The 12 Best Water Filters of 2024, According to Testing

Best Overall

Brita Rapids Stream Water Pitcher

View On Amazon $53 View On Walmart $37 View On Home Depot $37

Our Ratings

• Taste
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

After testing several models, we found that the overall best water filter is the Brita Stream Rapids Water Pitcher because it’s effective, easy to use, and well-designed. 

During testing, we praised how simple the setup was. Unlike some more complicated water filters, the setup just required running the filter underwater for 15 seconds, rinsing the pitcher with soapy water, and then filling and emptying the pitcher once. 

We loved that there’s no wait time with this filter. Once the water pours into the filter, it works instantly and the pitcher filters with every pour.

We appreciated the well-designed pitcher. It easily fits under a kitchen sink faucet when it’s time to fill up, and though it requires two hands, it wasn’t cumbersome to fill or pour. We also noted that the water stream came out beautifully and it was easy to pour a small glass, as it didn’t pour out too fast. 

The space-efficient design is slim and will fit in smaller spaces and on a refrigerator door shelf. Additionally, the lid locks in place and an electronic filter replacement indicator is on the pitcher’s cover. While each filter should last about 40 gallons of water, this indicator is clear, and we thought the alert was helpful. 

The taste of the filtered water was a pleasant surprise. We were impressed at how distinctly we could taste the difference between the filtered and unfiltered water, and this pitcher resulted in clean, crisp water. 

Product Details: Capacity: 10 cups | Filter Life: 40 gallons | Material: BPA-free plastic | Empty Weight: 1.35 pounds

Best Budget

Brita Countertop Water Filtration

View On Amazon $180 View On Target $180 View On Wayfair $180

Our Ratings

• Smell
  5/5
• Taste
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

A countertop water filter provides many benefits, including a more extensive reservoir than a pitcher and filtered water at the touch of a button. While they’re typically an investment, the Brita Hub instant Powerful Countertop Water Filtration provides all the benefits at a less expensive price point. 

This sleekly designed countertop filter boasts a tiny footprint, which is an advantage to those with small kitchens or crowded countertops. Small but mighty, it holds 12 cups of water in the reservoir. 

While it’s big, the reservoir has an attached handle, so filling it isn’t as cumbersome as other countertop models. To fill your water cup, choose between 12 and 20-ounce presents or use a manual mode to fill a glass or bottle to any level you want. 

The spout can refill water bottles up to 12 inches tall. We noted that the presets were helpful, but the stream was quite strong, so the water may splash out when filling specific cups or mugs. Plus, the filter seemed quite loud and we likened it to an espresso machine. However, the filtering process is quick, so we didn’t think it was a dealbreaker. 

As with most countertop models, the water will remain at room temperature, and while it has a small footprint, the filter needs access to an electrical outlet, which may limit the positioning in your kitchen.

Product Details: Capacity: 12 cups | Filter Life: 120 gallons (estimated six months) | Material: Plastic | Empty Weight: 10.32 pounds

Best Countertop

Aquasana Clean Water Machine

View On Amazon $200 View On Walmart $200 View On Aquasana.com

Our Ratings

• Smell
  5/5
• Taste
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  4.7/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  4.8/5

A countertop water filter allows you access to clean, filtered water without the hassle and expense of installing a faucet or full-house system. The Aquasana Clean Water Machine has a capacity of 8 cups, and one filter lasts for about 300 gallons of water. 

We appreciated how easy this best countertop filter was to set up and that it worked quickly and quietly. The gadget can filter an eight-ounce glass of water in eight seconds as well, so you won’t have to wait too long. 

This filter is easy to use and has a sleek look, so it will not look out of place on your kitchen countertop. Placement is vital, however, as this filter needs access to an outlet to work. 

During testing, we noted that it was a bit cumbersome to refill the reservoir. There’s no handle, so we found the easiest way to fill the tank was to pour tap water via a pitcher because moving it to the faucet was too tricky. 

Product Details: Capacity: 8 cups | Filter Life: 300 gallons | Material: BPA-free plastic | Empty Weight: 6.2 pounds

Best Reverse Osmosis

AquaTru Countertop Water Filtration System

View On Amazon $449 View On Walmart $449 View On Lowe's $449

Our Ratings

• Smell
  5/5
• Taste
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  4.7/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

For an advanced filtration system, we recommend The AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier. The reverse osmosis technology means the water filter uses a four-stage system with the water going through three filters, resulting in water that has removed contaminants, including lead, fluoride, and chlorine. 

