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HomeWater Filtration SystemsThe 7 Best Water Filter Pitchers for Safer Drinking Water of 2024
HomeWater Filtration SystemsThe 5 Best Water Filter Pitchers, According to Our Testing
The 7 Best Water Filter Pitchers for Safer Drinking Water of 2024
The 5 Best Water Filter Pitchers, According to Our Testing
updated: March 1, 2024
updated: April 14, 2024
🤝 Our content is written by humans, not AI robots. Learn More
🤝 Our content is written by humans, not AI robots. Learn More
Brian Campbell - President & CEO, CWS, CWR
Brian Campbell Brian Campbell - President & CEO, CWS, CWR
Jennifer Byrd Jennifer Byrd - Water Treatment Specialist
The best water filter pitchers are affordable, portable, and reduce dozens of contaminants using gravity-fed water filtration.
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.


Most Contaminants Removed
We use our own evidence-based testing to review and compare water filters.
Clearly-Filtered-Pitcher
Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher


Our Rating
I’ve personally tested all the water filters on this list, leveraging my experience as a WQA Certified Water Specialist (CWS) and Certified Water Treatment Representative (CWR) to review each product as both an expert and a customer.


Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher
Overall Score: 8.90
Epic Pure Pitcher

Received the highest score for contaminant reduction
Price: $90.00+
Best value for money
Contaminants Reduced: 365+
Easy to set up, no filter priming needed
Certifications or Testing: NSF 42, 53, 401 & 473
Affordable ongoing cost
Holding Capacity: 10 cups
View at epicwaterfilters.com
Filter Lifespan: 100 gallons
View on Amazon
Annual Cost: ~$150
View at Walmart
Warranty: Lifetime
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher (400x400)
Discount: Get 10% off – Click here for code
Overall Score: 8.78
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Reduced the most contaminants in our lab tests
Highest quality design materials
Certified for performance & materials safety
Reduced 100% fluoride
View at clearlyfiltered.com
View at clearlyfiltered.com
View on Amazon
View on Amazon
Runner Up
ZeroWater Ready-Pour Pitcher
ZeroWarer 12-Cup
Overall Score: 8.62
ZeroWater 12 cup
ZeroWater Ready-Pour Pitcher

Our Rating


Great contaminant reduction performance on the whole
Certified to reduce more contaminants
Easy filter lifespan tracking with TDS meter
Fastest and easiest filter setup
Price: $39.99
Contaminants Removed: 99.6% of all TDS
Certifications or Testing: NSF 42 & 53
Holding Capacity: 12 cups
Filter Lifespan: 40 gal.
Annual Cost: ~$160
Warranty: 90-day warranty
View at zerowater.com
View at zerowater.com
View on Amazon
View on Amazon
Best For Untreated Surface Water
View at Walmart
Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher
Table of Contents
Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher


Our Rating
Our Testing & Selection Process
The 5 Best Water Filter Pitchers
Epic Pure Pitcher
Clearly Filtered Pitcher
ZeroWater Ready-Pour Pitcher
Santevia MINA Pitcher
LARQ Pure-Vis Advanced Pitcher
Filters That Didn’t Make the Cut
Our Testing & Selection Process
How We Test & Score
How We Choose the Winners
Best Water Filter Pitcher in 2024 (8 Brands Tested, Rated & Ranked BEST to WORST)
The 5 Best Water Filter Pitchers
Product Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher
Epic Pure Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
Clearly Filtered
ZeroWater Ready-Pour Pitcher
ZeroWater Ready-Pour r Santevia MINA Pitcher
Santevia MINA LARQ Pure Vis Advanced Pitcher
LARQ Pure-Vis Advanced
Score 8.90 8.78 8.62 8.45 8.21
Price $70.00 $90.00 $39.99 $49.99 $139.00
Certifications Not certified NSF/ANSI 42 & 53 NSF/ANSI 42 & 53 Not certified Not certified
Filter Capacity 150 gallons 100 gallons
25 gallons 80 gallons 60 gallons
Cost per Gallon $0.31 $0.55 $0.70 $0.25 $0.54
Warranty Lifetime 1 year Vessels 90 days, filters 30 days 90 days 1 year
Read Review Epic Pure review Clearly Filtered review ZeroWater review Santevia MINA review LARQ Pure-Vis Advanced review
Epic Pure Pitcher
Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher
The Epic Pure Pitcher uses a solid carbon block filter that blends three activated carbon media to reduce dozens of common drinking water contaminants. It got the best contaminant score out of all the water filter pitchers we tested, and we were pleased with its quick and easy setup and maintenance processes.


