7 Best Activated Carbon Water Filters of 2025

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We’ve tested a selection of the most popular activated carbon water filters on the market to find out which ones actually deliver on their promises. Our testing involved putting each filter through a series of hands-on performance tests, assessing factors like contaminant removal, flow rate, design, and filter lifespan. The top-performing systems in our weighted scoring system are listed in this review. 

If you’re looking to reduce chlorine, PFAS, VOCs, disinfection byproducts, pesticides, and/or taste/odor issues, you’ll want to be smart about the activated carbon filter you invest in. The seven systems we’ve featured here stood out for their superior contaminant reduction, build quality and durability for long-term use, and overall value for money.

Our Testing & Selection Process

The 7 Best Activated Carbon Water Filters

ProductClearly Filtered Under Sink System
Clearly Filtered Under Sink
US Water Systems Bodyguard Fluoride Removal Filter
USWS POE Fluoride Fiilter
Epic Pure Water Filter Dispenser
Epic Pure Dispenser
Waterdrop King Tank
Waterdrop King Tank
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
Clearly Filtered Pitcher
Weddell shower filter
Weddell Duo
US Water Systems POE Cartridge Filter
USWS POE Cartridge Filter
Score9.189.149.058.958.788.718.58
Price$550.00$1,299$75.00$229+$90.00$89.99$879.00
CertificationsNSF 42, 372Not CertifiedNot CertifiedNSF 42, 53
NSF/ANSI 42 & 53NSF 177Not Certified
Filter Capacity2,000 gallons400,000 gallons150 gallons3,000 gallons100 gallons8,000 gallons30,000 gallons
Cost per Gallon$0.22$0.003$0.31$0.06$0.55$0.003$0.012
Warranty2 yearsLifetimeLifetime1 year1 yearLifetimeLifetime on housings
Read ReviewClearly Filtered Under Sink Water Filter ReviewUS Water Systems Fluoride Removal Filter ReviewEpic Pure ReviewWaterdrop King Tank ReviewClearly Filtered ReviewWeddell Duo ReviewUS Water Systems POE Cartridge Filter Review

Why It’s Our Top Pick

Brian pointing the filter stages of Clearly Filtered Under Sink System

Clearly Filtered’s take on a conventional under-sink filtration system earned the highest overall performance score of all the activated carbon systems we tested. It wasn’t the very best-performing filter in terms of contaminant reduction, but its scores in every testing category were generally higher than competitors’ across the board, earning it an overall score of 9.18.  

We tested the system with shared, treated well water in Colorado, which contained concentrations of 10 health-related contaminants, including uranium, chloroform, total THMs, copper, fluoride (all of which exceeded the testing lab’s health guideline levels). 

Clearly Filtered Under Sink Pre-Filtration Test Report

The system’s granular activated carbon cartridge effectively removed 100% of the chlorine detected in our water, as well as any associated tastes and odors. The two additional filter cartridges (made from proprietary materials that aren’t disclosed) did the main legwork when it came to reducing the more “challenging” contaminants in our water. Post-filtration, most health-related contaminants in the unfiltered sample had been significantly reduced or removed entirely, with the exception of nitrate, sulfate, and molybdenum, which were reduced slightly. 

We also noted that sodium and potassium levels increased post-filtration, while calcium and magnesium levels decreased. This is likely due to the ion exchange resin used in one of the filter stages, which swaps sodium and potassium for other minerals like calcium, magnesium, and uranium. 

Certified Performance

Clearly Filtered holds a WQA performance certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 42, for the reduction of chlorine, tastes, and odors. We’d like to see the manufacturer obtain additional certifications for removing health-related contaminants like lead, but the presence of a certification still contributed to its respectable contaminant reduction score of 8.98.

Our Testing Experience

Testing and using the Clearly Filtered Under Sink System was a positive experience. We noted that setup was nice and easy, with a no-fuss two-step installation process that took just under 15 minutes and earned it a 9.50 score in this category. 

