Clearly Filtered vs LARQ: Objective, Data-Driven Comparison

In our testing, LARQ and Clearly Filtered both reduced most of the contaminants in our water, but Clearly Filtered has at least obtained a couple performance certifications for its filter. However, we were super reassured by the fact that the LARQ pitcher uses UV light to ensure filtered water is microorganism-free – something that Clearly Filtered doesn’t do.

📊 Our Testing Data

At Water Filter Guru, we review water filters using our 6 key performance testing data. Here are the scores that LARQ and Clearly Filtered achieved in each test category:

Factor	Clearly Filtered	LARQ
Contaminant Reduction	8.24	8.14
Filtration Rate	10.00	7.00
Design	9.70	8.10
Setup	9.50	9.00
Maintenance	8.75	9.00
Company	9.00	8.35

The next table breaks our scoring system down into detail. You can see the sub-category scores that we combined to reach the overall scores for both pitchers. 

Factor	Clearly Filtered	LARQ	Winner
Overall Score	8.78	8.21	Clearly Filtered
Health Related Contaminants	8.30	8.30	Tie
Aesthetic Related Contaminants	9.90	9.90	Tie
Performance Certification	NSF/ANSI 42 & 53	None	Clearly Filtered
Filtration Rate	2.27 GPH	0.60 GPH	Clearly Filtered
Component Quality	Outstanding	Outstanding	Tie
Component Certification	NSF/ANSI 42, 53, & 372	None	Clearly Filtered
Setup	Outstanding	Excellent	Clearly Filtered
Servicing Requirements	Outstanding	Exceptional	LARQ
Costs	$0.55/ gal	$0.54/ gal	LARQ
Warranty Length	2 years	1 year	Clearly Filtered
Shipping	Free shipping to all states	$80 order threshold	Clearly Filtered
Returns	30 days	30 days (only if unopened)	Clearly Filtered

🚰 Contaminant Reduction

To dive into our testing process, we began by comparing the most important feature of all: contaminant reduction. 

We tested our water before filtering it through the LARQ and Clearly Filtered systems, to find out which contaminants it contained. We then tested filtered water from both pitchers, and compared their contaminant reduction abilities. 

We combined our own test data with official performance certifications from the WQA, NSF, or IAPMO to reach the scores in this category.

Our Lab Test Results

We lab-tested our water with Tap Score by SimpleLab, who sent us an interactive report for each water sample we tested. 

The reports listed the contaminants detected, and how the concentrations of these contaminants compared to Tap Score’s Health Guideline Levels (HGLs), which are stricter than federal legal limits for contaminants in drinking water.  

Here’s a list of the contaminants detected in our unfiltered water, and how the Clearly Filtered and LARQ pitchers compared in reducing them. 

We were pleased with both filters in this category – they both did a significantly better job at reducing the majority of contaminants in our water compared to most other pitchers we tested. But Clearly Filtered got the better score because it has a performance certification, while LARQ does not. 

Health-Related Contaminants

We first wanted to know which health-related contaminants our water contained, and which pitcher was best at reducing these.

We used the same treated groundwater supply when testing both systems. In our water, 8 health-related contaminants were detected. 

Fluoride and uranium were both detected at levels above the HGL, so we were the keenest to reduce these. 

The full list of contaminants detected in our test can be found in the table below.

Starting with LARQ, the pitcher reduced 100% uranium, barium, strontium, and molybdenum, as well as 97% copper, 88% sulfate, and 20% nitrate. Unfortunately, it didn’t reduce fluoride in our water at all. 

The Clearly Filtered pitcher did a similarly great job at reducing 100% of uranium. It also reduced 100% copper – slightly more than LARQ – and 100% fluoride – much better than LARQ. 

Additionally, the pitcher reduced 86% barium, 67% strontium, 53% molybdenum, 11% nitrate, and 3% sulfate.

We also noticed that cobalt was present in our CF filtered water when it hadn’t been detected in our unfiltered water. Only 0.0054 PPM was detected, but we were confused by this outcome because the pitcher has been third-party tested to reduce cobalt by >98.31%.

