The 7 Best Water Filter Pitchers for Safer Drinking Water of 2024

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The Clearly Filtered is the best overall water filter pitcher in 2024, capable of removing up to 70x more contaminants than the most popular brands on the market. These are the top water filter pitchers based on contaminant removal capability, durability, filter lifespan and of course, value for money.

With every passing year, we gain access to more and more evidence of trace contaminants in our drinking water and their harmful health effects. You probably want to remove these contaminants from your water ASAP – but what if you don’t have the budget for it? And according to Tom Bruursema of the Water Quality Association “certified point-of-use devices such as pitchers and filters are a highly effective and relatively inexpensive means of treating drinking water with lead contamination.

Luckily, the water filter market has become accessible to all customers with the introduction of affordable filters that are suitable for small budgets. Our personal favorite budget-friendly water filter? The water filter pitcher. 

Unsurprisingly given their low upfront and ongoing costs, water filter pitchers are widely available and very popular. Trying to find the best pitcher for your needs is daunting – you face hours of research and comparison, and it’s easy to get swept up by over-exaggerated marketing materials. There are hundreds of filter pitchers available today, and the reality is that most of them probably aren’t right for you. 

If you need some direction for your search, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put in hours of research and real testing to determine the best water filter pitchers available today, and we’ve shared our shortlisted picks in this guide. 

🥇 Best Water Filter Pitcher


📊 Comparison Chart of Water Filter Pitchers

PitcherClearly Filtered Water Pitcher
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
ZeroWater 12 cup
ZeroWater 12 cup
Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher
Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher
PUR PLUS Pitcher
PUR PLUS 11 Cup Pitcher
Santevia MINA Alkaline Pitcher
Santevia MINA Alkaline Pitcher
Epic Pure Water Filter Dispenser
Epic pure water filter dispenser
Proone Water Filter Pitcher
Proone Water Filter Pitcher
Ranking1st3rd2nd4th5th6th7th
Ratings5/55/54.5/54.5/54/54.5/54/5
Price$90.00$39.99$70$37.48$49.99+$75$73.95
Contaminants Reduced365+99.6% of all TDS200+207200+200+
Certifications or TestingNSF 42, 53, 401 & 473NSF 42 & 53NSF 42, 53, 401, P473, and P231NSF 42, 53 & 401NSF 42, 53, 401, & P473NSF 42
Holding Capacity10 cups12 cups8.4 cups11 cups9 cups8 liters6.5 cups
Filter Lifespan100 gal.40 gal.150 gal.40 gal.2 months150 gal.225 gal.
Annual Cost$150~$160$138$50~$120~150$80
WarrantyLifetime90-day warrantyLifetime1 year90 daysLifetime4 months

🏷️ The Best Water Filter Pitchers in the News: The Latest Deals and Discounts

Here, we’ve shared the current news, discounts and deals for the best water filter pitchers featured in this guide. We try to keep this section updated, so the below information should be relevant at the time of reading this guide.

⭐️ Best Water Filter Pitcher Reviews 2024

Specs

We used the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher to improve our city water quality in Steamboat Springs and Fort Collins, Colorado. We had the most positive experience with this pitcher compared to any other pitcher we’ve tested, and we think it’s the best you can get for the price today. 

And speaking of price, the Clearly Filtered pitcher is a bit more expensive than most of the other pitchers we reviewed. At the time of our review, it cost $90 upfront, which is about $20-$35 more than other pitchers. Filter replacements are costlier, too, at about $165 a year. That said, there are ways to save money, such as by choosing the Autoship option when you buy the pitcher, which means you sign up to get a replacement filter shipped every 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 months. This reduces the pitcher price to $81 and discounts all replacement filters by 10%. For context, filters lasted around 3.5 months for us, and they have a lifespan of up to 100 gallons. 

Do we think the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is worth the extra cash? 100% yes – that’s why it tops our list! The reason why it’s slightly more expensive is that it removes 365 contaminants, which is at least twice as many contaminants as any other pitcher we’ve reviewed. 

Best For:

Anyone looking for the very best pitcher water filter system that money can buy. When it comes to contaminant reduction, this pitcher is far superior to all its competitors. 

Brian pouring filtered water from Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

What We Like:

  • Removes hundreds more contaminants than any other pitcher 
  • WQA performance certified
  • BPA- and BPS-free Tritan plastic design
  • Backed by a lifetime guarantee

What We Don’t Like:

  • More expensive than other pitchers

Superior Gravity Filtration

Contaminant removal is the most important performance feature we consider when reviewing water filter pitchers, and the Clearly Filtered pitcher excelled in this department. Most of the pitcher filters we’ve tested can remove 10-50 contaminants at most, while Clearly Filtered can remove more than 350 (according to this performance data sheet). These include chlorine and chloramine, (99.9%), VOCs (99.9%), lead (99.5%), PFAS (99.9%), and pharmaceuticals (99.9%). While we haven’t yet tested our own tap water for contaminants before and after filtering it in the CF pitcher, we have done a taste test of our water, and the filtered water is noticeably cleaner, crisper, and lacking any unpleasant chlorine aftertaste. 

