---
title: "Reactive Resume vs Resume-Now"
description: "Compare Reactive Resume and Resume-Now by free export formats, guided writing, AI tools, templates, and self-hosting."
---

Resume-Now centers on guided drafting, with content suggestions, AI writing tools, and resume-analysis tools. Reactive Resume centers on direct editing of structured resume data and includes designed PDF and DOCX exports, while its built-in writing-guidance surface is smaller.

## Quick comparison

| Consideration | Reactive Resume | Resume-Now |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Free final download | PDF, DOCX, Markdown, and JSON | Plain-text TXT |
| Designed PDF and Word | Included exports | Paid access required |
| Writing workflow | Direct fields and optional provider-configured AI | Career questions, suggested bullets, and AI enhancement |
| Analysis tools | No equivalent specialized checker | Resume checker, summary generator, skills generator, and AI review |
| Deployment | Hosted use or self-hosting | Hosted service |

Resume-Now's free-builder guide says that the no-cost download is a TXT file. It states that a download using a premium template requires paid access, and its FAQ says premium file formats require an upgrade. That makes free creation different from getting a designed PDF or Word document.

Reactive Resume includes [PDF, DOCX, Markdown, and JSON exports](/guides/exporting-your-resume) in the core workflow. JSON is a structured backup format rather than a final application document; PDF and DOCX are the designed document options in this comparison.

## Where Resume-Now is a better fit

Resume-Now fits when you want guidance while producing the content. Its free-builder guide walks through choosing a template, importing an existing resume, answering career questions, selecting personalized content suggestions, and using an AI enhancement action. It also describes spell-check, formatting controls, and optional sections during review.

The product has a larger set of related writing and analysis tools. Its public pages list an AI summary generator, skills generator, resume checker, and AI review. This can be useful when you want suggestions and feedback before deciding what to include, rather than starting from your own completed draft.

## Where Reactive Resume is a better fit

Reactive Resume fits when direct editing and access to a designed export matter more than a guided-content library. The editor separates resume sections from the visual template, so you can change a template without replacing the underlying experience, education, or skills. The [template guide](/guides/choosing-a-template) covers that selection process.

It is also suitable when portability or deployment control matters. Reactive Resume is [open source under the MIT license](/legal/license) and can be run using the [self-hosting documentation](/self-hosting/docker). Its optional AI functionality is provider-configured, so it remains optional rather than a required part of the editing workflow.

## Which should you choose?

Choose Resume-Now if you want questions, suggestions, and a collection of hosted analysis tools while drafting, and you accept the TXT-only free download boundary. Choose Reactive Resume if you prefer direct control over your content and want a designed PDF or DOCX export without moving to a premium tier.

Both workflows still require you to verify that every statement is accurate and that the final document is appropriate for the role.

## Reactive Resume limitations in this comparison

Reactive Resume has a smaller built-in writing-guidance surface. It does not provide Resume-Now's collection of prewritten suggestions, dedicated resume checker, summary generator, skills generator, or AI review as integrated tools. Its optional AI path also asks you to choose and configure a provider, which is more setup than using a hosted suggestion workflow.

## Sources

- [Resume-Now: using the builder for free](https://www.resume-now.com/job-resources/resumes/how-to-use-our-resume-builder)
- [Resume-Now home page](https://www.resume-now.com/)
- [Reactive Resume: exporting your resume](/guides/exporting-your-resume)
- [Reactive Resume: self-hosting with Docker](/self-hosting/docker)

Last checked: July 28, 2026

<Card title="Use a resume workflow without a subscription" icon="arrow-right" href="https://rxresu.me">
  Try Reactive Resume when direct editing and designed exports matter more than a large guided-content library.
</Card>