Overall Score: 8.90
How We Test & Score
9.00 Contaminant Reduction
6.00 Design
9.50 Maintenance
Price: $70
10.00 Filtration Rate
Contaminants Removed: 200+
9.50 Setup
Certifications or Testing: NSF 42, 53, 401, P473 & P231
8.95 Company
Holding Capacity: 8.5 cups
Best For
Filter Lifespan: 150 gallons
Reduced all contaminants to below the HGL benchmark
Annual Cost: ~$138
Contaminant reduction score wasn’t compromised by the introduction of unwanted impurities
Warranty: Lifetime
Best value for money
Discount: Get 20% off – Click here for code
Option to upgrade to dispenser with a larger water-holding capacity
Super easy setup with no filter priming required
Product Specs
Price $70.00
Contaminants Reduced 200+
Certifications Not certified
Process Solid Activated Carbon Block
Filter Capacity 150 gallons
Annual Cost ~$150
Warranty Lifetime
Why It’s Best
The Epic Pure Pitcher is the best overall water filter pitcher because it secured the best score for contaminant reduction.

In our testing, it reduced all health-related contaminants in our water to below the testing lab’s Health Guideline Levels (HGLs), and, unlike with some of the other pitchers we tested, no unwanted impurities appeared post-filtration.

Plus, it’s one of the best-value water filter pitchers we tested, costing less than $70 upfront and boasting a super affordable ongoing cost.

Good to Know: Epic sells two water filter pitchers: the Epic Pure and the Epic Nano. The Epic Pure (which we’re reviewing here) is intended for filtering city tap water, while the Epic Nano filter is designed for untreated surface or well water.
View at epicwaterfilters.com
View at epicwaterfilters.com
View on Amazon
View on Amazon
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.“
View at Walmart

Discount: Get 20% off – Click Here for Code
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.
Epic Pure Performance

The Epic Pure scored a 9.30 for reducing health-related contaminants in our water. Our test results showed that the filter reduced 100% uranium, copper, and phosphorous, as well as 92% sulfate, 57% molybdenum, 41% barium, 27% fluoride, and 20% nitrate.
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.

Table of Contents [show]


🥇 Best Water Filter Pitcher
Most Contaminants Reduced: Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
Runner Up: ZeroWater 12 cup
Best For Untreated Surface Water: Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher
Budget Option: PUR PLUS Pitcher
Best Alkaline Filter: Santevia MINA Alkaline Pitcher
Best Dispenser: Epic Pure Water Filter Dispenser
Longest Filter Life: Proone Water Filter Pitcher
📊 Comparison Chart of Water Filter Pitchers
Pitcher Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
ZeroWater 12 cup
Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher
PUR PLUS Pitcher
Santevia MINA Alkaline Pitcher
Epic Pure Water Filter Dispenser
Proone Water Filter Pitcher


