Guide
Oct 30, 2026
Key takeaways
Both hold Open Badges certification, but for 3.0 Credly is certified as an Issuer only, while Certi is certified for all three roles: Issuer, Host and Displayer
For institutions in Korea, the big differences are KakaoTalk delivery, public pricing, PDF certificates, Korean-language operation and tax invoices
Sungkyunkwan University’s Talent Development Institute moved from Credly to Certi for lower cost and KakaoTalk delivery
The differences at a glance
When choosing a digital badge platform, look first at international standard certification, how badges reach recipients, and pricing. Credly is widely used for global IT certifications and corporate training, while Certi is used by universities, public institutions, corporate training teams and events in Korea. We compared both on the same criteria using official sources as of October 2026.
| Compare | Credly | Certi |
|---|---|---|
| How recipients get it | KakaoTalk and email | |
| Pricing | No public rate, annual contract (median about $8,000 a year in real purchases) | ₩100–300 per badge, plans from ₩6,600 a month |
| Open Badges 3.0 certification | Issuer only | Issuer, Host and Displayer |
| PDF certificate | Only if the issuer turns it on | Downloaded with the badge |
| AI badge design | Not listed officially | AI image generation (11 styles·custom) |
| Issuing to many | List upload, API | Spreadsheet, API on every plan, student system and LMS |
| Verification | Optional blockchain check | Signature, blockchain, DID, link·QR |
| Korean language | Recipient pages and email | Admin, recipient pages and support |
| Best fit | Learners worldwide, global IT certifications | Universities, public institutions, corporate HR training and events in Korea |
Anyone can check certifications in the official 1EdTech certification directory. For what Open Badges are, see What are Open Badges?.
Where does Credly fit best?
Credly is a well-known digital badge platform worldwide. When recipients are spread across countries and recruiters abroad look at the badges, as with global IT certifications or multinational training, its familiar name is a real advantage. Recipient pages and emails are also available in Korean.
How is Certi different from Credly?
Badge alerts arrive on KakaoTalk
Credly notifies recipients by email only when a badge is issued. Certi notifies them by KakaoTalk, Korea's main messenger, and by email. Students and employees who rarely open their inbox see their badge right away.
Price it by headcount
Credly has no public price list; you sign an annual contract after talking to sales. On Certi, one badge uses one credit (₩100–300), so 100 recipients means 100 credits. Plans start at ₩6,600 a month with no setup fee.
Wider standard certification
Open Badges 3.0 certifies sending (Issuer), storing (Host) and showing (Displayer) badges separately. Credly is certified for one, Certi for all three.
No separate PDF certificate to make
On Credly, recipients can download a PDF only if the issuer turns it on and the badge and profile are public. On Certi, a PDF certificate or award made from the badge's data goes out with it, and recipients download it from the badge page.
Korean console, won payments, tax invoices
Certi's admin console and support are in Korean, and you pay in won and receive a Korean tax invoice that fits domestic accounting.
Credly pricing above is from purchase data platform Vendr: across 43 real purchases (February 2026), the median annual contract is about $8,000 (roughly $4,000 to $29,000).
Can we design badges with AI too?
Yes. Certi’s AI badge image generation creates badge artwork right away. You don’t need a designer or ready-made artwork; just set the badge name and a style.
- Choose one of 11 styles, type your own style (for example, a watercolor galaxy), or take an AI recommendation.
- Describe what to include, or attach your logo or a character image, and it is reflected.
- Edit a finished badge in plain words, like "change only the background."
If you want a badge design unique to your organization, you can order one for ₩30,000 per design. Once the artwork is set, a PDF certificate is issued from the same data.
Why did Sungkyunkwan University’s Talent Development Institute move from Credly to Certi?
Sungkyunkwan University’s Talent Development Institute issued digital badges with Credly, then moved to Certi. There were two reasons.
- Cost: issuing the same courses cost less on Certi.
- Delivery: with badges sent only by email, many learners never opened them. Certi delivers them straight to KakaoTalk.
Many of the institute’s courses now issue badges on Certi, and you can see all of them on the institute’s organization page. For what to prepare the first time, see how to create a digital badge.
How do you choose a digital badge platform in Korea?
Several digital badge platforms in Korea hold Open Badges certification. Start by checking the version, roles (Issuer, Host, Displayer) and date in the certification directory. Even for 3.0, being certified only as an Issuer or also as a Host and Displayer changes how far the platform follows the standard.
Then look at verification, bulk and automatic issuing, multi-department use, issuing records, pricing and how recipients use the badges. All seven criteria are in 7 things to check before choosing a digital badge platform.
When we checked each service’s official pages in October 2026, Certi was the only Open Badges certified service that offered AI badge image generation. Certi issues badges on one platform for university co-curricular and continuing education, public institutions and government programs, corporate HR and internal training, and events. Companies can also connect their training systems via API to issue badges automatically to employees who complete a course.
Where is Certi used?
| Scale | Certi case |
|---|---|
| A single event | National Science Museum event badges |
| One program office | Korea University K-MOOC, Gachon University semiconductor program |
| A whole university | Hoseo University co-curricular integration |
| Government program | Ministry of Education Student Startup Teams 300+ |
| Company | SK hynix Heinstein |
See how each one runs in the National Science Museum, Korea University K-MOOC, university co-curricular, Ministry of Education 300+, SK hynix Heinstein stories.
Frequently asked questions
Q
Which digital badge platform should we use in Korea?
First check the scope of 1EdTech Open Badges certification, how badges reach recipients, and whether pricing is public. Certi is certified for all three Open Badges 3.0 roles, sends badges by KakaoTalk and email, includes a PDF certificate, creates badge images with AI and publishes its pricing. It is used by universities, public institutions, corporate HR training and events in Korea.
Q
Are both Credly and Certi international standards?
Yes. Both hold 1EdTech Open Badges certification. Credly is certified as an Open Badges 3.0 Issuer and 2.0 Issuer, and Certi for the Issuer, Host and Displayer roles in both 3.0 and 2.0 (as of October 2026).
Q
How much does Certi cost?
Issuing one badge to one person uses one credit. Credits cost ₩300 each, dropping to ₩200 and ₩100 in bulk (VAT excluded). Plans are public on the pricing page, the free trial lasts one month with 30 credits, and there is no setup fee.
Q
Can we start without a badge design?
Yes. With AI badge image generation you pick one of 11 styles or an AI recommendation to create the badge image. If you want a design unique to your organization, you can order one for ₩30,000 per design.
See whether Certi fits your institution
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