Teal vs. ResumeNerd: Which Tool Helps You Build the Best Resume?

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March 15, 2024
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Edited by
Camille Trent
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19
min read

TL;DR: ResumeNerd specializes in simple resume and cover letter writing. It’s a great option for job seekers writing their first resume who don’t need a lot of additional tools and features. Teal is a more intuitive AI Resume Builder. It’s an excellent choice for anyone who wants to store their entire career history and download ATS-friendly resume templates for free. It also offers features like customizable AI, in-depth Resume Analysis, flexible design, and more.

What’s the difference between Teal and ResumeNerd?

What is ResumeNerd?

ResumeNerd is a resume builder that helps users create a basic resume and cover letter. It also has a simple resume score tool, job board, and website option so users can create a resume-specific website accessible through a direct link

Here are some common themes across ResumeNerd reviews from real users regarding the pros and cons of the online resume builder:

ResumeNerd pros

  • Easy-to-use resume builder
  • Cover letter and email templates with placeholder text simplify communication
  • Customer service team is helpful and responsive to billing issues

ResumeNerd cons

  • Hidden pricing that’s only displayed after users finish creating a resume
  • Resume guidance doesn’t align with modern best practices
  • Frustrating auto-renew policy

Pricing: ResumeNerd Premium:$23.75/month or $99.95/year.

Teal Note: ResumeNerd offers a two-week trial of its premium features for $2.75, automatically renewing after 14 days. To download a resume in any format other than “plain text,” users must opt for this trial.

A screenshot of ResumeNerd's pricing page
ResumeNerd’s pricing page populates when users try to download a resume outside of plain text.

What is Teal?

Teal is an innovative career development platform with dynamic tools to improve your job search. 

At its core, Teal's AI Resume Builder helps you effortlessly create unlimited, customized resumes from your comprehensive career history—no more toggling between programs and files, checking dates across platforms, or constantly uploading documents.

Teal's tools, like in-depth Resume Analysis, provide personalized feedback so your resume always aligns with hiring managers' expectations. It’s like having your own personal resume editor and career coach for a fraction of the cost. 

Features like  AI writing help you tailor your resume with the right experience and skills for every unique role you apply for. Teal's Design Mode is also fully customizable, so you can create personalized resumes without the limitations of other resume builders and confidently hit apply.

Teal pros

  • Dynamic resume creation that integrates your complete career history—reducing the need to manage multiple files or platforms
  • Tools like Resume Analysis and customizable AI ensure every resume is tailored to modern best practices and a specific job
  • Flexible Design Mode allows for personalized resume creation without significant limitations

Teal cons

  • Comprehensive career history could be excessive for job seekers with simple resume needs
  • AI-generated content suggestions might not suit those who prefer writing resumes without assistance
  • Resume templates are simple designs built to be parsed correctly by the ATS

How and when to use Teal

  1. With Teal, you can store your entire career history for free. This means you can start using the AI Resume Builder even before you decide to job search or advance your career.
  2. When you look at open roles and find a job that grabs your attention, save it in the Job Application Tracker with one click.
  3. Ready to start applying? Take a minute and use Teal’s Resume Analysis to bridge any gaps between your content and modern resume best practices.
  4. Then, when you’re ready to hit apply, use the tools inside of Teal (like the Generative AI, Matching Mode, and Job Description Keywords) to tailor your resume (and cover letter) so you stand out as the most qualified candidate.

Pricing: Teal's AI Resume Builder and Job Application Tracker are free. More premium features, like Advanced Resume Analysis and Unlimited AI, are packaged at $9/week.

Teal Note: Teal's subscription model is different from ResumeNerd’s. Pay by the week, month, or every three months. Also, unlike ResumeNerd, Teal doesn’t auto-renew, so you're never paying for a tool you're not using.

A screenshot of the Teal+ pricing model
Opt out of recurring charges with Teal’s subscription model.

Teal vs. ResumeNerd features

Finding the right resume tool to build your resume that also offers features to optimize and tailor your content can be challenging. While Teal and ResumeNerd offer solutions to simplify these aspects of your job search, they each have different features and approaches.

Below are some features to consider when choosing between Teal vs. ResumeNerd.

Teal Key Feature #1: Write your resume by pulling from your comprehensive career history with a dynamic AI Resume Builder.

While ResumeNerd can help you create a basic resume, Teal's AI Resume Builder offers an easier way to write your resume by pulling from your entire career history (which you can save on the Teal platform for free).

