The age-old question among card collectors is which grading service to choose to grade their cards: PSA or Beckett (BGS)?
Card owners prefer to have their cards graded by a professional grading service, which can add value and provide authenticity to their cards. But too many of them tend to overthink the choice between PSA vs Beckett – although it’s understandable.
These services will check everything about your cards including the coloring, the condition of the cards, their authenticity, and it makes your cards more sellable because people will trust you that you have the real deal in your hands.
To help you make your decision easier, I’ve compiled a complete guide and comparison between PSA and Beckett. Read on to find out more.
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Before We Start…Quick Verdict
PSA is one of the most popular grading services, and it’s been in the game for decades now. They’re known for providing a bit more expensive service but it also takes longer for them to grade their cards.
However, PSA-graded cards almost always sell better and for more than those graded by BGS. They’re especially great for vintage cards of great value, and it’s easier to get higher grades with PSA than it is with BGS. Another positive thing to mention is the PSA registry where collectors can organize their sets and connect with other collectors.
On the other hand, BGS (Beckett) has some advantages going for it, too. It’s cheaper and (usually) faster than PSA. It has the sub-grading system in place, so you can get a score of 9.5, for example. This can be a double-edged sword for some, but it makes for more accurate grading. BGS is preferred for newer cards mostly.
However, Beckett is tougher on grading and a BGS 9.5 is just not as good as a PSA 10 or even PSA 9. Plus, the BGS cardholders are slightly bigger than PSA’s holders, which might become a problem for those who don’t have a lot of space.
This is just a short verdict in a nutshell… To find out more about these two services in detail, read my review of each of them.
What is PSA?
PSA, or the Professional Sports Authenticator, is a US third-party grading company that’s been in the business since 1991. On their website, they say they’ve authenticated and graded over 40 million cards worth over a billion dollars.
They have a good track record when it comes to vintage cards with a lot of value. Some of their most famous graded cards include some cards that went for several millions of dollars. They’re seen as the experts for grading older cards, although they’re also pretty reliable when it comes to newer cards.
Card collectors from all over the world use the PSA for