RefineCV vs CV-Transformer
Both turn raw CVs into branded documents with AI. RefineCV does it from $0.25 per CV with 10 input formats and 10 free CVs to start, while CV-Transformer charges €1.95 per candidate. Here is the full comparison.
At a glance
| RefineCV | CV-Transformer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Published. $0.25-$0.40/CV | Published. From €97.50/mo |
| Per-CV cost | $0.25 (Pro) / $0.40 (PAYG) | €1.95/candidate |
| Free trial | 10 CVs, no expiry, no card | Onboarding call (no free CVs) |
| Input formats | 10 (incl. XLSX, CSV, Apple Pages) | 3 (PDF, Word, images) |
| Template builder | Self-service | Self-service |
| Team seats | Unlimited, all plans | Unlimited |
Pricing comparison
Both tools publish pricing. CV-Transformer charges a flat €1.95 per candidate with a €97.50/month minimum (50 candidates). RefineCV is $0.40 per CV with no commitment, or $0.25 per CV on the $50/month Pro plan. Here is how that adds up at different volumes.
50 CVs/month
200 CVs/month
500 CVs/month
CV-Transformer prices are taken from its published pricing page in euros (€97.50/month for 50 candidates, €1.95 per additional candidate). Savings are approximate and assume roughly €1 = $1.08. RefineCV pricing is exact and published in US dollars.
Two ways to pay. $0.25 per CV on Pro with 200 included for $50/month. Or $0.40 per CV with Pay As You Go, no monthly minimum at all.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | RefineCV | CV-Transformer |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per CV, self-serve | Credit (1 candidate = 1 credit) |
| Lowest published per-CV cost | $0.25 (Pro) | €1.95/candidate |
| Plan minimum | None (PAYG) | €97.50/mo (50 candidates) |
| Free trial | 10 CVs (never expire) | Not published |
| Credit card to start | No | Not confirmed |
| Unlimited team seats | ✓ | ✓ |
| AI-powered extraction | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scanned / image CVs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Input formats | 10 | 3 (PDF, Word, images) |
| PDF export | ✓ | ✓ |
| DOCX export | ✓ | Not confirmed |
| Self-service template builder | ✓ | ✓ |
| Agency logo and branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anonymization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Post-format editing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Version / format history | Yes (re-download anytime) | Yes (version history) |
| Batch processing | On request | Not confirmed |
| ATS integrations | Bullhorn, SAP (direct) | Salesforce-based (per their site) |
| ISO 27001 / SOC 2 | SOC 2 in progress | Not published |
| GDPR compliant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self-serve signup | Yes (60 seconds) | Not confirmed |
Where RefineCV stands out
A fraction of the cost
CV-Transformer charges €1.95 per candidate with a €97.50/month minimum. RefineCV is $0.40 per CV on Pay As You Go, or $0.25 per CV on Pro. At 200 CVs a month that is roughly $50 with RefineCV versus around €390 with CV-Transformer.
More than triple the input formats
Upload CVs in 10 formats including Excel spreadsheets, CSV files, RTF, ODT, and Apple Pages. CV-Transformer accepts PDF, Word, and images, so spreadsheet and Apple Pages sources need converting first.
Genuinely free to try
Every agency gets 10 free CVs with no credit card and no expiry. You can evaluate the full product at your own pace. CV-Transformer leads with a one-hour onboarding call and does not publish free trial credits.
Direct ATS integrations
RefineCV connects directly to Bullhorn and SAP via API. CV-Transformer lists integration with Salesforce-based systems. If your agency runs on Bullhorn, RefineCV plugs in without an export step.
Where CV-Transformer has an edge
We believe in honest comparisons. Here is where CV-Transformer is ahead today.
Free onboarding hour
CV-Transformer includes a one-hour onboarding session to set up your templates and team. RefineCV is fully self-serve and you can build a branded template in minutes, but there is no included white-glove setup call on the standard plans.
Credits never expire
CV-Transformer uses a simple pre-paid credit model where 1 candidate equals 1 credit and unused credits roll over indefinitely. RefineCV free credits also never expire, but paid usage is billed monthly rather than from a pre-paid balance.
European market focus
CV-Transformer is built in Europe, bills in euros, and targets EU staffing, secondment, and temp-to-perm agencies. If euro billing and EU-first positioning matter to your procurement team, that is a fit.
Common questions
How much does CV-Transformer cost?
CV-Transformer uses a credit model priced at €1.95 per candidate, with a published minimum of €97.50 per month for 50 candidates. By comparison, RefineCV is $0.40 per CV on Pay As You Go with no minimum, or $50 per month for 200 CVs on Pro, which works out to $0.25 per CV.
Is there a cheaper alternative to CV-Transformer?
Yes. RefineCV is the lower-cost alternative for most agencies. At €1.95 per candidate, CV-Transformer is roughly 5 to 8 times more expensive per CV than RefineCV, which starts at $0.25 per CV on Pro and $0.40 on Pay As You Go.
Does CV-Transformer offer a free trial?
CV-Transformer leads with a one-hour free onboarding session rather than self-serve trial credits, and does not publish a free-CV trial on its pricing page. RefineCV gives every agency 10 free CVs with no credit card and no expiry, so you can test the full product before paying.
Which tool supports more file formats?
RefineCV accepts 10 input formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, CSV, TXT, ODT, RTF, and Apple Pages. CV-Transformer accepts PDF, Word, and images. If you receive candidate data in spreadsheets or Apple Pages files, RefineCV handles them directly.
Can both tools anonymize CVs and build branded templates?
Yes. Both RefineCV and CV-Transformer offer one-click anonymization, a self-service template builder with custom colours, fonts, and logos, and the ability to edit extracted data before exporting. The main differences are price, input format coverage, and ATS integrations.
Which is better for a recruitment agency on Bullhorn?
RefineCV. It integrates directly with Bullhorn and SAP via API. CV-Transformer lists integration with Salesforce-based systems rather than Bullhorn, so a Bullhorn-centric agency will get a tighter fit with RefineCV.
The verdict
Both tools turn messy CVs into branded documents with AI extraction, anonymization, and a self-service template builder.
RefineCV wins on cost (from $0.25/CV versus €1.95 per candidate), input format coverage (10 versus 3), and a genuine no-card free trial. CV-Transformer brings a free onboarding hour and a euro-billed, EU-first credit model.
If you want the same branded output for a fraction of the price, RefineCV is built for you.
Start Free, 10 CVsNo credit card required