The BGS vs PSA debate has been raging for over a decade, and 2026 has thrown a curveball that changes the conversation entirely: PSA's parent company, Collectors, acquired Beckett in late 2025.

That's right — the two biggest card grading rivals are now under the same corporate roof.

Does this change which company you should grade with? It depends. Let's break down everything — the grading scales, the pricing, the resale premiums, and what that acquisition actually means for your cards.

The Quick Answer

If you don't want to read 2,000 words:

• Grade with PSA if you want maximum resale value and liquidity for most cards
• Grade with BGS if you want detailed subgrades and are chasing the Black Label premium
• Consider CGC or SGC if you want the best value or fastest turnaround

Now here's why.

Grading Scale Comparison

This is the fundamental difference between the two companies, and it matters more than most people realize.

PSA: Clean and Simple (1–10)

PSA gives you one number. No subgrades, no breakdowns. Your card is either a 10 (Gem Mint), a 9 (Mint), an 8, or whatever it scores.

The good: Simple, universally understood, easy to price and sell.

The bad: A "strong" PSA 10 and a "weak" PSA 10 get the exact same label. You can't tell from the grade alone whether the card barely squeaked in or was absolutely flawless.

Key grades: - PSA 10 (Gem Mint): The goal. Commands the highest premiums - PSA 9 (Mint): Still excellent. Typically 50–70% less valuable than a 10 - PSA 8 (NM-MT): Good card with minor wear visible on close inspection

BGS: Subgrades Tell the Story

BGS breaks your card's grade into four subgrades: - Centering — How well-centered is the print? - Corners — Are they sharp? - Edges — Clean or dinged? - Surface — Scratches, print lines, defects?

Each subgrade is scored independently, and your overall grade is calculated from all four. This gives you a much more detailed picture of the card's condition.

Key grades: - BGS 10 Black Label (Pristine): All four subgrades are a perfect 10. Extremely rare — maybe 1–3% of BGS 10s earn this. Can sell for MORE than PSA 10s - BGS 10 (Gem Mint): Overall 10, but subgrades can include 9.5s - BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint): The "realistic" top grade for most cards. Very strong - BGS 9 (Mint): Still excellent with slight imperfections

The Black Label Factor

Here's where BGS has a genuine edge over PSA. A BGS 10 Black Label — all four subgrades at 10 — is the highest achievable grade in the hobby. Period. There's no PSA equivalent.

For certain modern cards (especially chrome/Prizm products), a Black Label can command a significant premium over a PSA 10. The rarity is real — they're extraordinarily difficult to get.

The catch: You can't aim for a Black Label. You submit a perfect-looking card and hope. Many collectors have sent dozens of pristine-looking cards to BGS and gotten zero Black Labels. Your eyes aren't as good as you think they are.

Pricing Comparison (2026)

Pricing has shifted significantly with the acquisition. Here's the current landscape:

PSA Pricing (February 2026)

Collectors Club membership: $149/year (required for Value Bulk). For the full PSA pricing breakdown, see our PSA Grading Cost guide.

BGS Pricing (Current)

Key BGS advantages over PSA pricing: - No minimum card requirement or maximum submission cap at any level - No minimum or maximum card value for any tier - No membership fee required — PSA requires $149/year for bulk pricing - No upcharges — BGS won't bump your fee if the card grades higher than expected (PSA will) - Subgrades included or available at all tiers

Budget winner: BGS — their Base tier at $14.95/card (no membership, no minimums) undercuts PSA's cheapest option ($24.99, membership required, 20-card minimum). And BGS will never upcharge you.

Turnaround winner: SGC (not BGS or PSA) — SGC offers the fastest times in the industry at $15–$18/card with consistent delivery.

Resale Value: Where PSA Still Wins

This is the number that matters most for sellers:

PSA 10s command 10–20% higher resale prices than equivalent BGS 9.5s across most card categories. This premium is especially pronounced for: - Vintage cards (pre-1980) - Flagship rookie cards - Pokémon and TCG cards

PSA holds approximately 67% market share of all graded cards. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle — collectors prefer PSA because it's the standard, which increases liquidity, which attracts more submissions.

When BGS Commands a Premium

• Black Labels: A BGS 10 Black Label can significantly exceed a PSA 10 in value
• Modern chrome products: BGS has a strong reputation for Prizm, Select, and chrome cards
• Subgrade appeal: Some collectors specifically prefer BGS for the subgrade transparency — they want to know the centering is a 10, not guess

The Math

Let's say you have a card that sells for $500 as a PSA 10 and $430 as a BGS 9.5.

