In his review of the song for AllMusic, Thomas Ward deems it one of Harrison's weakest compositions. He says that the track offers "a very dated, rather patronising lyric and rather bland melody", although he also recognises "an ingenious chord sequence and, typically, a great introduction". Alex Young of "Consequence of Sound" describes it as a "vital" inclusion on "Rubber Soul", as the first track to show how "this album is truly the champion of making bitterness sound cheerful." In 2010, "Rolling Stone" ranked "Think for Yourself" at number 75 in its list of the "100 Greatest Beatles Songs". The magazine's editors wrote that while the Beatles created the track in obvious haste and under the influence of marijuana, these conditions worked to the song's advantage, lending it "an unchained, garage-band feel". Dominic Pedler cites "Think for Yourself" as an example of the extent to which Harrison contributed to the Beatles' legacy as writers of pioneering, original melodies. He recognises the song as "harmonically outrageous" and "a maverick blueprint for left-field pop-rock".