You have probably seen one or two of our product review articles on this blog. But what if you wanted to find reviews on a specific product? You’ll be happy to know that there are a multitude of websites to help you make an informed buying decision. After all, shopping online can be hard when all you have to go on is a picture. That’s why we have put together this list of the best product review sites available. So be sure to consult some of these websites so you know you’ll be getting decent quality for your hard earned money.
Cnet is the go-to electronics product review site. It combines an incredibly slick presentation with very timely articles about all things consumer electronics. Want to know if that new Bose sound system is worth the money? Go to CNET. Want to know how the latest Iphone and Samsung Galaxy stack up next to each other? Go to CNET. CNET even goes beyond standard product reviews. Their feature articles tend to be very informative. They’re great starting points if you are just getting into a niche of consumer tech, and you’re looking to become a discerning enthusiast who can spot signifiers of quality.
ConsumerSearch is a general product review site. It relies on its editors to compile reviews from around the web and synthesize them into a bite-size morsel of helpful buyer information. You may be relieved to learn that it tends to put a greater weight on professional reviews of products rather than user-reviews. Though it does take both into account, so as to achieve as accurate a representation of the product’s quality as possible. Think of it as a Metacritic for consumer goods. Because it gives you the big picture of how a product has been received on the internet, consumer search earns its place as one of the best product review sites.
Consumer Reports might be one of the oldest publications on this list, but don’t take that to mean the information they provide isn’t cutting edge. Perhaps the best thing about consumer reports is the trust which goes along with it. It is an independent non-profit organization whose only goal is to help consumers make informed decisions and protect them from bad actors in the world of retail. This means that you are bound to find impartial and honest reviews without the nagging feeling that they might be biased towards advertisers or other interests. We commend Consumer Reports for going from being a physical publication to one of the best product review sites.
But this impartiality, professionalism and peace of mind come at a cost. For full access to the site, an annual $30 fee is required. It’s up to you to decide if this is worth it or not. But if you ask anyone who paid big money only to find out they were buying a dud product, they’ll probably tell you it would be worth it to pay the money to get sound advice.
Amazon is a treasure trove of consumer feedback. Even if you are looking to purchase an item from somewhere other than Amazon, you may still find it useful to see if the product is listed on Amazon to see if there are any user-reviews for it. The user reviews on Amazon are nice because they communicate real customer experiences and you can find reviews from people who are using products for exactly the same purpose you are. It may be the sheer volume of consumer contributions which elevates Amazon to being one of the best product review sites.
Just remember to take user-reviews with a grain of salt as users typically only tend to leave reviews when they feel very strongly about the product, whether that feeling is positive or negative. This may not be indicative of most people’s experience with the product.
What CNET is to electronics, Viewpoints is to household goods and appliances. Interested shoppers can find helpful product review information about blenders, mattresses, washing machines, and beauty products here. There is even a section about everyday services like TV providers and Credit Card companies. So if you’re looking to spruce up your house or just taking a trip to the drug store to pick up some much needed home care supplies, Viewpoints is your go-to resource to become an informed shopper. Viewpoints (along with Good Housekeeping) maintains its position among the best product review sites for household goods.
You might have read our piece on photography accessories last month. If you liked that, then you’re definitely going to want to check out DPReview.com. This site specializes in reviews of all things photography. Here, you’ll find buying guides for all kinds of different cameras, lenses and accessories. There are even holiday gift guides for those of you who have a photographer to buy for and don’t know where to start. You can also find general articles about photography and the state of the medium here. It is one of the best product review sites for photography buffs.
TestFreaks is massive. Among the best product review sites, it may be one of the biggest. Rather than specializing, TestFreaks contains reviews on almost any consumer product you can imagine. From household goods to sports equipment, to electronics and entertainment, TestFreaks has reviews for all of it.
Furthermore, TestFreaks compiles hundreds of reviews for each product, from professional publication reviews to user reviews from all over the web. It then distills them down to a simple 5 star scoring system so you can get a quick snapshot of how a product has fared with professionals as well as the public. Right now TestFreaks is boasting as many as 30 million product reviews and ratings, a number which is almost unbelievable. But hey, there is no such thing as too much information when making a big purchase, right?
