We’ve tested 10 popular shower filters using our objective and data-driven analysis to find out which are legit, and which are a flop.
The quality and value-for-money offered by a shower filter are difficult to determine at face value. Our testing looks beyond the manufacturers’ claims, and we don’t simply rely on our own subjective judgment (how our skin and hair feels, for instance) to conduct our evaluations. The scores we awarded are based on real data from our tests of contaminant reduction, install time, water hardness, and more.
The Weddell Duo shower filter got the highest contaminant reduction score of all the shower filters we tested. It also scored well for its filtration rate, design quality, and setup and maintenance requirements, awarding it the highest overall score and making it the shower best shower head filter we tested.
Weddell Duo
Sprite Slim-Line 2
Berkey (Sprite Perma-Seal)
Table of Contents
Our Testing & Selection Process
Each of the filters in our guides is put through a customized performance analysis, focusing particularly on our objective and data-driven testing. We also consider filter design, maintenance requirements, value, price, and more.
For our Best and Worst Shower Water Filters list, we ranked a selection of the most popular filters in this category, based on our testing and formulaic-driven scoring.
We tested each filter using six critical factors: contaminant reduction, filtration rate, design, setup, maintenance, and company. We also compare upfront cost, although this isn’t a scoring factor.
Within the contaminant reduction category, we were specifically interested in evaluating a filter’s ability to reduce those that can pose a risk of inhalation and dermal exposure, rather than ingestion. We tested all shower filters with city water in Steamboat Springs, CO, and there were three primary contaminants we wanted to test for:
Chlorine
Disinfection byproducts
Hardness
A note on our contaminant reduction testing process: After speaking to SimpleLab, our testing laboratory, we decided to test cold water rather than hot water, even though most of us shower in hot water. This was because we wanted to evaluate each filter’s ability to reduce disinfection byproducts, which are highly volatile and dissipate into the air quickly, particularly from hot water. Testing cold water allowed us to gather the most accurate data on the DBPs present in our unfiltered and filtered water samples, giving us the best indicator of how effectively each filter could address these contaminants.
We use objective and quantifiable data whenever possible in our testing. This is supported by subjective assessment to provide additional insight that can’t be achieved with objective data alone.
You can see our complete testing and scoring process here.
We look at the totality of all of our tests, data, and scores when reviewing our selected shower water filters. We analyzed this data side-by-side to compare the filters’ overall performance and value.
We ranked the filters from best to worst based on overall score.
To be included within this best list, all filters:
– Needed to be compatible with US shower arms.
– Had to be available in the US
With our knowledge of the risks and side effects of showering in water containing certain contaminants, we’ve seen demand for shower filtration solutions grow significantly in recent years, and a handful of manufacturers have stepped up to offer their own products in this market.
We reviewed shower filters sold by established, well-known water filter manufacturers like Aquasana, AquaBliss, and Berkey, as well as smaller, up-and-coming brands like Jolie, Weddell, and Canopy.
The Best Shower Filters
| Product | Weddell | Sprite Slim-Line 2 | Berkey (Sprite Perma-Seal) |  Hello Klean |  AquaBliss |  Canopy |  Jolie |  Aquasana |  Shower Stick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.71 | 8.37 | 8.36 | 8.31 | 8.25 | 8.25 | 8.23 | 7.86 | 7.37 |
| Price | $89.99 | $30.00-$65.00 | $50.00 - $85.00 | $88.00 | $59.95 | $150.00 | $165.00 | $120.00 | $375.00 |
| Certifications | NSF 177 | NSF 177 | NSF 177 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Filter Capacity | 8,000 gallons | 10,000 gallons | 20,000 gallons | 3,434 gallons | 10,000 gallons | 3,000 gallons | 3,000 gallons | 10,000 gallons | 3,750 gallons (KDF filter) |
| Cost per Gallon | $0.003 | $0.002 | $0.003 | $0.015 | $0.002 | $0.012 | $0.012 | $0.006 | $0.01 |
| Warranty | Lifetime | 1 year | 1 year | None | 1 year | 1 year | 60 days | 180 days | 1 year |
Weddell Duo
The Weddell Duo is the best shower filter we’ve tested so far. This filter got the highest contaminant reduction score of all the shower systems we tested, being the only shower filter to eliminate DBPs. It also has an NSF certification for reducing chlorine.
Best For
Folks looking for a certified shower filtration system that they can use with their existing showerhead, offering the best contaminant reduction performance including disinfection byproducts removal.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Product Specs
| Price | $89.99 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 5+ |
| Certifications | NSF 177 |
| Process | Solid Activated Carbon Block |
| Filter Capacity | 8,000 gallons |
| Annual Cost | ~$25 |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
The Weddell Duo is an inline filter that connects to your shower arm without replacing the showerhead. It’s the only system we tested that has two filters, one on each side of the unit.
The filter costs just under $90, which is a fairly middle-ground price compared to the other shower filters we tested. Given that it’s performance-certified and reduces THMs, we think it’s a fair upfront price.
Weddell is one of the few brands whose contaminant reduction claims were accurate in our testing. The manufacturer claims the filter can reduce chlorine, microplastics, PFAS, lead particles, and unpleasant odors.
We were able to validate its ability to reduce chlorine and lead, and the chlorine reduction also eliminated related odors. We were unable to corroborate the microplastics and PFAS claims as our tests did not include these analytes. Weddell doesn’t make false claims about hardness reduction or water softening.
