HIRIO vs. StepStone CV generator
Free tool of the job board versus an independent application platform.
The essentials at a glance
StepStone's generator is free, requires a StepStone account and stores the CV in the profile; AI cover letter generator included, PDF export. Match score, tracking, interview preparation and bundle we did not find there. HIRIO offers those — but the paid packages cost money; the CV itself is free at HIRIO too.
All features side by side
Provider details according to their websites, as of 20 October 2026.
| Feature | HIRIO | StepStone Lebenslauf-Generator |
|---|---|---|
CV | ||
| CV editor | available | available |
| Upload and parse an existing CV | PDF, DOCX | n/a |
| AI text in the CV | available | partlyAI tailoring per the provider |
| Spell check | available | n/a |
| Export on the free plan | PDF without watermark | PDF (StepStone account required) |
| Word export (DOCX) | not available | n/a |
| CV translation | German → English | n/a |
| Company logos next to positions | available | n/a |
| CV templates | several designs, by package | number not stated |
Per-job application | ||
| Match score against the job ad | available | partlyjob suggestions of the job board |
| Tailor the CV to the job | available | partlytailoring to the job description per the provider |
| Cover letter | AI-assisted | AI-assisted, free |
| Company research | available | partlycompany profiles of the job board |
| Interview preparation | available | guide articles |
| Commute calculator (time, cost) | available | n/a |
| Career coach (chat) | available | n/a |
Application bundle | ||
| Cover page | available | n/a |
| Digital signature | via QR code on your phone | n/a |
| Thank-you page | available | n/a |
| Attachments and certificates | available | n/a |
| Bundle as one PDF | available | n/a |
Job search and organisation | ||
| Application tracking | available | n/a |
| Application record for the job centre | PDF or Excel | n/a |
| Job search | available | available |
| Hidden job market (headhunters) | available | n/a |
Photo and LinkedIn | ||
| AI application photos | from your own photo | n/a |
| LinkedIn optimisation | texts and banner | n/a |
Provider, prices, data | ||
| Interface languages | German, English | German |
| Mobile app | not available | StepStone app (job search) |
| Personal website | not available | n/a |
| Applications sent on your behalf | not available | n/a |
| Payment model | Passes for 1, 3 or 6 months, no automatic renewal | free |
| Free plan | CV editor, PDF without watermark, 1 application per month | everything free; CV in the StepStone profile |
| Price | Basic €14.80, Professional €29.80, Premium €49.80 per month; 3 and 6 months cheaper | €0 |
| Location and data | Germany; servers in Nuremberg and Frankfurt | Germany (Axel Springer) |
| Ratings (review sites) | none yet — launched 2026 | Trustpilot 2.2 / 5 (491, job board) |
availablepartlynot availablen/ano information — not documented in the provider's public material
Provider values come from their websites, pricing pages and terms as well as the review sites named; we did not run usage tests of our own. "n/a" means not documented, not "not available". Which HIRIO feature is included in which package is shown on the pricing page.
Prices
HIRIO
- Free
- CV editor, PDF without watermark, 1 application per month
- Paid
- Basic €14.80, Professional €29.80, Premium €49.80 per month; 3 and 6 months cheaper
- Billing
- Passes for 1, 3 or 6 months, no automatic renewal
StepStone Lebenslauf-Generator
- Free
- everything free, StepStone account required
- Paid
- no paid tier
- Billing
- free
Strengths and weaknesses
HIRIO
Strengths
- Independent of a job board — the CV is not stored in a portal profile
- Match score, company research, interview preparation, tracking and bundle as one PDF
- AI application photos, LinkedIn texts, commute calculator
Weaknesses
- Paid packages cost money — StepStone is free
- No direct connection to the StepStone job board
- New to the market, no reviews yet
StepStone Lebenslauf-Generator
Strengths
- Completely free, directly connected to the job board
- AI-assisted cover letter generator, PDF export
Weaknesses
- Only with a StepStone account; CV stored in the StepStone profile (platform lock-in)
- No match score, tracking or interview preparation documented; template count not stated
- Trustpilot 2.2 from 491 reviews (job board overall)
Which suits whom?
HIRIO fits if …
- Anyone applying via different portals and directly
- Anyone who wants the complete bundle and preparation
StepStone Lebenslauf-Generator fits if …
- StepStone users maintaining their profile
- A quick, simple CV with no budget
Frequently asked questions
Yes, with a free StepStone account. The CV is stored in the profile and can be published visibly to employers if you choose.
Match score per job, tailored CV, company research, interview preparation, tracking, bundle as one PDF with cover page and signature, AI application photos and LinkedIn texts. We did not find these features at StepStone.
Yes. Download the PDF and upload it to HIRIO.
Try HIRIO for free
Upload your CV or build it with the coach, download the PDF without watermark — no payment details needed.
No subscription, nothing to cancel.