A compelling cover letter can set you apart in a crowded job market. But crafting one from scratch—tailoring language, showcasing achievements, and matching tone—takes time and skill. That’s where cover letter generator tools come in. These online platforms leverage templates, AI, and automation to help you build polished, personalized cover letters in minutes. In this article, we’ll compare the best cover letter generators on the market, analyzing features, usability, customization, and pricing. By the end, you’ll know exactly which tool wins for your needs—whether you’re a recent graduate, seasoned professional, or career changer.
Why Use a Cover Letter Generator?
- Time Savings: Quickly generate a structured letter without staring at a blank page.
- Professional Templates: Access proven formats that hiring managers recognize and appreciate.
- Personalization: AI-driven suggestions tailor content to your industry, role, and experience.
- Consistency: Maintain consistent tone and formatting across multiple job applications.
- Confidence Boost: A well-crafted letter enhances your self-presentation and interview chances.
With the right tool, you focus on your achievements—not formatting—and apply to more jobs faster.
Key Criteria for Comparison
Before diving in, here are the factors we used to evaluate each tool:
- Template Variety: Number and design of available cover letter templates.
- Customization Options: Ability to tweak text, add personal details, and adjust tone.
- AI Assistance: Quality of automated suggestions, grammar checking, and keyword optimization.
- Ease of Use: User interface clarity, onboarding process, and speed of letter creation.
- Pricing & Value: Free tier availability, subscription costs, and pay-per-use options.
- Export Formats: PDF, Word, or plain text download options for easy submission.
- Additional Features: Integration with resume builders, job boards, or ATS compatibility.
Top Cover Letter Generator Tools
1. Zety Cover Letter Builder
Overview: Zety is known for its all-in-one resume and cover letter platform.
Template Variety: 20+ modern, ATS-friendly templates color-coordinated with Zety’s resumes.
Customization: Drag-and-drop sections, adjustable margins, and live editing.
AI Assistance: Real-time content suggestions, phrase libraries for soft skills and achievements.
Ease of Use: Intuitive wizard asks about your job title, experience, and skills to auto-populate content.
Pricing: Free to draft; downloading requires a subscription ($5–$10/month).
Export Formats: PDF and Word.
Additional Features: Resume builder, cover letter-resume matching for consistent branding.
Pros: Highly polished templates; strong content guidance.
Cons: Limited free download options; cost adds up if only occasional use.
2. Novorésumé Cover Letter Maker
Overview: Novorésumé offers sleek, minimalist designs with focus on readability.
Template Variety: 10 free cover letter templates; 5 premium designs unlocked with Pro plan.
Customization: Edit fonts, colors, icons, and section headings.
AI Assistance: Basic text examples and tips, but less automated writing than competitors.
Ease of Use: Single-page editor with drag-and-drop simplicity.
Pricing: Free for basic templates; Pro plan at $16/month or $96/year for full access.
Export Formats: PDF only in free tier; Word in Pro.
Additional Features: Resume builder, career blog with writing advice.
Pros: Great free templates; beautiful design.
Cons: Limited AI content help; paid plan needed for Word downloads.
3. Enhancv Cover Letter Creator
Overview: Enhancv emphasizes narrative storytelling and personal branding.
Template Variety: 8 unique layouts designed to highlight personality and achievements.
Customization: Rich text editing, customizable icons, and section reordering.
AI Assistance: Prompts for personal values, hobbies, and career highlights to craft compelling stories.
Ease of Use: Clean UI but a steeper learning curve for full customization.
Pricing: Free to create; $12–$20/month for unlimited downloads.
Export Formats: PDF and Word.
Additional Features: Integrated resume, portfolio sections, and analytics on views/downloads.
Pros: Story-driven approach; strong branding focus.
Cons: Higher price point; template count is modest.
4. Resume Genius Cover Letter Builder
Overview: From the makers of a leading resume builder, this tool is quick and straightforward.
Template Variety: 15 cover letter templates optimized for ATS.
Customization: Choose from preset bullet points for common skills and experiences.
AI Assistance: Autocomplete suggestions based on job title and industry.
Ease of Use: Fast wizard—get a letter in under 10 minutes by filling in prompts.
Pricing: Subscription at $2.95/week with free trial; cancel anytime.
Export Formats: PDF, Word, and plain text.
Additional Features: Resume builder, career resources.
Pros: Extremely fast and user-friendly; great for quick applications.
Cons: Text can feel generic if over-relying on presets.
5. Kickresume Cover Letter AI
Overview: Kickresume blends AI writing with visually interesting layouts.
Template Variety: 20+ templates for both cover letters and letters of intent.
Customization: AI-powered sentence rephraser and grammar checker built in.
AI Assistance: GPT-based suggestions for tone, vocabulary, and structure.
Ease of Use: Modern, app-like interface; built for novices.
Pricing: Free tier includes limited templates; Premium at $19.99/month or $99/year for full access.
Export Formats: PDF and Word.
Additional Features: Grammar correction, resume builder, personal website generator.
Pros: Cutting-edge AI integration; strong grammar tools.
Cons: Premium pricing; free tier templates are limited.
Deep Dive: Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Feature | Zety | Novorésumé | Enhancv | Resume Genius | Kickresume |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Template Count | 20+ | 10 free, 5 paid | 8 | 15 | 20+ |
AI-Powered Writing Help | Advanced | Basic tips | Narrative prompts | Autocomplete | GPT-based |
Customization Level | High | Moderate | High | Moderate | High |
Free Download | No | Yes (PDF only) | No | Yes (trial) | Yes (limited) |
Export Options | PDF, Word | PDF (free), Word | PDF, Word | PDF, Word, TXT | PDF, Word |
Ease of Use | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Pricing (Approx.) | $5–$10/month | $16/month | $12–$20/month | $2.95/week | $19.99/month |
How to Choose the Best Tool for You
- Casual Job Seekers: If you need a quick, simple letter and resume matching—Resume Genius wins with its speedy wizard and low cost.
- Design-Conscious Applicants: For visually striking templates and strong branding—Novorésumé or Enhancv shine.
- AI Enthusiasts: Those wanting cutting-edge suggestions and grammar help will love Kickresume’s GPT integration.
- All-Rounder: If you want deep customization, a large template library, and balanced AI—Zety offers the best mix of features and usability.
Consider how often you’ll apply, your budget, and whether you prefer heavy AI support or more guided design freedom.
Tips for Crafting a Standout Cover Letter
- Personalize Each Letter: Always tailor content to the specific role and company.
- Showcase Achievements: Use quantifiable metrics—“Increased sales by 20% in six months.”
- Match Tone: Mirror the company’s culture—formal for finance, conversational for startups.
- Keep It Concise: Aim for 300–400 words and one page maximum.
- Strong Opening & Closing: Hook with a compelling first sentence; end with a clear call to action.
Even the best generator needs your personal touch to truly resonate with hiring managers.
Conclusion
In the battle of cover letter generator tools, each contender brings unique strengths. Resume Genius delivers speed and affordability, ideal for high-volume applications. Novorésumé and Enhancv offer polished, designer-level templates for a more bespoke look. Kickresume’s AI prowess ensures polished prose and error-free copy, while Zety strikes a balance between template variety, AI guidance, and ease of use. Ultimately, the best tool depends on your priorities: rapid creation, design flair, AI support, or full customization. By weighing features, pricing, and your personal workflow, you can select the perfect cover letter maker to boost your job search success. Start experimenting today and let your next cover letter make a lasting impression!