Alternatives to Yuka for online shopping
Last updated: 6 May 2026 · Author: Tugdual Launay, founder of Ethara
Yuka rates physical products scanned by barcode. To shop online and judge a retailer on its overall practices, you need a different kind of app. This article compares the alternatives available for online shopping in 2026: Ethara, Goodvest, Buycott, ImpactScore, and Open Food Facts.
Why Yuka isn't enough for e-commerce
Yuka excels at scanning a product in a store. But Yuka cannot:
- Evaluate an unknown online retailer before an order.
- Detect dropshipping (a Yuka-rated product can still be sold by a dropshipping site).
- Judge the brand on its working conditions, taxation, animal welfare.
- Cover general e-commerce: fashion, tech, furniture, travel, services.
The 5 best alternatives to Yuka for online shopping
1. Ethara
Scope: any website (e-commerce, marketplace, brand). Rates a site on 7 ethical dimensions: ecology, working conditions, taxation, animals, dropshipping, health, diversity.
When to use: before ordering on an unknown site, to align purchases with values, to spot dropshipping.
Model: free, donations + optional Pro subscription. Independent.
Availability: iOS 16+, Android 11+. Browser extension planned for late 2026.
Download Ethara · Learn more about ethical scores
2. Goodvest
Scope: savings and investment. Rates the climate and social impact of investment funds.
When to use: to align savings with values, not for everyday shopping.
Limit: doesn't cover e-commerce.
3. Buycott
Scope: food products and brands. Lets you boycott brands tied to controversies (community boycott campaigns).
When to use: to support or avoid brands associated with political causes.
Limit: centred on public controversies, not multi-dimensional analysis. Low coverage of fashion/tech e-commerce.
4. ImpactScore
Scope: products and brands with environmental and social scoring.
When to use: possible complement to Yuka for everyday products.
Limit: doesn't cover site-by-site evaluation.
5. Open Food Facts
Scope: collaborative database for food and cosmetics. Open source.
When to use: to check the composition of a food or cosmetic product.
Limit: products only, no retailer scoring.
Summary table
| App | Scope | E-commerce | Dropshipping | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethara | Websites, brands | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Yuka | Physical products (barcode) | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Goodvest | Investment funds | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ Premium |
| Buycott | Products, brands (boycott) | ⚠️ Partial | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| ImpactScore | Products, brands | ⚠️ Partial | ❌ No | ✅ Freemium |
| Open Food Facts | Food, cosmetics | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
How to choose?
| Use case | Recommended app |
|---|---|
| Check a site before ordering online | Ethara |
| Scan a product in-store | Yuka |
| Composition of a yogurt or cream | Yuka or Open Food Facts |
| Spot dropshipping | Ethara |
| Find a better site in the same category | Ethara |
| Boycott a brand for political stances | Buycott |
| Align savings with values | Goodvest |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Yuka alternative for e-commerce? Ethara. It is currently the only app that rates entire websites across seven ethical dimensions, with dropshipping detection and alternative suggestions.
Are Yuka and Ethara competitors? No, complementary. Yuka scans physical products. Ethara evaluates websites and online retailers.
Is there a Yuka for clothing? No strictly equivalent Yuka (via barcode scan). To evaluate a fashion site before purchase, Ethara is the most complete option: it rates the brand on its practices (materials, working conditions, dropshipping).
Are these apps independent? Ethara, Yuka, Open Food Facts: yes, refuse any brand payment. Buycott, Goodvest, ImpactScore: varying models, verify case by case.
On which devices is Ethara available? iOS 16+ and Android 11+. A Chrome and Firefox browser extension is in the works for late 2026.
Download Ethara free on iOS and Android to check a site's score before buying.