Aesthetic Contaminants

Our unfiltered water contained around 1 PPM of chlorine. This was the only aesthetic contaminant detected in our test. 

LARQ and Clearly Filtered both reduced 100% chlorine in our water, giving us exactly the outcome we’d been expecting given that both use carbon filtration media. No chlorine tastes/odors were noticeable in the water from either pitcher.  

Minerals & Ions

Neither LARQ nor Clearly Filtered is intended to purify or soften water, so we didn’t expect to see a big difference in our filtered water’s natural mineral content.  

However, we learned that both pitchers had actually reduced the minerals in our water, which we would class as an unintended and undesirable outcome of their filtration processes. 

The LARQ pitcher reduced calcium by 83%, and magnesium by 93%. It also reduced just under 50% sodium. 77.3 PPM of potassium was present in our filtered water when it wasn’t before, so we think the pitcher exchanged some minerals and metal ions with potassium using a cation exchange resin. 

The Clearly Filtered pitcher reduced calcium by 32%, magnesium by 64%, and sodium by 42%. Potassium only increased by 2.5%.

Performance Certifications

We know that our own firsthand water quality testing can only tell us so much about a water filter’s performance because we can only assess its ability to reduce the contaminants present in our water. 

That’s why performance certifications also contribute to our overall scoring system for contaminant reduction.

The LARQ pitcher’s performance is only supported by third-party testing data, so it got the poorer score in this category. 

The Clearly Filtered pitcher did better because it’s WQA certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 42 and Standard 53 – but it still didn’t get the best score because it’s only certified to reduce 3 contaminants: chlorine, PFOA, and PFOS. View the performance datasheet here.

🚦Filtration Rate

Both pitchers use gravity filtration, so we measured their filtration rate in gallons per hour (GPH). 

See how they compared in the next table. 

Product	Filtration Rate Score	Filtration Rate
Clearly Filtered	10.00	2.27 GPH
LARQ	7.00	0.60 GPH

When we tested the LARQ PureVis pitcher, it filtered 0.281 gallons of water in 28 minutes and 6 seconds, which gave it a filtration rate of 0.60 GPH.

That’s slower than most other water filter pitchers we tested, including the Clearly Filtered pitcher, which had a filtration rate of 2.27 GPH (it treated 0.5 gallons of water in 13 minutes and 12 seconds).

We did notice that we had to wait longer for our water to filter in the PureVis pitcher, but we got into the routine of filling the pitcher first thing in the morning, and there was enough filtered water for us when we needed it. 

💲 Upfront Cost

Something that LARQ and Clearly Filtered have in common is that they’re both on the higher end of the price range for water filter pitchers. 

The LARQ PureVis pitcher cost $139 at the time that we got it to review, which makes it the most expensive water filter pitcher we’ve tested so far. 

The Clearly Filtered pitcher cost $90, so it’s 2-3 times the price of the other pitchers we reviewed.

In terms of value for money, we think both systems are worth their price if you specifically want what they’re offering. 

The LARQ pitcher is the only water filter pitcher we’ve found that uses UV light to zap microorganisms in the filtered water. If your budget is bigger and you’re concerned about the possibility of bacteria and biofilm buildup in the filter media, you may be willing to spend more on the only pitcher to protect your water against pathogens. 

The Clearly Filtered pitcher has a higher price tag because it provides much more comprehensive filtration than a basic carbon-based filter. The filter also has a longer lifespan than many other pitchers, so while it’s more expensive, it needs replacing less frequently. 

Product	Price
Clearly Filtered	$90.00
LARQ PureVis	$139.00

📐 Design

As they’re both water filter pitchers, the basic design of the LARQ and Clearly Filtered systems is the same. 

Of all the pitchers we tested, Clearly Filtered and LARQ felt the most similar in their design quality. 

The next table shows how we scored both filters for component quality and certifications.

Product	Design Score	Component Quality	Materials Safety
Clearly Filtered	9.70	Outstanding	Certified
LARQ PureVis	8.10	Outstanding	Not certified

Both systems got the same high score for component quality, but LARQ’s overall score in this category was hindered by its lack of a materials safety certification. 