We measured the system’s flow rate to determine how quickly it could fill a glass. It took 7.47 seconds to fill two cups of water, equating to a flow rate of 1.01 GPM. That means it’ll cut your faucet’s existing flow by around half, but it’ll still give you faster access to water than a gravity filter. This figure was on the higher side of average for an under-sink system, resulting in a score of 9.00. 

Maintenance was straightforward and affordable, rounding off the Clearly Filtered system’s high scores with a 9.75 in this category. All three filters have the same lifespan, so you can replace them together without having to track them separately. And with an ongoing cost of around $0.22 per gallon, you’re getting good long-term value for this level of performance. 

CriteriaResults
Overall Score9.18
Health Related Contaminants95
Aesthetic Related Contaminants99
Performance CertificationCertified for <1% of reduction claims
Filtration Rate1.08 GPM
Component QualityOutstanding
Component CertificationCertified
SetupOutstanding
Servicing RequirementsOutstanding
Costs$0.22/ gallon
Warranty Length2 years
ShippingFree shipping, all orders to all states
Returns30 days

How It Compared to Clearly Filtered

We tested the Bodyguard Fluoride Filter in a Colorado home on fluoridated city water. Our goal was to see how well this POE system could eliminate fluoride for the whole house, when combined with the USWS Cartridge Filter* (which took the last spot on this list). 

Us Water Systems Fluoride Tank Filter Up close

In our testing, the filter completely removed fluoride, along with aluminum, copper, molybdenum, potassium, and chloroform and bromodichloromethane (two disinfection byproducts). It also reduced strontium and sulfate by around 50%. Its contaminant reduction score of 9.42 was higher than Clearly Filtered’s, despite the fact that disappointingly, this system isn’t currently certified for contaminant reduction. 

If you specifically want to remove fluoride with carbon media, bone char carbon (as used in the Bodyguard Filter) is your best option. Most carbon filters are unable to address fluoride unless they’re combined with additional, separate media, as we saw with Clearly Filtered’s Under Sink model. That’s what makes the Bodyguard Filter unique: it has all the usual properties of a carbon filter with the enhanced ability to greatly reduce or remove fluoride. 

Because we tested the Bodyguard Filter in conjunction with the USWS Cartridge Filter, we can’t clearly distinguish exactly which contaminants were specifically removed by which system. However, we used water treated by the Cartridge Filter System as our base water for the Bodyguard Filter, which did at least help us to see which contaminants were uniquely targeted by this one—we just couldn’t evaluate its ability to remove contaminants that had already been effectively addressed by the Cartridge Filter. 

Contaminant reduction aside, the Bodyguard Filter is similar to the Clearly Filtered Under-Sink System in that they’re both designed to intercept your waterline. But, as a POE system, the Bodyguard Filter requires a more invasive installation, which pulled its setup score down to 7.00. It took us a couple of hours to install, and if DIY isn’t your strong point, you may want to hire a plumber to install the unit for you. 

Performance Notes

The good news is that maintenance for this system is virtually non-existent, contributing to its high score of 9.75 in this category. Replacing the media is only required every 3-5 years, with one of the lowest ongoing maintenance costs we’ve ever calculated at $0.0009 per gallon (that’s around 244 times cheaper than Clearly Filtered!). 

Design-wise, we were pleased with the quality of the unit—the fact that it’s tank-based, with a fiberglass gel-coated construction, is always going to be beneficial from a durability standpoint when you compare it to plastic cartridge-based systems. It ticked a lot of boxes in this category, but its lack of a materials safety certification resulted in a design score of 8.40, slightly lower than Clearly Filtered. 

Rounding off, there was no room for improvement with the system’s high flow rate, starting at 10 gallons per minute, and it drew with Clearly Filtered here with a top score of 10.00.

