---
title: "Reactive Resume vs Adobe Express"
description: "Compare Reactive Resume and Adobe Express for resume templates, PDF export, visual editing, structured data, and self-hosting."
---

Adobe Express is a better fit when you need broader document, image, and layout editing around a resume. Reactive Resume is a better fit when you want content held in resume-specific fields, with resume-focused exports and deployment choices.

Adobe Express offers a resume maker within a general creative editor. Reactive Resume is limited to the resume workflow: it organizes sections such as experience and education, renders them in a template, and keeps the same resume data available when you change layouts or create versions.

## Quick comparison

| Consideration | Reactive Resume | Adobe Express |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Primary workflow | Resume-specific fields and templates | General visual editing with resume templates |
| Editing scope | Resume layout, typography, colors, spacing, and sections | Document, image, layout, and graphic editing |
| Exports | PDF, DOCX, Markdown, and Reactive Resume JSON | Resume creation and export options in Adobe Express |
| Content reuse | Structured data can be reused across resume versions | Reuse designs and assets in the Adobe Express workflow |
| Deployment | Hosted use or self-hosting under an MIT license | Adobe-hosted service |
| Free plan | Core hosted resume workflow has no premium tier | Free-plan features and asset access have defined limits |

Adobe Express says its resume maker includes customizable resume templates. Its broader editor can suit people who need to combine a resume with edited images or custom page layouts. Its [Free plan documentation](https://helpx.adobe.com/express/web/adobe-express-subscription/free.html) is the right place to check current feature and asset boundaries before relying on a particular tool.

## Where Adobe Express is a better fit

Use Adobe Express when the resume is one part of a wider visual document workflow. Its editing tools can be useful for placing images, adjusting graphics, or making layouts that do not fit a dedicated resume template. It may also be a practical choice when you already use Adobe Express for related documents or visual content.

The broader editor is the meaningful advantage here: it can handle work that is outside a resume builder's normal controls. Confirm the plan and content availability for the assets or features you need rather than assuming they are all included with a free account.

## Where Reactive Resume is a better fit

Use Reactive Resume when you want the work history and other resume sections to remain structured rather than arranged only as page elements. This can make it simpler to prepare targeted resume versions, switch templates, or keep a data backup alongside document exports. The [exporting guide](/guides/exporting-your-resume) covers PDF, DOCX, Markdown, and JSON exports.

Reactive Resume also offers choices beyond the hosted app. The project is [open source](/use-cases/open-source-resume-builder), licensed under MIT, and supports [self-hosting](/use-cases/self-hosted-resume-builder). Those options matter only if you need them; for a single visual document, Adobe Express may be the more direct editor.

## Which should you choose?

Choose Adobe Express when broad creative editing, visual assets, or a general document canvas are central to the task. Choose Reactive Resume when the resume itself is central and you prefer reusable structured fields, resume-specific controls, and multiple export formats.

Both services can produce a PDF for sharing. The decision is largely about the editing model and whether you need a general creative workspace or a focused resume editor.

## Reactive Resume limitations in this comparison

Reactive Resume has a smaller visual asset library and does not provide a general-purpose design canvas. It is not the natural tool for extensive image work, graphic composition, or creating many non-resume document types. Adobe Express is better aligned with those needs.

## Sources

- [Adobe Express resume maker](https://www.adobe.com/express/create/resume)
- [Adobe Express Free plan](https://helpx.adobe.com/express/web/adobe-express-subscription/free.html)

Last checked: July 28, 2026

<Card title="Use structured resume fields" icon="arrow-right" href="https://rxresu.me">
  Try Reactive Resume when reusable work history and resume-specific controls matter more than general document design.
</Card>
