How to Generate Certificates from Google Sheets and Excel?

Bulk certificate generation is a no-code process similar to creating just one PDF certificate in Canva. This guide will show you how to auto generate certificate from an Excel sheet or Google Sheets with different variables and send them out immediately.

Keep reading to find out two ways to auto-generate certificates from Excel and Google Sheets.

But first, how to generate certificates in 5 minutes?

Creating a certificate might seem a tedious task at first. But trust us – with Certifier – a certificate generator from Excel, you can create, send, and manage verifiable certificates in one place. Certifier is your hub for professional and efficient certificate management.

Use Certifier now to drive your learning programs, courses, webinars, and events. With our fully-automated certificates workflow, you can finally focus on what matters most – your business growth.

From Google Sheets or Excel to certificate generation

An automatic certificate generator using Excel is useful to award webinar participants, praise conference attendees, or students upon course completion. Generating a large number of certificates in bulk with only a list of names and then sending them to recipients may seem like a hard task. However, in fact, it is a simple process. There are several proven ways to create certificate from Excel data. Let’s learn more about them.

Method 01: Certificate generator from Excel + Certifier

This easy process takes minutes to complete. You need to prepare a list with recipient names, emails, and other values in a spreadsheet (MS Excel or Google Sheets). Once done, use professional software to auto-generate certificates from Excel like Certifier.

Here's the video that shows you how:

Method 02: Bulk certificate generator + Word + some email sender

How to auto-generate certificate from Google Sheet or Excel with this method? It’s also a free, but semi-manual, amateur way to generate certificates from Excel. These tools are not designed for professional certificate issuing, but you can use them if they meet your certification needs. Read the step-by-step tutorial for this method below.

How to prepare a spreadsheet with your certificate recipients?

First things first, it's time to prepare a list in MS Excel, Google Sheets, or another tool.

You'll need to add information like recipients’ names and email addresses. Your spreadsheet can include advanced recipients' information like grade, teacher name, number of hours, and issue date. 

01 Download all the necessary data

As a rule, you already have recipients’ information in your LMS, CRM, or video-conference tool like Zoom. Download it in CSV or XML format.

02 Open your draft data in Google Sheets 

First, separate the columns (if needed): Data > Split text to columns

03 Delete unnecessary columns, rows, and data

Remove the unnecessary information from the spreadsheet before issuing certificates (as a rule, exported spreadsheets include a lot of information and columns). Prepare as accurate list as possible to simplify the certificate generation process. 

04 Download the completed spreadsheet in CSV (comma-separated values) format

That’s it. Your spreadsheet is ready for mass certificate generation! Follow the next instruction to create and send certificates via Certifier or other tools.

Method 01: How to generate certificate from Excel sheet (or Google Sheets) with Certifier (4-STEPS TUTORIAL)

As we mentioned at the beginning of the post, this is a free, easy, and professional way to resolve the problem of how to auto-generate certificate from Excel sheet. More than 1000 companies, educators, and organizations use Certifier to generate certificates, diplomas, and credentials for their recipients every month. Follow this instruction and be among them.

Before you get into details, here's how to auto-generate certificate from Excel sheet:

Log in to your Certifier account or create a new one for free

Customize the certificate's template

Upload CSV list to auto-generate certificates

Send bulk email to recipients

01 Log in to your Certifier account

First, log in to your Certifier account. If you don’t have a Certifier account, register for free on a Sign-up Page. A Free plan is available forever for each registration.

02 Customize the certificate’s template or design it from scratch 

Certifier includes 1,000+ ready-to-go templates. You can use, customize, and edit them for free. Also, you can create a new design from scratch in our e-certificate generator from Excel. You can upload certificate backgrounds, frames, and elements. Make sure to customize your certificate design to match your brand identity. Choose the elements for your design: upload the logo, signatures, etc.

03 Upload CSV list to generate certificates in bulk 

At this step, you’ll need a prepared CSV file with the certificate recipients’ list. If you skipped these steps, get back to the instructions above.

In this step, you need to do the following:

Create a group

Upload Recipients’ List 

Manage columns

Review the setup 

Finally, save certificates as drafts (prepare them for future sending), or move on to the next step and send generated certificates.

04 Send bulk emails with certificates to the recipients 

You're at the finish line. In this step, you need to send certificates. Click on Save and Publish Certificates.

