What ChatGPT is
ChatGPT is a general purpose assistant that writes well, costs little, and can absolutely rewrite a CV if you prompt it carefully. This is the honest comparison, because it is the one most people are actually weighing.
The free tier handles CV rewriting. ChatGPT Plus was US$20 a month when checked, roughly A$30, though nothing about CV work requires the paid tier.
Prices checked 25 August 2026. Vendors in this category change pricing often and several bill in four week cycles, so check before you rely on a figure here.
Side by side
| Feature | CVelo | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | A$19 a month | Free, or US$20 a month for Plus |
| Rewrites a CV | Yes, structured to the ad | Yes, if you prompt it well |
| Invents achievements | Built to work only from what you provide | Frequently, unless you watch it closely |
| Keeps your history between applications | Yes, saved and reusable | You re-paste each time |
| Scores CV against the ad | Yes, with a component breakdown | It will give you a number, but not a consistent one |
| Australian conventions | AHPRA, White Card, licence classes, AU CV structure | Defaults to US conventions unless corrected |
| Selection criteria | Purpose built, with word limits and STAR structure | Can attempt it, with no knowledge of APS expectations |
| Interview practice | Structured mock interview with scored feedback | Can roleplay, with no record of progress |
| Flexibility for anything else | Job applications only | Does everything |
Green marks where ChatGPT is the better option. A comparison with none of those is an advertisement.
When to choose ChatGPT
Choose ChatGPT if you are applying for one or two roles, you are comfortable writing prompts, and you will check every line it produces. It is free, and for a competent writer who just wants a second opinion on wording it does the job. It is also far more flexible than any specialised tool, because it does everything else too.
When to choose CVelo
The difference is not writing quality, it is what the tool is built to refuse. Ask a chatbot to strengthen a thin CV and it will often add an achievement you never had, in language convincing enough to survive to an interview where you cannot back it up. CVelo works from what you give it and asks you for evidence rather than inventing it. It also remembers your history between applications, knows what an APS pitch expects, and does not need re-prompting into Australian conventions every time.
Score your CV against a real job ad, free
No account, no card, and your CV is not saved. Decide after you have seen it work.
Check my CV freeCommon questions
Can ChatGPT write an Australian CV?+
Yes, if you tell it to, correct its American defaults, and check the output. Left alone it will produce a US style resume with an objective statement and no reference to the registrations and checks Australian employers screen on.
Will ChatGPT make things up on my CV?+
It can, and this is the real risk. Asked to make a CV stronger, general models routinely add quantified achievements that sound plausible and did not happen. An invented number that gets you into an interview is worse than a weak CV that does not.
Is CVelo just ChatGPT with a wrapper?+
CVelo uses a large language model, as does almost every tool in this category, and it would be dishonest to pretend otherwise. What you pay for is the structure around it: constraints that keep it working from your real history, Australian conventions built in, your CV and evidence saved between applications, scoring you can see the components of, and interview practice that keeps a record.