Free ATS Resume Checker | Score & Fix Your Resume

Illustration of beating an ATS bot with a perfect (100 score) resume.

Beat the ATS Bots and Reach Recruiters

The first hurdle your resume must overcome is the applicant tracking system (ATS), a special type of software companies use to filter for candidates who meet their job requirements.

Our free ATS Resume Checker combines 20 years of industry expertise with innovative technology to spot and fix the mistakes that keep your resume from reaching a recruiter’s desk.

How Our ATS Resume Checker Perfects Your Resume

Many resumes get filtered out by ATS due to common mistakes like grammatical errors, missing keywords, unreadable formatting, or poor alignment with the target job. This can prevent your resume from reaching hiring managers.

To help you overcome these challenges, our resume checker takes a proactive approach to problem-solving. Beyond flagging what’s wrong with your resume, it provides tailored suggestions for improvement.

Here’s everything our ATS Resume Checker scans:

Missing keywords

Employers use ATS to find job-specific keywords in your resume. Our tool scans your skills section to see whether it lacks important terms or key qualifications.

Strong summary

Our resume checker helps you make a strong first impression by suggesting over a dozen customizable summary examples tailored to your target job.

Completeness

We’ll ensure you haven’t missed crucial information. A complete resume has contact information, summary, work history, skills, and education.

Formatting

Formatting can help ensure ATS compliance. We’ll notify you of any formatting issues, which you can fix with our ATS-friendly resume templates.

Typos

Grammatical mistakes and typos can cost you the job. Our ATS Resume Checker flags errors and suggests correct phrasing to keep your resume on track.

Word choice

We’ll spot unneeded pronouns like “I,” “he,” and “she” and filler words like “a,” “an,” and “the” and suggest strong action verbs to make your resume concise, professional, and impactful.

Clear contact info

An effective contact section lists your name, location, and two contact methods. Our ATS Resume Checker lets you know of any missing details.

Measurable results

Numbers and metrics boost your ATS score. Our checker notes missing quantifiable achievements in your experience and suggests impactful examples.

Length

Aim for a one-page resume with approximately 1,1000 characters. You should include enough information without overwhelming the reader.

Enhance Your Resume In 3 Easy Steps

Ready to see if your resume can pass applicant tracking software and reach a recruiter? Upload it to our resume checker to identify common errors and get your score.

Upload Resume
See Your Score
Fix Resume

Paste Your Resume

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Scan your resume

How Our ATS Resume Checker Works

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Upload your resume.

Ensure you upload a resume in a compatible file format so we can scan it for common ATS red flags.

Example score you see after resume is analyzed with LiveCareer's ATS Resume Checker

Receive your score report.

Get a resume score with detailed mistake tracking. See what your mistakes are and how to fix them to reach a perfect score of 100!

Example screenshot of mistakes that can be fixed on your resume.

Fix your mistakes with the help of our suggestions.

We won’t simply tell you what’s wrong; we’ll explain why the error hurts your resume’s ATS compliance and how to improve it.

Thumbnail for video about how LiveCareers ATS score checker works. Shows illustration of the video title and this landing page.

See how easily you can enhance your resume for the ATS.

Watch the video for a play-by-play on how to use our ATS Resume Checker to create a resume that beats the bots.

Illustration of LiveCareer's Resume Builder, and additional feature of LiveCareer's Resume Checker.

Bonus feature!

With our ATS score checker, you access LiveCareer’s Resume Builder, where you can update your resume with ATS-friendly templates and writing tips.

Check Your Score Now

Why Optimizing for ATS Matters

Large companies and small businesses use some form of ATS software to screen resumes before a recruiter ever sees them. The ATS acts as the gatekeeper in the application process, flagging resumes that don’t meet specific formatting, keyword, or content requirements. Even highly qualified candidates can get filtered out simply because their resume isn’t ATS-friendly.

“Beating the ATS” means making sure your resume is first in line for a human recruiter to review, which can help you land an interview.

How to Make Your Resume ATS-Compliant

Use keywords strategically.

Match your resume to the job description by including exact keywords for skills, tools, and experience.

Stick to clean formatting.

ATS struggles with complex designs, graphics, or unusual fonts. Keep your resume scannable and straightforward with a one-column layout and a simple resume template.

Highlight achievements with numbers.

Quantify your impact on the job using metrics, percentages, and dollar amounts.

Include all core resume sections.

The contact info, summary, skills, experience, and education sections should all be present with clear title headings.

Proofread for errors.

