PSA vs SFG: which grader to choose in 2026?

Global gold standard vs FR accessibility. PSA for international resale, SFG for a hassle-free French submission. 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

Founded in 1991 by David Hall, ~26 M cards graded in 2025 (GemRate). Global market leader. PSA 10 = virtually perfect, front centering 55/45 to 60/40. No sub-grades (unlike BGS / CCC).

Emerging French grader, accessible tariffs, marketing centred on slab labelling. 4-criteria scale, half-grades to verify on the official page. Beginner-oriented pedagogical approach.

Comparison table

Criterion	PSA	SFG
Country / hub	United States · Santa Ana, California	France · France
Entry tier	Value Bulk · $24.99	Standard · from ~€15
Express tier	Super Express · $300	Express · from ~€40
Turnaround	3 → 65+ business days	Variable, label-focused communication
Scale	1 → 10 with half-grades	1 → 10 across 4 criteria
Reholder	Yes, paid	On request
Access from France	EU now requires a French reseller (PokéLoutre, Fuji-Store)	Direct French submission
EU reputation	International gold standard, eBay US + Cardmarket EN	Emerging FR, growing community

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

Grading scale

The two scales are not equivalent. PSA uses 1 → 10 with half-grades with PSA 10 Gem Mint on top and sub-grades no, single overall grade. SFG uses 1 → 10 across 4 criteria with 10 and sub-grades yes (centering, corners, edges, surface).

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

PSA (US) — Value/Bulk ≈ $24.99 + FR reseller ~€30 + tracked return shipping + insurance ≈ ~€60-70 all-in for a €50 card.
SFG (FR) — entry tier from ~€15 + 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 PSA or SFG?

Pick PSA if

your card is worth > €200, you target the PSA 10 and global resale.

~ €40-45 all-in (card ≤ €300), 4-5 month cycle
International gold standard, eBay US + Cardmarket EN

View the PSA page →

Pick SFG if

you are starting out, you ship from France with no US middleman.

Accessible tariffs, beginner-friendly positioning
Emerging FR, growing community

View the SFG page →

Final verdict

PSA for international resale, SFG for a hassle-free French submission.

For the French-only collector: SFG 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.