I Tested a Free AI Resume Builder That Writes Cover Letters Too

I’ve been job hunting recently, like a lot of people, and I kept running into the same wall: every “free” resume builder either wanted my credit card after three edits, or it didn’t touch cover letters at all. I wanted a single tool that could handle both documents without costing anything, so I started testing a few options head-to-head. That’s how I ended up spending a weekend with **Jobly**, a free AI resume builder that also generates cover letters.

I compared it against three other approaches: using a generic chatbot like ChatGPT to write everything manually, a popular free resume-only builder (Teal’s basic tier), and just copying a Word template. My main question was whether an all-in-one ai resume builder with cover letter free could actually save time without producing garbage output.

First impressions: speed and integration

Jobly was faster than I expected. You paste your job description and current experience, and it writes both a resume and a tailored cover letter in maybe two minutes. The cover letter is generated in the same flow, not as a separate tool you have to re-paste information into. That direct integration is rare among free options — most either don’t offer cover letters at all or treat them as an upsell.

I tested it for a marketing internship role. The resume it built had solid bullet points, though they leaned a bit generic. The cover letter was more impressive: it actually referenced a specific project I had listed, which felt less robotic than most AI letters I’ve seen. That alone made it worth a second look.

Where it beats the alternatives

If I used ChatGPT separately, I’d need to feed it the same info twice, then manually format everything into a document. That process takes 15–20 minutes per application. With jobly, it’s one pass. The free tier doesn’t limit how many resumes you can generate, which is rare — some competitors cap you at three or five. I made five different versions for different job types without hitting a wall.

Another thing: the output format is clean. No weird alignment issues, no missing sections. That might sound basic, but I tested another free builder that shoved my contact info into a sidebar I couldn’t edit. Jobly’s layout is standard and professional.

One real tradeoff

The free version of Jobly only gives you a few template styles. If you want more modern or creative layouts, you’d need to upgrade. For most standard job applications — corporate roles, internships, office jobs — the free templates are fine. But if you’re applying for a design role and want to stand out visually, you might prefer Canva or a paid tool. That’s the best free ai resume builder 2026 kind of tradeoff: you get core functionality for free, but premium customization is gated.

A cautious note on ATS readiness

I ran one of Jobly’s resumes through a free ATS scanner (Jobscan’s basic check). It passed for standard keywords and format, but the scanner flagged the “Skills” section as a bit thin — it only listed 5 skills versus the 8–10 that many recruiters expect. That’s easy to fix yourself, but it suggests the AI isn’t automatically pulling every relevant keyword from the job description. I’d recommend manually adding a few more skills after the AI generates the draft. It’s a small friction point, but worth knowing.

Should you use it?

If you’re looking for a free ai resume builder 2026 that actually includes cover letters without a paywall, Jobly is probably the best free option I tested. It won’t replace a careful manual review — you still want to personalize the summary and tweak a few bullet points — but it saves the tedious part of formatting and alignment. For early-career applications like internships or first job moves, it’s practical and fast.

The one group I’d steer away are people who need highly visual or non-standard resume layouts. Everyone else who just wants a decent, free, combined resume and cover letter should give Jobly a try.