This water filter is larger than other options and will need to be plugged in, so be sure to measure your countertop to ensure your countertop has enough space near an outlet. While this option is more expensive than some other styles, the filters will last six months to two years, so you won’t have to invest and replace the filters regularly. 

We liked how there are two tanks on this countertop system. One holds tap water, and the other holds filtered water, ensuring there is always filtered water on hand. We found the setup of this system a bit tricky, so we recommend watching the installation video rather than reading the instruction manual for more clarity. 

The high-tech gadget has some helpful displays. The digital display shows you the status of the filters, replacement dates, and the total amount of filtered or unfiltered water. While this pick is more expensive than other options, we liked how it functioned and appreciated the large volume of water this filter could hold. 

Product Details: Capacity: 16-cup tap water tank, 96-quart filtered water tank | Filter Life: Six months to two years | Material: Not listed | Empty Weight: 16 pounds

Best Large

Pur Plus Dispenser

View On Amazon $51 View On Target $36 View On Walmart $43

Our Ratings

• Taste
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  4.2/5
• Value
  5/5

Thanks to a 30-cup capacity, the Pur Plus 30 Cup Dispenser is helpful for larger groups. The filter is less expensive than other options and we found the instructions straightforward, so the setup process was quick. 

The dispenser is large, so it may not fit into smaller kitchen sinks when you need to wash it, which is an essential step for the initial setup. However, this pick is dishwasher-safe, so you’ll still be able to clean it thoroughly. 

This pick’s rectangular design and pull-down spout mean this water filter could work on a countertop or refrigerator shelf, though note that it will take up a lot of room. 

This dispenser weighs 10 pounds when filled, but it wasn’t too difficult to move thanks to two handles. We noted that there’s no max fill line, however, which we thought would be helpful. 

It’s worth noting that this pick filters slowly. During testing it took our model about 30 minutes to filter completely. When it’s time to change the water filter, there’s a built-in indicator light that has red, yellow, and green lights, which we found helpful. 

Product Details: Capacity: 30 cups | Filter Life: 40 gallons | Material: Plastic | Empty Weight: 3.99 pounds

Best Large Countertop

Big Berkey Water Filter

View On Bigberkeywaterfilters.com

Our Ratings

• Smell
  5/5
• Taste
  4/5
• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Design
  3/5
• Value
  4/5

The Big Berkey Water Filter is a stainless steel countertop water filter that can hold up to 2.25 gallons of water. This pick is a cinch to set up and the whole setup process only took about 15 minutes during testing. Plus, the filtered water tasted clean and fresh.  

While the setup is quick and easy, there are a few quirks to get used to with the Big Berky. The large size is helpful for a big family, but the filter works quite slowly, taking nearly an hour to filter one gallon of water. For the filter to work, the reservoir must be filled, which, due to the size of the container, is a cumbersome process.

Product Details: Capacity: 36 cups | Filter Life: Not listed | Material: Stainless steel | Empty Weight: 7 pounds

Best Small

Bluevua Reverse Osmosis Countertop Water Filter

View On Amazon $299 View On Sears.com $534

Our Ratings

• Smell
  4/5
• Taste
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

The Bluevua Reverse Osmosis System Countertop Water Filter resembles a coffee maker, thanks partly to the food-grade glass carafe. Though the system is more expensive than other styles, it comes with four filters that are pre-installed and can last from one to two years. 

To set up the machine, you’ll need to run four to six water cycles through the filters, which take about 30 to 45 minutes. We noted that there wasn’t a beep to indicate when a cycle was complete.

Since the water filters into a pitcher, pouring the filtered water into your glass or water bottle is relatively easy. As with most countertop water filters, this one needs access to an electrical outlet and produces room-temperature filtered water. 

We appreciated that you can choose how much water you filter each time, Plus, the LED screen displays how much filtered and unfiltered water is in the gadget, as well as the filter status and when they need replacing. 

Product Details: Capacity: 7.2 cups | Filter Life: One to two years | Material: Glass carafe | Empty Weight: 23.5 pounds

Best Slim

Hydros Glass Slim Pitcher

View On Amazon $35 View On Walmart $24 View On Hydroslife.com $37

Our Ratings

• Taste
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Value
  4.9/5

For a slim style, consider the Hydros Water Filter Slim Pitcher. The glass pitcher has a stylish look you won’t mind leaving out on your kitchen table, and the 40-ounce glass water pitcher features a built-in filter. 

