JobSprout vs Zety: Which Resume Builder is Right for You in 2026?

Zety is one of the most heavily marketed resume builders online. Search for "resume builder" or "how to write a resume" and you'll likely see their content. They've built a massive content operation and have helped millions create resumes.

How does Zety compare to JobSprout, a platform built around AI-assisted writing and professional typesetting?

This is a direct, honest comparison. We'll cover pricing, features, AI capabilities, and the often-overlooked free plan limitations so you can make an informed decision.

Full disclosure: We built JobSprout, so we're confident in our product. But we're committed to being fair. Zety has strengths we'll acknowledge, and we'll be upfront about where they might be the better choice.

Quick Comparison Table

Pricing: The Real Costs

Let's start with what matters most to many job seekers: price.

JobSprout Pricing

• Free: 500 AI credits (one-time), 1 CV, 1 cover letter, 10 AI assistant messages/day, unlimited PDF downloads
• Pro Monthly: $12/month
• Pro Annual: $84/year ($7/month, 42% savings)
• Lifetime: $120 (one-time payment)

Zety Pricing

According to Zety's pricing and third-party sources:

• Free: Build resume for free, but no PDF download (TXT file only)
• 14-Day Trial: $2.70 for full access
• Monthly: $23.70/month (after trial period, continues at this rate)
• Annual: $71.40/year ($5.95/month)

Important: Zety's pricing model has drawn criticism. The low trial price ($2.70 for 14 days) automatically converts to monthly billing at $23.70 if not cancelled. Many users report being caught off guard by this.

Sources: Zety Pricing, Rezi's Zety Comparison

The Pricing Verdict

The comparison is nuanced:

• Monthly: $12 (JobSprout) vs $23.70 (Zety)
• Annual: Zety is cheaper ($5.95/month vs $7/month)
• Lifetime: Only JobSprout offers this option ($120)

If you need a resume builder for a few months, JobSprout saves money. If you're committing to a full year, Zety's annual plan is slightly cheaper per month. If you want to pay once and never worry about subscriptions, JobSprout's lifetime option is the only choice.

Watch out for: Zety's trial-to-subscription conversion. The $2.70 trial automatically becomes $23.70/month, which has frustrated many users according to reviews.

Free Plan: The Critical Difference

Free plans differ significantly between these platforms.

JobSprout Free Plan

• CVs: 1 CV
• Cover Letters: 1 cover letter with full AI features
• AI Credits: 500 one-time credits for AI writing
• AI Assistant: 10 messages per day
• Downloads: Unlimited PDF downloads
• Templates: Basic template (Pro templates require upgrade)
• Branding: No watermark

Zety Free Plan

According to Zety's features and Rezi's analysis:

• Building: You can build a resume for free
• Downloads: TXT file only (no PDF download without payment)
• PDF/DOCX: Requires paid subscription
• Templates: Access to browse templates, but full features require payment

The Free Plan Verdict

This is a key consideration for many users.

Zety lets you build a resume for free, but you can't download it as a PDF without paying. The free plan only offers TXT file downloads, which aren't usable for job applications. Modern employers expect PDF or DOCX files with proper formatting.

JobSprout's free plan includes unlimited PDF downloads. You can create your CV, download it, and apply to jobs without paying anything.

The Zety free plan is essentially a preview. You can see what your resume would look like, but you can't use it until you pay. JobSprout's free plan is genuinely free: create, download, apply.

Choose JobSprout's free plan if: You want to actually use your resume without paying. The unlimited PDF downloads make the free plan genuinely useful.

Choose Zety's free trial if: You want to test the platform with intention to subscribe. The $2.70 trial gives full access, but set a reminder before it converts to monthly billing.

AI Features: Different Philosophies

Both platforms use AI, but their approaches differ significantly.

