Introduction
ATS Screener is a free, open-source tool that simulates how 6 real enterprise Applicant Tracking Systems parse, filter, and score resumes. Unlike other resume checkers that use arbitrary algorithms, every score here is backed by research into actual platform behavior.
Why I Built This
Section titled “Why I Built This”I was a student applying to jobs and internships, doing what everyone tells you to do: run your resume through an ATS checker before submitting. So I’d upload my resume to these “free” ATS scanners, wait for the analysis, and then get hit with the same thing every time: “Your score is ready! Unlock your full results for $29.99/month.”
Every single one of them. They show you just enough to scare you, blur out the actual feedback, and paywall the rest. And the scores they generate? Completely made up. One generic number based on arbitrary rules that have nothing to do with how real ATS platforms actually work.
The thing is, real ATS platforms don’t all evaluate resumes the same way:
- Taleo uses literal keyword matching in its base configuration. “Project Manager” and “Project Management” are treated as different terms.
- Greenhouse doesn’t auto-score at all. It’s designed around human review with structured scorecards.
- iCIMS uses ML-based semantic matching with its Role Fit AI.
- Workday has strict parsing that skips headers, footers, and non-standard sections.
A single “ATS score” is meaningless. You need to know how each platform would evaluate your resume. So I built this tool to give students and job seekers what those paid tools won’t: 6 honest scores from 6 real platforms, completely free, no paywall, no “premium tier” hiding your results.
How It’s Different
Section titled “How It’s Different”| Feature | Other Scanners | ATS Screener |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms simulated | Generic “ATS” | 6 specific platforms |
| Scoring basis | Arbitrary rules | Research-backed profiles |
| Price | $10-50/month | Free forever |
| Privacy | Upload to their servers | Client-side file parsing |
| Open source | No | MIT licensed |
| API access | No | Full REST API |
Two Scoring Modes
Section titled “Two Scoring Modes”General Mode (Resume Only)
Section titled “General Mode (Resume Only)”Upload your resume without a job description. Each platform evaluates your resume’s general ATS readiness: formatting, section structure, keyword density, quantified achievements, and education presentation.
This mode answers: “If I submitted this resume to any job on this platform, would it parse correctly and present well?”
Targeted Mode (Resume + Job Description)
Section titled “Targeted Mode (Resume + Job Description)”Paste a job description alongside your resume. Each platform evaluates how well your resume matches that specific role: keyword overlap, required skills coverage, experience relevance, and education fit.
This mode answers: “For this specific job, would I pass the initial screening filters?”
Tech Stack
Section titled “Tech Stack”Built with performance and privacy in mind:
- SvelteKit 5 with Svelte 5 runes for the frontend
- pdfjs-dist (Web Worker) for client-side PDF parsing
- mammoth for client-side DOCX parsing
- Gemma 3 27B (primary) with Llama 3.3 70B via Groq as fallback for AI-powered analysis
- Firebase for authentication and scan history
- Vercel for hosting (free tier)