To find the best shower head filter, we tested and reviewed over a dozen of the most popular products available today. We then ranked the systems and created this shortlist of the highest-scoring products based on their performance in our hands-on and objective analysis.
Weddell Duo
Aquatru
Afina
Many of today’s shower filters make big promises when it comes to removing contaminants and significantly improving the showering experience. But marketing only tells half the story. If you’re keen to learn how the biggest shower filter brands perform in real-world testing, and which come out on top, this guide is for you.
We’ve tested and ranked all the shower filters on this list based on their features and ability to improve water quality, specifically focusing on the contaminants that are problematic in shower water.
The Weddell Duo took the top spot, being the only shower filter we tested that removed 100% of chlorine and all disinfection byproducts detected in our baseline sample.
Table of Contents
Testing & Selection Process
We tested and scored products in our shower filter testing project based on a bespoke performance analysis that we use to test all water filters, plus additional testing specifically to measure shower filter performance.
For this shortlist of the best shower filters, we selected the products that received the highest overall weighted performance scores. These were awarded based on the filter’s ability to remove select contaminants, as well as their design quality, flow rate, installation and maintenance requirements, warranty, and other company offerings.
Good to Know: We typically use the Tap Score test data algorithm for contaminant reduction scoring, but since the scores are based primarily on health effects from an ingestion perspective, it isn’t fair for shower filters to be rated in this way. Instead, we judged the filters based on their ability to remove the contaminants we care about in shower water: DBPs, disinfection residual, and scale/water hardness.
The scores we awarded for reducing these contaminants were weighted based on possible health effects. DBPs take the most weight (50%) as they’re the most health harmful in shower water.
We use objective and quantifiable data wherever possible in our testing. This is occasionally supported by subjective testing, for categories that can’t be evaluated with objective data alone.
You learn more about how we test and score water filters here.
We chose the best shower filters based on their weighted performance scores. These were influenced the most heavily by our contaminant reduction scoring, which focused specifically on testing for chlorine, disinfection byproduct (DBP), and hardness removal.
All of these shortlisted filters had their own unique strengths and weaknesses, which we’ve mentioned in the individual reviews. That way, you have the context you need to choose a filter that’s right for your specific situation.
We automatically excluded some products from this guide, including:
-Those that were unable to reduce any of these three shower filter contaminants (yes, this was actually a result for several of the filters we tested!)
-Units that are not designed for shower installation, either in replacement of an existing showerhead or intercepting the shower arm upstream of the showerhead
-Filters that simply performed more poorly than their competitors across most testing categories
The Best Shower Filters of 2026
| Product | Weddell Duo | AquaTru | Afina |  Canopy |  Filterbaby Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.19 | 8.36 | 8.02 | 8.00 | 7.71 |
| Price | $89.99 | $149.00 | $129.00 | $150.00 | $139.00 |
| Certifications | NSF 177 | Not Certified | Not Certified | Not Certified | Not Certified |
| Filter Capacity | 8,000 gallons | 1,300 gallons | 2 months per cartridge | 3,000 gallons | 3 months per cartridge |
| Cost per Gallon | $0.012 | $0.031 | $0.042 | $0.026 | $0.034 |
| Warranty | Lifetime | 1 year | Lifetime (subscription required) | 1 year | Lifetime (subscription required) |
| Read Review | Weddell Duo review | AquaTru Shower Filter review | Canopy Shower Head review |
Our Baseline Water Quality
We tested all the shower filters in this guide in residential properties in Colorado, which are on municipal water.
Since we tested the filters in batches at separate times and two different locations, we have multiple baseline samples with slightly different quality parameters. In each sample, the following shower-specific contaminants were detected:
- Several disinfection byproducts in trace concentrations, including bromodichloromethane and dibromochloromethane (one of our samples also contained chloroform and bromochloromethane, and another contained bromoform)
- Between 1.68 PPM and 2.7 PPM of chlorine, detected on-site using a chlorine colorimeter for accuracy
- Hardness minerals — our water samples had a total hardness of 128 PPM and 282 PPM, putting them in the “hard” and “very hard” categories respectively
See the table below for the exact concentrations of each of these contaminants in each baseline sample.
| Analyte | Unit | Baseline 1 | Baseline 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bromochloromethane | PPB | 0.25 | 0 |
| Bromodichloromethane | PPB | 2.62 | 2.12 |
| Bromoform | PPB | 0 | 8.24 |
| Chloroform | PPB | 5.47 | 0 |
| Dibromochloromethane | PPB | 0.74 | 4.67 |
| Hardness | PPM | 125.36 | 249 |
| Hardness (Total) | PPM | 126 | 250.32 |
| Grains per gallon | Grains | 7.49 | 14.62 |
| Total THMs | PPB | 8.83 | 15.03 |
Weddell Duo Shower Filter
The Weddell Duo is the best shower filter we’ve tested so far, scoring 9.19 overall. This filter received the highest contaminant reduction score of all the shower systems we tested, being one of the only two shower filters to eliminate DBPs, and the only one to completely remove chlorine. It also has an NSF certification for chlorine reduction.
