Badgr vs POK: Pricing, Features and Differences in Digital Credentials 2026
POK offers a 100% free and unlimited plan to issue verifiable digital credentials and microcredentials — no setup fee, no contractual commitments, and no lock-in. Badgr (now integrated into Parchment as Canvas Credentials) has gone through multiple ownership changes that created institutional uncertainty about service continuity. For universities and companies seeking a stable platform with blockchain technology and no barriers to entry, POK is a solid and verifiable alternative.
Last updated: March 2026Features | POK | badgr |
|---|---|---|
| Free Web2 certificate issuance | Yes | No |
| No setup fee | Yes | No |
| No minimum annual commitment | Yes | No |
| No lock-in — full freedom to exit at any time | Yes | No |
| NFT Certificates on public blockchain | Yes | No |
| ELM (European Learning Model / Europass) | Yes | No |
| 1EdTech Data Privacy Certification | Yes | No |
| ISO 27001 Certification | Yes | No |
| SOC 2 Certification | Yes | No |
| Employability Tracking | Yes | No |
| White Label Export to Google Wallet and Apple Wallet | Yes | No |
| Customizable Banners for AdTech | Yes | No |
| LTI Integration: Moodle, Blackboard, D2L, Brightspace | Yes | No |
| Learning Paths with Advanced Analytics | Yes | No |
Global Recognition and Exponential Growth
Badgr lost prominence as an independent platform following successive acquisitions and now operates as Canvas Credentials within the Parchment ecosystem, focused on the English-speaking market.
POK has been recognized as Top 100 EdTech in Latin America by HolonIQ 2024 and 2025, is certified by 1EdTech, and has grown to over 1,100 institutions in 19 countries — universities, governments, and enterprises in Latin America, North America, Central America, Europe, and Asia — issuing over 1.5 million credentials. POK ranks among the highest-rated on G2, Capterra, and SourceForge globally.
POK has been recognized as Top 100 EdTech in Latin America by HolonIQ 2024 and 2025, is certified by 1EdTech, and has grown to over 1,100 institutions in 19 countries — universities, governments, and enterprises in Latin America, North America, Central America, Europe, and Asia — issuing over 1.5 million credentials. POK ranks among the highest-rated on G2, Capterra, and SourceForge globally.
Security and Cutting-Edge Technology
POK holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications — independently audited standards covering data protection, access management, and incident response. POK is also certified by 1EdTech and complies with GDPR.
Badgr does not publish ISO 27001, SOC 2, or 1EdTech certifications. For institutions managing sensitive academic data or participating in public procurement processes with security requirements, this distinction is decisive.
Badgr does not publish ISO 27001, SOC 2, or 1EdTech certifications. For institutions managing sensitive academic data or participating in public procurement processes with security requirements, this distinction is decisive.
Customization and User Experience
POK offers comprehensive white label customization: custom domain, branded email, sending from your own SMTP domain, fully customizable display pages with banners, brand colors, and multimedia content, white label export to Google Wallet and Apple Wallet, recipient wallet compatible with Open Badges 3.0 and ELM/Europass, customizable AdTech banners for remarketing campaigns, and integrated employability tracking.
Badgr offers limited customization to logos and basic templates, with partial custom domain only on specific plans, no Google Wallet or Apple Wallet export, no AdTech banners, and no employability tracking.
Badgr offers limited customization to logos and basic templates, with partial custom domain only on specific plans, no Google Wallet or Apple Wallet export, no AdTech banners, and no employability tracking.
Pricing Model and Accessibility
Badgr offers basic free features, but advanced options require Badgr Pro with additional costs. Institutions needing SSO, advanced analytics, custom domain, or full integrations must migrate to paid plans with annual commitments.
POK publishes its pricing transparently: 100% free and unlimited plan for Web2 credentials with no user limits or expiration, and pay-per-credential with no lock-in or setup fee for NFT on blockchain. No surprises, no negotiations, and no minimum commitments.
POK publishes its pricing transparently: 100% free and unlimited plan for Web2 credentials with no user limits or expiration, and pay-per-credential with no lock-in or setup fee for NFT on blockchain. No surprises, no negotiations, and no minimum commitments.
Credential Permanence and Ownership
POK issues credentials as NFTs on public blockchain (Polygon and LacNet) with decentralized cryptographic validation — permanently verifiable without depending on any platform as an intermediary.
