---
title: "Reactive Resume vs Canva"
description: "Compare Reactive Resume and Canva for free resume creation, visual control, exports, data portability, and self-hosting."
---

Canva is a better fit for freeform visual composition and a broad design library. Reactive Resume is purpose-built around structured resume fields, reusable resume data, and the option to self-host.

Both tools can help you make a resume, but they begin from different models. Canva is a general visual-design product with resume templates among its design types. Reactive Resume is a resume editor: work history, education, skills, and other sections are stored as resume data, then rendered through a selected template.

## Quick comparison

| Consideration | Reactive Resume | Canva |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Primary workflow | Structured resume sections with a live preview | Freeform visual editing across many design types |
| Design controls | Resume templates, colors, typography, layout, and spacing | Flexible composition, elements, and a broad design library |
| Exports | PDF, DOCX, Markdown, and Reactive Resume JSON | See Canva's export options and template terms |
| Data portability | JSON export can back up or restore a resume | Depends on the design and export format you choose |
| Deployment | Hosted use or self-hosting under the MIT license | Canva-hosted service |
| Plan boundary | The hosted core resume workflow has no premium tier | Some Canva content and features have plan-specific availability |

Reactive Resume supports [PDF, DOCX, Markdown, and JSON exports](/guides/exporting-your-resume). Its JSON format is useful when you want to retain the content and settings for another Reactive Resume resume. Canva's resume builder is part of a wider design environment, which can be more appropriate when the resume needs custom graphics, brand elements, or a layout that goes beyond resume-specific controls.

## Where Canva is a better fit

Choose Canva when visual composition is the main task. Its resume page points to a large collection of customizable templates, and its wider product includes tools for arranging text, images, and graphic elements. That is useful for a resume that needs to align with an existing portfolio, brand kit, or presentation style.

Canva can also be the more convenient choice when the same person is preparing related design materials, such as a portfolio cover, social graphic, or presentation. Check the availability and licensing details for the individual templates, elements, and features you select; the availability of a free Canva account does not mean every asset is included.

## Where Reactive Resume is a better fit

Choose Reactive Resume when the content should stay in recognizable resume fields and you expect to reuse it across versions. You can change a template without re-entering the underlying sections, adjust resume-specific layout settings, and keep exports in several document and data formats.

It is also appropriate when infrastructure control matters. Reactive Resume is [MIT-licensed](/legal/license), its source is public, and it can be deployed on your own infrastructure. The [self-hosting guide](/self-hosting/docker) explains the Docker-based path; hosted use remains available when you do not want to run the service.

## Which should you choose?

Use Canva if the resume is primarily a visual design project and you want a general canvas with a broad library of design assets. Use Reactive Resume if you want a dedicated resume workflow, portable resume data, and the option to run the software yourself.

For a typical application submission, either workflow can end with a PDF. The difference is whether you prefer to compose each page as a design or manage resume sections and template settings separately.

## Reactive Resume limitations in this comparison

Reactive Resume has a narrower design canvas. It does not aim to provide Canva's general-purpose composition tools or its broader asset library. If your resume depends on custom illustrations, extensive image editing, or unusual page composition, Canva may give you more direct control.

## Sources

- [Canva resume builder](https://www.canva.com/create/resumes/)

Last checked: July 28, 2026

<Card title="Try a resume-specific editor" icon="arrow-right" href="https://rxresu.me">
  Use structured resume sections and keep the option to export or self-host when you do not need a general design
  canvas.
</Card>
