The 5 Best Water Filters

Everyone should have access to clean, safe drinking water -- and you can with one of these affordable and effective water filters. Featuring multi-stage filtration systems that use carbon, reverse-osmosis, and other imperfection-removing technologies, they help clear sediments and chemicals from your home tap or even store-bought water, leaving you with potable and taste-free H20. Our list includes models appropriate for nearly every occasion, from elaborate under-the-sink systems to portable purifiers to your everyday Brita filter.

1. Brita Everyday Pitcher with 1 Filter

Brita Everyday Pitcher with 1 Filter

The Brita Everyday Pitcher is the perfect solution to your day-to-day water filtration needs.

Best Overall

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Few names carry as much weight in the water filtration business as Brita, so it’s no surprise they’re coming in here at #1. The company offers many worthwhile products for home water purification, but their best might be this Brita Everyday Pitcher. It’s one of the simplest ways to keep your water clean for daily drinking and cooking, thanks to its large 10-cup capacity and straightforward and effective filter system. It’s also plenty affordable — which is important, since getting clean water shouldn’t cost a ton.

Pros:

Filters are replaceable and last up to 2 months
Clean tank gives you view of water level
Longer-lasting filters available

Cons:

Doesn’t remove all chemicals
Reservoir is difficult to remove

2. ZeroWater ZD-018 ZD018, 23 Cup Water Filter Pitcher

ZeroWater ZD-018 ZD018, 23 Cup Water Filter Pitcher

For a slightly larger version of our number one pick, try the ZeroWater 23 Cup Pitcher.

Best Runner-Up

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If our number one pick isn’t big enough to supply your large family with clean drinking water, upgrade to the ZeroWater Pitcher. Boasting a 23 cup capacity, it’s almost twice the size of your standard water pitcher, making it big enough provide a home with several day’s worth of H20. It’s also more feature-rich, coming complete with a premium five-stage filter and a water quality meter that lets you know exactly how clean its contents are.

Pros:

BPA-free plastic
Spigot release
Removes 99 percent of TDS

Cons:

Does not remove heavy metals and chemicals entirely
No handle

3. PUR FM2500V Classic Faucet Mount Filter

PUR FM2500V Classic Faucet Mount Filter

The PUR Classic is a faucet-mounted filter that cleans water instantly and removes more contaminants than similar models.

Best Faucet Mounted

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Filtration tanks can be a convenient solution for drinking water, but some homes might want to keep their H20 clean for other things, such as washing your hands. For those situations, you need a faucet-mounted filter like this PUR Classic. It attaches right to your tap and purifies water as it’s released, ensuring your H20 is free from chemicals even before it reaches your skin. And it’s even more effective than pitcher filters, since it’s certified to reduce over 70 contaminants, including 99 percent of lead.

Pros:

Good for 100 gallons of water
LED indicator lets you know when filter needs replacing
No tools required for installation

Cons:

Design is somewhat bulky
May leak after extended use

4. iSpring RCC7 5-Stage Under Sink Drinking Water Filtration System

iSpring RCC7 5-Stage Under Sink Drinking Water Filtration System

Homes with hard or especially contaminated water should get iSpring Water Filtration System, a complete solution to your purification needs.

Best High-End/Under Sink

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Water pitchers are great for removing smells and light contaminants from your water, but they’re no match for heavy metals and serious chemicals. For that, you’ll need a more complete filteration solution like the iSpring RCC7. This 5-stage purification system is guaranteed to remove up to 99% of over 1,000 contaminants from your tap H20, including lead, chlorine, fluoride, and even arsenic, making it suitable for homes with especially dirty wells or piping. It will soften your water, too.

Pros:

Keeps out of sight
Reverse-osmosis filtering
3.2 gallon pressurized tank

Cons:

Somewhat expensive
Can be difficult to install

5. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Clean your water on the go with the award-winning LifeStraw Personal Water Filter.

Best Personal/Portable

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Whether you’re camping, hiking, or simply don’t trust your tap water at the office, the LifeStraw Personal is a great way to get potable H20 wherever you are. The travel-size filter is one of the most popular portable options out there, thanks to an efficient and effective design that includes no batteries or moving parts. It also works literally anywhere, thanks to its compact size, and is even more thorough that other filters on the market, as it’s capable of removing of waterborne bacteria, parasites, and microplastics.

Pros:

EPA-certified
Extremely lightweight
No expiration date

Cons:

Not a very large capacity
Can be difficult to use

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need a water filter?

Water is a human right — everyone should have access to clean, potable H20. Unfortunately, though, that’s not the case, and many people struggle with water that is dirty or less than ideal. Water filters use various filtration methods to help purify your water, ensuring a healthier and safer life.

What type of water filter do I need?

Water filters come in many different varieties and designs, and which one is right for you will depend on your own particular needs. At the most basic level, carbon-based filters like those used in Brita pitchers help remove bad smells and tastes from your water using porous charcoal. However, they won’t offer much of a defense against more harmful chemicals and contaminants. For that, you need a full-blown filtration system, many of which use reverse osmosis and multi-stage purification to rid H20 of heavy metals such as lead and chemicals that can cause serious health problems. Portable filters like those made by LifeStraw will also do this, in addition to removing waterborne bacteria and parasites.