Zety Review: I Tried it for 14 Days - Here's What I Found [3 Pros, 5 Cons]

Read this article if...

you're trying to figure out if Zety is the resume builder you actually need. Trust me, I've spent hours digging into every corner of Zety, and I’ve got stories you’ll want to hear.

I’ll walk you through the 3 biggest wins for Zety, and don’t worry-I won’t ignore the 5 big mistakes Zety makes either.

Curious about pricing? I’ll lay out exactly what Zety costs and if it’s really worth it.

You might be wondering if there are better options out there. I’ve checked out some top Zety alternatives, so you’ll have choices.

Oh, and I’ll definitely answer the burning question: Is Zety even legit, or is it just another scam?

Don’t just think of this as another boring Zety review. I*’ve put in the time testing Zety and reading through user experiences* so you don’t have to.

If you skip this, you’ll miss all the real scoop-and maybe save yourself from a costly mistake.

Ready for the breakdown? Settle in and let’s get started.

P.S. The table of content is right there; feel free to jump around as you read.

Zety Review Summary

If you're in a rush, here's a quick 2-minute summary of this blog:

What Zety Does Well

• Resume templates: You get a bunch of different resume templates to pick from, which makes it easy to find one that fits your style.

• Color choices: You can change up the colors on your resume, so it doesn’t have to look plain or boring if you don’t want.

• Cover letter help: There’s an option to make cover letters too, so you don’t have to figure it out on your own. That said, there are some drawbacks you should know about, such as customer support and pricing-see the cons section for details.

• More on what makes Zety stand out here.

5 Things That Will Annoy You About Zety

• Horrible Customer Service for Refunds: If you ever try to cancel or get a refund, you’ll run into tons of trouble. The support folks ignore you or give you the runaround, making it super hard to get your money back.

• Sneaky Subscription Traps: Zety locks you into costly subscriptions, and if you don’t use all your credits in a month, they just disappear. You basically end up paying for stuff you never even used.

• Charges Without Clear Warnings: They don’t make it obvious when you’re signing up for payments. You think you’re just making a resume, but suddenly money is leaving your account every month.

• No Pay-Per-Download Option: It’s super annoying you can’t just pay once to download your resume. They force you into subscriptions, even if you’ll only use it one time.

• Wait Until the End to Ask for Payment: Zety lets you spend ages making your resume, but only asks for money right at the end. That’s just a waste of your time if you weren’t planning to pay.

• More about the ugly side of Zety here.

What Does Zety Cost?

• Basic Package (Free) – You can start building your resume totally free. But here’s the catch: you can only download in TXT format, so your resume looks kinda plain.

• Pro Package – There’s a $1.95 trial for 14 days, then it jumps to $25.95 every 4 weeks. You get fancier templates and can download, print, or edit as much as you want. I think it’s a little pricey if you just want your resume once.

• Annual Package – This costs $5.95 a month, but you have to pay $71.40 all at once for the whole year. It’s the cheapest per month and has all features, but paying up front isn’t ideal for everyone.

• Should you buy Zety? If you just want one resume quickly, maybe not, since the best options are either expensive or need a yearly commitment. More cost details here.

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Zety Review - What Does it Get Right?

Here are the 3 things most people actually like about using Zety:

1. Resume templates:

   • You get to pick from a bunch of different resume templates, so finding a look you like is easy.
   • People say their resumes end up looking good and professional without much fuss or stress.
   • The ready-made designs can save you time when you don’t want to start from scratch.

2. Color choices:

   • You can play around with the colors, so your resume doesn’t look plain or dull.
   • A lot of reviewers mention it’s nice to add some personality with different colors.
   • It helps you make your resume feel more like “you” and stand out a bit among others.

3. Cover letter help:

   • Zety lets you put together a cover letter without you having to figure it all out alone.
   • Some folks like that it’s easier and less confusing than trying to write a cover letter from a blank page.
   • But just a heads up: a few users feel it gets pricey, especially if you only need a single document. If cost or bad customer service bug you, check out the cons section.

