Certly vs Certify'em

Answer: Certly is a free, standalone alternative to Certify'em for making PDFs from a reviewed list. PDF rendering is local; Sheets import and Gmail delivery use the API.

Choose when to issue the batch. Certly takes a reviewed list and an image; Certify'em works with form submissions and Slides templates.

Try the free alternativeGoogle Forms workflow guide

Certly vs Certify'em — feature comparison

Decide whether certificates should follow a submission automatically or a review you do yourself. Certly does not have a form-submission trigger.

Certly vs Certify'em comparison
FeatureCertlyCertify'em
InstallationNo install — open in any browserGoogle Workspace Marketplace add-on
PricingFreeFree tier with limits; paid plans for higher volume
Certificate generation locationYour browser (local, private)Google cloud infrastructure
Template formatPNG or JPG imageGoogle Slides template
Data sourceCSV file or public Google Sheets URLLinked Google Form / Sheet
Google sign-inOnly for Gmail deliveryFor add-on installation
Account requiredNoYes

How to switch from Certify'em to Certly

  1. 1

    Export your participant list

    Open the Google Sheet linked to your Form. File → Download → CSV. This is your data source for Certly.

  2. 2

    Prepare your certificate template

    Export your Google Slides certificate template as PNG/JPG, or design a new one in Canva. Leave the name and event fields blank.

  3. 3

    Upload template to Certly

    Open Certly in your browser (no install needed), upload the PNG/JPG template file.

  4. 4

    Import the CSV participant list

    Upload your CSV or paste your public Google Sheets URL. Map columns (name, email) to certificate fields.

  5. 5

    Generate and send

    Generate all personalized PDFs locally in your browser, then send via Gmail or download as ZIP.

When to use each

Choose Certly when:

  • No Google Workspace account or add-on budget
  • You want a local CSV-to-ZIP workflow
  • You want free generation of personalized PDF batches
  • You already have data in CSV or any spreadsheet
  • You want local certificate generation
  • You prefer sending from your own Gmail account

Consider Certify'em when:

  • You want certificates triggered automatically on form submit
  • Google Slides template integration is important
  • Your team already uses Workspace heavily

Questions / Answers

Certify'em vs Certly FAQ

Common questions about switching or choosing

What is Certify'em?

Certify'em is an add-on for Google Forms that can generate certificates from form responses using Google Slides templates. Check its current eligibility and plan requirements before installing.

What is the main difference between Certly and Certify'em?

Certify'em works around form submissions. Certly starts when you bring a reviewed list to the workspace; generation and delivery are actions you choose, not submission triggers.

Is Certly free compared to Certify'em?

Certly is free. Check Certify'em’s current plans for its allowances and delivery limits.

Does Certly require a Google Workspace account?

No subscription is needed to make or download Certly PDFs. Google sign-in is needed only for Gmail delivery, subject to the account’s permissions and quotas.

How does Certly handle the recipient list?

Imported rows and PDFs are saved on this device. Public Sheets import uses the API, and Gmail delivery sends messages and attachments through it to Google.

Can I switch from Certify'em to Certly?

Export your reviewed responses as CSV and your background as PNG or JPG. Import both into Certly. Automatic form-submission triggers do not carry over.

Your list. Your decision to issue it.

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