Zety's AI Approach: Guided Content Suggestions

Zety focuses on pre-written content and real-time feedback. Their AI features include:

Pre-written Content Suggestions

• Expert-written phrases for various job types
• Pre-made bullet points you can customise
• Content suggestions based on your role

Impact Scoring

• Real-time scoring of how persuasive each section is
• Feedback on content effectiveness
• Suggestions for improvement

Content Checker

• Grammar and spelling verification
• Phrasing suggestions
• Real-time feedback as you type

Role Play Interview Simulator

• Generates interview questions based on your resume
• Real-time feedback on video-recorded answers
• Helps prepare for actual interviews

According to third-party analysis, Zety's AI is "best if you want lots of templates, pre-written examples, and design flexibility, but it's less targeted for ATS and job-specific optimization."

JobSprout's AI Approach: Context-Aware Assistance

JobSprout's AI is designed to understand your complete context, not just suggest pre-written phrases.

AI Assistant

• A chat interface that knows your work history, CV, and target role
• Ask questions like "How do I position this career change?" or "What's missing from my experience section?"
• Remembers your context across conversations
• 10 free messages per day, unlimited on Pro

AI Writer (Inline Editing)

• Select any text in your CV or cover letter
• Give natural language instructions: "make this more confident," "add metrics," "make it shorter"
• You stay in control of your story
• Works at any granularity: words, sentences, or entire sections

Deep Research (Pro)

• For cover letters: AI researches the target company
• Pulls in real information about company culture, recent news, and projects
• Creates genuinely personalised cover letters
• References specific company details that show genuine research

Grammar Check

• Finds spelling and grammar issues
• Presents corrections for you to accept or reject
• Maintains professional quality

The AI Verdict

Choose Zety if: You want pre-written content suggestions and a guided approach. Their Role Play interview simulator is unique and valuable for interview preparation. Impact Scoring helps improve content.

Choose JobSprout if: You want AI that understands your complete situation and helps you write, not just suggest templates. The AI Assistant knows your background, and Deep Research creates genuinely personalised cover letters.

Zety's AI is about efficiency: pick from expert-written options. JobSprout's AI is about personalisation: craft content that's genuinely yours.

Templates and Design: Variety vs Quality

Both platforms offer templates, but with different priorities.

Zety's Templates

Zety offers a variety of modern, professional templates:

• 18+ templates with different styles (modern, professional, creative)
• ATS-friendly designs structured for applicant tracking systems
• Content-Aware Layout that adjusts spacing as you edit
• Customisation options for colors and fonts
• Matching cover letter templates

According to Kickresume's analysis, Zety's templates are "clean and professional," though "customization options may be somewhat limited compared to other platforms."

Zety's templates use what they call "Smart Apply" technology, designed to make resumes more readable by hiring managers.

JobSprout's Templates

JobSprout focuses on typographic quality over variety:

• Professional templates powered by Typst typesetting
• ATS-friendly by default with clean structure and standard headings
• Print-quality typography with proper kerning, spacing, and line heights
• Matching cover letters that complement your CV
• Clean, content-focused layouts

JobSprout uses Typst, a modern typesetting system similar to LaTeX. This produces documents with the visual quality of professionally printed materials, not web pages saved as PDFs.

The Templates Verdict

Choose Zety if: You want more template variety and visual options. Their Content-Aware Layout is convenient, and the templates are well-designed.

Choose JobSprout if: You want professional typographic quality. The Typst-powered output looks polished and print-ready, with perfect spacing and typography.

Zety offers more options. JobSprout offers better quality. If you're unsure what design to pick, JobSprout's opinionated templates make the choice easier. If you want to browse options and pick your favourite, Zety gives you more to choose from.

ATS Compatibility: Both Deliver

Both platforms prioritise ATS (Applicant Tracking System) compatibility, but approach it differently.

Zety's ATS Approach

Zety emphasises ATS-friendly design:

• ATS-optimized templates designed to parse correctly
• Real-time feedback to improve ATS compatibility
• Keyword suggestions based on job descriptions
• Testing results: According to third-party analysis, Zety achieved 88% accuracy in ATS simulation testing

Zety's "Smart Apply" technology aims to enhance resume visibility. Their templates are structured for ATS from the start.