Here's a user sharing their experience:

"Good experience Good experience"

― Lutfor Ahamed Khan DK

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5 Things That Will Annoy You About Zety

Alright, let’s get real about Zety’s top 5 most annoying features, just so you know exactly what you’re getting into:

• Horrible Customer Service for Refunds:

  • When you reach out for a refund, most times support ignores you or just passes you around with zero help.
  • Even after canceling, you might still see fresh charges. It leaves you super frustrated and feeling stuck.
  • You’ll end up wasting more time arguing with Zety than actually working on your resume.

• Sneaky Subscription Traps:

  • Zety signs you up for auto-renew charges without making it obvious at all – one quick click and you’re committed for months.
  • If you don’t use all your credits in a month, tough luck – they go poof and you still pay for what you don’t use.
  • Makes you pay monthly even for something you needed just once! Super scammy, right?

Here's a review by Isaac Lewis discussing a billing issue:

"I used Zety briefly, canceled the account, and received written confirmation that the subscription was canceled. Despite this, I was still charged and customer support refused to issue a refund. I’ve now contacted my bank and a dispute will be filed once the charge fully posts. I’m happy to update this review if Zety chooses to resolve this fairly with a refund."

― Isaac Lewis (US)

• Charges Without Clear Warnings:

  • Zety doesn’t clearly tell you when your card will get charged, so what feels like a free trial quietly turns into real charges on your account.
  • Their warnings about payments are either missing or easy to miss, so you think you’re safe until your bank pings you.
  • You’ll probably only catch it after money is already gone. That sucks, especially if you expected a one-time deal.

• No Pay-Per-Download Option:

  • You can’t just pay once to get your resume – they force you into a monthly subscription even if you only need a single download.
  • Most people barely use a resume builder after one go, so this just feels like a money grab.
  • Why pay every month for something you only touch once or twice in a year?

• Wait Until the End to Ask for Payment:

  • You spend a chunk of time making your resume, and when you’re all done, only then do they hit you with the paywall.
  • This just wastes your time and effort if you weren’t planning to spend any cash.
  • People get really frustrated because they don’t warn you at the start. It feels like they trick you into putting in all that effort first.

Here's a review by Aditya Biswas discussing deceptive subscription charges:

"Deceptive subscription charges for a one-time resume download. I am extremely disappointed with Zety’s billing practices. I downloaded a resume only once, sometime in September. That was the extent of my usage. Despite this, my card was charged ₹445 repeatedly from September through January, without any meaningful usage from my side. A resume builder is not an everyday tool. There is absolutely no justification for a recurring subscription model for something most users will use once or twice in their lifetime. This feels deliberately designed to trap users into ongoing charges for a low-frequency, one-time use product. What makes this worse is how poorly the subscription is communicated. There is no clear, unavoidable warning at the point of download that recurring charges will continue. On top of that, email notifications for deductions are unreliable, making it easy for users to miss these transactions entirely. This creates a situation where money keeps getting deducted quietly, while the platform itself provides no ongoing value that would justify a subscription. That crosses the line from poor UX into predatory billing behavior. A far more honest and fair approach would be a pay-per-download model, where users clearly know what they are paying for and when. Charging people month after month for a resume builder they are not using is unacceptable. I have requested a refund and cancellation. I would strongly caution others to check their bank statements carefully after using this platform."

― Aditya Biswas (IN)

By the way, if you’re looking for a service with no subscription requirements and credits that last forever, check out ResumeJudge. You even get to test it out for free with up to 10 scans! Try it right here.

That wraps up this in-depth review. Interested in exploring more Zety alternatives? But first, let’s discuss their pricing!

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What Does Zety Cost?

You might see Zety everywhere when you Google for resume tools, but here's the thing a lot of people miss-Zety's pricing is kinda tricky, and honestly, not worth it for most folks. I’ve used Zety myself, so let’s break down what you really get for your money:

Basic Package (FREE)

• You can start making your resume for free, but the catch is you’re stuck with super basic features-like you can only download your resume in plain TXT format. No fancy PDFs or Word files unless you pay. Not to mention, most of the good resume layouts and designs are locked away unless you upgrade.
• It lets you edit, download, and use their basic builder, but trust me, the resumes look super plain and basic-nothing that stands out for real jobs.
• I hit this wall quick and felt disappointed because Zety makes it seem like you’ll get everything for free, but you actually won’t get anything useful unless you pay up.

