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When it comes to building a resume online, Zety is often one of the first names job seekers hear about.
Known for its clean design and straightforward tools, Zety has built a strong reputation in the career space. But does it really deliver what today’s job seekers need? In this review, we’ll break down Zety’s resume templates, features, pricing, user experience, and overall value. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of whether Zety is worth considering for your next resume.
Zety Features
Zety offers various notable features to make your job search easier, speedier, and more effective. Here are three key features:
Resume Checker
Zety’s ATS Resume Checker scores your resume based on its compatibility with applicant tracking systems (ATS) and offers improvement suggestions. It looks for:
Correct formatting
Spelling and grammar
Key resume sections
Contact information
Word choice
Measurable results
Effective tailoring to the target role
Then, it provides actionable feedback that can increase your chances of passing the ATS, such as optimizing the summary, fixing formatting, or adding keywords.
Career advice resources
The platform's career advice section gives job seekers access to a vast library of articles, guides, and examples written by career experts. These resources cover every stage of the job search, including:
Industry-specific resume and cover letter examples
The content is designed to be practical and easy to follow, offering step-by-step instructions, best practices, and ready-to-use examples.
Cover Letter Builder
Zety’s Cover Letter Builder guides you through the process of writing a job application letter with customizable templates and built-in suggestions. Along the way, it helps you with:
Ready-made phrases and expert tips for each section
Tailoring content to match your target job or uploaded resume
Flexible formatting options, including layout, fonts, and colors
The builder combines professional templates with guided content, making it easier to create a cover letter that complements your resume and strengthens your overall application.
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The basic package is completely free and includes access to the following tools:
Resume builder
Resume templates
Cover letter builder
Cover letter templates
Free downloads in TXT format
Bold.Pro
However, it doesn't allow downloads in other document formats or for printing.
Pro package
Zety's Pro package allows users to pay $1.95 for a 14-day trial. Then, the service auto-renews for $25.95 a month. Users can cancel anytime. This option offers full access to the following:
Resume builder
Resume templates
Cover letter builder
Cover letter templates
Resume check
Instant job matches
Bold.Pro
Unlimited downloads in all formats, including PDF, TXT, SVG, DOCX, and JPEG.
Annual package
The annual package offers a yearly payment of $71.40, equivalent to $5.95 per month. The service auto-renews annually, but users can cancel at any time. This option includes the same tools and resources as Zety's Pro package.
Is Zety Worth It?
When it comes to value, Zety stands out as one of the best resume builders on the market. The free plan gives users access to plenty of tools for those who want to draft professional documents without paying upfront.
However, the free version is limited since it doesn’t allow downloads in PDF or Word formats, which are the most common file types used by employers.
For job seekers who want more flexibility, Zety’s paid options are reasonably priced for what they offer. The Pro package unlocks unlimited downloads in all formats, along with advanced features like their Resume Check and instant job matches. For long-term use, the annual plan is one of the most affordable subscriptions in the space.
Considering their professional resume templates, user-friendly design, and access to documents in multiple formats, Zety is a worthwhile investment for anyone serious about landing their next role.
Zety Resume Builder Review
At its core, Zety is a platform designed to help job seekers create polished resumes quickly and effectively. We tested the resume builder to give you an inside look at its user interface and overall experience.
User interface
Zety’s Resume Builder offers a clean, intuitive interface that guides users through the resume creation process step by step.
Each resume section is clearly labeled, with helpful prompts and suggestions to make sure your content is strong and properly formatted. Its modern, uncluttered design keeps the focus on crafting a professional document rather than navigating complicated menus.
The builder offers hundreds of options for templates. Customization is straightforward, with fonts and color choices to help your resume look polished and cohesive. While the layout is somewhat structured, it provides content suggestions and real-time feedback to help you tailor your resume for both readability and ATS compatibility.
User experience
Using Zety is straightforward and user-friendly. Navigation is intuitive, with clearly marked sections and step-by-step guidance that keeps the process simple. Helpful tips and examples appear as you work, offering real-time suggestions for improving wording, formatting, and overall resume impact.
The platform also provides seamless integration between resumes and cover letter templates, allowing users to maintain a consistent look across their application materials.
While some advanced customization options are limited, the combination of guided prompts, ATS resume template choices, and instant feedback ensures that most users can efficiently produce a polished document.
Zety offers a variety of resume templates to download. All are designed to suit different professional styles, from modern and eye-catching to minimalist and streamlined.
Let’s take a closer look at the template options and how they can help your resume stand out.
