JSON Resume vs Open Resume (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Open Resume grades higher than JSON Resume: 2.8 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Open Resume grades higher on ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Open Resume
Free open-source resume builder and ATS parser, no sign-up
Free
Which one is for you
Pick JSON Resume if
- Fits if you are a developer who wants a resume as a JSON file
- Works for people who like choosing from community themes
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a template-and-wizard builder, as the main workflow is editing JSON
- Not for you if you avoid a command line, since PDF export is done with the CLI
- Watch out: theme quality varies, because contributors write the themes and not the project
- Watch out: the site is run by volunteers, and pages from the old registry have partly moved
Pick Open Resume if
- Fits if you want one plain US-style resume without making an account
- Works for people who want to check how an ATS parser reads their PDF
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want AI writing help or cover letters, as it has neither
- Not for you if you want a photo or a non-US resume layout, since the options are few
- Watch out: data stays in your browser, so clearing storage or changing device loses it
- Too light for tracking applications, which it does not do
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAJSON ResumeGood | 2.8GPAOpen ResumeGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AEverything is free and open source under the MIT licence, including the schema, command line and themes. | AFree, with no sign-up, and the code is open source. That is under 60% of the $4.77 the cheapest resume builders start near. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright with no plan or cap: the schema, CLI, 227 themes and hosted site all cost nothing. | AFree with no account and no cap. The cost is that your data lives in the browser, so clearing storage or switching devices loses it unless you keep the PDF. |
| Features | CAn open schema, 227 community themes, a command-line tool and publishing from a gist cover the job, but PDF export goes through the CLI, not a button. | CA live PDF preview, import of an existing PDF and a resume parser. It offers core sections only, no photo, no AI writing, no cover letters and no tracking, so the gaps are plain. |
| Ease of use | DNo store rating on record. The workflow is editing JSON and running a Node command line, with no wizard. | CNo store rating on record. It is a web app where you build the resume yourself, with no setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | CA web site plus the CLI, GitHub, npm and RenderCV. No phone apps are listed. | CWeb only, with no accounts and no integrations. |
| Best for | an open standard for resumes written as JSON | a free resume builder with no sign-up |
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: JSON Resume and Open Resume. How we grade
Price against what you get
JSON Resume has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Open Resume has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
Open Resume scores higher for the same starting price. Of the other resume builders on the chart, none scores higher than JSON Resume for less, and none scores higher than Open 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
- JSON Resume also covers templates.
In commonFree planWebOpen sourceResume builder
At a glance
| JSON Resume | Open Resume | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Everything is free: the schema, the CLI, the 227 themes and the hosted site are open source under the MIT license. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | JSON Resume | OpenResume |
| Price read from | jsonresume.org | open-resume.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
JSON Resume
- The main workflow is editing JSON and using a Node-based command line; there is no template-and-wizard flow as in commercial builders.
- Theme quality varies, since themes are written by community contributors and not by the project.
- The site is maintained by volunteers, and pages from the old registry have partly moved to a new site.
- PDF export is done with the CLI rather than through a download button.
Open Resume
- Offers only core sections such as profile, work experience, education and skills, with no profile photo option.
- It is built for US job-market conventions, so it has few options for other regional formats.
- No AI writing help, cover letters or job tracking; it builds and parses resumes only.
- Data lives in the browser, so clearing browser storage or switching devices loses it unless you keep the PDF.
Key features
JSON Resume
- Open JSON schema
- Work history, education, skills and projects are described once in a documented schema that can be validated in an editor, in CI or from any language.
- 227 community themes
- Themes are open-source npm packages, so the same resume.json can be previewed and swapped between looks without editing the data.
- Command-line tool
- The resume CLI starts a file, validates it, serves a preview and exports to PDF, HTML, Markdown or text.
- Publish from a gist
- Saving the file as a GitHub gist named resume.json makes it available as a public page on the site.
- Theme development kit
- A theme is an npm package with one render function that takes the resume and returns HTML, which makes it practical to build your own.
- Developer integrations
- The site lists an MCP server for agents, a Rust crate and a RenderCV converter for tools built on the schema.
Open Resume
- Live PDF preview
- The resume PDF updates as you enter information, so you see the finished layout while editing.
- Automatic formatting
- Fonts, sizes, margins and bullet points are set for you, which avoids the inconsistent formatting that copied text brings.
- Import an existing PDF
- Upload a current resume PDF and the builder reads its fields into the form, so you can move to the new layout.
- Resume parser
- Shows what an ATS-style parser can extract from a resume PDF, such as name, contact details and education. The file is read in your browser.
- Data kept in your browser
- No account is required, and the entered data is stored locally in the browser rather than on a server.
- Source code on GitHub
- The project is open source and can be run locally with npm or Docker, per its README.
Plans
JSON Resume
Open source$0
Schema, CLI, themes and hosted site, all MIT licensed; no paid plan is listed.
Open Resume
Free$0
The full builder and parser, with no sign-up; the code is open source.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, JSON Resume or Open Resume?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both JSON Resume and Open Resume are free to use.
Which has a free plan, JSON Resume or Open Resume?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both JSON Resume and Open 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.