The 6 Best Water Filters for Your Home

Best Under-Sink Water Filter

APEC Water Systems Essence 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System

$231

$200 at Amazon $231 at Walmart $252 at Home Depot

This top-rated brand earned its reputation for a reason: it uses reverse osmosis to filter out up to 99% of contaminants, including fluoride, arsenic, lead, chlorine, and many more pollutants that not all filters address. The system is installed under the kitchen sink and comes with a separate tap for filtered water, so you’re not using drinking water to wash hands or dishes. Filters for this system should be changed every six to 12 months, depending on how much water you use, but the replacements are fairly inexpensive, and changing them is simple.

The system does require a more complicated installation, as you’ll need to drill an extra hole in your sink for the additional tap. But once it’s installed, it runs quietly and without disrupting your water pressure. To top it off, APEC donates free drinking water filtration systems to low-income or immunocompromised individuals through its FreeDrinkingWater charity, something we can get behind.

Filter Type: Reverse osmosis, double carbon block | Filter Replacement: Every 300 gallons/six months | Certification: WQA

Best Water Filter Pitcher

ZeroWater 10 Cup Round Water Filter Pitcher

$37

$31 at Amazon

Pitchers with water filters are one of the easiest ways to achieve filtered water since they require minimal setup and typically take up little space. This BPA-free pitcher from ZeroWater offers a 10-cup capacity and uses a five-stage filtration system that removes 99.6% of total dissolved solids (TDS), including heavy metals like lead, copper, and mercury, as well as chlorine and fluoride. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the Zero filter also removes 100% of PFAS.

To use, fill up the upper reservoir with tap water and cover it with the lid. The water will flow through the filter and be ready to drink within a few minutes. You can store the pitcher in the refrigerator or countertop, depending on the temperature you prefer. This pitcher includes a water quality meter so you can know when the filter needs replacing. It only takes a few seconds to change the filter, so it’s a breeze to use.

Filter Type: Carbon, ion exchange | Filter Replacement: Every 40 gallons | Certification: NSF

Best Value

Brita XL Water Filter Dispenser

$38

$35 at Amazon $50 at Target View on Lowe's

One of the best-known water filter brands, Brita makes no-fuss water filters that our editors have relied on in their homes. We're singling out the XL Water Filter Dispenser for its simple setup, large capacity, and affordable price. "It's a great substitute for standard fridges that don't come with a built-in water filter or dispenser," says Editor Arnesia Young. "And it's pretty sturdy, as I've had mine for over a year now with no issues or complaints." We like being able to dispense water directly from the fridge without having to fiddle with a pitcher. We find it a bit cumbersome to refill, especially in a small sink. But, you can refill it less often, as it holds a lot more water than the average filtered pitcher.

It comes with a Brita Standard filter, which uses an activated carbon/ion exchange method to absorb chlorine, mercury, and metals like copper and cadmium. It's also compatible with the Brita Elite filter, which also removes lead, asbestos, and benzene, and lasts longer (about six months or 120 gallons). This model doesn't have the built-in sensor that some have to let you know when change the filter. But, it comes with a clear film that you can stick on it to write down the last time you replaced the filter.

Filter Type: Carbon, ion exchange | Filter Replacement: Every 40 gallons or two months | Certification: WQA

Best Countertop

Boroux Legacy Gravity-Fed Countertop Stainless Steel Water Filter System

$375 at Amazon

$399

$355 at Boroux.com

At first glance, the Boroux looks like a Berkey water filter — the stainless steel system with both a cult following and some controversy to its name because of its lack of ANSI or NSF certification. I replaced my Berkey with the Boroux because it has third-party testing and certifications to back up its claims, in addition to the same sleek, streamlined look. Like the Berkey, it's a gravity-fed water filter, which just means that gravity moves the water from the upper chamber, where you fill it, to the lower chamber. To get there, water has to seep through the pores of two activated carbon/ion exchange filters. This micro-filtration method makes nearly any water drinkable, trapping heavy metals like lead, herbicides like glyphosate, sediment, PFAS, and more contaminants.

Setting up the Boroux involves washing its parts and tightening them by hand. The filters have to be primed first to remove air, which means placing each filter under the faucet so water can saturate it. If you want to take a shortcut here, Boroux makes a genius automatic filter primer. It may take several hours before you have your first batch of water, but the system gets more efficient as more water filters through. Still, we recommend keeping water in the upper chamber at all times to avoid running out (and having to wait a few hours for it to filter again). The filters need to be replaced about every two years or after 12,000 gallons. If you have more than four people in your household, or if you use filtered water for cooking, watering plants, and anything else that drains your water supply, Boroux recommends adding two extra filters, which will help water get through twice as fast.

Filter Type: Carbon, ion exchange | Filter Replacement: Every 12,000 gallons or two years | Certification: NSF/ANSI/CAN, WQA

Best Faucet Water Filter

PUR PLUS Faucet Mount Water Filtration System FM3700

$37

$31 at Amazon

One of the simplest water filters to add to your home, this faucet mount filter doesn’t even require any special tools to install — it snaps right on. Add it directly to your kitchen faucet, and you can have filtered water available with the switch of the lever. This filter uses activated carbon and ion exchange to reduce heavy metals like lead and mercury, certain pesticides, and more. Not only that, it enhances the water’s taste with natural minerals.

This small but mighty filter can handle up to 100 gallons (on average, about three months of use) before the filter needs to be replaced. An indicator light will alert you when the filter needs changing. One downside is that the Pur filter’s output is on the slow side, but it’s fine for filling water bottles or a pitcher to leave in the fridge.

Filter Type: Carbon, ion exchange | Filter Replacement: Every 100 gallons or three months | Certification: NSF

Best Whole-House Water Filter

Express Water Whole House Water Filter

$548 at Amazon $625 at Home Depot $548 at Walmart

If you’re looking for a whole-house system to give you filtered water from every tap, this model is a pretty solid choice. Set in a stainless steel frame, it uses a three-stage filter — KDF, sediment filtration, and an activated carbon block — that removes heavy metals, chlorine, fungus, dirt, as well as bad odors and tastes. This system allows for a steady flow of 15 gallons per minute, so you shouldn’t notice any change in water pressure after installation.

While it is a little trickier to install than an under-sink model, once it’s in, the filter replacements are quite simple. Best of all, each filter set is good for up to 100,000 gallons of water. You’ll only have to replace the filters once or twice a year, depending on how much water your household uses. 

Filter Type: Sediment, KDF, activated carbon block | Filter Replacement: Every 100,000 gallons or six to 12 months | Certification: NSF, ANSI