Ranking 1st 3rd 2nd 4th 5th 6th 7th
Made with Flourish
Ratings 5/5 5/5 4.5/5 4.5/5 4/5 4.5/5 4/5
Price $90.00+ $39.99 $70 $37.48 $49.99+ $75 $73.95
Contaminants Reduced 365+ 99.6% of all TDS 200+ 20 7 200+ 200+
Certifications or Testing NSF 42, 53, 401 & 473 NSF 42 & 53 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473, and P231 NSF 42, 53 & 401 – NSF 42, 53, 401, & P473 NSF 42
Holding Capacity 10 cups 12 cups 8.4 cups 11 cups 9 cups 8 liters 6.5 cups
Filter Lifespan 100 gal. 40 gal. 150 gal. 40 gal. 2 months 150 gal. 225 gal.
Annual Cost $150 ~$160 $138 $50 ~$120 ~150 $80
Warranty Lifetime 90-day warranty Lifetime 1 year 90 days Lifetime 4 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.


Epic Water Filters: Free replacement filter if you recycle four filters
Made with Flourish
⭐️ Best Water Filter Pitcher Reviews 2024
The system also reduced 100% chlorine in our water, so it scored a 9.90 for improving our water’s aesthetics.
Most Contaminants Reduced


Our Rating: 5/5
Our only disappointment was that the filter isn’t performance certified, which reduced its score slightly.


The Epic Pure also impressed us with its setup and maintenance requirements – we awarded it a score of 9.50 for both categories. Setup was easy because the filter didn’t need priming; we just washed and assembled the pitcher and reservoir, then filtered and discarded the first two pitchers of water.
How We Review
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
The Clearly Filtered pitcher is the best-performing pitcher filter on the market, reducing more than 365 contaminants from unfiltered water.


Discount: Get 10% off at clearlyfiltered.com- Click Here for Code
We calculated the pitcher’s ongoing maintenance cost as $0.31/ gallon, meaning that we’d spend half as much as some of the other top-performing pitchers we tested. Replacing the filter was easy, and the 150-gallon filter capacity is one of the best we’ve seen. The pitcher has an LED countdown timer that helped us to know when to buy new filters.
View at clearlyfiltered.com
View on Amazon
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher Review - Is It Worth The Money?


We think the Epic Pure is the best water filter pitcher for folks who want an all-rounder that can effectively reduce a range of contaminants, even though not all contaminants were completely eliminated. Anyone who wants a filter that’s affordable and easy to set up and maintain should also be pleased with the Epic Pure pitcher.


Criteria Results
Overall Score 8.90
Health Related Contaminants 9.30
Aesthetic Related Contaminants 9.90
Performance Certification Not Certified
Filtration Rate 2.23 GPH
Component Quality Unsatisfactory
Component Certification Not Certified
Setup Outstanding
Servicing Requirements Outstanding
Costs $0.31/ gallon
Warranty Length Lifetime
Shipping Free shipping for the Clean Water Club only
Returns Lifetime
Clearly Filtered Pitcher
Clearly Filtered water pitcher (400x400)
The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher reduced more contaminants than most other water filter pitchers we’ve tested, and it has an advantage over the Epic Pure pitcher: a WQA performance certification for chlorine and PFOA/PFOS reduction.


Specs
Overall Score: 8.78
Price $90.00+
How We Test & Score
8.24 Contaminant Reduction
9.70 Design
8.75 Maintenance
10.00 Filtration Rate
9.50 Setup
9.00 Company
Best For
Thorough water filtration
WQA performance certified
Sturdy, durable design
Long 100-gallon filter life
Roomy 10-cup capacity
Product Specs
Price $90.00
Contaminants Reduced 350+
Contaminants Reduced 350+
Certifications/Testing NSF 42, 53, 401 & 473
Certifications NSF/ANSI 42 & 53
Holding Capacity 10 cups
Process Coconut Carbon Block
Filter Lifespan 100 gallons
Filter Capacity 100 gallons
Annual Cost ~$150
Annual Cost ~$150
Warranty Lifetime
Warranty 1 year
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.
What We Thought
The Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher is the water filter pitcher that we recommend for folks who want a system with a great overall contaminant reduction performance.


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.
It offered a greater contaminant reduction percentage than most similar systems in our testing, and we also noted that the pitcher materials felt sturdier and thicker than other pitchers, which felt flimsier and thinner in comparison.


