Consumer Reports

Use it to research a purchase before you buy

Consumer Reports is a shopping research app for comparing products, cars and services using ratings, reviews, buying guides and product comparisons. It suits people weighing up a specific purchase—such as an appliance or car—who want testing and survey-based information alongside their own research. The app is published by Consumer Reports, Inc.

Check options and get buying guidance

You can browse ratings and reviews, compare products side by side, and read guides about what to consider before buying. AskCR lets you ask questions about products and cars, while product collections and videos offer more ways to explore. In a store, Image Scan can use a barcode or product photo to look up information and ratings. Deals and a Best Time to Buy tool are also listed among the app’s shopping features.

Check access before relying on a feature

The app is free to download and offers some features without membership, but Consumer Reports members get full access to a wider set of tools and information. That includes ratings and reviews, CR Recommended products, Image Scan, unlimited AskCR conversations and member deals. If you need detailed ratings or a particular member feature, check whether it is available to you before making the app your only source of research.

What the user rating tells you

The app has a 3.28 out of 5 rating from 4,641 reviews and 500,000+ installs. That is a mixed user rating, so the testing and research may be more compelling to you than the app experience itself. It is best suited to shoppers who will use its comparisons and guides to narrow choices, rather than anyone looking only for a quick list of products to buy.