Best For
Product Specs
| Price | $89.99 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 5+ |
| Certifications | NSF 177 |
| Process | Solid Activated Carbon Block |
| Filter Capacity | 8,000 gallons |
| Annual Cost | ~$71.98 |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
▶️ Video Review
Our Contaminant Reduction Tests
In our Tap Score testing, the Weddell Duo filter effectively removed all four disinfection byproducts detected in our baseline sample, likely because of its solid carbon block filter.
The compact nature of these filters means they’re more effective at adsorbing contaminants, including trickier-to-remove contaminants like DBPs.
It also removed 100% chlorine, initially detected at 1.68 PPM, as evidenced by our on-site tests with the portable chlorine tester.
Post-filtration, our water hardness was virtually the same: 125.59 PPM.
But Weddell doesn’t claim that the filter reduces water hardness. This isn’t a capability of most shower filters—we just include hardness reduction in our shower filter scoring system because a filter can sometimes provide incidental softening, depending on the filter media used.
Another big selling point of the Weddell Duo is its NSF certification to NSF/ANSI Standard 177 for chlorine reduction. The filter has also been third-party tested to reduce PFAS and particulates.
This certification and the filter’s ability to eliminate DBPs gave it the highest contaminant reduction score of all the shortlisted filters: 9.26.
Filtration Rate
The Weddell Duo has a maximum listed flow rate of 2.8 GPM (gallons per minute). In our own flow rate testing, at a feed water temperature of 58.6°F* and a static pressure reading of 48 PSI, we recorded an average flow rate of 1.42 GPM for the filter. This meant it retained 82% of our baseline flow (without the filter installed) of 1.72, earning it a high score of 10.00.
How did we measure flow rate? We used a graduated measuring cup and held it beneath the shower until the water reached the 1-gallon mark. We filmed the process and used a video-editing software to measure the time it took to fill to 1 gallon frame-by-frame, down to the millisecond. We started measuring when the cup was fully under the water flow and stopped when the 1-gallon mark was reached.
We repeated this test three times to take an average time in seconds, which we then converted into gallons per minute. Three tests were conducted without the filter installed, then with the filter installed, allowing us to compare the “normal” flow rate of our shower water with flow rate after installing the filter.
Design, Installation, and Maintenance
We used observations from our subjective tests to score the Weddell Duo for its design. It’s an inline filter that connects to your shower arm without replacing the showerhead, and is the only system we tested that has two filters, one on each side of the unit.
The filter has a sturdy construction, but it doesn’t have any design certifications, resulting in a score of 7.80 in this category.
The Weddell Duo was easy to set up thanks to its no-hassle design. We had it installed in less than five minutes by simply screwing it onto our existing shower arm and re-attaching our showerhead to the filter.
The filters need to be flushed by running water from our shower before they can be used. This was a quick and easy job that took less than 2 minutes, contributing to an overall setup score of 9.00.
The dual-filter design made maintenance easy, too. We didn’t have to remove our showerhead and unscrew the entire filter unit to change a filter; we just unscrewed the filter housings on each side. This contributed to Weddell’s high maintenance score of 9.75.
Weddell recommends replacing the filters after 8,000 gallons (around every 5-6 months) or when you see a significant decrease in water pressure. We found the clear filter housings to be a helpful way to quickly check for signs that we needed to replace the filters.
The filters have a super low ongoing cost of just $0.012 per gallon, converting to a 5-year ownership cost of around $450. It’s the most affordable of any shower filter we’ve tested so far, despite being the only product to use two filters.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 9.19 |
| DBPs | 10.00 |
| Disinfectant Residual | 10.00 |
| Hardness | 6.00 |
| Performance Certification | NSF 177 |
| Filtration Rate | 1.42 GPM |
| Component Quality | Excellent |
| Component Certification | Not Certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Outstanding |
| Costs | $0.012/gallon |
| Warranty Length | Lifetime |
| Shipping | Free shipping to all contiguous United States. |
| Returns | 30 days |
AquaTru Shower Filter
The AquaTru Shower took second place in this list, with an overall score of 8.36. Along with Weddell, it was the only other shower head filter we tested that removed DBPs. It was easy to install and didn’t significantly affect flow rate in our testing, but it only reduced 44% chlorine, it isn’t performance certified, and its servicing requirements aren’t quite as easy as for the Duo.
