Introduction
Finding the right digital credentialing platform is an important first step for any organization ready to recognize and verify the skills and achievements of their learners, employees, or members. Online credentialing platforms can help you issue and manage digital badges and certificates quickly by creating the required designs and integrations and sending them on your behalf. Credly and Accredible are two popular options that aim to make digital credentialing easy.
In this Credly vs. Accredible review, we’ll compare the pros, cons, features, and more to help you determine the best digital credentialing platform for your needs.
Credly: Basic Overview
Credly is a company that provides digital credentialing solutions for learning and training providers, employers, professional associations, and higher education institutions. Credly’s Acclaim platform is used by 3,500+ certification, assessment, education and training providers issue their credentials. Acclaim allows users to create, manage, and monitor all aspects of their badge program. Acclaim also enables earners to showcase their verified skills and achievements on social media, resumes, and portfolios. Acclaim aims to transform the talent marketplace by bridging the gap between skills and opportunities.
Accredible: Basic Overview
Accredible is a digital credentialing platform that allows organizations to create, issue, manage, and verify online certificates and badges. Accredible aims to help learners prove their credibility, educators increase their students’ employability, and employers find the right candidates for the job. Accredible claims to be the world’s leading independent digital credentialing provider, working with over 2,000 customers. Accredible also offers consultation services at extra cost to help customers grow their credentialing program.
Credly vs Accredible: What sets them apart?
Best for limited use: Credly
Best for full-scale use: Accredible
P.S.: We recommend Certopus as an alternative to Credly and Accredible based on wide range of ROI improving features and 10x more cost effectiveness.
Credly vs Accredible: Designing Credentials
When choosing a digital credentials platform, one of the most important factors to consider is the how much flexibility and options does a platform provide to design certificates and badges. A good design can enhance the value and recognition of your credentials, as well as reflect your brand identity and style.
Credly
- Credly lacks an essential design aid of template library.
- Credly is more centric towards digital badges only, has limited options if you are looking to issue digital certificates.
- Users need to rely on other design tools and graphic designers to get the designs for digital badges ready.
- As per user reports, custom attributes in designs are not supported with Credly which decreases the scope of customization.
Accredible
- Accredible has a template library with some general templates for the users.
- Accredible supports digital badges as well as certificates.
- Users can brand certificates with their logos and colors by using Accredible.
- Accredible has an option for custom attributes.
Certopus
- Certopus has a template library of digital credentials. It also has AI template generator which can optimize a generic template to the theme of credential, be it certificate or badge.
- Certopus supports digital badges as well as certificates.
- Fun fact: Certopus has world’s largest collection of digital badges templates which can be very useful for designing beautiful digital badges for your programs.
- Certopus enables you to display your logo and branding in Certopus and badge designs. It also has option for branded dynamic QR codes.
- Certopus has an option for custom attributes in text as well as image formats.
Credly vs Accredible: Credential Management
When choosing a digital credentials platform, one of the most important factors to consider is how easy it is to manage your credentials. You want a platform that allows you to create, issue, track, and verify your digital badges and certificates without hassle. You also want a platform that integrates well with your existing systems and tools, such as learning management systems, email providers, and social media platforms. This way, you can streamline your workflow and reach your target audience effectively.
Credly
- Credly has bulk issuance functionality as well as integration options.
- Badge earners must have to create Credly account to claim their badge unless the badge cannot be accessed. This is one of a reason of less effectiveness of Credly badges.
- Issuing badges on Credly includes a metadata mapping process which users reports to be time-consuming.
- Credly has API, few LMS integrations and only one integration platform support, i.e. Zapier.
Accredible
- Accredible has bulk issuance functionality as well as integration options.
- Accredible has API, few LMS integrations and few supported integration platforms.
Certopus
- Certopus has bulk issuance functionality as well as integration options.
- Certopus has well-documented API, integrations with popular Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Moodle, Thinkific, Canvas, D2L Brightspace, Blackboard, etc. and with most of integration platforms like Zapier, Microsoft Power Automate, Pabbly Connect, Integrately and Make (formerly Integromat).
- Certopus also has webhooks functionality using which you can store credentials data in your databases or CRM effortlessly if required.
