full rewrite + cover letter |
| Free Tier | 7-day trial only, then pay | 4 templates, unlimited downloads | 3 credits per month |
| Starting Price | $24.99/mo | $10/mo (annual) | $2.99/week |
| ATS Checker | Yes (paid) | Yes (Premium) | Yes (free, no signup) |
| Job Tracker | Yes | No | No |
| Personal Website | No | Yes (7 templates) | No |
Enhancv: Premium Design, Premium Price
Enhancv builds some of the most visually distinctive resumes on the market. The templates use storytelling layouts, custom sections for portfolios and volunteer work, and real-time content suggestions that guide you toward stronger phrasing. The job tracker and AI-powered job matching feature help organize applications and find relevant postings.
The platform claims ATS compatibility, and its technical explanation is thorough. Text remains selectable, PDFs are not flattened, and column layouts isolate sections rather than splitting content across both sides. However, the visual elements that make Enhancv distinctive — decorative icons, timeline graphics, and multi-column designs — still carry more ATS risk than plain single-column templates.
The dealbreaker for many users is the free tier. There is none. You get a 7-day trial with 2 resumes and watermark branding. After that, you cannot edit or download without paying. At $24.99 per month, this is one of the more expensive entry points in the market. Users on Trustpilot praise the design but criticize the pricing, with one review noting that paying a minimum of $19 for a single CV is ridiculous.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | $0 (7 days) | 2 resumes, watermark, limited sections |
| Pro | $24.99/mo | All templates, AI suggestions, no branding |
| Quarterly | $16.66/mo ($49.97 every 3 months) | Same as Pro, better value |
| Semi-Annual | $13.33/mo ($79.94 every 6 months) | Same as Pro, best value |
Kickresume: Generous and Versatile
Kickresume matches Enhancv on design quality while offering far more access. Over 40 resume templates and 40 matching cover letter designs span creative, professional, and minimalist styles. The AI Writer drafts full resumes using GPT-4. A personal website builder with 7 templates, a career map, and mobile apps for iOS and Android extend the platform beyond resume creation.
The free tier is genuinely useful. Four templates with unlimited PDF downloads, no credit card, no watermarks. Students and teachers get 6 months of Premium free. This is one of the best free offerings in the resume builder market.
The weakness is the same as Enhancv. ATS scanning is a Premium add-on, not core functionality. Job-specific tailoring is limited to the initial build. And for users who want visual flair, some templates carry more parser risk than simpler designs.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 4 templates, unlimited downloads |
| Yearly | $54/year ($10/mo) | All templates, AI tools, ATS checker |
| Monthly | $24/mo | Same as yearly, billed monthly |
Head-to-Head: Enhancv vs Kickresume
Templates and Design
Both excel. Enhancv's storytelling layouts and custom sections are more distinctive for creative roles. Kickresume offers more variety (40+ vs Enhancv's smaller library) and better professional options for conservative industries. For pure visual impact, Enhancv edges ahead. For versatility across roles, Kickresume wins.
Free Tier Value
Kickresume wins decisively. Unlimited PDF downloads with 4 templates against Enhancv's 7-day trial with watermarks and no post-trial access. For job seekers who need a resume before they can pay, Kickresume is the only viable option between the two.
AI Content Quality
Kickresume wins. GPT-4 powered full resume generation is available on all plans, including free trial. Enhancv's AI is gated behind Pro+ tiers and described as limited on lower plans. Both produce competent first drafts that require manual editing.
ATS Optimization
Both are adequate, not exceptional. Enhancv provides a detailed technical defense of its ATS compatibility but the visual elements still carry risk. Kickresume's ATS Checker is a Premium add-on. Neither offers real-time keyword feedback against specific job postings like Rezi or ResumeTailorApp.
Pricing Transparency
Kickresume wins. $54 per year upfront is clear and fair. Enhancv's cheapest committed option is $79.94 every 6 months, and the monthly plan at $24.99 is steep for short searches. Over a full year, Kickresume Premium costs less than Enhancv's semi-annual plan.