Component Quality 

Most of the water filter pitchers we tested felt like they were made from relatively thin, flimsy plastics. 

The LARQ PureVis and Clearly Filtered pitchers were the only two pitchers we used that felt like they were made from high-quality materials. Their plastics felt thicker, sturdier, and less “cheap” – a good thing given that they’re both more expensive than their competitors!

LARQ’s filter is made from BPA-free PP (polypropylene), and the pitcher is made of BPA-free ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and SMMA (styrene methyl methacrylate copolymer). According to the customer service rep we spoke to, the pitcher has been tested by the FDA for food contact safety.

The Clearly Filtered pitcher is made of Tritan plastic, which is BPA-free and shouldn’t leach chemicals. 

The plastics used in both pitchers are scratch-resistant, durable, and have good rigidity. But if you don’t want to store your filtered water in a plastic container, you may need to reconsider your options, as none of these brands currently sell glass pitchers. 

Filter Materials

LARQ and Clearly Filtered are both more advanced than their competitors when it comes to their filter materials, but in different ways. 

LARQ sells two filters for the PureVis pitcher: the Essential filter and the Advanced filter. We went for the Advanced filter, which is activated carbon-based and reduces additional contaminants, including lead, disinfection byproducts, and PFOA/PFOS.

We couldn’t find specific information on what the Advanced filter is made from, apart from that it’s carbon-derived. We’re pretty confident that the filter contains additional media – perhaps a cation exchange resin or KDF media – because it reduced contaminants like uranium and strontium, which activated carbon can’t typically target. 

The pitcher also uses a UV wand, which emits UV light that kills microorganisms in water. UV is a safe, chemical-free method of water purification. 

We know about a few more filter materials that are used by Clearly Filtered pitcher: it contains carbon block media, a composite shell, a woven stainless steel mesh screen, and several proprietary materials (again, judging by the filter’s contaminant reduction abilities, we think KDF media and ion exchange resin are used). 

These materials are all commonly used for filtering water, and we couldn’t find any evidence to suggest that they could be dangerous or have health effects. 

Materials Safety Certification

We get extra reassurance about the safety and quality of the materials used in a water filter if it has a materials safety certification by the NSF, IAPMO, or the WQA.

LARQ doesn’t have a materials safety certification, while Clearly Filtered actually exceeded our expectations with two certifications: 

• A WQA certification to NSF Standard 372 for lead-free design
• A materials safety certification as a component of its performance certifications

⚙️ Setup

Although their designs are pretty similar, LARQ and Clearly Filtered each have their own specific setup requirements. 

Here are our setup times and scores for both systems.  

Product	Setup Score	Setup Time
Clearly Filtered	9.50	Around 15 minutes
LARQ	9.00	Around 20 minutes

The LARQ PureVis pitcher had the most involved setup process. We had to soak the filter for 10 minutes, charge the battery pack for the UV wand (we did this overnight), and set up the app, which needed to be paired to the pitcher via Bluetooth. The app isn’t essential, but it makes it easy to track the UV battery and filter life, so we recommend taking the extra time to download it. 

In all, it took us around 20 minutes to set up the filter, not including the time it took to charge the battery pack.

The Clearly Filtered pitcher was a bit easier to assemble because we only had the filter to prepare. 

The process took us 15 minutes in total, including priming the filter with the included priming bag. This wasn’t challenging, but it did require a bit more effort than most other water filter pitchers, which generally just needed their filters rinsed under running water before use.

For both pitchers, we also washed the reservoirs before we used them, ensuring they were clean and free from any debris.

🔧 Maintenance

We were also interested to see how similar the LARQ PureVis and Clearly Filtered pitchers were in terms of their maintenance requirements and costs. 

We’ve shared our scores in each of these sub-categories in the table below. 

Product	Maintenance Score	Servicing Requirements	Costs
Clearly Filtered	8.75	Outstanding	$0.55/ gal
LARQ	9.00	Exceptional	$0.54/ gal

LARQ got the higher maintenance score because its servicing requirements were slightly easier. 

