Are you too tired of wondering what is there in your water and constantly thinking about being hydrated? Water consumption without knowing its components has been a long-term concern for people and today, consuming the purest water is everyone’s demand.
People have different needs and each filter is built differently so choosing a filter that fits your expectations, and needs is crucial. To pick the most suitable water filter, here is a list of several water filters reviewed by us.
With numerous models of water filters available in the market, one should always consider the below-listed factors while buying a water filter.
- Filter Type: Different filters target specific contaminants. Activated carbon filters tackle Chlorine taste and odor, while RO (reverse osmosis) removes lead and bacteria, and filters with UV sterilization or ultrafiltration membranes kill microorganisms.
- External Testing Certification: Look for NSF certification, this indicates the filter meets safety standards for materials and contaminant reduction (e.g., NSF/ANSI 42 for chlorine, 53 for lead).
- Water Usage: A large family of 5-6 people might need a high-capacity filter of 6+ Litres, while a single person or a small family of 1-2 people can opt for a smaller filter with a capacity of 2-3 Litres.
Best Water Filters Table
| Product Name | Special Feature | USP | Check on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everydrop Ice and Water Refrigerator Filter | Reduces Sediment | Removes 99% Lead & other contaminants | Check On Amazon |
| Brita 10 Cup Water Filter | Sticker Filter Indicator | BPA Free | Check On Amazon |
| Frigidaire PureSource Ultra Water and Ice Refrigerator Filter | Removes Odor | Removes lead, nitrates, pesticides, and mercury | Check On Amazon |
| Amazon Basics Replacement Water Filter for pitchers | Multi-stage filtration technology | Sustainable Option | Check On Amazon |
| GE MWF Refrigerator Water Filter | Tested and verified to reduce five trace pharmaceuticals | Premium Filtration | Check On Amazon |
| PUR 30-Cup Water Filter Dispenser | 2-in-1 Powerful Water Filtration | Dishwasher Safe | Check On Amazon |
| Culligan ZeroWater Water Filter Dispenser | 5-Stage Filtration | Change Filter Indicator | Check On Amazon |
| Invigorated Water Filter | Increases pH level | Adds Minerals | Check On Amazon |
| Epic Pure Water Filter | Reduces PFAS | Customizable filter replacement schedule | Check On Amazon |
| Avalon 2 Stage replacement water filters | 2 Filters - 1 NSF Certified Carbon Activated and a Sediment Filter | Eliminates various contaminants | Check On Amazon |
List Of Best Water Filters
1. Everydrop Ice and Water Refrigerator Filter
This ice and water refrigerator filter by Everydrop is one of the most popular choices for water filters. It is specifically designed to reduce sediment and help to improve the water quality. An add-on to this product is that it has carbon filters made of coconut shells, preventing wastage and encouraging sustainability. By opting for this filter you can contribute towards cutting down the use of single-use plastic bottles as this replaces the usage of 1500 plastic bottles.
The only filter to be approved by various big brands such as Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, KitchenAid, and JennAir, it promises reliable performance and efficiency. It has an NSF-certified filter reducing 99% of harmful contaminants such as lead, mercury, etc. providing healthier water.
Despite having a filter life of 6 months/200 gallons and being approved by various brands, it is only compatible with some appliances making the product reach only limited users. It is to be noted that the filter life depends on the source water quality and replacement may be required based on the usage.. If the water quality is poor then the filter might have to be replaced every 3 months instead of 6.
Specifications:
- External Testing Certification: NSF
- Product Benefits: Reduces Sediment
- Capacity – 75 Gallons
- Duration – 6 Months(depends on usage and source water quality)
- Item Weight: 7 ounces
Pros:
- Easy installation process.
- Removes chlorine and provides odor-free water.
- Cost-effective than buying bottled water.
Cons:
- High priced in terms of the features offered.
- Mixed longevity of filter.
2. Brita 10 Cup Water Filter
This sustainable and convenient water filter by Brita is recommended for families or people who have water consumption of 10 cups i.e. capacity of 2.4 Litres per day. It is BPA-free, eco-friendly as it replaces the use of 1800 single-use plastic bottles, and is efficient in removing the chlorine odor and taste making the water cleaner. It also reduces various other contaminants such as copper, cadmium, and mercury.
One of the stand-out features of this product is the Sticker Filter Indicator which alerts the users about the filter replacement. The filters in this product are approved by NSF International against 40,53 standards to ensure safe drinking water, it comes with a filter life of 40 gallons which is an average of 2 months, apart from all these, this filter also has an RO purifying system.
It has an easy-fill lid which allows easy filling without removing the filter. Despite all these features, the filter does not have an automatic shut-off demanding the person to manually stop pouring water to prevent overflow.
Specifications
- External Testing Certification – NSF International 40, 53
- Special Feature – Sticker filter indicator
- Capacity – 4 Litres
- Duration – 2 Months/40 Gallons(depends on usage)
- Item Weight – 29 Pounds
Pros
- Improved taste than other filtered water
- Easy to install and use.
Cons
- Inconsistent filter longevity
- Frequent Charcoal Leakage
- Brittle Design
- Difficult to clean the filter and pitcher compartment
3. Frigidaire PureSource Ultra Water and Ice Refrigerator Filter
The PureSource Ultra Water and Ice Refrigerator Filter from Frigidaire is designed with an activated-carbon filter technology effectively removing the chlorine odor and taste, making the water smoother to consume. People with a family size of 4-5 are suggested to opt for this filter as its capacity is 200 gallons and requires a filter change every 3-6 months.
The filters reduce up to 99% of harmful contaminants like Cysts, Lead, Mercury, Pesticides, etc. as they are NSF International tested and certified against multiple standards such as 42, 53, and 401. Apart from this, it is also certified by the Water Quality Association against the WQA/ASPE/ANSI S 803 standard making it a sustainable choice in cutting down plastic bottle usage.
Although this filter has several certifications making it a safer choice, it lacks smart and automatic features making it more manual-oriented and time-consuming for a few users.
Specifications
- External Testing Certification – IAPMO
- Special Feature – Removes odor.
- Capacity – 200 Gallons
- Duration – 3-6 Months (Depends on usage)
- Item Weight – 63 Pounds
Pros
- Easy to install
- Good value for money
- Convenient usage
Cons
- High cost- $41 for a single unit
- Slow Flow Rate( half gallon/minute)
- Gradually gives cloudy water or water with increased TDS
4. Amazon Basics Replacement water filter
This product from Amazon Basics is a must-have if you’re aiming for a water filter with multi-stage filtration technology. It is a water filter for pitchers and is compatible with all Amazon Basics and Brita pitchers, and dispensers except Brita Stream. The filter life for one single filter is 2 months or 40 Gallons and it may vary as per the usage.
Promising to reduce the chlorine taste and odor, and other contaminants such as benzene, copper, etc. the filter is certified with a Gold seal by the Water Quality Association against the NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, and 372. Apart from this, it is also a BPA-free and lead-free product. By choosing this for your home, you would come a step closer to a sustainable lifestyle as using this would replace 300 single-use plastic bottles.
Although it is a cost-efficient option, it cannot be qualified as a smart filter as it cannot be attached to smart appliances and has no alert system requiring manual checking for filter replacement.
Specifications
- External Testing Certification – WQA
- Special Feature – Multi-stage filtration technology
- Capacity – 40 gallons
- Duration – 2 Months (based on usage)
- Item Weight – 22 Pounds
Pros
- Improved taste and quality of water
- Efficient Durability
- Easy to install and use
- Easy to replace
Cons
- Poor design hinders the refilling process.
- Leaks are prevalent after heavy usage.
- The misfit filter in the pitcher allows unfiltered water to bypass the filter.
5. GE MWF Refrigerator Water Filter
This refrigerator water filter from GE Appliances consists of a Premium Filtration technology as it has GE Genuine MWF filter certified filters reducing various contaminants such as chlorine-resistant cysts, lead, and 50+ impurities. Apart from this, it is also capable of reducing five trace pharmaceuticals namely ibuprofen, progesterone, atenolol, trimethoprim & fluoxetine providing cleaner and safer water.
With a 300-gallon or 6-month filter life, it guarantees improvement in water quality as it has filters certified to NSF/ANSI drinking water treatment standards. It has a twist-and-lock design providing an easy, tool-free, and mess-free filter replacement.
Despite these features, it is not compatible with every refrigerator restricting it to be used only in the GE side-by-side and bottom-freezer refrigerators. It is also to be noted that with due usage, it is bound to get less efficient in the filtration process.