Modern resume templates
Zety's modern templates are polished and professional, with clean lines and bold headings that highlight key information. They're ideal for job seekers in business, administration, or other traditional fields who want a resume that looks current without being overly flashy.
For example, take a look at Zety's Impactful template:
Its prominent right column and emphasized section headings make it easier for hiring managers to quickly scan the resume while keeping it simple enough for conventional industries.
Creative resume templates
The platform's creative templates utilize a range of colors, design elements, and layout variations to make resumes visually stand out. These are well-suited for candidates in marketing, design, media, or other creative industries where showcasing personality and style can work to your advantage.
Zety's Classified template is an excellent example of this:
This template features a striking heading at the top of the resume with a photo that matches the color scheme you choose in the builder. Its layout is more flexible than other templates, making it a good alternative for job seekers who want to showcase their personality.
Minimalist resume templates
Conversely, Zety's minimalist templates focus on simplicity and readability, stripping away extra design elements to keep the attention squarely on your qualifications.
This style works especially well for applicants in fields such as education, healthcare, or law, where a straightforward and professional appearance is preferred.
Let's take a look at Zety's Standout template:
The layout is top to bottom, organizing the resume sections by importance. There are minimal design elements in the template; only the section headings feature a bold color of your choosing to direct the reader's attention.
Zety’s User Reviews
With over 10,000 Zety reviews, the platform has a 4.1-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot. Let's see what users had to say:
Positive feedback
Zety’s Resume Builder reviews include a lot of praise for making resume creation quick, efficient, and less stressful. They often mention that the platform’s step-by-step guidance helps them put together polished documents even when they’re short on time.
Reviewers also appreciate the professional appearance of the templates and the level of control they have over formatting and design.
Another commonly appreciated aspect is the customer support: people regularly report helpful, patient, and responsive support when they have questions or want to tweak their resumes.
Negative feedback
Many users criticize Zety’s subscription and billing practices. A frequent complaint is that after signing up for a low-cost trial, the service automatically renews into a more expensive monthly plan, sometimes without clear reminders. Some reviewers say they were charged even though they believed they had cancelled or never knowingly agreed to a recurring subscription.
However, as of this review, Zety has replied to all comments regarding billing issues. Their customer support team stated that users with complaints were given a full refund, and their accounts were cancelled upon request.
Overall user satisfaction
With 68% of users rating the service five stars, the overall sentiment is positive.
Many job seekers appreciate the platform’s ease of use, professional resume templates, and helpful guidance, often saying it made building a resume or cover letter faster and less stressful.
At the same time, a significant number of negative reviews center on billing transparency and subscription renewals, with some users feeling caught off guard by recurring charges.
Taken together, the feedback suggests that Zety delivers strong results for those who need polished application documents quickly, but users should pay close attention to the subscription terms to avoid unexpected costs.
Zety Pros and Cons
User-friendly interface that makes resume building quick and straightforward
Wide range of professional templates to suit different industries
Helpful tools like the ATS Resume Checker, content suggestions, and career advice resources
Affordable annual plan that includes unlimited downloads in multiple file formats
Free version only allows downloads in TXT format, limiting usability
Subscription model can be confusing, with auto-renewals catching some users off guard
Limited customization options compared to more design-flexible platforms
Customer complaints about billing transparency and cancellation difficulties
Final Verdict
Zety is a strong option for job seekers who want a polished and professional resume or cover letter without spending hours on formatting and design.
Its user-friendly interface, range of ATS-friendly templates, and built-in tools like the ATS Resume Checker make it especially useful for those who may feel unsure about what to include or how to phrase their experience.
While the free plan is limited and the subscription terms can be confusing, the affordable annual package offers excellent value for anyone who plans to apply to multiple jobs over time.
Overall, Zety is best suited for entry-level and mid-career professionals who want an easy, reliable way to create application documents that look polished and stand out. For those willing to keep an eye on billing details, it’s a recommended choice among online resume builders.
FAQ
Is Zety legit?
Yes, Zety is a legitimate resume builder and career platform used by millions of job seekers worldwide. It offers professional tools like a resume and cover letter builder, templates, and career resources to help users create application documents that meet employer standards.
Is Zety safe?
Zety is safe to use. The site uses standard security measures to protect user data and payment information. However, as with any subscription service, it’s important to review billing terms carefully to avoid unexpected charges.
Is Zety free?
Zety offers a free version of its builder, which includes access to free templates and tools. However, downloads are limited to plain text (TXT) format. To unlock PDF, Word, and other file types—as well as features like the Resume Checker—you’ll need a paid plan.