Company comparison
The same card does not get the same grade everywhere, and above all does not resell at the same price depending on the slab. Here is how the main companies differ.
In short
PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC and PCA all grade on a 1-to-10 scale but differ on three decisive points. PSA offers the best resale liquidity and dominates the Pokémon and sports markets. BGS assigns four subgrades on top of the overall grade and offers the Black Label (all four subgrades at 10), highly sought after on high-value vintage. CGC is strong on TCG and Japanese cards. SGC is well regarded on vintage sports. PCA is a French company, advantageous on shipping and turnaround for the European market.
Comparison table
| Company | Scale | Subgrades | Strength | Main market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1 to 10 | No | Maximum resale liquidity | International |
| BGS | 1 to 10 (0.5 steps) | Yes — 4 subgrades | Black Label 10, high-value vintage | International |
| CGC | 1 to 10 | Yes | TCG and Japanese cards | International |
| SGC | 1 to 10 | No | Vintage sports, short turnaround | United States |
| PCA | 1 to 10 | No | French company, low shipping and turnaround | France / Europe |
| HGA | 1 to 10 | Yes | Customisable slabs | International |
How to choose in practice
PSA. At equal grade a PSA slab sells faster and often higher, simply because it is the reference buyers know.
BGS. Subgrades reassure buyers on high-value cards, and the Black Label is a collecting goal in itself.
PCA. Shipping to the United States, turnaround and customs risk weigh heavily on a mid-value card.
CGC. Its handling of Japanese TCG and its turnaround are strong arguments in this segment.
SGC. Established reputation on older cards, with a black slab collectors like for display.
HGA. Customisable labels and slabs — better suited to cards you keep than to cards you flip.
Frequently asked questions
See the estimate for each company
One analysis, and the report compares expected grades across the main companies.