ResumeMD vs Zety
Both tools help you build a resume, but they differ in pricing transparency, download policies, and flexibility. Here's an honest comparison.
- • Want free exports without paywall
- • Value privacy (no account required)
- • Need Markdown support + AI tailoring
- • Budget-conscious ($9 vs $24/mo)
- • Prefer guided wizard-style builder
- • Want pre-written content suggestions
- • You don't mind paying for downloads
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ResumeMD | Zety |
|---|---|---|
| Free PDF Export | ||
| No Account Required | ||
| ATS-Friendly Templates | ||
| AI-Powered Job Tailoring | ||
| AI Content Suggestions | ||
| Number of Templates | 32 | 18+ |
| Design Customization | Colors, fonts, margins | Colors, fonts |
| Privacy (Local-First) | ||
| Multi-Format Export | PDF, DOCX, HTML, TXT | PDF, DOCX (paid) |
| Real-Time Preview | ||
| Resume Analytics | ||
| LinkedIn Import | ||
| Cover Letter Builder | ||
| Markdown Support | ||
| Learning Curve | Low | Low |
| Pricing (Pro) | $9/mo | $23.99/mo |
| Best For | Open format, no paywall | Guided step-by-step building |
Download Freedom
ResumeMD WinsResumeMD: Export your resume in PDF, DOCX, HTML, or plain text—completely free, no strings attached. No account required, no paywall, no surprise charges. Your exports are free forever.
Zety: Zety's controversial paywall lets you create and preview your resume for free, but requires a paid subscription to actually download it. Many users have reported frustration after spending time building a resume only to discover the download is locked behind payment.
Bottom line: If you want to build and download a resume without surprises, ResumeMD's fully free exports are the transparent choice.
Privacy & Transparency
ResumeMD WinsResumeMD: No account required. Your resume data stays in your browser's local storage by default. Nothing is uploaded to any server unless you explicitly opt into cloud sync. Start building immediately—no email, no registration.
Zety: Requires account creation with email verification before you can use the builder. Your resume data is stored on Zety's servers. No local-first or offline option available.
Bottom line: ResumeMD's local-first approach means your personal data stays on your device. Zety requires you to hand over your information before you can even start.
Value for Money
ResumeMD WinsResumeMD: The free tier is fully functional—32 templates, unlimited exports in all formats, resume analytics, and LinkedIn import. Pro at $9/month adds cloud sync, AI features, and job tailoring. You get real value at every tier.
Zety: At $23.99/month, Zety costs nearly three times as much as ResumeMD Pro. The free tier is essentially a demo—you can build a resume but can't download it without paying. This means Zety's "free" offering has no practical standalone value.
Bottom line: ResumeMD offers more features at a fraction of the cost, with a genuinely useful free tier. Zety's pricing is hard to justify when the free version doesn't let you download.
Content Assistance
TieZety: Offers pre-written phrases and content suggestions tailored to specific job titles. The guided wizard walks you through each section step by step, which is helpful for first-time resume writers.
ResumeMD: Features AI-powered job tailoring that analyzes a job description and optimizes your resume for it. Markdown support means you can paste output from ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and it's instantly formatted. More flexible, but less hand-holding.
Bottom line: Both offer solid content help. Zety's wizard is better for beginners who want guidance. ResumeMD's AI tailoring and Markdown flexibility are better for power users.
Pricing Comparison
ResumeMD
Zety
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zety actually free?
You can create a resume for free, but downloading it requires a paid subscription. This has been a common complaint among users who invest time building their resume before discovering the paywall at the download step.
Which has better value?
ResumeMD at $9/month vs Zety at $23.99/month—and ResumeMD's free tier has no download restrictions. You can build, customize, and export your resume in multiple formats without paying anything. Zety's free tier doesn't allow downloads at all.
Will my resume pass ATS?
Both ResumeMD and Zety create ATS-friendly resume output with clean formatting and standard section headers. The key difference is that ResumeMD's ATS-optimized resumes are free to download, while Zety requires a subscription to export.
Can I use AI-generated content?
ResumeMD natively supports Markdown, so output from ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini can be pasted directly and it's instantly formatted. ResumeMD also has built-in AI job tailoring. Zety uses its own pre-written content suggestions within its wizard, but doesn't support Markdown or external AI tool output natively.
Which is more transparent about pricing?
ResumeMD clearly shows what's free vs Pro on its pricing page. The free tier is fully functional with no restrictions on exports. Zety has been criticized for its paywall appearing only at download time—after users have already spent time creating their resume.