Badgr Pricing: All You Need to Know

Searching for Badgr pricing no longer leads to a simple price table. The original Badgr model is gone. 

Free issuing is being phased out under Instructure’s transition from Canvas Badges to Parchment Digital Badges and after December 31, 2025, badge issuing requires a paid enterprise subscription.

If you’re searching “Badgr pricing” today, you are really looking for: one, what happens to free issuing and two, what are your options going forward (paid or alternative providers). We're going to cover all you need to know today.

Free Badgr and Canvas Badges issuing fully ends after December 31, 2025.

Parchment Digital Badges replaces it with mandatory paid, quote-based pricing.

There is no public price list for Parchment—cost depends on scale and volume.

Certifier remains a free alternative with up to 250 credentials per year.

Why Badgr pricing no longer exists?

Badgr went through two major ownership and product transitions under Instructure. First, it became Canvas Badges through its connection to the Canvas LMS. Now, it is being rebranded again as Parchment Digital Badges, operated under Parchment.

This transition removed:

The original public pricing page

The free + paid hybrid model

Any self-serve upgrade path

Today, all new credentialing access routes through Parchment’s quote-only enterprise model.

What was “free” under Badgr/Canvas and how that ends

Originally, Badgr provided a free plan: users could create professional badges, issue to learners, integrate with a learning management system (LMS) and manage “backpacks” (badge portfolios).

With Canvas Badges (the next iteration), the free plan continued, BUT with limitations:

Only simple badge issuing (typically tied to module completion)

Badges only visible within Canvas or “backpack”—no full org-level credentialing

No support for robust credentialing flows (bulk award limits, export limitations, limited templates, etc.)

As of mid-2025, Canvas/Instructure announced the free badge issuing will be phased out:

After June 30, 2025: no new free issuer accounts for Canvas Badges

After December 31, 2025: all free issuing capability ends. Free “issuers” will be converted into read-only “backpacks.” No new badges can be issued and data export will be disabled

After that point, free Badgr or Canvas credential issuing no longer exists as a functional system.

Parchment Digital Badges: The paid successor

With the rebrand to Parchment Digital Badges, Instructure is positioning this as the new enterprise-grade credentialing platform.

Key facts about Parchment:

Pricing is not publicly listed: institutions must submit a form/contact sales for a quote.

The platform supports full-feature credentialing workflows: badge issuing, verification, stackable credential pathways, learner records, integration with LMS (or standalone), sharing of credentials, social export (e.g. to LinkedIn, resumes) and more.

Because pricing is customized, cost depends on institution size, number of learners, credential volume and chosen add-ons, but you no longer get the “free pilot” path.

If you need to continue issuing digital badges after 2025, Parchment digital badges account will cost you–there is no free fallback under the old Badgr model.

What “Badgr pricing” really means for you now?

When someone searches “Badgr pricing” today, they’re typically looking for one of three things:

“Can I still get Badgr for free?” → Only until December 31, 2025. After that, no.

“How much will it cost to keep issuing badges?” → The price will depend on your scale and must be obtained via Parchment’s quote process.

“Are there free or cheaper alternatives to keep issuing badges?” → Yes, other providers like Certifier continue to offer free or freemium models.

So the “cost” of staying on the same badge-issuing workflow has risen (sometimes significantly) depending on your needs.

Considering alternatives: What to check if you don’t want to pay

If you’re migrating away from Badgr/Canvas/Parchment or want a no-cost baseline, you’ll likely compare “other providers” and “other platforms.”

When evaluating alternatives, check:

Ability to issue digital badges (simple or at scale)

Support for badge templates, custom designs, bulk issuing

Export/data & backup (so you retain control of your learner records)

Sharing/social features (LinkedIn, etc.)

Integration options (LMS, CSV, APIs)

Sustainability of free plan

One such alternative that many look at offers a free tier, generous badge quotas, good sharing and no forced upgrade, which makes it ideal especially for small teams, non-profits, volunteer programs or pilot initiatives.