Removed Chlorine, Disinfection Byproducts, & More
We tested all the shower filters in this guide using the same municipal water supply in Colorado. Our unfiltered water test detected more than 20 contaminants with possible health effects.
Those we were specifically concerned about in our shower water were: chlorine (around 2 PPM) and four disinfection byproducts:
- 5.47 PPB of chloroform
- 2.62 PPB of bromodichloromethane
- 0.74 PPB of dibromochloromethane
- and 0.25 PPB of bromochloromethane
The first three DBPs exceeded the lab’s Health Guideline Level, meaning they were present in potentially health-harmful concentrations. Bromochloromethane was unable to be evaluated as it was detected in concentrations below the Reporting Limit, the lowest level at which the lab can confidently and accurately quantify the contaminant concentration.
We also tested for water hardness, since hard water has effects on hair and skin. Our unfiltered water sample had a total hardness of 128.19 PPM, or 7.49 GPG, putting it in the “hard” category. We also performed an onsite titration test, which detected a hardness of 8 GPG, aligning closely with what the lab detected more precisely.
Our test results showed that the Weddell Duo filter effectively removed 100% chlorine, as expected. What was most impressive was that it also removed all disinfection byproducts, likely because it’s the only shower filter we used that has a 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.
Post-filtration, our water hardness was virtually the same: 125.59 PPM, or 8 GPG in the titration test.
But Weddell doesn’t claim that the filter reduces water hardness, and this isn’t a capability of most shower filters.
Another big selling point of the Weddell Duo is that it has an NSF certification to Standard 42 for chlorine reduction. This certification and the filter’s ability to reduce DBPs gave it the highest contaminant reduction score of all the shortlisted filters: 8.43.
Easy Installation & Maintenance
The Weddell Duo was easy to setup thanks to its no-hassle design, receiving a score of 9.00 in this category. 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 also needed to be flushed by running water from our shower for three minutes.
The dual-filter design, with one filter at either end of the unit, 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 the Duo’s high maintenance score of 9.75.
Weddell recommends replacing the filters 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 $0.003/ gallon.
Slower Flow Rate
We measured a flow rate of 1.43 GPM from the Duo filters. This is slower than all the other shower filters we tested, and our theory is that the two filter stages provide twice the resistance.
Weddell claims the filter’s maximum flow rate is 2.80 GPM, adding that the flow rate depends on your showerhead and not the filter itself. Whether this is true or not, it still had the slowest flow of all filters in this guide. We didn’t, however, notice a dip in water pressure after installing the unit.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Health Related Contaminants | 84 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 99 |
| Performance Certification | Certified for 20% of reduction claims |
| Filtration Rate | 1.43 GPM |
| Component Quality | Excellent |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Outstanding |
| Costs | $0.003/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | Lifetime |
| Shipping | Free shipping for lower 48 US states |
| Returns | 30 days, minus 10% restock fee |
Sprite Slim-Line 2
The Sprite Slim-Line 2 is our runner-up shower filter in this list, achieving the second-highest contaminant reduction score and overall performance score. It also received good setup and maintenance scores, although it didn’t remove disinfection byproducts and performed more poorly in the design category.
Best For
Anyone looking for the most affordable performance certified showerhead filter with a slimmer, more compact design that can be installed with an existing showerhead or with its own head.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Product Specs
| Price | $30-$65 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 5+ |
| Certifications | NSF 177 |
| Process | KDF, Calcium Sulfite |
| Filter Capacity | 10,000 gallons |
| Annual Cost | ~$40 |
| Warranty | 1 year |
The Sprite Slim-Line 2 is available in two designs:
- An all-in-one filter that comes with a 3-setting massage showerhead, replacing your existing showerhead.
- The inline filter only.
It contains a single Chlorgon filter (Sprite’s proprietary redox media made from a blend of copper, zinc, and calcium sulfite), and is certified to reduce free chlorine.
The filter costs $30-$64 depending on the finish and whether you buy it with or without the showerhead, so it’s one of the lowest-cost options on this list. The four finishes are brushed nickel, chrome, white & chrome trim, and white. We tested the chrome model and noted that the filter’s plastic housing is flimsy compared to others, contributing to its lower design score of 7.20.
Sprite’s contaminant reduction claims also appeared to be accurate in our testing. The manufacturer claims the filter addresses free chlorine, dirt, and odors. While “dirt” is ambiguous and difficult to corroborate with testing, we were able to confirm the filter’s ability to reduce chlorine associated odors.
Like Weddell, Sprite doesn’t make misleading hardness reduction claims.
Limited Contaminant Reduction
The Sprite filter uses a filtration media that’s commonly seen in showerhead filters: KDF media (although the manufacturer has added calcium sulfite and patented it as their own invention, chlorgon).
We know that KDF is good at reducing chlorine, and works with high temperatures, which is why it’s popularly used in shower filters that treat hot water. But KDF media doesn’t reduce DBPs very well, so we were concerned about how the Sprite shower filter would handle these in our water.
Unfortunately, our test results showed that the levels of disinfection byproducts in our water remained almost exactly the same in our filtered water test, so the Sprite filter had been unable to remove them. This was a big disappointment to us given the health effects of inhaling these chemicals in shower water, and contributed to its lower contaminant reduction score of 7.96.
However, chlorine was removed by 100%, along with associated odors, so the filter was at least doing the bare minimum.
Our water hardness increased slightly post-filtration in the Tap Score test, and it stayed the same in our on-site titration test. So like Weddell, Sprite doesn’t soften water or remove hardness minerals.
