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ACE Grading is a UK-based physical grading service with international submissions, while PSA is a global card-grading brand. Both return a physical graded card; the practical choice depends on the card, your buyer, the service terms available when you submit, and the all-in cost of getting the card there and back.
Published service details checked August 5, 2026. Fees, availability, shipping, and turnaround estimates can change.
| Factor | ACE Grading | PSA |
|---|---|---|
| What you receive | A physical graded card from ACE after its submission process. | A physical graded card from PSA after authentication, grading, and encapsulation. |
| Published entry pricing | ACE lists £18 per card for Basic; ACE Select membership services list Core at £12 and Value at £15 per card. Labels and shipping can be additional. | PSA lists Regular at $79.99 per card for currently active direct trading-card service; service terms and international routes can differ. |
| Published turnaround estimates | ACE lists 2 to 95 business days depending on service level. Its published estimate excludes return shipping. | PSA lists 5 to 50 business days across its active direct tiers. Its estimates are not guarantees. |
| Regional context | UK-based; ACE lists international submissions from the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and many European countries. | A global grading brand. Check PSA’s current international submission route, customs, and shipping terms before comparing its dollar service price with a UK submission. |
| Best decision input | Compare the exact card’s local buyer demand, ACE’s live service terms, label choice, and total shipping/return cost. | Compare the exact card’s sold listings, PSA’s live service level, declared-value limit, shipping, and total cost. |
Use the official service pages before shipping. This comparison does not predict a card's grade, resale value, or eligibility.
ACE publishes a UK-oriented submission workflow and an international-country list. Confirm your location, return shipping, customs, service level, and label charges before creating an order.
ACE’s published tiers range from membership-only entry options to faster premium services. Compare the full invoice, not only the per-card grading number.
Holder preference is subjective. If resale matters, compare recent completed sales for the identical card and grade in the market where you expect to sell.
Buyer familiarity can vary by card and market. Check recent completed sales for the exact card rather than assuming one label will always produce the same outcome.
PSA’s direct Regular tier has a published maximum insured value and estimated turnaround. Choose the appropriate current service level only after reviewing its live terms.
For a UK collector, the grading fee is only part of the decision. Include outbound/return shipping, insurance, customs, taxes, and any intermediary costs before choosing a route.
Check recent completed sales for the exact card and grade, all-in submission costs, the current service terms, and the card's visible condition. A lower published grading fee is only one part of the decision.
Neither is automatically better for every card. ACE can be a practical UK and European option with lower published entry pricing, while PSA may be preferred when the intended buyer, marketplace, or card-specific completed-sales data support that route. Compare the exact card, live service terms, and all-in costs.
ACE currently lists Basic at £18 per card and ACE Select Core at £12 per card for members; labels and shipping are separate where applicable. PSA currently lists its active direct Regular trading-card service at $79.99 per card. These are different currencies, service terms, and regional routes, so they are not a complete door-to-door comparison.
ACE publishes an international-submission list that includes many European countries as well as the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. Check ACE’s current country list, customs guidance, and return-shipping terms before submitting.
An image-based pre-screen can help you review visible centering, corners, edges, and surface before paying a submission fee. It cannot authenticate a card, determine its official grade, or replace either company’s physical review.
Pricing and turnaround information on this page comes from the providers' published service pages.