Is Zety Free? Free to Build, Not to Download (2026)

No, not for a finished resume. Zety is free to build with, and its free Basic plan downloads your resume as plain text (.txt) only. A PDF or Word file needs the Pro Package: $1.95 for a 14-day trial that auto-renews at $25.95 every four weeks, or $71.40 for a year. Free to build, paid to download.

Prices and plan details are from Zety's pricing page, checked as a US visitor on October 6, 2026.

What Zety gives you for free

Zety is an online resume and cover letter builder known for its guided, step-by-step editor and pre-written content suggestions. On the free Basic plan you can:

• Use the resume builder and the cover letter builder
• Pick from its 18+ templates and fill in every section
• Preview your resume on screen
• Download it in TXT format only

A .txt file is your words without the design: no template, no fonts, no layout. It's handy for pasting into an online application form, but it isn't the document you designed.

What costs money on Zety

Because the Pro Package bills every four weeks, that's 13 charges a year, which works out to about $28.11 a month. The annual package is cheaper per month but is paid up front and renews too.

Is the Zety free trial free?

No. The trial costs $1.95 for 14 days, and the pricing page says it "auto-renews at $25.95 billed every 4 weeks" unless you cancel. If you only need one PDF, download it during the trial and cancel Zety before day 14. Zety's FAQ promises a full refund if you email within 7 days of paying.

Which builders actually let you download for free?

Here's what each free plan gives you, from each company's own page on October 6, 2026.

Disclosure: ResumeFast is ours. Building there is free with unlimited resumes and cover letters, plain text is always free, and your first PDF or Word download is free. After that file, PDF and Word need Pro at $6.95 a month, billed monthly with no trial. We'd rather show the table than pretend we're the only option: if one free PDF is all you need, FlowCV, Teal and Kickresume's basic templates also work.

How to get a free resume out of Zety

1. Build your resume in Zety and get the wording right.
2. Download the TXT version.
3. Paste the text into a free route: a Google Docs resume template, FlowCV's free plan, or your first free ResumeFast download.
4. Check the new file with a free ATS scan or our keyword matcher (no account needed) before you send it.

You lose Zety's exact template, but you keep the content, which is the part that took the thinking.

Is Zety worth paying for?

• Pay for Zety if you want the most hand-holding while you write, and your search will be short. Set a reminder for day 13 of the trial.
• Skip it if you'll be applying for months: at $25.95 every four weeks, 24 weeks costs $157.65 including the trial. Our resume builder pricing comparison shows what the same search costs elsewhere, and Zety alternatives covers cheaper builders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zety free to use?+

Zety is free to build with, and the free Basic plan downloads resumes as plain text (TXT) only. PDF and Word downloads need the Pro Package or the Annual Package.

How much does Zety cost?+

In October 2026 the Pro Package is $1.95 for a 14-day trial, then $25.95 billed every four weeks. The Annual Package is $71.40 paid at once, about $5.95 a month. Both renew automatically.

Is the Zety free trial actually free?+

No. The trial costs $1.95 and auto-renews at $25.95 every four weeks unless you cancel before it ends.

Does Zety charge for downloading a resume?+

Yes, for PDF and Word. Only the TXT download is free. Zety's terms say registered users without a subscription can view and edit documents but can't print, download or share them as formatted files.

Can I get my money back from Zety?+

Zety's FAQ says you get a full refund if you request it by email within 7 days of purchase, and possibly after that if you haven't downloaded any files. See our guide to canceling Zety for the steps.

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Want to see your finished file before you pay anything? Build your resume free in ResumeFast: your first PDF or Word download is free.