Pro Package (14-day trial for $1.95, then $25.95 every 4 weeks)

• They lure you in with what looks like a cheap $1.95 “trial” for two weeks, but if you forget to cancel, they’ll hit your card for $25.95-every 28 days! That's charging you almost monthly for the exact same features, even if you don’t use it the next month. I got caught out by this myself.
• You get fancier templates, downloads in PDF and Word, and some so-called “premium” tools, but honestly, $26 just to keep using the same resume builder each month is a rip-off. You don’t even get to keep using your unused credits-they just disappear.
• The resume check and instant job matches sound helpful, but they’re basic. You can find better and deeper feedback on other free sites if you look around.

Annual Package ($5.95/month, but billed as $71.40 all at once)

• This is what Zety calls its “best value”, but you have to cough up $71.40 in a single payment. You save a bit compared to that expensive four-week plan, but you’re stuck paying for the whole year upfront, whether you use it or not.
• All the same limits as before: same features, same recurring payment trap, and your money is locked in even if you get hired a week later and never touch Zety again.
• A lot of people I know-including me-feel misled when you realize you’re basically renting the resume builder for a year instead of owning your resumes and credits for good. If you want to edit your resume later, you better hope you still have your subscription.

Here’s the honest truth...

• No matter which Zety plan you pick, you’re paying again and again for the same stuff, and your “credits” or access vanish if you don’t keep shelling out money. It gets really pricey, really fast.
• I’d stay away and look for something that doesn’t suck you into endless payments for the same tools.

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A Much Better Deal: ResumeJudge (Try it Here!)

• ResumeJudge gives you actual value for your money-a one-time $14 payment gets you 50 full ATS scans that NEVER EXPIRE. No subscriptions, no hidden fees, no vanishing credits.
• You get full resume scoring based on real ATS standards, auto keyword optimization, and the ability to fix your resume in just a few clicks.
• Their templates are always ATS-friendly by default, and if you spend $14 there, you get to use all your 50 scans whenever you want-even months or years later.
• I switched to ResumeJudge after wasting cash on Zety, and I genuinely wish I’d found it sooner. It's a no-brainer for anyone who wants quality without getting ripped off.

If you want to see how Zety stacks up next to ResumeJudge, check out the head-to-head comparison below.

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What are some Zety alternatives?

So you’ve seen what Zety can do, but maybe you’re not totally sold yet. Before you decide, let me show you a couple of other options. Here are the top picks you should check out:

#1 - Zety vs ResumeJudge

• What’s the same: Both Zety and ResumeJudge help you build a resume with templates and tools that make your resume look sharp and ready for job hunting.

• Why ResumeJudge is better:

  • Real ATS checks, not just looks. ResumeJudge actually scans your resume like the software real companies use, so you know if your resume will get past those robots. It tells you what’s missing and how to fix it, not just if it “looks nice.”
  • One-click job matching. You can paste in the job you want, and ResumeJudge will instantly tweak your resume to fit that job - it’s like magic and saves you a ton of time.
  • No sneaky subscriptions. You just buy credits once, and they never expire. No monthly charges, no surprise bills, no “oops, you forgot to cancel” headaches.
  • Awesome customer support. If you get stuck, real people actually help you out. No robots, no runaround, just quick answers.
  • Templates that work everywhere. ResumeJudge’s templates are made to look good and work with all those online job systems, so you don’t get rejected just because of your format.

• Where Zety is better:

  • More color and style choices: Zety has a bunch of different colors and template styles, so if you want your resume to look super unique, you might like that.
  • Cover letter builder: Zety lets you make cover letters too, which is handy if you need one fast.

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Bottom line: If you want a resume that actually gets through those online job filters and don’t want to mess with subscriptions, ResumeJudge is honestly the smarter pick. It’s simple, you pay once, and you get real help. Zety’s templates look cool, but the extra charges and tricky subscriptions can be a pain.

#2 - Zety vs ResumeIO

• What’s the same: Both Zety and ResumeIO are online resume builders aimed at making resumes fast without needing much design skill. You get ready-to-use templates, tips for filling in your work history, and cover letter help on both. They'll both spit out your resume in PDF format, and you never have to open Microsoft Word if you don’t want to.

