Best CV maker? Look for expert suggestions

For most people, a website is the simpler choice on a phone: it opens in your browser, needs nothing installed and keeps your CV in an account you can reach from any device. An app makes more sense if you'll only ever work on one phone. Both can produce a good CV; the difference is what you install, where your CV is kept and how easily you move between devices.

Ask yourself three questions before you choose: will you finish on the same device you start on, will you keep more than one version, and how often will you come back to update it?

What does a CV maker app give me?

An app gives you speed: it sits one tap away and is built for your thumbs.

• An icon on your home screen, so it's quick to reopen
• Screens designed around touch from the start
• In some apps, editing without a signal

The trade-offs are storage space, regular updates and one more sign-in to remember. Some apps also keep your CV on that one phone, which turns a lost or replaced phone into a lost CV.

What does an online CV maker give me?

An online CV maker gives you freedom from any one device:

• Nothing to install: open the link and start
• The same CV on your phone, tablet or computer once it's saved to your account
• The latest version every time you open it, with no updates to run

Rocket Resume works this way. It opens in your phone's browser, so you can start your CV on a lunch break and polish it later on a bigger screen. A website also suits a shared or library computer: sign in, make your change and sign out, with nothing to install on the machine.

Make My CV

Can I open a website like an app?

Yes. Most phone browsers can add any website to your home screen, so it opens with one tap. On an iPhone, open the site in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. On Android, open the browser menu and choose Add to Home screen or Install.

What should I check before I install a CV maker app?

Five quick checks tell you whether an app will keep your CV safe and easy to reach:

• Check that it saves your CV to an account you can open on a computer.
• Look at the permissions it asks for. A CV maker has no need for your contacts or location.
• Read the most recent store reviews, not just the star average, to see how the app behaves today.
• Find out what happens to your CV if you delete the app or switch phones.
• See when the app was last updated; one that hasn't changed in a year may fall behind your phone's latest system.

How do I keep my CV private on a phone?

Your CV carries your phone number, email address and work history, so treat it like any personal document. Use a screen lock, sign out when you borrow someone else's phone, and leave ID numbers off your CV unless an employer asks for them.

Which should I choose?

Choose a website if you'll move between devices or keep a version for each kind of job: a CV saved to your account is there on your phone and your laptop alike, and every copy is easy to find, compare and update on a bigger screen. An app is worth it only if one phone is all you'll ever use.

Whichever you pick, judge the CV maker on the checks above: writing help, speed, design choice, phone use and ratings. For what to put in each section, see our CV writing guide, and compare layouts in our CV templates.