How to validate certificates and diplomas with a QR-Code for free?

A step-by-step guide how to create and send digital certificates with a QR code verification.

Jun 30, 2022
5 min
|      by
Malte Zander
digital badges education

This article is a step-by-step guide how you can create and send digital certificates with a QR code validation. As always in our articles we are taking a look at a free hack solution, how you can accomplish your goal without any budget at all. In the second part we are presenting a more sophisticated and professional solution.

1) Send certificates that can be validated with a QR-Code for free:

At first create a certificate that you want to validate with a QR code. You can use various tools for your certificate design. We recommend our free and no sign-up solution that you can access here.

We used the free certificate designer of Virtualbadge.io to create the certificate
We used the free certificate designer of Virtualbadge.io to create the certificate

Use any free QR code generator on the web. For this article we chose qr-code-generator.com — but like for step one, any tool will do the trick.

Follow these steps:

Choose the design of the QR code that you want to insert on your certificate for the validation and select images in the left navigation and create a free account
i) Choose the design of the QR code that you want to insert on your certificate for the validation and select images in the left navigation and create a free account

Select “Images” in the menu
ii) Select “Images” in the menu

Upload the certificate that you want to verify and edit the validation page according to your needs
iii) Upload the certificate that you want to validate and edit the validation page according to your needs


Edit the QR Code style and download when you’re happy with it
vi) Edit the QR Code style and download when you’re happy with it

Your QR Code is ready to verify you certificate
v) Your QR Code is ready to validate you certificate

Use the free certificate maker again to add the QR Code to your certificate
vi) Use the free certificate maker again to add the QR Code to your certificate
You just created a verifable certificate 100% for free

Et voila! Your certificate is now ready to be validated via a QR-code! Entirely for free with some easy tricks and hacks. In small quantities you will face no problems with this process at all.

If you want to send and verifiy multiple certificates and it becomes a standard process for you, you should consider our next presented alternative.

2) [Alternative] Design, send and manage certificates with a professional tool:

The second solution that we present for you is a professional tool to create and send digital certificates which can be validated.

Virtualbadge.io allows you to not only validate your created digital certificates, but also to store and to manage them according to CPE regulations in a central certificate management system.

The process for you is simple, intuitive and fast to manage for you or/and your team.

At first design your certificate in the integrated design tool or adapt existing templates to your need
At first design your certificate in the integrated design tool or adapt existing templates to your need

Prepare an email template to send the certificates to your recipients
Prepare an email template to send the certificates to your recipients

Edit the verification page that your recipients will see after scanning the QR Code on your certificate
Edit the validation page that your recipients will see after scanning the QR Code on your certificate


Add the recipients to your certificate management tab to send them your pre-defined email
Add the recipients to your certificate management tab to send them your pre-defined email

Let your recipient share their QR-code verifiable certificates on social media and on LinkedIn
Let your recipient share their QR-code verifiable certificates on social media and on LinkedIn

How your verifiable PDF certificate download can look like
How your PDF certificate download can look like

Your Certificate validation page
Your Certificate validation page

Conclusion: Choose your solution according to your need

We recommend all educational providers to choose their method of creating and sending digital certificates always according to different factors.

Depending on the amount of certificates, your recipients (casual, professional, high-end education, etc.) and your legal obligations regarding regulations you can take a good decision on the optimal certification process for your business.

If you need a second opinion or if you want a free tour through the application Virtualbadge.io we invite you to book an appointment with our team via the following link: https://calendly.com/virtualbadge-demo/15-minutes

* You can find the organisation ID in the URL when you access your LinkedIn Company page as an admin.

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