Compare graders by resale liquidity, tools, slab security, and best use cases. Pick the right grading company for your card and your goal.
Liquidity matters more than small differences in grading style. Start with the slabs buyers recognize fastest, then optimize for your category.
Transparency, slab aesthetics, and the overall service experience can matter more than resale premium.
Unfamiliar slab on eBay or a marketplace can be higher risk. Use verification tools when available, and learn the basic holder tells before buying.
Learn the 60-second slab checkLong-tail grading companies change frequently. Entries marked “Unverified lead” are included for discovery and should be double-checked.
| Company | Region | Focus | Tier | Market | Transparency | Value | Liquidity | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Known for subgrades and Black Label chase. | United States | Both | Tier 1 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | |
Pristine 10 chase label; detailed published grading scale and tooling (pop report + registry). | United States | Both | Tier 1 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | |
Most liquid slab in many markets; frequent pricing anchor for comps. | United States | Both | Tier 1 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 10 | |
Strong vintage mindshare; “tuxedo” style slab presentation; supports sports and TCG submissions. | United States | Both | Tier 1 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 7 | |
AI and 3D scanning positioning; digital report access via QR. | United States | Both | Tier 2 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 4 | |
Resale liquidity can lag incumbents; strongest fit is the vault + marketplace ecosystem. | United States | Both | Tier 2 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 4 | |
Hybrid CV + human grading; security-heavy holder (polycarbonate + Gorilla Glass + NFC); US-only return shipping per official site. | United States | Both | Tier 2 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 3 | |
Tech-first reporting and 1000-point score mapped to 1–10. | United States | Both | Tier 2 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 6 | |
Common in the UK; premiums may drop outside the UK. | United Kingdom | Both | Tier 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 4 | |
Emphasizes objectivity and digital services. | Germany | Both | Tier 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | |
Claims QR/seal-number verification and ultrasonic sealing; resale liquidity is typically weaker outside EU buyer pools. | Germany | Both | Tier 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 3 | |
Niche outside Japan; access and submission flow may differ from US graders. | Japan | TCG | Tier 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 4 | |
Common in Canada; international buyers may discount. | Canada | Both | Tier 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 3 | |
Treat “eBay approved” and awards claims as company-claimed unless eBay confirms. | United Kingdom | Both | Tier 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 3 | |
Canada-focused; published grading scale + lookup tool; resale can be discounted outside Canada. | Canada | Both | Tier 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 3 | |
Germany-based; barcode/QR verification via status tool; shop lists tier TAT ranges. | Germany | Both | Tier 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 3 | |
| United States | Both | Tier 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 2 | ||
| United States | Both | Tier 4 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 2 | ||
Budget grader: published scale, but no public cert lookup/pop report/registry found. | United States | Sports | Tier 4 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 2 | |
Strict eligibility: sports or Pokémon only, 1990+ and ≤ $99 value; pop report link is stated as “in progress”. | United States | Both | Tier 4 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 1 | |
Budget pricing and a basic serial lookup; pop report is currently labeled “coming soon” and resale liquidity is typically weaker than incumbents. | United States | Both | Tier 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 1 | |
Germany-based (Impressum lists Schwegenheim). Pop report is embedded via popreport.de; a dedicated cert lookup workflow is not clearly documented. | Germany | Both | Tier 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 3 | |
Publicly announced pause in new submissions while restructuring. | United States | Both | Tier 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |
| United States | Sports | Tier 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 2 | ||
Canada-first grader with published 10-point scale + registry lookup; resale liquidity often depends on buyer pool. | Canada | Sports | Tier 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 2 | |
Published standards + a cert/pop tool, but resale liquidity is typically weaker than PSA/BGS/SGC in many buyer pools. | United States | Both | Tier 4 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 2 | |
High diligence: BBB shows an “F” rating and cites failure to respond to complaints; resale liquidity is typically weak. | United States | Both | Tier 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
Innovative “direct-to-slab” label printing claims + a pop-report-style tool, but market acceptance and resale liquidity are typically weaker than PSA/BGS/SGC/CGC in many buyer pools. | United States | Both | Tier 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 2 |