JobSprout's ATS Approach

JobSprout takes a preventive approach:

• ATS-friendly templates by design: Clean structure, standard headings, no problematic elements
• Typst typesetting: Produces clean, parseable PDFs
• Content-first philosophy: Focuses on text over graphics
• No workarounds needed: Templates work with ATS by default

The ATS Verdict

Both platforms perform well with ATS. Zety's 88% accuracy score in testing is strong. JobSprout's preventive approach means you don't need to think about ATS at all.

If ATS compatibility is your primary concern, both platforms deliver. The difference is approach: Zety optimises for ATS, JobSprout builds for ATS by default.

Cover Letters: Different Approaches

Cover letters remain important for many roles. The platforms handle them differently.

Zety Cover Letters

• Cover letter builder included
• Templates matching resume designs
• Content suggestions and examples
• But: PDF downloads require paid subscription (same as resumes)

JobSprout Cover Letters

• 1 free cover letter with full AI features (no watermark)
• Pro plan includes unlimited cover letters
• Deep Research feature: AI researches the target company
• Pulls in real company information (recent news, projects, culture)
• Creates genuinely personalised content

The Cover Letter Verdict

JobSprout has two advantages:

1. Free PDF downloads. You can create and download a cover letter for free. Zety requires payment to download.

2. Deep Research personalisation. Generic cover letters don't impress anyone. JobSprout's Deep Research finds specific information about the company and role, creating letters that demonstrate genuine interest.

Zety's cover letter builder is functional and provides good templates. JobSprout's Deep Research feature adds company-specific personalisation.

Unique Features Comparison

Each platform has standout features the other doesn't offer.

Zety's Unique Features

Role Play Interview Simulator

• Generates likely interview questions based on your resume
• Records video answers for practice
• Provides real-time feedback on responses
• Valuable for interview preparation

Impact Scoring

• Rates how persuasive each resume section is
• Real-time feedback as you edit
• Helps identify weak areas

Pre-written Expert Content

• Thousands of expert-written phrases
• Industry-specific suggestions
• Quick way to add professional content

Cloud Storage

• Unlimited documents to edit or duplicate
• Access from anywhere
• Multiple resume versions

JobSprout's Unique Features

Deep Research

• AI researches target companies for cover letters
• Pulls real, specific company information
• Creates genuinely personalised content

Context-Aware AI Assistant

• Remembers your complete background
• Answers career questions in context
• Helps with strategy, not just content

Professional Typesetting

• Typst-powered document generation
• Print-quality typography
• Consistent, polished output

Inline AI Editing

• Select any text, give natural language instructions
• Precise control over changes
• Your voice, improved by AI

The Features Verdict

Zety excels at: Interview preparation and content suggestions. The Role Play simulator is innovative and genuinely useful. Pre-written content speeds up resume creation.

JobSprout excels at: Content personalisation and quality. Deep Research creates cover letters that stand out. The AI Assistant provides strategic help, not just templates.

If you need interview prep, Zety's Role Play is unique. If you need personalised, researched content, JobSprout delivers.

User Experience and Reviews

Zety's Reputation

Zety has built a large user base through content marketing. However, reviews are mixed:

Positive feedback:

• Easy to use, intuitive interface
• Helpful content suggestions
• Good template variety
• Quick to create a resume

Common complaints:

• Pricing confusion: The trial-to-subscription conversion catches users off guard
• Can't download without paying: Free plan only offers TXT, not PDF
• Limited customisation: Templates are professional but somewhat rigid
• Aggressive marketing: Frequent upselling during the building process

According to Rezi's analysis: "Zety is better if you want lots of templates, pre-written examples, and design flexibility, but it's less targeted for ATS and job-specific optimization."

JobSprout's Reputation

JobSprout is newer and has fewer reviews. Users appreciate:

• Context-aware AI that understands their background
• Deep Research for genuinely personalised cover letters
• Professional typesetting quality
• Genuinely free plan with PDF downloads
• No aggressive upselling

Who Should Choose Zety?

