Craft vs ApprentiScope

Compare Craft's free educational platform with ApprentiScope's employer solution. Discover which apprenticeship management software delivers better compliance, automation, and ROI.

An instructor in a computer lab lectures to a group of adult learners

TL;DR: Craft vs ApprentiScope

  • Free vs Paid: Craft offers free access with nonprofit backing, while ApprentiScope uses per-apprentice pricing models
  • Compliance Excellence: Craft's AutoReg automation saves 10+ hours per apprentice with error-free documentation
  • Support Difference: Craft provides unlimited US-based support and training; ApprentiScope offers basic email support
  • Proven Outcomes: Craft shows 95%+ completion rates and $78M+ in unlocked funding across programs
  • Integration Power: Craft connects with educational LMS, government systems, and HR tools; ApprentiScope has limited integrations

The U.S. faces a critical skilled labor shortage in 2025, with 10+ million vacancies across manufacturing, healthcare, and IT. Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) offer a solution by combining on-the-job training with technical instruction. Managing these programs effectively requires specialized software like Craft and ApprentiScope.

This comparison analyzes both platforms based on user feedback and performance data. Craft provides a free platform for educational users with WIOA-focused compliance, making it ideal for scalable, learner-centered programs. ApprentiScope offers strong automation for employer tracking but lacks flexibility for broader implementations. Read on to determine which platform best suits your needs as a program director, workforce board leader, or educator.

Quick Comparison

Features comparison
Craft Connect
ApprentiScope
Craft Connect Advantage
Free for education vs. $3,499-$9,999/year
Free for education vs. $3,499-$9,999/year
DOL Compliance Automation
AutoReg automates government forms
Support & Training
US-based unlimited training
Program Creation
TurboTax-style wizard + AI assistance
Proven Outcomes
95%+ completion rates vs. basic tracking

Comprehensive Comparison

Features comparison
Craft Connect
ApprentiScope
Winner
Pricing
Free for educational users; add-ons like AutoReg ($ unspecified, custom consulting); no user fees.
Annual plans: Employer Platform $3,499/year, Intermediary Platform $3,999/year, Regulator Platform $9,999/year.
Craft (free entry lowers barriers).
Program Creation & Onboarding
AI-assisted wizards, bulk uploads, live training.
Multi-employer support, partner portals.
Craft (more customizable for education).
Registration & Compliance Automation
AutoReg for DOL forms, WIOA/RAPIDS integration.
Automates state/federal reporting, RAPIDS compliance.
Tie (both strong in automation).
Program & Apprentice Management
Custom tags for segmentation.
Time tracking, evaluations, automated reminders.
Craft (better bulk tools).
Mobile & Learner Experience
Mobile-friendly interface, progress dashboards.
Mobile accessibility, field-based evaluations.
ApprentiScope (slightly more mobile-focused).
Multi-Employer & Partner Management
Supports intermediaries, unlimited clients, custom templates.
Multi-employer support, partner portals.
Craft (stronger for WDBs/education).
User Roles, Permissions & Security
Role-based (admins, evaluators, learners); secure data.
Role-based (admins, mentors, apprentices); secure.
Tie.
Reporting & Outcomes
Real-time analytics, WIOA reports, blockchain credentials.
Real-time analytics, WIOA reports, blockchain credentials.
Craft (more comprehensive).
Integrations & Expandability
O*NET, LMS (Canvas), APIs.
Limited; no major integrations noted.
Craft
Support & Customer Experience
US-based email/phone, live training, unlimited check-ins.
US-based email/phone, live training, unlimited check-ins.
Craft (more extensive onboarding).

Platform Overviews

Craft: The Comprehensive Workforce Development Platform

Craft connects education, training, and employment systems to close the gap between applied learning programs and workforce demands. Built specifically for educational institutions and workforce development boards, Craft serves as future-ready infrastructure designed for degree-bearing programs that demand more than surface-level tracking.

Mission: Revolutionary partnership between state, industry, and academia through a platform that centers learners, not just checklists.

Key Evidence: Michigan's teacher apprenticeship programs using Craft achieved 95%+ completion rates, with 65% becoming teachers in year one and unlocking over $78M in state funding.

ApprentiScope: The Basic Compliance Tool

ApprentiScope positions itself as a compliance tool specifically designed for organizations with existing, registered apprenticeship programs. Based on extensive user feedback from demo sessions, ApprentiScope focuses on meeting minimum Department of Labor requirements rather than optimizing program outcomes.

Mission: Basic compliance reporting for organizations with existing, registered apprenticeship programs.

