Zety Resume Builder: Pricing and PDF Download Costs

If you're exploring Zety as your go-to resume builder, understanding the full picture of zety resume builder pricing download pdf costs is essential before you commit. Zety markets itself as a user-friendly platform with professional templates and AI-powered suggestions, but the pricing structure, especially when it comes to downloading your finished resume, can be confusing. This guide breaks down exactly what you'll pay, what's included in each plan, and whether Zety's costs align with your job search budget.

Zety Resume Builder Pricing & PDF Download Costs

Zety offers three distinct pricing tiers. The Free Basic Package allows you to build and edit your resume using their full suite of templates and tools, but there's a significant catch: you can only download your resume as a plain text (.txt) file. For most job applications, this format won't work, employers expect polished PDFs or Word documents.

To unlock PDF and Word downloads, you'll need the Pro Package. This plan starts with a 14-day trial at $1.95, but after the trial ends, the subscription auto-renews at $25.95 every four weeks, approximately $337 per year if you forget to cancel. The Pro plan includes premium templates, expanded styling options, and access to Bold.Pro, a networking feature designed to increase your visibility to recruiters.

For longer job searches, the Annual Package offers better value at $71.40 billed once per year ($5.95 per month), representing a 77% discount compared to the recurring Pro fee. Both paid plans auto-renew, so you'll need to actively cancel if you no longer need the service. You can learn more in our detailed guide on Zety pricing plans.

What Users Are Saying About Zety

With a 4.2 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot based on 11,693 reviews as of February 2026, Zety receives mixed feedback from users.

What Users Like

• User-friendly interface and intuitive building process
• Wide variety of professional templates
• Quality of finished resumes helps secure interviews
• Helpful AI-powered content suggestions

Common Complaints

• Misleading "free" marketing, users discover download costs only after building their resume
• Unexpected charges after trial period: "subscription started off at just over a dollar/mth then jumped to 23+ per month"
• Difficult cancellation process with continued charges: "After cancellation they continued to charge me a $25 monthly subscription fee"
• Lack of pricing transparency upfront

Is Zety Resume Builder Free?

Technically, yes, Zety offers a free version, but it comes with substantial limitations. With the Free Basic Package, you get full access to the resume builder interface, pre-built templates, content suggestions, and the ATS resume checker. You can edit and preview your resume as many times as you want, and you're allowed unlimited prints directly from your browser.

The problem arises when you try to download your finished resume. The free plan only permits downloads in plain text format, which strips away all formatting, design elements, and professional polish. Many users felt misled by the "free" marketing, with one reviewer noting: "was described as free cover letter but when I needed to download needs to pay."

If you need your resume in PDF or Microsoft Word format, standard for virtually all job applications, you must subscribe to a paid plan. The free version essentially functions as an extended preview. For a comprehensive breakdown of what's included at each tier, check out our article on Zety resume builder free vs paid download options.

How to Download a Zety Resume as a PDF for Free

According to Zety's official FAQ, there is no legitimate way to download a high-quality PDF from their platform without a paid subscription. While you can build and save your resume for free and download it as plain text, the formatted PDF or Word version requires either the Pro or Annual package.

Some users have shared unofficial workarounds online, including a GitHub Ruby script and browser-based "Print to PDF" methods from the preview screen. However, these approaches aren't endorsed by Zety and often produce suboptimal results, missing formatting, broken layouts, or incomplete content.

If obtaining a professional PDF without paying is your priority, you may want to explore alternative resume builders that offer free PDF downloads from the start. Zety's business model relies on converting free users to paid subscribers at the download stage. For more details on download costs, visit our guide on Zety resume builder download cost.

Zety Pricing for Students and Freshers

For students and recent graduates creating their first resume, Zety's pricing structure presents both opportunities and challenges. The free plan allows freshers to experiment with different templates, explore pre-written content suggestions, and learn what makes a strong resume, all without spending money upfront.

However, when it comes time to actually apply for jobs, the inability to download a PDF without paying becomes a significant barrier. At $25.95 every four weeks, the Pro plan may be prohibitively expensive for students on tight budgets. The Annual Package at $71.40 offers better value, but requires a larger upfront commitment.

For freshers who only need a resume for a short job search period, the 14-day trial at $1.95 can work well, provided you remember to cancel before the auto-renewal kicks in. Setting a calendar reminder to cancel before the trial ends is essential to avoid surprise charges.

How to Cancel a Zety Subscription

Canceling your Zety subscription is straightforward in theory, but user reviews suggest the process can be problematic in practice. According to Zety's official policy, you can request a full refund if you cancel within the first seven days of purchase. After that window, you may still be eligible for a refund provided you haven't downloaded any files during your subscription period.

Cancellation Steps

• Email Zety's customer support with your cancellation request
• Navigate to the "My Plan" section in your account dashboard
• Wait for confirmation email with cancellation number
• Document all requests and save confirmation emails

Multiple Trustpilot reviews from February 2026 report ongoing issues with cancellation, including continued charges after cancellation requests. If you encounter problems canceling through the website, Zety offers live chat and phone support with an average wait time of less than 30 seconds. They maintain dedicated phone numbers for the United States, India, Australia, and Saudi Arabia.

A Smarter Alternative: PitchMeAI

While Zety offers solid templates, the pricing structure and download restrictions can be frustrating. PitchMeAI offers a more cost-effective solution that delivers better results through intelligent resume personalization.

PitchMeAI's Chrome extension works on any webpage with a job description, adapting your resume to each specific position with a single click. Rather than creating one generic resume, PitchMeAI personalizes your resume for every application, users see 3x more interview invitations on average. You get 3 free credits after signing up, followed by a 3-day free trial with 10 credits. After that, unlimited usage costs just $22 per month.

Beyond resume customization, PitchMeAI finds the hiring manager for each position, locates their email address, and crafts a personalized outreach message, helping you stand out from hundreds of applicants. The platform also includes a resume builder tool that generates ATS-optimized resumes in seconds from your existing resume, free text, or voice notes. The overall cost structure is more transparent and affordable than Zety's recurring charges.

Final Verdict

Zety delivers professional templates and an intuitive building experience, but the zety resume builder pricing download pdf structure requires careful consideration. The free plan is essentially a trial that lets you build but not download in usable formats. The $1.95 trial is affordable, but the subsequent $25.95 every four weeks adds up quickly, especially if you forget to cancel.

For job seekers planning an extended search, the Annual Package at $71.40 offers reasonable value. However, if you only need a resume for a short period, you'll need to be diligent about canceling before the trial ends. The cancellation difficulties reported by numerous users in February 2026 are a legitimate concern.

Ultimately, Zety can work well if you understand exactly what you're paying for and stay on top of your subscription management. But for those seeking better value, more transparency, and tools that actually increase interview rates rather than just producing attractive documents, exploring alternatives like PitchMeAI may deliver better results for your job search investment.