When you click on it, Certifier build-in mail system emails all new certificates to recipients' Inboxes. By default, our system sends emails with a basic template (without your logo, branded colors, and text). However, you can create a custom email template, set up your email as a sender, etc. If you want to customize your email templates, go to the Emails section > Create Email Template. 

That’s it. Your certificates are published and sent to all recipients via an online certificate generator from Excel. If you need more insights on how to generate e-certificate from Excel sheet, simply schedule a call to discuss your questions in person.

Method 02: Generate certificates with Excel + Word and send them manually

Now it's time to describe an ALTERNATIVE way to send certificates in bulk – using MS Excel, MS Word, and Mail Merge. This method is more like a workaround than a professional way to create certificate from Excel data. Still, we believe it’s useful to know about the pros and cons of it.

This method, without a professional bulk certificate generator Excel, requires a bit more time. Follow the instructions below to proceed.

01 Open Excel & Word in Microsoft 365 

First, log in to your Microsoft 365 account. Once you're logged in, open Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet and Microsoft Word program.

02 Chose certificate design from MS Word Templates Library

Microsoft Word has a huge library of free DOC templates including certificate templates, you can check them here. If you don't find the template that you need in the Word Templates Library, you can create your own one in MS Word from scratch or create a certificate design with our certificate maker here. 

03 Merge the design, recipients spreadsheet, and Mail Merge

When the template is ready, you can add the logo, text, and style that aligns with your branding. After that, add a dynamic element in MS Word, and merge the spreadsheet file in MS Excel with the recipient name. Go to Mailing > Start Mail Marge > Select Recipients > Select the list with your prepared spreadsheet

04 Place variables like name and others into certificate design 

Select a place on the design where you want to insert the dynamic element, e.g., the student name. In the Mailing section > select the Insert Mailed Field. You should specify a column for each variable from the recipient's spreadsheet merged before.

05 Generate a certificate and complete the process 

Staying in the Mailing Section, click on the Fining & Merge button > select All options to generate certificates from Excel.

That’s how to make certificates from Excel in a nutshell. You have generated certificates in one MS World file. Now, you can keep them in one file, split them into multiple ones, prepare them for printing, or send them via email.

06 Send certificates via Outlook

If you use the full version of Office 365 Suite, you can send a simple automated email through MS Word by selecting the button Send Email. Make sure to select Current Records so that each recipient receives only their certificate.

So, how to generate e-certificate from Google Sheet or Excel? - Pros, Tips & Sum-Ups

The world changes, and so do students' needs! 

The optimized certificate-issuing process is crucial for your business’s success. The best way to win engaged students or webinar visitors is to give them a good-looking professional certificate. By doing so, you will increase the value of your learning event, webinar, or masterclass. 

Pros of using Certifier certificate generator from Excel or Google Sheets

Low (or no) costs. Google Sheets (or similar spreadsheets) are completely free. Certifier bulk certificate generator Excel also provides a free plan that includes all the main features.

Professional outcome. Using Certifier and Excel or Google Sheets, you can generate certificates like a professional. It’s a method proven by thousands of companies, universities, and organizations.

Easy start. A complete first-time setup takes from 10 to 20 minutes, including design creation and feature adoption. Further certificate generation processes will take up to 10 minutes or can be fully automated.

Analytics and reporting. With Certifier, you can analyze all the data about issued certificates: clicks, downloads, social media shares, etc. You can use this data to improve your marketing processes.

Flexibility. You can download generated certificates from Excel as a spreadsheet with unique IDs or as a .zip archive with PDF files.

Integrations. Using Certifier and spreadsheet tool, you can integrate all your current apps and software within one workflow and automate the issuing process. No extra hassle.

Cons of using Certifier e-certificate generator from Excel

Certifier + spreadsheet tool method is less suitable for a single certificate or a small number of them. If you do not need to generate certificates in bulk, consider using a simple online tool like Canva. You can also create a design manually in Photoshop. After that, create separate files and manually send them to your recipients.

If you need to issue a large number of certificates using Certifier + Spreadsheet (250 or more), it is necessary to upgrade to the paid version of Certifier. Package prices start from $49/month, and our customers are happy with the value/cost ratio. Still, it’s fair to mention it as a disadvantage. Read the Certifier review here.