Consumer Reports vs The Container Store
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Consumer Reports
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.
- 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
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Shop smarter with Consumer Reports by your side. Discover products worth buying, compare your options, find deals, and get trusted answers backed by CR's independent testing, research, and expertise. Whether you're looking for your next car, replacing an appliance, searching for the best products for your home, or just curious about what's worth buying, the Consumer Reports app makes it easier to shop confidently. Discover what's worth buying Explore Product Collections Discover trending products and expert-curated collections designed to help you find your next great buy. Watch the latest from CR Get useful shopping advice and consumer insights right in your feed, with videos covering products, CR testing, important consumer issues, and more. Find deals and ways to save Discover deals and discounts on products worth considering, plus tools like Best Time to Buy that can help you decide when it's worth making a purchase. Research, compare, and shop AskCR Ask questions and get answers backed by Consumer Reports' trusted expertise. Use AskCR to research products and cars, compare your options, narrow down your choices, and find the right product for your needs. Ratings & Reviews Access CR ratings and reviews for thousands of products, cars, and services based on independent testing, research, and consumer surveys. Image Scan Shopping in a store? Scan a barcode or take a photo of a product to quickly find CR ratings and information, compare your options, and make a more informed decision on the spot. Product Comparisons Compare products and cars side by side to see how your options stack up, and find the best choice for you. Buying Guides Get expert guidance on what to consider before you buy, from major appliances and electronics to cars and everyday products. Save Your Favorites Save products and comparisons so you can easily come back to them when you're ready to make a decision. Get even more from Membership Consumer Reports members get full access to features including: • Unlimited AskCR conversations • Ratings and reviews for thousands of products and services • CR Recommended products • Image Scan • Exclusive member deals and discounts • Best Time to Buy • Additional member benefits and exclusive partnerships • Extra savings with Bill Negotiator Not a member yet? Consumer Reports is free to download, with access to select features including Buying Guides, Bill Negotiator, Product Collections, videos, and limited access to AskCR. You can join Consumer Reports directly through the app to unlock the full experience. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR buys the products it tests and does not accept advertising, helping you make informed decisions with independent insights you can trust. From discovering your next purchase to making the final decision, keep Consumer Reports with you and shop with confidence.
The Container Store
Shop for storage, organization, and custom closet solutions. Get project inspiration, track store pickup orders, and manage your loyalty account. Scan products in-store for details and reviews.
- Shop storage and organization products
- Custom closet solutions
- Project inspiration and tips
- Track store pickup orders
- Loyalty dashboard and offers
- In-store barcode scanner
- Digital wallet for checkout
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Make organization even simpler with tools to shop storage, organization, and custom closets, check prices, make purchases, and track the status of your store pick-up. Plus, you'll find project inspiration and everything you need to get started. PROJECTS & INSPIRATION We’ve made it easy with Projects & Inspiration – view tips, videos, projects and more to help you get your organization projects done quicker and easier. CHECK YOUR LOYALTY DASHBOARD Check your Organized Insider tier status, review your Benefits, get your personalized offers and see your yearly spend – all in one convenient dashboard. PICKUP ORDER STATUS Enjoy simple tracking of your store pickup orders. See when your order is ready at a glance, and easily notify us when you get to the store. IN-STORE BARCODE SCANNER Scan product barcodes in-store to read reviews, get product details, check pricing and see inspiring images and videos. DIGITAL WALLET Speed through checkout. Use your digital wallet to store preferred credit cards (and check gift card balances). WISH LISTS Keep track of the products you want with our wish lists. View or make wish lists while you’re in-store to help you get everything you need. Plus… Quick, secure account creation Biometric login
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Container Store at none against Consumer Reports's 2. The Container Store also leads on review sentiment (40% vs 28%). Consumer Reports's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#10 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Consumer Reports sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $10.00 per month. The Container Store asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Consumer Reports against 4.8 for The Container Store. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 64K and 15K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 28% of Consumer Reports's written reviews are positive against 40% of The Container Store's.
Consumer Reports ships an update fortnightly, The Container Store every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Consumer Reports | The Container Store |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (64K ratings) | 4.8 (15K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 28.0% of reviews | 40.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 64K — better | 15K |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 4 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #10 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 109 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Consumer Reports | The Container Store, INC |
Customer experience
Consumer Reports
The Container Store
User reviews
Consumer Reports
From 64K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Helpful product information
- 🚀 Convenient mobile access
- 💡 Unbiased, expert reviews
- 🤑 Potential savings on purchases
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy app performance
- 🔍 Limited product coverage
- 🤔 Outdated or incomplete information
- 🧭 Poor search and navigation
- 📱 Subpar iPad experience
The Container Store
From 15K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Convenient in-store features
- 💡 Loyalty program integration
- 👍 Helpful customer service
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and sluggish performance
- 🔁 Constant sign-out issues
- 🤔 Confusing navigation and layout
- 💤 Slow page loads and app response
Bugs and requests
Consumer Reports
Reported bugs
3 issues- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Login issues and lost credentials
- Inconsistent or missing product data
Requested features
4 requests- 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
The Container Store
Reported bugs
4 issues- Cart and checkout issues
- App crashes and freezes
- Login and account problems
- Inconsistent user experience
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to share products
- Improved search and filtering
- Seamless integration with website
- Customizable drawer/closet planning
In-app purchases
Consumer Reports
- CR Monthly Subscription$10.001 Month
- CR Yearly Subscription$39.001 Year
The Container Store
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Consumer Reports free?
Is The Container Store free?
Which has better reviews, Consumer Reports or The Container Store?
Do Consumer Reports or The Container Store have ads?
Which is updated more often, Consumer Reports or The Container Store?
Other comparisons
