# Consumer Reports vs SmartCustomer

The clearest difference is rating: Consumer Reports at 4.8 against SmartCustomer's 4.0. Consumer Reports also leads on ratings volume (64K vs 5) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). SmartCustomer's advantage is review sentiment (67% vs 28%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Consumer Reports holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Consumer Reports has 64K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 28% of Consumer Reports's written reviews are positive against 67% of SmartCustomer's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Consumer Reports ships an update fortnightly, SmartCustomer monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and July 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Consumer Reports | SmartCustomer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (64K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/consumer-reports/id606511415/reviews)** | [4.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartcustomer/id1619101006/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **64K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 28.3% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#8** | — |
| Size | 109 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Consumer Reports](https://appshunter.io/developer/294945193) | [GGL Projects, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1619101008) |

## What reviewers say

### Consumer Reports

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

**Currently charting:** #8 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


### SmartCustomer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartcustomer/id1619101006)

Discover and research businesses worldwide. Read millions of user reviews, share your own experiences, and connect with a community of buyers and businesses. Plan your shopping by bookmarking favorites and joining discussions.

**Highlights:** Discover businesses in any category, Read millions of user reviews, Post your own feedback, Ask questions and get advice, Bookmark favorite brands, Join community discussions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Consumer Reports free?

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

### Is SmartCustomer free?

SmartCustomer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Consumer Reports or SmartCustomer?

Consumer Reports is rated higher. Consumer Reports averages 4.8 out of 5 from 64K ratings, while SmartCustomer averages 4.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Consumer Reports or SmartCustomer have ads?

Neither Consumer Reports nor SmartCustomer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Consumer Reports or SmartCustomer?

Consumer Reports ships an update fortnightly, and SmartCustomer monthly. Most recently, Consumer Reports was updated on September 26, 2026 and SmartCustomer on July 7, 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.*