Is it worth paying for…
Is it worth paying for Zety?
Last reviewed September 2026. Pricing and plans change; check Zety's own site for current figures.
Where the paywall sits
Zety's builder is free to use right up to the point where you want the file. Downloading as PDF or Word requires a paid plan. The entry offer is a low priced short trial that renews automatically as a monthly subscription unless you cancel it, which is the part people complain about most: they paid a few dollars for one download and later found a recurring charge.
That structure is the tell. The value you get from a CV builder is the finished document, and that is exactly what is held back.
What the free version here does
- Builds a single column, ATS friendly CV with the usual sections and any custom sections you need.
- Live preview on A4 or Letter, two typographic styles, your own accent colour.
- Downloads a real PDF with selectable text through your browser's print dialog. No watermark, no account, no trial.
- Autosaves in your browser and exports to JSON so you can keep the source and come back later.
Open CV Builder — free, no account
When paying might still make sense
- You want a library of pre written bullet points and guided suggestions for what to say. That is genuinely part of what Zety sells, and this tool does not do it.
- You want matching cover letters and a set of designed multi column templates.
- You are confident you will cancel inside the trial window. If you do pay, set a reminder the same day.
How this one stays free
It runs entirely in your browser. There is no server to pay for, nothing is uploaded, and the code is open source. There is nothing to cancel because there was nothing to sign up for.
Zety is a trademark of its owner. This page compares products and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Zety.