ATS Resume Checker
Check whether an applicant tracking system can actually read your resume — and see exactly what fails.
Parsing your resume…
File
How to use this tool
- Select your file, drag it onto the box above.
- Processing starts automatically — there is nothing to configure.
- Check the result panel, which shows the original size, the final size and the page count.
- Click Download to save it.
No AI here, on purpose. An ATS is a parser, not a judge: it extracts text and looks for structure. So the useful question is "can a parser read this", which has a definite answer. The most important check is whether your PDF has a text layer at all — a scanned resume is invisible to every ATS on the market, and you would never find out why you heard nothing back.
The specification
| Text layer | Whether an ATS can extract any text — the critical check |
|---|---|
| Contact details | Email and phone detected in the body, not the header |
| Sections | Experience, Education, Skills and other standard headings |
| Dates | Four-digit years a parser can build a timeline from |
| Layout | Multi-column and table detection |
| File size | Against the 2 MB cap most portals enforce |
| Keyword match | Optional — paste the job posting to compare |
Why uploads get rejected
Meeting the size is only part of it. These are the failures that actually come up:
- The resume is a scan or an exported image. It has no text layer, so an ATS sees a blank document. This is the single most damaging and least visible problem a resume can have.
- Contact details sit in the page header. Many parsers ignore headers and footers entirely.
- The layout is two-column. Parsers read straight across, so columns interleave into nonsense.
- Section headings are creative — "My Journey" instead of "Experience". Parsers map conventional headings only.
How it works
Your PDF is opened in the browser with pdf.js and its text layer is read directly — the same thing an applicant tracking system does when it receives your application.
Everything after that is rules, not judgement: does a text layer exist, is there an email address in the body, are the section headings ones a parser recognises, are there four-digit years to build a timeline from, does the spacing suggest columns that would interleave. Those are questions with definite answers, which is exactly why an AI model would be the wrong tool here.
Neither your resume nor the job posting is uploaded.
Who uses this
Anyone applying through Workday, Taleo, Greenhouse, iCIMS or SuccessFactors — which is most large employers. Also worth running before you send a resume anywhere, since the text-layer check takes seconds.
Other names for this tool
People look for this under several different names. If you arrived searching for any of the following, this is the right page — they all describe the same thing:
- ats resume checker online
- free ats resume checker
- ats resume checker tool
- online ats resume checker free
Frequently asked questions
What score should I aim for?
Above 85% means it parses cleanly. But the score is weighted heavily toward the text-layer check for a reason — a resume that scores 60% but is readable beats one that scores 90% and is a scan.
Is my resume uploaded?
No. Parsing happens entirely in your browser using pdf.js. Neither the resume nor the job posting is sent anywhere — unlike most ATS checkers, which upload both.
Does a high score mean I will get the interview?
No. This measures whether software can read your resume, not whether a human will like it. It removes a failure mode; it does not make you a stronger candidate.
Should I stuff in keywords?
Add terms you genuinely have experience with, using the posting's wording, because parsers match literal strings rather than synonyms. Do not add skills you lack — it fails at interview and some systems flag inconsistencies.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Everything runs inside your browser on your own device. Your file is never transmitted and never stored by us. You can confirm this by opening your browser’s Network tab while you use the tool — you will see no upload request.
Is there a limit on how many files I can process?
No. There is no daily cap, no account, and no watermark. Because the work happens on your device rather than our servers, there is nothing for us to ration.
Is this tool really free?
Yes — no account, no trial, no watermark, and no cap on usage. It runs on your own device rather than our servers, so there is no cost for us to pass on.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. The interface adapts to phone and tablet screens, and everything runs in the browser, so there is no app to install.
Related tools
From other categories
Your files stay on your device. This tool runs entirely in your browser. No file is uploaded, transmitted, or stored. You can verify this by opening your browser's Network tab while using the tool.
Disclaimer. Specifications published by exam boards, governments and platforms change without notice. We verify and date every specification on this site, but you should always confirm against the official source before submitting an application. See our full disclaimer.