The free AI card grading app for sports card collectors. Upload your raw or graded cards and get an instant analysis — centering, corners, edges, surface — before you pay for PSA, SGC, BGS, CGC, or Tag.
Grading is still worth it in 2026 — but only for the right cards. PSA's Value tier now starts at $32.99 per card, and when you factor in shipping and fees, your all-in cost is often $45–50 per card. That means a card needs to be worth significantly more graded than raw to justify submission. As a rule of thumb: if the spread between raw or graded cards isn't at least 3–4x your submission cost, skip it. CrackorKeep, the free sports card pre-grading app, helps you make that call before you spend a dollar.
Whether your card is worth grading depends on three things: its estimated grade, the PSA population for that card at that grade, and the current market spread between raw and graded copies. A card that would likely grade PSA 7 or 8 on a common player is almost never worth the submission fee. A card with PSA 10 potential on a hot rookie or low-pop parallel can return 5–10x the grading cost. Upload your card images to CrackorKeep and get an instant AI estimate across all four grading subcategories — centering, corners, edges, and surface — before you decide. Our card scanner can identify cards instantly from your photos.
A “raw” card is any card that has not been professionally graded and encased in a tamper-evident plastic holder (called a “slab”). Raw cards are ungraded, unslabbed, and typically sell for less than their graded equivalents — though the gap varies widely depending on the player, set, and condition. CrackorKeep analyzes your raw cards and estimates what grade they'd likely receive from PSA or other grading companies, giving you accurate card price context before you commit to a submission.
The best grading company depends on your card type and goals. PSA is the most recognized and delivers the highest resale liquidity — especially for high value sports cards, modern rookie cards, and vintage baseball card valuation. BGS (Beckett) is preferred for premium thick cards like patch autos, where a Black Label (4 sub-scores of 10) can dramatically multiply value. SGC is popular for vintage and pre-war cards. CGC is the 2026 leader for speed and cost-efficiency, often returning cards in 30–40 days for under $20. For most collectors submitting hockey cards, basketball cards, football cards, or baseball cards, PSA remains the default for resale value.
Yes — CGC has become a strong choice for sports cards in 2025–2026, particularly for collectors who prioritize turnaround time and cost. CGC often returns cards in 30–40 days at under $20 per card, making it one of the most accessible options in the current high-fee environment. The tradeoff is that CGC slabs carry less resale liquidity than PSA on most cards — a PSA 10 will typically command a higher price than a CGC 10 on the secondary market. CGC is a great option for soccer cards, baseball cards, and personal collection pieces where PSA's premium isn't worth the extra cost.
PSA's current pricing tiers in 2026 start at $32.99 per card for the Value service (estimated 45 business days). The Regular tier runs $79.99 per card at approximately 25 business days. When you add round-trip shipping and insurance, your all-in cost per card is typically $45–50 at the Value tier. PSA also offers a Collector's Club membership that unlocks the Value Bulk tier at $24.99 per card. Always calculate your expected graded value before submitting — CrackorKeep's instant grade estimate helps you do the math.
CrackorKeep is a free sports card pre-grading app powered by Claude AI's vision model. It analyzes your card images across the same four subcategories PSA uses: centering, corners, edges, and surface. The card scanner can identify cards instantly from your photos, and estimates a grade on the standard 1–10 scale with a plain-English recommendation on whether the card is worth submitting. The more photos you upload — front, back, corner close-ups — the more accurate the analysis. Results are estimates, not official grades.
For the most accurate analysis, upload the front and back of the card, plus close-up shots of all four corners. Shoot in natural light without flash — flash causes glare on chrome and foil cards that hides surface defects. Lay the card flat on a dark, neutral background and keep the camera steady. Avoid holding the card by the edges. CrackorKeep supports up to 6 card images per analysis — the more angles you provide, the more precise your grade estimate will be.
Before sending cards for grading, use CrackorKeep to estimate your grade and confirm it's worth the fee. When ready: create an account on PSA, BGS, CGC, or SGC's website and complete a submission form online. Sleeve each card in a penny sleeve, then a semi-rigid card saver or top loader. Pack securely in a bubble mailer or small box with padding. Ship via USPS, UPS, or FedEx with tracking and full insurance coverage. Always verify the grading company's current mailing address on their official website before sending.
Yes — CrackorKeep works for hockey cards, baseball cards, basketball cards, football cards, soccer cards, and other trading cards including Pokemon cards and TCG cards. It handles base cards, rookie cards, refractors, chrome parallels, autographs, jersey relics, and vintage cards (pre-1980). For vintage cards, the AI adjusts its expectations since minor wear is normal and expected as part of the card collecting journey. Select your card type in the form for the most accurate analysis.
Yes, completely free. No account required, no credit card, no submission limits. CrackorKeep is an essential tool for any card collector, built and maintained by Hub City Collectibles, a sports card shop based in the 617. We built this grading app because we use it ourselves before submitting cards to PSA.