Compare/Head to head

RefineCV vs Textkernel

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

RefineCV

$0.25/CV Free tier Free trial

CV formatting tool for recruitment agencies that still rebuild candidate CVs in Word before sending them to clients. It reformats any resume into your branded template in about 10 seconds, starts with 10 free CVs, then costs $0.40 per CV or $50 a month for 200, with unlimited seats and every feature on every plan.

Where RefineCV fits

Small and midsize agencies sending branded CVs to clients
Desks where consultants spend time reformatting resumes in Word
Agencies that want per CV pricing without per seat fees

Textkernel

Sales-quoted

Resume parsing, search and matching engine for recruiting software and staffing firms. Quote-based.

Where Textkernel fits

ATS and HR software vendors embedding parsing
Staffing firms searching large candidate databases
Enterprises moving to skills-based hiring
Teams that need labor market data

At a glance

Detail	RefineCV	Textkernel
Starting price	$0.25/CV	Sales-quoted
Free tier	✓Yes	–No
Free trial	Yes	Not on record
MCP server	–No	–No
Public API	–No	✓Yes
Listed under	CRM, ATS	ATS, Sourcing

Where they pull apart

RefineCV

Stands out: Pricing is published and per CV rather than per seat: $0.25 a CV on Pro and $0.40 pay as you go, with no contract, where several CV formatting rivals are quote only or charge per user. Template builds and edits are free, including sending your existing Word or PDF template for the team to rebuild.

Watch out: It works on files rather than inside your ATS, so consultants export the CV, format it and upload it back unless your ATS vendor licenses the engine. Batch processing is on request rather than built in, and the vendor says it does not hold ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification, which larger clients may ask for.

Not the right fit for

Enterprise staffing firms that require ISO 27001 or SOC 2
Teams wanting formatting to run inside the ATS automatically
Agencies that need CVs translated into other languages

Textkernel

Stands out: Its parser and matching engine run inside more than 100 ATS and HR systems, not only as a standalone product.

Watch out: There is no public price list. Pricing depends on document volume, languages and whether you buy direct or through an ATS partner.

Not the right fit for

Solo recruiters who want a browser extension
Buyers who need a self-serve price

Pros and cons

RefineCV

10 free CVs with no card and no expiry
Unlimited seats and every feature on every plan
Free template builds and edits

No direct ATS connector for most users
Batch processing only on request
No ISO 27001 or SOC 2 certification

Textkernel

Parser used across many ATS products
Self-service APIs with public docs
Skills taxonomy and labor data

No public pricing
Often bought through an ATS partner
Needs integration work to use

What each one costs

RefineCV

$0.25/CV

Free plan with 10 CVs for life, no card. Pay As You Go is $0.40 per CV with no monthly fee, invoiced monthly. Pro is $50 a month with 200 CVs included ($0.25 each) and $0.30 per CV beyond 200; unused CVs do not roll over. Annual Pro is $500 a year on request, and agencies above 1,000 CVs a month can ask for volume pricing. Every plan has every feature and unlimited seats. Prices in USD. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 27 Sep 2026

Textkernel

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. No public rate card on the vendor site. Pricing depends on document volume, languages, modules and whether you buy direct or through an ATS partner. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try RefineCV or Textkernel for free?

RefineCV carries a free tier on our listing. RefineCV offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 27 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?