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Best Water Filters for Home: 2023 Top Picks

Scott Winfield
Last Updated on
by Scott Winfield

Hey homeowner, Welcome to our best water filters reviews for 2023.

We know the importance of having a high-quality water filter, and that’s why we made this list of best home water filters to guide your purchase decision. Each water filter was evaluated using performance metrics such as NSF certification, Filtration technology & efficiency, Number of contaminants removed, Water flow rate, and manufacturer’s warranty.

Best Water Filter

Best Home Water Filters

Water Filters Comparison Table

Water Filters
SpringWell CF1 Whole House Water Filter System
  • Filter type: Whole house
  • Filtration technology: Four-stage process with KDF media and catalytic carbon
  • NSF certifications: Not certified
  • Filter life: 6-9 months for pre-filter, 10-year (1 million gallons) for other filtration media
  • Flow rate: 9 GPM (1-3 bathrooms)
  • Warranty: Lifetime
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis
Reverse Osmosis System
  • Filter type: Under-the-sink
  • Filtration technology: Reverse osmosis and Claryum
  • Contaminants removed: 88
  • NSF certifications: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473
  • Filter life: 6-12 months
  • Flow rate: 13.32 GPD
  • Warranty: Two years
Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-the-Sink Water Filter SystemCheck Price
  • Filter type: Under-the-sink
  • Filtration technology: Heavy metals + VOCs filter
  • Contaminants reduced: 232
  • NSF certifications: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 401
  • Filter life: 12 months
  • Warranty: Lifetime warranty
Big Berkey Water Filter
Countertop Filter
  • Filter type: Countertop
  • Filtration technology: Black Berkey Elements
  • Contaminants removed: 200
  • NSF certifications: Not certified
  • Filter life: More than two years (6,000 gallons)
  • Flow rate: Not applicable
  • Warranty: Lifetime warranty
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
  • Filter type: Water pitcher
  • Filtration technology: Affinity Filtration
  • Contaminants reduced: 365
  • NSF certifications: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 401, and 473
  • Filter life: 4 months (100 gallons)
  • Flow rate: Not applicable
  • Warranty: Lifetime warranty
SoftPro IronMaster Iron Removal System for Well Water
  • Filter type: Whole house
  • Filtration technology: AIO + Katalox media
  • Iron removal: 30 ppm
  • NSF certifications: NSF 42, 44, 61, and 372
  • Filter life: Five to ten years
  • Flow rate: 7 GPM (1-2 bathrooms)
  • Warranty: Lifetime
US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion System
Water Filter for Sulfur Removal
  • Filter type: Whole house
  • Filtration technology: AIO
  • Sulfur removal: 30 ppm
  • NSF certifications: Not certified
  • Flow rate: 10 GPM (1-3 bathrooms)
  • Warranty: Lifetime on the tank, 5-10 years on components

Home Water Filters by Type

Whole House Filter: SpringWell CF1

SpringWell CF1 Whole House Water Filter System
  • Filter type: Whole house
  • Filtration technology: Four-stage process with KDF media and catalytic carbon
  • Contaminants removed: Not provided
  • NSF certifications: Not certified
  • Filter life: 6-9 months for pre-filter, 10-year (1 million gallons) for other filtration media
  • Flow rate: 9 GPM (1-3 bathrooms)
  • Warranty: Lifetime
Pros
  • The four-stage filtration process
  • A 10-year filter lifespan that’s matchless in the industry
  • The 9 GPM flow rate for a family of four
  • Comes with a BlueTooth system head
  • Made in the USA
  • Lifetime warranty
Cons
  • Not tested by third parties
  • No NSF certifications
  • Professional assistance is required for the installation

SpringWell CF1 is the best choice whole house water filter system due to its effectiveness against the most common water contaminants (chlorine, PFOA/PFAS, pesticides), the longevity of its filtration media, and its high water flow rate.

SpringWell CF1 filters water using a four-stage treatment process. First, the water passes through a five-micron sediment pre-filter that eliminates sediment particles, such as clay, sand, and silt.

Then the water moves into three filtration beds:

  1. Flex bed: Designed to prolong the contact time between the succeeding media and the water and boost the effectiveness of the filtration.
  2. Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF) bed: The KDF media bed is specifically designed to block chemicals (chlorine, pesticides, and herbicides) and heavy metals (lead, arsenic, chromium, e.t.c).
  3. Catalytic carbon bed: This bed developed by SpringWell removes organic contaminants such as volatile organic compounds and pharmaceuticals.

These three main beds have a million-gallon filtration capacity, roughly equalling ten years of clean water for a family of four. That being said, you’ll need to replace the five-micron pre-filter once every six to nine months for optimum performance.