The company has obtained an NSF 177 certification from IAPMO for chlorine reduction, which is one of the key factors that contributed to Sprite receiving the second-highest contaminant reduction score.
Straightforward Setup & Affordable Maintenance
We awarded the Sprite filter a 9.00 score for setup because the process was generally very easy. The filter can be screwed onto an existing shower arm and didn’t require any tools or specific skills.
There was also a design touch that we appreciated: the unit has threads up inside housing, which shortens overall length. That means the showerhead doesn’t extend down too much (a problem we experienced with similar filters).
Note: we used the inline filter with our own existing showerhead
Once we’d installed the filter, we timed how long it took to filter 2 cups of water. It took and average of 4.55 seconds, giving it a flow rate of 1.65 GPM. Sprite claims the filter’s maximum flow rate is around 1.8 GPM; more accurate to the actual number than Weddell.
Filter replacements are required every 6 months or after 10,000 gallons, whichever comes first. We calculated the ongoing filter replacement cost at just $0.002 per gallon. That makes it the most affordable upfront and among the most affordable to maintain on this list.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Health Related Contaminants | 78 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 99 |
| Performance Certification | Certified for 33% of reduction claims |
| Filtration Rate | 1.65 GPM |
| Component Quality | Fair |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Excellent |
| Costs | $0.002/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | 1 year |
| Shipping | Variable shipping costs |
| Returns | 45 days, in original unused condition |
Berkey (Sprite Perma-Seal)
The Berkey Shower Filter is the third-ranking shower filter in this guide, achieving an overall score of 8.36 (just one point lower than the Sprite Slim-Line). It performed similarly as well, addressing chlorine but not DBPs, and is another filter to have obtained an NSF certification for chlorine reduction.
Best For
Folks who want a certified filter that’s affordable to maintain, and who happen to like the design of this particular model.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Product Specs
| Price | $50.00 – $85.00 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 5+ |
| Certifications | NSF 177 |
| Process | KDF, Calcium Sulfite |
| Filter Capacity | 20,000 gallons |
| Annual Cost | ~$50 |
| Warranty | 1 year |
The Berkey Shower Filter is actually a Sprite filter, the currently-unavailable Perma Seal, that has been private labeled—information that isn’t clearly stated in the product listing on many Berkey distributor websites. We only discovered this when we were researching warranty information for the filter.
The filter uses Sprite’s same patented chlorgon media blend, and it’s available in just one finish: white with a chrome band. It costs $60 upfront, so around double that of the Slim-Line filter sold directly by Sprite, but still relatively affordable.
We had issues with some of the claims in the Berkey Shower Filter’s product description. As well as not being upfront and transparent about being a private-label Sprite product, the distributor claims that the filter addresses free chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, scale, and iron oxide (rust water).
By claiming to reduce scale, Berkey is effectively claiming to reduce hardness. But this isn’t possible with KDF-55 media alone, and water hardness wasn’t reduced at all in our testing.
Certified to Reduce Chlorine & Odors
The Berkey Shower Filter is another filter that reduced 100% chlorine in our testing but made virtually no difference to the concentrations of disinfection byproducts in our water. Again, this is likely because the filter uses KDF-55 media, which targets chlorine, iron, and hydrogen sulfide (three contaminants Berkey claims to remove) but doesn’t address DBPs.
As we mentioned, Berkey also claims to address water scale (ie. hardness), but our post-filtration test showed that hardness actually increased ever so slightly, from 218.19 PPM to 218.54 PPM. And our on-site titration test detected no change in hardness, either: it remained at 8 GPG post-filtration.
The filter is IAPMO certified to NSF 177 for chlorine reduction – keep in mind it’s Sprite that has obtained the certification, not Berkey.
Solid Design & Acceptable Flow Rate
The Berkey (or rather Sprite) unit is made from ABS food-grade plastic housing that felt solid compared to others. But we didn’t think the design was perfect; a key problem that we identified was its length, which extends showerhead down a lot, which may be an issue for taller people. It score in this category was 7.80, the same as Sprite’s.
Berkey’s flow rate was pretty average and was within the range of six of the other shower filters we tested, at 1.57 GPM. The product information on the Sprite website says the shower’s maximum flow rate is 1.8 GPM, so not far off what we were recording.
Setup & Maintenance are Simple
We had no nasty surprises with setup and maintenance for the Berkey unit, and we awarded it scores of 9.00 and 9.50 respectively. Shower filters are easy to install by design, and this Berkey model is compatible with most shower heads. It can be screwed onto any standard 1/2-inch NPT shower arm and can be used with an existing showerhead.
The filter media has a slightly longer lifespan of up to 12 months or 20,000 gallons, and it has one of the lowest costs-per-gallon at $0.003. Replacing the filter is easy, although it does mean having to unscrew your showerhead first.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Health Related Contaminants | 77 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 99 |
| Performance Certification | Certified for 25% of reduction claims |
| Filtration Rate | 1.57 GPM |
| Component Quality | Excellent |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Excellent |
| Costs | $0.003/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | 1 year |
| Shipping | Free shipping on orders over $99 to the lower 48 US states |
| Returns | 30 days, in original unused condition |
Hello Klean
The Hello Klean Shower Filter just scraped fourth-place in our testing, receiving the next highest overall score of 8.31. It’s another KDF-based filter, and its performance mirrored the similar filters we tested, reducing chlorine but not water hardness or disinfection byproducts.
