FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Is Tailory really free?

Yes, entirely. Tailory is open source under the MIT licence. There is no paid tier, no usage limits, no premium features behind a paywall. The source code is on GitHub and you are free to self-host it.

Does my resume get uploaded to a server?

No. Tailory has no backend server at all. Your file is opened locally in the browser using the File API. Text extraction, parsing, editing, preview rendering, and PDF generation all happen inside your browser tab. Nothing is transmitted over the network.

What file formats can I upload?

Tailory accepts PDF (.pdf), Word (.docx), and JSON (.json) files. PDF text is extracted with PDF.js, DOCX text is extracted with Mammoth, and JSON imports are normalized as supported JSON Resume-style data. Scanned PDFs (image-only) cannot be parsed because there is no text layer to read.

Can I import or export JSON Resume files?

Yes. Tailory can import and export JSON for the fields it currently supports. Supported data is normalized on import and exported without internal IDs, but Tailory does not yet claim full official-schema validation and some schema sections still render better than they edit in the form UI.

Which browsers are supported?

Any modern browser with IndexedDB support: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Internet Explorer is not supported. Mobile browsers work but the editor layout is optimised for wider screens.

Will the exported PDF pass ATS screening?

Tailory's PDF output is generated with pdfmake and consists entirely of machine-readable text — no images, no vector graphics, no tables that confuse parsers. All three templates are designed to output plain, ATS-compatible text layouts.

What's the difference between the three templates?

Modern uses a strong two-tone header with clear section dividers. Minimal keeps decoration low and spacing generous. Compact ATS is the densest option and is tuned for plain, keyword-forward output.

Where is my data stored between sessions?

Tailory autosaves your resume to the browser's IndexedDB after each change. IndexedDB is a local browser storage mechanism — data lives only on your device and in your browser's storage for the site. It persists across sessions until you clear your browser data or manually delete drafts.

Can I use Tailory offline?

Tailory has no server dependency for editing, parsing, previewing, or exporting once the app is loaded, but it is not packaged as an offline-first app and does not ship a service worker. Treat offline use as best-effort browser behavior rather than a guaranteed product feature.

Can I start from scratch without uploading a file?

Yes. The editor opens with an empty form. You can type directly into any field without uploading anything. File upload is a convenience, not a requirement.

Is the source code available?

Yes. Tailory is fully open source on GitHub under the MIT licence. You can inspect, fork, self-host, or contribute to the project. Bug reports and pull requests are welcome.

Still have questions?

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