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PSA vs BGS vs CGC: which grading company to choose

Updated: 2026-10-15

PSA, BGS (Beckett) and CGC are the three best-known grading companies. PSA has the biggest market and generally resells best; BGS gives subgrades and its Black Label is highly prized; CGC uses half-point grades and has become popular for modern Pokémon. The best one depends on the card and on what you want to do with it.

What a grading company does

It authenticates the card, gives it a grade from 1 to 10 based on condition, and seals it in a hard plastic case (the "slab") with a label and a certification number you can look up on its website. That cert is what gives buyers confidence.

The scales compared

Company	Scale	What sets it apart
PSA	1 to 10, with half points from 1.5 to 8.5 (no 9.5)	A single grade, no subgrades on the label. A 10 is "Gem Mint".
BGS	1 to 10 with half points	Four subgrades (centering, corners, edges, surface). A 9.5 is "Gem Mint" and a 10 is "Pristine". If all four subgrades are 10, the label is black: the famous Black Label.
CGC	1 to 10 with half points	Separates "Gem Mint 10" from "Pristine 10", its top grade. Subgrades depend on the service.

Note: a 10 doesn't mean the same thing everywhere. A BGS 9.5 and a PSA 10 are often seen as similar in condition, but the market doesn't pay the same for them. Always compare prices from the same company at the same grade.

The slab

• PSA: thin, light slab with the label at the top. The one you see most in sales and the one most people recognize.
• BGS: thicker and heavier, with the card in an inner sleeve. The label shows the subgrades, which tells buyers a lot.
• CGC: clear slab with good visibility of the card and a label with the grade and description.

All three carry a cert number. Before buying any graded card, look it up on the company's official website and check that the card, the grade and the photo match what you're being sold.

Reputation and resale

What matters is what the market will pay for each slab:

• PSA is the benchmark for vintage and sports cards, and has the most sales. At the same grade it usually sells best, especially for older cards.
• BGS carries a lot of weight in modern sports cards. A Black Label is among the most prized slabs there are; a regular BGS 9.5 generally sells below a PSA 10 of the same card.
• CGC has gained a lot of ground in modern Pokémon. At the same grade its slabs usually sell somewhat below PSA, although the gap depends on the card and the moment.

There are other companies, such as SGC (strong in vintage sports) and newer ones, but they have a smaller resale market.

Which one to pick

• You want to sell it: almost always PSA, for liquidity. First check that card's sales at each company.
• You think it's perfect in every way: BGS can make sense for the chance of a Black Label. It's a gamble: if one subgrade drops, you lose that edge.
• It's for your collection: pick the one you like best or the one the rest of your collection uses. Matching slabs count too.
• You want the subgrades: BGS, or CGC if the service you choose includes them.

Before you send

Fees and turnaround times depend on the service, the declared value and the season, and they change often. Check the current fees on each company's official website and add insured shipping both ways. Some companies also accept cards graded by another company to re-slab them; each one publishes its own terms.

Most importantly: before you pay, know what grade your card would get. We cover it in what PSA grade your card would get and whether grading is worth it.

Decide with data

CardFolio's AI analysis estimates your card's PSA grade (with centering measured on the front and back), tells you what it's worth at each grade and whether grading pays off. CardFolio doesn't grade or ship cards: it helps you decide before you spend. On the price pages you have the price by grade for thousands of cards.

Option	Price	What's included
No plan	€1.49	one analysis, no subscription
CardFolio Pro	€3.99/month	10 AI analyses a month
CardFolio Max	€9.99/month	50 AI analyses a month
CardFolio Élite	€19.99/month	up to 150 AI analyses a month

Your first analysis is free when you sign up. Prices in euros, VAT included. Cancel your plan anytime.

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