• PSA grading cost: $24–$100 (depending on tier)
• BGS grading cost: $15–$100

Even with BGS's lower grading fee, the PSA 10's higher resale often nets you more. But if you're building a personal collection and don't plan to sell? BGS's cheaper pricing and subgrades make a strong argument.

The Acquisition: What It Means for You

In December 2025, PSA's parent company Collectors announced it would acquire Beckett. Here's the bigger picture: Collectors already owned PSA and SGC. That means three of the four major grading companies (PSA, BGS, and SGC) are now under the same corporate roof. Only CGC remains independently owned.

This was significant enough that a New York congressman called for an investigation into a potential monopoly on trading card grading in January 2026.

What We Know

• BGS claims to be operating independently with its own grading standards
• Grading standards haven't visibly changed (yet)
• Some collectors are moving away from Collectors brands to support genuine competition — which now means CGC is the only fully independent major grading company

What to Watch

• Will BGS and SGC grading standards converge with PSA's over time?
• Will there be a combined submission platform or cross-grading between the three?
• How will the monopoly investigation play out?
• Will CGC's market share grow as the only independent option?

Our take: In the short term, nothing changes for your cards. Grade with whichever company makes sense. Long term? CGC is worth watching closely as the only major independent grading company. Competition is healthy for the hobby, and right now there's a lot less of it than there was a year ago.

When to Choose PSA

✅ You plan to sell the card — PSA 10s are the most liquid grade in the hobby ✅ You're grading vintage cards — PSA dominates the vintage sports card market ✅ You want universal recognition — every buyer knows PSA ✅ You're grading Pokémon/TCG — PSA is the default for the Pokémon market ✅ Maximum resale value is the priority

When to Choose BGS

✅ You want subgrades — transparency into exactly why your card received its score ✅ You're chasing Black Labels — the highest achievable grade in the hobby ✅ You're grading modern chrome/Prizm — BGS has strong recognition for these products ✅ Budget matters — BGS standard pricing undercuts PSA significantly ✅ You're building a personal collection — subgrades add value for collectors who appreciate detail

When to Choose Neither

Sometimes the answer is CGC or SGC:

• CGC is gaining ground fast, especially for Pokémon/TCG. Their dual-10 system (Pristine 10 vs Gem Mint 10) makes a lot of sense. Pricing is competitive at ~$15/card bulk. And crucially — CGC is now the only fully independent major grading company following Collectors' acquisition of Beckett (which already owns PSA and SGC).
• SGC offers the fastest turnaround times in the industry and has a loyal following for vintage cards. Their "tuxedo" slabs have a distinctive black border that looks sharp. Note: SGC is owned by Collectors (same parent as PSA and now BGS).

For a deeper comparison of all four companies, see our upcoming PSA vs BGS vs CGC vs SGC comparison.

Protecting Your Graded Cards

Regardless of which company you choose, your slabs need proper protection — especially for display. Neither PSA nor BGS slabs offer UV protection, and UV damage causes irreversible fading over time.

Phantom Display's acrylic cases are designed to fit PSA, BGS, CGC, and SGC slabs with 99.6% UV protection. Whether you're Team PSA or Team BGS, your cards deserve museum-grade protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PSA or BGS better for card value?

For most cards, PSA 10s command 10–20% higher resale prices than BGS 9.5s. However, BGS 10 Black Labels can exceed PSA 10 values for certain cards.

Is BGS cheaper than PSA?

Yes. BGS standard grading starts at ~$15/card versus PSA's $24 Value tier. For volume submissions, BGS bulk pricing is particularly competitive.

Does PSA now own BGS?

PSA's parent company, Collectors, acquired Beckett in late 2025. BGS claims to operate independently, but they share a corporate parent.

Is a BGS 9.5 equal to a PSA 10?

They're often compared, but a BGS 9.5 typically sells for less than a PSA 10. A BGS 9.5 with strong subgrades (10/9.5/9.5/9.5) trades closer to a PSA 10 than a BGS 9.5 with weaker subgrades.

Should I cross-grade (crack and resubmit)?

Some collectors crack BGS 9.5s and resubmit to PSA hoping for a 10. This is a gamble — you could get a PSA 10 (profit) or a PSA 9 (loss). Only do this with cards where the PSA 10 premium justifies the risk and grading cost.

Which is better for Pokémon cards: PSA or BGS?

PSA dominates the Pokémon market. Most Pokémon collectors prefer PSA slabs, and PSA 10s command higher premiums. CGC is gaining ground as a viable alternative.

No matter which grading company you choose, protect your slabs properly. Phantom Display's cases fit PSA, BGS, CGC, and SGC with 99.6% UV protection — with cases from $15.