Best For
People looking for a minimal-plastic shower filter with an attractive metal design and the ability to reduce chlorine and odors.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Product Specs
| Price | $88.00 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 5+ |
| Certifications | – |
| Process | KDF + Carbon + Calcium Sulfite |
| Filter Capacity | 3,434 gallons |
| Annual Cost | ~$150 |
| Warranty | None |
With its metal design, the Hello Klean Shower Filter has the stability that other shower filters lack and is more attractive and expensive-looking.
The filter media consists of a blend of KDF-55 granules, activated carbon, calcium sulfite, and ceramic beads. Its upfront cost of $87 is creeping into “expensive” territory and isn’t mitigated by an extremely low ongoing cost like with other filters (although it still is affordable to maintain).
Hello Klean is another brand that’s misleading about what it actually does to your water. It’s said to reduce +90% of chlorine as well as copper, iron, lead, and more.
The problem we had was with the company’s hardness reduction claims, which were on the filter packaging and the website footer.
The About page also shares lots of information about water hardness. Kind of sneaky, it doesn’t explicitly reference the Hello Klean showerhead as a solution to hard water or claim it reduces hardness minerals—it simply says:
“Heavy metals & chlorine in hard water bond with ingredients in our filter” and “Hello Klean products rescues skin and hair from the drying effects of hard water”, which is implying it addresses water hardness without explicitly using those words.
Offers Basic Chlorine Reduction
The Hello Klean Shower Filter offers a pretty basic performance that should tick your boxes if you’re only concerned about chlorine in your water.
In our testing, it removed 100% of chlorine detected in our water, but there were only slight differences in the concentrations of DBPs, which we believe were incidental (rather than the filter actually reducing them). Hello Klean claims that the GAC media in the filter “reduces trihalomethane (THMs)”, but the total THMs in our water actually increased from 8.83 PPB to 9.34 PPB.1
And despite the company’s claims to address hard water, which have even been made on TV by a presenter who appears to have limited knowledge about what hard water actually is, the Hello Klean filter made no difference to our water hardness in our testing.
In fact, the lab tests detected a 3.22% increase in total hardness, while in the titration test showed it increased by 1 GPG.
Hello Klean is not for chlorine reduction, which lowered its contaminant reduction score to 7.71.
Some Design Flaws But Easy Maintenance
In some ways, the Hello Klean filter has a design that most folks will prefer: it’s made from aluminum rather than being plastic with a chrome overlay, as is the norm with many similar units we tested. This (according to the manufacturer) cuts down on plastic by 70%. And given that metal is more durable than plastic, it should, in theory, last longer than a mostly-plastic system.
However, we noted that the unit is long and extends showerhead downwards a lot, which was one of the reasons why its design score was slightly lower at 7.80. After we installed it, we also found that it leaked from o-ring where it attaches to shower spout. We replaced the teflon tape and it still leaked a bit. This is possibly because we shouldn’t have used this tape at all, but we wanted to mention it all the same.
Aside from these small issues, installation was as easy as with the other filters we tested, and the unit got a setup score of 9.00. The filter lasts 6 months on average and has an ongoing spend of around $0.015 per gallon, so it’s noticeably more expensive than other systems, but is still affordable on the whole. We awarded it a score of 9.50 for maintenance.
Once installed, we measured the filter’s flow rate at 1.58 GPM, which is pretty decent for a shower filter and awarded it a score of 10.00 in this category.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Health Related Contaminants | 78 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 99 |
| Performance Certification | Not certified |
| Filtration Rate | 1.58 GPM |
| Component Quality | Excellent |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Excellent |
| Costs | $0.015/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | No warranty |
| Shipping | Free shipping in the US over $50 |
| Returns | 90 days |
AquaBliss
The AquaBliss SF100 Revitalizing Shower Filter obtained an overall score of 8.27, putting it in fifth place after the Hello Klean. It uses a blend of 12 filtration media, which makes it sound impressive, but it was actually the only filter on this list that didn’t reduce chlorine by 100%.
Best For
Folks who want an affordable filter that reduces contaminants and further improves their water quality with additional treatment stages.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Product Specs
| Price | $59.95 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 5+ |
| Certifications | – |
| Process | KDF + Carbon + Calcium Sulfite |
| Filter Capacity | 10,000 gallons |
| Annual Cost | ~$40 |
| Warranty | 1 year |
The SF100 is one of AquaBliss’ four shower filter offerings and is the only one to infuse water with vitamins and minerals. It’s one of the most affordable shower filters we tested in terms of upfront cost; it’s around $60, but at the time of writing this review, there’s a 40% off sale that brings it down to just under $40.
AquaBliss makes A LOT of claims about contaminant reduction and water quality enhancements. The company says the filter “Infuses High-Quality Minerals — Get Gorgeous Skin, Hair, and Nails”, and “Improves PH Balance — Soothe Dry Itchy Skin and Reduce Dandruff and Eczema”. It’s also said to “effectively reduce dirt, chlorine, trihalomethanes (THMs), and more”. So we had high expectations.
Poor Chlorine Reduction
The other shower filters we tested were all able to reduce 100% chlorine, but this AquaBliss model only reduced it by 75% (0.5 PPM remained in our filtered water). Interestingly, in a comparison chart on the product page, this model is said to offer “effective” chlorine reduction while the other two AquaBliss models offer “highly effective” chlorine reduction.
Even so, we would expect the filter to completely eliminate chlorine given that it apparently contains calcium sulfite, redox media, and activated carbon, all of which have proven chlorine reduction capabilities.
