A Credly Alternative Worth Considering
If you're looking for a credly alternative, IssueBadge might be what you need. We built this platform because we kept hearing the same frustrations: recipient account requirements, white-label limitations, and pricing that doesn't scale well for smaller organizations.
Free plan available • No credit card needed • Easy migration from Credly
Why People Search for a Credly Alternative
When we talk to people looking for a credly alternative, these three issues come up most often. Here's how we approached them differently.
The Account Issue
One common complaint about Credly is that recipients need to create an account before they can claim their badge. This extra step can reduce completion rates, especially for one-time participants.
With IssueBadge, recipients get their badge via email right away. There's no account creation required, which we've found helps more people actually claim and share their credentials.
White-Label Branding
Another reason people look for a credly alternative is branding control. On some Credly plans, badges display "Powered by Credly" branding, which isn't ideal if you want everything under your own brand.
We include white-label branding on all our plans. You can use your own domain and logo without any IssueBadge branding showing up on the badges or verification pages.
Bulk Issuing
Organizations issuing hundreds or thousands of badges sometimes find Credly's bulk upload process has limitations. This can slow things down when you're dealing with large cohorts.
Our bulk upload accepts Excel or CSV files and can handle large batches pretty smoothly. We've processed tens of thousands of badges in single uploads without major issues.
Credly Alternative Comparison
If you're evaluating a credly alternative, here's an honest comparison of what's different between the two platforms.
| Feature | IssueBadge | Credly |
|---|---|---|
| White-Label Branding | All plans | Enterprise only |
| Recipient Accounts Required | No | Yes |
| Custom Domain | Included | Enterprise only |
| Bulk Upload Limit | High limits | Varies by plan |
| API Access | All plans | Higher tiers |
| Certificate Templates | 100+ | ~20 |
| Data Export | Anytime | Varies |
| LinkedIn Sharing | Yes | Yes |
Who Uses This Credly Alternative
Different types of organizations evaluate a credly alternative for different reasons. Here are the main groups we work with.
Educational Institutions
Universities and schools issuing course completion badges and continuing education credits. They often want their own branding rather than third-party platform branding.
Training Organizations
Companies providing professional development, compliance training, and skill certifications. White-label branding is usually important for their business model.
Corporate HR Teams
Companies running internal training programs who prefer not having employees create accounts on external platforms. Bulk issuing is typically a priority.
Course Creators
Online educators who notice that signup friction affects how many students actually claim their certificates. Account-free claiming can help with completion rates.
Switching from Credly to This Alternative
If you decide to move from Credly, we can help with the migration. Export your data and we'll import your templates, recipient lists, and issued badges. Most migrations complete within a day or two, and there's no charge for the migration support.
Common Use Cases for a Credly Alternative
Here are some typical scenarios where people evaluate a credly alternative like IssueBadge.
Professional Certifications
Organizations that issue professional credentials often want full control over branding. With this credly alternative, you can issue verifiable credentials with your own branding, and recipients can share on LinkedIn without creating external accounts.
Learn about bulk certificate generationCourse Completion Badges
Educational platforms can automatically issue badges when students finish courses. This works with learning management systems like Moodle and Canvas, or through our API. Students get their badges without needing to sign up for anything.
Check out Moodle integrationEmployee Training Programs
Companies running internal training programs sometimes prefer keeping everything branded to their organization rather than an external platform. White-label options make this possible without enterprise-level pricing.
See attendance certificate optionsConference and Event Badges
Event organizers can issue speaker badges, attendance certificates, or participation credentials. The bulk upload feature handles large attendee lists efficiently, which is helpful for conferences with hundreds or thousands of participants.
View all badge toolsCommon Questions About This Credly Alternative
Here are questions we typically hear from people evaluating a credly alternative.
What happens to badges already issued on Credly?
Existing Credly badges stay where they are. When you switch to a credly alternative like IssueBadge, you're changing where future badges get issued. If you want historical data in one place, we can help import that information, but it's optional.
Do badges still work with LinkedIn and social media?
Yes, IssueBadge badges can be shared on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and via email just like Credly badges. The difference is recipients don't need to create an account first, which can make the sharing process simpler.
Do I have to recreate all my badge designs?
Not necessarily. You can export templates from Credly and we'll help recreate them in IssueBadge. We also have over 100 pre-made templates you can use, or you can upload completely custom designs if you prefer.
How does badge verification work?
Each badge includes a unique verification URL and QR code that anyone can use to confirm the badge is authentic. We also support blockchain verification if that's something your organization needs.
What about API access?
Our API is available on all plans, not just higher tiers. We provide documentation and support Zapier integration and webhooks. This makes it easier to connect with your existing systems without needing expensive plans.
Can I test this before fully switching from Credly?
Yes, there's a free plan that includes 50 badges per month. You can test the full platform, try bulk uploads, and see how badges look when shared. No credit card is required to start testing.
Ready to Try This Credly Alternative?
See if IssueBadge works for your organization. Start with the free plan and test everything before making a decision.
Start Free Account50 free badges per month • No credit card required • Migration support available