Grammatical mistakes and typos signal carelessness and are the biggest reasons for low ATS scores.

With a few simple tweaks, you can ensure your resume is primed for applicant tracking software. If you want more in-depth advice on a fully ATS-compliant job application, check out our ATS resume writing guide.

What Makes Our ATS
Resume Checker Different

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20 years of career expertise

We’ve helped millions of job seekers create resumes that pass ATS filters and impress recruiters.

A resume with the professional summary section highlighted.

Smart and targeted scanning

Our technology simulates how real ATS software works, checking for 30+ common issues.

Instant, actionable fixes

We don’t just identify problems. We show you exactly how to fix them.

Integration with our Resume Builder

Once issues are flagged, you can edit or rebuild your resume on the spot using our professional templates and builder.

ATS-friendly templates

Choose from clean, professional templates designed to get through ATS filters and into human hands.

Illustration of pre-written text feature from LiveCareer's Resume Builder

Expert-written content

Access ready-made, recruiter-approved bullet points tailored to your industry and job title.

Live score updates

See your ATS score improve as you apply edits, so you know your resume is on the right track.

Illustration of download options: PDF, DOCX, Print, Email shown over a resume.

Multi-format downloads

Upload your resume to the ATS checker, customize it with our builder, and export your document in PDF, Word, or TXT.

Our ATS checker and builder help you scan, fix, and polish your resume in minutes so you can feel confident it's ready for recruiters.

Update Your Resume Now

Feature	LiveCareer ATS Checker	Other Competitors
Fast, easy scanning
No paywall to see all errors and fixes
Scans for all job titles
Instantly fixes resume		/
Personalized ATS score
Free to use		/

Footnotes:

“Instantly fixes resume”: Some tools highlight errors but require exporting your resume to edit elsewhere. LiveCareer lets you apply fixes directly within the builder.
“Free to use”: Many checkers offer a limited free scan but lock detailed feedback or download options behind a paywall. LiveCareer shows all results and suggestions for free.

FAQ

Is LiveCareer’s ATS Resume Checker free?

Yes, our ATS score checker is completely free. Simply upload your resume, and it will scan for common errors, showing you what needs improvement and how to fix it. You can also use LiveCareer’s Resume Builder for free to generate a TXT file resume, or go premium and download your resume in an ATS-friendly format.

How do I check if a resume is ATS-friendly?

You can use our free ATS Resume Checker to scan for formatting issues, missing keywords, and other factors that may prevent your resume from being read correctly by applicant tracking systems. You’ll get a score plus actionable tips to make it ATS-compliant.

How does the ATS affect the recruitment process?

ATS get a bad rap for “rejecting” candidates, but all these tools do is score resumes based on the set criteria. Recruiters will pay more attention to resumes with higher scores, but it’s their job to individually analyze every resume and decide if the applicant is a viable candidate. That’s why it’s crucial to factor in ATS compatibility when writing your resume.

How do I increase my ATS score?

Use keywords from the job description, keep formatting clean and simple, include measurable achievements, and make sure all core sections (summary, skills, experience, education) are complete. Our tool will flag what’s missing and suggest improvements.

How accurate is the ATS score?

The score is based on over 30 elements that most ATS check, simulating how leading applicant tracking systems parse and rank resumes. While no tool is 100% identical to every employer’s ATS, our checker provides a reliable benchmark for optimization.

Is my personal information safe if I use the ATS Resume Checker?

Yes. All uploads are encrypted, and we only process the information in your resume to generate your report. Your data is never sold or shared.

Will using the ATS score checker help me get a job?

While no tool can guarantee a job, a resume that’s fine-tuned for the ATS greatly increases your chances of reaching a human recruiter, which is the first step toward interviews and offers. You can find more actionable advice to land a job on our Career Guide blog.

Is 72 a good ATS score?

An ATS score of 72 is above average, but the closer you are to 80-100, the better your chances of passing ATS filters. Use our recommendations to raise your score for best results.

How do I beat the ATS resume checker?

If you want to beat applicant tracking systems, use our ATS score checker to fix your resume and increase your score. The closer you are to 100, the more compliant your resume is with applicant filtering software and the more likely it is to reach a recruiter.

See more on our FAQ page

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About the Author

Gabriela Hernandez • CPRW, Career Advice Writer

Gabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. She focuses on helping job seekers improve their professional resumes to highlight their unique skills and experience. Gabriela holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Puerto Rico and offers more than four years of specialized experience helping candidates navigate the complexities of today’s online job market, with a strong focus on resume optimization and effective self-presentation.