PSA vs BGS vs CGC: Which Grading Service Should You Use?
April 19, 2026
Choosing a grading service affects your card's resale value, how long you wait, and how much you pay. Here's an honest comparison of the big three for 2026.
Pricing Comparison
| Service | Economy | Standard | Express |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | $25 (150+ days) | $50 (65 days) | $200 (10 days) |
| BGS | $20 (90 days) | $35 (45 days) | $100 (10 days) |
| CGC | $15 (120 days) | $18 (50 days) | $100 (5 days) |
Resale Value Premium
PSA commands the highest resale premium, especially for vintage Pokemon cards:
- PSA 10 — highest premium, 2-5x over raw for modern, 10-50x for vintage
- BGS 10 (Black Label) — can exceed PSA 10 for some cards, but very rare
- CGC 10 — growing acceptance, typically 60-80% of PSA 10 value
Our Recommendation
- Best overall: PSA — highest resale value, most recognized
- Best budget: CGC — cheapest, good turnaround, growing market share
- Best for sub-grades: BGS — shows individual scores for centering, corners, edges, surface
No matter which service you choose, pre-screening your cards with AI saves money by filtering out cards that won't grade well.