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.
Setup was also really easy for the Clearly Filtered pitcher. Rather than having to filter and discard several batches of water (which is time-consuming), we primed the filter using the included priming bag, which took less than 10 minutes.


Best For:
View at clearlyfiltered.com
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.
View on Amazon
Discount: Get 10% off – Click Here for Code
Clearly Filtered Performance
We awarded the Clearly Filtered Pitcher a score of 8.24 for overall contaminant reduction. It did better than the Epic Pure at reducing 100% fluoride, and its 100% uranium, chlorine, and copper reduction matched Epic’s results.




What We Like:
Made with Flourish
The CF pitcher also reduced 86% barium, 67% strontium, and 53% molybdenum. But its score was affected by the presence of 0.0054 PPM of cobalt in our filtered water (it hadn’t been detected pre-filtration).


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
Made with Flourish
Superior Gravity Filtration
There were two standout performance features that gave Clearly Filtered the edge over Epic: its WQA performance certifications and its high-quality plastic design.
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.


Does the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher REALLY Remove Dangerous Contaminants?
The pitcher has been certified (to NSF Standards 42 and 53) to reduce 3 out of the 365+ contaminants it’s claimed to reduce, so it’s not the most impressive proof of performance that we’ve seen, but it’s still more reassuring than nothing.
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 pitcher parts
As for design, the Clearly Filtered pitcher got a score of 9.70. The pitcher is made from BPA-free Tritan plastic and is WQA certified for lead-free design, on top of holding a materials safety certification as a component of its performance certifications.


Durable Tritan Design
We timed the filtration process and recorded that the CF pitcher filtered 0.5 gallons of water in 13 minutes and 12 seconds, giving it a 2.27 GPH filtration rate. This put it slightly ahead of the Epic Pure, which had a 2.23 GPH filtration rate – but both filters got the top score here.
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.


Bundles Price
We think the Clearly Filtered Pitcher makes the most sense for people who are happy to pay a slightly higher upfront and ongoing cost to effectively address many contaminants in their water with a system that’s certified for performance and materials safety.
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
Criteria Results
Overall Score 8.78
Health Related Contaminants 8.30
Aesthetic Related Contaminants 9.90
Performance Certification Certified for <1% of reduction claims
Filtration Rate 2.27 GPH
Component Quality Outstanding
Component Certification Certified
Setup Outstanding
Servicing Requirements Outstanding
Costs $0.55/ gallon
Warranty Length 1 year
Shipping Free shipping
Returns 30 days
ZeroWater Ready-Pour Pitcher
ZeroWater Ready-Pour Pitcher
The ZeroWater Ready-Pour Pitcher offers a unique take on gravity-fed water filtration, using a 6-stage filter to reduce TDS down to 0. The unit is certified to reduce more contaminants than the CF pitcher and reduced the highest concentrations of many contaminants in our water, including fluoride, uranium, and nitrate.


Runner-Up
Overall Score: 8.62
How We Test & Score
8.34 Contaminant Reduction
8.80 Design
8.25 Maintenance
10.00 Filtration Rate
9.50 Setup
7.50 Company
Best For
Reducing up to 100% of most health-related contaminants
Included TDS meter for tracking filter lifespan
Certified to reduce the most contaminants
Portable, durable, & doesn’t need electricity
Product Specs
Price $39.99
Contaminants Reduced 24
Certifications NSF/ANSI 42 & 53
Process Activated Carbon + Ion Exchange Resin
Filter Capacity 25 gallons
Annual Cost ~$110
Warranty Vessels 90 days, filters 30 days
Our Verdict
The ZeroWater Pitcher is another system that impressed us with its thorough contaminant reduction. It also got great scores for its filtration rate and setup.


