7 best water filters for your home

These purifiers attach to faucets, offering an easy and effective way to enjoy clean water.

Faucet water filters can be an affordable and effective alternative to complex under-sink filters or large countertop systems. They attach to your faucet and reduce contaminants through built-in filters. They also make it easier to maintain your hydration goals while avoiding planet-harming plastic water bottles.

Pollution, contaminated groundwater, and aging pipes can contribute to unhealthy tap water. “Filters installed at the point of use [at the faucet] function as a final barrier to help reduce the risk of consuming contaminated water, which can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses, reproductive issues, and neurological disorders, including diseases like diarrhea, typhoid, polio, and cholera,” says Dave Purkiss, vice president at the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). “These conditions are particularly hazardous for young children and infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals due to their diminished ability to combat these diseases.”

The best faucet water filters should address common contaminants in your area and have certifications by organizations such as NSF and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). They should also be easy to install, have a long filter life, and affordable replacement filters.

We took all these factors into account while researching online reviews and articles from reputable outlets for our list of best faucet water filters. Our top choice overall, the Pur Plus Faucet Filtration System, has both NSF and ANSI certifications, offers lots of versatility, and has reasonably priced filters. Here are all of our top picks.

Read on for all the details about our favorite faucet-mounted water filters.

Buy it now at Pur

Why we like it: The Pur Plus Faucet Filtration System is our top pick for a number of reasons. It has NSF and ANSI certifications for more than 70 contaminants, including lead. It’s easy to install and reviewers say it’s durable and doesn’t develop leaks over time. The Pur Plus Faucet Filtration System comes in multiple colors and attaches horizontally and vertically. We also like the built-in indicator light that lets you know when it’s time to replace the filter cartridge.

Keep in mind: Reviewers note that the Pur Plus Filtration System doesn’t improve the taste of tap water. The higher-priced mineral core filter is built to do a better job of that. Filters need to be replaced regularly (depending on usage) and can run from $22 to $35.

Product details: Filters up to 100 gallons of water or three-to-four months of typical use.

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Buy it now on Amazon

Why we like it: The Brita Elite Faucet Filtration System is a great option for kitchen sinks because it has a high flow rate. Reviewers note it can filter a gallon in a minute and 24 seconds. It comes with a light that alerts you when it’s time to change the filter. We love the sleek design that fits well in kitchens with chrome appliances. The company says that the Elite helps reduce odor and the taste of chlorine, while filtering out 99 percent of lead, as well as benzene, asbestos, and trichloroethylene. However, these contaminants may not be present in water everywhere.

Keep in mind: The filter should be changed every four months (depending on use), and each filter costs about $40. While the company says this filter is tested to NSF and ANSI standards, it’s not officially certified.

Product details: Filters up to 100 gallons of water or three-to-four months of typical use.

Buy it now at Jolie Skin Co.

Why we like it: Jolie’s The Filtered Showerhead is a social media favorite, thanks to customers who claim that it improves hair and skin health. According to the company, the filter removes chlorine and other heavy metals that can strip moisture from the body. Reviewers say it’s easy to install and replace the filters. The company offers a subscription service so you don’t forget to change the filters every 90 days.

Keep in mind: The company says that the filter is tested by “multiple third-party labs” but doesn’t identify them or provide details of those tests on its site. The company also claims the showerhead “exceeds the NSF177 certification,” yet the NSF has not officially certified this showerhead filter. With the filter subscription, the system is quite pricey at around $300 per year. And because the filter is built into the showerhead, you can’t adjust the angle.

Product details: Jolie doesn’t state how much water the showerhead filters, beyond the need to replace the filter every 90 days. But the company says it doesn’t restrict water flow.

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Buy it now at Waterdrop

Why we like it: At about $20 for the basic model, the Waterdrop 320-Gallon Long Lasting Water Filter is a steal for a faucet filter that’s NSF- and ANSI-certified for lead, plus chlorine taste and odor. It has an activated carbon fiber filtration system that doesn’t have to be changed as often since it handles a larger volume of water compared to others on this list.

Keep in mind: While affordable, this faucet water filter isn’t the most aesthetically appealing. It also doesn’t fit all faucets. The replacement filters are relatively pricey at around $32.

Product details: Filters up to 320 gallons of water, or about three months of regular use.

