The Best Water Filters Of 2023

Quality cooking starts with quality ingredients. Start with the fundamentals by ensuring you have great-tasting filtered water. We've compiled the best water filters for a range of uses. Many people are familiar with the water filter pitchers from name brands such as Brita or Pur, but a range of countertop dispensers, faucet attachments, and whole house filtration systems are available. People living in small spaces or who always seem to be reaching for an empty pitcher in the fridge (guilty!) could benefit from a water faucet attachment. High water use? Large households might consider an under-sink filtration unit. We know water isn't supposed to have a taste, but we'd wager yours might, which is why you're looking for a water filter. 

For many reasons, Consumer Reports urges consumers to know what's coming out of their faucets before purchasing a filtration system. First steps include requesting an annual report about water quality from your city and testing your tap water. EWG offers tap water reports based on zip code to better understand which contaminants are possibly in your drinking water.

The Aquaphor Provence holds 17 cups of water, is NSF certified to filter lead, and has an attractive design. Plus, the price is a bargain for a pitcher with the valuable ability to remove rust, chlorine, and other contaminants that you don't want in your glass. The Aquaphor Provence's A5 filter enriches tap water with magnesium to improve taste while removing odor. This brand might not have the name recognition of others on this list, but the performance is impressive and the 17-cup capacity is much higher than pitchers by other brands.  

One impressive attribute of this filter is its ability to preserve good compounds while at the same time reducing harmful compounds such as lead. Aquaphor Provence filters for taste and contaminants in tap water for up to 90 gallons per filter but leaves the electrolytes you want. 

Interested? Purchase the Aquaphor Provence pitcher from Amazon starting at $33.54.

Even though a pitcher might only hold water, you still need to keep these kitchen items clean and ready for action. Many water filter pitchers can't be put in a dishwasher. Not the end of the world, but it can be a pain. We've also seen an online review where a complicated design without the ability to take it apart could result in harmful mold build-up — not what you want to deal with. The good news is some brands are making cleaning a little easier.   

The Hydros Glass Slim Pitcher is not only beautiful, but it's eco-friendly and dishwasher safe. The glass pitcher is a sleek design that is attractive at the dinner table and can be placed in the washer along with your dinner plates (except for the filter, of course). The compact design isn't going to hydrate a family of four, but it's perfect for one person, and you won't have to worry about grime.

Purchase the Hydros Glass Slim Pitcher from Amazon starting at $23.99.

Although the terms water filter and purification might be thrown around as if interchangeable, the term filter is more limited in its ability. Most standard pitchers are unable to purify water with bacteria — and, to be fair, most homes in the United States aren't concerned with these types of microbes. If you're traveling, then bacteria can be a major concern, and it's not unheard of for sewage to leak into a water line (but thankfully, not common). All the same, the ability to remove bacteria from water is important beyond just when you're drinking from a backcountry spring.

LARQ started as a Kickstarter campaign and has built a reputation for itself due to its multi-stage purification system and sleek design. This LARQ Pitcher PureVis comes with a physical filter that claims to purify water from lead, mercury, pesticides, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and more. 

This pitcher also includes a UV light that automatically activates every six hours in order to kill bacteria and self-clean. It's rare to have this technology, so it's worth the higher price point. Plus you could avoid "traveler's stomach" or creating tons of plastic waste from disposable bottles when overseas, where you won't have the necessary immunity to drink the water.

Purchase the LARQ Pitcher PureVis from Amazon starting at $168.

We found this water filter category to be straightforward. A faucet mount allows for water on demand instead of taking up fridge or counter space. You also won't find a million different options with NSF lead certification or adjacent claims. We find the PUR Plus Faucet Mount Water Filter to be the clear winner for anyone looking to reduce 70 contaminants, including lead, mercury, and certain pesticides. The PUR water mount filter possesses an NSF 401 certification, which is proven to remove compounds such as microplastics and pharmaceuticals. Plus, it improves the overall taste. And PUR takes up minimal space while still accommodating 100 gallons of water for cooking and drinking.

All that said, water faucet filters come with some downsides. Fit is a significant factor; a tight seal on the faucet is important to avoid leaks and build-up. Also, don't let the product pictures fool you: whether vertical or horizontal, the PUR Faucet Mount commandeers valuable real estate for anyone with minimal sink space. We've found the water capacity of 2-3 months really depends on the quality of water. If you live in an area with hard water, or a building with old pipes, you might run into clogs around the one-month mark. 

Purchase the PUR Plus Faucet Mount Water Filter from Amazon starting at $26.45.