Which? began as a magazine in the 1950s. Since then, it has stood the test of time to become a website which advocates for creating a population of informed and protected consumers. In this way, it shares a similar mission and characteristics to Consumer Reports (independent, no advertising). For this reason, Which? also requires a subscription fee to access premium content on their site (although much of the content is free).
While other sites are reliant on advertisers and outsourced reviews to provide their site with content, Which? has a team of experts who conduct rigorous product testing themselves. That’s what you’re paying for when you sign up with Which? For its professionalism and integrity, it is one of the best product review sites.
Here’s another niche specific review site and one of the best product review sites for road bikes. A bicycle can be a major purchase costing thousands of dollars for high end bikes. If you’re in the market for one, you’re probably going to want to do your homework first. Road Bike Review is a great place to start. The site is a great resource for anyone who simply enjoys road bikes. It’s filled with tips and features about getting the most out of your bike and the biking lifestyle.
Ask any respected chef how important good equipment is in creating a good meal and you’ll usually get the same answer: very. That’s why you want to do your research when you’re stocking up your kitchen with the tools you need to make delicious creations. Whether you’re looking for a new cast iron skillet or a party size ice cream maker, America’s Test Kitchen is the place to make an informed decision.
America’s Test Kitchen even has reviews on specialty foods like vegetarian broth and maple syrup. The only caveat is that you are required to have a membership to access much of the content. If you’re serious about cooking, you may want to consider it. This site even has podcasts and informative and well produced television shows.
Even for practiced golfers, walking into a pro-shop can be a rather confusing experience. For each different kind of club, there are a multitude of options. That’s to say nothing of the choices you have when buying balls, gear and clothing. With so many accessories to choose from, a resource to steer you in the right direction is invaluable. Enter iGolfReviews. Unlike the other sites we have mentioned so far, this one is run by just one dude. But this guy works hard. He has tons of reviews on everything golf related, and he really dives deep into what he likes and doesn’t like about each item. That’s what makes iGolfReviews one of the best product review sites.
We would be remiss if we talked at length about all of the the best product review sites without mentioning Youtube. Youtube represents the future of product reviews and people are turning amateur product review videos into a cottage industry.
The great thing about Youtube is its ability to show you real people actually using the product. There is no mystery to the method in which the review is being conducted. You are getting a first-hand glimpse into what it would be like to use almost any product you want.
The Youtube product review scene is so big that you could type almost any product into Youtube and you are likely to get at least one, if not dozens of different videos of people using a product. This takes you along with the reviewer on the journey of discovering the qualities and faults of products you are interested in.
Though, we should note some weaknesses of using Youtube as a product review source. First, not many Youtube reviews conduct endurance or stress tests on the products being reviewed. Many of them simply involve taking the product out of the box and examining it in its new and shiny glory. Second, since anyone can make a Youtube product review, it can take some time to find Youtube product reviewers who have the level of expertise to deliver a truly informative and insightful evaluation of a product. But there are plenty who can. It is just a matter of finding them.
It’s been a magazine for decades, and its online component continues to help people step their domestic game up. Good Housekeeping’s Good Housekeeping Institute tests a wide range of household products to give you the straight facts about what is a good buy and what isn’t. Information about appliances, health products, garden tools and all kinds of other household items can be found here.
You might have trouble finding information about specific products, but their features and comparisons are often just the right combination of informative and entertaining.
Digital Trends is not quite the electronics reviewing powerhouse CNET is, but it does tend to review some more niche tech and is great as a second opinion to a CNET review. Want to know how a new 360 virtual reality drone holds up? Howabaout a Wifi enabled barbeque? Digital Trends will give you the inside information you need to make that next big purchase.
Good Guide approaches product reviews a little bit differently. Where most sites will only focus on the value and efficacy of a product, Good Guide takes a broader look at the environmental, health, and social responsibility aspects of a product.
Does the shampoo you’re considering use ethical manufacturing practices? Does that mosquito repellent contain any harmful or banned substances? Good Guide knows, and it is ready to fill you in.
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