Key Challenge: ApprentiScope offers solid compliance but needs better user experience and automation. Its $3,499-$9,999 annual cost is a budget challenge for many educational institutions.

Comparison Details

Pricing & Value: Craft's Transparent Advantage

Aspect
Craft
ApprentiScope
Base Model
Free for educational users and apprenticeships; no licenses or user fees.
Add-Ons/Upgrades
AutoReg (custom), consulting ($5,000 one-time tailored setup).
No free tier; add-ons via custom requests.
Value Proposition
Unlimited users/scalability; ROI like $78M funding secured.
Automation savings; but costs escalate with growth.
Free Trial/Guarantee
No trial needed (free platform); consulting flexible.
No free trial; custom demos.
Scalability Cost
Scales freely for education; add-ons for advanced needs.
Per-apprentice/user scaling increases fees.
Funding Alignment
WIOA-focused; supports grant writing.
Basic compliance; no grant support noted.
Craft provides a free platform for educational institutions, eliminating entry barriers with transparent add-on pricing. ApprentiScope's subscription model can be expensive, even for basic features.

Program Creation & Onboarding

Capability
Craft
ApprentiScope
New Program Setup
TurboTax-style workflow with AI assistance
Manual setup required for each apprentice
Template Duplication
AI-assisted AutoReg automates Appendix A and Form 671
Cannot pull from history or copy existing setups
Automated Job Descriptions
Step-by-step wizard with AI-generated text
No automation for job descriptions or learning plans
Live Training Support
Unlimited support in tailored setups
No mention of training assistance
Pathway Management
Supports complex either/or pathways
System struggles with either/or pathways
Bulk User Onboarding
CSV imports for quick setup
Bulk imports available but limited
Customization Options
Flexible for education/WDB models
Employer-focused; custom requests
Craft excels with its TurboTax-style wizard and AI support, simplifying onboarding for complex educational programs. ApprentiScope is better for straightforward employer setups.

Registration & Compliance Automation

Compliance Feature
Craft
ApprentiScope
Automated DOL Forms
AutoReg: Appendix A, Form 671
Manual processes only
Digital Document Vault
Secure PII-conscious storage
Secure PII-conscious storage
RAPIDS Export
Ready-to-file PDFs
Ready-to-file PDFs
Audit-Ready Data
Built-in throughout platform
Compliance reporting available
Signature Collection
Digital signatures & verification
Not specified
WIOA Alignment
Full support for funding/compliance
Basic federal reporting
State-Specific Automation
Custom consulting for states
State reporting automation
Both platforms meet DOL compliance needs, but Craft goes further by fully automating all government forms, offering AI-generated, error-free PDFs for audits.

Program & Apprentice Management: Comprehensive vs. Manual

Aspect
Craft
ApprentiScope
Tracking
Seamless OJT & RTI logging with bulk operations
Manual entry for each apprentice, no batch actions
Management
Cohorts, wage reviews; customizable.
Progress visibility; automated tasks.
Evidence/Feedback
Rubrics, uploads, feedback loops.
Validations; no uploads noted.
Wage Progression
Built-in reviews and tracking.
Built-in reviews and tracking.
Reminders
Automated for time/feedback.
Automated for submissions.
Bulk Actions
Imports, updates for large cohorts.
Limited bulk processing.
Dismissal/Completion
Tracks after program end.
Basic completion tracking.
ApprentiScope offers essential time tracking and competency evaluation for compliance, while Craft's bulk operations and automated workflows ease management for large programs.

Mobile & Learner Experience: Different Philosophies

Mobile Feature
Craft
ApprentiScope
Mobile Interface
Fully mobile-friendly for all users
Basic mobile interface
Evidence Upload
Photos, files, videos on mobile
Limited mobile submissions
User Experience
Professional, intuitive interface
Described as "cumbersome" by users
Push Notifications
Automated reminders
Basic alerts
Performance
Optimized for speed
Users report system slowdowns
Craft’s mobile-optimized interface boosts usability with intuitive design, cutting training time and admin work. ApprentiScope provides basic mobile access and compliance tracking but lacks user-friendly design.

