FlowCV vs Reactive Resume (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick Reactive Resume: it is second in our ranking of resume builders, and it grades higher too, 3.0 against 2.6.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Reactive Resume grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
FlowCV
Free resume builder with watermark-free PDF downloads
Which one is for you
Pick FlowCV if
- Fits if you need one resume and one cover letter and want to download without a watermark
- Works for people changing jobs who want a tracker alongside the resume, on Pro
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you keep several versions of your resume, since free allows one and extra documents cannot be edited
- Skip it if you want AI writing or the Job Tracker for free, as both are Pro
- Watch out: after cancelling Pro only your oldest resume and cover letter stay editable
- Watch out: the pricing page lists a web app only, with no mobile or desktop apps
Pick Reactive Resume if
- Fits if you want every feature for free and can bring your own AI key
- Works for people who want to run it on their own server
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want AI help without an AI provider account, as it needs your own key
- Not for you if you want a paid help desk, since support is through GitHub, Discord and Reddit
- Watch out: self-hosting means maintaining a Docker deployment
- Watch out: it is a donation-funded community project
- Too light for anyone wanting a mobile app, as only the browser version is listed
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAFlowCVGood | 3.0GPAReactive ResumeVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BPro is $5 a month billed yearly ($60), inside the cheaper quarter of resume builders, which starts at $7.95. The free plan covers the basics. | AThe hosted version is free with every feature and has no paid tier, so it sits under 60% of the $4.77 the cheapest resume builders start near. |
| Free plan and trial | B1 resume, 1 cover letter, all templates and unlimited PDF downloads with no watermark, with no card. One person with one resume could live on it. | AEverything on the hosted version is free, and the docs say there are no ads. It is kept going by donations, so there is no promise of how long. |
| Features | BTemplates and design controls, import, cover letters, AI writing and translation, and a job tracker. Nothing in the listing is missing from the job of a resume builder. | BLive editor, 18 templates, import and export, an ATS check, a job tracker and an optional AI assistant. The AI part and Word import need your own AI provider account. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. It is a web app where you build the resume yourself. | CNo store rating on record. It is a web app where you build the resume yourself, and self-hosting needs Docker. |
| Platforms and integrations | CA web app only. No phone or desktop app is named, and no integrations are listed. | CA browser version only. The docs say it works on phones, tablets and computers, and no integrations are listed. |
| Best for | a free resume with no watermark | a free resume builder you can also host yourself |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: FlowCV and Reactive Resume. How we grade
Price against what you get
FlowCV starts at $5 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Reactive Resume has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
They score the same, and Reactive Resume starts $5 a month lower. Of the other resume builders on the chart, none scores higher than FlowCV for less, and none scores higher than Reactive Resume for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Reactive Resume is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
At a glance
| FlowCV | Reactive Resume | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $5 per month, billed yearly ($60) | Free |
| Free plan | One resume and one cover letter, all templates and design options, unlimited PDF downloads without watermarks, and 3 content imports. | Everything on the hosted version is free: resumes, cover letters, 18 templates, PDF and Word downloads, sharing links and the job tracker. Its docs state there are no ads and no paid tier. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Uniqkorn Creative GmbH | Reactive Resume (open-source project) |
| Price read from | flowcv.com | docs.rxresu.me |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
FlowCV
- Free accounts keep one resume and one cover letter; extra documents stay stored but cannot be edited until you upgrade.
- After cancelling Pro, only your oldest resume and cover letter remain editable on the free plan.
- AI writing tools and the Job Tracker are Pro features.
- The pricing page lists a web app only; no mobile or desktop apps are named.
Reactive Resume
- The AI assistant needs your own AI provider account and key; importing Word files also needs an AI provider, per the homepage.
- Running it yourself means maintaining a Docker deployment.
- It is a community project funded by donations, with support through GitHub, Discord and Reddit rather than a paid help desk.
- Only the browser version is listed; the docs say it works on phones, tablets and computers.
Key features
FlowCV
- Templates and design controls
- Over 100 resume templates, with control over layout and styling, and the option to save a design of your own.
- Import an existing resume
- Upload a PDF, DOCX or image, or paste text, to fill the sections. The free plan allows 3 imports; Pro is unlimited.
- Cover letters
- Build a cover letter in the same editor. Free accounts keep one; Pro allows unlimited.
- AI writing and translation
- Pro includes built-in AI writing tools and translation for resume content.
- Job Tracker
- Pro adds a tracker for the applications you have sent.
- No watermark on free downloads
- Free resumes download as PDF without a FlowCV logo and without a download cap.
Reactive Resume
- Live editor
- Write your details on one side and see the finished page update on the other as you type.
- 18 templates
- Pick a template, then adjust fonts, colors, page size and layout.
- Import and export
- Import PDF, Word, JSON or LinkedIn exports. Download PDF, Word, OpenDocument, Markdown or JSON.
- ATS readability check
- A check mode flags issues on the lines they belong to and compares the resume with a job posting. It runs in the browser.
- Job application tracker
- Follow each application from saved to offer in a list, board or calendar view.
- Optional AI assistant
- Connect your own AI provider; the assistant proposes edits that you accept or reject.
Plans
FlowCV
Free$0
1 resume and 1 cover letter, all templates, full design customization and unlimited watermark-free PDF downloads.
Pro$5
per month, billed yearly ($60)
Unlimited resumes, cover letters and imports, plus AI writing tools and the Job Tracker. Monthly and quarterly billing also exist; yearly is shown as a 74% saving.
Reactive Resume
Hosted (rxresu.me)$0
Free account with every feature; the project says it is kept going by donations.
Self-hosted$0
MIT-licensed source you run on your own server with Docker; the docs say it has the same features as the hosted version.
Ways to pay less
FlowCV
- Education
25% off Pro for university students
Students who verify an academic email address get 25% off FlowCV Pro for up to three years, per the pricing FAQ.
- Annual discount
Yearly billing saves 74%
The pricing page marks the yearly plan as a 74% saving compared with its other billing periods.
Reactive Resume
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, FlowCV or Reactive Resume?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Reactive Resume is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $5 a month for FlowCV. FlowCV starts at $5 per month, billed yearly ($60), and Reactive Resume is free.
Which has a free plan, FlowCV or Reactive Resume?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both FlowCV and Reactive Resume have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.