How it works
About a minute, start to finish. You just need your phone and a lamp or window.
Out of the sleeve
Plastic glare hides wear, so pull the card out of its sleeve or toploader first.
Four photos
Front, back, tilted under the light, and a close-up of the number in the corner.
Scan
It IDs the card, estimates the grade, and pulls raw and graded comps.
What you get back
An example for a Neo Genesis Lugia. The prices are real sales from September 2026; the condition details show what a typical scan reports.
A grade, plus a range
Photos aren't perfect, so you get the likely grade and how far it could swing. PSA grades a card by its weakest point, and so does this.
The reasons behind it
Centering, corners, edges and surface, each checked on its own. Here, light surface scratches are what hold the card back from an 8.
Raw vs slabbed comps
TCGplayer market price raw, the median eBay sale at the likely grade, and links to the latest sold listings so you can check the comps yourself.
PSA grading cost in 2026
PSA raised prices on February 10, 2026. Then on June 2, it paused all four Value tiers to work through its backlog, which makes Regular at $79.99 the cheapest PSA tier you can order right now. Hobby reports expect the Value tiers back around October 2026.
| PSA tier | Per card |
|---|---|
| Value Bulk (Collectors Club only) | $24.99, paused |
| Value | $32.99, paused |
| Value Plus | $49.99, paused |
| Value Max | $64.99, paused |
| Regular | $79.99, open |
Add shipping and insurance and a single PSA Regular card lands at roughly $90 to $120 all in. TAG and CGC are usually cheaper per card. Tiers change fast, so check the grader's site before you ship.
Is it worth grading?
Only if the grade adds clearly more than it costs, since a slab can come back lower than you hoped. Here's the Lugia at today's PSA pricing:
| PSA 7 value | $790 |
| Raw value | − $391 |
| PSA Regular, shipping and insurance, about | − $100 |
| Gain from grading | $299 |
Worth it.
With PSA's cheap tiers paused, a card needs to gain roughly $100 just to break even at PSA, so lower-value cards often lose money there right now. TAG or CGC can change that math.
What a PSA 10 needs
Centering is the first thing to check, because it's the easiest to measure and it can't be fixed. PSA's limits:
| Grade | Front | Back |
|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 9 | 60/40 | 90/10 |
The app measures centering from your front photo to the percent, so you know right away whether a 10 is even possible.
Photos that scan accurately
- One light source, like a lamp or a bright window.
- Phone straight above the card, card filling most of the screen.
- For the tilted shot, tip the card until the glare slides across it. Scratches light up; printing doesn't.
- For the number, get close enough that the digits are big and sharp.
FAQ
Is this an official grade?
No. It's an estimate from photos, to help you pick which cards are worth submitting. Only graders like PSA, TAG, CGC and Beckett can give an official grade.
PSA or TAG, which should I use?
PSA slabs usually sell for the most, which matters for high-value cards you plan to sell. TAG is typically cheaper, faster, and gives subgrades with a detailed defect report. This app shows both: the likely PSA grade and TAG-style subgrades.
What's the cheapest way to get a card graded right now?
With PSA's Value tiers paused, the cheapest PSA option is Regular at $79.99 per card. TAG and CGC generally cost less per card, and are worth checking for lower-value cards.
Does it work on promos and newer sets?
Yes. It IDs English Pokémon cards from the collector number, including promos like SWSH283 and Trainer Gallery cards like TG14/TG30.
Where do the prices come from?
Raw is the TCGplayer market price. Graded is the median of recent eBay sales at that grade, with links to the latest sold listings.
Is it free? Are my photos uploaded?
It's free, and your photos stay on your phone. The app only goes online to look up the card and its prices. Add it to your home screen and it opens like an app.