Specifications
- External Testing Certification – WQA
- Special Feature – Premium filtration
- Capacity – 300 Gallons
- Duration – 6 Months (depends on usage)
- Item Weight – 6 Pounds
Pros
- Improve in the taste and clarity of water
- Enhanced contaminants removal
- User-friendly design for convenient use
Cons
- Slightly expensive for the filter life
- Slow water flow rate
- Potential for flooding
6. PUR 30-cup Water Filter Dispenser
The PUR water filter dispenser comes with a 2-in-1 powerful water filtration technology resulting in faster filtration with NSF certified filter along with the reduction in contaminants such as mercury, copper, zinc, and chlorine providing odor-free and good-tasting water.
This water filter dispenser is recommended for people who are aiming for a time-efficient lifestyle as it is dishwasher safe making the cleaning process hassle-free. It has a space-saving design allowing the maximum space for refrigerator use. With a filter life of 2 months or 40 gallons, it would help you save $75 per month making it a good deal.
Despite having such features, it does not have a UV Sterilization and therefore is not certified to filter microbes leading to poor water quality. The filter might be bulky for small-sized fridges making the operation difficult.
Specifications
- External Testing Certification – NSF
- Special Feature – 2-in-1 multi-stage filtration system
- Capacity – 40 Gallons
- Duration – 2 Months (depends on usage)
- Item Weight – 8 Ounces
Pros
- Cost-effective filter
- Large capacity reducing frequent refills
- Easy to use and install
- Eco-friendly
Cons
- Leaky and poor spigot design
- Less durable
- Lid design leads to frequent spiling
7. Culligan ZeroWater Water Filter Dispenser
This ZeroWater water filter dispenser by Culligan is worth considering for its 5-stage filtration with Ion exchange technology removing virtually all total dissolved solids (TDS) such as minerals, and salts. It also comes with an integrated TDS Meter that instantly checks the amount of dissolved solids.
The water filter has a Change Filter indicator that alerts about the filter replacement time reducing the hassle of manually tracking the filter replacement. It has a capacity of carrying 22 cups at a time eliminating the need for frequent refills. The filter is IAPMO-certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS, lead, chromium, and mercury. This is an eco-friendly choice as using this filter saves up to 110 single-use plastic bottles per filter, and is entirely BPA-free.
Although it has such advanced features, in the case of high-TDS tap water, the filter might stop working efficiently. Similarly, it has a manual pour-over design and cannot be connected to any smart devices for monitoring.
Specifications
- External Testing Certification – IAPMO
- Special Feature – 5-stage filtration
- Capacity – 2 Litres
- Duration – Change filter when the meter reads 006.
- Item Weight – 3 pounds
Pros
- Improved taste than other filtered water
- Large Capacity
- Enhanced taste of food when used for cooking purposes.
Cons
- Air lock issues may lead to a slow filtration rate.
- Expensive for the filter life it offers.
8. Invigorated Water Filter
This Invigorated Alkaline water filter is recommended for those people who aim for an enhanced water quality look as its stone and silica is a blend of 10+ materials such as ORP Spheres, Tourmaline, Far Infrared & Maifan Stones that increase alkalinity (pH), decrease the Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and softens hard water for effective digestion.
Coming with a multi-stage basic water filter and “two micro nets”, it filters particles such as sand, silt, and rust and allows essential minerals like calcium, and magnesium to pass through.
The filter has a large capacity of 300 gallons and a filter life of 360 litres/filter. Apart from this, it is an eco-friendly choice to make as it has carbon carbon-activated filter made of coconut shells that removes the contaminants, enhancing the water’s taste and odor. It also comes with a KDF Filter that reduces heavy materials such as Lead, Copper, etc.
Although this filter can be used by both small and large size families, families with 5+ people size would be required to change the filter every month owing to their consumption.
Specifications
- External Testing Certification – SGS
- Special Feature – Increases pH levels and minerals.
- Capacity – 300 Gallons
- Duration – Average 3 months
- Item Weight – 43 pounds
Pros
- Chlorine-free water taste
- Increases pH(alkaline) making it richer in quality.
- Long filter life
Cons
- Increased alkalinity leads to a slightly salty taste of water.
- Higher contaminants lead to frequent filter clogging.
- Slower flow rate
9. Epic Pure Water Filter
This Epic Pure water filter is an eco-friendly and efficient filter that you should consider as it reduces PFAS and has 99% contaminant removal including fluoride, microplastics, etc providing cleaner drinking water. Along with this, it comes with a customizable filter replacement schedule allowing you to adjust the schedule according to your needs and water conditions for replacement every 2-6 months.