AquaBliss also claims that the activated carbon media “helps remove” THMs, but we only saw an incidental reduction of just under 6%.
And while it claims the filter “Reduces Contaminants to Make Water Feel Softer”, and “helps control scale”, we saw no change to the concentrations of contaminants responsible for water hardness (calcium and magnesium). The total hardness of our water reduced by less than 1% in our tap score test and remained the same, at 8 GPG, in our on-site titration test.
As for the company’s claims to “improve pH balance”, the pH of our water was only reduced by around 7%, from 8.39 to 7.80. But the pH of our unfiltered water was only slightly alkaline anyway, so perhaps our results would have been more apparent if it was significantly higher or lower.
We also observed an increase in a number of metals post-filtration. These are small amounts and most likely incidental—since the detections were so low, they could have fluctuated slightly throughout the day. The large increase in Zinc is likely coming from the KDF media. However, we’d need to retest our water to confirm these hypotheses.
| Contaminant Name | Unit | Unfiltered | Aquabliss | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium | PPM | 0.0005325 | 0.0005401 | 1.43% |
| Lithium | PPM | 0.00421 | 0.00473 | 12.35% |
| Arsenic | PPM | 0.0002311 | 0.0003835 | 65.95% |
| Molybdenum | PPM | 0.0002244 | 0.0004204 | 87.34% |
| Vanadium | PPM | 0.000166 | 0.0007838 | 372.17% |
| Zinc | PPM | 0.00919 | 0.30582 | 3227.75% |
Finally, AquaBliss claims to infuse water with vitamin c and other beneficial nutrients and minerals, but we were unable to validate this information as we only tested for calcium and magnesium minerals, which didn’t increase.
The AquaBliss Shower Filter isn’t performance certified, and this contributed to its lower score of 7.71 for contaminant reduction. Misleadingly, AquaBliss claims that the filter is “certified” on the product page, but keeps things deliberately vague to avoid making any direct false claims.
Top-Scoring for Maintenance But Had Some Design Issues
We awarded the AquaBliss filter a score of 7.20 for its design. The plastic housing was flimsy compared to others, so we’re uncertain about its long-term durability.
When we installed the filter, it leaked initially, but we realized the housing wasn’t completely tight and were able to resolve the issue by tightening it. It obtained a 9.00 score for setup, like most of its competitors, and the installation process was a simple, 5-minute job.
Once installed, the filter’s flow rate was coming in at 1.50 (it filtered 2 cups of water in an average of just under 5 seconds). An AquaBliss customer service rep told us in an email that the filter’s maximum flow rate was 2.50.
The AquaBliss filter is one of the most affordable to maintain on this list, with an ongoing cost of 0.002/ gallon. The filter lasts up to 4-6 months and is easy to replace (just unscrew the casing, slide out the existing shower filter cartridge, and in the new one). It got the highest maintenance score, 9.75, of all the filters on this list so far.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Health Related Contaminants | 78 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 99 |
| Performance Certification | Not certified |
| Filtration Rate | 1.50 GPM |
| Component Quality | Fair |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Excellent |
| Costs | $0.002/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | 1 year |
| Shipping | Free shipping with cart of $20+ |
| Returns | 30 days |
Canopy
The Canopy Filtered Showerhead took the sixth spot in our testing, with an overall performance score of 8.25. It’s not performance certified and, out of all the shower-related contaminants in our water, it only reduced chlorine in our testing.
Best For
Anyone specifically looking for a filter that replaces their showerhead and does a good job of removing chlorine, and folks who like the idea of infusing scents into their shower water.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Product Specs
| Price | $150.00 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 5+ |
| Certifications | – |
| Process | KDF + Carbon + Calcium Sulfite |
| Filter Capacity | 3,000 gallons |
| Annual Cost | ~$140 |
| Warranty | 1 year |
The Canopy Shower Filter is the only shower filter we’ve tested that includes an aroma kit for showering with a pleasant scent. The filter consists of granular activated carbon, KDF-55, and calcium sulfite media and is available in four finishes:
- Polished chrome
- Matte black
- Brushed nickel
- Brass
It appears to be marketed towards women and is (in our opinion) unjustifiably expensive at $150 upfront. It’s a unique funnel shape and contains the filter inside the showerhead, so you’ll have to swap it out with your existing showerhead.
Canopy says its Filtered Showerhead is “designed to filter chlorine, heavy metals, and other contaminants”. In the FAQs, the manufacturer claims the filter “helps reduce” chlorine, magnesium, calcium carbonate, iron, hydrogen sulfide, mercury, chromium, chloramine, harmful microbes, bacteria, fungi, and other contaminants.
Reduced Chlorine
The Canopy Filtered Showerhead completely eliminated the 2 PPM of chlorine detected in our water. However, it didn’t reduce DBPs—in fact, total THMs actually increased by 158%.
Again, we believe this is due to fluctuations in the DBPs in our water and simply tells us that the filter was unable to reduce them1. At least the manufacturer doesn’t claim disinfection byproducts reduction.
Something it does claim, however, is the reduction of magnesium and calcium carbonate. Magnesium wasn’t reduced at all in our Tap Score test, while calcium increased by 16%. Carbonate did decrease by 69%, but our total hardness increased by 12.45%, so the filter clearly does not address water hardness.