For easy filter replacement, The SpringWell device has a system head that you can connect to your smartphone via BlueTooth. This head informs you when to replace the filters and allows you to monitor the filtration process.

SpringWell CF1 provides nine gallons of clean water per minute (GPM) — which serves households with 1 – 3 bathrooms. If you have a larger family, the manufacturer also offers the CF4 (12 GPM) and CF+ (20 GPM) models, which costs slightly higher than the base version.

All SpringWell products are made in the United States and come with a lifetime warranty. But unfortunately, SpringWell doesn’t have its products tested by a third-party lab. As a result, they don’t have NSF certifications.

Lastly, note that you’ll likely need the services of a professional plumber to install the SpringWell CF1 unless you’re consider yourself handy and enjoy DIY projects.


Under-sink Reverse Osmosis System: Aquasana OptimH2O

Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis
  • Filter type: Under-the-sink
  • Filtration technology: Reverse osmosis and Claryum
  • Contaminants removed: 88
  • NSF certifications: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473
  • Filter life: 6-12 months
  • Flow rate: 13.32 GPD
  • Warranty: Two years
Pros
  • Claryum tech supplements RO tech
  • NSF certified
  • Filters are easy to replace
Cons
  • High waste water ratio
  • The installation requires plumbing experience
  • Only two-year warranty

If you fancy an Under-sink reverse osmosis system, the Aquasana OptimH2O is a top choice in this category as it offers effective water filtration using a combination of RO and a proprietary technology called Claryum. Claryum is a blend of four different filtration methods, such as ion exchange and micro-filtration, which greatly supplements the reverse osmosis process.

The Aquasana OptimH2O has been tested to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473 (see FAQs section to learn what these certifications mean), which confirms the system’s effectiveness against more 88 water contaminants, most notable of which are lead, asbestos, and fluoride.

This RO system has three cartridges, all of which are twist-offs, which means you only need to twist them to replace them. Speaking of replacements, if you decide to go with the Aquasana OptimH20, you’ll need to replace the Claryum filter once every six months. Replacing the filters costs between $29.99 – $79.99.


Under Sink Water Filter: Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-the-Sink Water Filter System

Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-the-Sink Water Filter SystemCheck Price
  • Filter type: Under-the-sink
  • Filtration technology: Heavy metals + VOCs filter
  • Contaminants reduced: 232
  • NSF certifications: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 401
  • Filter life: 12 months
  • Flow rate: Not provided by the manufacturer
  • Warranty: Lifetime warranty
Pros
  • The most effective under-the-sink unit with 232 reduced contaminants
  • Doesn’t remove healthy minerals
  • NSF-certified
  • DIY-friendly installation
  • Low maintenance
  • 2,000-gallon filter life
  • Made in USA
  • Lifetime warranty
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Replacement filters are expensive
  • Decreases water pressure

Clearly Filtered under-sink filter is the top choice for under-the-sink water filter, and a significant upgrade to the Aquasana OptimH2O Under-sink RO system. It reduces over 232 contaminants, including lead, chlorine, fluoride, and arsenic.

Similar to other ground-breaking water treatment products, this Clearly Filtered model has its own blend of filtration methods in one cartridge. The manufacturer refers to this cartridge as the heavy metals + VOCs filter.

Most water filters that reduces heavy metals have either RO or ion-exchange properties, both of which also removes healthy minerals. This isn’t the case with the Clearly Filtered device, as the heavy metals + VOCs filter keeps mineral molecules intact while reducing health hazards.

Independent labs have tested the Clearly Filtered unit and documented how well it reduces contaminants. It is NSF-certified with NSF Standards 42, 53, and 401 and comes with a performance data sheet where you can read all about its contaminant reduction rates.

Unlike Aquasana OptimH2O, you don’t need professional assistance to install the clearly filtered under-sink filter. Following the user manual, the installation process is DIY-friendly and takes less than 15 minutes to complete installation.

One key thing we observed is that the water flow decreased by 20% to 25% after installing the unit. But, this was mainly due to the prolonged contact time between water and filter, which makes the filtration process more effective.

When it comes to filter replacement frequency, Clearly Filtered is once again amongst the best on the market. Its filters need to be replaced only once a year and entertain a 2,000-gallon filtration capacity. Its cartridges are twist-off, too, so the replacement process is easy.


