Zety is one of the most well-known CV builders on the internet — but it has a catch: you can't download your CV for free. After spending time filling in your details, you're hit with a paywall before you can save anything. For most job seekers, that's frustrating. The good news is that there are excellent free alternatives that offer professional templates, ATS compatibility, and — crucially — free downloads. Here are the 5 best Zety alternatives in 2026.
Why Look for a Zety Alternative?
Before diving into alternatives, it's worth understanding exactly what the problem with Zety is:
- No free download: Zety requires a subscription (starting around €2.70/week) to download your finished CV as a PDF.
- Auto-renewal gotchas: Many users report being charged after forgetting to cancel a trial.
- Limited free features: Most customisation options are locked behind the paywall. If you need a CV fast and don't want to pay, Zety isn't the right tool. Here's what is.
1. CVmake — Best Free AI CV Builder
Best for: Students, career changers, anyone who wants a polished CV fast CVmake is a modern AI-powered CV builder that lets you generate a complete, professional CV from a short text prompt — and download it for free. Unlike Zety, there are no paywalls at the download step. Key features:
- AI generation from a prompt (describe yourself, get a full CV)
- ATS compatibility checker built in
- Clean, modern templates
- PDF and DOCX export — free
- No account required to start What it doesn't have: A massive library of 20+ templates (it focuses on quality over quantity). Verdict: The best choice if you want speed and a genuinely free download.
2. Canva — Best for Creative CVs
Best for: Designers, marketers, creatives Canva is best known as a graphic design tool, but its CV templates are excellent — and many are free. Key features:
- Hundreds of visually stunning templates
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Free tier includes most templates and PDF download
- Easy to customise colours, fonts, and layouts Watch out for: Canva CVs are designed for impact, not ATS compatibility. Heavily designed CVs with columns and graphics often fail automated resume screening. If you're applying to a large company that uses an ATS, a Canva CV could get filtered out before a human sees it. Verdict: Great for creative roles where design matters. Not ideal for corporate or tech roles with ATS screening.
3. Resume.io — Best UI for Beginners
Best for: First-time CV writers who want hand-holding Resume.io has one of the most intuitive interfaces of any CV builder. It walks you through each section step by step and shows you a live preview as you type. Key features:
- Clean, guided UX
- Helpful tips and content suggestions
- ATS-friendly templates
- Mobile-friendly editing Watch out for: Like Zety, Resume.io requires a paid plan to download. Free users get a preview but no download. Plans start around €2.95/week. Verdict: A well-designed tool, but shares Zety's paywall problem. Only worth it if you plan to subscribe.
4. Novoresume — Best for ATS-Optimised Templates
Best for: Corporate job seekers, recruiters familiar with ATS systems Novoresume was built specifically with ATS in mind. Their templates use clean, single-column layouts that parse reliably through automated screening software. Key features:
- ATS-optimised layouts
- Content analyser that suggests improvements
- Matching cover letter builder
- One free CV (with Novoresume branding) Watch out for: The free tier is very limited — one CV, with a Novoresume watermark on download. To remove the watermark and access all templates, you need a Pro plan (~€9.99/month). Verdict: Best-in-class for ATS performance, but the free tier is too restrictive for most users.
5. Enhancv — Best for Personal Branding
Best for: Mid-career professionals who want to stand out Enhancv takes a different approach: instead of just listing experience, it helps you tell a story. Sections like "My greatest achievement" and "What drives me" add personality that generic CVs lack. Key features:
- Unique personal branding sections
- Clean, professional templates
- Content suggestions powered by AI
- Download in PDF or TXT Watch out for: Like many tools on this list, Enhancv's free tier is limited. You can build a CV for free but downloading requires a Pro plan (around €24.99/month — one of the pricier options). Verdict: Excellent for candidates in competitive industries where personality matters. The price is high compared to alternatives.
Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Download | ATS Friendly | AI Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVmake | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Everyone |
| Canva | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial | ❌ No | Creatives |
| Resume.io | ❌ Paid | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Beginners |
| Novoresume | ❌ Paid | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Corporate |
| Enhancv | ❌ Paid | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial | Personal brand |
| Zety | ❌ Paid | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | — |
What to Look for in a CV Builder
When choosing a Zety alternative, consider: 1. Is the download actually free? This is the most important question. Many tools advertise as free but hide the download behind a subscription. 2. Is it ATS compatible? If you're applying to companies that use automated screening (most mid-to-large companies do), your CV format matters. Clean, single-column layouts with standard fonts parse best. 3. Does it have good templates? Templates should look professional without being overly designed. A recruiter should be able to scan your CV in 7 seconds. 4. Does it offer AI assistance? Modern CV builders can suggest content, check your phrasing, and even generate full CV drafts from a prompt. This can save hours.
Our Recommendation
If you want a genuinely free CV builder with ATS compatibility and AI-powered writing assistance, CVmake is the best Zety alternative in 2026. You can go from zero to a downloaded, professional CV in under 10 minutes — no subscription required. Try CVmake free →