Frequently Asked
Questions

Use our free price checker to find your card's value. Search by name (e.g., 'Charizard Base Set') and see prices from TCGPlayer, eBay, and CardMarket. Values depend on condition, edition, and whether it's graded.

Search for your card in our catalog. You'll see current market prices from 3 sources: TCGPlayer (US), eBay (US), and CardMarket (EU). Compare raw and graded values to get the complete picture.

Key value factors: 1) Rarity (1st Edition, shadowless, promo), 2) Condition (PSA 10 vs raw), 3) Age (vintage Base Set commands premiums), 4) Pokemon popularity (Charizard, Pikachu), 5) Set desirability (Base Set, Prizmatic Evolutions).

The most valuable Pokemon cards include: Pikachu Illustrator ($5.3M), 1st Edition Base Set Charizard PSA 10 ($400K+), Trophy cards from official tournaments, and modern chase cards like Moonbreon. We track prices for all of them.

Each marketplace has different buyer pools and fees. TCGPlayer shows US retail prices, eBay reflects auction results, CardMarket covers European buyers. Prices also vary by condition—always check you're comparing the same grade.

It depends on your cards. TCGPlayer is best for raw singles with consistent demand. eBay reaches the most buyers for graded cards. CardMarket is ideal for European sales. Local card shops offer convenience but lower prices.

1) Check your card's value on PokeTrace, 2) Take clear photos (front, back, any defects), 3) List on TCGPlayer (easy for singles), eBay (best for graded/valuable cards), or CardMarket (EU). Price competitively based on condition.

Trusted sources: TCGPlayer (verified sellers, buyer protection), eBay (authentication for high-value items), CardMarket (EU), local game stores. Avoid deals that seem too good to be true—counterfeits are common on social media.

TCGPlayer: US-focused marketplace with standardized conditions. eBay: Auction/buy-now format, largest buyer pool, ~13% fees. CardMarket: Europe's largest TCG marketplace, EUR pricing, country-specific shipping. We aggregate prices from all three.

Use penny sleeves + toploaders for singles. Ship in rigid mailers with 'Do Not Bend' marking. For valuable cards, use tracking and insurance. Double-sleeve and use team bags for graded slabs. Never ship in plain envelopes.

Key tests: 1) Light test—real cards show a dark layer when held to bright light, 2) Feel the texture—real holos have distinct patterns, 3) Check print quality—fakes have fuzzy text and color issues, 4) Compare to known real cards.

Yes, especially on marketplace sites, social media, and dollar stores. Vintage cards (Base Set Charizard) and modern chase cards (Alt Arts) are most frequently counterfeited. Always verify high-value purchases.

PSA, BGS, and CGC authenticate cards before grading. Fakes are rejected. However, counterfeit slabs exist—always verify graded cards using PSA's cert verification tool or BGS/CGC lookup before buying expensive cards.

Hold the card up to a bright light source. Real Pokemon cards have a dark/opaque layer sandwiched between the front and back—you'll see a shadow. Fake cards often let more light through or appear uniform.

Proxies are clearly marked as not authentic, used for playtesting or casual games. Fakes are designed to deceive buyers into thinking they're real. Selling proxies as real cards is fraud. Owning proxies for personal use is legal.

For singles: penny sleeves (inner) + toploaders or semi-rigids. For binders: use side-loading pages to prevent dust. For collections: store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Avoid rubber bands, PVC binders, and extreme temperatures.

Use both together. Penny sleeves protect the card surface from scratches. Toploaders provide rigid protection against bending. For maximum protection, use a penny sleeve inside a toploader. Perfect fits work for graded slab protection.

Light cleaning is acceptable—use a microfiber cloth for dust. Never use water, chemicals, or erasers. Cleaning can't fix scratches, whitening, or creases. If a card needs heavy cleaning, grading probably isn't worth it.

Store cards in a climate-controlled room (40-50% humidity ideal). Use silica gel packets in storage boxes. Avoid basements, attics, and garages. For valuable collections, consider a dehumidifier or humidity-controlled display case.

PSA pricing varies by service level: Value ($18/card, 65+ business days), Regular ($50/card, 30 business days), Express ($100/card, 10 business days). Bulk submissions reduce per-card cost. Prices may change—check PSAcard.com for current rates.

