Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brands
Updated: Nov. 24, 2022
The Reader's Digest Trusted Brands surveys that take place every year can help you shop, cook, book your next vacation, or buy a car with confidence.
Every year since 2015, Reader’s Digest has teamed up with research firm Ipsos to ask Americans which brands they trust the most across a number of different categories, from auto insurance to airlines to food to body lotion to pet food, and much much more. And each year, Americans have spoken, electing Reader’s Digest’s most trusted brands. The winning brand in each category sometimes changes with each new survey, but some brands have come out on top year after year. Since the people who actually use these products are picking the winners, you know you can trust the results.
Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brands
2022 (Health and Wellness): Reader’s Digest surveyed 4,000 adults about the brands they trust across 15 health and wellness product categories, from the medicine that makes their cold symptoms bearable to the healthy cereal they can’t start their days without. New categories were also added: haircare, workout apparel, and fitness trackers. See how many of your household staples made the list.
2021 (Home and Family): Reader’s Digest took stock of people’s chosen products and companies for 2021 across 20 different Family and Home product categories. That includes everything from the cars they drive to the paint they use to decorate their homes to the food they give their pets. Twenty brands came out on top in their respective categories—some duking it out in tiebreakers.
2021 (Health and Wellness): Reader’s Digest added some new categories including CBD and health insurance. The survey also expanded the criteria to factor in how well Americans think the brand has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and supported diversity and racial justice. And, unlike other years, a most trusted brand was determined from the results: Listerine.
2020: The most recent survey focused on the categories Sparkling Cleaners, Everyday Essentials, Feel-Better Fixes, Healthy Must-Haves, Stellar Services, Top Travel Picks, All-Star Cars, and Best Bets for Pets. Over 3,500 Americans shared their top picks and brands such as Lysol, Dr. Scholl’s, Tums, State Farm, Southwest, Toyota, Purina, and many more reigned victorious as Reader’s Digest’s most trusted brands of 2020.
2019 (Health Brands): The second half of the 2019 reader survey was published online in early 2020. The survey focused on the most trusted health brands in America. Of the 3,500 people who participated in the survey, half said that trust was a top driver for their over-the-counter purchases. Some of the brands you’ll see on top are Tylenol, Chobani, Centrum, Ensure, and Coppertone.
2019 (Health and Wellness Brands): This annual Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands survey focuses on 35 categories affecting our well-being, from medications and supplements to health devices and food—even what’s best for our pets. The categories that Americans were surveyed on include facial cleanser, fiber supplement, allergy relief, nutrition bar, healthy cereal, probiotic, and nuts.
2018: In 2018, 5,500 Americans were polled on 40 different types of products. On the winner’s table, you’ll see Aveeno as the most trusted body lotion, Behr as the most trusted interior paint, Carnival as the most trusted cruise line, Folgers as the most trusted coffee, and many more well-known brands.
2017: In 2017, Reader’s Digest decided to put a fun spin on the most trusted brands, and created the Trusted League, a confederation of superheroes who embody the winning characteristics of the 40 most trusted brands in America. On this year’s list, just a few of the superheroes you’ll meet are Cee Cee Strong (representing Tropicana) as the most trusted juice, Swish (representing Listerine) as the most trusted mouthwash, and Scentsei (representing Glade) as the most trusted air freshener/deodorizer.
2016: From what you eat to what keeps your family happy and healthy, brands are trusted because they’re reliable enough to become part of your everyday story. The 2016 winning brands include Toyota, Tide, Kellog’s cereal, Chase bank, and Campbell’s soup.
2015: The first year of the Reader’s Digest trusted brands survey had Americans pick the brands that they think deliver the highest quality, the most value, and are the most reliable. Included in the package are fascinating facts you never knew about the winning brands as well.