Buy it now at Mist

Why we like it: This system helps filter out stinky sulfur, chlorine taste and odor, and reduces lead in your drinking water. It’s certified by NSF and tested to ANSI standards, plus it comes with installation tools and adapters for different types of spigots.

Keep in mind: Even though this system comes with adapters, that doesn’t mean it will fit your faucet.

Product details: Filters up to 320 gallons of water, or about three months of regular use. The system dispenses 1.6 gallons in one minute, according to the company.

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Buy it now on Amazon

Why we like it: This water filter is unique because it attaches to your faucet, but sits on your countertop. The NSF- and ANSI-certified system uses a five-stage process to snag chlorine and other chemicals for about 8,000 gallons before you need to replace the filter (about a year, according to reviews). The company says the filter also adds calcium, magnesium, and potassium to help improve the taste of water.

Keep in mind: This product takes up counter space. Reviewers note the strong flow can cause the filter to break under pressure. There’s no light to remind you to replace the filters and replacing them can be tricky. Like the other Waterdrop filter on this list, this one doesn’t fit all faucets.

Product details: According to the company, each filter can handle up to 8,000 gallons of water, or about a year of regular use. The system dispenses 1.6 gallons of water in a minute.

Buy it now on Amazon

Why we like it: The compact Culligan FM-25 Faucet Mount Advanced Water Filtration System is certified by a third-party lab (IAMPO R&T), which specializes in plumbing and mechanical product certifications set to various international ANSI standards. It’s built to filter out chemicals common in hard water, including chlorine, lindane, lead, asinine, and other particles. It also claims to remove bad tastes and odors from drinking water. Reviewers note it’s easy to install and doesn’t require any tools.

Keep in mind: This filter only comes with two types of faucet adapters. The carbon block filter has to be replaced every two months (depending on use), which is more frequent than others on this list. The flow rate is a bit slow at a half gallon per minute.

Product details: Filters up to 200 gallons of water, or about two months, depending on use.

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Finding the best water faucet filter can be a daunting task, so we did the legwork for you. Here’s how we narrowed the field for our final list.

Find out what kind of contaminants are in your water before choosing a faucet water filter

The filters on this list remove a variety of contaminants that are commonly found in drinking water. But as Purkiss notes, water quality differs around the country, so it’s best to get a local quality report before shopping. That way, you can target your search to faucet filters that address the contaminants in your area. Contact your water supplier or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for reports. If you get your water from a well, you’ll need an EPA-certified lab test to identify contaminants.

There are many types of water filters, each designed to solve different water quality issues. Purkiss notes that these include:

Third-party organizations like ANSI and NSF certify water purification systems and other consumer products. Each organization has different processes, but both are considered the gold standard when it comes to drinking water. Companies pay a fee to have their products certified. “If a water filter has NSF certification, it means that it has been independently tested to rigorous industry standards,” says Purkiss.

Independent labs test filters to these standards. They verify that filters work effectively for drinking water, are structurally sound (so they don’t leak), and reduce the contaminants that companies claim they do.

Purkiss adds that the NSF standards also ensure that the instructions included with the water filters have everything customers need to install, use, and maintain the filters.

It’s important to note that some companies test to NSF and ANSI standards but their products may not be certified by either organization.

Not all water faucet filters are legitimate. “These water filters are sold by unethical manufacturers trying to appear to be a genuine brand and third party certified when they are not,” says Purkiss. “These sellers have become more common recently, so the best way to make sure you are purchasing a legitimate filter is [to buy from] a trusted seller or by verifying the product is certified through the NSF’s product listing page.”

An unusually lightweight filter or packaging that appears “off” are red flags. Purkiss says that counterfeit water filters typically weigh less than legitimate filters and have shiny packaging.

Faucet water filters come in a variety of orientations and configurations. If you have a small sink or low faucet, a horizontal faucet filter will ensure it doesn’t impede on the space below your spigot. If you have a large sink or a faucet that curves high above the sink, go with a horizontal filter.

Most of the faucet filters on this list fit a variety of sink nozzles. Some come with adapters, tools, and more. It’s important to note that there are no faucet filters that work on faucets with an integrated sprayer.

The healthiest filter for tap water depends on what is in your water. A quality report from your supplier or the EPA can help you understand what’s in your water. Armed with that information, you can make a better decision about finding the best water filter for your home.

The most effective type of water filter removes contaminants and impurities from tap water. But it depends on where you live. Getting a water quality report before you buy is the best way to determine the most effective water filter system for your home.