---
title: "Reactive Resume vs Resume.io"
description: "Compare Reactive Resume and Resume.io by free PDF access, templates, writing tools, exports, open source, and self-hosting."
---

Resume.io offers a commercial, guided builder with sample content and a template-focused workflow. Its documented free PDF allowance is narrower, covering its Vancouver template alongside TXT export. Reactive Resume includes its templates and PDF, DOCX, Markdown, and JSON exports without a premium resume tier.

## Quick comparison

| Consideration | Reactive Resume | Resume.io |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free final download | PDF, DOCX, Markdown, and JSON | PDF with the Vancouver template or TXT |
| Other designed templates | Included templates | Premium trial or subscription workflow |
| Content support | Direct editing; optional provider-configured AI | Sample resumes, pre-generated sentences, and tips |
| Deployment | Hosted use or self-hosting | Hosted service |
| Pricing availability | No premium resume tier | Plans can vary by location |

Resume.io's free-plan help article says a free account can build a resume, download a PDF with its Vancouver template, or download a TXT file. It says a premium trial is needed to download in its other designed templates and access premium features. This is a template-specific free-PDF allowance, not a claim that all Resume.io PDF downloads are paid.

The same help page says Resume.io's plan availability can vary by location or from previous plans. Rather than relying on a quoted price, check its current account flow if plan availability is material to your decision.

## Where Resume.io is a better fit

Resume.io fits when you want a commercial template experience with content help included in the service. Its help article points to sample resumes and describes cover-letter tools with pre-generated sentences and tips. A free account can also share an online resume link and return later to edit the document.

The Vancouver template makes it a viable option for someone who likes that design and only needs a single free PDF path. Its premium workflow may suit users who want access to its wider template selection and related features through the hosted product.

## Where Reactive Resume is a better fit

Reactive Resume fits when you want to choose from included templates and export a designed document without a template-tier limit. Its [export guide](/guides/exporting-your-resume) covers PDF, DOCX, Markdown, and JSON. The data export is useful for retaining structured content and settings in addition to a document download.

It also fits when source access or self-hosting matter. Reactive Resume is [MIT-licensed](/legal/license), and its [Docker guide](/self-hosting/docker) documents the self-hosted route. The product's optional AI integration lets you configure a provider if you want assistance, while ordinary resume editing does not depend on it.

## Which should you choose?

Choose Resume.io if its guided content, sample resumes, hosted workflow, and Vancouver free-PDF option fit how you want to write. Choose Reactive Resume if you want its included templates, multiple export formats, and no premium tier for the core resume workflow.

The most important detail is not whether either service can create a resume for free. It is whether the free download you need is available in the template and file format you plan to use.

## Reactive Resume limitations in this comparison

Reactive Resume has a smaller built-in guided-content library. It does not offer Resume.io's collection of sample resumes, pre-generated cover-letter sentences, and tips as an equivalent integrated experience. Its optional AI features also require a provider choice and configuration, which may be less convenient for someone who wants a commercial writing workflow already assembled.

## Sources

- [Resume.io: using the service for free](https://help.resume.io/en/articles/3785088)

Last checked: July 28, 2026

<Card title="Create and export without template-tier limits" icon="arrow-right" href="https://rxresu.me">
  Use Reactive Resume when you want the included templates, multiple export formats, and no premium resume tier.
</Card>
