Choosing a digital badge platform is not just about features, verification, or integrations. It is also about how you pay to issue credentials as your audience grows.
Two main pricing models dominate the market: per credential and per recipient. Both can look attractive at first, but their long-term impact on scalability, budgeting, and return on investment differs significantly.
This article compares both models and explores which one offers better value as digital credential adoption accelerates worldwide.
The Per Credential Model
In this model, the platform charges a fee for every badge or certificate you issue. If you issue 1,000 credentials, you pay for 1,000 units. It is simple in theory but unpredictable in practice.
Pros
- Low initial cost for small or one-off projects
- Pay only for what you use, ideal for pilots
- Straightforward for limited volumes
Cons
- Unpredictable budgeting as volume grows
- Encourages teams to limit issuance to control costs
- Difficult to manage when several departments issue independently
- Scales poorly for large universities or associations
Example
An association that issues 200 badges in its first year and 2,000 the next could see its cost increase tenfold, not because of added value but simply due to growth in engagement.
The Per Recipient Model
The alternative is per recipient pricing. You pay for each unique learner, employee, or member you credential, but each recipient can receive unlimited badges under that licence.
Pros
- Predictable annual budgeting
- Encourages more creative and frequent badge issuance
- Simplifies administration across multiple teams
- Costs remain stable as engagement increases
Cons
- Higher upfront commitment
- Less flexible for very small issuers
- Requires managing unique recipient data across systems
Example
A university with 5,000 active students can budget once per year. Whether those students earn one badge or ten, the cost remains the same. The institution can focus on learning quality instead of invoice volume.
Comparing the Two Models
How Certify Approaches Pricing
Certify’s pricing model is designed to reward engagement, not restrict it.
Institutions and companies pay per recipient, not per badge, allowing unlimited badge issuance under a single licence. This approach encourages creativity, scalability, and consistent measurement of impact.
Certify’s analytics show how each credential performs, from page views and LinkedIn shares to total audience reach. These metrics turn digital credentials into measurable communication tools, not just recognition assets.
Which Model Fits You Best
Conclusion
Digital credentials are now a strategic channel connecting education, employment, and reputation. Selecting the right pricing model determines whether your credential program can grow sustainably or stalls at pilot stage.
The per credential model serves small-scale or experimental initiatives but becomes restrictive as adoption rises. The per recipient model aligns better with scalable, data-driven programs, where value increases through engagement rather than transaction count.
Recent findings from the UK Digital Badging Commission’s report, "From Skills to Growth," highlight the wider economic importance of scalable credential ecosystems. The Commission estimates that an integrated approach to digital credentials, where achievements are visible, portable, and verifiable, could save billions annually through reduced hiring friction, better training alignment, and improved workforce retention.
That research reinforces a key message for issuers everywhere: growth in digital credentials depends on lowering barriers, not adding them. A per recipient pricing model supports this by aligning platform success with issuer success, predictable, measurable, and designed for scale.
Next Steps
To explore how a per-recipient pricing model could work for your organisation, including an ROI comparison using your actual badge data, please schedule a chat with us.