Consumer Reports vs West Elm
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Consumer Reports
Access independent product reviews, expert buying guides, and deal alerts to make informed purchasing decisions. Scan products in-store for instant ratings and comparisons, and save your favorites for later.
- Independent product ratings and reviews
- Expert buying guides
- Deal and discount discovery
- Product image scanning
- Side-by-side product comparisons
- Save favorite products
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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.
West Elm
Discover modern furniture, home décor, and design inspiration. Create personalized registries, book design consultations, and shop curated looks for every room. Effortlessly design a home that reflects your unique style.
- Discover new arrivals and collections
- Create and manage wedding registries
- Book virtual or in-store design consultations
- Shop curated looks by room
- Receive personalized product recommendations
- Shop kids furniture and decor
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The West Elm app brings modern furniture, home décor, inspiration, and effortless shopping together in one place. Discover furniture, rugs, lighting, bedding, and décor designed to help you create a home that's uniquely yours. Shop kids furniture and décor to create a dream space for your children. From expert Design Services to Wedding Registry and personalized inspiration, the app makes it easy to shop, design, and celebrate life's biggest moments. Here's what you can do with the app: • Discover More: Be the first to shop new arrivals, seasonal collections, and fresh design inspiration. • Wedding Registry: Create, manage, and update your wedding registry anytime, anywhere. • Design Services: Book a virtual or in-store design consultation to bring your vision to life with personalized expert guidance. • Shop by Room: Explore curated looks for every room and shop complete spaces with ease. • Picks Just for You: Receive personalized recommendations based on your style and shopping history. About West Elm: Since 2002, West Elm has been creating modern furniture and home décor with exceptional quality and timeless style. Our designers craft thoughtfully designed collections that help you create spaces you'll love for years to come.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: West Elm at none against Consumer Reports's 2. Consumer Reports's advantage is ratings volume (64K vs 6K) and chart position (#10 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. West Elm 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 West Elm. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Consumer Reports has 64K ratings behind it against 6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 28% of Consumer Reports's written reviews are positive against 31% of West Elm's.
Consumer Reports ships an update every 2 weeks, West Elm every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 15, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Consumer Reports | West Elm |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (64K ratings) — better | 4.8 (6K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 27.6% of reviews | 31.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 64K — better | 6K |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #10 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 101 MB | 341 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Consumer Reports | Williams-Sonoma, Inc. |
Customer experience
Consumer Reports
West Elm
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
West Elm
From 6K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Excellent customer service
- 🚀 Quality and style of products
- 💡 Free swatch samples
- 🤩 Unique and beautiful designs
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Poor search and navigation functionality
- 🛒 Issues with cart and saved items
- ⏰ Long delivery times and order delays
- 🔌 Buggy and unresponsive app performance
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
West Elm
Reported bugs
4 issues- App crashes when trying to return items
- Inability to link rewards account
- Saved items disappearing from cart
- Shipping and delivery information not accurate
Requested features
4 requests- Add AR view in room feature
- Improve product reviews and ratings
- Allow opting out of promotional emails
- Fix login and account management issues
In-app purchases
Consumer Reports
- CR Monthly Subscription$10.001 Month
- CR Yearly Subscription$39.001 Year
West Elm
No in-app purchases