Countertop Water Filter: Big Berkey Water Filter

Big Berkey Water Filter
  • Filter type: Countertop
  • Filtration technology: Black Berkey Elements
  • Contaminants removed: 200
  • NSF certifications: Not certified
  • Filter life: More than two years (6,000 gallons)
  • Flow rate: Not applicable
  • Warranty: Lifetime warranty
Pros
  • The Black Berkey Elements are the strongest gravity filters
  • Removes 200+ contaminants
  • 6,000-gallon filtration capacity
  • Tested by various EPA-certified labs
  • 2.25-gallon filtered water capacity
  • Made of stainless steel
  • Lifetime warranty
Cons
  • Plastic spigot
  • The treatment process is not fast

Big Berkey is a popular countertop water filter in many American homes, and for a good reason. Thanks to its unique filtration technology, it effectively reduces more than 200 prominent water contaminants while sporting some of the most long-lasting filters in the niche.

The unique technology of Big Berkey is referred to as the Black Berkey Elements, which is a two-cartridge setup (there’s also a four-cartridge option suitable for large families). This setup boasts various effective water treatment methods, from adsorption (attracting impurities with an ionic structure) to micro-filtration.

Big Berkey is a gravity filter, which means the water makes its way down the filtration media with the help of gravity, prolonging contact time and ensuring maximum effectiveness. This allows the unit to reach high contaminant removal rates for some of the most prominent pollutants like lead, arsenic, and benzene.

While most countertop filters are replaced after 6-months, the Black Berkey Elements filter offers 6,000 gallons filtration, which can serve a family of 4 for as much as 2 years before it is replaced.


Water Pitcher: Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
  • Filter type: Water pitcher
  • Filtration technology: Affinity Filtration
  • Contaminants reduced: 365
  • NSF certifications: NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, 401, and 473
  • Filter life: 4 months (100 gallons)
  • Flow rate: Not applicable
  • Warranty: Lifetime warranty
Pros
  • The most powerful water filter on the market thanks to Affinity Filtration
  • Reduces more than 365 contaminants
  • NSF-certified
  • 4-month filter life is excellent for a water pitcher
  • Made in USA
  • Lifetime warranty
Cons
  • Expensive

The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is our top choice water filter pitcher if you’re looking to remove a wide range of contaminants. This device reduces as much as 365 contaminants, which is the highest rating of any water filter device.

With third-party lab testing and NSF 42, 53, 401, and 473 certifications, the clearly filtered water pitcher distinguishes itself as the go-to portable water filter device especially for tap water.

Municipal tap water authorities are notorious for adding chlorine, chloramines, and fluoride before distributing the water. The first two additives are for disinfecting the water and water lines, and the third, fluoride, for promoting healthy teeth.

Excess Chlorine and chloramines changes the water’s taste, odor, and color. Excess Fluoride leads to various problems, including bone fractures and arthritis.

In addition, houses built before the 1980s are likely to have lead in their pipelines (solders and fixtures included). So, no matter how well the municipal authorities treats water before distributing it, lead still leaches into the water supply once it’s in the pipelines of old houses. This is why we recommend checking the water pipes as part of the important considerations when buying an old house.

The clearly filtered water pitcher effectively reduces chlorine, chloramines, fluoride and lead in water:

  • Chlorine: 99.5%
  • Chloramines: 99.7%
  • Fluoride: 99.5%
  • Lead: 99.3%

The back-end filtration process of the clearly filtered water pitcher is powered by a proprietary technology called Affinity Filtration. Affinity filtration reduces contaminants by combining several filtration techniques such as adsorption and micro-filtration.


Water Filters for Lead, Iron & Sulfur

Water Filter for Iron Removal: SoftPro IronMaster

SoftPro IronMaster Iron Removal System for Well Water
  • Filter type: Whole house
  • Filtration technology: AIO + Katalox media
  • Iron removal: 30 ppm
  • NSF certifications: NSF 42, 44, 61, and 372
  • Filter life: 5 – 10 years
  • Flow rate: 7 GPM (1-2 bathrooms)
  • Warranty: Lifetime
Pros
  • 30 ppm iron removal rate
  • Katalox media coated with high-concentration manganese dioxide
  • No harsh chemicals are used in the backwash
  • DIY-friendly installation
  • NSF-certified
  • Lifetime warranty
Cons
  • Low flow rate

While SoftPro Iron technically isn’t our top choice Iron Filter (Our top choice is Springwell Iron Filter), we recommend if you have abnormally excessive iron in your water, as it can reduce as much as 30 parts per million (ppm) iron in water.

The SoftPro IronMaster reduces iron through a combination of Air Injection Oxidation (AIO and Katalox media filtration. AIO oxidizes the iron while Katalox media uses high-concentration manganese dioxide which amplifies the oxidation capacity and presents more surface for iron particles to stick to.