We know that many folks only want to spend their money on an officially certified water filter pitcher, and we were pleased to learn that Clearly Filtered has recently obtained a WQA certification to NSF/ANSI Standards 42 and 53, for the reduction of aesthetic contaminants (including chlorine) and PFOA/PFOS. The pitcher also has third-party lab testing to additional NSF Standards, including 401 and 473. If you want definite proof that your chosen water filter pitcher lives up to the manufacturer’s performance claims, you’ll find it here. And – more good news on the contaminant removal front – while being incredibly thorough, the Clearly Filtered pitcher doesn’t remove healthy minerals, so we were still able to enjoy our water’s natural mineral content while having the peace of mind that the dangerous contaminants had been removed. 

Clearly Filtered water pitcher on countertop

Durable Tritan Design

Design quality is particularly important for us with water pitcher filters because they’re generally made of plastic, and not all pitchers are equal in this respect. We did some research on Tritan, the type of plastic that’s used to make the Clearly Filtered pitcher, and learned that it’s one of the strongest and most impact-resistant plastics that exist today. Plus, importantly, it’s BPA- and BPS-free. The pitcher felt lightweight but sturdy out of the box, and there were a few features that stood out to us for their convenience and ease of use. The built-in water dam was something we wish all pitchers have – it prevented any spillages while we were pouring when there was still water in the top reservoir. The oversized handle was easy to grip when the pitcher was full and didn’t bend or flex, reassuring us of its longevity. We thought the 80-ounce capacity provided a good balance, since the pitcher didn’t feel too heavy when full and we only had to refill it 3-5 times a day.

BundlesPrice
Pitcher Only$90
Pitcher + 3 Pack$245
Pitcher + 6 Pack$395

Yes, filtration is a little slow, as it is with all pitchers. The Clearly Filtered pitcher has extra reason to provide a more gradual filtration rate because of the complexity of the filter design. The cartridge combines proprietary filter media and granular activated carbon, with a more comprehensive filtration process than standard carbon filters. We don’t mind a longer wait if it means we can remove as many contaminants as possible from our water.

Read the Full Review: ClearlyFiltered Pitcher Review


Specs

We tested the ZeroWater 12 Cup Water Filter Pitcher on municipal drinking water in Steamboat Springs, CO. The pitcher itself is similar in design to most other pitchers we’ve tested – water filters through the top reservoir into the bottom section and can be dispensed from the spout.  We think the 12-cup capacity is ideal for families of 2 or 3 who want a pitcher that they don’t have to constantly refill. ZeroWater makes a big deal out of the pitcher’s patented Ready-Pour technology, which means you get to access water as it’s filtering through the reservoir instead of having to wait until all the water has been filtered. From our perspective, this isn’t a particularly unique feature, and most water pitchers allow you to pour from the jug while water is still filtering without the risk of mixing filtered and unfiltered water. 

Before we jump into our review of the ZeroWater pitcher’s performance, let’s talk price. ZeroWater offers a variety of affordable pitcher and dispenser sizes and models, ranging from $24 to $75. We got the 12 Cup Pitcher, as reviewed in this guide, and it cost $40. Our estimated annual cost was about $160, which was slightly higher than we’d expected due to the fact that ZeroWater pitcher filters have a much shorter lifespan of just 40-50 gallons and need to be replaced more frequently. More filter replacements = more money spent per year. 

Best For: 

Folks who want to spend less upfront on a water filter pitcher but are set on a model with an official certification sold by a reputable brand.

Brian next to ZeroWater 12 cup
What We Like:
  • Officially NSF certified to Standards 42 and 53
  • Tested to remove 43 contaminants
  • Affordable 
  • Included TDS meter to keep track of filter performance
What We Don’t Like:
  • TDS reduction shouldn’t be a priority (some TDS are healthy)
  • Very low filter lifespan of about 40-50 gallons (only 1-3 months at most)

5-Stage Filtration

The ZeroWater 12 Cup pitcher treats water with five stages of filtration: a coarse filter screen, a foam distributer, an activated carbon and oxidation reduction alloy, an anion exchange bed, and an ultra-fine screen and non-woven membrane. From a performance perspective, this is definitely a benefit. We’ve tested our fair share of water pitchers with basic carbon filtration cartridges, and they’re simply not as capable. With five stages of filtration within a single cartridge, the ZeroWater pitcher is able to target more than a handful of contaminants. That said, we’re a little surprised that the pitcher can only remove 43 impurities given its complexity of filtration. Perhaps the manufacturer simply didn’t have its pitcher tested for as many contaminants as Clearly Filtered. 

