Your Selection
Delivery
Delivery time may vary depending on store and country. To learn more about click here
Price Range
Water filters help improve the flavor of your water and protect you from impurities such as rust particles and harmful contaminants like bacteria and lead. Sure, bottled water is easily available, but water filters are more sustainable—and will save you money in the long run. Here are the best water filters on the market.
There are countless types of water filters available, including under-sink filters, faucet attachments, whole-house filtration systems, pitchers, and more. While there isn't a one-size-fits-all filter solution, we help narrow down the list of the best water filters based on your needs. Look for options that have been certified by the NSF, a health and safety standards testing company, or by an independent third party to meet NSF standards.
Best Overall: APEC ROES-50 Reverse Osmosis System
Best Faucet Attachment: PUR PLUS Faucet Mount Water Filtration System
Best Pitcher Filter: Amazon Basics 10-Cup Water Pitcher with Water Filter
Best Countertop: Avalon B8 Bottleless Hot & Cold Water Cooler
Best Water Bottle: Brita Plastic Water Filter Bottle
A highly efficient system, and also an attractive option, this reverse osmosis filtering system is designed to be placed under the sink; it can, however, also be placed in a basement or attached garage with the water routed to the sink for easy dispensing with the included faucet. Along with the typical lead and other heavy metals, bacteria, and chlorine, this removes as many as 1,000 different unwanted contaminants from the water.
This filtering system uses five separate stages of filtering to remove 99 percent of contaminants. It has a sediment filter, a reverse osmosis filter, a coconut fiber filter, and two stages of carbon filters. Filters need to be changed at different intervals; The first three last six to 12 months, while the two stages can last two to four years.
Installation is designed to be a DIY project, but specialized tools may be required to install the faucet if there isn’t already a hole drilled in the sink or counter that can accommodate the new faucet.
What We Like
What to Consider
PUR PLUS Faucet Mount Water Filtration System gets major points for ease of installation: Just place the filter inside the mount system, unscrew the aerator and washer at the end of your faucet, and attach the faucet mount in its place. There are no tools required, and the replaceable filter will last for about three months. The filter is NSF-tested and certified and will reduce heavy metals, chlorine, and more.
What We Like
What to Consider
The Amazon Basics 10-Cup Water Pitcher with Water Filter is a great choice for those who don’t want to attach anything to their pipes or faucet. With a 10-cup water capacity and an electronic memo that let’s you know when it’s time to change the filter, it’s designed to filter chlorine, copper, mercury, and benzene. It’s also made with BPA-free plastic, and comes with a filter. Filters should be changed approximately every 2 months, or after 40 gallons of water.
What We Like
What to Consider
If you want hot and cold water on demand, the Avalon B8 Bottleless Hot & Cold Water Cooler is a fantastic addition to your kitchen. It requires a little counter space but doesn’t take up any valuable space in your fridge, which is a big plus. There’s some under-the-sink installation involved to keep water flowing freely to the cooler, but most adults will have no trouble with this. The best part? The replaceable water filters (one sediment filter and one carbon block filter) each last six months, or 1500 gallons.
What We Like
What to Consider
For better-tasting water on the go, the Brita Plastic Water Filter Bottle will reduce the presence and odor of chlorine in your H2O. The bottle is BPA-free and has an attached straw that makes it super easy to drink out of. It’s also dishwasher safe, which is a major plus. Keep in mind that the filter, which lasts for about 2 months (40 gallons) only reduces chlorine, not microbes or heavy metals.
What We Like
What to Consider
There are two reasons to get a water filtration system. For drinking water in the U.S., it's more likely that you’ll want a filter to improve taste or remove hard minerals and protect your pipes; hard water (i.e., water with high mineral content) can damage pipes and water fixtures with buildup.
However, there are still times when you may want a system that can filter out contaminants, like lead or man-made chemicals. If you are on well water, have old pipes, or live in an area with unsafe drinking water, you may need a water filter to remove contaminants like lead or actual particles like sand.7
If you are on city water, you can look at the annual water reports to see what kinds of contaminants are in that water. Even if your municipal water is safe, you may have old pipes that could be leaching contaminants into your water. Adding a water filter can help remove those impurities. Filters certified to remove chlorine, for example, can also encourage hydration by making water more enjoyable to drink.
Because effective filtration is so important (and because it’s so hard to actually be able to tell if it’s working), certification is one of the only ways you can actually be sure your water filter is removing the contaminants its packaging claims. The NSF is one certifying body. Other certifications to look for are the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Water Quality Association (WQA). There is no one-size-fits-all certification, so it’s important to know what you want removed from your water. For example, the NSF offers certification for removing a certain amount of chlorine and a separate one for removing lead. The more certifications a filter has, the more contaminants it can remove.