Another distinct benefit of SoftPro IronMaster is that it only requires plain water for backwash, compared to other iron filter systems that requires chemicals for their backwash processes.

Despite being a whole house unit, SoftPro IronMaster is easy to install. The installation becomes even easier if you get the quick-connect hose kit ($79). The components of the system are made of food-grade material, with NSF 42, 44, 61, and 372 certifications.


Water Filter for Lead Reduction: Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
  • Filter type: Water pitcher
  • Filtration technology: Affinity Filtration
  • Lead reduction: 99.3%
  • NSF certifications: NSF 42, 53, 401, and 473
  • Filter life: 4 months (100 gallons)
  • Warranty: Lifetime

With a 99.3% lead reduction rate, the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is the highest rated water filter for reducing lead.

We wrote extensively on this product in the Water pitcher section of this article.


Water Filter for Sulfur Removal: US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion

US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion System
  • Filter type: Whole house
  • Filtration technology: AIO
  • Sulfur removal: 30 ppm
  • NSF certifications: Not certified
  • Flow rate: 10 GPM (1-3 bathrooms)
  • Warranty: Lifetime on the tank, 5-10 years on components
Pros
  • Removes 30 ppm of sulfur
  • Employs hydrogen peroxide as an oxidation agent
  • Vortech backwash tech
  • Removes 20 ppm of iron
  • Comes with different flow rate options
  • Lifetime warranty on the tank
Cons
  • No lifetime warranty. Its components have warranty options varying between five to ten years
  • Requires professional installation

The US Water Systems Matrixx Infusion System effectively removes rotten eggs smell caused by hydrogen sulfide, or Sulfur.

Similar to iron removal systems, sulfur systems operate based on Air Injection Oxidation (AIO). Once the water is injected with an oxidation agent, its hydrogen particles get larger, so the filtration media easily traps them. However, while most AIO systems employ chlorine, oxygen, or potassium permanganate as an oxidation agent, the US Water Systems Matrixx uses hydrogen peroxide instead.

Hydrogen peroxide is much more potent than the other oxidation agents, and this allows the US Matrixx system to remove up to 30 ppm of hydrogen sulfide from water. The industry standard, in contrast, is only 8 ppm.


Types of Water Filters

Frequently Asked Questions

Which water filter removes the most contaminants?

The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher reduces more than 365 contaminants, which is significantly higher than most water filters.

Although some water treatment brands advertise their products with bogus contaminant removal claims, such claims typically lack scientific backing. The Clearly Filtered, however, has gone through rigorous testing, and has received certification by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

What is the average price of a water filter?

While the average price of a water filter depends on the type of filter, Whole house filters typically costs between $1,000 – $5,000. Reverse Osmosis systems costs $200 to $1,000. Undersink filters costs $100 and $1,000. Countertop filters are priced at $50 to $500, while water pitchers are the cheapest at $20 to $100.

What do NSF certifications mean?

NSF/ANSI Standard 42: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates aesthetic impurities (taste, odor, color, chlorine) under the National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (NSDWRs). NSF 42 pertains to contaminants regulated under NSDWRs.

NSF/ANSI Standard 53: The National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) set by the EPA pertains to health hazards, namely dangerous chemicals and heavy metals. NSF 53 certifies product claims regarding their removal/reduction of such threats.

NSF/ANSI Standard 58: Applicable only to RO systems, NSF 58 ensures the product utilizes a healthy RO process, pushing the water through a semipermeable RO membrane.

NSF/ANSI Standard 401: The EPA classifies pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and similar chemicals as “contaminants of emerging concern.” These chemicals are known to cause health complications, but the exact degree of the potential complications still requires research. NSF 401 establishes that the water treatment product removes or reduces at least fifteen of these chemicals.

NSF/ANSI Standard 473: Perfluorinated substances, or PFAS, are hazardous pollutants. NSF 473, sometimes called P473, pertains to claims concerning PFAS.

Are NSF certifications important when purchasing a water filter?

NSF certifications provide scientific proof to manufacturer claims and establish that the product aligns with EPA regulations. So, yes, they’re important.

However, if a product doesn’t have NSF certifications, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t work as advertised.

For instance, SpringWell products aren’t NSF-certified. Yet, they’re one of the most notable water treatment products.

Trusted brands often encourage their customers to conduct third-party tests on water, one before installing their device and one after. If the results show that their product is ineffective, they typically offer refunds.

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Scott Winfield
Scott Winfield
My name is Scott Winfield and researching and writing about water filters and other strategies to purify water has become my full time passion in recent years. I'm glad that you found our site and you can look forward to authoritative and well researched content here to help you get the best in water.
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