CredSure, headquartered in Cologne, and Virtualbadge.io, from Mannheim, are both German platforms for digital certificates and badges. Both offer bulk issuing, a drag-and-drop designer, verification without an account and branding on your own domain.12
The main difference is how a credential proves that it is real. CredSure anchors credentials on a blockchain.2 Virtualbadge.io signs credentials cryptographically and seals PDF certificates with a digital seal.4 We compared the two using CredSure’s website and blog and our own documentation.
We encourage you to look at CredSure yourself. Where we could not find a capability in CredSure’s public materials, the table says “Not documented”. That does not mean it is impossible, so ask CredSure to show it to you. If anything here is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.
Part 1How CredSure’s blockchain-anchored approach works
Issuing
CredSure issues certificates and badges individually, in bulk via CSV, or automatically through LMS and API integrations. It offers a drag-and-drop builder, 50+ templates, version control and expiration management.2
Verification and branding
Anyone can verify a CredSure credential by QR code or link without an account. Credentials are anchored on a blockchain. CredSure offers hosting on your own domain and a fully branded experience.2
Standards
CredSure says it supports open, portable credential formats and marks Open Badges as supported.3 The pages we reviewed do not state an Open Badges version or W3C Verifiable Credentials support.
Integrations
CredSure offers a REST API and Zapier, and names Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, TalentLMS, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Salesforce and HubSpot.2
Hosting, security and languages
CredSure describes EU hosting with EU data residency and an issuing and recipient experience in English and German.3 Its website links to a Vanta trust page and a heyData privacy seal.2
Pricing model
CredSure offers a credit-based free trial without a credit card, with prices on a separate pricing page.2
Summary of CredSure
- Cologne-based platform for certificates and badges.1
- Blockchain-anchored verification; no account needed to verify.2
- Custom domain and white-label.2
- Broad integration list, including Salesforce and HubSpot.2
- EU hosting; English and German.3
- Open Badges version and W3C VC support not stated.3
CredSure covers the core of issuing and verification, with a broad integration list and a bilingual experience. If you want blockchain anchoring specifically, it is a reasonable choice. If you want proof built on established signature technology, sealed proof of each check, issuing across partner networks and a platform used by more than 1,000 organizations, Virtualbadge.io is the stronger fit.
Part 2Virtualbadge.io vs CredSure for training and certification providers
CredSure overview
- Certificates and badges, anchored on a blockchain
- Verification without account; custom domain
- API, Zapier and a broad integration list
- EU hosting; English and German
- Credit-based free trial
Virtualbadge.io overview
- Certificates, including multi-page PDFs, and badges under your brand5
- No recipient account: open, download, share6
- Validation page embedded in your own website (Professional plan)57
- Signed PDFs (Professional plan), with an optional digital seal45
- Organization Hub for test centers, authorized issuers and units (Professional plan)58
- More than 10 million certificates from 1,000+ organizations; EU hosting48
- 1IssueSigned PDF, with an optional digital seal
- 2ShareLink, PDF, LinkedIn, Apple Wallet or Google Wallet
- 3VerifyOn your website: open the link, scan the QR code or drop in the PDF
- 4ProveSealed receipt with the result and time of the check
Use case 1: A certificate is checked years later
- The verifier opens the link or scans the QR code
- The blockchain anchor confirms that the credential has not changed2
- The verifier opens the link, scans the QR code or drops the PDF on your validation page
- Signature and digital seal confirm issuer and integrity
- The seal inside the PDF can also be validated independently of Virtualbadge.io
TakeawayBoth approaches make tampering evident. A seal inside the PDF keeps the proof attached to the document, even outside the platform.
Use case 2: An authority needs proof that it checked
- A record of the check for the verifier is not documented
- The verifier checks on your website
- They download a sealed verification receipt with the result and time of the check
TakeawayDecisions that must be documented need more than a green check mark on a screen.
Use case 3: Thousands of authorized test centers
- Delegated issuing for partners is not documented in the pages we reviewed
Takeawaytelc has connected more than 3,000 authorized issuers to Virtualbadge.io this way.9
Virtualbadge.io vs CredSure: Feature comparison
Status as documented publicly in November 2026. “Not documented” means we could not find the capability in the vendor’s public materials. Where a capability depends on the plan, the cell names the plan.
| Feature | CredSure | |
|---|---|---|
| Trust model | ||
| How integrity is proven | Cryptographic signatures; digital seal on PDFs |
Blockchain anchoring |
| Open Badges 3.0 | Yes |
Open Badges named; version not stated |
| W3C Verifiable Credentials 2.0 | Supported, incl. SD-JWT VC with selective disclosure |
Not stated |
| Verification | ||
| Verification without an account | Yes |
Yes |
| Verification under your own domain | Validation page embedded in your website (Professional plan) |
Custom domain, white-label |
| Proof of the check for verifiers | Sealed PDF receipt, free |
Not documented |
| Fake verification page monitoring | With AI Fraud Protect |
Not documented |
| Operations | ||
| Delegated issuing for units or partners | Organization Hub (Professional plan) |
Not documented |
| Integrations | API and webhooks, Zapier, Zoom, CSV import, LMS connectors |
API, Zapier; Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, Salesforce, HubSpot and more |
| Languages | German and English |
English and German |
| Company | ||
| Hosting | EU |
EU (per CredSure) |
| Track record | More than 10 million certificates from 1,000+ organizations |
Not stated on the pages reviewed |
| Getting started | 7-day free trial |
Credit-based free trial |
| Company | FutureNext GmbH, Mannheim |
CredSure, Cologne |
For plan details, see Virtualbadge.io pricing and ask CredSure for a quote at your volume.