If you’re looking to bridge the gap between your experience and a role—or just don’t know where to start—Teal’s AI can help. The AI for your achievements and cover letter is fully customizable. Add important keywords, a job description, or write a prompt to get results unique to the job you’re applying for and your experience.

Teal Key Feature #2: Align your resume content with best practices using Resume Analysis.

Teal’s Resume Analysis helps you create a resume tailored to what hiring professionals are really looking for in today’s market. Use it to find any weaknesses or opportunities for improvement. Then, follow the suggestions to align your resume with modern resume best practices without any guesswork.

Teal Key Feature #3: Flexible, customizable resume design so you can apply with confidence.

Unlike most basic resume builders, Teal's flexible resume formatting offers a more personalized approach to resume design. Here’s what you can do:

  • Presentation: Choose modern, traditional, or creative templates
  • Sections: Reorder and rename all of your resume sections
  • Style: Choose new fonts, accent colors, and line height
  • Settings: Format dates, location, and experiences
A graphic of some Teal Design Mode options
Customize your resume design with Teal.

With Teal, you can easily build and tailor a personalized resume with the help of AI and your entire career history.

Teal's holistic approach—combining a dynamic AI Resume Builder, optimization and tailoring tools, and flexible resume design—streamlines the process of creating resumes that stand out, while saving you time and effort.

3 reasons to choose Teal over ResumeNerd

ResumeNerd Problem #1: Frustrating pricing and subscription model

ResumeNerd’s simple builder comes with a catch: While it’s free to create your resume and download a plain-text file (think a document similar to a plain Word doc), you have to pay to download a resume using one of their limited templates.

In addition, ResumeNerd subscription auto renews. That means you’re always paying for the tool—whether you’re using it or not—until you jump through hoops to cancel.

A screenshot of Tea+ pricing options
Teal offers nonrecurring pricing, so you never have to pay for more than you need.

ResumeNerd Problem #2: Guidance doesn’t follow modern best practices

ResumeNerd offers tips and “tasks” for professional summaries and resume bullet points that may not align with current best practices.

But while ResumeNerd's suggestions are based on generic responsibilities tied to your job title, Teal's built-in guidance emphasizes metrics and impact. This helps you avoid common resume mistakes and stand out as a qualified candidate.

A screenshot of Teal's built-in guidance.
With Teal’s built-in guidance, you’ll understand how to showcase the right information.

ResumeNerd Problem #3: Cover letter tool doesn’t customize content

ResumeNerd’s cover letter tool offers generic content that fails to customize your cover letter for specific skills or job requirements—making it less effective for personalized and impactful applications.

In contrast, Teal’s generative AI pulls from your resume and any job description to ensure your cover letter aligns with the job you’re applying for.

What do job seekers say about Teal?

A screenshot of a Teal member review
Use Teal to write your resume and track your job search on a single platform.
Teal’s pricing options are clear and honest.
A screenshot of a Teal testimonial
Make resume creation faster and less stressful with Teal.

Which should you choose: Teal or ResumeNerd?

Teal vs. ResumeNerd comparison graphic
Teal offers more versatile and dynamic features for building a customized resume.

Why job seekers choose Teal over ResumeNerd

Job seekers are ready for a ResumeNerd alternative with the tools and features to optimize, edit, and format resumes without worrying about paying for just one resume template.

teal customer testimonial for AI resume builder against competitors
Members choose Teal for cost-effective resume building and job tracking.
Members choose Teal for cost-effective resume building and job tracking.
A screenshot of a Teal testimonial
Teal offers one dynamic platform for all of your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has more features, Teal or ResumeNerd?

Teal has more features and tools to help you manage and edit your resume for each application. This will help you align your content (and your job search!) with resume best practices—seamlessly.

Which is better, Teal or ResumeNerd?

Job seekers choose Teal to manage resume creation and optimization without toggling between programs or platforms. Job seekers choose ResumeNerd when they want to build a simple resume and pay extra for templates. While Teal also offers premium templates, the majority of templates are free.

Is Teal+ worth it? 

If you're looking for features like Unlimited AI and Job Description Matching in the same place where you write, edit, and store your resume, then Teal+ is an excellent option. That said, 90% of Teal's features and tools are free and can support your job search.

Kayte Grady

Kayte, Senior Copywriter at Teal and Champion of ADHD professionals, is a seasoned writer passionate about storytelling and career growth. With a data-driven approach to content marketing and a word-nerd knack for resume builder analysis, Kayte’s on a mission to empower job seekers to land a job they love. Constantly pivoting and reinventing herself, this social-worker-turned-marketer found growth and camaraderie in tech—a genuine surprise given her never-ending devotion to the paper calendar.

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