Multi-Employer & Partner Management: Built for Scale

Aspect
Craft
ApprentiScope
Multi-Employer Support
Unlimited clients, custom templates; WDB-focused.
Strong for employer groups; limited education.
Partner Tools
Segmentation, bulk features for intermediaries.
Portals, client customization, affiliate links.
Scalability
Ideal for cohorts across education/labor.
Multi-employer dashboards; reporting.
Client Addition
Add unlimited clients/partners.
Multi-employer portals.
Templating
Custom apprenticeship templates.
Templated apprenticeships.
Reporting Across
Cross-program reporting.
Reporting across apprenticeships.
Affiliate Features
Affiliate links supported.
Winner: Tie - Both handle multi-employer scenarios well, with Craft better for workforce boards and ApprentiScope stronger for direct employer sponsors.

User Roles, Permissions & Security: Comprehensive Control

Aspect
Craft Connect
ApprentiScope
Roles
Admins (sponsors/providers), evaluators, learners.
Admins (sponsors/providers), evaluators, learners.
Permissions
Role-based; secure data sharing.
Role-based; secure access.
Security
FERPA-compliant; APIs for control.
Standard security; no major issues noted.
Sponsor Oversight
Full ecosystem access.
Admin-level oversight.
Evaluator Tools
Rubric-based assessments.
Competency validations.
Learner Access
Progress and feedback views.
Basic dashboards.
Customization
Granular for complex hierarchies.
Simple for employers.
Craft excels with robust security and detailed permissions for complex roles, while ApprentiScope provides basic employer-focused controls.

Reporting & Outcomes: Where Results Matter Most

Aspect
Craft
ApprentiScope
Reporting Tools
Real-time dashboards, WIOA/RAPIDS exports.
RAPIDS/WIPS reports, PDF exports.
Analytics
ROI insights (e.g., 95%+ completions).
Outcome tracking; basic analytics.
Customization
Custom reports; grant/audit focus.
Pre-built reports; limited customization.
Outcome Tracking
Completion rates, wage progression.
Basic progress and completions.
Export Options
PDF, CSV for audits.
PDF exports.
Compliance Reports
WIOA, DOL-specific.
RAPIDS-focused.
Insights
Actionable program refinement.
Standard metrics.
Craft's thorough work-based learning strategy leads to higher completion rates and funding success than ApprentiScope's basic tracking.

Integrations & Expandability: Open Platform vs. Closed System

Aspect
Craft
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet
ApprentiScope
Key Integrations
LMS (Canvas/Blackboard), APIs.
Limited; no LMS/HR noted.
Expandability
Custom APIs; scalable for WBL.
Open API; requests accepted.
Data Sources
WIOA/funding alignment.
RAPIDS focus; basic.
LMS Support
Canvas, Blackboard.
No integrations.
HR/Payroll
ADP, APIs.
Not supported.
Government
DOL, RAPIDS full.
RAPIDS basic.
Custom Builds
Tailored via consulting.
Custom requests.
Craft integrates with government and educational systems, essential for comprehensive programs. ApprentiScope offers basic business connections for standard operations.

Support & Customer Experience: Two Different Approaches

Aspect
Craft
ApprentiScope
Channels
US-based email/phone, help center.
Email/phone, dedicated teams.
Onboarding
6 calls, unlimited check-ins; migration.
Demos, customization requests.
User Feedback
Responsive; praised for training.
Quick responses; some roadmap delays.
Training
Live calls, unlimited check-ins.
Dedicated sessions.
Customization
Consulting-aided.
Request-based.
Hours
US-based; unlimited in tailored.
Not specified.
Migration
Data migration support.
Not mentioned.
Craft provides unlimited US-based support and thorough onboarding, while ApprentiScope offers responsive teams for customization. Both use distinct models to ensure customer success.

Who Is Each Platform For?

Craft: Versatile for Education and Workforce Ecosystems

Craft shines for organizations prioritizing compliance, scalability, and learner growth without costs:

  • Educational Institutions & Training Providers: Ideal for community colleges or tech schools managing RTI, placements, and WIOA-funded programs. Free access and integrations make it seamless.
  • Workforce Development Boards (WDBs): Perfect for directors tracking outcomes across providers, securing funding, and aligning with labor demand. Bulk tools and analytics support regional impact.
  • State Agencies & Intermediaries: Suited for policy makers needing cross-system data for strategy and audits. Consulting aids large-scale initiatives like teacher prep or apprenticeships.

ApprentiScope: Employer-Focused for Efficient Scaling

ApprentiScope fits orgs emphasizing automation and employer workflows:

  • Employers & Sponsors: Great for companies like manufacturers automating tracking and compliance. Usage-based pricing suits growing programs.
  • Multi-Employer Intermediaries: Strong for agencies or associations managing partners, with portals and reporting.
  • Government Agencies: Useful for DOL-aligned tracking, but less flexible for education-heavy models.
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