Some Contaminant Concentrations Increased
An unusual outcome we noticed in our contaminant reduction testing was the 32% increase in copper and the massive 8,797% increase in zinc (still within the HGL for both). Our theory is that these contaminants leached from the filter media itself, since KDF-55 is a copper-zinc alloy. But we can’t be certain why this filter specifically leached copper and zinc when similar shower filters using KDF media did not.
Arsenic also increased by 93%, from 0.0002311 PPB to 0.000448 PPB (exceeding the lab’s HGL of 0 PPM), and fluoride increased by 5,675%, from 0.004 to 0.021 (not exceeding the HGL). Our hypothesis is this was due to fluctuations in our water supply between testing, especially since Canopy was one of the last filters tested.
An outcome that we were concerned about was the 404% increase in lead, from 0.0002713 PPM to 0.0013676 PPM (exceeding the HGL of 0 PPM). This seems like too much of an increase to be attributed to fluctuations in our water supply alone, particularly as no other test identified lead levels jump up so substantially. We’re concerned about the possibility of lead coming from the system itself. We’d need to conduct more specific, rigorous testing to validate this hypothesis.
| Contaminant | Unit | Unfiltered | Canopy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloride | PPM | 19.881 | 21.01 | 5.68% |
| Calcium | PPM | 34.43656 | 40.02903 | 16.24% |
| Copper | PPM | 0.07381 | 0.09762 | 32.26% |
| Molybdenum | PPM | 0.0002244 | 0.0002972 | 32.44% |
| Sulfate | PPM | 19.887 | 36.293 | 82.50% |
| Dibromochloromethane | PPB | 0.74 | 1.43 | 93.24% |
| Arsenic | PPM | 0.0002311 | 0.000448 | 93.86% |
| Bromodichloromethane | PPB | 2.62 | 5.26 | 100.76% |
| Total THMs | PPB | 8.83 | 22.8 | 158.21% |
| Chloroform | PPB | 5.47 | 16.02 | 192.87% |
| Lead | PPM | 0.0002713 | 0.0013676 | 404.09% |
| Fluoride | PPM | 0.004 | 0.231 | 5675.00% |
| Zinc | PPM | 0.00919 | 0.81767 | 8797.39% |
| Bromoform | PPB | 0 | 0.09 | #DIV/0! |
| Manganese | PPM | 0 | 0.00007 | #DIV/0! |
Continue Reading: Canopy vs Jolie shower head filters in-depth comparison
Fast Flow Rate & Simple Installation
The Canopy Filtered Showerhead had the fastest flow rate of all the shower filters we tested: 2.33 GPM. It received a score of 10.00 in this category, and you’ll likely appreciate this filter if you enjoy power showers and don’t want even a minor decrease in flow.
The filter is quick and easy to install, awarding it a 9.00 score in the setup category. We found filter replacements nice and easy, and we worked out that the ongoing spend is $0.012 (we had to reach out to customer service because the 3,000-gallon capacity information wasn’t available online).
Something worth highlighting is that the filter cartridge looks similar to the cartridge in the Sprite model. While they might not be direct copies, it does pose the question of why Canopy’s filter is four times the price of Sprite’s upfront cost and $0.010/ gallon more expensive in the long run, when it’s not offering a whole lot more. Yes, it has the felt diffuser, but in our opinion, a nice “aroma” while showering does not justify the additional expense.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Health Related Contaminants | 78 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 99 |
| Performance Certification | Not certified |
| Filtration Rate | 2.33 GPM |
| Component Quality | Fair |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Excellent |
| Costs | $0.012/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | 1 year |
| Shipping | Free to US on orders over $25 |
| Returns | 60 days |
Jolie
The Jolie Filtered Showerhead received an overall score of 8.23, so it was ranked just slightly lower than the Canopy. It’s another filter that’s lacking performance certifications, despite misleading claims by the manufacturer, and it didn’t blow us away in our testing.
Best For
People who like the design and finish options of this shower filter, are specifically looking to reduce chlorine, and don’t mind spending a lot of money on a product that’s probably only worth half the price.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Product Specs
| Price | $165.00 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 5+ |
| Certifications | – |
| Process | KDF + Calcium Sulfite |
| Filter Capacity | 3,000 gallons |
| Annual Cost | ~$144 |
| Warranty | 60 days |
Like Canopy’s offering, the Jolie Filtered Showerhead is an all-in-one filter, so it replaces your existing showerhead. Like many systems on this list, the filter uses KDF-55 and calcium sulfite. It’s available in five finishes:
- Modern chrome
- Brushed steel
- Jet black
- Brushed gold
- Vibrant red
Jolie’s marketing also seems to be geared towards women, and it’s another filter that’s unjustifiably expensive at $165. It contains essentially the same media blend as many other systems we reviewed under the $60 threshold, and we could find no evidence that it offered anything significantly unique or game-changing to make it worth an extra $100.
At the very least, Jolie hasn’t jumped on the bandwagon and has managed to make no misleading claims about hardness removal. Instead, the brand’s marketing focuses specifically on the side effects of chlorine in water (perhaps exaggerating them a bit), and presents the Jolie showerhead as a solution to virtually all skin and hair-related issues.
Basic Contaminant Reduction with Zinc Increase
The Jolie filter eliminated chlorine, but as with most of the other filters, it didn’t affect the DBP concentrations in our water. A couple of THMs actually increased, but we’ve already mentioned1 that we think this is incidental.
The filter also didn’t affect our water hardness, but Jolie was one of the few brands that didn’t make misleading claims about hard water reduction.
