Credly is the most recognized name in digital credentials. They've built a large network, serve major enterprise clients, and made digital badges mainstream in corporate training.
But Credly isn't the right fit for every organization.
If you're here, you've probably encountered one or more of these limitations:
These aren't criticisms — Credly made design choices that work well for their core market of US corporate training badges. But if your needs differ, you need an alternative built for what you actually want.
Credly: All credentials live on credly.com. When someone verifies a badge, they see Credly's branding and Credly's domain.
TRUE: Credentials live on your domain — credentials.yourorganization.com. Your brand stays front and center throughout the entire credential experience. Recipients share links that point to your domain. Verifiers see your brand. You maintain complete brand ownership.
Why it matters: For universities, professional associations, and organizations where brand equity matters, putting credentials on a third-party domain dilutes your brand presence. TRUE keeps your brand visible at every touchpoint.
Credly: Digital badges — small icons representing achievements. Designed for skill completion and micro-credentials in corporate training environments.
TRUE: Full credentials — certificates, diplomas, awards, licenses, memberships. Animated, interactive documents designed to match the significance of the achievement they represent.
Why it matters: A training badge and a medical diploma serve different purposes. If you're issuing high-value credentials — university degrees, professional licenses, industry certifications — badge icons don't convey appropriate prestige. TRUE credentials look and feel as significant as the achievements they represent.
Credly: Credentials are stored in Credly's centralized database. Security relies on standard database protection. Verification checks against Credly's systems.
TRUE: Every credential is written to the blockchain — distributed across thousands of computers worldwide using Ethereum, Polygon, AVAX, and Fantom networks. Records are cryptographically tamper-proof and permanently verifiable even if TRUE's systems change.
Why it matters: For credentials where forgery has serious consequences — professional licenses, medical certifications, government documents — blockchain provides security guarantees that centralized databases cannot match.
Credly: Basic analytics on badge views and shares.
TRUE: Full marketing value tracking. TRUE customers have generated €9.5M+ in proven marketing value and 100M+ impressions from shared credentials. Analytics show CPC-equivalent value, geographic reach, and engagement patterns.
Why it matters: Credentials are marketing assets. When recipients share them, your organization gets brand exposure. TRUE quantifies this value so you can demonstrate ROI to stakeholders.
Credly: Standardized badge templates with limited customization.
TRUE: Full design control. Custom colors, layouts, animations, and branding. Credentials designed to match your visual identity exactly — not constrained by template limitations.
Why it matters: Your credentials represent your organization. Design flexibility ensures they look precisely as you intend.
Credly: US-based company with standard compliance practices.
TRUE: Swedish company. GDPR-native from day one. eIDAS compliant. Cyber Hygiene Certified. Working toward ISO 27001.
Why it matters: European organizations face specific regulatory requirements. A European provider simplifies compliance and data handling.
| Feature | Credly | TRUE | |---------|--------|------| | Hosting | credly.com | Your custom domain | | Credential types | Badge icons | Full certificates, diplomas, licenses | | Security | Centralized database | 4-blockchain networks | | Verification | Database lookup | Blockchain-verified | | Design | Template-based | Fully customizable | | Animation | No | Yes | | Analytics | Basic | Marketing ROI tracking | | Marketing value | Not tracked | €9.5M+ proven value | | Impressions tracking | Limited | 100M+ tracked | | eIDAS compliant | No | Yes | | GDPR-native | No | Yes | | API | Yes | Yes (5 simple endpoints) | | LMS integration | Yes | Yes (Canvas, Moodle, Learnster) | | Headquarters | United States | Sweden |
Universities issue credentials that carry decades of brand equity. Diplomas shouldn't live on a third-party domain.
TRUE advantage:
Institutions like Karolinska Institutet and 21+ Swedish vocational schools (Yrkeshögskola) chose TRUE for these reasons.
Associations issue certifications that define professional standing. Members want credentials that showcase their achievement prominently.
TRUE advantage:
SSF (Sweden's 80+ year security authority) and Great Place To Work chose TRUE for professional certifications.
Enterprise organizations maintain strict brand guidelines. Credentials should align with corporate identity, not default to vendor templates.
TRUE advantage:
Healthcare, government, and regulated industries need credentials with the strongest possible authenticity guarantees.
TRUE advantage:
Bolagsverket (Swedish government agency) chose TRUE for blockchain-secured official documents.
To be fair, Credly has earned its market position:
Brand recognition: Credly is the most recognized digital badge platform, particularly in US corporate markets.
Ease of use: The platform is straightforward for issuing simple training badges.
Network effects: Many professionals already have Credly accounts with existing badges.
Enterprise focus: Credly is optimized for large-scale corporate L&D badge programs.
If you're a large US enterprise issuing training completion badges where brand ownership doesn't matter, Credly may serve your needs adequately.
But if your requirements differ — custom domain, blockchain security, full document credentials, European compliance, marketing value tracking, or design flexibility — TRUE is built for what you actually need.
Migrating from Credly to TRUE is straightforward.
We evaluate your current credential program:
Create TRUE credential templates that match or exceed your current designs:
New issuances only: Start issuing new credentials through TRUE while existing Credly badges remain active.
Full migration: Re-issue historical credentials through TRUE, providing recipients with upgraded, blockchain-secured versions.
Connect TRUE to your existing systems:
Most organizations complete the transition in 2-4 weeks:
Organizations that moved from badge-based platforms to TRUE consistently report:
Higher engagement: Beautiful, shareable credentials generate more shares and views than badge icons.
Better brand visibility: Custom domains keep their brand present throughout the credential lifecycle.
Measurable ROI: Marketing value tracking demonstrates concrete return on credentialing investment.
Stronger security: Blockchain verification provides confidence for high-stakes credentials.
Compliance confidence: European organizations appreciate GDPR-native, eIDAS-compliant infrastructure.
| Stat | Value | |------|-------| | Documents issued | 500,000+ | | Marketing value generated | €9.5M+ | | Marketing impressions | 100M+ | | Organizations using TRUE | 200+ | | Countries with customers | 15+ | | Blockchain networks | 4 | | API endpoints | 5 |
Yes. TRUE can re-issue historical credentials as blockchain-secured documents. Recipients receive upgraded credentials with better design, your custom domain, and permanent blockchain verification.
Most organizations complete the transition in 2-4 weeks, including design, integration, and testing.
TRUE offers custom pricing based on your organization's needs and volumes. Many organizations find TRUE's marketing value tracking demonstrates ROI that justifies investment — customers have generated €9.5M+ in proven marketing value.
Yes. Many organizations start issuing new credentials through TRUE while existing Credly badges remain active, then migrate historical credentials over time.
TRUE integrates with Canvas, Moodle, Learnster, Salesforce, and other major platforms. Most integrations complete in days using our 5-endpoint REST API.
TRUE provides support throughout the migration process, from design consultation to integration assistance.
See how TRUE compares to Credly for your specific use case. Book a demo and we'll show you:
Compare Platforms — See TRUE in action.
Ready to switch? We'll guide you through the migration process.
Save time, increase traffic and insights and build trust, by upgrading to blockchain secured diplomas and course certificates, which are loved by recipients and always verifiably authentic.
Book a demoNot sure where to start? Let us help!
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