WhizCV vs Europass
Both let you make a CV for free. Europass is the European Commission’s free CV and cover letter editor: no paid plan at all, a few templates, CVs in 31 languages, downloaded as PDF. WhizCV is a CV builder whose free plan downloads a one-page CV as PDF or Word, with AI help on the wording and tools for the job search; longer CVs need Pro.
Side by side
| What you get | WhizCV | Europass |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | WhizCV, an independent CV builder | The European Commission |
| Price | Free plan with no end date; Pro from €19.99 a month | Free, with no paid plan |
| Account | Try it without an account; a free account saves and downloads | The editor works without an account (your data is kept for 48 hours); an EU Login account keeps your profile and library |
| Free plan limits | A one-page CV and a cover letter; a small “Powered by WhizCV” line in the PDF footer | As many CVs and cover letters as you like; you choose whether the Europass logo shows |
| Templates | Every template, on every plan | 4 in the standard editor, 6 in the new (beta) editor, with colour and text size choices |
| Download formats | PDF, Word and text | PDF only |
| AI writing help | Yes, on every plan, within a monthly allowance | None in the editor; Europass has announced a “Smart CV” feature |
| Languages | App, CV headings and AI help in 14 languages | Site and CVs in 31 languages; it does not translate what you write |
| Job search tools | Job search tracker, interview prep and a CV checker | Job search with EURES, job suggestions, interview preparation and a language self-assessment grid |
Where they differ
- Price: Europass has nothing to pay at all. WhizCV is free for a one-page CV and a cover letter; longer CVs and more documents need Pro.
- Formats and writing help: Europass downloads a PDF and its editor has no AI writing help. WhizCV downloads PDF, Word and text, and its AI helps with the wording and fits the CV to a job ad.
- Layout: a Europass CV follows one of a few templates, with a choice of colours and text size. WhizCV gives every plan its whole template gallery and lets you change the design.
Which one fits you
Europass fits if a job ad, a university or an EU programme asks for a Europass CV, if you want to keep your digital diplomas (European Digital Credentials) next to your CV, or you need a CV in a language WhizCV does not offer.
WhizCV fits if you want more designs to choose from, help with the wording, a Word file as well as a PDF, or one place to tailor your CV to each job and follow your applications.
Questions
Is Europass free?
Yes. Europass is run by the European Commission and has no paid plan: the CV and cover letter editors, the library and the job search cost nothing, and it never asks for bank details. You can use the editor without an account (your data is kept for 48 hours) or sign in with EU Login to keep a profile.
Do employers require a Europass CV?
Europass’s own pages call it one of the best-known CV formats in Europe, but none of them says employers must ask for it. If a job ad or a programme asks for a Europass CV, send one; if not, you can use any clear layout.
Can I download a Europass CV as a Word file?
No. Europass’s help says a CV is saved as a Europass PDF, and the old Word and OpenDocument formats are gone. WhizCV’s free plan downloads a one-page CV as a PDF, a Word file or plain text.
Sources
- Europass: create your Europass CV
- Europass FAQ, page 2 (cost, account, Word files)
- Europass FAQ, page 1 (PDF, guest data, languages)
- Europass FAQ (language self-assessment grid)
- Europass CV editor (templates, logo and colour choices)
- Europass news: 21 years of Europass, the coming Smart CV (30 June 2026)
- Europass: find jobs (results from EURES)
- Europass: European Digital Credentials
We make WhizCV, so we are not neutral. Every fact about the other builder comes from the pages listed above, read on 1 November 2026, unless its row says it comes from a third-party report. Prices and plans change: if something here is out of date, write to support@whizcv.com and we will correct it.
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