Andrew cautions that you just need to make sure it’s actually certified. Marketing jargon to look out for includes “filters to NSF standards,” which does not mean it has been independently tested. An earlier version of our list included several water filters that were removed based on similar language that made it unclear whether they were independently tested.
You will also want to consider your household’s water consumption when purchasing a filter. A smaller pitcher for a dorm or apartment, for example, may be fine, but for larger households (or if you want to filter water for cooking as well as drinking), faucet or under-sink filters, may make more sense. Refilling a pitcher doesn’t take a huge amount of time, but if you need to do it several times a day, it can be easy to give up on it, and simply go back to drinking unfiltered water from the tap.
Filter cost is another thing to consider. A water filtration system is only as good as its filters, so be sure to factor them in, including price, availability, and how often they need to be replaced when deciding on your filtration system.
Water filtration systems can either cost thousands of dollars, or if you’re getting a small pitcher, around $20. You can get an affordable water filter for personal use without spending much, but make sure to look for certifications. Also, consider the cost of the water filter and how often it will have to be replaced when deciding what you want to spend.
When we think of water filters, a pitcher is the first thing that comes to mind, but water filters can be used at almost every point of water's journey through your home.
Whole-Home Systems
Whole-home systems filter all the water coming into your home. The most common kind, says Andrew, "is a water softener that will help remove minerals and 'soften' your water." Since hard water is bad for pipes and water fixtures, a whole-house filtration system makes the most sense. Because this type of system filters water for the whole house, it's often expensive and time-intensive to set up.
Under-Sink
If you are filtering for contaminants or taste in your drinking water, a point-of-use filter is also an option. These can be filters that attach to the sink, or under the sink where you get drinking water. Andrew emphasizes that whole-house filtration, unless you are on a well, is generally only for softening water, and that these point-of-use systems are sufficient if you’re filtering out contaminants. Under-sink filters are often easier to install than whole-home systems, but are more expensive than faucet attachments or pitchers.
Faucet Attachments
Like under-sink filters, faucet attachments offer instant access to filtered water at a place where you would be getting drinking water, such as the kitchen sink. These filters can typically be attached to most standard sinks, though they won't work with more unique sink setups, like a pull-down faucet with a spray nozzle. A faucet attachment will typically allow you to filter only the water you want to drink and let unfiltered water come through for things like washing dishes. If you are only filtering it to improve taste, this should be sufficient. This type of system also puts less pressure on the filter by only filtering the water you need.
Pitchers
Pitchers don’t offer the convenience of a sink filter because they need to be refilled, but, Andrew says, "some people prefer pitchers because they allow you to chill filtered water, which can make it more enjoyable to drink." It’s also the easiest to set up. Furthermore, if you are only filtering water for taste, you may find a faucet filter to be bulky and unnecessary while you do things like wash dishes or your hands at the sink. Again, this comes down to preference, and both faucet attachments and pitchers are capable of filtering out contaminants.
Countertop
Countertop water filtration systems work similarly to faucet filters by diverting water from the sink into a filtration system with its own tap. Other countertop filtration systems need to be filled, acting like water coolers; these can be bulkier than pitchers, but require less frequent refilling. They do offer the advantage of allowing you to place filtered water anywhere in your home, away from a water source.
Bottles
Water bottles can also filter water and thus be certified by the NSF and ANSI. They can filter water as you fill the water bottle or as you drink it. Water bottles can be a great option if you want to drink filtered water on the go, and they're a great alternative to buying water bottles. But, many home water filtration brands and filters are designed to remove contaminants from treated water. If you want a water filter for hiking or getting water from sources like creeks and rivers, you’ll need to be extra sure that the filtration system you're buying can remove bacteria and other organisms found in nature.
While filters of all types can do a great job of removing contaminants, Andrew says, "no filter can actually remove all contaminants." Any filter that claims it can remove all or 100 percent of contaminants is misrepresenting itself, and no certifying body would verify those claims. "The technology just doesn’t exist," Andrew says.
Water filter systems, no matter the size or type, are not a one-and-done purchase. Filters don’t last forever; they'll eventually stop effectively filtering water. "This can have two effects," Andrew says. For starters, the water can start to flow more slowly through the filter itself. More seriously, the filter can also stop effectively filtering water, letting the contaminants stay in the water. Filters all come with a lifespan, from a few months to a few years. NSF certifications test to ensure that the filter can continue to remove contaminants for as long as its listed lifespan and even allow for a little bit of time on the end.
“But, at some point, it's just not going to work anymore,” Andrew says. Replacing your water filter per manufacturer instructions is just as important as purchasing the right filtration system in the first place.
