⑨What Other Grading Companies Are There Besides PSA and ARS? BGS, CGC, Gemix, and VSS Explained
When it comes to graded Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, PSA and ARS are probably the companies you most often see in Japan.
However, when browsing Mercari and similar marketplaces, you may come across Yu-Gi-Oh! cards in holders labeled “BGS,” “CGC,” “Gemix,” or “VSS” instead of PSA or ARS holders.
Naturally, different grading companies do not use the same grading standards, top grades, holders, or grading fees.
This article introduces the characteristics of BGS, CGC, Gemix, and VSS, four companies whose Yu-Gi-Oh! graded cards can also be found in Japan outside of PSA and ARS.
- What kind of grading company BGS is
- What kind of grading company CGC is
- What features the Japan-based services Gemix and VSS have
- What the highest grade is at each company
- How grading methods differ, including centering and the use of AI
- Differences in grading fees and circulation in Japan among six companies including PSA and ARS
A “10” means something different depending on the grading company
The first thing to understand is that each grading company sets its own grading standards.
For example, PSA’s highest grade is PSA 10. Centering is also part of the evaluation for PSA 10.
ARS, on the other hand, does not deduct for print misalignment or centering and has ARS 10+ as its highest grade.
You cannot simply say “PSA 10 is above ARS 10” or “BGS 10 is above PSA 10.” Even when the number is the same, you need to check which company assigned the grade and under what standards.
BGS (Beckett Grading Services)
BGS is a grading service provided by Beckett Grading Services in the United States. It began in 1999 and is one of the overseas grading services with a long history alongside PSA.
A major feature of BGS is that it evaluates cards in the following four categories called subgrades.
- Centering
- Corners
- Edges
- Surface
For example, even if the final grade is BGS 9.5, you can see how each category was evaluated, making it easier to understand to some extent why the card received that grade.
BGS also has a designation awarded to cards that receive a 10 in every subgrade: Black Label.
The four subgrades and the Black Label. Rather than seeing only one overall number, you can check which of corners, edges, surface, and centering were rated higher or lower.
CGC Cards
CGC Cards is another grading service based in the United States.
In the current CGC grading scale, above the standard Gem Mint 10 is Pristine 10 as the highest grade.
One characteristic of CGC is its active use of technology in the grading process. AI is used to assist with card identification, centering measurement, and similar tasks. For alteration and counterfeit detection, forensic technologies such as UV and infrared examination, ultra-high-magnification inspection, and non-destructive analysis of ink and paper are also used.
This does not mean that AI alone determines the grade; it is used as technology that supports CGC’s graders.
CGC previously offered subgrades, but current CGC Cards grading no longer includes subgrades.
In addition to its highest grade, Pristine 10, CGC combines technologies such as AI and various measurement methods with human grading. Another feature is that images of graded cards can be viewed on the official website.
Gemix
Gemix is a trading-card grading service whose process is completed entirely within Japan.
It grades not only Yu-Gi-Oh! OCG cards but also Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel cards.
Gemix evaluates the following four categories.
- Corners
- Edges
- Surface
- Centering
A distinctive point is how its highest grades are divided. In addition to a standard “10,” there are 10 Gold and 10 Black as additional top-grade categories.
- 10: two of the four categories are 10, and the other two are 9.5
- 10 Gold: three categories are 10, and the remaining one is 9.5
- 10 Black: all four categories are 10
Another major feature is the “Grading Report.” Using more than 12 defect codes and high-resolution images of both sides of the card, it lets you check how specific areas were evaluated.
Its detailed Grading Report. Rather than viewing only the final result, the system makes it easier to investigate what kinds of defects were identified and where on the card they were found.
VSS Grading (VALUE SCOUTER SERVICE)
VSS Grading is a Japan-based grading service provided by Collectest Co., Ltd.
VSS combines AI-based image authentication with grading by specialist staff.
Its highest grade is 10+. Grades run in 0.5 increments such as 10+, 10, 9.5, 9, 8.5, and so on, and centering standards are defined for each grade.
One especially noticeable feature of VSS is the holder. It uses a Japanese-made acrylic holder, which the company states provides at least 97% UV protection.
