JSON Resume 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 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Reactive Resume grades higher on features and ease of use. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
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 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
| 2.6GPAJSON ResumeGood | 3.0GPAReactive ResumeVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AEverything is free and open source under the MIT licence, including the schema, command line and themes. | 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 | AFree outright with no plan or cap: the schema, CLI, 227 themes and hosted site all cost nothing. | 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 | 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. | 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 | 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, and self-hosting needs Docker. |
| Platforms and integrations | CA web site plus the CLI, GitHub, npm and RenderCV. No phone apps are listed. | CA browser version only. The docs say it works on phones, tablets and computers, and no integrations are listed. |
| Best for | an open standard for resumes written as JSON | 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: JSON Resume and Reactive 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. Reactive Resume has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
Reactive 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 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 self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Reactive Resume also covers documents.
In commonFree planWebOpen sourceTemplatesResume builder
At a glance
| JSON Resume | Reactive 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. | 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 | JSON Resume | Reactive Resume (open-source project) |
| Price read from | jsonresume.org | docs.rxresu.me |
| 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.
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
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.
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
JSON Resume
Open source$0
Schema, CLI, themes and hosted site, all MIT licensed; no paid plan is listed.
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.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, JSON Resume or Reactive Resume?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both JSON Resume and Reactive Resume are free to use.
Which has a free plan, JSON Resume or Reactive Resume?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both JSON Resume 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.