Vouch vs Zety (2026): pre-written bullets vs your own stories
Zety is one of the most visited CV sites on the internet. Here is an honest look at both directions.
Side by side
| Vouch | Zety | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Interview-first: Maya interviews you in your browser or by phone, then writes from your answers | Template-and-tips: pick a design, then drop in pre-written bullet suggestions per section |
| Price | Free tier; Pro £9.99/month or £24.99/quarter; Premium £19.99/month or £49.99/quarter | 14-day trial around $2 that auto-renews at $25.95 every 4 weeks unless cancelled (13 charges a year); annual plan $71.40 (widely reported US figures, August 2026) |
| UK focus | UK-first by default: one-page 200-300 word letters, British English, no-photo CVs | Serves the UK market, but the product is built on US resume conventions first |
| Interview feature | Browser and phone interviews, plus mock interviews with structured feedback | Interview advice articles and question guides; it does not interview you, and there are no phone calls |
| Fabrication policy | Hard rule: if you did not say it in your interview, it is not claimed | Pre-written bullets describe generic achievements by design, not your actual ones |
| Job tracking | Per-job pipeline: cover letter, tailored CV and interview prep per application | No application tracking pipeline |
Zety limits automated access to its pricing pages, so the figures above are corroborated from multiple independent reviews of zety.com in August 2026 rather than a single live page. Zety shows exact prices at checkout; zety.com is authoritative for current figures.
Where Zety is better
- Speed from a blank page. Zety's pre-written, job-specific bullet suggestions get a first draft on the page faster than any interview can. For someone who freezes in front of an empty CV, that is real value.
- The advice library. Zety has published thousands of career guides and examples, and they rank for a reason: the advice is broadly sound and covers almost every job title and situation.
- Template choice. More templates, colours and layout variations than Vouch, which keeps its templates deliberately plain and ATS-parseable.
- Annual price. Zety's annual plan (reported at $71.40 a year, about $5.95 a month, as of August 2026) works out cheaper than Vouch Pro for anyone certain they will use it all year.
Where Vouch is better
- Your words, not stock phrases. Pre-written bullets are shared with every other Zety user applying for the same role. Maya interviews you and writes from what you actually did, which is what recruiters say they want to read.
- Free means usable. Vouch's free tier produces output you can use without a card. Zety lets you build for free but only exports plain text until you pay, via a trial that auto-renews every four weeks unless cancelled (as of August 2026).
- UK-first conventions. British English, one-page 200-300 word letters and photo-free CVs by default; see how long a UK cover letter should be.
- Beyond the document. Vouch also runs mock interviews and phone interviews with Maya, connected to the same profile that writes your applications.
Which should you choose?
Choose Zety if you want maximum template choice plus suggested content to adapt, and you are comfortable managing a trial-based subscription. Its advice library is worth reading whichever tool you use.
Choose Vouch if you want applications built from your own experience rather than adapted stock lines, UK conventions handled for you, and a free tier with usable output. Start with the free cover letter generator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Vouch and Zety?
Zety is a template-and-tips CV builder: pick a design, and it suggests pre-written bullet points to drop into each section. Vouch is interview-first: Maya interviews you, then writes cover letters and tailored CVs from your own stories, with UK conventions (one page, 200-300 words, British English) by default.
Is Zety really free?
You can build a CV on Zety without paying, but the free plan only exports plain text. Downloading a formatted PDF requires payment: a 14-day trial around $2 that auto-renews at a widely reported $25.95 every four weeks unless cancelled (as of August 2026). Vouch's free tier includes usable output without a card.
Are Zety's pre-written bullet points a good idea?
They are fast, and for a first draft they beat a blank page. The risk is sameness and accuracy: thousands of applicants use the same suggested phrases, and a pre-written bullet describes a generic achievement, not yours. Recruiters read hundreds of CVs and notice. Specifics from your own experience convert better.
Is Zety good for UK applications?
Zety serves the UK market and its advice library covers UK topics, but the product is built around US resume conventions first. Vouch is UK-first by design: British English, one-page 200-300 word cover letters, no photo, and CV terminology throughout.