Speaking of contaminants removed, ZeroWater pitchers have been tested to remove a range of contaminants including metals like arsenic, chromium, and lead, as well as fluoride, and PFAS. Plus – what really sold the 12 Cup Pitcher to us – it’s NSF certified to Standard 42 and Standard 53 for the reduction of chlorine taste and odor, chromium 6, lead, mercury, PFOA, and PFOS. While we definitely noticed that our water tasted cleaner and more palatable post-filtration, we find ZeroWater’s marketing a little strange. Our pitcher was shipped with a free TDS meter, so we could “see the proof” that the pitcher filter could reduce TDS (total dissolved solids) down to almost 0. We tested our filtered water and it did indeed have a much lower TDS count, but we don’t think reducing all dissolved solids is a sign of good performance since there are TDS we actually would prefer to retain in our water, like calcium, magnesium, and other healthy trace minerals. However, since we knew from our first test that the ZeroWater pitcher can greatly reduce TDS, we could at least use the TDS meter to monitor the filter’s performance and get a better idea of when a replacement filter was needed. 


Specs

We’ve personally tested the Epic Nano pitcher in Steamboat Springs, CO. We identified a few differences compared to the Clearly Filtered pitcher instantly: the Nano is a bit smaller, holding 8 cups (the Clearly Filtered pitcher holds 10 cups), and, from a design perspective, we think the Nano isn’t quite as attractive. But looks aside, how does the Epic Nano compare to the CF pitcher price-wise?

Upfront, the Nano pitcher is $70 – $20 less than we paid for the Clearly Filtered model. Epic also has a Clean Water Club subscription, which means you can buy the pitcher upfront for just $56. You’ll also sign up to receive replacement filters (which are 20% discounted – 10% better than the CF filter’s offering) every 2, 3, 4, or 6 months according to your schedule. Filters lasted just over 3 months for us, and that was with us using the pitcher to filter all our water for drinking, cooking, and other potable uses. Our anticipated annual spend on replacement filters is around $138. The main reason why we think the Epic Nano is slightly cheaper than the Clearly Filtered pitcher is that it doesn’t remove quite as many contaminants. 

Filter Tip: Epic offers a filter recycling program that’s well worth making the most of. You get a free replacement filter if you collect four filters and send them back to the manufacturer.

Best For:

Folks looking for a pitcher that can be used to filter both city and well water, as well as for emergency preparedness. The Epic Nano is one of the few water pitcher filters that can remove microorganisms. 

Brian holding the Epic Pure Pitcher
What We Like: 
  • Removes E. Coli, Giardia, and other microorganisms
  • Suitable for well water and city water filtration, and emergency use
  • Affordable upfront cost
  • 100% recyclable filters
What We Don’t Like: 
  • Filter replacement cost is quite high
  • Certain well contaminants may clog the filter

Ideal Well & City Filtration Solution

The Epic Nano does something that very few other water filter pitchers we’ve tested can do: it removes 6 types of microorganisms, including E. Coli, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and Virus MS2 Phage. Most pitchers can’t remove microorganisms because they’re small enough to slip through the filter pores, so we were curious to know what made the Nano different. We did a bit of research into the filter’s sub-micron media and found that the pore size can be as small as 0.0001 microns, making the filter capable of trapping cysts and bacteria. Microorganisms aside, the Nano gives the Clearly Filtered pitcher a run for its money when it comes to contaminant removal in general: it boasts a massive 99.99% removal of over 200 tap water contaminants including lead, fluoride, pesticides, heavy metals, VOCs, and PFAS, hugely improving water quality. As we’d expected, our water had a much more enjoyable taste after it had been filtered by the Nano.

Are there any setbacks of the Epic Nano, performance-wise? There was one thing we were concerned about: with the filter pores being small enough to trap microorganisms, we thought that clogging was a real possibility. Most sub-micron filters need to be backwashed regularly to remove larger contaminants, but this isn’t an option with the Nano. We strongly recommend installing a pre-treatment system to address contaminants that might clog the Nano’s media, like sediment, iron, and hardness minerals, especially if you plan to use the pitcher to treat well water. And while the Nano is performance-tested against NSF standards 42, 53, 401, and P473, we wish it had an official certification like the Clearly Filtered and ZeroWater pitchers. 

What else did we note about this pitcher? It has a filter change timer built into the lid, which is something the CF pitcher doesn’t have. We definitely appreciated knowing at a glance when to change the filter, rather than relying on a calendar entry. Plus, the filter is backed by a lifetime warranty, so we didn’t feel like we were taking a big risk spending our money on a system that might not live up to our expectations. 

Read the Full Review: Epic Nano & Pure Filtration Pitchers Review


Specs

To be honest, we didn’t know what to expect when we ordered the PUR Plus pitcher because it’s one of the lowest-cost pitchers available today. We weren’t sure whether we’d have to compromise on design quality or performance due to the lower upfront cost, but since we’d read that the pitcher was officially NSF/WQA certified, we wanted to give it a chance. And that ended up being a great decision, because we were very pleasantly surprised with what we received in the box. 

In our opinion, the PUR Plus isn’t the best-looking pitcher on the market. We chose a pitcher with a blue and white design, which gave it almost a clinical feel – but looks certainly aren’t the most important feature of any filter. The PUR Plus pitcher ticked the majority of our boxes when it came to performance, which is ultimately what matters. 

