Is Resume.io Free?
What you can do for free, what you have to pay for, and what it costs.
Short answer: partly. Resume.io's free plan lets you build one resume and one cover letter, but it only downloads them as plain text (TXT). To download a formatted PDF, you need a paid plan: a 7-day trial for $2.95 that renews at $29.95 every 4 weeks, or $49.95 every 3 months.
What's free and what isn't
| You want to… | Free plan | Paid plan |
|---|---|---|
| Build a resume and a cover letter | One of each | Unlimited |
| Download as plain text (TXT) | Yes | Yes |
| Download a formatted PDF | No | Unlimited |
| Premium templates and colors | No | Yes |
A TXT file keeps your words but loses the layout: no fonts, bold headings or design. It's fine for pasting into an online application form, but not for emailing to an employer, uploading as your resume, or printing for an interview. For those you need a PDF, and that's the part Resume.io charges for.
What Resume.io costs
| Free plan download | TXT (plain text) |
|---|---|
| Trial | $2.95 for 7 days |
| After the trial | Renews automatically at $29.95 every 4 weeks until you cancel |
| Quarterly plan | $49.95 every 3 months |
| First year if the trial is never cancelled | $392.30 |
| Refunds | Resume.io advertises a 7-day money-back guarantee. |
The trial is the cheapest way in, but it's also the easiest way to pay more than you meant to. If you forget to cancel, it turns into $29.95 every 4 weeks. If you need a resume for a few months, the quarterly plan costs less than two renewals. If you've already been charged, see how to cancel Resume.io and ask for a refund.
How to get a free PDF resume
- Copy your Resume.io text into a free builder that downloads PDFs. Download the TXT file and paste each section into a builder whose free plan includes PDF downloads. You keep all your writing.
- Use a word processor. Paste the text into Google Docs or Word, format it yourself, and save it as a PDF. This is free but takes the longest.
- Start from a resume written for your job. If you haven't written much yet, starting from a sample for your job is faster than a blank page.
A builder with free PDF downloads
Resume Star works differently. You don't need a card to start, so there's no trial and nothing to cancel.
- Free PDF downloads, as often as you like. No watermark, in the Classic and Modern designs, whether or not you ever pay.
- A resume already written for your job. Pick from more than 50 jobs, such as nurse, CNA, truck driver or cashier, and replace the sample details with your own.
- Pay once, only if it helped. $14.99 to $29.99 depending on what you earn, one time. Never a subscription. Paying adds the premium designs and unlimited AI help with your wording.
- Cover letter included at no extra cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is Resume.io free to use?
You can build one resume and one cover letter for free, but the free plan downloads them as plain text (TXT) only. A PDF needs a paid plan.
How much does Resume.io cost?
A 7-day trial costs $2.95 and renews automatically at $29.95 every 4 weeks. The quarterly plan is $49.95 every 3 months. Prices checked October 2026.
Is the Resume.io trial free?
No. The trial costs $2.95 and renews into a paid subscription unless you cancel before it ends. Resume.io advertises a 7-day money-back guarantee.
Can I download my Resume.io resume as a PDF for free?
No. On the free plan you can only download a TXT file. You can paste that text into another builder or a word processor and save it as a PDF there.
Is there a resume builder that is actually free?
Yes. Resume Star lets you download your resume as a PDF for free, as often as you like, with no watermark, trial or card. See what each resume builder costs.
Related
Resume Star is not affiliated with Resume.io. Names are used only to identify the services. Prices are in US dollars, taken from each builder's pricing page and terms in October 2026, and can change, so check the builder's own site before you pay or cancel. Sources: resume.io/pricing, resume.io/contact/cancel-subscription.
Build your resume with Resume Star
Start from a sample written for your job, replace the details with your own, and download a polished PDF in minutes.
-
Templates written for your job. Real sample content for your role and experience level, not a blank page.
-
Download first, pay later. Unlimited PDF downloads for free. If Resume Star helped, pay a one-time fee. No subscription.
-
A clean, professional PDF. Formatted for you, so it looks right when you print it, email it or upload it to an application.
-
Cover letter included. Write a matching cover letter at no extra cost.
-
Works on any device. Start on your phone and finish on your computer. Your work is saved as you go.