Our Rating: 5/5
The pitcher has a handy way of tracking filter life with the included TDS meter. It’s designed to reduce TDS down to 0, and ZeroWater says that you should replace the filter when the TDS meter reads 006. This meant that we had more certainty on when to change the filters because we weren’t only relying on a timer or water volume tracker.


Plus, it’s certified to reduce 6 contaminants – that’s 3 more than Clearly Filtered.
How We Review
ZeroWater 12 cup
The ZeroWater 12-Cup Water Filter Pitcher is our runner-up pitcher choice in this guide. While it doesn’t remove as many contaminants as the Clearly Filtered pitcher (43 compared to Clearly Filtered’s 360+), it’s over half the price of the CF pitcher and is NSF performance certified to remove lead, PFAS, and more.


View at zerowater.com
View at zerowater.com
View on Amazon
View on Amazon
View at Walmart
View at Walmart
ZeroWater Performance
ZeroWater received an 8.34 score for contaminant reduction. Our test data showed that it had reduced 100% fluoride, chlorine, uranium, barium, strontium, molybdenum, nitrate, and sulfate. It also reduced 97% copper – an excellent result overall.




Made with Flourish


Specs
Made with Flourish
Price $39.99
But 3.4 PPB of chloroform (a disinfection byproduct) was detected in our filtered water, which wasn’t detected in our unfiltered water. This pulled down the filter’s contaminant reduction score. The filter also greatly reduced healthy minerals in our water as part of its TDS reduction, which we weren’t impressed with.
Contaminants Removed 40+
Certifications/Testing NSF 42 & 53
Holding Capacity 12 cups
Filter Lifespan 40 gal.
Annual Cost ~$160
Warranty 90-day warranty
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.
We were pleased to see that the ZeroWater Pitcher has NSF Standard 42 and Standard 53 certifications for reducing chlorine taste and odors, mercury, lead, PFOA, PFOS, and hexavalent chromium. But we still think it could be certified to reduce more contaminants – ZeroWater claims it can reduce 24.


Best For:
We awarded the pitcher a 10.00 for filtration rate. We calculated that it filtered 0.391 gallons of water in just under 9 minutes, giving it a filtration speed of 2.62 GPH (making it slightly faster than Epic and Clearly Filtered).
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.


Setup was easiest with the ZeroWater pitcher because it was the only pitcher that required no filter priming, soaking, or flushing. The filter arrived ready to go, so we could start using it straight away. It got the same high score (9.50) as Epic and Clearly Filtered in this category.


What We Like:
ZeroWater’s maintenance requirements let it down somewhat. It has the worst capacity of any water pitcher filter we’ve tested – just 40 gallons – with some customers claiming it only lasted 1-2 weeks. Plus, its ongoing cost of $0.70/ gallon was up to triple the cost per gallon of many other pitchers we tested.
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.
We recommend the ZeroWater filter pitcher to anyone who wants a comprehensive water filtration solution that reduces high levels of many contaminants, at the expense of a short filter lifespan and higher ongoing cost.


Best For Untreated Surface Water
Criteria Results
Overall Score 8.62
Health Related Contaminants 8.30
Aesthetic Related Contaminants 9.90
Performance Certification Certified for 25% of reduction claims
Filtration Rate 2.62 GPH
Component Quality Fair
Component Certification Certified
Setup Outstanding
Servicing Requirements Outstanding
Costs $0.70/ gallon
Warranty Length Vessels 90 days, filters 30 days
Shipping Free shipping on orders above $60 to continental US
Returns No returns
Santevia MINA Pitcher
Santevia MINA Alkaline Pitcher
The Santevia MINA Pitcher is the only alkalizing water filter pitcher to make our list. It did a great job of reducing many contaminants in our water, and we were impressed with its ability to raise water pH by up to 2.0 (although our own results varied – more on that later).


