LSI Resume vs JobScan
JobScan is the most-known paid ATS resume scanner — Premium starts at $49.95/month or $89.95/year. LSI Resume's analyzer is a free, browser-based alternative. They aren't trying to do exactly the same thing, and which one fits depends on what you actually need. This page lays out the real differences.
The short answer
Use JobScan if you run lots of JD-targeted scans per week, want a Chrome extension that checks listings as you browse, and don't mind paying $50–90/year for those convenience features.
Use the free LSI Resume Analyzer if you want to test your resume against multiple ATS engines without signing up, paying or uploading the file anywhere. Most candidates only run a handful of scans per job search; for that volume, free is hard to beat.
Side-by-side feature comparison
| Feature | LSI Resume | JobScan |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free, no signup | Free tier (limited); $49.95/mo or $89.95/yr Premium |
| Account required? | No | Yes — email + password |
| File upload? | No — runs in browser | Yes — uploaded to JobScan servers |
| ATS engines simulated | 5 (Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, Taleo, plain-text) | 1 (proprietary; not engine-specific) |
| Issue rules | 19 dedicated detection rules | Match-rate score + checklist |
| Per-engine breakdown | Yes — separate score per engine | No — single match score |
| JD matching | Yes (paste JD, optional) | Yes (core feature) |
| Role-specific keyword library | 10 curated roles, 85 terms each | Inferred from JD only |
| Curated keyword lists by role | Yes — public | No |
| Chrome extension for job listings | No | Yes (Premium) |
| LinkedIn profile checker | No | Yes (Premium) |
| Cover letter checker | No | Yes (Premium) |
| Salary insights | No | Yes (Premium) |
| Privacy (file location) | Stays on your device | Sent to JobScan cloud |
| Source code / methodology | Closed (the analyzer logic itself) | Closed |
Where JobScan genuinely wins
We try to be honest about this — JobScan has been around since 2013 and has features we don't try to compete with.
- The Chrome extension. JobScan's extension lets you scan a job listing directly from any major job board without copying the JD into a separate tool. If you apply to many roles per week, this is a real time-saver.
- JD-targeted match rate as a single number.JobScan's match-rate metric is well-tuned for "how close is my resume to this specific JD?" — useful when you're deciding which version of your resume to send.
- LinkedIn + cover letter modules. If you want a one-stop tool for resume + LinkedIn + cover letter optimization, JobScan covers all three. We only do the resume.
- Brand recognition with recruiters. Some career coaches recommend JobScan by name; the brand has the authority that comes with a decade in the market.
Where LSI Resume wins
- It's free, with no signup. JobScan caps the free tier at 2 scans/month and gates everything else behind a paid subscription. Our analyzer has no scan limit, no signup, no email capture.
- Your file never leaves your browser. JobScan uploads your resume to its servers and stores it there. Our analyzer parses the PDF locally via pdf.js — you can verify in DevTools that no upload occurs. For sensitive resumes (current employers, NDAs, etc.) this matters.
- 5 distinct ATS engine simulators with per-engine scores. JobScan reports one match score; we report how Workday, Greenhouse, Lever, Taleo and plain-text each score your resume separately. When one engine drops content another preserves, you can see exactly which one and why.
- 19 specific issue rules with snippets. JobScan's output is largely a checklist: "consider adding X keyword." Our analyzer points to the specific bullet that triggered each issue and proposes a concrete fix.
- Curated keyword lists by role, public. Our 10 role-keyword libraries are published openly — you can read them without running a scan. JobScan keeps its keyword lists internal.
Pricing comparison
| Feature | LSI Resume | JobScan |
|---|---|---|
| LSI Resume Analyzer | Free forever | Unlimited scans, no signup |
| JobScan Free | $0 | 2 scans/month, basic features |
| JobScan Premium | $49.95 / month | Unlimited scans, LinkedIn checker, Chrome extension |
| JobScan Premium+ (annual) | $89.95 / year | Same as monthly Premium, paid annually |
| LSI Resume rewrite service | $400 (one-time) | Done-for-you rewrite by human writers — not a scan |
Note: LSI Resume offers a separate paid service ($400) for candidates who want a human writer to actually rewrite their resume after the analyzer surfaces the issues. JobScan doesn't offer that — they're a software-only company.
When the comparison doesn't apply
If you're a recruiter or coach who scans resumes professionally (10+ per day), JobScan's Premium tier is genuinely the better fit — Chrome extension, batch processing, history. Our analyzer is built for candidates running their own application, not for high-volume professional use.
Conversely, if you've been searching for a free in-browser ATS checker because you don't want to upload to a cloud service or pay $50+/year, our analyzer fills exactly that gap. They aren't substitutes; they're targeting different users.
Try the free analyzer
The fastest way to know whether our analyzer fits your needs is to drop a PDF and see what it reports. No signup, no email, no upload. Results in seconds.