Elumio vs spreadsheet + PDF

Elumio vs a spreadsheet and PDFs: fine until someone asks to check

Sign-in sheets, a spreadsheet of dates and PDF certificates sent by email or WhatsApp cost nothing, and for a few staff they are enough. The trouble arrives at audit time, when someone asks to re-check a named person’s certificate and the only answer is a file.

What a PDF cannot show

A PDF says a certificate was issued. It cannot say whether it has since expired or been revoked, and nobody outside can check it. An Elumio certificate opens a public page that shows valid, expiring, expired or revoked, with no account needed.

What a sign-in sheet cannot show

A signature says someone attended. In strict mode Elumio gives no credit for skipped video, counts watch time on the server, and unlocks the assessment only after that.

Side-by-side

Swipe sideways to see every column

NeedElumioSpreadsheet + PDF
What drives your billPublished monthly tiers in USD, self-serve through Paddle: Free (does not expire), Starter ($29), Pro ($49), Business ($99), Scale ($299). Custom pricing starts at Scale and adds video library, monthly delivery, AI credits, or unlimited staff. Tax added at checkout. Going over a limit stops growth and deletes nothing.Nothing, until the audit.
Nothing new to set upA new account and a first course to set up.Already in place.
Re-check a named certificate without an accountYes — the QR or serial opens a public verify page: valid, expiring, expired or revoked.No.
“Complete” means they watchedYes, in strict mode: no credit for skipped video, and watch time is counted on the server.Manual attestation.
Who maintains itElumio.You are the admin.

Choose Elumio if

  • Someone outside your organisation asks to check a named person’s certificate.
  • Refreshers matter, and an expired certificate must not look the same as a valid one.

Choose a spreadsheet and PDFs if

  • You train a handful of staff on one course.
  • Nobody outside your organisation audits your training.
  • You have no time to set up a new tool, even a free one.

How to switch

  1. Start free.
  2. Upload the lecture you already have.
  3. Invite a small cohort.
  4. Issue one certificate.
  5. Have someone outside your organisation scan the QR.

Related comparisons

Related questions

Is a PDF certificate enough?

For internal records, often yes. It stops being enough when someone outside your organisation needs to check it, or when a certificate expires and the PDF still looks valid.

Competitor pricing and claims reviewed September 2026. Confirm on their sites before deciding.