PCA vs CGC: which grader to choose in 2026?

US Pristine 10 vs French Collector 10+. CGC for international resale, PCA for the French Collector 10+ signature. 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.

Founded in 2000, CGC Cards division rebranded in 2020. Parent: Certified Collectibles Group. Pristine 10 = no defect under 5× magnification, above Gem Mint 10. January 2026 tariff hike.

Comparison table

Criterion	PCA	CGC
Country / hub	France · Paris 16ᵉ	United States · Sarasota, Florida
Entry tier	Classic · €10.90	Bulk · $15
Express tier	Excelsior · €249	Walk-Through · $300
Turnaround	30 → 90 business days	1 → 45 business days
Scale	1 → 10 + Collector 10+ (unique)	1 → 10 with half-grades + Pristine 10
Reholder	Yes	Yes
Access from France	Direct French submission (online account)	CGC Munich (EU office) or French resellers
EU reputation	French leader, -20 to -50 % discount vs PSA on eBay US	Recognised in EU/US, Pokémon premium rising

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. CGC uses 1 → 10 with half-grades + Pristine 10 with CGC Pristine 10 and sub-grades optional on selected tiers.

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.
CGC (US) — Value/Bulk ≈ $15 + FR reseller ~€30 + tracked return shipping + insurance ≈ ~€60-70 all-in for a €50 card.

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 CGC?

Pick PCA if

you target the Collector 10+ and value the French signature.

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

View the PCA page →

Pick CGC if

you target the Pristine 10 and resell on eBay US.

EU office in Munich, ATA Carnet procedures supported
Recognised in EU/US, Pokémon premium rising

View the CGC page →

Final verdict

CGC for international resale, PCA for the French Collector 10+ signature.

For the French-only collector: PCA stays the obvious pick — no middleman, French support, local community.
For the resale investor: CGC 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.