• Where ResumeIO is better:

  • Easier pricing, fewer surprises: ResumeIO makes it more clear what you’ll pay and when. There’s a cheaper short-term plan ($2.95 for 7 days), and you won’t get sucked into an expensive subscription unless you want it. It’s way harder to accidentally spend more than you planned.
  • Simpler refund process: If you run into problems, ResumeIO’s support is more responsive, especially for billing and cancellations. Zety is notorious for giving people the runaround with refunds and sneaky recurring charges, which sounds like a total headache.
  • Great free exports: ResumeIO lets you make as many resumes as you want and even download them as plain text for free, which is cool.

• Where Zety is better:

  • More template and color choices: Zety has a bunch of templates and you can play with color options, so your resume doesn’t have to look boring.
  • Extra cover letter help: Zety makes it super easy to build a cover letter that matches your resume, so you don’t have to guess what to write.

Bottom line? If you care most about customizing the look of your resume, Zety has more options for making things pretty. But if you just want a solid resume fast and hate surprise charges, ResumeIO is usually less stressful.

#3 - Zety vs MyPerfectResume

• What’s the same: Both Zety and MyPerfectResume let you make a resume online with easy-to-use templates, help you fill in your job stuff, and even throw in extra tools like cover letter builders. You get to pick how your resume looks and then save it to your computer (if you pay).

• Where MyPerfectResume is better:

  • Extra tools and tips: MyPerfectResume hands out better writing help, fancy AI suggestions for your job descriptions, instant ResumeCheck feedback, and even has things like interview prep and career tools.
  • More professional profile options: You can turn your resume into a little online profile with your own special link, which Zety doesn’t really do.
  • Transparent pricing: MyPerfectResume tells you upfront how much stuff costs, like the $2.95 trial and clear monthly or yearly pricing, so you don’t get sticker shock at the last step.

• Where Zety is better:

  • Template and color choices: Zety gives you a bunch more looks to pick from and lets you play around with colors, so your resume doesn’t look like everyone else’s.
  • Cover letter builder included: Making a cover letter with Zety is super simple-you fill in a few blanks and you’re good to go.

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Is Zety Worth It?

Short answer - Honestly, NOT REALLY!

Here's why:

• Reason #1: Nightmare Customer Service: If you ever need a refund or want to cancel, you'll hit a brick wall. It's like they just ignore you or send you in endless circles. I know from experience-it’s a huge time-waster.

• Reason #2: Hidden Charges and Subscription Traps: Zety isn't upfront about payments at all. You go in thinking you're just making a resume, then-boom-suddenly you’re paying every month, and if you don’t use your credits, they disappear. It honestly feels sneaky.

• Reason #3: They Waste Your Time: You put all that work into your resume, just for them to hit you with a paywall at the very end. Super frustrating if you were just testing things out or only needed a one-time download.

Here's a review by Sheetal Valodra expressing their dissatisfaction with unexpected charges:

"Without asking me the charge 445 rupees from my account how can and I did gate any information about this I m very very sad😢"

― Sheelal Valodra (IN)

So what should you do instead?

Well, not to brag, but ResumeJudge solves all the problems I just talked about with Zety. Let me explain.

Here’s what makes ResumeJudge actually worth it:

• #1 Not Just Another Cookie-Cutter Resume Builder: ResumeJudge actually gets that a high school student, a recent grad, and someone with years of experience all need different resumes. Instead of shoving everyone into the same boring template, ResumeJudge figures out what you need based on your stage, your job, and your field. Your resume will actually match who you are and what jobs you’re going for.

• #2 You Never Lose Credits: Buy credits once-they stick with you forever! If you don’t use them right away, no worries. No more paying for something and having it vanish just because you took a break.

• #3 Customer Support That Actually Helps: I can promise you won’t end up talking to a useless chatbot here. Real humans reply, and usually super fast-most folks hear back in less than 12 hours!

• #4 Real Resume Experts Behind the Tool: ResumeJudge is built by people who know exactly how the bots (ATS systems) filter out resumes. They make sure the resume you build is actually seen and ranked properly by those systems-not just pretty for your eyes, but hireable in real life. Plus, as someone who’s tried all sorts of resume builders, I can tell you it’s a relief having everything (builder, ATS checker, skill matcher, and more) in one place with no guessing games.

Alright, that’s my honest take! If you’re tired of Zety’s games and want to see how a better resume builder actually works, check out ResumeJudge right here or try the free 10-scan trial. No credit card needed-just your email, and you’re good to go.