Can I download a resume for free from Zety?

No. Zety's free preview lets you build the resume, but downloading a PDF or DOCX requires starting a $2.70 / 14-day trial that auto-renews at $23.70/mo. ResumeKit's PDF and DOCX export are free with no card required.

Is Zety's auto-renewing trial easy to cancel?

Zety provides a cancellation flow inside the account dashboard, but the BBB and Trustpilot both have a long history of complaints about surprise renewals. If you start the Zety trial, set a calendar reminder before day 14.

Are Zety's templates ATS-friendly?

Mixed. Some Zety templates are single-column and parse cleanly. Others use icons, sidebars, and multi-column layouts that ATS systems like Workday and Taleo strip or misorder. Always run any builder's output through an ATS scorer.

What's the best free alternative to Zety?

ResumeKit (free, 25 ATS templates, bundled ATS scorer, in-browser privacy), Canva (free but most templates are not ATS-friendly), and Teal's free tier (10+ ATS templates, integrated job tracker, AI features paywalled).

All comparisons · Updated January 2026

ResumeKit vs Zety — which resume builder is better in 2026?

Zety is one of the most-recognized paid resume builders, but its core friction point is well documented: you can't download a PDF without entering payment details for an auto-renewing trial. ResumeKit is free with no paywall, with comparable ATS templates and AI assist. Here's how the two stack up on the things that actually matter for getting hired.

Feature	ResumeKit	Zety
Pricing	Free. No signup, no watermark, no paid tier.	$2.70 / 14-day trial that auto-renews at $23.70/mo. Annual plan ~$5.95/mo billed once.
Free PDF download	Yes	No
ATS-friendly templates	25	Mixed (some multi-column templates parse poorly)
AI writing assist	Yes	Yes
Built-in ATS scorer	Yes	Paid only
Files stay in your browser	Yes	No
DOCX export	Yes	Paid only
Cover letters included	Yes	Paid only
Bundled PDF utility tools	Yes	No

Pick ResumeKit when

You want a free resume, you don't want to enter card details to get a PDF, and you want an ATS scorer bundled in to verify the resume before you submit it. ResumeKit is also the right pick if you care about file privacy — your draft never leaves the browser.

Try the ResumeKit builder

Pick Zety when

You specifically want Zety's phrase library tied to specific job titles and you're comfortable paying the $23.70/mo subscription. The Zety builder UX is polished — if budget isn't a concern and you want a guided, talkative builder, it's a reasonable buy.

Go to Zety

ResumeKit — pros & cons

ResumeKit is a free, privacy-first resume builder with 25 ATS-tested templates, AI writing assist, and a built-in ATS scorer. Everything runs in the browser — resume drafts, PDF operations, and AI requests all stay on the user's device or move through a model API without persistent storage. Bundled with 30+ free PDF utilities (merge, split, compress, OCR, sign, etc.).

Pros

· Completely free with no paywall on PDF download
· 25 ATS-friendly templates spanning modern, professional, creative, academic, federal, international styles
· Built-in ATS scorer that compares resume vs job description
· Documents process in-browser — files never upload to a server
· Bundled with 30+ free PDF tools (merge, split, compress, OCR, etc.)
· AI assist on every field with rewrite/expand/shorten options

Cons

· Newer brand — smaller template library than 5-year-old incumbents
· No human resume-writing service
· No native mobile app (web-only, works on mobile browsers)

Zety — pros & cons

Zety is one of the largest paid resume builders, owned by the BOLD network alongside MyPerfectResume, LiveCareer, and Resume-Now. It offers a guided 7-step flow with phrase suggestions for each role and section. The free trial generates a resume but locks PDF download behind a paid plan.

Pros

· Large library of phrase suggestions tailored to job titles
· Smooth step-by-step builder UX
· Spell-check and content review built in

Cons

· Cannot download PDF on free plan — auto-renewing trial is the only path to export
· Auto-renew has drawn frequent user complaints (BBB, Trustpilot)
· Some templates use multi-column layouts that confuse ATS parsers
· Resume content stored on Zety servers (no in-browser option)

Frequently asked questions

Can I download a resume for free from Zety?: No. Zety's free preview lets you build the resume, but downloading a PDF or DOCX requires starting a $2.70 / 14-day trial that auto-renews at $23.70/mo. ResumeKit's PDF and DOCX export are free with no card required.
Is Zety's auto-renewing trial easy to cancel?: Zety provides a cancellation flow inside the account dashboard, but the BBB and Trustpilot both have a long history of complaints about surprise renewals. If you start the Zety trial, set a calendar reminder before day 14.
Are Zety's templates ATS-friendly?: Mixed. Some Zety templates are single-column and parse cleanly. Others use icons, sidebars, and multi-column layouts that ATS systems like Workday and Taleo strip or misorder. Always run any builder's output through an ATS scorer.
What's the best free alternative to Zety?: ResumeKit (free, 25 ATS templates, bundled ATS scorer, in-browser privacy), Canva (free but most templates are not ATS-friendly), and Teal's free tier (10+ ATS templates, integrated job tracker, AI features paywalled).