It combines AI-based authenticity checks, a service completed within Japan, a Japanese-made acrylic holder with at least 97% UV protection, and a system for checking price information on graded cards.
Circulation in Japan differs considerably
Even if a grading company exists, purchasing and selling can be quite different when its graded cards are rarely traded in Japan.
For this article, the level of circulation in Japan is based on how frequently Yu-Gi-Oh! graded cards are listed on Mercari.
A very large number of PSA-graded Yu-Gi-Oh! cards can be found, and many ARS-graded Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are also available. Yu-Gi-Oh! cards graded by BGS, CGC, Gemix, and VSS can also be found, but they appear less frequently than PSA and ARS cards.
Here, “circulation in Japan” does not represent the total number of transactions or overall market share across Japan. It is a relative guide based on how easy it is to find actual Yu-Gi-Oh! graded cards on Mercari.
PSA, ARS, BGS, CGC, Gemix, and VSS comparison table
The main differences among the grading companies are summarized below.
Grading fees may vary depending on the submission plan and declared value. If you actually submit cards, check each company’s official website for the latest fees.
| Category | PSA | ARS | BGS | CGC | Gemix | VSS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | United States / also has a Japan presence | Japan | United States | United States | Japan | Japan |
| Grading scale | 1–10 | 1–10+ / AU | 1–10 | 1–10 | 1–10 + 10 Gold / 10 Black | 1–10+ |
| Highest grade | PSA 10 | ARS 10+ | Pristine 10 Black Label | Pristine 10 | 10 Black | 10+ |
| 0.5 grades | Available (very rare / no 9.5) | Not available | Available | Available | Used for the four categories / final grade is an integer | Available |
| Centering evaluation | Available | Not deducted | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Use of AI | Yes — supports human grading | No clear official statement confirmed | No clear official statement confirmed | Yes — supports graders | Yes — certified graders + AI | Yes — AI + specialist staff |
| Reports, verification, etc. | Cert Verification, etc. | Certificate can be issued | Four-category subgrades | Graded-card images and Cert verification | Detailed Grading Report | Grading certificate and price information |
| Holder features | Clear holder | Substantial proprietary holder | Inner sleeve + clear holder | High-clarity holder | Made in Japan / stainless-steel label | Japanese-made acrylic holder |
| UV protection | 50% | No specific numerical value confirmed for the holder itself | No specific value confirmed | No specific value confirmed | No specific value confirmed | At least 97% |
| Submission from Japan | Domestic submission available | Completed within Japan | Overseas submission | Official Submission Center available in Japan | Completed within Japan | Completed within Japan |
| Approximate grading fee | Current plans start at ¥11,980 | From ¥3,850 | Current plans start at $79.95 | From $17 (Bulk / 25-card minimum) | From ¥3,500 (conditions apply) | From ¥3,278 |
| Circulation in Japan | Very high | High | Low | Low | Low | Very low |
| Strength | Very widely circulated in Japan and overseas | Does not deduct for centering; proprietary holder and 10+ | Four-category subgrades and Black Label | Pristine 10 and use of technologies such as AI | Detailed Grading Report and 10 Black | AI authenticity checks, at least 97% UV protection, and price information |
※Grading fees and submission conditions may change. The level of circulation in Japan is a relative assessment based on how easy it is to find Yu-Gi-Oh! graded cards on Mercari and does not indicate total Japanese market share.
There are grading companies with different features besides PSA and ARS
- BGS is characterized by four-category subgrades and the Black Label
- CGC is characterized by Pristine 10 and the use of AI to assist grading
- Gemix is characterized by its detailed Grading Report and 10 Black
- VSS is characterized by AI image authentication and a Japanese-made acrylic holder with at least 97% UV protection
- Even when the grade is called “10,” the standards and highest grades differ by grading company
- When buying graded cards, check not only the grade but also circulation in Japan and transaction prices
Rather than ranking one company as “the best,” it is easier to understand the differences by checking what each grading company places the most emphasis on.
When you encounter an unfamiliar graded card, checking the standards that company uses to evaluate cards can also broaden the ways you enjoy collecting graded cards.