Protégez-Vous

What Protégez-Vous does

Protégez-Vous, legally constituted as Les Éditions Protégez-Vous, is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1973 and headquartered in Montréal, Québec. It operates as an independent testing and information publisher serving French-speaking Quebec consumers, producing a monthly magazine, special guides, a digital-first website (protegez-vous.ca), iOS and Android mobile applications, and multiple podcast series. The organization employs 53 staff and reaches an estimated 435,000 to 480,000 citizens through its publications, digital platforms, newsletters, and social media.

The core product is independent product testing: over 8,000 products and services are evaluated annually by experts across categories including automobiles, technology, appliances, health, housing, finance, and leisure. This testing is reinforced by Le Panel, a community of 25,000+ Quebec consumers who participate in 8-10 surveys per year to inform investigations and satisfaction studies. The technology stack is a digital publishing platform with web, tablet, and mobile distribution, supplemented by online comparator tools for cellular plans, internet plans, and credit cards. As a member of the International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT), Protégez-Vous collaborates on global testing standards and methodology.

The business model is mission-driven rather than profit-driven. Revenue is generated through monthly magazine and digital subscriptions, one-time guide purchases (e.g., a Rénovation guide starting at $9.71), affiliate commissions from the Aubaines deals section (which the organization states are 100% reinvested into testing), and sponsored content partnerships with government bodies, regulatory agencies, and professional orders. The organization maintains a 0% advertising policy to preserve independence from commercial influence. Distribution is regional, serving Quebec exclusively, with both digital and print channels targeting individual consumers.

Name

Protégez-Vous

Legal name

Les Éditions Protégez-Vous

Website

https://protegez-vous.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Protégez-Vous is a Quebec-based non-profit consumer advocacy organization that independently tests over 8,000 products annually, publishes a French-language magazine, mobile apps, podcasts, and comparator tools, and serves French-speaking Quebec consumers through subscriptions and a 25,000+ member Panel community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine and Digital Subscriptions: Monthly subscriptions providing access to magazine content, exclusive tests, and digital platforms including iOS and Android apps.
2. Guides and Special Publications: Sale of practical guides such as Rénovation guide (starting at $9.71 or $12.95) and special edition magazines.
3. Affiliate Revenue (Aubaines): Commission-based revenue from affiliated retail links on the Aubaines section. The organization states 100% of these funds are reinvested to finance new tests and pursue the consumer mission.
4. Sponsored Content and Partnerships: Sponsored articles and partnerships with government bodies, regulatory agencies, and industry organizations for educational content.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Protégez-Vous is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization that independently tests products and provides expert consumer advice to Quebec consumers through a monthly magazine (print and digital), mobile applications, podcasts, and free online comparison tools. Its offerings include comparator tools for cellular plans, internet plans, and credit cards, special practical guides, a community Panel of over 25,000 Quebec consumers used to inform investigations, and an affiliate deals section (Aubaines).

