123Certificates

What 123Certificates is

123Certificates is a web-based certificate maker for creating printable rewards, recognition, awards, and gifts. Its library contains over 1,250 designs organized by category, with options for school, sports, business, formal recognition, holidays, birthdays, and gift certificates. In the online editor, users can add names, dates, achievements, photos, and logos, then change fonts, colors, and text. Formal templates come in seven colors and in both landscape and portrait layouts. Finished certificates can be saved as PDFs or printed directly on standard letter paper; the maker says certificates created with its tool have no URLs or watermarks.

The Free plan costs nothing and allows unlimited certificates for end-user use, with PDF download or printing. The site was created with teachers in mind, and the maker also identifies students, friends, family, and party guests as potential users. Its terms prohibit redistributing, copying, modifying, repackaging, charging for, or selling its materials. The site launched in November 2006 with 20 templates and was rebuilt in 2025 with refreshed layouts, navigation, and certificate maker.

Who it suits

123Certificates suits teachers seeking printable awards to motivate students, as well as students, families, friends, and party guests making certificates for recognition or gifts. It also fits school, sports, and business uses, with formal layouts available in several colors and orientations.

Limits

The Free plan allows unlimited certificates for end-user use, with PDF download or printing. Its terms prohibit redistribution, copying, modification, repackaging, charging for, or selling its materials.

Getting started

1. Open https://www.123certificates.com/ in a web browser.
2. Choose a certificate design from the library.
3. Add names, dates, achievements, photos, or logos and adjust the text, fonts, and colors.
4. Save the finished certificate as a PDF or print it on standard letter paper.

Verdict

Choose 123Certificates if you want a free web tool for customizing and printing recognition or gift certificates, with a large category-organized library. Look elsewhere if you need permission to redistribute or sell the materials, since its terms prohibit those uses.