Consumer Reports Labels Explained: Recommended, Top Pick, Best Brand, Best of, and Smart Buy
Consumer Reports (CR) utilizes a variety of designations to assist shoppers in quickly identifying services and products that perform well in our independent assessments. When relevant data is accessible, these labels also reflect owner satisfaction and predicted reliability. This FAQ clarifies the meaning of each designation, where you might encounter them in print, online, or in stores, and which of these recognitions are eligible for licensing through the CR Brand Licensing program.
What is a CR Recommended (CRR) product or service?
CR Recommended (CRR) services and products meet our rigorous evaluation standards, which may include benchmarks for safety, performance, owner satisfaction, and predicted reliability. Multiple items or services can earn the CRR status within a single category. The CRR badge is displayed on product cards, ratings charts, and model pages embedded within articles on ConsumerReports.org. This recommended mark is also featured in Consumer Reports magazine. Manufacturers that achieve the CRR distinction are eligible to license the badge via the CR Brand Licensing program. Consumers can browse CRR items at CR.org and look for the mark while shopping to help them identify more reliable, high-quality products.
What is a CR Top Pick?
A CR Top Pick represents the highest honor within a specific product category. These services and products excelled during our evaluations, have proven to be reliable—wherever such data is available—and, in certain instances, meet additional safety requirements, such as vehicle safety standards. Top Pick serves as the universal designation for the leading performer across all our testing. While we do not currently display the CR Top Pick badge in our magazine or on our website, these badges and the associated content are eligible for licensing, meaning shoppers may encounter them while browsing for products or services.
What is a CR Best Brand?
A CR Best Brand is a manufacturer that receives the highest overall score in its category, based on aggregate data regarding reliability, performance, and satisfaction across every model tested by CR. Brands receive additional credit for providing high levels of reliability and performance at a lower price point than their competitors. Manufacturers may license their CR Best Brand recognition, and consumers can utilize this badge and its related content to identify brands that consistently deliver reliable results year after year.
What is a CR “Best of”?
This is a curated list of the “best” services and products currently available in a specific category, presented in an article format. These lists typically feature top-tier recommended items, including CR Top <a href="https://shoppixy.com/hemp-seeds-review-top-picks/” title=”Hemp Seeds Review & Top Picks”>Picks and CRR products. These articles cover a wide range of categories and are prominently highlighted in the magazine and across our website. While there is no specific badge, brand licensing is available for the content found in “Best of” articles.
What is a CR Smart Buy?
A CR Smart Buy is a CRR model that meets our standards for reliability, safety, and performance while being available at a lower price point. The Smart Buy badge is displayed in the price column of both digital and print ratings charts to help consumers spot better values. There are no brand licensing opportunities available for CR Smart Buy products.
Established in 1936, CR is dedicated to creating a fair and just marketplace for everyone. Widely recognized for our rigorous testing and research of services and products, we also survey millions of consumers annually, report extensively on marketplace issues, and advocate for consumer protections and rights regarding digital rights, safety, financial fairness, and sustainability. CR is a nonprofit, independent organization.
