PSA alternative card grading
for bulk modern cards.
Most collectors who look for a PSA alternative aren't unhappy with PSA's grading: they're weighing $59.99 per card at PSA's lowest open tier (Value tiers paused since June 2, 2026) and turnarounds measured in months. Here's how CCA compares, including where PSA is still the right call.
Where CCA differs from PSA
$8 per card on Bulk vs PSA's $59.99 Standard
PSA paused its Value tiers on June 2, 2026, so its lowest open tier is Standard at $59.99 per card. CCA Bulk is $8 per card with a 10-card minimum, and CCA Standard is $10 with no minimum.
Estimated 7–14 calendar days vs about 90–100 business days
PSA's Standard tier is estimated at about 90–100 business days, roughly four to five months on the calendar. CCA Bulk is estimated at 7–14 calendar days from confirmed intake, excluding shipping.
Coverage included on every card
Up to $100 to $1,500 coverage per card by service level, and an Authenticity and Grade Guarantee with published caps (not available to the original submitter).
A published formula you can read
CCA publishes how the overall grade is built from four condition subgrades, with worked examples and a public estimator that uses the same formula. Actual subgrades are set by a CCA grader.
See CCA prices by service level, the submission steps and the guarantee terms before you send a first order.
CCA vs PSA and the other graders
As of October 2026| Grader | Lowest open price / card | Minimum | Estimated turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCA | $8 (Bulk) | 10 cards | 7–14 calendar days (estimated) |
| Standard $10 with no minimum. Turnaround is estimated from confirmed intake and excludes shipping. | |||
| PSARates on psacard.com | $59.99 (Standard) | None listed | 90–100 business days (estimated) |
| Value tiers ($24.99 to $64.99) paused since June 2, 2026. | |||
| CGCRates on cgccards.com | $17 (Bulk) | 25 cards | About 120–150 business days (reported) |
| SGCRates on gosgc.com | $50 (Standard) | None listed | 40+ business days (estimated) |
| BGSRates on beckett.com | $14.95 (Base) | None listed | 75+ business days (reported) |
| Base availability limited in 2026. | |||
| TAGRates on taggrading.com | $149 (Priority) | None listed | Varies (limited availability) |
| Most lower tiers paused or at capacity; limited drops reported at $59 to $79. | |||
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Competitor rates are the lowest open tier as reported in October 2026 and change often. Check each grader's site before submitting.
Business days and calendar days are not the same unit: 90 business days is about 18 weeks. For the full cost of an order at each grader, read what card grading costs; for PSA and CGC side by side, see PSA vs CGC; and for every grader by card type and goal, see all grading companies compared.
When PSA is still the right choice
An alternatives page you can trust has to say this part out loud:
- Resale premium on high-end vintage: for five-figure cards, PSA 10s currently command the deepest auction liquidity. If you're grading a card worth thousands purely to sell it at auction next quarter, PSA's brand premium can outweigh its costs.
- Registry prestige: PSA's Set Registry has decades of collector history and community competition behind it.
- Track record: PSA has graded tens of millions of cards. CCA is newer, our population report is small and public, and we'd rather you see that than hide it.
The honest split: if you're grading a five-figure vintage card to auction immediately, PSA's brand premium is real. For bulk modern submissions, personal collections, sets, and cards where a $60 grading fee eats most of the card's value, CCA's lower fee and shorter estimated turnaround are the practical difference. That's the collector CCA is built for.
Is a CCA 10 the same as a PSA 10?
No. A CCA 10 is not a PSA 10. The two companies grade independently under their own standards, and buyers price their slabs differently. CCA publishes its grading formula and centering scale so you can see how a CCA grade is built.
Try us with 10 cards.
That's the whole Bulk minimum: $80 in grading fees, estimated 7–14 calendar days from confirmed intake.
Start a SubmissionComparison last reviewed October 22, 2026.