Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about AI card grading on Master Grade.
How accurate is the AI grading?+
Our AI uses the same criteria as PSA — centering, corners, edges, and surface — and analyzes high-resolution photos to produce an estimated grade. Most estimates land within 0.5–1.0 points of what a professional service would assign. That said, this is an estimation tool, not an official grading service. Think of it as a smart second opinion before you decide to submit.
What trading card games are supported?+
Master Grade supports Pokémon TCG, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece TCG, Disney Lorcana, and major sports cards (MLB, NBA, NFL). The AI identifies the card type automatically from the photo.
How many free grades do I get?+
You must create an account to use MasterGrade. Free accounts get exactly 1 free scan per day. After that, you can buy credits starting at $2.99 for 10 scans or subscribe to Pro for unlimited scans.
Do I need to upload the back of the card?+
No — the front photo alone is enough for a grade. However, adding the back gives the AI more data for centering analysis and can catch surface issues (whitening, printing defects) that are not visible from the front. We recommend uploading both when possible.
What makes a good photo for grading?+
Place the card flat on a dark, matte surface. Use even, soft lighting with no flash. Shoot straight-on so the card fills most of the frame. Remove the card from any sleeve or toploader first because reflections and glare reduce accuracy. Check the photo guide on the grading page for visual examples.
Is this the same as PSA, CGC, or Beckett grading?+
No. Master Grade provides AI-powered grade estimates, not official authenticated grades. It uses PSA-equivalent criteria and a 1–10 scale, but the grades are for personal reference and decision-making only. For official grading and authentication, submit cards directly to PSA, CGC, or Beckett.
How does the credit system work?+
Credits are purchased in packs: 10 for $2.99, 30 for $7.99, or 100 for $14.99. Each grade uses one credit. Credits never expire and are tied to your account. If the AI fails to produce a grade because of an API error or a non-card image, the credit is automatically refunded.
Are my card photos stored?+
Photos are processed by the AI in real time and are not permanently stored on the servers. If you are logged in, a thumbnail and grade data are saved to your grade history so you can reference them later. You can delete any grade from your history at any time.
Can I grade cards in bulk?+
Batch grading is currently reserved for Pro subscribers. That keeps the free tier limited to one daily scan while power users can still run multi-card workflows and export CSV results.
How do the market value estimates work?+
The AI estimates what the card would likely sell for at different grade levels such as PSA 10, 9, 8, and raw based on its knowledge of market data. These are educated estimates, not live market prices. Always verify on eBay sold listings, TCGPlayer, or PriceCharting before making buying or selling decisions.
What is certificate verification?+
When you grade a card on Master Grade, a unique certificate ID is generated. Anyone can enter that ID on the Verify page to confirm the grade details. This is useful for sharing grades in marketplace listings, Discord servers, or with potential buyers.