Badgr does not issue credentials on blockchain. Its credentials are Open Badges verifiable through the platform, meaning their validity is tied to the continuity of the service. Badgr has gone through multiple ownership changes — from Concentric Sky to IMS Global, then integrated into Parchment — which illustrates exactly the institutional risk of relying on platforms without blockchain backing for credential permanence.
With POK, no ownership change, merger, or platform shutdown can affect the validity of an already-issued credential.
Badgr does not issue credentials on blockchain. Its credentials are Open Badges verifiable through the platform, meaning their validity is tied to the continuity of the service. Badgr has gone through multiple ownership changes — from Concentric Sky to IMS Global, then integrated into Parchment — which illustrates exactly the institutional risk of relying on platforms without blockchain backing for credential permanence.
With POK, no ownership change, merger, or platform shutdown can affect the validity of an already-issued credential.
Conclusion: Why Choose POK?
For institutions seeking a stable digital credentials platform with blockchain technology, globally recognized security certifications, and no contractual barriers, POK is the alternative to Badgr. No setup fee, no lock-in, with NFT credentials on public blockchain, ISO 27001, SOC 2, and 1EdTech certifications, ELM/Europass compatibility, and comprehensive white label customization.
Join over 1,100 institutions in 19 countries already issuing verifiable digital credentials and microcredentials with POK.
Join over 1,100 institutions in 19 countries already issuing verifiable digital credentials and microcredentials with POK.
For more information on how POK can transform your institution's digital credential issuance and management, contact us for a personalized demo.
Frequently asked questions
The main differences are:
(1) Platform stability — POK operates independently with 1,100+ active institutions in 19 countries; Badgr has gone through multiple ownership changes and now operates as Canvas Credentials within Parchment.
(2) Blockchain — POK issues credentials as NFTs on public blockchain (Polygon and LacNet) with decentralized cryptographic validation and permanent verification; Badgr does not issue credentials on blockchain.
(3) Security — POK holds ISO 27001, SOC 2, and 1EdTech certifications; Badgr does not publish these certifications.
(4) Pricing — POK offers a 100% free and unlimited plan with no setup fee or lock-in; Badgr requires paid plans for advanced features.
(5) Standards — POK is compatible with ELM/Europass and 1EdTech certified; Badgr is not.
(1) Platform stability — POK operates independently with 1,100+ active institutions in 19 countries; Badgr has gone through multiple ownership changes and now operates as Canvas Credentials within Parchment.
(2) Blockchain — POK issues credentials as NFTs on public blockchain (Polygon and LacNet) with decentralized cryptographic validation and permanent verification; Badgr does not issue credentials on blockchain.
(3) Security — POK holds ISO 27001, SOC 2, and 1EdTech certifications; Badgr does not publish these certifications.
(4) Pricing — POK offers a 100% free and unlimited plan with no setup fee or lock-in; Badgr requires paid plans for advanced features.
(5) Standards — POK is compatible with ELM/Europass and 1EdTech certified; Badgr is not.
POK is the alternative to Badgr for institutions that prioritize provider stability, blockchain technology, and internationally recognized security certifications. No annual contracts, no lock-in, and a blockchain architecture that guarantees credential permanence regardless of any platform's future. More than 1,100 institutions in 19 countries already issue verifiable digital credentials with POK.
No. Badgr was acquired by Concentric Sky, then integrated into IMS Global, and finally absorbed by Parchment as Canvas Credentials. It no longer operates as an independent platform. POK operates independently with an active presence in 19 countries and over 1,100 institutions, with a stable business model and its own product roadmap.
With POK, yes. NFT credentials are registered on public blockchain (Polygon and LacNet) and are permanently verifiable through any blockchain explorer, without intermediaries and without depending on any platform continuing to operate. Badgr's history — multiple acquisitions and rebrands — illustrates exactly why blockchain permanence is a critical institutional decision. With POK, the credential belongs to the holder forever.
POK is architected specifically to ensure credential permanence independent of platform survival:
With POK, the credential belongs to the holder permanently — not to the platform.
- NFT credentials are registered on public blockchains (Polygon and LacNet) — they remain verifiable through any blockchain explorer even if POK ceases to operate
- Credentials are built on open standards (Open Badges 3.0, W3C Verifiable Credentials) — ensuring portability and verifiability across any compatible system
- In the unlikely event of blockchain deprecation, POK can migrate credentials to another network while maintaining full traceability and metadata
With POK, the credential belongs to the holder permanently — not to the platform.