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Compare PSA, Beckett, CGC, SGC, TAG, ACE, and AGS side by side. Find the right grading company for your cards based on pricing, turnaround, reputation, technology, and card eligibility.
Which card grading company is best?
There is no single best grading company. PSA has the broadest market recognition, Beckett BGS offers subgrades, CGC is budget-friendly, SGC specializes in vintage, and TAG provides digital reports. Start by pre-screening your cards with AI to assess condition, then compare recent sales for your exact card and likely grade.
A high-level overview of seven established and emerging services to help you narrow down your choice.
| Company | Starting Price | Fastest Turnaround | Best For | Reputation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | $79.99/card active | 5-7 business days | Sports cards, Pokemon | Industry standard |
| BGS | $14.95 Base (paused) | 5 business days | Subgrade detail, Black Label | Premium collectors |
| CGC | $17 Bulk / $20 Economy | 2 working days | TCG, Pokemon, budget | Fast growing |
| SGC | $50/card | 2-3 business days (expedited) | Vintage sports cards | Vintage specialist |
| TAG | Priority $149 (limited) | 2-3 business days (WalkThrough) | Digital reports, modern cards | Technology-led challenger |
| ACE | £12 ACE Select Core / £18 Basic | 2 business days (Luxury) | UK and eligible international submissions | UK-based physical grading |
| AGS | $15 bulk / $18 standard | 5 business days (Premier Bulk) | Eligible modern sports and major TCGs | Automated AI physical grading |
Published pricing last verified September 14, 2026. CardGrade is independent and is not affiliated with the grading companies listed.
Official sources: PSA trading card grading services · Beckett card submission services · CGC cards grading services and fees · SGC card grading services and pricing · TAG grading service availability · ACE Grading prices and service levels · AGS prices and services
Beckett Base and Standard availability last verified September 24, 2026. Official update: Beckett digital platforms maintenance notice.
New to submissions? Read how to get cards graded, including the real all-in costs and step-by-step process before choosing a service.
Founded in 1991, PSA is the most recognized card grading service in the world. PSA grades on a 1-10 scale with a single overall number. Their population reports and brand recognition make PSA-graded cards the most liquid in secondary markets.
Beckett Grading Services is known for four detailed subgrades: Centering, Corners, Edges, and Surface. Its published Standard, Express, and Priority tiers include them, while Base can be ordered without subgrades. A Black Label requires four perfect 10s.
Temporary Beckett service pause
New online Base and Standard submissions are temporarily paused. Beckett says Express and Priority remain available and expects paused services to begin reopening September 15. Existing and already-in-transit submissions continue to be processed. Read Beckett's August 5 service update.
Originally known for comic book grading, CGC expanded into trading card grading and has quickly gained market share. CGC offers competitive pricing and is particularly popular in the TCG and Pokemon card communities.
SGC has built a strong reputation in the vintage sports card market. Its current direct service starts at $50 without a membership or card minimum, with Standard estimated at 40+ business days after an order is logged.
TAG combines machine learning, computer vision, and human verification to grade eligible modern cards. Every slab includes a QR-linked Digital Imaging and Grading report, while select tiers add a 1000-point TAG Score and detailed subscores.
Before deciding which grading company to use, pre-screen your cards with AI to assess visible condition. A card with obvious flaws may not be worth the $15-$599 submission fee regardless of which company you choose.
Eligible new accounts receive one full grade free. Image-based pre-screening; professional grading remains final.
There is no single best grading company for every situation. Compare the exact card, recent completed sales, current service availability, turnaround, declared-value limit, and all-in cost. PSA, Beckett, CGC, SGC, TAG, ACE, and AGS each offer different services, workflows, and buyer preferences.
Resale value depends on the specific card, grade, population, holder, and current buyer demand. Compare recent completed sales for the exact card rather than assuming one grading company always commands the highest price.
Beckett lists Base at $14.95 without subgrades. Status checked September 24, 2026: Beckett digital platforms (websites and mobile app) remain offline for maintenance since 7:00 p.m. CT on September 9, 2026. As of September 24, 2026, Beckett temporarily paused new Base and Standard card grading submissions and opened a waitlist; Express remains open through the temporary Jotform. Listed form prices are unchanged: Base (with subgrades) $17.95, Standard $34.95, Express $79.95 (site messaging governs availability). Existing in-house orders continue processing; HQ Plano drop-off/pickup with appointment remains available per the Beckett FAQ. Beckett says it expects Base and Standard to reopen Platforms still offline; Base/Standard paused (waitlist); Express via temporary Jotform, but confirm the live notice before submitting. CGC Bulk is $17 with a 25-card minimum, CGC Economy is $20, and SGC Standard is $50. TAG’s regular tiers are paused; its Priority service is currently limited. Minimums, availability, shipping, insurance, and card-value limits affect the real total.
Turnaround times vary by company, service level, card value, and capacity. Current entry estimates include 40-50 business days for PSA Regular, 75+ for Beckett Base, 40+ for SGC Standard, 90 for CGC Economy, and 150 for CGC Bulk. Faster services can range from two to fifteen business days. Published timing is an estimate, not a door-to-door guarantee.
ACE publishes international-submission availability for many European countries as well as the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. Confirm your country, customs, return shipping, service level, and any label fees directly with ACE before submitting.
AGS is a physical card-grading service that describes its process as automated AI grading and provides a digital report. It is different from an at-home photo pre-screen: cards are mailed in, processed, and returned in a physical holder. Confirm current card eligibility and service terms before shipping.
Most major grading companies accept sports cards, Pokemon, and other TCG cards, but each has restrictions on sizes, years, materials, and autograph types. PSA and Beckett have broad catalogs, CGC grades many sports and TCG formats, SGC is centered on sports cards, and TAG primarily accepts eligible standard-size cards from 1989 onward.
A pre-screen can help you review visible condition signals before paying a professional grading fee. Treat the result as an image-based estimate, then inspect the physical card, check current service fees, and compare recent completed sales. It does not replace professional grading, authentication, or encapsulation.