Product overview

Protégez-Vous is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization that offers a comprehensive digital and print publication platform. The core offering consists of the monthly magazine with expert product tests and investigations, complemented by free online comparator tools for cellular plans, internet plans, and credit cards. The product portfolio includes mobile applications for iOS and Android, three podcast series (Jules et Julie, Mes/aventures), the Panel community platform for consumer surveys, an affiliate deals section (Aubaines), and special guides and magazines. The comparators help consumers make informed decisions, while the tests cover thousands of products annually across categories including automobiles, technology, appliances, health, housing, finance, and leisure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Comparateur de forfaits cellulaires Free online tool that helps users find the most suitable mobile plan by comparing offers from multiple providers based on desired minutes and data requirements. Targeted at Quebec consumers evaluating cellular service options.
• Comparateur de forfaits Internet Free online tool that allows users to compare internet plan offers from multiple providers based on their region, required speed, and data usage. Targeted at Quebec consumers selecting home internet service.
• Comparateur de cartes de crédit Tool that compares Visa, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards from multiple banks to help users choose cards matching their profile based on monthly spending, annual income, and credit score. Targeted at Quebec consumers selecting credit cards.
• Protégez-Vous Mobile Application Downloadable digital version of the Protégez-Vous magazine optimized for iOS (iPad) and Android (tablets and mobile), providing exclusive articles, videos, and complementary image galleries. Requires an active subscription.
• Jules et Julie attendent un bébé (balado) Podcast series following Jules and Julie through major life stages from pregnancy announcement to reflections on marriage, wills, and life insurance, covering topics like preparing for a baby's arrival, designating guardians, and managing finances.
• Jules et Julie partent en condo (balado) Podcast series exploring condo purchases and co-ownership life including condo fees, common areas, and co-owner assemblies.
• Mes/aventures (balado) Podcast series where host Frédéric Choinière meets artists who share humorous stories of consumer mishaps, with advice from Protégez-Vous journalists Mathilde Roy and Marie-Eve Shaffer on avoiding consumer pitfalls.
• Le Panel Protégez-Vous Collaborative community of over 25,000 Quebec consumers who participate in surveys to help inform Protégez-Vous articles, product tests, and investigations, shaping content and offers based on real consumer experiences.
• Aubaines (Affiliate Deals) Exclusive offers and deals section featuring affiliate links to retailers, with Protégez-Vous receiving commissions that fund new testing and consumer advocacy mission. Subscribers receive a preferential 25% discount on guides.
• Guides et magazines Special guides and magazine editions covering topics such as renovations, caregiving, and telecommunications, available in print and digital formats for purchase.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of affiliate revenue reinvested into new tests and consumer mission
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in global consumer testing organization providing access to international testing standards, methodologies, and collaborative research capabilities.
• ACQ Résidentiel (Association de la construction du Québec)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for practical renovation guide providing homeowners with strategies for planning projects, understanding service offers, and selecting trustworthy contractors. Includes 18 ideal project quotes with expert commentary.
• Office de la protection du consommateur du QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Mes/aventures podcast series featuring consumer stories about purchasing experiences, with professional advice from Protégez-Vous journalists.
• Fonds d'études notariales de la Chambre des notaires du QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Jules et Julie podcast series covering major life stages from pregnancy announcements to marriage, wills, and life insurance, with expert financial and legal guidance.
• Chambre des notaires du QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for practical guide for caregivers (Proche aidant) providing resources on self-care, financial assistance, and legal tools for supporting loved ones.
• Communication-JeunesseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for children's and youth literature recommendations, providing curated reading suggestions for various themes and occasions.
• Organisme d'autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec (OACIQ)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner page providing information about real estate brokerage contracts to help consumers understand their rights when buying or selling property.
• Autorité des marchés financiersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner content about AI guidelines in insurance sector to better protect consumers, effective May 1, 2027.
• ASPQ (Association pour la santé publique du Québec)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner content warning about detox cleanses and the health product industry's claims about body detoxification.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Consumer Reports: US-based independent, non-profit consumer testing organization publishing product reviews, ratings, and investigations funded largely by subscriptions. Closest structural analog to Protégez-Vous and a fellow ICRT member.
• Stiftung Warentest: German independent product-testing foundation publishing comparative test results across consumer categories, funded through a mix of government support and magazine sales. Closest European functional analog.
• Which?: UK consumer champion offering independent product reviews, investigations, and subscription-funded advice, with a comparable magazine-plus-digital-plus-comparators business model.
• CHOICE (Australia): Australian non-profit consumer advocacy organization providing independent product reviews, surveys, and comparator tools. Same subscription-plus-content model and ICRT counterpart.
• Test Achats / Test Aankoop: Belgian non-profit consumer association publishing product tests, investigations, and comparator tools for Francophone and Flemish consumers. Direct functional peer to Protégez-Vous within the ICRT network.
• UFC-Que Choisir: France's leading independent consumer association and magazine publisher, offering product tests, comparator tools, and consumer-rights advocacy. Highly comparable French-language model and also an ICRT member.

Broad incumbents

• CNET: Large-scale tech and consumer-electronics review publisher with affiliate-driven monetization. Overlaps with Protégez-Vous's technology category but operates much more broadly and is ad-supported.

Emerging players

• Wirecutter (The New York Times): Product-review publication owned by The New York Times producing best-of guides and comparator content. Different (for-profit, US) model but competes for the same 'trusted product advice' audience.

Others

• International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT): Global network of consumer-testing organizations of which Protégez-Vous is a member. Not a competitor, but the connective tissue enabling shared methodology and cross-border test collaboration.

Regional players

• CBC Marketplace: Canadian public broadcaster's consumer-investigation program covering product tests, recalls, and consumer-rights stories. Comparable investigative mandate but English/pan-Canadian reach and broadcaster-funded rather than subscription-funded.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leseditionsprotegezvous

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Protégez-Vous