SFG vs PCA: which grader to choose in 2026?

FR leader vs accessible FR alternative. PCA for the historical Collector 10+, SFG for a beginner-friendly first 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

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.

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.

Comparison table

Criterion	SFG	PCA
Country / hub	France · France	France · Paris 16ᵉ
Entry tier	Standard · from ~€15	Classic · €10.90
Express tier	Express · from ~€40	Excelsior · €249
Turnaround	Variable, label-focused communication	30 → 90 business days
Scale	1 → 10 across 4 criteria	1 → 10 + Collector 10+ (unique)
Reholder	On request	Yes
Access from France	Direct French submission	Direct French submission (online account)
EU reputation	Emerging FR, growing community	French leader, -20 to -50 % discount vs PSA on eBay US

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

Grading scale

The two scales are not equivalent. SFG uses 1 → 10 across 4 criteria with 10 on top and sub-grades yes (centering, corners, edges, surface). PCA uses 1 → 10 + Collector 10+ (unique) with Collector 10+ and sub-grades yes on standard / premium / excelsior.

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

SFG (FR) — entry tier from ~€15 + tracked round-trip ≈ ~€25-35 all-in for a €50 card. No middleman required.
PCA (FR) — entry tier €10.90 + 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 SFG or PCA?

Pick SFG if

you are starting out, you want accessible tariffs and a pedagogical workflow.

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

View the SFG page →

Pick PCA if

you want the Collector 10+ and the most recognised FR signature.

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

View the PCA page →

Final verdict

PCA for the historical Collector 10+, SFG for a beginner-friendly first 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.