Zety Full Review (2025): Pros, Cons, Everything You Should Know

Zety has become one of the most recognized names in online resume building, promising a fast, guided experience backed by professional templates and AI-powered suggestions. But with subscription costs, limited free features, and mixed user feedback, is Zety the right choice for your job search in 2025? This Zety full review breaks down everything you need to know—features, pricing, pros, cons, and how it stacks up against alternatives.

What Is Zety and How Does It Work?

Zety is a web-based resume builder designed to simplify the resume creation process through step-by-step guidance. The platform walks you through every section—from contact information to work experience—offering pre-written, role-specific content suggestions along the way.

The builder is accessible from any device with a browser (desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone), making it convenient whether you're at home or on the go. You can start from scratch, upload an existing resume to optimize, or choose from around 18 professional templates for resumes, CVs, and cover letters.

Zety's interface uses a drag-and-drop system that lets you rearrange sections, swap fonts, adjust colors, and switch between one- or two-column layouts. An integrated resume scoring tool and ATS checker analyze your document in real time, flagging formatting issues, missing keywords, and other improvements to help you pass applicant tracking systems and catch recruiters' attention.

Core Features of Zety Resume Builder

Zety packs several features aimed at making resume writing faster and more effective:

• Guided, intuitive interface: The builder takes you step by step, whether you're starting fresh or uploading an old resume, helping you organize every section without confusion.

• Modern, ATS-friendly templates: Choose from a wide range of professionally designed resume and cover letter templates. Customize colors, layouts, and fonts to match your industry and personal brand.

• Pre-written content and expert phrasing: Role-specific bullet points and summaries are suggested for each section, saving time and optimizing your resume for ATS compatibility.

• Resume scoring and ATS checker: Get actionable feedback on formatting, keyword use, and overall effectiveness to ensure your documents meet industry standards.

• Flexible download options: Export your resume in TXT (free), PDF, or Word formats. Cloud storage lets you update and access your resumes anytime.

• Integrated cover letter builder: Create matching cover letters using the same design elements and expert tips, building a unified application package.

• AI-powered suggestions: Zety's AI wizard recommends complete phrases and bullet points tailored to your job title and industry, designed to improve ATS compatibility by including relevant keywords and skills.

These features, combined with a library of career advice resources, position Zety as a comprehensive solution for crafting job-winning resumes.

Zety Pricing: Plans, Costs, and What You Get

Zety offers three pricing tiers based on the official pricing page:

The free version lets you build and customize your resume fully but restricts downloads to plain text. To export formatted PDFs or Word documents, you need a paid subscription.

Does Zety Offer a Free Version or Trial?

Yes, Zety provides a free version that allows you to build your resume or cover letter from start to finish and download it as a plain text (.txt) file. You can design and customize your document without paying, but formatted downloads (PDF or Word) and premium features require an upgrade.

Additionally, Zety offers a 14-day trial for $1.95, giving you full access to all tools before committing to a paid plan. Once the trial ends, you'll need to subscribe to continue downloading in common file formats.

What Export Formats Does Zety Support?

Zety allows you to export or download your resume in three formats:

• PDF: Industry-standard format, widely accepted by employers and ATS.

• Word (MS Word): Editable format for further customization.

• Plain text (.txt): Free download option, but lacks formatting and design.

PDF and Word downloads require a paid subscription.

How Customizable Are Zety's Templates?

Zety's templates are highly customizable. Once you select one of the approximately 18 professional designs (including dedicated templates for CVs and cover letters), you can modify nearly every design element:

• Adjust the layout (switch between one- or two-column formats)

• Change the color scheme

• Swap fonts

• Rearrange sections using drag-and-drop

This flexibility lets you tailor your resume to reflect your personal brand while maintaining a professional, ATS-friendly appearance.

AI and Machine Learning Features in Zety

Zety incorporates AI to guide users through resume creation by offering real-time, pre-written content suggestions tailored to your job title and industry. As you fill in your information, the AI wizard recommends complete phrases and bullet points crafted by career experts, designed to improve ATS compatibility by including relevant keywords and skills.

An integrated resume checker analyzes your document, scanning for typos and structural issues, then scores it and suggests improvements to help your resume stand out to both automated systems and recruiters.

Zety Customer Support: Channels and Response Times

Zety offers multiple customer support channels:

• Phone: Toll-free support for the U.S. at 800-985-7561. Average wait time is less than 30 seconds. Available Monday–Friday, 8 AM–8 PM CST; Saturday, 8 AM–5 PM CST; Sunday, 10 AM–6 PM CST. Similar phone support is provided for India, Australia, and Saudi Arabia.

• Chat: Online chat support is available on their site.

• Email: Reach out via email (e.g., cs@zety.com) for assistance.

Phone support is notably fast, with average wait times under 30 seconds for direct inquiries.

Pros and Cons of Zety Resume Builder

Based on recent user reviews and expert analysis, here are the main advantages and drawbacks of Zety:

Pros

• Easy, step-by-step resume building: Clean, intuitive interface guides you through every section.

• Modern, professional templates: Designed to work well with ATS and quickly customizable.

• Built-in tools: Content suggestions (pre-written bullet points and summaries) and resume scoring/ATS check improve your document.