Servicing Requirements 

The filter in the LARQ PureVis system should last up to 3 months of use or filter up to 60 gallons, which is pretty average for a water pitcher filter. We soaked our filter replacements following the same instructions as for the initial filter. After installing the new filter, we reset the wand, so it was ready to track the lifespan of the replacement filter. 

There was one other maintenance commitment that was unique to this system: charging the UV wand with the included magnetic USB charger. We did this around once a month, or whenever the light on the lid flashed green or we were alerted to a low battery on the app. 

The Clearly Filtered pitcher has a slightly better 100-gallon filter capacity, with a lifespan of around 4 months on average. Replacement filters needed priming following the same process as the first filter. This required a bit more effort than LARQ, although it wasn’t tricky.

There’s no filter change indicator on the CF pitcher, so we had to track the filter lifespan ourselves. 

For the Clearly Filtered pitcher, we cleaned out the pitcher and reservoir with water and soap 1-2 times a week. The LARQ pitcher’s self-cleaning UV functionality meant we could clean it out less frequently; more like once or twice a month. 

Maintenance Costs

Given their higher upfront costs, we were keen to see how LARQ and Clearly Filtered compared when it came to ongoing servicing costs. 

The LARQ PureVis pitcher has an ongoing cost of $0.54/ gallon, and Clearly Filtered has a cost per gallon of $0.55, so both were very similar here. 

We found that we were spending around double the price of most other pitchers for maintenance, but we still think the value for money is there. Again, it depends on what you’re looking for – if you want the exclusive benefits of the LARQ or CF pitcher, you might feel that it’s worth spending more money on in the long run.

🏢 Company

Our last point of comparison was to analyze LARQ and Clearly Filtered as companies. This is a hugely important factor to us because we want to know that we can trust a company and that we’ll be supported in the case of an issue with their product. 

Here’s how the two companies compared for their warranty, shipping, and returns offerings. 

Product	Company Score	Warranty Length	Shipping	Returns
Clearly Filtered	9.00	2 years	Free shipping, all orders to all states	30 days
LARQ	8.35	1 year	Free shipping is available for orders above $80 within the contiguous US	30 days (only if unopened)

Clearly Filtered was the winner here across all three subcategories. 

Warranty Length 

LARQ offers a 1-year limited warranty that covers defective materials or components. This is one of the best water filter pitcher warranties we’ve seen, and Clearly Filtered is the only company we’ve come across that does even better with its 2-year warranty.  

Shipping 

Clearly Filtered provides free economy shipping to all 50 states, with no minimum spend, while with LARQ, free shipping is only available for orders above $80 within the contiguous US. That means your initial purchase of the pitcher will be eligible for free shipping, but ordering replacement filters will probably incur a shipping fee. 

Returns

Both LARQ and Clearly Filtered offer a 30-day returns policy from the day of purchase, but LARQ has stricter rules: the pitcher can only be returned for a refund if it’s unused and in its original packaging 

⛔️ System Setbacks & Flaws

The LARQ and Clearly Filtered systems are two of the best water filter pitchers we’ve reviewed so far, but we still identified a few setbacks and flaws that we want to mention here.  

Clearly Filtered Setbacks

• Also quite costly – The CF pitcher is cheaper than the LARQ PureVis, but it’s still up to three times the price of most other pitchers we tested. 
• Introduced cobalt – We were surprised to see cobalt detected in the water post-filtration 
• No microbiological protection – Another con of the CF pitcher compared to LARQ is that it doesn’t protect the filtered water from microorganisms. 

LARQ PureVis Setbacks

• Expensive – At $139, the LARQ pitcher isn’t the best for folks with smaller budgets.  
• Not certified – Unlike Clearly Filtered, the PureVis pitcher isn’t certified for contaminant reduction or for materials safety.
• Didn’t target all contaminants – While the pitcher did a good job at reducing many contaminants in our water, it didn’t address fluoride.

🆚 Clearly Filtered or LARQ: Which Should You Choose?

So, is Clearly Filtered or LARQ the better offering? That depends on your own situation and preferences. 

Go For Clearly Filtered If:

Choose LARQ if: