What you receive with a Consumer Reports subscription
A Consumer Reports magazine subscription delivers the monthly print magazine to your home, plus online access to their testing database and product ratings. The subscription includes reviews of cars, appliances, electronics, and other goods based on their own lab testing. You also get access to buying guides, recall information, and ratings that are not published in the magazine itself.
Consumer Reports is a nonprofit organization that does not accept advertising, so the magazine and website contain only their own test results and recommendations. The subscription model funds their testing operations. Print subscribers typically receive 12 issues per year, though the exact number can vary depending on which subscription tier you choose.
The online portion of your subscription — called the Members-Only section of their website — contains the full product database searchable by category, price range, and features. This is where most of the detailed ratings live. The magazine itself highlights key findings and buying advice but cannot print every test result.
Key Takeaways
- A print subscription includes 12 monthly magazines plus full access to Consumer Reports' online ratings database and buying guides.
- You can subscribe to print only, digital only, or both, with different price points for each option.
- The online database is searchable by product category and includes ratings, test results, and reliability data that do not appear in the magazine.
- You can cancel or pause your subscription at any time; there is no long-term contract required.
- Student and gift subscriptions are available at reduced rates through their website.
Subscription options and pricing
Consumer Reports offers three main subscription paths: print only, digital only, or print plus digital. Print-only subscriptions cost more than digital-only because of production and mailing costs. The digital-only option gives you the same online database and buying guides but no physical magazine. Print plus digital bundles cost more than either alone but less than buying them separately.
Pricing changes periodically and varies by region due to mailing costs. You can see current rates on their website by entering your zip code. Student subscriptions are available at a lower rate with proof of enrollment. Gift subscriptions are also offered, usually at a discount if purchased for multiple years at once.
Consumer Reports occasionally runs promotional offers — discounted first-year rates or extended trial periods — especially during the fall and winter months. These promotions appear on their homepage and in email campaigns to past subscribers. Signing up during a promotion can reduce your first-year cost significantly.
How to start and manage your subscription
You can start a subscription directly on the Consumer Reports website by selecting your subscription type and entering payment information. They accept credit cards and debit cards. After purchase, you will receive a confirmation email with your account login details and information about when your first issue will arrive.
Print magazines typically arrive within two to four weeks of your order. Your online access begins immediately, so you can start using the database right away even if your first physical magazine has not yet arrived. You can log in to your account on their website or through their mobile app to access ratings and buying guides.
To manage your subscription — pause it, change your address, update payment information, or cancel — log into your account on their website. Most changes take effect within one to two business days. If you need help, Consumer Reports offers phone support and a contact form on their website.
What the online database includes
The Members-Only section of the Consumer Reports website contains detailed ratings for hundreds of products across categories like cars, appliances, electronics, home and garden items, and health products. Each product listing shows their overall rating, test results, reliability data (for cars and appliances), price range, and buying advice specific to that product.
You can filter by brand, price, features, and other criteria to narrow results. The database also includes their annual car reliability ratings based on survey data from Consumer Reports readers, which shows which models have had the fewest problems over time. Recall information is searchable by product type and brand.
The buying guides — written articles that walk through what to look for when purchasing a specific type of product — are exclusive to the online section. These guides explain what features matter, what to avoid, and how much you should expect to spend. They are updated regularly as new products are tested.
Cancellation and refund policies
You can cancel your subscription at any time through your account on the Consumer Reports website or by calling their customer service line. Cancellations take effect at the end of your current billing period. If you cancel mid-month, you will not receive a refund for the unused portion of that month.
If you cancel a print subscription, you will continue to receive any magazines already in the mail pipeline — typically one or two more issues after you cancel. Your online access ends on your cancellation date. If you want to pause rather than cancel, you can suspend your subscription for up to three months and resume it later without losing your account.
Refunds for subscription fees are not standard, but Consumer Reports will review requests if you cancel within a short window of purchase — usually within 30 days. Contact their customer service team with your order number and reason for the refund request. Promotional or discounted subscriptions may have different refund terms than full-price subscriptions.
Comparing Consumer Reports to other subscription options
Other publications offer product reviews and ratings — including magazines like Wirecutter (owned by The New York Times), tech-focused outlets, and retailer websites. The main difference is that Consumer Reports does not accept advertising and funds testing through subscriptions, which means their recommendations are not influenced by advertisers or affiliate links.
Wirecutter and similar sites are free to read but make money through affiliate commissions when you click through to buy products. This creates a potential conflict of interest, though many readers find their reviews useful. Consumer Reports' nonprofit model means they have no financial stake in which product you choose.
If you only need reviews for one category — say, cars or appliances — you might find free resources sufficient. But if you shop across multiple categories and want consistent testing methodology and no advertising influence, a Consumer Reports subscription covers a broader range than most free alternatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read Consumer Reports articles for free anywhere?
Some articles appear free on their website, but the full product ratings database and detailed buying guides require a subscription. Major news outlets sometimes publish Consumer Reports findings, but you will not get access to their complete testing data without subscribing.
Does my subscription work on mobile devices?
Yes. Consumer Reports has a mobile app for iOS and Android that lets you search the ratings database and read buying guides. You log in with the same account you use on their website. The app works offline for some content, though full functionality requires an internet connection.
What if I move or need to change my mailing address?
Update your address in your account settings on the Consumer Reports website. Changes typically take effect within one to two business days. If you are moving soon, update your address before your next issue ships to avoid missed magazines.
Can I share my subscription login with family members?
Consumer Reports' terms of service state that subscriptions are for personal use only. Sharing login credentials with people outside your household may violate their terms. If multiple people in your household need access, contact their customer service about household or family plan options.
How often is the product database updated?
Consumer Reports adds new test results and product ratings throughout the year as they complete testing. The frequency varies by category — popular categories like cars and appliances are updated regularly, while less common products may be tested less often. The website shows the date each rating was last updated.