Price is the obvious selling point of this pitcher. It’s definitely worth shopping around for deals because some sites sell the pitcher at lower prices than others. We got our pitcher when the price was around $37, but we’ve recently seen the same pitcher going for as little as $23 on Amazon. We spent about $75 for the first year of filter replacements, and that’s even with us having to replace the filters more frequently due to their shorter 2-month maximum lifespan. 

Buying Tip: As with most pitcher brands, PUR sells multipacks of filters at a lower cost per filter. If you want to spend as little money as possible on maintenance, we recommend buying the 5-pack of filters online (it currently costs $61 on Amazon).

Best For:

Anyone with a small budget who wants to spend as little as possible on a water filter pitcher without compromising on quality.

pouring a glass of water from a pur pitcher
What We Like:
  • Officially NSF/WQA performance certified
  • Removes microplastics, mercury, VOCs, and more
  • Budget-friendly cost
  • Large 11-cup capacity
What We Don’t Like:
  • The filter indicator doesn’t have a replaceable battery and will eventually stop working
  • The 90-day warranty is shorter than other pitcher warranties

NSF Certified Performance

In our opinion, one of the standout features of the PUR Plus pitcher is that it’s certified by NSF to Standards 401, 42, and 53, to reduce a range of chemical and physical substances, including microplastics, BPA, chlorine, taste and odor, VOCs, mercury, copper, and zinc. The majority of water pitchers are generally only certified to remove one or two contaminants at most, so the PUR Plus model blew us away with its expert-approved performance, which we think is especially impressive given that the pitcher costs less than $40. Our chlorinated tap water tasted much more appealing once we’d run it through the filter. 

PSA: As of 2023, PUR pitcher filters are no longer tested nor certified to reduce lead!

Using the PUR pitcher was essentially the same experience that we’d had with other pitchers. It’s super easy to set up, although we had to soak the filter for 15 minutes before use. This is a bit of a clunkier priming process compared to the likes of the Clearly Filtered pitcher filter, which we primed in a matter of minutes with the included priming bag. Like the Epic Nano pitcher, the PUR Plus pitcher has a filter change light, so we never had to guess when the filters needed replacing. Quite a few pitchers we’ve tested have had issues with the lid falling off as we pour, especially when full. The same went for this PUR model, despite it being specifically designed to avoid this scenario – the lid is literally called a “stay-tight lid” because it’s supposed to stay firmly in place while you’re pouring. We recommend pushing down on the lid when you pour from the full pitcher. 

The large 11-cup capacity meant that we could limit the number of refills we had to make per day. We were pleased to see that the pitcher itself (not the filter) was dishwasher-safe, so we could wash it with the rest of our dishes without the extra hassle of manual cleaning. 

Read the full review: PUR Basic & Plus water filter pitcher review


Specs

Contaminant removal was, of course, our number one goal when selecting water filter pitchers to review. But we know that many folks enjoy the taste of alkaline water, and a select few pitchers now provide an additional stage of water treatment that introduces healthy trace minerals, like calcium and magnesium, boosting water’s pH. That’s exactly what the Santevia MINA pitcher does – it looks and behaves like all the other pitchers we’ve tested, but adds healthy trace minerals into water with a mineralization filter stage (built into the filtering pitcher cartridge).

Price-wise, the MINA pitcher isn’t much steeper even given its unique mineralization benefits – at the time that we were testing the pitcher, it was priced at $50. By our estimate, the annual filter replacement cost is $120. So you really don’t have to spend tons more money to benefit from the two-in-one of filtration and alkalization. We think the pitcher is most likely priced competitively because we could find no evidence of certifications for its performance (more on this later).

Best For: 

Anyone looking for pitcher filtration who wants to enjoy the taste and health benefits of drinking additional minerals in their filtered water.

Before and after Santevia MINA Alkaline Pitcher filtration pH testing
What We Like:
  • Removes a handful of common contaminants
  • Boosts water pH and alkalinity with mineralization
  • Affordable
  • Made from sturdy BPA-free Tritan plastic
What We Don’t Like:
  • Doesn’t remove as many contaminants as other filter pitchers
  • No proof of testing or official certifications

Filters & Mineralizes Water

We felt that of all the pitcher filters we reviewed, the Santevia MINA had something uniquely special that gave our water quality an extra boost. Not only did the pitcher remove contaminants affecting our water’s taste and smell, but it further enhanced our water’s taste by adding healthy trace minerals that boosted its pH. However, we did note that the granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange filter is a bit basic – think Brita – which is likely why it can only reduce 7 contaminants: lead, mercury, vinyl chloride, chloramine, copper, manganese, and cadmium. We also couldn’t find any test results to support the manufacturer’s performance claims, and the filter doesn’t have any official certifications.  