Extra Features
Enhancv wins on job tracking and AI job matching. Kickresume wins on the personal website builder, mobile apps, and resume samples library. For users who want a complete job search platform, Enhancv's tracker is useful. For users who want a resume-centric tool with portfolio options, Kickresume is stronger.
The Third Option: ResumeTailorApp
Enhancv and Kickresume both build beautiful resumes that may or may not pass ATS filters. Neither automatically tailors your resume to a specific job description with a matching cover letter. ResumeTailorApp closes both gaps with job-specific AI rewriting, ATS scoring, and transparent pricing.
What It Does Differently
- Free ATS Checker: Paste your resume and job description for an instant compatibility score. No registration.
- AI Tailoring: Paste any job description and get a rewritten resume plus a matching cover letter in under two minutes.
- Natural Language: Recruiter-trained prompts avoid robotic phrasing and keyword stuffing.
- Transparent Pricing: Weekly, monthly, and annual plans with no auto-renewal traps.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 3 credits per month |
| Weekly | $2.99/week | Unlimited AI generations, ATS templates |
| Monthly | $9.99/month | Same as weekly, billed monthly |
| Annual | $89/year | Same as monthly, save 25 percent |
Who Should Choose Which
Choose Enhancv If:
- You work in a creative field where visual storytelling matters
- You want a built-in job tracker and AI job matching
- You are comfortable paying before testing the product
- You need custom sections for portfolios and non-standard experience
Choose Kickresume If:
- You want professional design with a genuinely usable free tier
- You need a personal website alongside your resume
- You prefer simple annual billing at $54 per year
- You want mobile editing on iOS or Android
Choose ResumeTailorApp If:
- You apply to multiple jobs and need quick per-job customization
- You want both resume tailoring and cover letter generation in one tool
- You want a free ATS score before paying anything
- You prefer transparent pricing with no billing surprises
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Enhancv or Kickresume better for ATS
Both are adequate. Enhancv provides a detailed technical explanation of its ATS compatibility but visual elements still carry risk. Kickresume's ATS Checker is a Premium add-on. For strict ATS optimization, neither matches Rezi or ResumeTailorApp.
Which is cheaper, Enhancv or Kickresume
Kickresume is significantly cheaper. The annual plan is $54 per year. Enhancv's cheapest committed option is $79.94 every 6 months. On monthly billing, Enhancv at $24.99 costs the same as Kickresume's monthly plan at $24.
Does Enhancv have a free plan
No. Enhancv offers a 7-day trial with 2 watermarked resumes. After that, you must pay to edit or download. Kickresume offers a permanent free tier with 4 templates and unlimited downloads.
Can I use Enhancv and Kickresume together
There is little reason to use both. They serve the same purpose with similar design philosophies. If you want a design-focused builder for your base resume and a tailoring tool for specific jobs, use either for the base, then ResumeTailorApp for job-specific customization.
Which tool has better templates for creative roles
Enhancv's storytelling layouts and custom sections are more distinctive for pure creative roles. Kickresume offers more variety overall and better professional options for hybrid roles that need some visual polish without full creative flair.
Does ResumeTailorApp offer design templates like Enhancv or Kickresume
No. ResumeTailorApp focuses on ATS-optimized, clean templates that prioritize parser compatibility over visual design. For creative roles where visual impact is critical, Enhancv or Kickresume may be better choices. For roles where ATS passage is the priority, ResumeTailorApp is stronger.
Final Verdict
Enhancv vs Kickresume is a choice between premium design at a premium price and generous access with comparable quality. Enhancv wins on visual distinctiveness and job tracking features. Kickresume wins on free tier value, pricing transparency, and overall versatility. Both are competent design-first builders.
For active job seekers, the limitation is the same for both. Neither automatically tailors your resume to specific job descriptions with matching cover letters. Neither offers a free ATS score without signup. ResumeTailorApp closes those gaps with AI tailoring, cover letter generation, and a free compatibility checker at a lower entry price than either competitor. Start with the free ATS checker to see how your current resume scores. Then use the AI builder to build, tailor, and generate cover letters in one workflow.