Our Rating: 4.5/5
Overall Score: 8.45
How We Test & Score
8.12 Contaminant Reduction
8.10 Design
9.75 Maintenance
8.50 Filtration Rate
9.50 Setup
7.95 Company
Best For
Reducing contaminants and increasing water’s alkalinity & pH
Budget-friendly – costs less than $50 upfront
Easy to maintain
Product Specs
Price $49.99
Contaminants Reduced 85
Certifications Not certified
Process Carbon + Ion Exchange + Remineralization
Filter Capacity 80 gallons
Annual Cost ~$120
Warranty 90 days
Why We Liked It
The Santevia MINA was the best alkalizing water filter pitcher we tested, being the only filter to reduce healthy contaminants and increase the pH and alkalinity of water.


It’s also the most affordable of all the pitchers we’ve mentioned in this guide so far, falling within the $0-$50 price bracket, and with an ongoing cost of just $0.25/ gallon – impressive given that it provides an additional water quality advantage that none of the other systems offer.
How We Review
Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher
The Epic Nano is an Epic Water Filters pitcher, designed to remove microbiological contaminants from well water. It’s our top pick for untreated surface water in this guide because it’s one of the only pitchers we’ve tested that can be used to treat water that’s microbiologically unsafe, offering extra reassurance in all scenarios.


Discount: Get 20% off at epicwaterfilters.com – Click Here for Code
View at zerowater.com
View at epicwaterfilters.com
View on Amazon
View on Amazon

View at Walmart
Santevia MINA Performance
The Santevia MINA pitcher’s overall contaminant reduction score was 8.12, putting it only slightly behind Clearly Filtered and ZeroWater. It reduced 7 contaminants in our water: 100% chlorine, uranium, molybdenum, and copper, 78% barium, 77% nitrate, and 72% strontium.




Specs
Made with Flourish
Price $70
However, the MINA pitcher isn’t performance-certified, which affected its overall score in this category. Plus, fluoride actually increased slightly from 1.1 PPM to 1.2 PPM, telling us that the filter doesn’t effectively address this contaminant.
Contaminants Removed 200+
Certifications/Testing NSF 42, 53, 401, P473 & P231
Holding Capacity 8.5 cups
Filter Lifespan 150 gallons
Annual Cost ~$138
Warranty Lifetime
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.


Made with Flourish
Santevia’s main selling point is its ability to increase the alkalinity of water, which has a few possible health benefits. When we first got the pitcher, we used a pH meter to test our water. The unfiltered water had a 7.89 pH, and our filtered water’s pH had increased to 9.94. However, when we tested the pitcher later with a lab test, pH only increased by 0.1, from 7.4 to 7.5.


What We Like:
Testing the pH level of water after filtration with Santevia MINA Alkaline Pitcher
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.
Made with Flourish
The system got an 8.50 score from us for its filtration rate. It filtered 0.383 gallons of water in just over 16 minutes, giving it a filtration rate of 1.43 GPH – around 1 GPM slower than most other pitchers we tested.


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.
We couldn’t fault the filter setup process. It also got a 9.50 in this category because assembly took less than 5 minutes – we just had to wash and assemble the pitcher, then hold the filter under running water for 1 minute until the water ran clear.


Read the Full Review: Epic Nano & Pure Filtration Pitchers Review
We think the Santevia MINA pitcher is a great fit for folks who want to go a step further than simply reducing contaminants in their water, and anyone who wants the possible taste and health benefits of filtered water with an alkaline pH.


Budget Option
Criteria Results
Overall Score 8.45
Health Related Contaminants 8.30
Aesthetic Related Contaminants 9.50
Performance Certification Not certified
Filtration Rate 1.43 GPH
Component Quality Outstanding
Component Certification Not certified
Setup Outstanding
Servicing Requirements Outstanding
Costs $0.25/ gallon
Warranty Length 90 days
Shipping Free shipping on orders over $99, except Hawaii, Puerto Rico & Alaska
Returns 30 days
LARQ Pure-Vis Advanced Pitcher
LARQ Pure-Vis Advanced Pitcher
The LARQ Pure-Vis Advanced Pitcher filters and purifies water with a unique 2-stage process involving a filter cartridge and a UV wand. It reduced numerous contaminants in our testing, and we thought it had the most attractive design of all the water filter pitchers we tested.


