Your spreadsheet, made personal.

The list is already in Excel. Save it as CSV, bring your certificate image, and put each column where it belongs. Certly makes one PDF per row on your device.

Works with Excel (.xlsx → export as CSV), Google Sheets (public URL or CSV download), LibreOffice Calc, and any tool that produces a standard comma-separated file.

Generate from your spreadsheetGoogle Sheets guide

From rows to PDFs.

  1. 1

    Prepare your Excel or CSV file

    Open your spreadsheet and ensure it has a header row with at least a "name" column. Add an "email" column if you want to send certificates directly. Export as CSV if starting from Excel.

  2. 2

    Upload your certificate template

    Design your certificate in Canva, PowerPoint, or any tool and export as PNG or JPG. Upload this template file to Certly.

  3. 3

    Import your CSV or paste Google Sheets URL

    Click the CSV upload zone and select your file, or paste a public Google Sheets URL. Column headers are auto-detected.

  4. 4

    Map columns to certificate fields

    Drag text fields (name, event, date, etc.) onto the certificate canvas and position them exactly where each value should appear.

  5. 5

    Generate and deliver

    Click Generate. All PDFs are created locally in your browser. Download as ZIP or send each certificate to the email address in the corresponding row via Gmail.

A little care for the list.

Check these details in the spreadsheet before they become certificate text:

Inconsistent name capitalisation

Names print as imported. Review casing and spelling, especially names with initials, accents, or multiple parts. Avoid changing every name with one formula unless you check the result.

Duplicate rows

Remove duplicate entries before generating. In Excel: Data → Remove Duplicates. In Google Sheets: Data → Data cleanup → Remove duplicates.

Missing email addresses

If you plan to send certificates via Gmail, verify the email column has no blank cells or typos. Missing emails mean those participants won't receive their certificate.

Excel-specific formatting

Date cells in Excel may export with unexpected formatting. Store dates as plain text (e.g. "15 August 2026") in a dedicated column to ensure they print cleanly on the certificate.

CSV vs Google Sheets — which should you use?

Both workflows generate certificates the same way in Certly. Choose based on where your data lives:

CSV file vs Google Sheets URL comparison for certificate generation
ScenarioRecommended sourceWhy
Data is in Excel on your computerExport as CSVFile → Save As → CSV UTF-8 in Excel
Data is in Google SheetsGoogle Sheets URLUse Google Sheets workflow instead
Data from Google Forms responsesGoogle Forms workflowSee Google Forms guide for reviewing responses
Data updated frequentlyGoogle Sheets URLAlways pulls the latest rows on import
Offline or private data (no sharing)CSV uploadFile stays on your device, no sharing required

Questions / Answers

Excel / CSV certificate generator FAQ

Common questions about importing spreadsheet data

Can I generate certificates from an Excel spreadsheet?

Export the sheet as CSV UTF-8 in Excel. Certly reads that file, then uses the columns you place on your design to make a PDF for each row.

What CSV format does Certly accept?

Use a CSV with a header row, such as name, email, and event. Exporting as CSV UTF-8 helps preserve accented characters.

Do I need to reformat my Excel data before importing?

Keep one recipient per row and check spelling before importing. Headers become field choices; the values beneath them become the printed details.

How should I organize a larger recipient list?

Divide recipients into manageable files or groups and make separate batches with the same layout.

Can I use Google Sheets instead of uploading a CSV?

Yes, if the sheet is publicly viewable. The API reads its rows on import. Use a downloaded CSV when the list should not be public.

Can I generate certificates from multiple Excel sheets in one batch?

Bring the relevant rows together in one sheet first, then export a CSV for the batch.

The list is ready. Bring the design.

Open free certificate tool

Keep reading

Related workflows and answers from the rest of the site.