CGC vs CBCS vs PGX : quel service de grading choisir en 2026 ?

Im Jahr 2026 dominieren drei Unternehmen den amerikanischen Markt für die Bewertung von Comics:CGC (Certified Guaranty Company),CBCS (Comic Book Certification Service), UndPGX (Professionelle Bewertungsexperten). Jedes bietet den gleichen Kernservice – professionelle Bewertung, numerische Einstufung und Kapselung in einer manipulationssicheren Platte – aber damit enden die Ähnlichkeiten auch schon. Das Unternehmen, für das Sie sich entscheiden, wirkt sich direkt auf den Wiederverkaufswert Ihres Comics, die Wartezeit und das Vertrauen der Käufer in die Qualität aus.

Ganz gleich, ob Sie einen hochwertigen Schlüssel aus der Silberzeit oder ein signiertes modernes Buch bewerten oder einfach nur eine persönliche Sammlung bewahren möchten: Die Auswahl des richtigen Bewertungsdienstes ist eine Entscheidung, die es wert ist, gleich beim ersten Mal richtig getroffen zu werden. In diesem Leitfaden werden alle drei Aspekte hinsichtlich Preis, Geschwindigkeit, Marktprämie und Reputation verglichen, damit Sie eine fundierte Entscheidung treffen können.

CGC (Certified Guaranty Company)

Founded in 2000 in Sarasota, Florida, CGC is the undisputed market leader. It processes roughly 70% of all professionally graded comics worldwide and maintains the largest census database in the hobby. When collectors, dealers, and auction houses say "graded comic," they usually mean a CGC slab.

CGC strengths

• Highest resale premium — A CGC 9.8 consistently sells for more than an equivalent grade from any other company. On eBay and Heritage Auctions, the CGC label is the gold standard.
• Largest census database — CGC's population reports let you check exactly how many copies exist at each grade, which is essential for pricing rare books.
• Best brand recognition — Buyers trust CGC instantly. A CGC slab eliminates negotiation friction at conventions, in online sales, and at auction.
• Signature Series (SS) — CGC's witnessed signature program with the yellow label is the most recognized authenticated signature program in the market. A CGC Signature Series book can carry a significant premium over a standard blue label.

CGC drawbacks

• Highest prices — Standard tier runs $30-65 per book depending on declared value, plus a mandatory annual membership ($39-$149/year).
• Longest turnaround — Economy service can take 6-9 months. Standard runs 3-6 months. Express and Walk-Through are faster but cost $75-$150+ per book.
• Perceived inconsistency — Some collectors report grade variation when resubmitting the same comic, though this criticism applies to all grading companies.

CGC cost breakdown

Best for: High-value key issues, investment-grade books, anything you plan to resell. If the grade directly impacts value, CGC is the safest bet.

CBCS (Comic Book Certification Service)

Founded in 2014 by Steve Borock — the same person who built CGC's grading standards as its original primary grader — CBCS positioned itself as a credible, more affordable alternative. The company uses the same 0.5-to-10.0 scale and offers similar encapsulation, but with distinct advantages for certain collector profiles.

CBCS strengths

• Verified Signature Program (VSP) — Unlike CGC's requirement for a live witness, CBCS can authenticate signatures after the fact through handwriting analysis. This is a major advantage if you bought a signed comic at a convention without a CGC witness present.
• Lower cost — Standard grading runs $22-50 per book, and membership fees are lower than CGC.
• Faster turnaround — CBCS typically processes submissions 2-4 weeks faster than CGC at equivalent service levels.
• Growing market acceptance — CBCS has steadily gained credibility. Many dealers and auction houses now accept CBCS slabs without hesitation.

CBCS drawbacks

• Lower resale premium — A CBCS 9.8 typically sells for 10-20% less than an equivalent CGC 9.8. For high-value keys, that gap can be hundreds of dollars.
• Smaller census — Population data is less comprehensive than CGC's, making it harder to assess rarity at specific grades.
• Less recognition outside the US — International collectors and buyers often default to CGC, making CBCS slabs slightly harder to sell abroad.

CBCS cost breakdown

Best for: Mid-range books ($50-$500 raw value), comics with unwitnessed signatures, budget-conscious collectors who still want legitimate certification.

PGX (Professional Grading Experts)

PGX positions itself as the budget-friendly alternative to CGC and CBCS. Founded before CBCS, PGX has been grading comics since the early 2000s but has never achieved the market trust of its competitors. The company offers the lowest prices and often the fastest turnaround, but these savings come with trade-offs that every collector should understand.

PGX strengths

• Cheapest option — Standard grading runs $15-25 per book, roughly half the cost of CGC.
• Fastest turnaround — Standard processing is often 4-8 weeks, significantly faster than CGC or CBCS economy tiers.
• Accessible entry point — For collectors who want physical protection and a grade without paying CGC prices, PGX fills a gap.

PGX drawbacks

• Lowest market confidence — Many experienced collectors and dealers will not accept PGX grades at face value. Some require the comic to be cracked and regraded by CGC or CBCS before purchasing.
• Controversial track record — Reports of grading inconsistencies and restoration issues have dogged PGX for years. While not every PGX slab is problematic, the reputation persists.
• Minimal resale premium — A PGX 9.8 often sells for little more than a raw copy, negating the purpose of grading for investment.
• No meaningful census data — PGX does not maintain public population reports, removing a key tool for rarity analysis.

PGX cost breakdown

Best for: Personal collection grading where resale is not a priority. If you want a slab for display purposes and physical protection only, PGX can save money. Do not rely on PGX for investment-grade certification.

Head-to-head comparison

Which grading company should you choose?

The right answer depends on your goals. Here is a practical decision framework:

The dual-submit strategy

Some experienced collectors use a dual-submit approach for borderline books. The idea: send a comic you believe is a 9.6-or-better to CBCS first at a lower cost. If it comes back 9.8, crack it from the CBCS slab and resubmit to CGC for the higher resale premium. If it comes back 9.6 or lower, you have saved money by not paying CGC's higher fees for a grade that would not command a significant premium anyway.

This strategy works best for modern books in the $100-$500 raw value range. The math does not work for low-value comics (double grading fees exceed the potential premium) or for high-value keys (the risk of damage during cracking is too costly).

FAQ: CGC vs CBCS vs PGX