Important Note: We noticed that Santevia’s marketing is a little misleading, saying that ordinary filter pitchers remove healthy minerals from water. This isn’t true – with a few exceptions, most pitcher filters retained our water’s mineral content during testing, and mineral removal generally requires much more thorough filtration, like reverse osmosis. So, while the MINA pitcher adds extra minerals to water, 9 times out of 10, other pitcher filters don’t remove these minerals, so you can still enjoy them in your water.

Specs

We tested the Epic Pure Dispenser on our city water in Steamboat Springs, CO, and we concluded that it’s an ideal solution for folks who essentially want the same mechanics as a water filter pitcher but a larger water storage capacity. The filtered water chamber holds around 1.7 gallons and the unfiltered water chamber holds around 0.4 gallons, so it’s about double the size of an 11-cup pitcher. Out of the box and filled with water, the dispenser definitely looked and felt bulkier – we had it stationary on a shelf in our fridge and don’t think it could be easily moved around like a smaller pitcher jug with a handle. 

We found the dispenser just as easy to use as a conventional filter pitcher. As we said, the mechanics are essentially the same: there’s a top and bottom chamber separated by a filter, and when we added water to the top, it flowed through the filter into the bottom. The main difference was that we were able to store more water at once so we didn’t have to refill the top chamber as frequently. 

Despite being bigger than the other offerings on this list, the Epic Pure dispenser was still cheaper than some at just $75. Epic’s Clean Water Club subscription also applies to this purchase – if you opt in, the dispenser is only $60 upfront, and you get 20% off plus free shipping on replacement filters (scheduled for delivery every 2, 3, 4, or 6 months).

Best For: 

Larger families or anyone who wants the pitcher concept but with a bigger water storage capacity that requires fewer refills. 

epic water filters pure dispenser in fridge
What We Like: 
  • High water holding capacity, requires fewer top-ups 
  • More affordable than some pitchers
  • Dispensing water doesn’t require lifting or pouring
  • Fits in most refrigerator shelves

What We Don’t Like: 

  • Full dispenser is too heavy to carry comfortably
  • Spigot is slightly higher than unit base, so not all filtered water can be accessed

High-Capacity Water Dispensing

We used the Epic Pure dispenser on various countertop locations before deciding that our refrigerator’s middle shelf was the best spot for cool filtered water. As with all the filters we tested, we taste-tested our filtered water and compared it to our tap water, and there were a couple of clear differences: the chlorine taste was no longer present and our water tasted much purer. We didn’t expect anything less from a filter that has been third-party tested to remove more than 200 contaminants, including lead, chlorine, PFAS, benzene, VOCs, and microplastics. Our only disappointment was that the dispenser doesn’t have an official performance certification. We’re planning to do a more thorough water quality comparison test to find out which contaminants were effectively removed from our water, and we’ll update this review when we do.

We don’t think the dispenser style is for everyone, and there are definitely pros and cons to both pitchers and dispensers. For some folks, we think the Epic Pure dispenser’s design might be more appealing because there’s no lifting and tipping involved in dispensing the water. We simply opened the spigot to dispel water into our glass. One thing we will note is that we had to make sure the edge of the dispenser was slightly over the edge of our countertop so that there was enough room to hold a glass under the spigot. 

Read the full review: Epic Pure Dispenser Review (Updated 2024)


Specs

The ProOne pitcher might not be our favorite appearance-wise, but we were sold by one super beneficial feature: the very long filter lifespan. ProOne says the filter lasts up to 6 months or 225 gallons. Of course, it’s worth noting that this depends on your water usage and your family size, and for us, we changed the filter after just over 5 months of use because the flow rate had slowed significantly. That’s still impressive – most pitcher filters last half as long or even less.

Price-wise, you are spending a little more upfront for the longer filter life, but the ProOne pitcher still isn’t the most expensive we’ve reviewed. When we got the filter for our review, the price was around $74, including the filter – which, remember, lasts up to 6 months. At best, you’ll only have to replace the filter twice a year, or three times a year at most. We estimated our annual spend to be around $60, making this the cheapest pitcher to own long-term. 

Were there any setbacks in the filter design that we noted? The 6.75-cup capacity was a bit small for us. We personally prefer higher-capacity pitchers that can hold at least 8-10 cups of filtered water because we’d rather refill as little as possible. But we know some folks might prefer a smaller-capacity pitcher that’s easier to carry when full. 

Best For:

People looking for the best high-performing pitcher with extremely long-lasting filters.

