10 Best Water Filter Pitchers to Consider This Year 

by Jay | Updated on October 20th, 2023

Making sure you and your family drink clean every day is crucial, and this must always be a top priority. Even when relying on your government to deliver clean water, it is always recommended to take personal measures and ensure the water you drink is free from contaminants.


Remember, even though the government treats water. That water has to travel a long way through old pipes installed many years ago, and that water can be contaminated again. Therefore, this creates the need to treat water from your faucets.

cup of water

A water filter pitcher is one of the best systems of filtering water you can have in your house. It is easy to use. Besides, it is one of the most convenient water filters money can buy. So, be guaranteed having one in your house is a good idea.

EDITOR’S CHOICE2ND PICK3RD PICK



ClearlyAquagearDRAGONN
Ratings
Capacity10 Cups10 Cups14 Cups
Filter life100-gallon120-gallon60 days
Purification MethodReverse OsmosisActivated Carbon, Ion ExchangeAlkaline, Oxidation Reduction Potential
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Best Water Filter Pitchers

Now let’s dive deeper and look at some of the best water filter pitchers you may want to consider buying this year. Ready to learn more? 

Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher

This pitcher boasts one of the best filters on the market, eliminating an average of 99.7 percent of over 270 different tap water pollutants.

It has been proven to remove more pollutants from tap water and disinfect well water than any other pitcher on the market. Furthermore, the flavor of filtered water is immaculate.

Fluoride, lead, PFAS/PFOA, herbicides, pesticides, and even radioactive pollutants are eliminated with Clearly Filtered.

The pitcher is made of BPA-free and Food Grade plastic and can hold 100 gallons of pure water before the filter needs to be changed – that’s an average of four months per filter, which is more than twice as long as the average. The annual replacement cost is $150.

They believe in their product, which is why they provide a lifetime warranty – if your pitcher ever breaks, they will replace it for free.

Pros

  • Made in the USA
  • Filters out chlorine, lead, fluoride, and 267+ other chemicals
  • While healthy minerals are retained in the water.
  • BPA-free Tritan plastic
  • Filter lasts up to 100 gallons
  • Lifetime Guarantee

Cons

  • Takes a while to filter
  • No filter change indicator

Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher

First on our list is the Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher. It is considered the best in the market. Its filters are made in the United States and have a lifetime warranty. In addition, Aquagear Water Filter Pitcher is 100% recyclable, 100% BPA Free, and recyclable and FDA approved.

Pros

  • It removes up to 90% of the fluoride and chlorine in your water.
  • Long life span. It has excellent filtering capacity. Each filter can last up to 3 months.
  • Filtered water is very clean.

Cons

  • The filtering process is a bit slow. Therefore, you have to be patient for the pitcher to fill.
  • No filter change reminder. Unlike most models, this model does not notify you when to change filters.

DRAGONN Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher

Designed by Dragonn, this is one of the water filter pitchers that uses a sophisticated filtering process to clean water. Its cartridges are designed to use multiple technologies to remove contaminants from water, treat the water with infrared energy, and soften it by raising its pH.

Pros

  • Large pitcher. It has a capacity of 1 gallon.
  • Remineralizing. This pitcher uses filters that add valuable minerals to your water.
  • Good Water Alkalizer. Besides purifying your water, this water pitcher also raises the water pH.

Cons

  • Filters don’t last long. They last for about 1 – 2 months.
  • Filters get clogged often. You must be ready to take them out and rinse them frequently.

Seychelle Pitcher Water Filter Pitcher

This is yet another water filter pitcher that leaves you with a pitcher full of pure water. It uses two filters instead of one, making sure you always have filtered water at your disposal. The best thing about this water pitcher is that it removes 99.99% of the common water contaminants.

Pros

  • Get the job done fast. Seychelle Pitcher Water Filter Pitcher gets the job done fast despite using two filters. Besides, it leaves you with clean water.
  • Food grade materials. Seychelle Pitcher Water Filter Pitcher is designed from food-grade material, ensuring your water is not polluted.

Cons

  • Filters are prone to clogging. So as much as this pitcher gets the job done, its filters are prone to clogging. This makes Seychelle Pitcher Water Filter Pitcher not a fit device if you have to filter hard or salty water.

Reshape Water Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher

At first glance, the design of this pitcher will grab your attention. It is capable of filtering and alkalizing water at the same time. One reason why it is worth your money is because it comes with two filter cartridges.

