Brains Report only has two workers: Erin “My Wife” Brains and me. We both have full-time real-world jobs and a family to take care of. Therefore, we are willing to concede that we are not able to review every product. We also don’t want to leave any consumers without the resources they need. So, if you can’t find what you need on Brains Report, the Most Honest Website on the Internet™, then go with one of these trustworthy product review sites:
Consumer Reports
Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports is a nonprofit organization operated by Consumers Union, a group that tries to force dirty corporations to do good and to help consumers make informed decisions through investigative journalism, consumer advocacy, and product testing. They currently have an annual product testing budget of about $25 million, which barely edges out Brains Report for the top spot.
Consumer Reports continues to publish a print magazine, and they cover everything from appliances and cars to health and home. The biggest downer about their website is that it costs $35 per year to access their test results.
Cook’s Illustrated/America’s Test Kitchen
Cook’s Illustrated is another print magazine that moved online to stay alive. Founded in 1993, the publication is run by America’s Test Kitchen. If you like spending time in the kitchen, get acquainted with everything ATK offers. In addition to evaluating kitchen equipment and branded ingredients and foods, Cook’s tests recipes and even offers online courses. This is another website that will cost you: $48.99 per year.
Wirecutter
Founded in 2011 by Brain Lam, a former assistant editor for Wired magazine and Editorial Director at Gizmodo, Wirecutter sold to The New York Times Company in 2016 for over $30 million. The Wirecutter and The Sweethome recently combined and rebranded as Wirecutter. Together, they test everything from electronics to kitchen gadgets. Though, like Brains Report, they make their money through affiliate marketing (e.g., they get a cut of whatever you end up buying by clicking through their site), I have not seen it influence their recommendations at all (much like us).
c|net
With more than 200 million readers per month, c|net is the highest-read technology news source on the Internet. And, that is their focus: technology, electronics, smart gadgets, computers, etc. They specialize in testing the latest widgets – often times before they are released to us hoi polloi – and writing long-form reviews of their findings. They monetize the site in a variety of ways, including traditional ads, native advertising, and affiliate marketing. Again, I have never seen this affect their credibility.
Business Insider
Launched in 2009, Business Insider has grown to become one of the top 100 most-visited sites in the United States. Full disclosure: I am a regular contributor to Business Insider. I have also written reviews for dozens of other websites. However, the reason I include Business Insider is that they have the highest standards for integrity of any site I’ve worked for. They have a reputation to uphold, and they take that seriously. Much like Brains Report, you are getting a mixture of firsthand testing and secondhand rehashing of expert and consumer testing. They make the difference between the two clear.
What review sites do you trust the most? Share below!
