Backstage · free self-serve tool

Write a cover letter that's actually about the job.

Build a tailored cover letter for free — proven templates, step-by-step guidance, and a live preview that keeps you sounding like you. Export a clean PDF free (a free account to download). Prep it Backstage, then step into the spotlight.

Free tools/Cover Letter Builder

Cover Letter Builder · Backstage

One letter, written for one role — not a form sent everywhere.

A generic cover letter reads like one. The builder walks you through a short, specific letter that names the role, ties your real wins to what the posting asks for, and gets read. Free to build, free to preview, free to export as PDF — create a free account to download.

How it works

Four steps to a finished letter.

1

Add the role

Paste the job title, company, and posting. The builder reads what the role actually emphasizes so your letter speaks to it directly.

2

Pick a template

Start from a proven, recruiter-friendly structure. Free templates cover most roles; premium designs are available on Pro+.

3

Write with guidance

Section-by-section prompts help you open strong, prove one signature win, and close with intent — in your own words.

4

Preview & export

See the finished letter live, then export a clean PDF. Free to export — create a free account to download and save it.

What you get

Everything you need to write one well.

Proven templates

Recruiter-friendly structures for new grads, professionals, career changers, and executives — so you're never staring at a blank page.

Step-by-step guidance

Prompts for every paragraph: a specific opener, one quantified win, why this role, and a confident close — no fluff, no filler.

Live preview

Watch the formatted letter update as you type, so what you see is exactly what the hiring manager will read.

Free PDF export

Export a clean, ATS-friendly PDF for free. Create a free account to download and keep your drafts saved to you.

Tailored to the role

The guidance keeps you specific — a letter built for one posting, the opposite of one generic note sent to everyone.

Yours, in your voice

You write the letter; the tool just makes it easy. It reads like a sharper version of you — never like a form letter.

Honest pricing

What's free, and what's Pro+.

The builder is free. PDF export is free — you just need a free account to download. The paid features below are conveniences that speed the work up, not gates on the builder itself.

FeatureFreePro+ plan
Build & customize a letterIncludedIncluded
Step-by-step guidanceIncludedIncluded
Live previewIncludedIncluded
PDF exportFree — account required to downloadIncluded
DOCX (Word) exportIncluded
Strategist writing, rewrite & per-job tailoringIncluded
Unlimited saved versions1 working draftUnlimited
Premium templatesCore templatesFull premium library
A real person writes it for you, per applicationDone-for-you on a managed plan

Pro+ features (DOCX export, strategist writing & tailoring, unlimited versions, premium templates) are part of a paid Marqee plan, billed weekly from $29. Done-for-you cover letters — a real strategist writing a custom letter for each application — come with the managed search. See plans & pricing →

The real thing

Don't write another letter. Have it written for you.

The builder is the free Backstage layer — do a lot here yourself. On a Marqee plan, a real strategist writes a custom cover letter tailored to every application, runs recruiter outreach, and finds warm referrals — so you stop writing letters and start interviewing. Prep Backstage. Step into the spotlight. Headline the marquee.

Start your free 48-hour trial See the managed search No card to start · cancel anytime
FAQ

About the Cover Letter Builder.

Yes. Building, customizing, and previewing your cover letter is free, with templates and step-by-step guidance. PDF export is also free — you just need a free account to download the file. DOCX export, strategist writing and per-job tailoring, unlimited saved versions, and premium templates are part of a paid plan.

The builder and PDF export are free, but downloading the finished file requires a free account so your drafts are saved to you and you can come back to edit or re-export them. Creating the account takes a moment and costs nothing.

Free: the builder, all guidance, the live preview, and PDF export (account required to download). Pro+: DOCX export, strategist writing, rewriting and per-job tailoring, unlimited saved versions, and premium templates. The builder itself is always free — the paid features are the conveniences that speed it up.

Yes — that's the managed search. The builder is the free, self-serve layer. On a Marqee plan, a real strategist writes a custom cover letter tailored to each application, alongside running recruiter outreach and finding warm referrals, so you stop writing letters and start interviewing.

You can write the whole letter yourself for free using the templates and guidance. Strategist writing, rewriting, and per-job tailoring are available on a paid plan as a time-saver. When a real strategist writes your letters on a managed plan, a person makes every wording call — the strategist owns the work end to end.

The builder produces clean, standard-format files that parse cleanly. A cover letter's job is mostly to win the human read once you're past the screen — so the guidance focuses on a specific, role-matched letter rather than a generic one sent everywhere. For ATS mechanics, see our guide on writing a resume that passes ATS.

Prep Backstage.
Step into the spotlight.

The builder is the free taste. The managed search is the real thing — a dedicated strategist writing every letter, running your outreach, and getting you top billing with the people who hire.

Start your free 48-hour trial See how it works