This means guaranteed benefits of healthy alkaline filtered water for at least 2 – 3 months without making another purchase. Besides, it boasts of a fast filtration rate. It can filter 1 liter of water in less than 15 minutes.

Pros

  • Remineralized Water
  • Durable. Made of thick ABS plastic. This plastic is more durable than the one used by other manufacturers.

Cons

  • Varying filtering rate. The filtering rate tends to slow down over time.
  • Filter are hard to change. Although you don’t have to change them frequently, many customers have complained about having a hard time when changing them. 

Invigorated Water pH RESTORE Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher

Prefer drinking alkaline water? This filter pitcher will not disappoint. Besides removing impurities from your water, this pitcher also makes your water more alkaline. Its beautiful appearance and ergonomic handle are other reasons you prefer having it in your house.

Pros

  • Comes with two water filter cartridges each that last up to 3 months.
  • Filter change reminder that notifies you when it is time to change for a new one.

Cons

  • Water spills. This pitcher has a flimsy lid; the water will spill if you fill it to the brim.

Lake Industries The Alkaline Water Filter Pitcher

Designed by Lake Industries, this is another water filter pitcher that not only removes contaminants from your water but also alkalinizes it. This filter pitcher is easy to use because of its ergonomic design.

Another advantage of using this filter pitcher is its smart mineral filter. It adds valuable minerals to your drinking water.

Pros

  • Affordable filter. Even though this filter gets the job done well, it will not hurt your budget when replacing them.
  • Alkalize water. These filters are excellent at raising the water pH.

Cons

  • Fake reviews. The manufacturer will send you a free filter cartridge if you give a 5-star rating to the filter. While this is an excellent way to receive a free filter, it means the real rating of the product is lower.

PUR CR1100CV 11 Cup Water Filtration Pitcher

This is another pitcher best known for removing water contaminants, including pharmaceutical traces and mercury. In addition, all materials used to design it are BPA-free, eliminating the leak into your drinking water.

Pros

  • Filter change reminder that notifies you when it is time to change for a new one.
  • Big pitcher. Has the Good for Removing Pharmaceuticals
  • Efficient filters. Capable of removing most of the contaminants from drinking water.
  • Filter change reminder that notifies you when it is time to change for a new one. Capacity to hold up to 10 cups of water.
  • Excellent filters. They use advanced technology to produce exceptional, tasting, clean drinking water.

Cons

  • Inefficient softening. Only filter water by a small degree.
  • Slow filtering. You will have to wait a bit longer for your water to filter. 

CamelBak Relay Water Filter Pitcher

Do you hate drinking chlorinated water? CamelBak Relay Water Filter Pitcher will not disappoint; it removes chlorine from your water. It uses a double filter to remove contaminants, and its filtration rate is excellent.

Pros

  • Filter change reminder that notifies you when it is time to change for a new one.
  • Big pitcher. Has the capacity to hold up to 10 cups of water.
  • Excellent filters. They use advanced technology to produce exceptional, tasting, clean drinking water.
  • Cons
  • Faulty lid. The ineffective filters. Only good at removing large particles, bad smells, chlorine, and foul tastes from water. What it removes is just a fraction of what other models remove. It is not well designed; it tends to fall every time you use the pitcher.

Cons

  • Faulty lid. The ineffective filters. Only good at removing large particles, bad smells, chlorine, and foul tastes from water. What it removes is just a fraction of what other models remove. It is not well designed; it tends to fall every time you use the pitcher.

Brita 10 Cup Grand Water Filter Pitcher

Brita is one of the world’s leading water filter manufacturers. It is best known for its efficient cartridges designed to remove most contaminants in drinking water.

Pros

  • Filter change reminder that notifies you when it is time to change for a new one.
  • Big pitcher. Has the capacity to hold up to 10 cups of water.
  • Excellent filters. They use advanced technology to produce exceptional, tasting, clean drinking water.

Cons

  • Faulty lid. The lid is not well designed; it tends to fall every time you use the pitcher.

What are water filter pitchers?

Water pitchers are a unique type of water solution available on the market. It is self-contained and generates safe drinking water. In addition, they are portable, simple to use, and need little to no upkeep.

Water filter pitchers, as the name implies, include a container in which filtered water is held until dispensing. A typical water pitcher consists of a lid, a top container that houses the filter, and a bottom container that stores drinking water.