What We Like: 
  • Longest-lasting filter of any pitcher on this list
  • Treats potable and non-potable water sources
  • Laboratory tested to remove 200+ contaminants
  • Certified for component quality
What We Don’t Like:
  • Didn’t remove a high % of disinfection byproducts in our testing
  • Water storage capacity is quite small

Removes 200+ Contaminants

We’ve only reviewed one other filter pitcher with a filter lifespan to rival the ProOne pitcher’s: the Brita Elite Filter. The ProOne pitcher is head-and-shoulders above Brita’s offering when it comes to contaminant removal, removing almost 20x more contaminants. According to third-party test data, the ProOne G2.0 filters (which are used in a variety of ProOne systems, including the pitcher we reviewed for this guide) are capable of removing 200+ contaminants, including VOCs, pesticides, disinfection byproducts, pharmaceuticals, microbiological contaminants like E. Coli and cryptosporidium, and radiological contaminants. We tested the ProOne G2.0 filter on our water in Steamboat Springs, CO to see what it could remove, and we were generally pleased with the results. 100% of lead, fluoride, aluminum, copper, and manganese were removed from our water, and the filter also reduced two types of disinfection byproducts: chloroform and THMs. Interestingly, our water’s concentration of sodium, calcium, chloride, and magnesium, was higher post-filtration. We consulted our testing lab, who told us that this is likely a temporary effect that isn’t caused by an issue with the filters. We can safely drink these impurities in trace amounts anyway.

While the ProOne G2.0 pitcher filters have been independently tested to NSF Standards 42, 53, P231, P401, and P473, they aren’t officially certified. They do have an official NSF certification for component quality, but this is for design alone and has nothing to do with contaminant removal. 

Read the full review: ProOne Water Filter Pitcher Review


🧾 Buyer’s Guide – How to Select the Best Water Filter Pitcher

The best water filter pitcher for you depends on your budget, water quality, and other situational circumstances. We recommend considering everything that might affect your buying decision before you begin your search. 

In this section, we’ve discussed everything we considered – and everything you should consider – when choosing the best water filter pitcher for your family. 

  • Contaminant reduction abilities – Not all water filter pitchers are equal in what they can remove. In our testing, we identified that most pitchers can remove the basic set of contaminants: lead, chlorine, and other contaminants that affect water taste and smell. If this is all you’re looking for in a filtration system, that’s fine. However, there are so many more trace contaminants that may be present in our tap water – hundreds, in fact. We learned that some of the best water filter pitchers can remove a range of impurities, including emerging contaminants, volatile organic compounds, and toxic metals. If you want to be as protected from these harmful contaminants as much as possible, we recommend choosing a filtered water pitcher that can remove at least 50+ contaminants.
  • Testing and certifications – Third-party certifications allow manufacturers to show their customers that their product performance claims are legitimate. NSF/ANSI and the WQA all offer certifications for a water filter system, including water pitchers. Some of the most common certifications we identified for water filter pitchers were NSF 42 (for removing aesthetic contaminants like chlorine), NSF 53 (for the removal of health-concerning contaminants, like asbestos and lead), NSF 401 (for emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals), NSF P231 (for microorganisms), and NSF P473 – For the reduction of PFOA and PFOA in drinking water. Certifications weren’t a non-negotiable for us because we know that they’re expensive and time-consuming to obtain. At the very least, we prioritized filters that had laboratory testing to NSF Standards to support the manufacturer’s performance claims. 
  • Filter lifespan & replacement costs – The filter life of a pitcher filter determines its maintenance requirements, and the costs involved. In our research, we found that a standard filter for a pitcher lasts 2-3 months on average. We found that the price of replacement filters depends on the filter’s lifespan and contaminant removal capacity. Our projected annual filter replacement costs varied from as little as $50 to as much as $160, depending on the filter design, and how often it needed replacing.
PitcherFilter Capacity (gals.)Time Max. (Months)
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher1004
Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher1505
Epic Pure Water Filter Dispenser1505
Invigorated Water pH Restore Alkaline Water Pitcher964
PUR PLUS 11 Cup Pitcher402
Proone Water Filter Pitcher2256
  • Filtration speed – Going into our review process, we knew that water filter pitchers aren’t the fastest water filters on the market because they use gravity filtration, which is slower than filtration prompted by an electric pump or water pressure through your pipes. We found that on average, a 6-10-cup pitcher took 10-17 minutes to filter a full jug of water. Towards the end of the filter life, when the filter was clogged with contaminants, the speed of filtration decreased to around 20 minutes or longer for a full jug. The good news is that most pitchers we tested allowed us to pour water from the jug while filtration was taking place rather than waiting for the full jug to filter first.
  • Filtered water capacity – We noted that different pitchers we tested had different filtered water capacities, and this affected our experience with them. Generally, most of the pitchers we reviewed could hold 2-3 liters, or around 8-12 cups, but we did review some smaller models that held around 6 cups, making them better for travel or single-person use. Some of the pitchers we tried were available in multiple sizes, so we could choose the best size for our situation. We personally prefer a larger pitcher that reduces the number of refills we need to make per day, but we know that other folks may prefer smaller pitchers that are easier to carry when full. 
  • Pitcher construction materials – For this guide, all the water filter pitchers we reviewed were made from plastic. Plastic is the most common material used for these filtration systems, and while some glass pitchers are available, we found that plastic pitchers generally used much better filters, and we didn’t want to recommend an underperforming glass pitcher simply because it had a plastic-free design. Instead, we only reviewed pitchers if we were certain that they were made from BPA and BPS-free materials. Tritan plastic, which is used to make the Clearly Filtered and Santevia pitchers amongst others, was one of the sturdiest and safest plastics we came across in our research. 
  • Warranty – Even if a pitcher has nothing but positive reviews and good feedback from customers, we determined that a warranty of some form was essential for peace of mind. Of the pitchers we tested, the warranty period ranged from 3 months to 1 year, and some had lifetime warranties (which doesn’t always mean you’re covered for the lifetime of the filter, so check the exact warranty period before you spend your money). We noted that the manufacturer’s reputation, the filter price, and the quality and complexity of the filtration process often affected the warranty period. 