Current turnaround times: Value tier 65+ business days, Regular 30 business days, Express 10 business days. Add shipping time both ways. During peak seasons (holiday releases), times may increase significantly.

CGC's standard service starts at $15/card—generally cheaper than PSA. Turnaround is often faster too. However, PSA-graded cards typically sell for 10-20% more on the secondary market due to brand recognition and liquidity.

Grade if: the card is valuable ($50+ raw), in excellent condition (potential 9-10), or you want long-term preservation. Don't grade: common cards, heavily played cards, or if grading cost exceeds the value increase.

PSA uses whole number grades (1-10) and dominates Pokemon grading. BGS provides subgrades for centering, corners, edges, and surface. BGS 9.5 is roughly equivalent to PSA 10. PSA typically commands higher prices due to market preference.

We track 15 grading companies: PSA, CGC, BGS, SGC, TAG, ACE, PCA, SFG, CGS, PGS, EGS, AOG, GSG, GCG, and MTG. All grades 1-10 with half grades where available. Graded prices are available on Pro and Scale plans.

PSA 10 (Gem Mint) is the highest grade a Pokemon card can receive. It indicates virtually perfect condition: sharp corners, clean edges, pristine surface, and 55/45 centering or better. PSA 10s command significant premiums, especially for vintage cards.

First edition cards have a small '1st Edition' stamp on the left side, below the artwork. They were the first print run of a set and are worth significantly more than unlimited versions. Base Set 1st Edition cards are the most valuable.

Shadowless cards are an early Base Set print run without the drop shadow on the right side of the card's artwork frame. They're rarer than unlimited but more common than 1st Edition. Value falls between the two versions.

Most valuable categories: 1) Trophy cards (Illustrator Pikachu, No. 1-3 Trainers), 2) 1st Edition Base Set holos (Charizard, Blastoise), 3) Vintage Japanese promos, 4) Modern chase cards (Alt Arts, Special Illustration Rares) in PSA 10.

Check the rarity symbol (bottom right corner): Circle = Common, Diamond = Uncommon, Star = Rare, Star H = Holo Rare. Also look for: 1st Edition stamp, set symbol, card number, and special variants (Full Art, Alt Art, Secret Rare).

Generally yes—scarcity and nostalgia drive vintage prices. Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, and Team Rocket (1999-2000) command premiums. However, condition matters enormously. A PSA 10 modern card can be worth more than a damaged vintage card.

We track over 60,000 unique Pokemon cards across 650+ sets, from Base Set (1999) to the latest Scarlet & Violet releases. Both English and Japanese cards are included.

We aggregate verified completed sales from TCGPlayer, eBay (US market), and CardMarket (EU market). Prices reflect actual transactions, not listings.

Most popular cards update multiple times per day. Less frequently traded cards update as new sales occur. Each price includes a timestamp so you know how fresh the data is.

Yes, we track Japanese Pokemon cards with pricing from CardMarket. Japanese cards are included in the EU market data with EUR pricing.

Yes! Basic price checking is completely free. Search any card and see prices from all 3 markets. Create a free account to access the API (250 requests/day). Pro plans unlock graded prices and higher limits.

Pro ($19.99/month) gives you 10,000 requests/day, plus US prices (eBay, TCGPlayer) and EU market data (Cardmarket), all grading companies (PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC, ACE, TAG), and email support.

Yes, you can change your plan at any time. Upgrades take effect immediately. Downgrades apply at your next billing cycle. No long-term contracts required.

We offer a 14-day money-back guarantee for first-time subscribers. Contact support within 14 days of your first payment for a full refund.

We use API key authentication. Include your key in the X-API-Key header with each request. Keys are generated in your dashboard after signing up.

All plans: 30 requests/10 seconds burst limit per API key. Free: 250/day. Pro: 10,000/day. Scale: 100,000/day. Daily limits reset at midnight UTC.

Yes, WebSocket real-time updates are available on the Scale plan. Connect to receive instant price updates when new sales occur for subscribed cards.

All endpoints return JSON. We follow REST conventions with standard HTTP status codes. Detailed response schemas are documented in our API reference.