Quick answer: The Zety resume checker scans your uploaded resume for ATS issues such as missing keywords, non-standard section titles, tables or graphics, and weak wording, then gives you a score with suggestions. Zety says a score of 80% or higher is good. Checking is free to start, but downloading a fixed PDF or Word resume requires a paid plan.
Resume checkers are a bit like bathroom scales. The number is useful, but only if you know what it's measuring, and you shouldn't let it ruin your whole day.
Zety is one of the best-known resume builders, and its checker is one of the most visible features on its site. Here's an honest Zety resume review focused on the checker: how it works, what it catches, what it costs, and where free alternatives might serve you just as well.
Note: Zety's features and pricing below come from Zety's own site and help pages as of October 2026, cross-checked with independent reviews. Subscription details change, so check current pricing on Zety's site before you buy.
What Is the Zety Resume Checker?
The Zety resume checker is an online ATS resume scanner. You upload your resume, and it reviews it for problems that can make it harder for applicant tracking systems and recruiters to read. According to Zety, it looks at things like:
- Keywords from the job ad you're targeting
- Standard section titles, such as "Work Experience" and "Skills"
- Formatting blockers, including tables and graphics
- Content and style issues, like typos and weak wording
You get a score and a list of suggestions. Zety's own guidance is to adjust your bullets, replace weak words with action verbs, clean up formatting, and re-check until you reach at least 80%.
How to Use the Zety Resume Checker
- Upload your resume on Zety's resume check page.
- Review your score and the issues it flags.
- Add a job ad if you want keyword suggestions for a specific role.
- Fix the issues, either in your own document or through Zety's builder (Zety offers a "Fix My Resume" path that takes you into its editor).
- Re-check until the score improves.
- Download your updated resume. This is where the paid plan comes in for PDF and Word formats.
Is the Zety Resume Checker Free?
This is the question most people really want answered, and the honest answer is: partly.
- Zety says its website and app are free to use, and independent reviewers list resume checks as part of the free plan.
- Downloading a formatted PDF or Word resume requires a paid plan. A plain TXT download is free, but it has no formatting.
- Some competing review sites describe parts of the checker as subscription-only, so what you can see without paying may vary.
When we checked, Zety's pricing pages listed a 14-day trial for $1.95 that then renews at $25.95 every four weeks, plus an annual plan billed at $71.40. Independent reviews have reported slightly different trial prices over time.
(Switches to serious face.) The most important detail: the trial auto-renews into a recurring subscription. If you only need one download, set a reminder to cancel before the trial ends. Zety says you can cancel through your account settings or by contacting customer service.
Zety Resume Review: How Good Is the Checker?
What it does well
- Fast and easy. Upload, scan, and see results in moments.
- Clear, actionable tips. Reviewers say it catches typos, formatting mistakes, and a lack of measurable results.
- Job-specific keywords. Paste in a job ad to see which terms you might be missing.
- Connected to a builder. If you're already using Zety's resume builder, fixing issues is quick.
Where it falls short
- Scores aren't universal. Zety's 80% benchmark is Zety's own standard, not an industry rule. Every checker scores differently.
- Accuracy isn't perfect. One hands-on reviewer reported that it missed a typo in the skills section, and some users question the scoring.
- Downloads cost money. The fixed, formatted version of your resume sits behind the paywall.
- Subscription complaints. Some users on review platforms report surprise renewals and difficult cancellations, so read the terms before you start a trial.
Remember that no checker can see a real employer's ATS settings. For a clear explanation of what these systems actually do, read the truth about ATS.
Free Resume Checker Alternatives
If you just want feedback without a subscription, you have options:
- Do a manual ATS check. Save your resume as a PDF, select all the text, and paste it into a plain text editor. If it comes out in a logical order, an ATS can most likely read it.
- Use a chatbot as a checker. Ask ChatGPT or a similar tool to compare your resume with a job description and list missing keywords and weak bullets. Our ChatGPT prompts for resume writing include ready-made review prompts.
- Try other free AI feedback tools. We compare several in our guide to AI resume rewriter and feedback tools.
- Use a different resume builder. Our AI Resume Builder is one option for writing and formatting an ATS-friendly resume in one place.
What to Fix First (Whatever Checker You Use)
Resume checkers flag lots of things, and trying to fix all of them at once is how a Tuesday evening disappears. These fixes usually matter most:
- Use standard section headings. "Work Experience," "Education," "Skills."
- Switch to a single-column layout without tables, text boxes, or graphics.
- Mirror important keywords from the job description where they're accurate. See our guide to resume keywords optimization.
- Turn duties into results. Our guide to bullet points that turn duties into results shows exactly how.
- Proofread. Checkers miss things. Read your resume out loud, or ask a friend who'll be honest with you (and not just say "looks great!" while scrolling on their phone).
Final Verdict
The Zety resume checker is a quick, easy way to spot common ATS and content problems, especially if you're already using Zety's builder. Its suggestions are practical, and the job-ad keyword feature is helpful.
The main drawbacks are cost and clarity: formatted downloads require a paid plan, the trial renews automatically, and the score is Zety's own measure rather than a universal one. Use it as one input, not a verdict, and make sure the final call on your resume is yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Zety resume checker free?
You can upload your resume and use Zety's site for free, and reviewers list resume checks in the free plan. Downloading a formatted PDF or Word version requires a paid plan, while a plain TXT download is free. Check Zety's site for the current details.
What is a good score on Zety's resume checker?
Zety says a score of 80% or higher is good. That's Zety's own benchmark, so treat it as a helpful guide rather than a guarantee that your resume will be seen.
Is Zety legit?
Yes, Zety is an established resume builder used by many job seekers. The most common complaints in user reviews are about subscriptions and cancellations, so read the terms before starting a trial.
How do I cancel my Zety subscription?
Zety says you can cancel from your account settings or by contacting customer service, and you should receive a confirmation email. Cancel before the trial ends if you don't want it to renew.
Are ATS resume checker scores accurate?
They're estimates. Each tool uses its own scoring method, and none can see how a specific employer's ATS is set up. Use scores to find problems to fix, not as a prediction of whether you'll get an interview.
What is the best free resume checker?
It depends on what you need. A manual copy-paste test checks readability for free, chatbots can compare your resume with a job description, and several AI feedback tools offer free scans with limits.
Fix It and Finish It
A score tells you what to fix, but you still need a finished resume. If you want to write, improve, and format your resume in one place, try our Resume Builder and download a clean, ATS-friendly resume when you're ready.