Best For
Product Specs
| Price | $149.00 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 2+ |
| Certifications | None (NSF 177 pending) |
| Process | KDF + Calcium Sulfite + Catalytic Carbon |
| Filter Capacity | 1,300 gallons |
| Annual Cost | ~$177.45 |
| Warranty | 1 year |
▶️ Video Review
Contaminant Reduction Performance
Our Tap Score test data showed that the AquaTru Shower had removed 100% of bromodichloromethane, bromoform, and dibromochloromethane from our baseline sample.
But it only reduced chlorine from 1.68 PPM down to 0.94 PPM, a 44% reduction. This was an unexpected result, especially since AquaTru claims the filter delivers “consistent chlorine & chloramine filtration” throughout its entire lifespan.
The filter also didn’t reduce water hardness—in fact, hardness actually increased by 19% post-filtration, likely due to incidental differences in our water quality between our baseline and filtered water tests.
This tells us that the unit can’t address scale-causing minerals or provide water softening benefits, which AquaTru doesn’t claim to do anyway.
Unlike the Weddell Duo, the AquaTru Shower isn’t certified to remove any contaminants. This combined with its poorer chlorine reduction earned it a lower contaminant reduction score than Weddell: 7.80.
Our On-Site Tests
We noted that this AquaTru model has a sturdier feel than many of the similar filters we tested. The filter itself is obviously unique, and the top of the showerhead where water comes out has a rubber-type covering, which gives it a more premium feel.
Plus, the showerhead has four adjustable stream settings, and there’s a built-in locking mechanism that prevents you from being able to remove the showerhead and filter unless the switch is flipped. These might only be small features, but they make the design feel more intentional and well thought-out.
The only disappointment was the lack of a design or materials safety certification, but none of the other shower filters we’ve tested so far are design certified either. The filter received the same design score as the Weddell Duo: 7.80.
Setup was a simple 5-minute job, and the instructions in the user manual were easy to follow, resulting in a score of 9.00. We identified two potential leak points, but observed no leaks after installing and hand-tightening the filter, and no spray or fit issues.
AquaTru recommends flushing the filter for 1 minute before use. We flushed it for 1 minute and 30 seconds, noting that the washout was slightly gray in color but detecting no unpleasant odors.
Flow Rate & Maintenance
Once it was up and running, we measured the AquaTru’s flow rate at a water pressure of 48 PSI and a temperature of 63.5°F. On average, the flow rate reading was 1.63 GPM for the filter, meaning it retained 94% of our baseline flow of 1.72 GPM. This earned it a high score of 10.00.
While it’s one of the most expensive shower head filters we’ve tested in terms of upfront costs, the unit is affordable to maintain, with an ongoing filter replacement cost of $0.031 per gallon. This equates to a 5-year ownership cost of $1,036, which is pretty standard for a shower head filter but nowhere near as affordable as the Weddell Duo.
Replacing the filter is quick and easy, contributing to AquaTru’s maintenance score of 9.50. The product manual advises swapping out the filter every 1,300 gallons, and the process involves just 4 steps: pushing the lock button, turning the shower to remove it from the arm, unscrewing the old filter, and pushing and twisting the new filter in its place.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 8.36 |
| DBPs | 10.00 |
| Disinfectant residual | 6.00 |
| Hardness | 6.00 |
| Performance Certification | Not Certified |
| Filtration Rate | 1.63 GPM |
| Component Quality | Excellent |
| Component Certification | Not Certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Excellent |
| Costs | $0.031/gallon |
| Warranty Length | 1 year |
| Shipping | Free shipping across the U.S. |
| Returns | 30 days |
Afina Shower Head
The Afina Shower head received the third-highest score of all the shower filters we tested: 8.02. In our testing, it almost completely eliminated chlorine and retained our baseline flow rate, but it didn’t reduce hardness or DBPS, and it’s not certified for chlorine reduction.