How do water pitchers work?

Every water pitcher filters and cleans water in the same way. The process begins by putting tap water into the top container. Next, the water flows through the filter, where it goes through several stages of filtration. The filtered water then gradually drains into the bottom container.

A bypass system allows clean water to depart the pitcher without passing through the filters or the unfiltered water container when pouring the water into a glass.

Who should invest in a water filter pitcher?

Many individuals nowadays use filter pitchers for a variety of causes and benefits. If you can relate to any of the above reasons, you should consider purchasing one.

  1. Investing money in the purchase of clean water

If you frequently buy bottled water, you probably need a water pitcher. Not only will you save money in the long run, but you will also save time spent recycling plastic bottles.

  1. Have a home with more than one member.

Although a whole-house water filter may be a reasonable solution for a household with more than one person, a pitcher is a terrific choice if your household just values clean drinking water.

  1. Desire to live a healthy lifestyle

Another excellent strategy to achieve a healthy lifestyle is to drink clean water. Some water filter pitchers have features such as alkaline increase, which may aid in the absorption of nutrients from the water.

What to look for when purchasing a water filter pitcher

What factors should you consider before purchasing a water filter pitcher for your home?

Material of the Pitcher

The majority of water filtration pitchers are constructed of plastic. As a result, they are lightweight, sturdy, and reasonably priced. However, plastic quality varies from brand to brand, and not all plastics are made equal.

Pitchers made of BPA-free polymers are the most desired material for any water container. These pitchers do not leach chemicals into the water and do not impart a “plastic” flavor to the water.

Contaminant Removal

Most water filter pitchers employ activated charcoal/carbon to capture pollutants, primarily chlorine, to improve water flavor and odor. So, if all you want is a delicious glass of drinking water and aren’t concerned about removing specific toxins for health reasons, a basic filter pitcher is a wonderful alternative.

However, certain products, such as Filtered, will remove at least some potentially harmful contaminants in your water sources, such as lead, chromium 6, and VOCs. So the actual question is, what do you want to achieve?

Before making a purchase, you should also consider getting your water analyzed.

NSF/ANSI Certifications and Testing

Pay close attention to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 testing and certifications. Standard 42 assesses the reduction of chlorine taste and odor in water. Standard 53 applies to pollutants that hurt human health. Heavy metals, organics, and other compounds are examples of them.

Furthermore, the relatively new NSF/ANSI Standard 401 addresses the removal of prescription pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter medications, herbicides, pesticides, and other chemical compounds that can harm our health.

Unfortunately, there haven’t been many water filter systems evaluated against this criterion yet.

NSF/ANSI 244 defines drinking water filters as “the American National Standard establishing benchmark standards for drinking water filters designed to protect against intermittent invasions or inadvertent microbial contamination of public or private drinking water.”

Finally, there is NSF/ANSI protocol P473. It specifies the performance criteria for drinking water treatment units that remove PFOA and PFOS.

Aside from that, NSF/ANSI certifications do not ensure that a specific water filter will remove specific contamination completely, but only to a sufficient level.

What are the NSF filter specifications?

The NSF has established various water filtration standards (if you want to get into the weeds, you can read through them here). But these are the most vital when selecting a water filter for your refrigerator.

  • STANDARD 42 NSF/ANSI

This criterion applies to pollutants that impact aesthetic attributes such as taste and odor but have no direct health impacts. Chlorine and tiny particle matter are two examples.

  • STANDARD NSF/ANSI 53

This standard applies to pollutants linked to adverse health consequences, such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and benzene. The EPA has identified and regulated these pollutants.

  • STANDARD 401 NSF/ANSI

This category includes “emerging pollutants,” substances whose presence in public waters is not yet regulated by the EPA. This group includes medicines, DEET, and BPA.

Important: Just because a brand claims to be certified to NSF standards 42 and 53 does not imply that the brand filters out every single contaminant that falls under NSF standards 42 and 53.

For example, it may filter out a lead but not mercury. Look for the phrase “NSF certified in X number of categories in standards 42 and 53,” as this will give you a better idea of a filter’s effectiveness. Some brands are purposefully ambiguous about this to exaggerate their filters’ performance.

What happens if a filter is not NSF-certified?

Several brands have chosen not to pursue NSF accreditation and instead seek testing through alternative channels.