✅ 6 Specific Water Filter Pitcher Buying Guides

  • Best Alkaline Water Pitchers
  • Best Glass Water Filter Pitchers
  • Best Stainless Steel Water Filter Pitchers
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🔎 How We Determined Which Water Filter Pitcher Is Best

From our decades of researching the water filtration market, we know better than anyone that manufacturers employ all the most effective marketing strategies to encourage their customers to make an impulse purchase. But water filters are such an important investment that we believe you need to put a whole lot of thought into purchasing even a more affordable solution, like a pitcher filter. So, before we even started searching for the products to feature in this guide, we wanted to make sure that water filter pitchers were a.) even necessary to begin with, and b.) suitable for certain situations and lifestyles. Below, we’ve shared all about our process for answering these questions and more. 

🤔 Why Buy A Water Filter Pitcher?

First, we wanted to know why we – and you – should buy a water filter pitcher. 

To do this, we needed to look in detail at the problem that water filter pitchers are intended to resolve: poor drinking water quality. We researched online, looking for studies and statistics to help us understand how our drinking water might be threatening our health.

Water filtration pitcher

Water Quality Facts and Figures

Here are a couple of the studies we found that helped us understand the possible dangers of our drinking water quality in the US:

  • An investigation by Consumer Reports and the Guardian, found “alarming levels” of lead, PFAS, and arsenic in samples of municipal water supplies across the US. 
  • An NRDC analysis, which found that water with detectable lead levels was supplied to more than half the population between 2018 and 2020.

These studies made it clear to us that while our water might be safe to drink according to EPA regulations, it could still contain traces of concerning impurities – and, in some cases, it could gain additional contaminants after treatment by the water utility. 

We also wanted to find proof that water filter pitchers are generally an effective solution to targeting these contaminants, before we focused on specific brands. We found several studies in our research, including: 

Of course, we knew that a water filter pitcher’s contaminant removal abilities depend on its design quality and filtration complexity, but these studies showed promise, demonstrating the potential of this type of filtration system as a solution to many of the contaminants commonly found in drinking water. Due to the possible dangers of many trace contaminants in our tap water, we concluded that everyone, including our own family, could benefit from a water filter pitcher as one of the most affordable drinking water treatments. 

Best water filtration pitchers

👍 Top 5 Advantages of Water Filter Pitchers

We’ve tested more than 20 water filter pitchers when producing this guide. From our own experience, we determined that the best pitcher filters offer the following advantages:

  • Make water safe to drink: A water filter pitcher can remove a whole host of health-harmful contaminants from your water. These contaminants are supposedly safe in trace amounts, but, if given the choice, most people would rather drink safe, contaminant-free water – and that’s what a water filter pitcher can help you achieve.
  • Improve water taste: Chemicals like chlorine can have a big impact on drinking water’s taste. Water purifier pitchers remove these chemicals from water, improving the taste and odor of our tap water. 
  • Easy to use: Water filter pitchers are much easier to assemble and use than under-sink or whole-home systems. They’re pre-assembled and require no installation, which makes them a perfect water filter for apartments and condos.
  • Portable filtration solution: If you want to take your filter pitcher away with you for work or travel – or you just want to move it around your home – you’ll be able to do so easily.
  • Cost-effective: A water filter pitcher is one of the most affordable at-home water filtration solutions. It might have a higher upfront cost than bottled water, but it’s a much more effective money-saving alternative in the long run.

🛒 How to Buy

When we were choosing the best water filter pitchers for different situations, we took four important steps. We recommend taking similar steps when shopping for a water pitcher filter of your own. 

Before we started shopping, we:

  • Considered what we needed to achieve with a water filter pitcher: To begin, we considered which contaminants in our water we wanted to remove. We’re familiar with our water quality due to our routine testing for guides like these, but if you’ve never tested your water before, start there. We’ve written a guide to testing your home’s water quality that you should find helpful at this step. 
  • Made a list of all the features we wanted: Our next step was to list any essential features for us in a water filter pitcher. Having a few non-negotiables meant that we could focus on finding the highest-quality pitchers and could shop with a clear vision in mind, which enabled us to consider upgrades and add-ons objectively. 
  • Set our budget in advance: We didn’t want to spend more than necessary on a water filter pitcher, so we kept our budget within $100. Rather than comparing all pitchers by price alone, we wanted to consider value for money – or the value that we were being offered based on the pitcher’s price and contaminant removal abilities. 
  • Shopped around for discounts and deals: We only had a limited time to buy the pitchers for this review, but we shopped around where possible and looked for all the deals and discounts that we could find. If you don’t urgently need a water filtration solution, it’s a good idea to wait for sales and seasonal events, like Black Friday and Boxing Day, to get the best deal on the pitcher you’ve got your eye on. 