CriteriaResults
Overall Score9.14
Health Related Contaminants9.80
Aesthetic Related Contaminants9.90
Performance CertificationNot Certified
Filtration Rate10 GPM
Component QualityExceptional
Component CertificationNot Certified
SetupWeak
Servicing RequirementsOutstanding
Costs$0.003/ gallon
Warranty LengthLifetime
ShippingVariable
Returns30 days

Contaminant Reduction Performance

The Epic Pure Dispenser earned a contaminant reduction score of 9.00, the third-highest we awarded on this list and one of the best results among the gravity-fed systems we’ve tested so far. Our lab testing showed that the filter, which uses “proprietary carbon block technology”. effectively removed chlorine, uranium, copper, and phosphorus. It also greatly reduced other contaminants like molybdenum (57%), barium (41%), fluoride (27%), nitrate (20%), and sulfate (92%).

The Epic Pure dispenser isn’t performance certified, so there’s still room for improvement here—many of the top-performing filters we tested could have scored even higher by offering the reassurance of even just one or two certifications. 

Our Hands-On Testing

Setup is one of the biggest benefits of the Epic Pure Dispenser. It achieved a 9.50, one of the highest scores we awarded in this category, taking us less than 10 minutes to assemble and prepare for use. There’s none of the time-consuming filter priming that we experienced with Waterdrop—you just have to filter and discard the first batch of water.

Maintenance is similarly no-nonsense, with replacement filters costing around $0.31 per gallon, helping it achieve a 9.50 score. 

epic pure dispenser filter timer

The speed of filtration was comparatively lower with this model compared to Waterdrop’s, with a recorded flow rate of 2.23 gallons per hour. That’s still pretty great, especially as Epic uses just a single filter, and it scored a 10.00 in this testing category as a result.

Design was our only pain point with this system. The entire unit is made from plastic, and we noted that it feels less durable than the stainless steel alternatives (and even many of the sturdier plastic models we tested). It’s also not certified for materials safety, contributing to its lower score of 7.50. 

epic pure dispenser countertop gravity filter
CriteriaResults
Overall Score9.05
Health Related Contaminants9.30
Aesthetic Related Contaminants9.90
Performance CertificationNot Certified
Filtration Rate2.23 GPH
Component QualityGood
Component CertificationNot certified
SetupOutstanding
Servicing RequirementsOutstanding
Costs$0.31/gallon
Warranty LengthLifetime
ShippingFree shipping for the Clean Water Club only
ReturnsLifetime

Performance Overview

The Waterdrop King Tank delivered the most impressive contaminant reduction results of all the activated carbon filters on this list, earning it the highest score of 9.51 even with no performance certifications. It addressed most of our water quality issues, removing 100% of lead, chlorine, aluminum, chloroform, manganese, and fluoride (with the optional fluoride filters installed). It also greatly reduced copper, and barium and sulfate were reduced by around 30-40%. 

Our filtered water had no lingering chlorine or chemical tastes, likely a direct result of filtration in the main black elements, which consist of coconut shell activated carbon block and PP cotton, as well as the fluoride filters, which contain activated carbon along with an undisclosed resin (likely ion exchange). 

Ease of Setup, Use, & Maintenance

Waterdrop king tank water filter system on countertop

As a gravity-fed countertop unit, the Waterdrop King Tank delivers a unique experience when we compare it to plumbed-in units like the USWS and Clearly Filtered systems. Naturally, it has a slower flow rate because it solely relies on gravity to filter water. That said, it clocked in at  4 GPH (gallons per hour), making it one of the faster gravity filters we’ve tested and earning it a perfect score of 10.00. 

If you hate DIY, you should find this Waterdrop system easier to set up thanks to its no-install design, but its setup score of 6.50 was actually the lowest we awarded by far for any of the filters in this guide. 

This came down to the tedious filter priming process—it took us over an hour to prime all 4 filters, plus 20 minutes to set up the body of the unit. We’ve had a better setup experience with similar stainless steel gravity systems that don’t require filter priming, but the King Tank made this list because it’s the highest-scoring system of this kind that uses activated carbon filtration. 

Waterdrop King tank water level spigot

Design-wise, the King Tank redeemed itself with a score of 9.40, one of the highest we awarded on this list. It has a mostly stainless steel construction, including a glass sight spigot, which many of its competitors charge extra for. Plus, its ongoing cost is low at just $0.06/gallon, although the slightly lower 8.50 maintenance score is due to the same tedious priming process that’s required for the replacement filters. 

