PCA vs CCC: which grader to choose in 2026?

Value-based transparency vs Collector 10+ heritage. CCC for pricing transparency, PCA for the Collector 10+ and French heritage. We compare verified 2026 tariffs, grading scales, access from France and resale reputation. Pick the one that matches your use case, not the hype.

Grader A Grader B

Pick two different graders to compare.

Verdict at a glance

SAS founded 2015 (SIREN 810 151 290), president François-Xavier Colombani. French TCG grading pioneer. Collector 10+ is unique worldwide (above PSA 10). Sub-grades on all tiers except Classic.

French service with public pricing scaled to declared value. Self-positioned as "most transparent". Lowest-grade rule: final grade = the lowest of 4 sub-grades (not an average). Centering scored from 8 to 10.

Comparison table

Criterion	PCA	CCC
Country / hub	France · Paris 16ᵉ	France · Arcueil (Paris region)
Entry tier	Classic · €10.90	Value-based · €17
Express tier	Excelsior · €249	High-value bracket · €28
Turnaround	30 → 90 business days	Volume-dependent
Scale	1 → 10 + Collector 10+ (unique)	1 → 10 with half-grades + sub-grades
Reholder	Yes	On request
Access from France	Direct French submission (online account)	Direct online submission or Arcueil drop-off
EU reputation	French leader, -20 to -50 % discount vs PSA on eBay US	Transparent FR service, positive Pokébip / Pokéargus sentiment

Verified 2026 tariffs from official pages. Turnarounds are indicative and vary with volume.

Grading scale

The two scales are not equivalent. PCA uses 1 → 10 + Collector 10+ (unique) with Collector 10+ on top and sub-grades yes on standard / premium / excelsior. CCC uses 1 → 10 with half-grades + sub-grades with 10 and sub-grades yes (4 criteria, lowest-grade rule).

In practice, a PSA 10 is not the same threshold as a CGC Pristine 10 (stricter under 5× magnification) or a PCA Collector 10+ (one notch above PSA 10). International resale strongly favours PSA 10; French graders are essential for Pokébip / Cardmarket FR but discounted on eBay US.

2026 total cost — example €50 card

PCA (FR) — entry tier €10.90 + tracked round-trip ≈ ~€25-35 all-in for a €50 card. No middleman required.
CCC (FR) — entry tier €17 + tracked round-trip ≈ ~€25-35 all-in for a €50 card. No middleman required.

These are indicative 2026 brackets. Adjust for tier (express tiers cost more), declared value (CCC and PCA scale with value) and the insurance you choose. For cards above €500, step up a tier and use insured shipping.

Who should pick PCA or CCC?

Pick PCA if

you chase the Collector 10+ and accept the international discount in exchange for French heritage.

No middleman required, simple checkout + Colissimo shipping
French leader, -20 to -50 % discount vs PSA on eBay US

View the PCA page →

Pick CCC if

you want to know the exact price upfront, scaled to your declared value.

Flat €17 crossover, Arcueil drop-off for declarations ≥ €501
Transparent FR service, positive Pokébip / Pokéargus sentiment

View the CCC page →

Final verdict

CCC for pricing transparency, PCA for the Collector 10+ and French heritage.

For the French-only collector: PCA stays the obvious pick — no middleman, French support, local community.
For the resale investor: PSA dominates international resale, especially on eBay US and Cardmarket EN.
For a first submission: stick with a direct French grader, you skip customs paperwork and learn the workflow before targeting PSA.