Disclosure: we make JobTailor
JobTailor AI is our product, so it is listed first and you should weigh that. We read every tool's pricing and product pages in October 2026 and did not run hands-on tests of competitors. Where another checker is the better pick, we say so. Free limits change, so confirm them before you upload.
Which free ATS resume checker should you use?
There is no single best ATS resume checker, only the best one for what you need today. To score your resume against one specific posting and fix the gaps in the same place, JobTailor gives a match score on every job you save, plus two tailored resumes a month, free. For the best-known match report, Jobscan gives 5 free scans a month. For a free keyword gap scan against a posting, try Resume Worded's Targeted Resume.
If you only want a quick review of the file, Enhancv runs a free 27-point checker and treats a job description as optional. Teal's free plan shows the top 5 keywords from a posting. Huntr includes basic matching inside a free job tracker. Kickresume's ATS checker is a Premium feature, so it is the one to skip if you want free.
How we compared these free ATS checkers
We read each vendor's public pricing and product pages in October 2026 and judged six things. No vendor reviewed this page.
- Compares to a job description: a score against one posting says more than a generic file grade. Some tools do both, so we note which.
- What the free tier really includes: the monthly limit, and what stays hidden until you pay.
- Sign-up: whether you need an account before you see a result. Where a vendor's page was unclear, we say so.
- Keyword list: whether you see every missing keyword or only a handful.
- Formatting checks: whether it flags layout problems that stop a parser reading your file, or grades content only.
- Help fixing issues: whether it helps you change the resume, or the report ends with a list.
Free ATS resume checkers compared at a glance
Limits and prices checked October 2026. Plans change, so confirm on the vendor's site before you rely on a number.
| Checker | Free limit | Compares to a job description | Helps you fix it |
|---|---|---|---|
| JobTailor AI | Free account. A score on each saved job (6 a month) and 2 tailored resumes | Yes, every score is against one job | Yes: Fix this actions and tracked-change tailoring |
| Jobscan | 5 resume scans a month with a free account | Yes, a match rate against the posting | Mostly manual on free; AI Optimize is Premium |
| Enhancv | Free ATS-compatibility checks; its FAQ says unlimited scans, but free and paid checks are not clearly split | Optional, only if you add a posting | Next steps in the report; tailoring is a separate feature |
| Resume Worded | Free keyword scan (Targeted Resume) and a free resume score, both with a free account | Targeted Resume yes; the score review no | AI lines to paste in; full reports need Pro |
| Teal | Top 5 keywords per job on the free plan | Yes, but free shows only 5 keywords | Edit in Teal's builder; limited free AI credits |
| Kickresume | None: the ATS checker is Premium (free for verified students and teachers) | No, it compares with its own resume database | Report lists issues; tailoring is a separate tool |
| Huntr | Basic job matching and scoring inside a free tracker (100 jobs) | Yes, basic on free; advanced is Pro | Resume Tailor, 2 free tailored resumes |
JobTailor AI: best free resume checker with a job description and fixes
- Free tier: a free account, no card. Every job you save gets an ATS match score (the free plan saves 6 jobs a month), plus 2 tailored resumes and 3 cover letters a month.
- Job description: always. The score is against one posting, across nine dimensions including job title, experience, education, hard skills, keywords and measurable results. A free Chrome and Edge extension pulls the posting in from LinkedIn, Indeed, Greenhouse and 50+ other sites.
- Fixing: Fix this actions, then tailoring that shows every change as a tracked change you accept or reject. It never invents employers, job titles, dates, credentials, tools or metrics.
- Limits: the free plan scores only the 6 jobs you save each month. The breakdown grades content match, not file layout, so open your PDF and check the text selects cleanly. It is also a newer product than Jobscan or Teal.
- Paid: Pro is $2.99 a month and Max is $9.99 a month.
Jobscan: the best-known ATS resume scanner with a free tier
- Free tier: a free account gets 5 resume scans a month with five ATS and recruiter findings, plus a job tracker, resume builder and Chrome extension.
- Job description: yes. The match rate weighs hard skills, job title, soft skills and other keywords, plus education when the posting asks for an advanced degree. The scan also looks for formatting errors.
- Fixing: the free report points out gaps and you edit the resume yourself. AI Optimize, which suggests changes you accept or reject, is Premium.
- Limits: unlimited scans and AI Optimize need Premium, and five scans go fast if you apply widely.
- Paid: Premium is $49.95 a month, or $89.95 per quarter.
Enhancv: a free resume checker for the file itself
- Free tier: Enhancv calls it a free AI resume checker with 27 checks, on a PDF or DOCX up to 2 MB. Its FAQ says scans are unlimited, and the free version covers ATS compatibility.
- Job description: optional. Add a posting and it adds job-tailoring checks showing which skills and keywords you have or are missing.
- Fixing: the report gives next steps. Rewriting is a separate one-click tailoring feature.
- Limits: deeper checks on how a human reads the resume, such as red flags, gaps and seniority, are paid, and the page does not say which of the 27 checks are free. Its pricing page describes a free plan valid for 7 days, so the terms are unclear.
- Paid: plans are advertised from $16.50 a month.
Resume Worded: best for a free keyword scan
- Free tier: two free tools. Targeted Resume scans your resume against a posting, and Score My Resume grades the file on its own out of 100. Both lead to a free account with a confirmed email.
