# Crate & Barrel vs Consumer Reports

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Crate & Barrel at none against Consumer Reports's 2. Crate & Barrel also leads on review sentiment (55% vs 28%). Consumer Reports's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#11 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Consumer Reports sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $10.00 per month. Crate & Barrel asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Crate & Barrel against 4.8 for Consumer Reports. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14K and 64K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 55% of Crate & Barrel's written reviews are positive against 28% of Consumer Reports's.

Crate & Barrel ships an update every 3 weeks, Consumer Reports every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Crate & Barrel | Consumer Reports |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crate-and-barrel/id529356019/reviews) | **[4.8 (64K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/consumer-reports/id606511415/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14K | **64K** |
| Positive reviews | **55.0% of reviews** | 27.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#11** |
| Size | 168 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Crate and Barrel](https://appshunter.io/developer/529356022) | [Consumer Reports](https://appshunter.io/developer/294945193) |

## What reviewers say

### Crate & Barrel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crate-and-barrel/id529356019)

Discover modern home furnishings and decor designed for your lifestyle. Browse curated collections, create custom upholstery, and utilize augmented reality to visualize items in your space. Manage registries, find stores, and enjoy convenient pickup options.

**Highlights:** Explore complete furniture and decor collection, Exclusive in-app items, Custom upholstery with 200+ options, View In Your Room AR tool, Create and manage registries, In-store pickup and curbside options

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 User friendly
- 👍 Convenient
- 👍 Functional and efficient
- 👍 Great app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Constantly crashing
- 🐛 Glitchy and buggy
- 🐛 Slow and laggy
- 🐛 Terrible for registries
- 🐛 Broke with update

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and password resets
- Certain tabs and features not working (Access Denied)
- Cannot remove sold-out items from Favorites list
- Virtual try-on feature not working
- Cart gets emptied unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Update store credit flow for Mastercard
- Add payment status and duplicate payment prevention
- Improve navigation between C&B and CB2
- Add ability to hide/unhide orders and items in orders tab
- Implement Apple Pay support


### Consumer Reports

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/consumer-reports/id606511415)

**Currently charting:** #11 Top Grossing · Shopping (US App Store)

Access unbiased product reviews, ratings, and shopping guides to make informed purchasing decisions. Features include a smart advisor for product questions, tools for savings, and exclusive member deals.

**Highlights:** Product ratings and reviews, Buying guides, Bill Negotiator tool, Smart advisor for product questions, Image Scan for product comparison, Best Time to Buy tool, Exclusive member deals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CR Monthly Subscription | $10.00 | per month |
| CR Yearly Subscription | $39.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful product information
- 🚀 Convenient mobile access
- 💡 Unbiased, expert reviews
- 🤑 Potential savings on purchases

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app performance
- 🔍 Limited product coverage
- 🤔 Outdated or incomplete information
- 🧭 Poor search and navigation
- 📱 Subpar iPad experience

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Login issues and lost credentials
- Inconsistent or missing product data

**Requested features**

- Ability to access all website content in the app
- Improved search functionality with better filtering options
- Native iPad app with optimized layout
- Integration with subscription management and account features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Crate & Barrel free?

Crate & Barrel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Consumer Reports free?

Consumer Reports is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Crate & Barrel or Consumer Reports?

Consumer Reports is rated higher. Crate & Barrel averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Consumer Reports averages 4.8 from 64K ratings.

### Do Crate & Barrel or Consumer Reports have ads?

Crate & Barrel shows ads; Consumer Reports does not.

### Which is updated more often, Crate & Barrel or Consumer Reports?

Crate & Barrel ships an update every 3 weeks, and Consumer Reports every 2 weeks. Most recently, Crate & Barrel was updated on October 26, 2026 and Consumer Reports on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