Credly vs Accredible: Branding Features
When choosing a digital credentials platform, one of the important factors to consider is the branding/white-labeling options. It allows you to customize the look and feel of your digital credentials, such as badges and certificates, pages where they are hosted as well as email notifications to match your organization’s identity and values. This can help you stand out from the crowd, increase your credibility, and enhance your reputation.
Credly
- Credly has the poorest branding options in the entire segment, lacking much required white-labeling capabilities.
- Credly doesn’t have options to host credentials on your web domain. You are forced to host your digital credentials on Credly’s website with Credly’s branding all over.
- Credly lacks options to allow you to send emails from your own email address or email server.
Accredible
- Accredible has white-labelling capabilities at undisclosed pricing tiers which means you can be overcharged for the functionality.
- Accredible doesn’t allows you to upload your own JavaScript code for high-level customizations. For example, if you need to put your live-chat widget on credential pages, it is a limitation.
Certopus
- Certopus has full white-labelling capabilities including enabling you to issue digital credentials which are hosted on your organization’s website and branding.
- Certopus allows you to send email notifications from your own email address or email servers using SMTP functionality.
- Certopus allows you to upload your own JavaScript code for high-level customizations.
Credly vs Accredible: Miscellaneous Features
Credly
- Credly is well known for it’s entire ecosystem of tools related to digital credentials.
- Credly has different products offering different benefits like Credly Acclaim for issuing digital badges, Credly Workforce for workforce management, Credly TalentMatch and more.
- Credly lacks an essential feature of allowing organizations to build visualizable learning pathways.
Accredible
- Accredible has Pathways feature allowing you to create detailed learning pathways. Limitation is that this feature is only available in a pricing tier where price is undisclosed.
- Accredible has course finder add-on available.
- Accredible lacks workforce management feature which is essential for finding people in your workspace who are certified for a particular skill.
Certopus
- Certopus enables you to create visualizable learning pathways to gamify learning process and increase course enrollments and completion rates.
- Certopus has a workforce management feature.
Credly vs Accredible: Pricing
Pricing is an important factor to consider when choosing a digital credentials platform, as it affects your budget and return on investment. You want to make sure that you get the best value for your money, and that you can scale up or down as your needs change.
Credly
- Credly has a non-transparent pricing model.
- As per reports by Credly users, the pricing starts at $2500/year.
- Minimum contract period for Credly is one year. No monthly subscription available.
- Features are divided into multiple products and each of them are price quoted individually.
- Per credential cost can be considered in range of $2-$5.
- Lacks free trial and self onboarding to test out the platform before making a purchase.
Accredible
- Accredible has a semi-transparent pricing model where only base tier pricing is revealed.
- Pricing starts at $996/year and it allows to issue credentials to only 250 recipients.
- Minimum contract period for Accredible is one year, same as Credly.
- Most essential features are only available in connect and growth plans which has undisclosed pricing.
- Per credential cost can be considered in range of $0.8-$3.
- Has a free trial allowing you to issue credentials to 20 recipients.
Certopus
- Certopus has fully transparent and affordable pricing model.
- Pricing starts at just $14.99/month. Offers you to choose between monthly as well as annual subscriptions. Annual subscriptions comes with more benefits and discounts.
- Per credential cost can be considered in range of $0.02-$0.04
- Has free trial allowing you to issue up to 50 credentials for free.
Credly vs Accredible: Customer Reviews
Credly
Credly has ratings of 4.7/5 stars on G2.
Accredible
Accredible has ratings of 4.8/5 stars on G2.
Certopus
Certopus has ratings of 4.9/5 stars on G2.
Drawbacks of Credly
Credly has a lot of shortcomings that make it an unsuitable option for your digital credentials needs, even though it may look like a convenient and dependable platform for designing and issuing digital credentials. Using Credly has many drawbacks, some of which are listed below:
- Credly is more leaning towards digital badges and has limited functionality for certificates which makes it a poor digital credentials platform.
- Credly imposes it’s own branding on the credentials page making it less professional and less effective digital credentials platform. Also the badge earners are forced to sign up for a Credly account to access their badge which is a big negative point to be considered. The experience is “Credly” centric instead of it being centric to your company or your digital credentials recipients.