- Job description: Targeted Resume uses one. It lists missing keywords and a Relevancy Score, and Resume Worded says a score under 80 suggests missing skills. Score My Resume does not use one.
- Fixing: AI helps write lines and bullets that include the missing skills, and you paste them in yourself.
- Limits: full reports, the AI writer and the full LinkedIn review need Pro. We found no autofill or job tracker.
- Paid: Pro is $49 a month, $99 per quarter or $229 per year.
Teal: best if you also want a free job tracker
- Free tier: a free forever plan with unlimited resumes and job tracking, 10 templates, limited AI credits and the top 5 keywords from each job description.
- Job description: yes, for keyword matching. You need an account.
- Fixing: you edit in Teal's resume builder, with a small AI allowance.
- Limits: the full keyword list and the Match Score need Teal+, so free matching is partial.
- Paid: Teal+ is $13 for 7 days, $29 for 30 days or $79 for 90 days.
Kickresume: the ATS checker is a Premium feature
- Free tier: the free plan has 4 templates and unlimited downloads, but not the ATS checker. Verified students and teachers can use the checker free.
- Job description: no. The checker runs 20+ checks on design, structure and content and compares your resume with successful resumes in its database. Matching to a posting is a separate Resume Tailoring tool.
- Fixing: the report lists the issues to fix.
- Limits: not free for most people. Premium is $19 a month, $9 a month billed quarterly or $4.50 a month billed yearly.
Huntr: basic job matching inside a free tracker
- Free tier: track up to 100 jobs, with basic resume job matching, basic resume scoring, 2 job-tailored resumes, 2 application packets and unlimited autofill.
- Job description: yes, though free scoring is basic. Advanced matching and scoring are Pro.
- Fixing: Resume Tailor explains each suggestion and you accept or edit it, but only 2 tailored resumes are free.
- Limits: it is a job tracker first, not a stand-alone checker.
- Paid: Pro is $40 a month, $90 per quarter or $160 per 6 months.
What a free ATS score can and cannot tell you
Every score on this page comes from the checker's own model, not from an employer's system. Most applicant tracking systems do not show candidates a score, and each employer configures theirs differently, so no checker can say what a particular company's ATS will do. That is why two tools can give the same resume 62 and 81.
What a score can show you is real: how many of the posting's terms your resume covers, which must-have skills are missing, and whether a parser is likely to read the file. It cannot show whether a recruiter will find your story convincing. Chasing 100 usually means copying the posting, which a person reads as keyword stuffing. Our guide to what an ATS score is goes deeper. Pick one tool and compare its scores across jobs, rather than averaging several tools.
How to raise your ATS score honestly
These four steps work with any checker on this list.
- Score against the real posting
Paste the full job description, not a job title. A score is relative to one posting, so the same resume can do well for one role and poorly for a similar one.
- Close only the gaps that are true
For each missing keyword, ask whether you did that work. If you did, reword a bullet with the posting's term. If you did not, leave it out. Our ATS keywords guide shows how to tell must-haves from filler.
- Keep the structure simple
Use a single-column layout, standard headings such as Experience and Education, and a text-based PDF or DOCX. Our free resume builder offers ATS-friendly single-column templates with no sign-up.
- Add real numbers, then re-score
Quantify your strongest bullets only with figures you could defend in an interview. Then re-run the checker for each job, or let AI resume tailoring do the rewrite and show every change for your approval.
Frequently asked questions
Are free ATS checkers accurate?
They are accurate about what they measure and unreliable as a prediction. A checker can tell you which keywords from a posting are missing and whether a file looks readable. It cannot see how an employer set up its ATS. Treat the score as a to-do list for one job, and expect different tools to give different numbers.
Do employers see my ATS checker score?
No. A checker is a separate tool, and running your resume through one sends nothing to the employer or its ATS. The employer sees only the application you submit. Whether a tool keeps the file you upload is a privacy question, so read its policy before you upload.
What is a good ATS score?
Many tools treat 80 and above as strong, and Resume Worded says a relevancy score under 80 suggests missing skills. Scales differ between tools, so compare scores from the same tool across jobs. A 78 with every must-have honestly covered beats a 95 reached by copying the posting.
Is Jobscan free?
Partly. A free Jobscan account gets 5 resume scans a month, plus a job tracker, resume builder and Chrome extension. Unlimited scans and AI Optimize need Premium, which costs $49.95 a month or $89.95 per quarter (prices checked October 2026). If five scans a month covers your applications, the free plan is enough.
Which ATS checker is best with a job description?
Jobscan, JobTailor, Resume Worded's Targeted Resume, Teal, Huntr and Enhancv (optionally) can all compare your resume to a posting. Jobscan is the best-known report, with 5 free scans a month. JobTailor scores every job you save, then helps you fix the gaps with changes you approve. Teal's free plan shows only 5 keywords.
Why does my resume get different scores in different checkers?
Each tool weighs different things. Jobscan weighs hard skills, job title, soft skills and keywords, Kickresume compares your resume with its own database, and Resume Worded's file review ignores the job entirely. The posting you paste also changes the result. Use one tool for before-and-after comparisons.
Score your resume against a real job, free
Free plan, no card. A match score on every job you save, and two tailored resumes a month with every change shown before you accept it.
