Plastic Playing Cards Guide: KEM vs Copag vs Modiano

KEM vs Copag vs Modiano: 100% Plastic Playing Cards Comparison

If you’re upgrading to a true plastic deck, these are the three brands most players compare: KEM, Copag, and Modiano. All three are built for long-term use and easy care — but they differ in material (acetate vs PVC), product lineup depth, and specialty formats like four-color suits.

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Quick picks (60-second answer)

  • Want the classic premium plastic feel: start with KEM (cellulose acetate).
  • Want durable value + selection: start with Copag (commonly PVC).
  • Want the deepest catalog (and a premium acetate tier): start with Modiano (many plastic lines + Platinum acetate).
  • Want four-color suits: start with Copag Legacy 4-Color or Vanda ACES 2.0.

How they’re similar

  • All three are true plastic decks designed for long life and easy cleaning.
  • All play consistently over repeated use compared with paper/plastic-coated paper decks.
  • All are practical “daily drivers” for frequent play: poker groups, bridge/canasta sessions, and game nights.

Where they differ (what matters)

1) Material & feel: acetate vs PVC

This is the biggest difference you’ll notice in-hand. Many 100% plastic decks are PVC. KEM is well known for cellulose acetate, a premium-feel lane. Modiano spans both worlds: much of their plastic lineup is PVC, but the Modiano Ramino Platinum line is a premium acetate option.

  • KEM (acetate): classic premium feel; long-term “lifetime deck” positioning.
  • Copag (PVC): durable, washable workhorse performance; strong everyday value.
  • Modiano (PVC + Platinum acetate): broad selection with a premium acetate tier via Platinum.

2) Product lineup depth

Think of this as “how many lanes does the brand give you?” This affects what you can buy beyond the basics.

  • KEM: focused/minimal lineup — if you want the KEM feel, the decision is mostly size + index + set format.
  • Copag: broader than KEM, including specialty options (like four-color), but typically less sprawling than Modiano.
  • Modiano: the deepest catalog — more lines, more index variants, more formats, plus Platinum acetate.

3) Specialty formats: four-color suits

Four-color decks assign each suit its own color. That can reduce misreads and speed up hand recognition, especially in poker and long sessions. KEM is typically a traditional-face brand; four-color buyers usually start with Copag or a specialty four-color deck.

Product lineup depth (what each brand “does”)

KEM: minimal, pro-focused

KEM’s modern retail lineup is intentionally tight — fewer SKUs, fewer novelty formats, and a heavy emphasis on the formats serious groups actually use. If you want a classic acetate deck you can keep in rotation for years, KEM is the simplest “buy once, use forever” lane.

Copag: broader line + four-color option

Copag sits in the middle: more variety than KEM and a strong reputation as a durable everyday plastic deck. A standout differentiator is the availability of four-color faces in the Copag Legacy line.

Modiano: deepest catalog + premium acetate tier (Platinum)

Modiano is where you go when you want options — multiple lines, formats, and index variants. The key callout for premium buyers is Modiano Ramino Platinum, which is positioned as an acetate option.

Modiano Platinum (acetate) — in stock at ClassicDecks:

Modiano four-color note: Four-color Modiano decks are sometimes sold internationally under the Carillon name (often listed as “Ramino Carillon 4 Color Index”). We do not stock that item today.

Index confusion: “4 pips” vs four-color suits

This is the #1 point of confusion when comparing Modiano (and sometimes KEM listings). “2 pips” vs “4 pips” (or “No. 4”) usually refers to where the corner indices appear (two corners vs all four corners). That is not the same thing as a four-color suit deck.

  • 4 pips / 4 index: indices printed on more corners (readability/layout choice).
  • Four-color suits: each suit has its own color (clubs/diamonds/hearts/spades all distinct).

Four-color suits (what we recommend)

If four-color is a priority, these are the cleanest choices we carry right now.

Copag Legacy 4-Color (best “classic” four-color option)

Vanda ACES (modern four-color system)

Prefer a traditional two-color look? Stick with KEM (acetate), standard Copag, or standard Modiano lines. If your group plays long sessions and wants faster hand recognition, four-color is worth trying.

Recommendations by use-case

  • Want the “classic premium” feel and a simple decision: start with KEM (acetate) and choose size + index.
  • Want value + variety (and easy re-buying): start with Copag.
  • Want the biggest lineup (and a premium tier): start with Modiano; if you want acetate specifically, look at Platinum.
  • Want four-color: start with Copag Legacy 4-Color or Vanda ACES 2.0.
  • Shopping for canasta: start with KEM Canasta Sets and compare from there.

Other plastic decks we carry

Want to browse beyond these three brands (Bicycle Prestige, Hoyle plastics, Piatnik, and more)? Start here: Plastic Playing Cards Collection.

  • Bicycle Prestige: mainstream plastic option with a familiar feel (see Plastic).
  • Hoyle plastics / Club Casino: durable everyday options (see Plastic).
  • Piatnik plastic: European-made variety (see Plastic).
  • Gemaco SuperFlex / ProFlex: casino style (see Plastic).

Collector corner: out-of-print acetate Hoyle (1999)

If you love acetate and want something truly uncommon, we also carry a long out-of-print Hoyle acetate release: Hoyle 100% Plastic – Cellulose Acetate “Sailboats” (1999). This is a great “heritage acetate” companion to KEM and Modiano Platinum.

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