📚 Methodology: How We Tested The Best Water Filters

Once we’ve chosen the filters we wanted to test for this review, we tested them using the following ranking factors: 

Contaminants Removed

Since contaminant removal is the most important performance element of any water filter, this was our number-one ranking factor when testing our shortlisted water filter pitchers. The majority of the filter pitchers we tested had third-party testing to NSF Standards or official performance certifications for their contaminant removal abilities. For some pitchers, we were able to test exactly what they removed from our water supply, and we plan to perform similar tests on all the pitchers in this guide. 

Price

We also considered price during our testing, with the aim of determining whether the pitchers we were using were worth their upfront cost based on their contaminant removal abilities, actual filter lifespans, and other performance factors. We noted the upfront and annual maintenance costs for all our shortlisted pitchers, then prioritized those that proved in our testing to offer the best value for money. 

Speed of Filtration 

Speed of filtration was something else that we wanted to focus on in our testing, but our aim wasn’t to find the fastest water filter pitcher out there. We knew that a slower filtration speed was part of the parcel with a gravity filter pitcher, and that actually, very fast filtration suggested that water wasn’t getting enough contact time with the filter media, and contaminants weren’t being properly removed. But on the other end, we didn’t want to recommend a pitcher with a very slow rate of filtration that made it virtually unusable, which is why we monitored the speed of filtration from the start to the end of the filter lifespan. 

Water filter pitcher comparison

Maintenance Requirements

We identified two key maintenance requirements for a water pitcher filter: cleaning the pitcher and changing the filter. Most of the pitchers we tested were easy to maintain, and some were easier than others due to specific features, such as extra-long filter lifespans and dishwasher-safe components

Company Reputation & Customer Reviews

Finally, we wanted to know what other people thought about the water filter pitchers we were testing. We knew that our own experience could be affected by the quality of our water, so it was important for us to learn about the general experience that customers had with all our shortlisted pitchers, and how this impacted the pitcher brand’s reputation.

❔ Frequently Asked Questions

Which water filter pitcher removes the most contaminants?

The water filter pitcher that removes the most contaminants is the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. This pitcher has been third-party tested to remove more than 360 contaminants, and also has WQA certifications to NSF Standards 42 and 53 for its ability to remove chlorine and PFOA/PFOS. 

What’s better than Brita filter?

In our opinion, there are at least 20 water filter pitchers that are better than Brita’s offering. Brita pitchers can only remove a handful of contaminants, while pitchers sold by Clearly Filtered, PUR, Epic, and ZeroWater can all remove tens of impurities – some can even remove hundreds. Essentially, if you want to remove as many contaminants as possible from your water, you’ll need to upgrade from a Brita pitcher to a more capable alternative. 

Do water pitcher filters really work?

Yes, water pitcher filters do really work. Many of the best pitcher filters use proven technology, like adsorption and ion exchange, to trap contaminants in their media, so the water that filters through into the pitcher is cleaner and purer. However, the efficacy of a pitcher’s performance depends on its quality, so be sure to do your research and read buyer’s guides like these when choosing the best pitcher for your situation. 

Are water filter pitchers worth it?

Yes, water filter pitchers are worth it for anyone who wants an affordable, no-install solution to remove a host of common contaminants from their drinking water. A water filter pitcher might not be worth it if you want to filter your water on demand or you’re looking to treat your whole home’s water supply. 

How long do water filter pitchers last?

The shelf life of your actual pitcher is indefinite. Providing you wash it regularly with warm, soapy water, change filters when they need changing, keep the pitcher clean, and look after it, you should get many years of use out of the system. A pitcher’s filters typically have a lifespan of around 1 to 3 months.

🤓 About Our Experts

This guide was produced by Brian Campbell, WaterFilterGuru.com’s Founder and Water Filter Specialist, and Jennifer Byrd, one of WaterFilterguru’s water treatment specialists, who personally researched, tested, and reviewed the pitchers featured above. Find out more about Brian and Jennifer in the bios below.

  • Brian Campbell
    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.

  • Jennifer Byrd
    Water Treatment Specialist

    For 20+ years, Jennifer has championed clean water. From navigating operations to leading sales, she's tackled diverse industry challenges. Now, at Redbird Water, she crafts personalized solutions for homes, businesses, and factories. A past Chamber President and industry advocate, Jennifer leverages her expertise in cutting-edge filtration and custom design to transform water concerns into crystal-clear solutions.

2 thoughts on “The 7 Best Water Filter Pitchers for Safer Drinking Water of 2024”

    1. Avatar for Brian Campbell

      The PUR Plus is not certified to reduce arsenic. I’m not aware of any pitchers that are certified to reduce arsenic, only that have been 3rd party tested to do so

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