We noticed that the levels of zinc in our filtered water had increased by over 4,500%, from 0.00919 to 0.42455 (below the HGL of 2 PPM). Again, this is most likely because of the KDF media used in the filter (although it’s interesting that in this case, only zinc increased while copper actually decreased by 60%).
The concentrations of fluoride in our filtered water also increased by 6,025%, from 0.004 PPM to 0.245 PPM (not exceeding the HGL of 0.8 PPM). As with the Canopy filter, we think this was simply caused by fluctuations in the fluoride in our water towards the end of the day (the Jolie filter was one of the last three we tested).
The filter isn’t performance certified, despite false claims made by the manufacturer. The product page states that the Jolie model “far exceeds certifications” and has been “tested in multiple labs”, insinuating that it has been certified.
Even worse, the brand claims outright that the filter “uses best-in-class filter technology and is NSF Certified” in the FAQs, but we found no evidence of certification in our research.
Decent Quality & Flow Rate
The Jolie filter has an attractive design and doesn’t look clunky or out of place like other shower filters. It also comes with a nice wrench for the installation process, but this still doesn’t make it worth the $150 price tag. We awarded it a 7.20 score for its design; the same as the Canopy, AquaBliss, and Sprite filters.
The filter’s 2.20-gallon flow rate wins it some brownie points, and it scored a 10.00 in this category. It was also easy to install, and the custom wrench was useful for removing our existing showerhead and screwing in the new one. We gave it a 9.00 score for setup.
As for maintenance, the filter lasts just three months, which Jolie claims filters water “at a higher effective rate you can trust for its entire use”. We scored the filter a 9.50 for maintenance because although the filter doesn’t last as long, it’s still nice and easy to replace.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Health Related Contaminants | 78 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 99 |
| Performance Certification | Not certified |
| Filtration Rate | 2.20 GPM |
| Component Quality | Fair |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Excellent |
| Costs | $0.012/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | 60 days |
| Shipping | Free within the 48 contiguous United States |
| Returns | 60 days |
Aquasana
The Aquasana Shower Filter was ranked second-to-last on our list, with a weighted score of 7.86. This was largely due to its contaminant reduction score, which was the lowest so far of all the filters we’ve tested.
Best For
Folks who want a shower filter from one of the better-known water filtration brands, whose main intention is to reduce chlorine. The filter is also the only one we tested that can be bought with a compatible shower wand, which might appeal to some people.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Product Specs
| Price | $120.00 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 5+ |
| Certifications | – |
| Process | KDF + Carbon |
| Filter Capacity | 10,000 gallons |
| Annual Cost | ~$120 |
| Warranty | 180 days |
The AquaSana Shower Filter is an in-line filter that can either be purchased with or without a showerhead. There are three showerhead options:
- A handheld wand in chrome
- A handheld wand in white
- A standard showerhead that screws directly onto the filter
The system contains coconut shell carbon and KDF media. It’s priced at around $120 with the shower head. Without the showerhead, it’s $100. We couldn’t find any features of the filter that make it worth a price tag exceeding $100.
We do at least respect Aquasana as a company for making no untrue claims about hardness or DBP reduction. The company only claims that the filter can reduce chlorine, which are not exaggerated or fear mongering in nature.
Removed Chlorine but Not Certified
We were pleased to see that the Aquasana Shower Filter reduced 100% chlorine in our shower water, exceeding Aquasana’s claims of “over 90%”. However, the filter isn’t certified for chlorine reduction (something we’d expect from a more established brand like Aquasana). It’s only independently tested—you can view the datasheet here.
In terms of contaminant reduction, we did actually see a 73% decrease in total THMs, which was a nice surprise given that Aquasana doesn’t claim to reduce these.
But copper increased by 58%, and zinc increased by a massive 40,924%, bringing it up to 3.7 PPM (exceeding the lab’s HGL of 2 PPM), which negatively impacted it’s contaminant reduction & overall scores.
Again, we believe this is due to the KDF media, but it’s concerning that such a substantial amount of zinc leached from the filter. We’re wondering if this may be because we’re testing the filter when it’s almost brand-new, and this leaching may reduce over time.
Helpful Design & Decent Flow
The Aquasana shower filter is made from sturdier plastic than other filters and has a well-thought-out design that made showering and replacing the filters easier. This contributed to its design score of 7.80.
The filter hangs down from the base of the unit that’s attached the shower, meaning you can unscrew it without having to detach the shower head. That also meant it didn’t extend the length of our showerhead because the filter is underneath.
The unit received high scores of 9.00 and 9.75 respectively for setup and maintenance. We were able to attach it to our existing shower pipe in a matter of minutes, and the filter needs replacing every 10,000 gallons or 6 months. We calculated its ongoing cost at $0.006, making it one of the most affordable options.
As for flow rate, the Aquasana filter also received a top score of 10.00. Its 1.54 GPM flow rate isn’t the fastest on this list, but we didn’t notice a reduction in water pressure. The maximum flow rate cited in the owners’ manual is 2.5 GPM.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Health Related Contaminants | 68 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 99 |
| Performance Certification | Not certified |
| Filtration Rate | 1.54 GPM |
| Component Quality | Excellent |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Excellent |
| Servicing Requirements | Outstanding |
| Costs | $0.006/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | 180 days |
| Shipping | Variable shipping costs |
| Returns | 90 days |
Shower Stick
Coming in last on our list and achieving the title of the “worst” shower filter is the ShowerStick. In our testing, the filter actually did something that none of the others did: reduced water hardness. But its contaminant reduction, maintenance, and setup scores were lower than any other filter we reviewed.