We found this pitcher easy to set up and noted how quickly it filtered water. There’s no backup or wait time–as the water flows through the pitcher, it’s instantly filtered. 

The carafe is slim and sleek enough to fit on a refrigerator shelf. The 40-ounce volume is plenty for one or two people, but plan to refill this pitcher many times throughout the day if you’ve got a thirsty family. 

We liked how easy the carafe was to hold and had no problem pouring from it. It was a  bit heavy, however, so it may require two hands or some assistance for younger kids or those with limited mobility. 

In our tests, the filtered water didn’t taste all that different from tap water. The filters are made from coconut shells surrounded by a carbon casing, which could potentially impact the overall taste of the water. 

We would have liked it if there was an indicator to notify you when the filter needs to be changed. While replacement filters are readily available, note that you’ll need to set a reminder to change the filter every two months. 

Product Details: Capacity: 5 cups | Filter Life: 40 gallons | Material: Glass | Empty Weight: 2.5 pounds

Best Taste

Epic Water Filters Epic Nano

View On Amazon $69 View On Epicwaterfilters.com

Our Ratings

• Taste
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  4.7/5
• Value
  5/5

If crisp, clean water is your ultimate goal, the Epic Water Nano Filter is an excellent option. We appreciated how easy it was to set up and use this water filter. Plus, we were impressed by the taste of the filtered water. 

The pitcher fits under a kitchen sink faucet and may work in a refrigerator door or on a refrigerator shelf. We had no trouble setting up, filling, and pouring from this easy-to-use filter-style pitcher. 

The filter took longer than many other pitchers on our list but we noted that after 12 minutes, the entire water pitcher was finally filtered. Each filter lasts 150 gallons, but an LED timer on the pitcher lid counts down 90 days, indicating when to replace the filter. 

We would have preferred if the timer counted down in gallons, which we thought would provide more accurate timing of when to replace the filter. 

Product Details: Capacity: 1.25 cups | Filter Life: 150 gallons | Material: BPA-free plastic | Empty Weight: 2.2 pounds

Best App

Larq Pitcher PureVis

View On Amazon $168 View On Livelarq.com

Our Ratings

• Taste
  4/5
• Ease of Use
  4.2/5
• Value
  3.8/5

If you're a fan of the latest and greatest gadgets, this LARQ Pitcher PureVis with Advanced Filter is worth the investment. The filter has smart capabilities that can be controlled via an app, setting it apart from other water filters. 

The filter worked in our tests, and the water tasted fresh. Initial assembly proved tricky, and we had difficulty opening the lid. Thanks to the pitcher shape, filling this pick up at a kitchen sink faucet is relatively easy and will likely fit in a standard refrigerator shelf. 

To set it up, you’ll need to charge the pitcher’s lid, which takes about an hour for a single charge and will last up to a month of use. Then download the free LARQ app, which lets you track the filter life based on water consumption directly from the pitcher. You’ll need to manually input your daily quantity of water to track daily hydration. 

The pitcher automatically turns on a built-in UV-C LED light that helps to keep the water fresh. A self-cleaning mode automatically goes on every six hours for 15 seconds as well.

Product Details: Capacity: 8 cups | Filter Life: 60 gallons | Material: BPA-free plastic | Empty Weight: 1.62 pounds

Best Glass

Aarke Water Purifier Pitcher

View On Amazon $150 View On Crate & Barrel $113 View On Food52 $150

Our Ratings

• Taste
  4.5/5
• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

Made from a glass pitcher and a stainless steel filter, the Aarke Water Purifier & Glass Water Pitcher Filter has a stylish look and is both sustainable and hygienic. 

To use the pitcher filter, you have to place Aarke filter granules in the stainless steel compartment and run the water through that filter. While this is a more sustainable option, it is a bit more complicated and requires a supply of granules on hand when it’s time for a filter change.  In our experience, once we got the hang of the system, it was simple and resulted in good-tasting, clean water. 

We appreciated that the water filter has a nice look to it, is easy to fill, and comfortable to pour. Since it’s made of glass, it can be washed in the dishwasher for easy maintenance. 

Though it’s 4.4 pounds when empty, the pitcher was fairly heavy when full. Filling the pitcher is not as quick as we would like. The pitcher holds 10 cups, but the filter can only process 5 cups at a time, so you need to do two fills for a completely topped-off pitcher. 

Product Details: Capacity: 10 cups (pitcher), 5 cups (filter) | Filter Life: 31.7 gallons | Material: Stainless steel and glass | Empty Weight: 4.4 pounds