Is PSA or CGC better for Pokémon cards?

PSA has the deepest resale market and highest brand recognition for Pokémon, so PSA 10s usually command the strongest prices. CGC is often faster and cheaper and its Perfect 10 (black label) is highly regarded. For pure resale liquidity, most Pokémon collectors still favour PSA.

Does BGS still use half grades and subgrades?

Yes. BGS grades to half points and prints four subgrades (centering, corners, edges, surface). A BGS 9.5 Gem Mint and the coveted BGS 10 Black Label are premium tiers, which is why BGS is popular for modern high-end cards.

Which grading company has the best resale value?

It depends on the card. PSA generally has the widest buyer base and strongest liquidity across vintage and modern; BGS Black Label can top the market for flawless modern cards; CGC sits competitively and often wins on cost and speed.

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PSA vs CGC vs BGS: Which Card Grading Company Is Best?

Three companies dominate trading-card grading — PSA, CGC and BGS. They use different scales, prices and turnaround times, and the "right" one depends on the card and why you're grading it. Here's the plain-English breakdown.

Quick comparison

Company	Scale	Signature tier	Best known for
PSA	1–10, no subgrades	PSA 10 Gem Mint	Deepest resale market, especially Pokémon & vintage
CGC	1–10 with half grades	CGC 10 Pristine / Perfect 10 (black label)	Speed, value pricing, strong on modern TCG
BGS	1–10, half grades + 4 subgrades	BGS 9.5 Gem Mint, BGS 10 Black Label	High-end modern cards, subgrade transparency

PSA — the resale king

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the most recognised name in the hobby and has the largest population of graded cards. Its simple 1–10 scale (no subgrades) makes PSA 10s easy to price and easy to sell. For Pokémon and vintage cards especially, PSA generally offers the strongest liquidity and the highest ceiling on a gem-mint grade.

CGC — fast and cost-effective

CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) came from comic-book grading and expanded into cards. It uses half grades (e.g. 9.5) and its top "Pristine 10" and Perfect 10 black label are excellent. CGC is often quicker and cheaper than PSA, which makes it a smart choice for bulk submissions and modern singles where turnaround and cost matter.

BGS — subgrades and the Black Label

BGS (Beckett Grading Services) prints four subgrades — centering, corners, edges and surface — giving buyers a detailed quality breakdown. A BGS 9.5 Gem Mint is a strong grade, and the legendary BGS 10 Black Label (all four subgrades at 10) can command the highest prices in the market for flawless modern cards.

So which should you choose?

If you're grading to resell Pokémon or vintage, PSA is usually the safest bet for liquidity. If you want speed and value, CGC is hard to beat. If you have a flawless modern card and want subgrade transparency (or a shot at a Black Label), BGS is the specialist. Whichever you pick, keep the cert number — it's what proves authenticity.

Selling graded cards? On The Bubble Art, every listing links its grade and cert serial to a verifiable Digital Passport of authenticity — and you keep 97% of every sale with 0% commission, versus the 5–13% most marketplaces charge.

Sell your cards — keep 97%

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