CriteriaResults
Overall Score8.95
Health Related Contaminants9.90
Aesthetic Related Contaminants9.90
Performance CertificationNot Certified
Filtration Rate4 GPH
Component QualityFailing
Component CertificationExceptional
SetupFailing
Servicing RequirementsWeak
Costs$0.06/ gallon
Warranty Length1 year
ShippingFree shipping to lower 48 states
Returns30 days

Why We Like It

Clearly Filtered’s pitcher earned its spot as the best pitcher on our list and the fifth-best activated carbon water filter overall. It’s been independently tested to reduce over 360 contaminants, and in our own testing, it eliminated 100% of fluoride and uranium (both detected above the lab’s health guideline levels), as well as chlorine and copper. It also greatly reduced contaminants including barium, strontium, and molybdenum—which, combined with its WQA certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 42 and Standard 5, for chlorine and PFOA/PFOS reduction, earned it a contaminant reduction score of 8.24. 

Why wasn’t the score higher? The main reason was that trace amounts of cobalt were detected in our filtered water, although we suspect that this was a testing anomaly and not an issue with the filter itself.

Our Firsthand Performance Data

Clearly Filtered pitcher parts

The Clearly Filtered pitcher is one of the best-designed pitchers we’ve tested, with a top design score of 9.70. 

Yes, it does use plastic, but it’s about as good as plastic gets, with a BPA-free Tritan construction that feels durable and has WQA certifications for materials safety and lead-free design. Its simple design made setup quick and easy, and while you do have to prime the filter, the included priming bag simplifies the process, and we awarded it a setup score of 9.50.

Removable top of the clearly filtered pitcher

Our calculated filtration speed of 2.27 GPH is only moderately faster than the Epic dispenser, earning it the same high score of 10.00, and the 100-gallon filter lifespan (more than twice the industry average) is another unique benefit of this system. That said, we did find that replacement filters are a bit more expensive than competitors, and the pitcher’s maintenance cost of around $0.55 per gallon contributed to its slightly lower maintenance score of 8.75.

CriteriaResults
Health Related Contaminants83
Aesthetic Related Contaminants99
Performance CertificationCertified for 0.82% of reduction claims
Filtration Rate2.27 GPH
Component QualityOutstanding
Component CertificationCertified
SetupOutstanding
Servicing RequirementsOutstanding
Costs$0.55/ gallon
Warranty Length2 years
ShippingFree shipping all orders
Returns30 days

Contaminant Reduction Notes

The Weddell Duo is one of the few shower filters you’ll find that offers contaminant reduction beyond just chlorine removal, and this is primarily because it’s the only shower filter we’ve tested so far that uses a solid carbon block filter rather than granulated activated carbon (GAC). Because carbon block filters are made of solid, compressed carbon, they have a higher surface area and smaller pore size, allowing for better filtration.

Weddell Duo sediment and carbon block filter cartridges

In our testing, the Duo removed 100% of chlorine and completely eliminated all four disinfection byproducts detected in the unfiltered water: chloroform, bromidichloromethane, bromochloromethane, and dibromochloromethane. Note that we only assessed its ability to reduce contaminants that could be harmful in shower water, not those that only have known health effects when ingested.

We awarded the Duo a score of 8.43 for contaminant reduction; a result of its impressive contaminant reduction and NSF certification to Standard 177 to support its chlorine reduction claims.  

Performance Highlights

As with most shower filters, the Duo is quick and easy to install. We just screwed it onto the shower arm and flushed it for three minutes, a simple process that earned a high setup score of 9.00. The two filters (one on each side of the unit) are easy to change without having to remove your showerhead, contributing to its near-perfect maintenance score of 9.75. Filters last around 6 months, and at just $0.003 per gallon, ongoing costs are nice and low. 