Our Rating 4.5/5
Overall Score: 8.21
How We Test & Score
8.14 Contaminant Reduction
8.10 Design
9.00 Maintenance
7.00 Filtration Rate
9.00 Setup
8.35 Company
Best For
Prevents bacteria growth with UV disinfection
Attractive, quality design
Easy assembly and maintenance
The only high-tech pitcher we reviewed
Product Specs
Price $139.00
Contaminants Reduced 60+
Certifications Not Certified
Process Activated Carbon + UV Purification
Filter Capacity 60 gallons
Annual Cost ~$150
Warranty 1 year
Our Take
The LARQ Pure-Vis Advanced Pitcher is the most expensive water filter pitcher we’ve tried, but it’s the only pitcher with a unique UV purification stage to prevent bacterial growth in the filtered water chamber.


The pitcher’s filtration performance wasn’t far off Clearly Filtered’s – it got the same score in our lab testing, but it doesn’t have a performance certification.
How We Review
PUR PLUS Pitcher
The PUR PLUS is an 11-cup pitcher that offers NSF certified contaminant reduction. Based on our testing, this pitcher is the best water filter pitcher for smaller budgets that you can buy today.


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LARQ Pure-Vis Performance
We awarded the LARQ Pure-Vis pitcher an 8.14 for contaminant reduction. It did a great job of removing 100% uranium, barium, strontium, and molybdenum, and reducing 97% copper, 88% sulfate, and 20% nitrate. Unfortunately, it didn’t reduce fluoride in our water at all.




Made with Flourish


Specs
Made with Flourish
Price $37.48
The Pure-Vis pitcher’s UV purification stage is the biggest reason why we were drawn to the system. Microorganisms aren’t present in treated city water, but a number of studies (including this study on Brita water filter pitchers) have found that microorganisms can grow in filter media. The LARQ pitcher provides protection against bacteria growth in the filter media and the pitcher chamber, so we didn’t have to wash it out as often as the other pitchers.
Contaminants Removed 20
Certifications/Testing NSF 42, 53 & 401
Holding Capacity 11 cups
Filter Lifespan 40 gal.
Annual Cost $50
Warranty 1 year
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.
The system did well in the setup and maintenance categories, with scores of 9.00 in each. Setup was a bit more involved – we had to soak the filter for 10 minutes before installing it, charge the battery pack for the UV wand, and install the app. Maintenance required the same filter soaking and UV wand charging (but the battery lasts around 1 month on a full charge).


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.
We estimated the filter’s ongoing cost as $0.54/ gallon, so it’s about on par with the Clearly Filtered pitcher – not the cheapest, but not as costly as ZeroWater.


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).
As for design, the LARQ pitcher felt like it was made from the same high-quality materials as Clearly Filtered. It felt thick, solid, and durable, and more capable of withstanding long-term use than the other pitchers we tested.
Best For:
Anyone with a small budget who wants to spend as little as possible on a water filter pitcher without compromising on quality.


LARQ Pure-Vis Advanced pitcher components
In our opinion, the LARQ Pure-Vis pitcher is ideal for anyone who has concerns about biofilm growth and microorganisms in their filter media and the pitcher vessel itself, and folks who want the reassurance of filtering and purifying their water at the same time.


