Is CV Oracle a free ATS resume builder?

Yes. The core flow is free: upload an existing CV, score it against the same parsers an ATS uses, match it to a job description, and export an ATS-friendly PDF. There is no paywall on the score or on basic exports.

How does the ATS resume score work?

We run six independent sub-scores: parseability, skill match, experience match, education match, outcome density, and contact-block hygiene. Each sub-score returns the specific evidence we used, so you can see which line dragged the score down, not just a single opaque number.

Can CV Oracle match my resume to a specific job description?

Yes. Paste the JD or upload the posting and we compute a per-section match: which required skills are present, which preferred skills are missing, whether your experience meets the minimum years, and whether your degree level satisfies the role. The score updates live as you edit.

Will my resume pass an applicant tracking system (ATS) like Taleo, Workday, Greenhouse, or Lever?

The templates are constructed so the underlying text remains the single source of truth: no images, no two-column tricks that confuse parsers, embedded standard fonts, and selectable PDF text. Every render is re-parsed and re-scored so a template choice that hurts parseability is flagged before you download.

What file formats can I export to?

PDF (recruiter-ready, ATS-safe), DOCX (Word), TXT (plain text for legacy parsers), Markdown (for portfolios), and JSON (a typed schema you can pipe into other tools).

Does the AI rewrite my entire resume or just bullets?

Both, scoped by you. You can highlight a single bullet and ask for a stronger version, or rewrite a full experience block to target a specific job description. The AI uses Claude under the hood and only changes the lines you point at.

Is my CV data private?

Your CV is stored in your private workspace, never used to train models, and never shown publicly. The score itself is computed deterministically on our parsers; only the AI rewrite step calls an external LLM, and only on the snippet you select.

How long does it take to optimize my resume?

About 90 seconds for an upload and score, and 5 to 10 minutes for a full pass: upload, score, paste a JD, accept AI rewrites on a few bullets, swap to a stronger template, and export.

Best Resume Fonts in 2026. The Eight That ATS Parsers Read Cleanly.

the picks

Eight resume fonts that work.

Each font below embeds cleanly in PDF (the parser reads it), looks professional to recruiters, and licenses freely for personal use. Pick one body font and stick with it. Mixing more than two faces on a CV reads cluttered.

InterSans-serif. Variable weight, generous x-height, designed for screens. Default in our Swiss template. Pair body 10.5pt with semibold 11pt headings.
NewsreaderSerif. Editorial feel, readable at small sizes, used in our Editorial template. Body 11pt with italic kicker labels.
CalibriSans-serif. Default in Microsoft Word; embedded in every Office install. Parser-safe and recruiter-familiar. Body 11pt.
CambriaSerif. Microsoft's parser-safe serif. Used in our Classic template. Body 11pt; section headings 12pt small caps.
ArialSans-serif. Universally licensed and embedded. Safe but feels dated. Use 10.5pt body if you go this route.
GeorgiaSerif. Designed for screens, wide letterforms, very legible at 11pt. Strong pair with Inter or Arial for headings.
HelveticaSans-serif. Mac default. Slightly tighter than Arial. Looks design-forward but parses identically.
Source SansSans-serif. Adobe-issued, free, parses cleanly. Designed for UI but works great on resumes. Body 10.5pt.

pairings

Two-font pairings that read senior.

Limit to two fonts: one serif for the name and section headings, one sans for the body. Or one sans for everything with weight changes.

Newsreader + InterSerif headings, sans body. Editorial feel, modern execution. The default in our Editorial template.
Georgia + ArialOlder but bulletproof. Every Word install can render it. Safe choice for finance and legal.
Cambria + CalibriMicrosoft canon. Pair these if your recruiter is on Outlook.
Inter onlySingle sans with weight changes (regular body, semibold name, bold section headings). Reads modern and parser-safe.

do not use

Fonts that crash parsers or read amateur.

Times New Roman is technically safe but reads dated. Recruiters notice; ATS doesn't. Use Cambria instead.

Comic Sans, Papyrus, Brush Script, Curlz MT and any decorative or script face: instant credibility kill. Recruiters discard before scanning.

Custom-licensed fonts (Gilroy, Circular, GT America) that don't embed in PDF: font substitution can re-flow your layout. Stick to widely-licensed faces.

Anything below 10pt or above 13pt for body. Too small to scan in 7 seconds, too large to fit one page.

frequently asked

Questions, answered.

Q ·

What's the best font for an ATS resume?

Inter, Calibri, Cambria, or Arial. All four embed in PDF, are widely licensed, and pass every major ATS parser cleanly. Inter and Calibri are sans-serif (more modern), Cambria and Arial are the conservative classics.

Q ·

Is Times New Roman OK for a resume in 2026?

Technically safe for ATS but dated to recruiters. It signals 'I used the default in Word'. Use Cambria or Georgia for a serif look that feels current; use Inter or Calibri for sans.

Q ·

What font size should I use for a resume?

Body: 10.5pt to 11pt. Section headings: 12pt to 13pt. Name at the top: 16pt to 22pt. Below 10pt reads cramped to recruiters and some parsers struggle. Above 13pt for body wastes space.

Q ·

Should I use the same font for headings and body?

Either approach works. Single-font with weight changes (regular body, semibold headings, bold name) is modern and clean. Two-font pairing (serif headings + sans body) adds editorial polish. Three or more fonts is too many.

Q ·

Can I use Gilroy, Circular, or other branded fonts?

Risky. These are commercially licensed and don't embed reliably in PDF when exported from non-Adobe tools. Font substitution can re-flow your layout. Stick to widely-licensed faces (Inter, Newsreader, Calibri).

Q ·

What font is best for a creative resume?

Newsreader for serif or Inter for sans, with weight changes to add typographic interest. Decorative faces (Comic Sans, Papyrus, scripts) are not creative; they're rejected on sight by recruiters.

Best resume fonts the eight that pass every ATS.

Eight resume fonts that work.

Two-font pairings that read senior.

Fonts that crash parsers or read amateur.

Questions, answered.

Keep optimizing.

Pick a font, score the CV