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VERDICT

Should I use Ethical Consumer?

Your personal ethical consumer guide. Independent product guides, research, information and analysis since 1989. - ethicalconsumer.org

Worth it. Buy if you're a UK shopper, vegan, or ethical investor who wants independent brand scores from a 35-year-old non-profit. Skip it if you're outside the UK, want free full access, or only need occasional brand checks.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~20 public sources; pricing detail and user review volume thin.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of useNot disclosed
  • Feature depth
  • Support qualityNot disclosed
  • Security posture

Pricing

Not disclosed

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed

Best for

  • UK shoppers wanting ethical brand scores
  • Ethical investors picking banks and funds
  • Vegans tracking product ratings
  • Campaigners citing company research

Not for

  • US shoppers needing local product picks
  • Anyone refusing to pay for guides
  • Skeptics who distrust advocacy-led scoring
  • Buyers choosing purely on price

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Subscription prices not visible in sources reviewed; check before committing

medium

Guess: UK-centred research; brands and coverage differ outside Britain

low

Some users openly debate its methodology, which may affect citation trust

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Independent consumer research publisher operating since 1989
  • Scores companies on ethics, environment and politics
  • Covers ethical banking and investment funds, not just products
  • Publishes free practical lists like Amazon alternatives
  • Organised as a non-profit co-operative

Cons

  • Core value requires a paid subscription
  • Some journalists question its validity as a source
  • Scores can frustrate buyers, e.g. Framework rated 9/20

Sources & method

Analyzed 9/30/2026 - 15 sources - No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

official x6review x5security x2news x2

Key stats

  • Value for money: 4/5

    Rating

  • Not disclosed

    Starting price

  • 15

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 4/5. Decades of independent research for one subscription
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Products, companies, banking, funds, campaigns
  • Security posture: 3/5. Publishes security page, privacy policy; no issues found
  • 1989 Founded Independent research for 35+ years
  • Non-profit Structure Ethical Consumer Research Association Ltd
  • $384.3K Reported figure This year, per Crunchbase
  • Unclear Free tier Subscriptions page, no prices in sources

Pricing

Not disclosed

Security

No known vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.

What users say

Reddit users regularly cite its brand scores for plant milk, laptops and everyday shopping, though some question its validity.

“Ethical Consumer rates Framework 9/20”
Reddit, r/framework
“Ethical Consumer have released new plant milk scores”
Reddit, r/veganuk
“Where do you get your ethical information on a brand from?”
Reddit, r/ethicalfashion
Full analysis

Based on ~20 public sources; pricing detail and user review volume thin.

Non-profit guide scoring brands on ethics since 1989; great for UK ethical shoppers, not software.

Methodology

Based on ~20 public sources; pricing detail and user review volume thin.

Sources

  1. Ethical Consumer homepageethicalconsumer.org
    official
  2. official
  3. Ethical Shopping Guideethicalconsumer.org
    official
  4. Ethical Money & Financeethicalconsumer.org
    official
  5. official
  6. official
  7. news
  8. news
  9. review
  10. review
  11. review
  12. review
  13. Product security pageethicalconsumer.org
    security
  14. Privacy Policyethicalconsumer.org
    security
  15. The Good Shopping Guidethegoodshoppingguide.com
    review

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