What We Like:
Criteria Results
Officially NSF/WQA performance certified
Overall Score 8.21
Removes microplastics, mercury, VOCs, and more
Health Related Contaminants 8.30
Budget-friendly cost
Aesthetic Related Contaminants 9.90
Large 11-cup capacity
Performance Certification Not Certified
What We Don’t Like:
Filtration Rate 0.60 GPH
The filter indicator doesn’t have a replaceable battery and will eventually stop working
Component Quality Outstanding
The 90-day warranty is shorter than other pitcher warranties
Component Certification Not Certified
NSF Certified Performance
Setup Excellent
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.
Servicing Requirements Exceptional
Costs $0.54/ gallon
Warranty Length 1 year
Shipping Free on orders over $80 within the contiguous US
Returns 30 days, but only if unopened
Filters That Didn’t Make the Cut
We want to close off this review with a quick mention of the other three pitchers we tested, which received lower performance scores than the rest and therefore didn’t make the cut.


PSA: As of 2023, PUR pitcher filters are no longer tested nor certified to reduce lead!
These were:
Your PUR Pitcher May Not Be Filtering Everything You Think
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.
The PUR Plus Pitcher
The Brita Elite Pitcher
The Waterdrop Chubby Pitcher
These filters all got poorer contaminant reduction scores: the PUR Plus got 5.28; the Brita Elite got 4.29; and the Waterdrop Chubby got 4.24.


Read the full review: PUR Basic & Plus water filter pitcher review
None of the pitchers are tested or certified to reduce most of the contaminants (like uranium, fluoride, and molybdenum) in our water. So we were unsurprised when the pitchers did a poor job of reducing these contaminants.


Best Alkaline Filter
Our testing outcomes don’t necessarily mean that the filters are incapable of reducing contaminants; just that they couldn’t address our own water quality concerns. If we’d tested the filters with water predominantly containing contaminants they could address, the contaminant reduction scores would likely have been higher.


Our Rating: 4.5/5
That’s why testing your water before buying a filter is so important: you want to ensure that the system you choose can effectively address your unique water quality issues.


Brian Campbell
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.
How We Review
Santevia MINA Alkaline Pitcher
In our opinion, the Santevia MINA Alkaline Pitcher is the best alkaline water pitcher available today. This 9-cup water pitcher had the highest-quality filter design of all the alkaline pitchers we tested, and we were impressed with its ability to raise our water pH by 2.0 and remove up to 99% of lead, mercury, chloramine, and more.


View at santevia.com
6 thoughts on “The 5 Best Water Filter Pitchers, According to Our Testing”
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Avatar for Brian Campbell
Barbara OndrickoApril 10, 2024 at 12:18 pm
I live in Windsor Ontario Canada and our water is currently disinfected using ozonation . I am looking to upgrade from the Pur Plus system and I am particularly concerned about plastic microcontaminants that ozonation does not address. I am only interested in a water pitcher system . Thankyou for your time.


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Avatar for Brian Campbell
Brian CampbellApril 11, 2024 at 8:36 am
Hey Barbara, the Clearly Filtered water pitcher performed well in our testing and has been tested to reduce microplastics, but it’s not yet certified to do so. If you are looking for a pitcher thats specifically certified to reduce microplastics, check out the PUR Plus.


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Avatar for Brian Campbell
richardApril 5, 2024 at 1:20 am
Please help me understand why the Zero water was rated #3 when it removed almost 100% of everything that it was being tested for and the con was only that it had a expensive filter. It seems like that is the best filter hands down amongst the 5 filters.


Specs
Reply
Price $49.99+
Avatar for Brian Campbell
Contaminants Removed 7
Brian CampbellApril 6, 2024 at 8:26 am
Certifications/Testing –
The ZeroWater received an 8.62/10 when put through our data-driven scoring system. It’s overall contaminant reduction score (8.34) was dragged down due to the presence of disinfection byproducts in the filtered water. The overall score was greatly impacted by this because Contaminant Reduction is given the highest weight, and makes up 55% of the total score. It’s maintenance score of 8.25 was also lowered due to the expensive ongoing filter replacement cost of $0.70/ gallon. The Company score was also lowered due to a lack of return window. You can read the full ZeroWater review here where we dive deep into the data behind each of
Holding Capacity 9 cups
Filter Lifespan 2 m