Zety is the better choice if:

1. You're committing to annual billing. At $5.95/month annually, it's the cheapest option for long-term use.

2. You want interview preparation. The Role Play simulator is unique and valuable.

3. You prefer pre-written content. Expert-written phrases speed up creation if you're not sure what to write.

4. You want Impact Scoring. Real-time feedback on content persuasiveness helps improve weak sections.

5. You're comfortable with the pricing model. Set a calendar reminder before the trial converts to monthly billing.

Who Should Choose JobSprout?

JobSprout is the better choice if:

1. You want genuinely free downloads. JobSprout's free plan includes unlimited PDF downloads. Zety's free plan only offers TXT files.

2. You need personalised cover letters. Deep Research creates cover letters with real company information, not generic templates.

3. You want context-aware AI. The AI Assistant knows your background and helps with strategy, not just content suggestions.

4. Monthly pricing matters. At $12/month vs $23.70/month, JobSprout is nearly half the price.

5. You want lifetime access. The $120 lifetime option isn't available from Zety.

6. Professional typesetting matters. Typst-powered output looks professionally printed, not like a web page saved as PDF.

7. You want transparent pricing. No trial-to-subscription surprises.

Feature-by-Feature Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Zety worth it?

Zety is worth it if you commit to annual billing ($5.95/month) and want pre-written content suggestions with interview preparation features. The free plan offers TXT downloads; PDF requires a paid plan or trial.

Is JobSprout better than Zety?

For free users and monthly subscribers, yes. JobSprout offers unlimited free PDF downloads (Zety offers TXT only), cheaper monthly pricing, context-aware AI, and Deep Research for cover letters. Zety's annual plan is slightly cheaper, and their Role Play interview simulator is unique.

Can I use Zety for free?

You can build a resume for free, but you can't download it as a PDF. The free plan only offers TXT file downloads, which aren't practical for job applications. To get a usable resume, you need to pay.

Does Zety have hidden fees?

No hidden fees, but the pricing model catches many users off guard. The $2.70 trial automatically converts to $23.70/month if not cancelled. This is the most common complaint in their reviews.

Which is better for ATS?

Both perform well. Zety achieved 88% accuracy in ATS testing. JobSprout's templates are designed for ATS by default. Either will work for ATS-filtered applications.

Which has better AI features?

Different strengths. Zety's AI focuses on pre-written suggestions and Impact Scoring. JobSprout's AI focuses on context-aware assistance and company research. Choose based on whether you want content suggestions or personalised writing help.

Is Zety good for cover letters?

Zety's cover letter builder is functional, but you can't download PDFs without paying. JobSprout offers a free cover letter with PDF download and Deep Research that creates genuinely personalised content.

Which has better customer support?

Both offer support through help centres and email. Zety, being larger, has more documentation. JobSprout offers direct email support.

The Bottom Line

Choose JobSprout if you want genuinely free downloads, personalised cover letters with company research, context-aware AI that knows your situation, or transparent pricing without trial conversion surprises. JobSprout costs less monthly and offers a lifetime option Zety doesn't have.

Choose Zety if you're committing to annual billing (their cheapest option), want interview preparation tools, prefer pre-written expert content, or like the Impact Scoring feedback. Just be aware of the pricing model and set reminders before trials convert.

The fundamental difference: Zety's free plan is essentially a preview (TXT only, no PDF). JobSprout's free plan is genuinely free (unlimited PDF downloads). If you want to test before buying, that matters.

Try JobSprout

If context-aware AI, professional typesetting, transparent pricing, and genuinely free downloads sound right for your job search, give JobSprout a try.

Create your CV and cover letter for free. Unlimited downloads. No credit card required.

Last Updated: January 2026

Pricing and features verified against official sources. Information accurate as of publication date. Always check each platform's website for current details.

Sources:

• Zety Pricing
• Rezi vs Zety Comparison
• Third-party ATS Testing
• Kickresume Zety Analysis