CGC vs PSA vs CBCS: which comic grading company, or neither?

The short version

• CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) has graded comics since 2000 and is accepting submissions.
• PSA began accepting comic books and magazines for grading on July 14, 2025.
• CBCS stopped accepting new submissions as of April 17, 2026. Its population report, order tracking, and grader notes remain available for books it already graded.

So for a new submission in October 2026, the practical choice is CGC or PSA — or keeping the book raw. This page does not quote fees, turnaround times, or resale values. Those change often; check each service's site the day you submit.

Side by side

CGC, in its own words

CGC says it was founded in 2000 and that multiple experts examine each collectible and assign a grade. Books it certifies are authenticated, checked for restoration, and sealed in a tamper-evident holder; the current holder has an embedded hologram and locks and stacks with other CGC holders. Its label system is detailed: Universal (blue) for the grade as marked, Signature Series (yellow) for witnessed signatures, CGC x JSA (black/yellow) for unwitnessed autographs after its 2024 acquisition of JSA, Qualified (green), Restored (purple), Conserved (blue/grey), and Pedigree (gold) for recognized pedigree collections.

CGC's page-quality scale matches the logic on our own page quality guide: only White pages are allowed at 10.0, and books considered for 9.8 or better must, with rare exception, reach at least Off-White. To submit, CGC asks you to create a free account (paid membership tiers are optional), pick a tier based on publication date, value, and desired turnaround, complete an online submission form, and ship your books — or drop off at a show or through a CGC Authorized Dealer. Its pressing service is offered alongside grading, with a Screening step that checks authenticity, completeness, restoration, and press potential first.

PSA, in its own words

PSA, which also grades trading cards, began accepting comic books and magazines on July 14, 2025. It grades on a decimal scale from 0.3 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint) and accepts most standard-size comics from the Victorian Era through Modern, plus magazines and sports programs, within stated size limits. Every comic service level includes high-resolution imaging of the front and back and Grader Notes that detail defects. Books are sealed in a tamper-evident, UV-resistant holder and backed by PSA's authenticity guarantee. PSA describes a comic-specific label, plus a second label for the best of the best.

PSA also offers pressing as an add-on before grading, a Dual Service that authenticates and grades an autograph along with the book, a Crossover service for books already graded by another company (with an optional minimum grade — PSA notes that books may be returned raw if they fall short), and reholdering.

CBCS: what changed

The CBCS team announced that, as of April 17, 2026, CBCS would no longer accept new submissions. Access to its Population Report, order tracking, and grader notes remains available, and the CBCS site still lets you look up grading notes for a slab by scanning the QR code on the back of its label. If you own CBCS-graded books, those lookups still work; if you want a new grade, you will need a different service.

How to choose

• Selling vs keeping. If you plan to sell, look at recent completed sales of your exact issue and grade in each company's holder before you pick. If the book is for your own shelf, a slab may not be needed at all.
• Signatures. CGC separates witnessed (Signature Series) from unwitnessed (CGC x JSA) autographs. PSA's Dual Service authenticates and grades the autograph with the book. Decide which kind of signature you have before you choose.
• Restoration. CGC labels restored and conserved books separately and grades restoration on its own scale. If you suspect work has been done, ask the service how it will be labeled before you submit.
• Pressing. Both CGC and PSA offer pressing alongside grading. Pressing can relax waves, light bends, and roll; it cannot put back color, paper, or brittle pages. See should I press this book?.
• Fees and time. Check each service's current fees, tiers, and turnaround on its site the day you submit. Then run the numbers in is it worth getting your comic professionally graded?.

Or neither: grade it raw first

Most of the "which company?" question disappears once you know what you actually have. A book with tan pages or a color break near the top of the ladder may not be worth any service's fee. A clean, high-grade key might be.

That first, strict read is what GradeMyGrail is for. It is an AI comic book grader for raw books: you photograph the front and back, fill the defect chart, and get a conservative raw estimate with short defect bullets and optional press notes. It costs 50¢ per grade (1 credit). The first 500 sign ups get 1 free grade. Failed grades are refunded.

It is not a certification, it does not slab books, and it does not predict the grade CGC, PSA, or anyone else will assign. When a book sits between two grades, it assigns the lower one — so if the numbers only work at a higher grade, you will know before you pay to find out. For what photos can and can't show, see how accurate is AI comic book grading?.

Questions

Does PSA grade comic books? Yes. PSA began accepting comic books and magazines for grading on July 14, 2025, using a decimal scale from 0.3 to 10.

Is CBCS still grading comics? No new submissions. The CBCS team announced it would stop accepting new submissions as of April 17, 2026. Its population report, order tracking, and grader notes remain available for books it already graded.

Which grading company is best? It depends on what you are doing with the book. Compare each service's current fees, turnaround, signature and restoration handling, and the recent sales of your exact issue and grade in each holder. We do not rank them.

Can GradeMyGrail tell me what CGC or PSA will grade my book? No. GradeMyGrail gives a conservative raw estimate from your photos and defect chart. It is not a certification and does not predict any company's grade.