The filters stand against the NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 401, & P473 for contaminant reduction, guaranteeing the highest water quality and each filter purifies 150 gallons (568 liters) of water. The filters are recyclable which makes the filter environment friendly and cost-efficient. It also comes in 100% compostable packaging making it a sustainable package.
Although it is a user-friendly product, it lacks automatic alerts and automatic shut-off requiring the manual procedure to be followed.
Specifications
- External Testing Certification – ANSI, NSF
- Special Feature – Reduces PFAS
- Capacity – 150 Gallons
- Duration – Customizable between 2-6 Months (depending on usage)
- Item Weight – 170 Grams
Pros
- Fast filtration
- Cost-effective for filter life
- Clean & Crisp water taste
Cons
- Decreased filter quality over usage.
- Frequent clogging.
- Leaks and loose screws lead to misfunction.
10. Avalon 2- Stage water filters
This 2-stage water filter from Avalon is worth considering as it has patented filters; the first is an NSF-certified carbon-activated filter while the second is a Sediment Filters removing various contaminants such as Chlorine, Lead, etc.
Coming with a 1500-gallon capacity and a flow rate of 0.5 gallons/minute the filter life for this product is 6 Months. It is best recommended for large families of 6-8 people as the water consumption would be more as compared to average families.
Although it has a secured filtration system, it cannot be connected to smart devices which may cause difficulty for people who prefer automatic alerts.
Specifications
- External Testing Certification – NSF
- Special Feature – Patented NSF Certified Filters
- Capacity – 1500 Gallons
- Duration – 6 months (depends on usage)
- Item Weight – 99 Pounds
Pros
- Easy installation
- OEM Filters are reliable and efficient working.
- Clear and odor-free water.
Cons
- Expensive for shorter life spans.
- No reduction in TDS leads to an unpleasant taste of water.
- Frequent Leaks
Key Factors To Consider While Choosing A Water Filter
- Filtration Technology: A water filter with Activated Carbon Technology removes chlorine improving the taste and odor. One with Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology removes various contaminants including heavy metals, and minerals and one with Ultraviolet (UV) Filtration kills bacteria and viruses but doesn’t remove other contaminants.
- External Testing Certification: Always look for NSF certification that indicates the safety standards for materials and contaminant reduction( NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for RO systems or NSF/ANSI Standard 42 for chlorine reduction).
- Filter Capacity: For a small family with 1-2 people, a 2-3 liter capacity filter pitcher is recommended while for a medium family of 3-4, people a 4-6 liter capacity filter pitcher is suitable. Coming to a large family of 5+ people a filter of larger capacity of more than 6 litre is ideal.
- Item weight: Countertop/Gravity Filters weigh 1-3 lbs known for their lighter weight, easy placement, and refilling on countertops. Pitcher Filters are 1-2 lbs which are lightweight and portable and can be used for storage in refrigerators and the under-counter/refrigerator filters are 1-5 lbs and might slightly be heavier due to their larger size but are typically installed in a fixed location.
- Brand Reputation: Always choose a brand that is highly reputed and known for individual testing.
FAQs:
Reverse Osmosis (RO) filters are highly recommended for use at home as they remove various bacteria, bacteria associated with water-borne diseases.
Filter replacement frequency depends on the filter type, water usage, and the quality of the water. On average, it is recommended to replace the filter every 2-6 months.
Certain filtration methods like RO remove some minerals along with contaminants. If mineral depletion is a concern, opt for other filter options like UV Filtration that target specific contaminants while leaving minerals behind.
Always keep track of indicators such as the water taste and odor, filter life, and external certifications such as NSF/ANSI standards. In case of any issue consider replacing the part/filter accordingly.
* Pitcher Filters: They have replaceable cartridges to filter water in a pitcher, best for basic filtration needs, and are easy to use and affordable.
* Countertop Filters: These must be attached to the faucet, offer faster filtration, and might cost additional installation and replacement charges.
* Under-Counter Systems: They can be directly installed under the sink to provide filtered water through a separate faucet. They offer high capacity and effective filtration but require professional installation and have the highest upfront cost.
* Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems: This removes many contaminants but produces a lot of wastewater and has a slower flow rate.
Conclusion
The blog post above has all the key factors to consider while choosing the best filter for your home. Picking the right water filter for your home won’t be confusing anymore as all the specifications, and requirements are mentioned.
