Consumer Reports subscription plans and their costs
Consumer Reports offers three subscription tiers: digital-only, print-only, and print-plus-digital. The digital-only plan costs the least and gives you access to ratings, reviews, and buying guides on their website and mobile app. Print-only delivers the monthly magazine to your home but does not include online access. Print-plus-digital combines both and costs more than either alone.
Pricing varies depending on how long you commit. A monthly digital subscription costs more per month than an annual subscription broken into monthly payments. Consumer Reports frequently runs promotions that reduce the first month or first year, especially around the holidays and tax season. The exact current prices appear on their website during checkout, and you can see what each plan includes before you pay.
You can cancel at any time, though the terms depend on which plan you chose. A monthly subscription can be cancelled in your account settings without penalty. Annual subscriptions typically cannot be refunded if you cancel partway through, so read the cancellation policy for your specific plan before you buy.
Key Takeaways
- Consumer Reports offers digital-only, print-only, and combined subscriptions at different price points, with annual plans costing less per month than month-to-month.
- Digital access includes ratings and reviews across cars, appliances, electronics, and other product categories on their website and app.
- Print subscriptions deliver the monthly magazine but do not include online access unless you pay for the combined plan.
- Promotional pricing is common, especially during the first month or year, so the price you see at checkout may be lower than the regular rate.
- Monthly subscriptions can be cancelled anytime, but annual subscriptions usually cannot be refunded if you cancel early.
What digital access includes
A digital subscription gives you access to Consumer Reports' full database of product ratings and reviews. This includes cars, appliances, electronics, home and garden products, and health and personal care items. You can search by product type, read detailed test results, compare models side by side, and see which products Consumer Reports recommends and which ones to avoid.
The digital plan also includes buying guides that walk through what to look for when shopping for a specific product — for example, what features matter in a refrigerator or how to choose a mattress. You can read these guides on any device with internet access, and the content updates as Consumer Reports completes new tests and reviews.
Digital subscribers can save products to a personal list, get price alerts when items go on sale, and read articles about consumer issues and product safety recalls. The mobile app works offline for content you have already viewed, so you can reference ratings while you are shopping in a store.
What print subscriptions deliver
A print subscription sends you the Consumer Reports magazine each month. The magazine contains the same ratings and reviews available online, but in a physical format you can hold and mark up. Each issue typically focuses on a few product categories in depth — for example, one month might feature cars and appliances, another might cover electronics and home security.
Print subscribers do not automatically get online access. If you want both the magazine and the website, you need to pay for the print-plus-digital plan. Some print subscribers find the monthly magazine sufficient because it covers the major product categories throughout the year, while others prefer the digital version because they can search for a specific product when ready rather than waiting for the next issue.
Print subscriptions are mailed to a U.S. address. Delivery typically takes one to two weeks after the issue is published. If you move, you can update your address in your account settings to may support the magazine reaches you.
How to start and manage your subscription
To start a subscription, go to the Consumer Reports website and select the plan you want. You will enter your email address, create a password, and provide a payment method. If you choose print, you will also enter a mailing address. After you complete payment, your digital access begins when ready, and your first print magazine (if you ordered it) will arrive within one to two weeks.
Once you are subscribed, you can log in to your account to view your subscription details, change your payment method, update your mailing address, or cancel. The account settings page shows your renewal date and the price you are paying. If you have questions about your subscription, Consumer Reports has a help section on their website and a customer service phone number listed in your account.
If you want to upgrade from digital-only to print-plus-digital, or downgrade from print-plus-digital to digital-only, you can make that change in your account settings. The change usually takes effect at your next renewal date, though some changes may be applied when ready depending on the plan.
Comparing Consumer Reports to other product review sources
Consumer Reports is one of several sources for product ratings and reviews. Other options include manufacturer websites, retailer reviews (like Amazon customer reviews), independent review sites that do not charge for access, and YouTube channels dedicated to product testing. Each source has different strengths: Consumer Reports conducts its own lab tests and does not accept advertising, while retailer reviews reflect real customer experience but vary in depth and reliability.
Some people use Consumer Reports alongside free review sites rather than instead of them. For example, you might check Consumer Reports for a detailed lab test of a washing machine, then read Amazon reviews to see how the model performs over time in real homes. Others find that free sources meet their needs and do not need a paid subscription.
The choice depends on what products you shop for and how much detail you want. If you buy cars, appliances, or electronics regularly and want independent test results, Consumer Reports may be worth the cost. If you shop infrequently or prefer to rely on customer reviews and manufacturer specs, a free source might be sufficient.
When your subscription renews and how to avoid unwanted charges
Your subscription renews automatically on the date shown in your account settings. For monthly plans, this happens every month on the same day you signed up. For annual plans, it happens once a year. Consumer Reports sends a reminder email before your renewal date, usually a few days in advance.
If you do not want to renew, you must cancel before the renewal date. Cancellation is done in your account settings and takes effect when ready — you will not be charged again, but you will lose access to your subscription at that moment. Some people cancel right after their renewal to avoid forgetting, then resubscribe later if they need it again.
If you are charged and did not intend to renew, contact Consumer Reports customer service with your receipt. They can review your account and may issue a refund depending on how long ago the charge occurred and your subscription terms.
Free alternatives and limited-access options
Consumer Reports offers some content for free on their website without a subscription. You can read articles about consumer issues, product safety recalls, and buying tips. However, the detailed ratings, reviews, and side-by-side comparisons require a paid subscription.
Some libraries offer free access to Consumer Reports through their digital collections. If you have a library card, log in to your library's website and look for Consumer Reports in their database list. This is a way to read reviews without paying for a subscription, though access may be limited depending on your library's agreement with Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports also publishes buying guides and special reports that are sometimes available free or at a lower cost than a full subscription. These focus on a single product category — for example, a guide to buying a car or choosing a mattress — and can be purchased individually if you only need information about one type of product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my Consumer Reports login with family members?
Consumer Reports' terms of service state that subscriptions are for personal use only and should not be shared. However, enforcement varies. If multiple people in your household want access, Consumer Reports may offer a family plan or allow you to add household members to your account — check their website or contact customer service for current options.
Does Consumer Reports test every product on the market?
No. Consumer Reports tests a selection of products in each category based on what is popular and what consumers ask about most. They publish ratings for hundreds of models, but not every brand or model available for sale. Their website shows which products they have tested and which categories they cover.
How often does Consumer Reports update their ratings?
Consumer Reports updates ratings and reviews throughout the year as they complete new tests. Some product categories are tested more frequently than others. The website shows the date each review was published or updated, so you can see how recent the information is.
What if I disagree with a Consumer Reports rating?
Consumer Reports bases ratings on their own lab tests and does not change them based on individual disagreement. However, they do accept feedback and use it to improve their testing methods. You can contact them through their website if you have a specific concern about how they tested a product.
Can I get a refund if I am not satisfied with my subscription?
Consumer Reports typically does not offer refunds for digital subscriptions once access has begun. Monthly subscriptions can be cancelled to stop future charges, but the current month is not refunded. Annual subscriptions have different terms — check your plan's cancellation policy before you buy.