Because the original Badgr free path has closed, this kind of alternative becomes far more interesting.

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What you should do now

Audit your existing badge program ASAP. If you rely on free badge issuing, understand that post-Dec 31, 2025 you lose issuing and export will be disabled. Export learner data now if you need it.

Request a quote from Parchment only if you need full credentialing. Budget accordingly, but expect cost varies based on license type, number of learners and volume of credentials.

Explore other providers/platforms with free or freemium models. Especially if you only need badges for small-scale courses, volunteer programs, internal recognition–you may not need a full enterprise solution.

Consider switching early, before the shutdown hits. That gives you time to migrate learners, export data if needed and set expectations internally.

Why Certifier is the best alternative to Badgr

When Badgr–after being rebranded to Canvas Badges and then to Parchment Digital Badges–discontinued its free issuing model, many organizations were left without a reliable free option.

That’s where Certifier stands out. And here's why:

Free-tier that actually works

Certifier’s “Starter Plan” allows issuance of up to 250 free credentials per year—that’s badges or certificates.

Free badge templates and a drag-and-drop badge builder let you design professional badges in minutes, without needing design skills or costly tools.

You can export virtual badges or certificates as PDF or let learners share them online (social, LinkedIn, etc.)–making them real, usable credentials, not just internal records.

Full-featured credentialing with no hidden gates

Unlike legacy free plans that were crippled or about to shut down, Certifier supports the full spectrum of digital credentialing:

You can issue badges or certificates regardless of LMS or “backpack” limitations. Certifier works independently

Badges and credentials come with metadata (issuer, date, unique ID, skills, etc.), making them verifiable and shareable

For social and professional reach, recipients can add credentials on LinkedIn and other platforms–valuable for both learners and organizations

Simple to implement, ideal for small and medium organizations

No complicated login mess for learners, just straightforward badge issuing and sharing

With templates and automation (bulk credential issuing, CSV import, dynamic attributes in certificates and badges), Certifier reduces admin overhead while still allowing customization

Because of the free-tier base, organizations get to trial digital credentialing easily, then scale only if/when needed

Transparent value

Pricing and plan structure for the free tier are public and clear: up to 250 free credentials, export options, sharing and basic features

There’s no forced “upgrade to keep operating”. You stay in control of badge issuing volume and timing

What Certifier delivers that legacy Badgr (or Canvas / Parchment) doesn’t anymore?

A real free plan, not a crippled or sunsetted one

Full badge + certificate issuing, design, sharing and export

Flexibility and independence (no lock-in to a specific LMS or vendor)

Transparency of cost and terms, with a clear “starter” tier

Here’s a comparison table:

If you’re looking for a no-risk alternative in a world where free badge issuing is disappearing, Certifier is the obvious, future-proof choice.

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“Badgr pricing” in 2026 is a lost cause

If you search “Badgr pricing” today, don’t expect a simple price list. What you’ll find instead is a forced decision point:

Continue issuing badges under a paid enterprise model or

Migrate to a free or alternate badge provider or

Accept that your free badge issuing will end when the transition to Parchment is complete

For many organizations, this isn’t just a pricing change. It’s a platform shutdown followed by a mandatory upgrade.

Make your next move intentionally and before the end of 2025.

Badgr Pricing in 2026 and your next steps

“Badgr pricing” in 2026 no longer means choosing between free and paid. It means choosing between enterprise licensing or leaving the platform entirely.

For many organizations, free badge issuing was the foundation of their credential program. With that foundation disappearing, your next move determines whether your credentialing continues smoothly or becomes a forced upgrade project.

If you want to keep issuing professional, verifiable badges without entering an enterprise contract, Certifier remains one of the few stable free options left.

Explore Certifier’s free badge and certificate templates and see how your next batch of credentials can still be issued without paid licensing. Sign up now and start Certifier’s free plan (you can upgrade at any time).