• Integrated cover letter builder: Uses similar design elements and expert tips for a unified application package.

• Update existing resumes: Upload your current resume and optimize it using the latest templates and tips.

Cons

• Limited template choices: Some users find the selection overly rigid and wish for greater design flexibility and more diverse options.

• Free version restrictions: Only allows plain text (TXT) downloads; PDF or Word requires a paid subscription.

• Pricing and subscription confusion: Users frequently report confusion over auto-renewals and unclear billing details. Carefully review terms before subscribing.

• Cancellation difficulties: Several customers have experienced challenges canceling subscriptions or navigating customer support.

• Formatting limitations: You can't see the final page count until download. Templates and AI suggestions can sometimes feel generic without heavy customization.

Overall, users appreciate Zety's straightforward, guided resume-building process and professional appearance, but advise being mindful of subscription details and limited customization features.

Can Zety Be Trusted?

Yes, Zety is a legitimate online business with a secure payment gateway and thousands of user reviews on platforms like Trustpilot (3.9 out of 5 stars from 8,400+ reviews, categorized as "Great") and Sitejabber (2.4 out of 5 stars from 175 reviews). While user experiences vary, the majority of feedback highlights Zety's usability and effectiveness in improving resumes. As with any online purchase, read the terms and conditions carefully and test customer support beforehand to ensure it meets your needs.

Is It Safe to Use Zety?

Yes, Zety is a safe website with a fully secure payment gateway. The platform follows standard security practices to protect user data. As always, take necessary precautions—read terms and conditions, verify customer support responsiveness—to confirm there are no red flags before committing to a subscription.

Is Zety Easy to Cancel?

User reviews indicate that some customers have experienced difficulties canceling subscriptions or navigating customer support when issues arise. Zety's plans auto-renew (every 4 weeks for the Pro Package, annually for the Annual Package), so it's important to carefully review the terms and set reminders if you wish to cancel before renewal. Contact customer support via phone, chat, or email to initiate cancellation.

What Should a Resume Look Like in 2025 for Free?

In 2025, a strong resume should be clean, ATS-friendly, and easy to scan. Key elements include:

• Clear contact information: Name, phone, email, LinkedIn profile, and location (city and state).

• Professional summary or objective: A brief, compelling statement tailored to the job.

• Work experience: Reverse-chronological order with quantifiable achievements and action verbs.

• Skills section: Relevant hard and soft skills, including keywords from the job description.

• Education: Degree, institution, and graduation year.

• Optional sections: Certifications, volunteer work, languages, or projects.

For free resume building, Zety allows you to create and download a plain text version at no cost. However, if you want a professionally formatted, ATS-ready resume without paying, consider exploring free resume builder tools that offer more flexible download options.

How Zety Compares to Competitors

Zety distinguishes itself primarily through its auto-suggestion tool, which provides ready-made, pre-written phrases for work experience and skills, helping users quickly build content. The platform also offers an instant resume score and improvement tips (e.g., keyword usage, ATS formatting), supported by a robust library of guides and examples.

However, Zety's focus on clean, conservative, recruiter-friendly designs means fewer creative, customizable options and no free PDF or Word downloads without payment. For a detailed comparison, check out Zety vs PitchMeAI or explore the best Zety alternatives in 2025.

Beyond the Resume: PitchMeAI for Job Search Success

While Zety helps you build a polished resume, landing interviews in 2025 requires more than a great document. You need to tailor your resume to each job post, reach hiring managers directly, and craft compelling outreach emails—all of which can be time-consuming.

PitchMeAI streamlines this process with three core features:

1. Generate a resume per job post: Automatically tailor your resume to each job description, significantly increasing your chances of landing an interview.

2. Find hiring manager emails: Locate the email of any hiring manager so you can reach out directly and stand out from the crowd.

3. Craft the perfect email in one click: Generate personalized, compelling emails to hiring managers that grab attention and open doors.

All these functions are available via the PitchMeAI Chrome extension (which works on any website online) or via the PitchMeAI job board. PitchMeAI also offers a free resume builder where you can write free text, drop a voice note, or upload an old resume and get a perfect, ATS-ready resume in 1 minute.

PitchMeAI offers 3 free credits per month, a free trial with 10 additional credits, and a premium plan at $22/month for unlimited usage—making it a cost-effective, comprehensive solution for modern job seekers.

Final Verdict: Is Zety Worth It in 2025?

Zety is a solid, user-friendly resume builder that excels in guiding users through the resume creation process with modern, ATS-friendly templates and AI-powered content suggestions. Its step-by-step interface, integrated cover letter builder, and resume scoring tool make it a strong choice for job seekers who want a polished, professional resume quickly.

However, the limited template variety, free version restrictions (plain text downloads only), and occasional confusion over pricing and cancellation policies are notable drawbacks. If you're looking for more design flexibility, free formatted downloads, or a more comprehensive job search solution, consider exploring alternatives like PitchMeAI or other free resume builders.

For job seekers who value ease of use, professional design, and expert content suggestions, Zety is worth the investment—especially the Annual Package at $5.95/month. Just be sure to read the terms carefully and set reminders for auto-renewals.