Best For
Product Specs
| Price | $129.00 |
| Contaminants Removed | Chlorine |
| Certifications | Not Certified |
| Process | KDF-55 + Activated Carbon + Calcium Sulfite |
| Filtration Capacity | 2 months |
| Annual Cost | ~$240 |
| Warranty | Lifetime (subscription required) |
What It Removed
In our Tap Score testing, the Afina Shower, all three disinfection byproducts actually increased: bromoform by 78% (to 14.7 PPB), bromodichloromethane by 59% (to 3.38 PPB), and dibromochloromethane by 107% (to 9.67 PPB).
Rather than insinuating that the filter itself introduced these chemicals, the most likely theory is that DBP concentrations fluctuate naturally in our water between the two tests. This simply tells us that the filter isn’t capable of providing DBP reduction.
Hardness concentrations remained the same, at 251 PPM, despite Afina’s claims that the filter “targets chlorine, heavy metals, and hard water”.
But it did reduce chlorine down to 0.02 PPM in our colorimeter tests, which represents a reduction of just under 99%.
The filter also isn’t certified for chlorine reduction, contributing to its lower contaminant reduction score of 7.26.
Performance Stats
The Afina Filtered Shower Head has a filter cartridge built into a dedicated showerhead. It’s made from ABS plastic and has a solid, sturdy design, but it’s not the highest-quality shower filter we’ve tested. It’s also not certified for its design, resulting in a score of 7.20 in this category.
We installed the filter in less than 5 minutes. The included instructions were simple to follow, although there were no images. Luckily, the process is pretty self-explanatory, and the quick and easy install earned Afina a score of 9.00.
Afina received another high score for maintenance: 9.50. There’s just one filter to replace, and we calculated that its ongoing cost-per-gallon is $0.042, equating to a 5-year ownership cost of $1,329. While it’s still affordable, it’s around 28% more expensive to own in the long term than the AquaTru Shower, and a staggering 521% more expensive than the Weddell Duo.
After installing the unit, at a feed water pressure of 48 PSI static (30 PSI dynamic) and a temperature of 68.5°F, the filter delivered an average filtration rate of 1.85 GPM. That means it retained 100% of our baseline flow (in fact, it was actually 7% faster!). We recorded a -2 PSI difference in dynamic PSI, which may partially explain this slight increase between tests.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 8.02 |
| DBPs | 6.00 |
| Disinfectant residual | 10.00 |
| Hardness | 6.00 |
| Performance Certification | Not Certified |
| Filtration Rate | 1.85 GPM |
| Component Quality | Fair |
| Component Certification | Not Certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Excellent |
| Costs | $0.042/gallon |
| Warranty Length | Lifetime (subscription required) |
| Shipping | Free shipping within the 48 contiguous US states |
| Returns | 90 days |
Canopy Shower Filter
The Canopy Shower Filter received an overall weighted score of 8.00. It has an attractive design and was easy to install on our shower arm, with an affordable ongoing maintenance cost. It also nearly eliminated chlorine in our tests, but it didn’t reduce DBPs or hardness, and it’s not certified for chlorine reduction or design.
Best For
Product Specs
| Price | $150.00 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 1+ |
| Certifications | Not Certified |
| Process | GAC + KDF-55 + Calcium Sulfite |
| Filter Capacity | 3,000 gallons/cartridge |
| Annual Cost | ~$148 |
| Warranty | 1 year |
How It Performed
In our on-site colorimeter tests, the Canopy Shower Filter reduced chlorine by 97%, from 2.7 to 0.06 PPM.
But in our lab tests, the filter didn’t reduce DBPs—in fact, total THMs actually increased by 158%.
Again, this is most likely incidental, due to fluctuations in the DBPs in our water, which simply tells us that the filter was unable to reduce them.
As for total hardness, our Tap Score test report recorded a 12.45% increase in total hardness, but a 69% decrease in carbonate. This suggests that the filter has some ability to address temporary hardness, aka carbonate hardness, but it clearly does not address permanent water hardness, despite Canopy’s misleading claims to reduce both calcium and magnesium.
As with Afina and AquaTru, Canopy also isn’t certified for chlorine reduction, resulting in a contaminant reduction score of 7.26—the same as Afina.
Our In-House Tests
The Canopy Shower Filter has a unique funnel-shaped design and contains the filter inside the showerhead, which means it replaces your existing showerhead. The unit might have aesthetic appeal, but we noted that it feels flimsy, and it doesn’t have a materials safety certification. It received a design score of 7.20—again, the same as Afina.
The filter earned a high 9.00 score in the setup category because it took less than 5 minutes to install at our shower line. It’s also easy and affordable to maintain, with just one filter to replace and an ongoing cost-per-gallon of $0.026, equating to a 5-year cost of $890. If you choose to use the scent diffuser, you’ll also need to buy more aromas when the included scent runs out (not included in our cost calculations).
