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Best Grading Tools
API

The API for
card people.

From the first card search to the final collection. Bring catalog data, image tools and BGT grading into the experience you’re building.

Start building Read the docs

Free sandbox. No payment card required.

A fictional BGT collection with cards, sleeves and a navy album on a light tabletop.
Illustrative scene with fictional BGT cards.
Find a printing Isolate a card Make a document Get a BGT estimate

Small requests.
Big possibilities.

Choose a building block. See what goes in, what comes back and where to start.

Find the right printing.

Connect a card name to its set, printed language and source. Give collectors a better place to start.

Access
Public · no key
Output / cost
JSON metadata
Explore the catalog
GET /v1/catalog/cards/search
cURL 
curl --fail --get \
  'https://api.bestgradingtools.com/v1/catalog/cards/search' \
  --data-urlencode 'game=pokemon' \
  --data-urlencode 'q=Pikachu' \
  --data-urlencode 'locale=en' \
  --data-urlencode 'pageSize=20'

Pokémon, Magic, One Piece and Lorcana. Coverage varies by source and language.

Examples only. Exploring or copying code sends no requests.

From photos to a report.

A clear path from original evidence to an independent estimate, with recovery built into the lifecycle.

Every report starts with your card.

Original photos. Visible evidence. An independent estimate.

Illustrated journey from card photographs through inspection to a report.

Conceptual illustration, not a real report or an internal system diagram.

Computer vision and AI, working together.

BGT combines image measurements, capture checks and AI-assisted evaluation. Focus, exposure and geometry help select useful evidence before analysis.

Capture originals underpin the evaluation. Presentation cutouts and reduced-glare viewer images do not replace that evidence.

Our approach draws on techniques studied in computational photography and image analysis. It is an independent BGT estimate: scientific references do not certify product accuracy.

  1. Capture

    Front and back, with the complete card visible.

    Front
    Back
    Sample artwork. Use your original photos.

    Original photos are the evidence. Catalog artwork cannot replace them.

  2. Prepare & submit

    Review both photos and confirm the evaluation.

    Preparation uses no tokens. An accepted submission reserves 1 G; an identical retry retains the original request.

  3. Evaluate

    Identity and condition answer different questions.

    Which card?
    Identity and printing, when they can be resolved.
    What is visible?
    Visible centering, corners, edges and surface.

    Unresolved identity is not a defect. Reflections and hidden areas limit what can be concluded.

  4. Retrieve

    Follow the status and open the report when available.

    The estimate, observations and limitations remain private. Sharing is a separate action by the owner.

Report completed

The evaluation consumes 1 G. You receive an independent BGT estimate.

1 G consumed

New photos needed

The reservation is refunded. Repeat the requested capture and submit a new evaluation.

1 G returned

Terminal failure

The reservation is refunded. A lost connection alone does not confirm failure: check status first.

1 G returned
Read left to right; on mobile, top to bottom. This is a conceptual service map, not an internal execution sequence. A recapture request returns the flow to the photos.
Explore the methodology

Build with confidence.
Know the cost.

Public data, media tools and grading have different needs. Choose the pieces your product uses.

Public catalog
Free

Search cards and sets. No API key or subscription required.

Cutouts & PDFs
$0 to explore

Start in the sandbox. Production media plans are planned for launch.

BGT grading
1 G / completed grading

Your existing app wallet. No media subscription. Recaptures and terminal failures return the reservation.

Compare media plans

Sandbox is available now. The paid prices below are planned launch prices; production subscriptions open after validation.

Monthly limits Sandbox Available now $0 / month Starter Planned launch $9 / month Pro Planned launch $19 / month
Processing requests5005,00020,000
Successful cutouts255001,500
Successful PDFs10—500
Requests per minute103060
OutputTest watermarkProductionProduction

No automatic overage charges. Failed processing does not consume a cutout or PDF credit. Monthly quotas reset on the first day of each month, UTC. Applicable taxes are shown at checkout.

Grading without a subscription.

Buy 5, 15 or 40 G and use them in the app or through your API. One completed grading uses one token.

Explore token packs

Start with two photos.

Upload the front and back, review your images and follow the result. Web token checkout opens after Stripe activation; final prices appear in the console.

Grade a card

Private by design.

Files travel directly to the processing API. Keys have explicit permissions, results are accessible only to your project. Cutout/PDF outputs expire after 24 hours; grading evidence and reports follow your private account retention policy.

Read the security model

More to come.

We are researching prices based on verified completed sales, with matching card language and condition. Market endpoints are not available in this release.

Tell us what you need