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 the bar is higher than it used to be. As of June 2, 2026, PSA paused its four Value tiers (Value Bulk through Value Max) to work through a backlog that has climbed past 10 million cards, a pause expected to last up to four months. With Value gone, the cheapest way into PSA is now the Regular tier at $79.99 per card — and once you add shipping and insurance, all-in cost lands closer to $120–140. That roughly triples the old break-even, so a card needs real spread between raw and graded to justify submission. CrackorKeep, the free sports card pre-grading app, helps you decide which cards clear that bar 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. CGC has become the value leader in 2026, with bulk grading around $17 — especially relevant now that PSA has paused its Value tiers and pushed its cheapest option to $79.99 Regular.
Yes — CGC has become one of the strongest value options for sports cards in 2026, especially since PSA paused its Value tiers. CGC bulk grading runs around $17 per card, well below PSA's current $79.99 Regular minimum, though turnaround has been lengthening as volume shifts over. The tradeoff is resale liquidity: a PSA 10 typically commands a higher price than a CGC 10 on the secondary market. CGC is a great fit for soccer cards, baseball cards, and personal-collection pieces where PSA's premium isn't worth the extra cost.
As of June 2, 2026, PSA temporarily paused all four Value tiers (Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus, Value Max) to reduce a backlog that has grown past 10 million cards — expected to take up to four months. With Value paused, the cheapest available PSA service is the Regular tier at $79.99 per card, with turnaround currently stretched to about 50–60 days. Adding round-trip shipping and insurance puts your real all-in cost around $120–140 per card. Cheaper alternatives exist while Value is down: CGC Bulk runs about $17 and grades faster, though PSA slabs still carry the most resale liquidity. Always calculate expected graded value before submitting — CrackorKeep's instant estimate does that math for you.
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.