Once we had it installed, we recorded the filter’s flow rate. This came in at 2.33 GPM, based on its ability to fill 2 cups of filtered water in an average time of 3.22 seconds
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 8.00 |
| DBPs | 6.00 |
| Disinfectant Residual | 10.00 |
| Hardness | 6.00 |
| Performance Certification | Not Certified |
| Filtration Rate | 2.33 GPM |
| Component Quality | Fair |
| Component Certification | Unsatisfactory |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Excellent |
| Costs | $0.026/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | 1 year |
| Shipping | Free on orders over $25 |
| Returns | 60 days |
Filterbaby Pro
Rounding off our list of the best shower filters is the Filterbaby Pro, which “blows other filters out of the water” (according to the product description) but received the fifth-highest overall score in our performance tests. It greatly reduced chlorine from our shower water but failed to address DBPs or hardness, and it’s not certified for chlorine reduction, resulting in an average weighted score of 7.71.
Best For
Product Specs
| Price | $139.00 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 1+ |
| Certifications | Not Certified (NSF 177 in progress) |
| Process | Activated carbon + Pleated Microfilter |
| Filter Capacity | 3 months per cartridge (no gallon rating specified) |
| Annual Cost | ~$196/year |
| Warranty | Lifetime (requires subscription); 90-day standard |
DBPs, Chlorine, & Hardness Reduction
Filterbaby was another shower filter that achieved what we consider to be the bare minimum: high chlorine reduction. It reduced chlorine by just over 86%, from 1.68 PPM down to 0.23 PPM.
But our lab test results for DBPs were confusing: our filtered water test showed a 100% decrease in bromoform, a 292% increase in bromodichloromethane, a 25% reduction in dibromochloromethane, and chloroform appeared at 20.6 PPB where it was absent in the baseline test.
This seems like an unusual result, but most likely, both the increases and decreases in DBPs were caused by fluctuations in our source water, not the filter media.
DBPs are highly volatile and their concentrations can vary significantly in different samples taken from the same water supply. If the filter actually had the ability to remove them, we’d expect to see all three being reduced, rather than some but not others. Either way, this is a disappointing result given that DBPs are listed among the contaminants that the filter is claimed to remove.
Filterbaby also claims to address water hardness, but in our filtered water lab report, total hardness remained almost exactly the same, at just over 251 PPM.
Plus, at the time of his update there was no official certification for chlorine reduction, which contributed to the filter’s lower contaminant reduction score of 6.63.
Other Performance Tests
Filterbaby impressed us in our filtration rate testing, receiving a score of 10.00. With a feed water pressure of 48 PSI and a temperature of 61.7°F, it delivered an average filtration rate of 1.63 GPM (a 94% retention of our baseline flow).
It also impressed us with its solid metal design, promising a level of durability that plastic models just can’t offer. The filter cartridge itself is clearly unique to the manufacturer (which isn’t always the case!), but it’s not certified for materials safety or lead-free design, resulting in a score of 8.10.
No surprises with the installation process: the written paper instructions that came in the box were easy to follow, and we had the filter installed and ready to use in less than 5 minutes. We awarded Filterbaby a score of 9.00 in this category, noting just 3 potential leak points at the connections.
Finally, replacing the filter is a no-fuss task, with just one filter to replace every 3 months (depending on your water quality and shower usage). While it’s priced on the higher end for a shower filter, its cost per gallon comes in at $0.034, which converts to an estimated 5-year ownership cost of $1,119. No, it’s not the cheapest shower filter we’ve reviewed, but with the housing itself made from metal instead of plastic, it should last longer than similar models.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 7.71 |
| DBPs | 6.00 |
| Disinfectant Residual | 8.00 |
| Hardness | 6.00 |
| Performance Certification | Not Certified |
| Filtration Rate | 1.63 GPM |
| Component Quality | Outstanding |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Excellent |
| Costs | $0.034/gallon |
| Warranty Length | Lifetime |
| Shipping | Free shipping for the contiguous US |
| Returns | 30 days |
Other Shower Filters We Tested
| Product | Score |
|---|---|
| Hammerhead | 7.45 |
| Sprite Slim-Line 2 | 7.43 |
| Shower Stick | 7.38 |
| Hello Klean | 7.39 |
| Aquasana | 7.36 |
| AquaBliss SF100 | 7.30 |
| Jolie | 7.29 |
| Eskiin | 7.29 |