Description
Que Choisir Ensemble, called UFC-Que Choisir until its renaming in 2025–2026, is the largest French consumer association: it tests more than 2,000 products a year, publishes the results in its magazine Que Choisir and on its website without advertising, and helps members with disputes through its local associations. It is an alternative to advertising, sponsored reviews and comparison sites paid by the brands they compare.
Founded in 1951, it is a federation of 127 local associations with more than 4,500 volunteers, which handle about 90,000 individual disputes a year. It has 600,000 paid subscribers to its website and magazines. Tests follow the French standard for comparative testing (NF X50-005): products are bought anonymously and tested by independent laboratories chosen by the association, and in 2025 more than half were done with ICRT, its European partner organisations. It also campaigns and goes to court for consumers; in 2005 cases it supported led to a €534 million fine against France’s three mobile operators for a cartel.
The association says it takes no advertising and no money from manufacturers or retailers. Its main income is sales and subscriptions, with members’ fees, donations and some public subsidies from the DGCCRF and a fund for associations. A commercial subsidiary runs group purchases of energy, paid comparison services and licenses the Que Choisir logo to makers of products that scored more than 14/20. Website access costs €7.99 a month or €54 a year, and the monthly magazine €48 a year (checked November 2026).
Strengths
- Comparative tests of products bought anonymously, by independent laboratories, with no advertising in the magazine.
- Some 127 local associations whose volunteers help members with about 90,000 disputes a year.
- Campaigns and court cases that have led to fines against companies, such as the mobile operators in 2005.
Weaknesses
- Most test results are behind a paywall of €54 a year or more.
- Help with a dispute requires joining a local association, each with its own fee.
- A commercial subsidiary sells group purchases and licenses the logo to brands it tests, which blurs its independence.
Who it is for
Consumers in France who want to compare products before buying and need help when a company won’t honour their rights.
Sources
- Que Choisir Ensemble: l’association, notre financement, notre méthodologie, abonnements, magazine, associations locales, checked November 2026
- Wikipédia: Que Choisir Ensemble