Best For
Anyone with a large budget who wants to mitigate the effects of water hardness minerals and chlorine in their shower water.
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Product Specs
| Price | $375.00 |
| Contaminants Reduced | 5+ |
| Certifications | – |
| Process | Ion Exchange + KDF |
| Filter Capacity | 3,750 gallons (KDF filter only) |
| Annual Cost | ~$144 |
| Warranty | 1 year |
The ShowerStick looks how it sounds: it’s an oblong filter that hangs vertically beneath your showerhead. It’s made from PVC plastic and contains ion exchange resin beads, which treat hardness minerals.
There’s also a KDF filter that can be purchased and used alongside the ShowerStick to reduce chlorine and associated odors.
You’ll need to be prepared to make a significant investment upfront here: the ShowerStick costs $339, while the accompanying KDF filter will set you back an extra $36. As much as we think being able to legitimately soften your shower water is a novelty, we still think the filter should cost at least half the price that it does.
The manufacturer of the ShowerStick hasn’t made any false or misleading claims that we could see. We could only find claims about the ShowerStick’s ability to remove hard water minerals like calcium and magnesium, and the KDF filter’s ability to remove 95-99% of chlorine, both of which we were able to validate.
Softened our Water and Removed Chlorine
We installed the ShowerStick and KDF filter. Our test results showed that the filter reduced 100% chlorine and virtually eliminated total hardness—we saw a 99.94% reduction, from 128.19 PPM to 0.076 PPM. Our on-site titration test confirmed the ShowerStick’s ability to soften water; hardness was reduced from 8 PPM to 0 PPM.
This was the best outcome we could have hoped for, making the ShowerStick the only shower filter we tested to effectively reduce water hardness minerals.
However, there were some anomalies with our test results, including a 14.15% increase in lead, from 0.0002713 PPM to 0.0003097, exceeding the Tap Score HGL.
Fluoride also increased by 7.725% from 0.04 PPM to 0.313 PPM, not exceeding the HGL of 0.8 PPM. Again, this was most likely due to fluctuations as the day progressed (the ShowerStick was one of the last filters we tested).
As expected, the sodium concentrations in our water increased by 406.51%, from 12.2439 PPM to 62.0168 PPM. This was due to the ion exchange process taking place inside the ShowerStick’s resin, which swaps out calcium and magnesium hardness minerals with sodium ions.
| Contaminant | Unit | Unfiltered | Shower Stick | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulfate | PPM | 19.887 | 20.374 | 2.45% |
| Chloride | PPM | 19.881 | 21.339 | 7.33% |
| Lead | PPM | 0.0002713 | 0.0003097 | 14.15% |
| Carbonate | PPM | 1.68 | 2.55 | 51.79% |
| Chloroform | PPB | 5.47 | 10.48 | 91.59% |
| Total THMs | PPB | 8.83 | 18.2 | 106.12% |
| Bromodichloromethane | PPB | 2.62 | 5.53 | 111.07% |
| Dibromochloromethane | PPB | 0.74 | 2.05 | 177.03% |
| Sodium | PPM | 12.2439 | 62.0168 | 406.51% |
| Fluoride | PPM | 0.004 | 0.313 | 7725.00% |
| Bromoform | PPB | 0 | 0.14 | #DIV/0! |
The filter also isn’t certified, which is another factor that contributes to why, ultimately, it received the lowest contaminant reduction score of 6.32.
And again, we saw concentrations of disinfection byproducts increase, indicating the filter is not able to address these contaminants.
Bulky, Ugly Design
The ShowerStick is the biggest shower filter we reviewed by far, and it’s also ugly. There’s no blending it in with the rest of your bathroom fixtures, but it is, at least, made from solid plastic (it has a similar look and feel to the plastic used in the Aquasana filter). It comes with its own shower hose and shower head that you have to use. Despite its looks, we gave it a 7.80 score for its design.
The setup process was more involved than for the other shower filters with the simple twist-to-install setup. We found the filter heavy and awkward to manage, and twice the work was involved as we had two filters to install. It scored lower in this category: 8.50.
In terms of maintenance, a feature of the ShowerStick that’s both good and bad is that the resin can be regenerated. It’s good because it extends the resin’s lifespan and reduces the need for replacements, allowing you to use it over and over. It’s bad because the regeneration process is time-consuming and involves following a complex 5-step process. It received a lower maintenance score of 8.75 in this category due to the extra work required. But the KDF filter is, at least, affordable to replace, with an ongoing spend of $0.002 per gallon.
The best way to soften your shower water is with a point of entry water softener, which are much easier to use and maintain and regenerate automatically.
Fast Flow Rate
We were pleasantly surprised to find that the ShowerStick had one of the fastest flow rates of all the filters we tested.
It filtered 2 cups of water in 3.24 seconds on average, giving it a flow rate of 2.32 GPM. This is impressive given that there were two separate filtration stages for our water to pass through.
| Criteria | Results |
|---|---|
| Health Related Contaminants | 65 |
| Aesthetic Related Contaminants | 35 |
| Performance Certification | Not certified |
| Filtration Rate | 2.32 GPM |
| Component Quality | Excellent |
| Component Certification | Not certified |
| Setup | Good |
| Servicing Requirements | Below Average |
| Costs | $0.01/ gallon |
| Warranty Length | 1 year |
| Shipping | Variable shipping costs |
| Returns | 14 days – product must be in like-new condition (not used) |