As brands try to set themselves apart in the filtration space, different accessories and add-ons have popped up, like Bluetooth capabilities and sensors to monitor filter effectiveness. While these can be appealing bells and whistles, they are not necessary. If you follow manufacturer guidelines on replacing filters, for example, the sensor is unnecessary. Ultimately, what matters is if the filter itself is capable of removing the impurities you want removed.
While there are a variety of water filtration systems, no one type is inherently better (or worse) at filtering out contaminants. The same types of filters can remove different contaminants depending on how it was manufactured and certified. This is why Rick Andrew recommends knowing what kinds of contaminants you want to be removed rather than simply looking for a filter that removes a lot of contaminants. If you are unsure of what is in your local water, you can get a water report.
"NSF certifies filters that remove bacteria under a standard called P231," says Andrew, but those tend to be designed for activities like camping, when you may need to drink water from a stream. If you have specific concerns about bacteria in your drinking water, be sure to buy a filtration system certified specifically to remove bacteria.
In short, absolutely. Water filters can be used for city and well water and on both soft and hard (high mineral level) water. Just be aware of what you are hoping to remove. A whole-house system specifically designed to remove minerals from hard water, for example, won’t work the same as a pitcher that removes chlorine for flavor.
Yes, certain types do. If you have a preference, be sure to check your filter’s certification.
Water filtration systems are only as good as the filters within them. Nearly all are designed to be replaced, and all certifications are done with the life of the filter in mind. So, if your filter needs to be replaced every six months, NSF will test each filter to ensure a six-month lifespan. If filters are replaced regularly, the filtration system itself can last for years.
Donna Currie is a freelance food writer who specializes in product reviews and recipes. Her work has appeared on Serious Eats, Fine Cooking, and her own recipe blog, Cookistry.com. She's also the author of "Make Ahead Bread," a cookbook meant to simplify the bread-baking process. Donna has her bachelor's degree from Roosevelt University.
Additional reporting to this story by Christine Byrnes.
It is our mission at The Spruce Eats to help busy but curious home cooks make the best purchase decisions, whether they're just getting started or are looking to pick up a new skill. We obsessively research products, interview industry pros and experts, and evaluate items at home and in the test kitchens of our Lab, then compile our recommendations into informative lists for every kind of cook.
The only way to know if a product can stand up to everyday kitchen use is to test it. Knowing that different home cooks are looking for specific types of products (for a small space, for example, or for a beginner), we research product categories that meet you where you are. After devouring both manufacturer data and user reviews, we churn out an assortment of products to test in each category. We then purchase those products and evaluate them in our own homes and in the test kitchens of our Lab in Industry City.
Using comprehensive and repeatable testing methodologies, we evaluate the items, grading them on various qualities we know you’ll care about (think ease of use, durability, and noise level). These ratings help us determine which product is the best overall (the product we think will be a good fit in most households) and which products might be a good fit across a range of other circumstances, like a low-price, high-value budget pick or a feature-filled splurge pick with all of the bells and whistles.
We also gather qualitative data on our experience while testing these products: What did we like and not like? Was it easy to set up? Did the product work as expected? Was it easy to clean? We editorialize our experience and infuse our insights along with the data to provide you with easy-to-understand reasons why we think these products are great—and what flaws you may expect, as well.
Our testing center in Industry City, Brooklyn, consists of more than 10,000 square feet and includes four test kitchens, which we use to test everything from vacuum sealers to carbon steel pans side by side to see how they stack up against each other.
Our Review Editor, Test Kitchen Assistant, and other staff members use standardized methodologies to plan and conduct tests in The Lab. We get creative, using an infrared thermometer to measure hot spots in a pan, for example, or taste-testing ice cream made in a dozen different ice cream machines. All the while, we capture photos, videos, and personal insights from editors and testers to give you a behind-the-scenes look.
Of course, we also need to see how well the products fare in real-life situations. Enter our home testers—a combination of experienced food writers and our own editors. We send products directly to their home kitchens, where they take them through the same steps as in The Lab. Then, the testers fill out a survey rating the items on the same established attributes, while also offering personal takeaways and capturing photos of the products in use.
This real-life testing is especially valuable because we are able to vet how delivery, setup, and product features work in a home setting, as well as monitor how things like small appliances, cookware, and more hold up over time. Home testers don’t just focus on how the products feel out of the box, but also the entire lifespan of the product—days, weeks, and even months later.
Are you searching for water filters in Albania? Find water filters online on Ubuy at the lowest prices. Stay updated with our special offers, festive deals & discounts.
The answer is Ubuy Albania, where you can get water filters easily from the international market at very affordable prices.
Ubuy is secured with SSL certification and runs with HTTPS. Our payment process is secured with advanced encryption systems to ensure complete safety and security to our valuable customer data & money.