We found more than a few of the top countertop water filters are steep investments. Many also have dubious claims. But the right one can be worthwhile for any household looking to get serious about water quality, capacity, and taste. AquaTru Connect Countertop features a carbon VOC filter to improve taste and a reverse osmosis filtration system to eliminate toxins such as arsenic and lead. AquaTru also connects to wifi to remind you when to change your filter. The system is independently certified but does make those results available.

The best part of the AquaTru? An app connects to your smartphone with meter readings and reminds you when it's time to replace your filter. You won't need to install this reverse osmosis system or hire a professional. The four-stage filtration system holds one gallon of water in its tank and cleans out difficult-to-remove contaminants including fluoride, radium, chromium, and lead. AquaTru could be worth the investment because most other filtration systems will need to be installed directly to your pipes in order to eliminate such heavy hitters.

Purchase the AquaTru Connect Countertop from Amazon starting at $449.

Designed for people on the move, the LifeStraw go water filter bottle is both stylish and practical. Made from BPA-free material, the 22-ounce water bottle comes in multiple colors, from clear to blue, and features a top with a built-in straw. Plus, it comes with an integrated two-stage filtration system. The membrane microfilter, which requires replacement every 1,000 gallons, removes bacteria and parasites, chemicals, and microplastics. Meanwhile, the activated carbon filter, which requires replacement every 26 gallons, reduces chlorine, chemicals, and odors.

Amazon shoppers favor the LifeStraw go water filter bottle, awarding it 4.6 out of 5 stars. One satisfied buyer sums up the merits of the product, saying, "[The bottle] gives water a fresh taste through its filter. Easy to attach and detach filter to clean it. Nice size. Would be great for camping or hiking." On the downside, some reviewers complain that the bottle's top is prone to leaking and that the built-in straw can be slightly uncomfortable to use.

Purchase the LifeStraw go water filter bottle on Amazon starting at $29.55.

Reverse osmosis is one of the most comprehensive options for removing all traces of contaminants, toxins, minerals — and even fluoride. Reverse osmosis systems are tempting for their ability to wipe away any threat in your water. But the technology does have a downside. The technique wipes all minerals from the water. If you are dealing with a health condition, water without any salt, magnesium, or minerals might be exactly what you're after. For most people, it's overkill. 

That's why we selected the iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis System with an alkaline filter that automatically remineralizes your water to mountain spring freshness. This model is also one of three iSpring reverse osmosis systems that are NSF Certified. If you want a system that automatically remineralizes your water and doesn't alter the pH of the water, the iSpring is an affordable unit with a standard clean-water-to-waste ratio. This also brings us to the second issue with reverse osmosis systems: If the idea of throwing away up to a couple of gallons of water for every filtered gallon is just too wasteful, then try another type of water filter. Otherwise, the convenience and purity of the iSpring water system is unparalleled. 

Purchase the iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis System from Amazon starting at $218.49

A whole house water system, often referred to as a water softener, treats water straight from the source — well, the source in your house, at least. Every faucet will receive the same filtered water, so you won't have to worry if the pasta you're boiling or the splash of water on your toothbrush is free from contaminants. Whole house filters are a permanent solution installed by a professional, which means it's an investment. Testing your water is an absolute must to know which heavy metals or chemicals you're up against. You'll also want to buy your filtration system based on if you have well water (much harder on pipes and filters) or municipal water (potential for pharmaceuticals and microplastics).

That said, our overall recommendation for many homeowners is the Rhino by Aquasana. The 600,000-gallon model is a whole house system tested by the NSF. The Rhino uses carbon and KDF filters to reduce sediment, chlorine, lead, mercury, pesticides, and more. The 600,000 gallons is said to last up to six years of water treatment for your entire home. You can also purchase the option to remove salt and include an Aquasana Rhino with UV filter for bacteria and viruses. We found the Rhino 600,000 Gallons water filter on many lists for the best water filters on the market, and the versatility without a ton of confusing add-ons is a huge plus. 

Purchase the Aquasana Rhino Whole House Water Filter from Amazon starting at $2,253.49.

If your skin is dry and itchy, you might benefit from a water filtration system in your shower. Sprite is NSF certified to reduce chlorine. The Sprite brand also offers a range of shower head water filters and filter attachments if you want different shower heads, attachments, or chrome details.

We've tried the Sprite High Output 2-Shower Water Filtration System because it's budget-friendly and easy to install with your regular existing shower head. We also like that Sprite features a dial to set the month to remind you when to replace the filter. The filter needs to be replaced every six to nine months, and it's much easier to forget to replace a shower filter than a filter pitcher. If you're going to go to the trouble of installing a shower filter, you want it to actually work.

Purchase the Sprite High Output 2-Shower Water Filtration System from Amazon starting at $31.13.