Consumer Reports vs grinbox
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.
grinbox
Easily send personalized gifts, cards, or flowers to friends and family without needing their private address. Discover what loved ones truly want through wishlists and a gifting calendar, making thoughtful giving simple and secure.
- Send gifts, cards, and flowers
- Discover wishlists
- Gifting calendar reminders
- Send by username, no address needed
- Personalized greeting cards
- Curated gift selection
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grinbox makes gifting safe and easy. Find your friends and family on grinbox, follow them, and see what they'd actually love — then send a real card, a curated gift, or fresh flowers in a couple of taps. No need to ask anyone for their address: send to anyone on grinbox by username and their address stays private — even from you. We print, pack, and mail it for you. That's the safe, easy part. STAY CLOSE • Find the people you care about by username and follow them. • Profiles and wishlists tell you what someone actually wants. • A gifting calendar quietly reminds you about birthdays and the moments worth showing up for. WHAT YOU CAN SEND • Printed greeting cards — designed, customized with your own words and photos, then printed and mailed for you. 5×7, real paper, real stamp. • Curated gifts for every kind of person and occasion. • Fresh flowers, delivered. WHY PEOPLE USE GRINBOX • No address needed. Send to anyone on grinbox by username — their address stays private, even from you. • Send to someone not on grinbox yet with an email invite or a shareable link. • Build a wishlist so the people who love you always know what to send. Thoughtful is easier than you think. Start with one card.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: grinbox at none against Consumer Reports's 2. grinbox also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). Consumer Reports's advantage is ratings volume (64K vs 1) and chart position (#13 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. grinbox asks for nothing beyond the download.
grinbox holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Consumer Reports has 64K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Consumer Reports ships an update every 2 weeks, grinbox every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Consumer Reports | grinbox |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (64K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 27.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 64K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 10 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #13 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 98 MB | 68 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Consumer Reports | Badger Social Inc. |
Customer experience
Consumer Reports
grinbox
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
grinbox
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Consumer Reports
- CR Monthly Subscription$10.001 Month
- CR Yearly Subscription$39.001 Year
grinbox
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Consumer Reports free?
Is grinbox free?
Which has better reviews, Consumer Reports or grinbox?
Do Consumer Reports or grinbox have ads?
Which is updated more often, Consumer Reports or grinbox?
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