Compare established, independent grading and authentication providers, research your options, then submit directly to the grader that fits your needs. Poké-Trade helps you decide — the professionals do the grading.
Independent providers — you decide which fits. We don’t rank them “best”; every collector’s needs are different.
Professional Sports Authenticator
The most widely recognized grader for Pokémon cards. 1–10 scale; a PSA 10 “Gem Mint” commands the highest premiums and deepest liquidity.
Certified Guaranty Company
A strong modern option with subgrades and competitive pricing. Durable, attractive slabs; popular for modern cards and budget-conscious submissions.
Beckett Grading Services
Known for detailed subgrades (centering, corners, edges, surface). A BGS Black Label 10 rivals a PSA 10 in value for collectors who want granular condition breakdowns.
Sportscard Guaranty Company
A respected grader with fast turnaround and a clean, minimalist slab. A growing choice for both vintage and modern trading cards.
Publicly-known capabilities. Not a ranking — choose what fits your cards and goals.
| Provider | Authentication | Grading | Population | Cert lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CGC Cards | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Beckett (BGS) | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| SGC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Poké-Trade verifies and routes your collectibles — we document condition, maintain chain-of-custody and ownership records, and can route a card to the professional grader you choose. The authentication, grading and certification itself is always done by the independent provider.
Grading, authentication, certification and storage services are provided independently by their respective providers. Poké-Trade is not affiliated with or endorsed by a provider unless specifically stated. External links will take you off Poké-Trade to the provider’s own site.