Holding Weddell Duo shower filter in front of Tap Score box

Weddell’s shower filter also received a 7.80 design score, one of the highest we awarded to any shower filter we reviewed, thanks to its dual-filter horizontal design that prevented our shower head from being extended too far down (a common issue with similar filters). 

Speed of filtration was the only drawback in our tests, with our calculated flow rate of 1.43 GPM on the slower end for a shower filter, likely due to the dual-filter design. That said, it’s still a good measurement, earning the filter a score of 10.00 in this category. 

CriteriaResults
Health Related Contaminants84
Aesthetic Related Contaminants99
Performance CertificationCertified for 20% of reduction claims
Filtration Rate1.43 GPM
Component QualityExcellent
Component CertificationNot certified
SetupExcellent
Servicing RequirementsOutstanding
Costs$0.003/ gallon
Warranty LengthLifetime
ShippingFree shipping for lower 48 US states
Returns30 days, minus 10% restock fee

Our Lab Testing

In our research, we were drawn to the USWS Cartridge Filter because it’s not your typical, basic carbon-based whole home filtration system. It combines a radial flow carbon filter with a sediment filter and a third filter containing nano alumina fibers, allowing for the reduction of additional contaminants aside from those addressed by the carbon media, including lead.  

USWS POE Catridge Filter installed at a home

Our test results confirmed these additional capabilities: chloroform and bromodichloromethane were reduced by around 40-70%, and chlorine was eliminated. Other contaminants, including fluoride, sulfate, molybdenum, barium, and strontium, were reduced to varying extents. This performance, combined with the filter’s lack of any certifications, resulted in a contaminant reduction score of 8.31.  

We were a little disappointed by the carbon filter’s inability to eliminate disinfection byproducts, which led us to reconfigure the initial setup, adding an extra carbon block stage to increase empty bed contact time—essentially giving contaminants more time to interact with the media. We then tested again, comparing the results to the filtered water from test 1, and this time, both disinfection byproducts were removed completely. 

Flow Rate, Design, Setup, & Maintenance

High-flow systems are essential for POE installation, and the USWS Cartridge Filter doesn’t disappoint here. It has a recorded flow rate of up to 25 GPM, making it suitable even for larger households and awarding it a top score of 10.00. 

Sticking with the positives, maintenance is another high-scoring category for this system—it received a 9.75 score, thanks to its easy-replace cartridge filters and low ongoing spend of  $0.12/ gallon. The system’s sturdy polypropylene design also impressed us, although its lack of any materials safety or lead-free design certifications pulled its score down to 8.40 in this category.

Installation was the only real setback with this system. It received a 7.50 setup score, only slightly higher than the Bodyguard Filter, due to the challenging nature of plumbing it into the main water line. That said, the process was as quick and easy as it could have been, with just two connections and no filter flushing or priming required. The process took 45 minutes, which isn’t bad, but you may need to hire a plumber for the job if you’re not a DIY person. 

CriteriaResults
Overall Score8.58
Health Related Contaminants8.50
Aesthetic Related Contaminants9.90
Performance CertificationNot Certified
Filtration Rate25 GPM
Component QualityExceptional
Component CertificationUnsatisfactory
SetupBelow Average
Servicing RequirementsOutstanding
Costs$0.012/ gallon
Warranty LengthLifetime on housings
ShippingVariable
Returns60-days

  • brian headshot
    President & CEO, CWS, CWR

    Brian Campbell, a WQA Certified Water Specialist (CWS) and Certified Water Treatment Representative (CWR) with 5+ years of experience, helps homeowners navigate the world of water treatment. After honing his skills at Hach Company, he founded his business to empower homeowners with the knowledge and tools to achieve safe, healthy water. Brian's tested countless devices, from simple pitchers to complex systems, helping his readers find the perfect fit for their unique needs.

  • Laura
    Senior Editor

    Laura is a passionate residential water treatment journalist who holds an undergraduate degree in Print Journalism and a master’s degree in Creative Writing. Over a span of 5 years she's written on a range of topics including water softening, well water treatment, and purification processes.

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