Is Zety Legit? A Detailed 2026 Investigation

When job seekers ask "is zety legit," they're looking for honest answers about whether this popular resume builder delivers on its promises or operates as a subscription trap. Zety has established a significant presence in the career tools market, but concerns about unexpected charges, subscription renewals, and download restrictions have left many users questioning its trustworthiness. This investigation examines Zety's features, pricing, user experiences, and common complaints to help you determine whether it's a reliable tool for your job search.

Customer Reviews and Real User Experiences

Zety maintains a 4.2 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot based on 11,693 reviews as of February 2026, indicating mixed reception. Understanding what users actually experience provides crucial insight into the platform's legitimacy.

What Users Like

• Easy to navigate with helpful hints throughout the resume creation process
• Professional templates that produce visually appealing results
• AI-powered content suggestions that help with phrasing and keywords
• Some users report securing job interviews after using the service

Common Complaints

• Misleading "free" advertising when usable downloads require payment
• Subscription jumped from trial price to $23+ per month unexpectedly
• Cancellation buttons don't work or charges continue after cancellation
• Customer support unresponsive to billing issues

One user captured the frustration: "mensonger d'indiquer que c'est gratuit pour finalement quand on souhaite télécharger son CV il faille payer" (it's misleading to indicate it's free when you ultimately have to pay to download your CV). Another reported: "After cancellation they continued to charge me a $25 monthly subscription fee."

Customer support experiences vary considerably. While some users praise quick problem resolution, "The call went good and was helpful in cancelling the subscription", others describe unresolved billing issues and lack of follow-up.

What Zety Offers: Core Features

Zety combines AI technology with professional design templates to create resumes. The platform analyzes job requirements and suggests pre-written, job-specific phrases and keywords based on your work history and target position.

Key Capabilities

• Over 18 customizable templates ranging from modern to minimalist layouts
• ATS Resume Checker that scans for compatibility issues and provides actionable feedback
• Integrated cover letter generator matching your resume's style
• Drag-and-drop interface with cloud storage to save progress
• Career advice through articles, guides, and expert tips

Users have extensive control over visual elements, adjusting colors, fonts, margins, headers, and section arrangements. The platform supports multiple resume formats including chronological, skill-based, and combination styles.

Is Zety Free?

Zety offers a free Basic Package that allows you to build and edit your resume using their templates. However, the critical limitation is that free users can only download their finished resume as a plain text (.txt) file, a format lacking the professional polish employers expect.

The free plan essentially functions as an extended preview rather than a fully functional service, which has led to accusations of misleading advertising. For more information about this limitation, see our detailed analysis at why Zety resume builder download requires payment.

Pricing Structure and What You Actually Pay

Zety offers three pricing tiers beyond the limited free option:

The pricing model has generated significant criticism. Many users report feeling misled by the initial low-cost trial, only to face unexpected charges when the subscription renews at the higher rate. As one Trustpilot reviewer noted in February 2026: "subscription started off at just over a dollar/mth then jumped to 23+ per month."

How to Cancel a Zety Subscription

Cancellation difficulties represent one of the most common complaints about Zety. According to official guidance:

• Log into your account and navigate to the "My Plan" section
• Use the self-service cancellation option
• Cancel within seven days for a full refund with no questions asked
• After seven days, refunds may be available if you haven't downloaded any files

However, user experiences tell a different story. Multiple reviewers report that cancellation buttons don't work, technical errors prevent processing, or charges continue even after successful cancellation. One frustrated user wrote: "my experience is so bed with i want to cancel my subscription from long time but still it is cotinue."

Is Zety Online Resume Builder Legit on Reddit?

Reddit users express significant skepticism about Zety's legitimacy, particularly regarding its "free" offering. Discussions on the platform describe the service as employing a bait-and-switch tactic, allowing users to create resumes without upfront charges but then requiring payment to download the final document.

The consensus among Reddit commenters is that while the tool functions adequately during the creation process, the forced subscription model at the download stage feels deceptive. Users warn others to be aware of the true costs before investing time in building a resume on the platform.

A Smarter Alternative: PitchMeAI

While Zety focuses on creating standalone resumes, modern job searching requires tailored applications. PitchMeAI's Chrome extension works on any webpage with a job description, adapting your resume to match the specific role in a single click. This personalization dramatically increases your chances of passing ATS filters.

Beyond resume customization, PitchMeAI identifies the hiring manager for each position, finds their email address, and crafts a personalized outreach message, allowing you to bypass traditional application channels. The service offers three free credits after signup, followed by a three-day free trial with 10 credits. After the trial, unlimited usage costs $22 per month. Users report a 3x increase in interview invitations compared to traditional methods.

For those considering alternatives, our guide to the best Zety alternatives provides additional options worth exploring.

Final Verdict: Is Zety Legit?

So, is zety legit? The answer is nuanced. Zety is a legitimate company offering real resume-building services with useful features like AI-powered content suggestions, ATS optimization, and professional templates. The platform isn't a scam, it does deliver functional resume creation tools.

However, legitimacy doesn't equal transparency or customer-friendly practices. The significant gap between Zety's marketing (emphasizing "free" services) and the reality (requiring payment for usable downloads) creates a trust problem. The subscription model, with its automatic renewals and reported cancellation difficulties, has frustrated enough users to warrant serious consideration before signing up.

If you decide to use Zety, go in with clear expectations: budget for the paid plan from the start, set calendar reminders about renewal dates, and be prepared to actively manage your subscription. For job seekers who want a more comprehensive solution that includes resume personalization for each application and direct hiring manager outreach, tools like PitchMeAI offer a more strategic approach to landing interviews in 2026's competitive job market. For a comprehensive breakdown of user feedback, read our full Zety review.