- Customers who use Credly are not given enough customer help. Without live chat assistance, Credly only provides ineffective email support or the help center's articles. Many Credly users have expressed that they don’t get much attention from Credly support team.
- Credly doesn’t reveal their pricing in public domain as well as they lack free trial. As per existing customers, Credly pricing starts at $2000 / year and they get locked out in annual contracts as there is no flexibility to try as well as have monthly subscriptions.
- Credly doesn’t have a design tool or templates. You need to depend on any 3rd party tool or graphic designers for templates which is an additional cost to Credly’s contract.
- Credly has a very ambiguous implementation of Open Badges badging standard though it claims to support the standard as the issued badges lacks the metadata.
Drawbacks of Accredible
Accredible has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before using it. Here are some of the possible drawbacks of Accredible:
- Accredible doesn’t have a transparent pricing model. For sake of transparency, they have made made their Base plan’s pricing public but it’s very basic and lacks essential functionalities.
- Accredible lacks workforce management functionality which is essential to sort recipients based on their certified skills.
- Accredible lacks live chat functionality which makes experience a little unpleasant if you need any support or assistance with any step of issuing digital credentials.
Right choice for Digital Credentials: Certopus
Certopus is one of the best programs for certifying digital certificates and digital badges. Using Certopus, which enables you to create high-quality vectorized digital credentials. Certopus issued credentials appear professional in terms of style & branding.
You can increase the effectiveness of your company by manufacturing certificates in bulk and sending them quickly.
Your credentials will be highly secure and difficult to forge thanks to Certopus' most reliable and sophisticated verification procedure, which was built utilizing the bank-level secure cryptographic technique HMAC-SHA256 and the leading industry standard Inter Planetary File System (IPFS).
No other digital credentials platform has the such level of verifiability; you can even tell if someone has changed a single pixel on the certificate.
Some of the Features of Certopus are:
- Certopus' affordable cost is among its most significant advantages. Even with far more features, Certopus is the most affordable digital credentials solution on the market. As a result, Certopus is a cost-effective option for anyone who wants to design and distribute digital badges and certificates, including individuals, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, educators, and other professionals.
- Digital credentials from Certopus do not require an account to access, unlike those from Credly. Additionally, credentials can be accessed immediately from the delivery email, facilitating a more streamlined and user-friendly approach.
- Another benefit of Certopus is its complete transparency. Certopus discloses its pricing and features clearly on its website. You can see exactly what you are getting for your money and whether it is worth it. Certopus also provides information about how they verify the validity and quality of the badges they issue.
- Certopus provides top-notch customer service. Regardless of subscription level, Certopus offers live chat help to its customers. Anytime you have a query or concern, contact us, and we'll respond with a prompt, considerate, and valuable response.
Conclusion
In the realm of digital credential platforms, Credly and Accredible offer distinctive features, each catering to different needs. While Credly boasts it’s wide clientele , its hidden pricing, and limited features and support might hinder users. Accredible excels in user-friendliness yet lacks value for money pricing structure. For those seeking affordability, transparency, user-friendliness, vast customization, and security, Certopus emerges as a standout alternative. With its cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and responsive support, Certopus presents a compelling option for digital credentialing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What sets Certopus apart from Credly and Accredible?
Certopus is known for its affordability, transparency, and secure credentials. It offers accessible accounts and robust customer support, ideal for individuals and small businesses.
How to get Credly free trial?
Credly doesn’t offer free trial option. You have to get a quote from Credly team and opt for an annual contract to try out Credly. Annual contracts starts from a minimum of $2000 / year.
How much does Accredible Connect and Growth plan costs?
Accredible hasn’t revealed pricing for it’s Scale and Growth tiers which has the most essential features of the platform. Considering the base tier starting from $960 / year, these plans must have similar pricing as Credly.
Need More Information?
Schedule a demo to learn more about Certopus for your business use case, or if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us. We would be delighted to assist you. Finally, if you're on social media, follow us to remain informed about our latest developments and learn more about digital credentials like certificates, badges, and micro-credentials.
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