Key Virtualbadge.io features not documented for CredSure
- Digital seal on PDFsThe proof sits inside the PDF and can be validated independently of the platform (add-on to the Professional plan).
- Sealed verification receiptsVerifiers can download a sealed receipt that documents each check.
- Organization HubTest centers, authorized issuers or units issue on your behalf while you control templates and rights centrally (Professional plan).
- Fake verification page monitoring with AI Fraud ProtectFinds lookalike verification pages and copies of your certificates and supports takedown requests.
- Open Badges 3.0 and W3C VC 2.0Credentials follow current open standards, including SD-JWT VC with selective disclosure.4
Pricing model comparison
- CredSureCredit-based free trial without a credit card; prices on a separate page.2
- Virtualbadge.ioSelf-service plans (Essentials, Advanced) priced by credits per year; Professional with custom volume on request. 7-day free trial.5
- What to compareCost at your annual volume, including verification under your own domain, integrations and the number of issuing units.
Both make it easy to test. Compare quotes at the same volume and with the same branding requirements.
CredSure vs Virtualbadge.io: Which should you choose?
Both platforms cover issuing, branding and verification without an account. The choice comes down to the trust model, proof for verifiers and how your organization is structured.
The right choice depends on your setup:
Choose CredSure if
- You specifically want blockchain anchoring
- Credentials should mainly be triggered from Slack, Teams, Salesforce or HubSpot
- Verification through the platform is enough and the proof does not need to live inside the PDF
Choose Virtualbadge.io if
- The proof should travel with the PDF: signature and digital seal, verifiable outside the platform too
- Verifiers need sealed proof of every check
- Partners or test centers issue under your brand
- You need Open Badges 3.0 and W3C VC 2.0
Switching from CredSure to Virtualbadge.io
You can plan the switch in five steps:
- Take stock. Ask CredSure which data you can export and how long credentials you already issued stay accessible.
- Bring your templates. Upload your current certificate design or build templates in the editor, including multi-page documents.
- Connect your data. Import recipients by CSV or connect your LMS, CRM or exam system through the API, webhooks, Zapier or LMS connectors.
- Move verification. Embed the validation page in your website (Professional plan) and link it wherever employers check today.
- Run in parallel. Issue new credentials with Virtualbadge.io while existing ones keep running at CredSure for as long as your contract allows.
TakeawayYou can test the whole flow in the 7-day trial with your own design and real data.
In a demo, we walk through the switch for your program.
Frequently asked questions about CredSure and Virtualbadge.io
Is Virtualbadge.io a good alternative to CredSure?
Yes. Both cover issuing, branding and verification without an account. The difference is the trust model: CredSure anchors credentials on a blockchain, while Virtualbadge.io signs the PDF and offers a digital seal. Virtualbadge.io adds sealed verification receipts, the Organization Hub for partner networks and more than 1,000 issuing organizations.
Digital seal or blockchain: what is the difference?
Both make tampering detectable. With blockchain anchoring, the platform confirms that a credential is unchanged. A digital seal sits inside the PDF itself: it shows who issued the document and that it is unchanged, and it can be validated outside the platform as well.
Can partners or test centers issue under our brand?
With Virtualbadge.io, yes: in the Organization Hub the parent organization sets the official templates and decides who may use them (Professional plan). telc, for example, has connected more than 3,000 authorized issuers this way.9 The CredSure pages we reviewed do not document delegated issuing for partners.
Which integrations do they offer?
CredSure offers a REST API and Zapier and lists Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, TalentLMS, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Salesforce and HubSpot. Virtualbadge.io offers an API and webhooks, Zapier, Zoom, CSV import and LMS connectors. If your credentials mostly start in Slack, Teams or your CRM, that points to CredSure.
How do I switch from CredSure to Virtualbadge.io?
Upload your certificate design or build templates, then import recipients by CSV or connect your systems through the API, webhooks, Zapier or LMS connectors. Issue new credentials with Virtualbadge.io and ask CredSure how long credentials you already issued stay verifiable. You can test the whole flow free for 7 days.
Where are they hosted, and which languages do they support?
Both host in the EU and work in English and German, according to each vendor. Virtualbadge.io is run by FutureNext GmbH in Mannheim; CredSure is based in Cologne. Compare the data processing agreements if you issue for public bodies or regulated programs.
Information about CredSure comes from the public sources listed below, as of Nov 6, 2026. Product capabilities change; we review this page every quarter. CredSure is a trademark of its owner. Virtualbadge.io is not affiliated with CredSure. Found something out of date? Contact us and we will correct it.
Sources
- CredSure: Company accessed Nov 6, 2026
- CredSure: Platform accessed Nov 6, 2026
- CredSure: Best digital credentialing platforms in 2026 (CredSure blog) accessed Nov 6, 2026
- Virtualbadge.io: Credential infrastructure (EU hosting, W3C VC 2.0, digital seals) accessed Nov 9, 2026
- Virtualbadge.io: Pricing and plans accessed Nov 9, 2026
- Virtualbadge.io: Recipient experience accessed Nov 9, 2026
- Virtualbadge.io: Validation pages accessed Nov 9, 2026
- Virtualbadge.io: Organization Hub accessed Nov 9, 2026
- Virtualbadge.io: Homepage with telc figures accessed Nov 14, 2026