These brands will often promote that their product has been tested “to meet or exceed NSF standards blank, blank, and blank,” but will not state that they are “NSF certified.”

This allows them to compare tests and outcomes more accurately and weed out brands that may make potentially deceptive promises. But unfortunately, many independent filter makers do not pursue NSF certification for various reasons.

Some argue that it is excessively expensive for small businesses and does not always give a better proof of effectiveness than a reputable private lab. Moreover, testing is only one component of the certification process; the NSF monitors the manufacturing process through frequent factory audits, with any changes requiring retesting and recertification.

This is, without a question, a terrific precaution for customers, but it also introduces logistical and administrative difficulties that may inhibit smaller businesses.

Therefore, we ultimately determined that if a company can provide frequently updated testing from a properly certified lab, we would classify them in a different category so that you, the consumer, could make the final decision.

Association for Water Quality (WQA)

The Water Quality Association, or WQA, is a non-profit organization that provides certification to demonstrate that a product has been evaluated and certified to industry standards.

Manufacturers with a WQA-certified water filter can demonstrate that their product is “built or made from safe materials, test data support the claims given on the package, and the product will withstand regular usage conditions.”

The volume of Water Stored (Jug Size)

The volume of water stored in pitchers is measured in cups. You’ll find models with volumes ranging from 7 to 11 cups on this page. This is equivalent to 0.44 to 0.69 gallons.

A smaller amount necessitates more frequent refills. As a result, a pitcher may not be the best filter for a large home or people with high water demands. Also, remember that you’ll have to wait for the water to pass through the filter after each refill.

Water filter dispensers are frequently the best option in this situation. The two dispensers we discussed above have capacities of 30 and 18 glasses of water, respectively (1.86 respectively, 1.13 gallons).

Both should last a whole day in a two-person household. However, a family of four will most likely require one more replenishment.

Also, while dispensers have a spout, pitchers must be lifted to pour. A full 10-cup pitcher is also pretty weighty. This isn’t a deal breaker for me. However, you may find it inconvenient.

Filtration Rate

Water filter pitchers, like under sink water filters, are not made equal. Some are faster than others. Although, at the same time, quick filtration may appear to be the best way to quench your thirst, keep in mind that complete filtration takes time.

Filter Replacement Frequency 

The initial cost of a pitcher is secondary to us. What counts are the running costs, which are decided by the price of new filters, and the lifespan of the filters:

  • The longevity of a cartridge is determined by its ability to filter water. This decides how frequently you must change it.
  • Capacity ranges from 30 to 40 gallons of filtered water (enough for one or two months) to 200 gallons (enough for up to six months).
  • So, while estimating expenditures, filtering capacity is unquestionably something to consider. For example, a high-quality filter can supply 150 gallons of clean, safe water, whereas a low-cost filter will only last 40 gallons.

By the way, we’re not big fans of filter life indications. Why? Because they are imprecise and typically measure time rather than water usage. We propose simply noting the most recent filter replacement date and estimating your daily water use.

BPA-free materials

You should ensure that all components, particularly the container, are BPA-free. Bisphenol A is a chemical often present in plastics and can leach into water over time.

While the US Environmental Protection Agency currently states that BPA is not regulated, some sources have connected the substance to cancer and believe it can influence the development of fetuses and newborns. Remember to use only BPA-free materials, such as Tritan plastic or glass.

Cost & Manufacturer Warranty

We like water filter systems that include a lifetime warranty and a trial period, sometimes known as a money-back satisfaction guarantee.

In terms of prices, in addition to the original purchase price of a pitcher, you need to consider the cost of replacement filters, which can quickly add up if you have to change filters regularly.

What impurities are removed by water purifier pitchers?

The carbon filter and cartridge filter in a water filter pitcher work together to remove pollutants, heavy metals, compounds that affect odor and taste, certain metals, and sediment.

Water should look cleaner, taste better, and smell better when these impurities have been eliminated.

It should be noted that water purification pitcher filters do not remove all total dissolved solids from water, and pollutants such as nitrates, bacteria, dissolved minerals, and viruses are likely to slip through the filters.

Because filter pitchers are designed to be small and portable, they do not have as many filter combinations as faucet water filters and reverse osmosis filters, which means that certain impurities remain in the water.

  • Cl
  • Chloramine
  • Fluoride
  • Perfluorinated chemicals (PFOA, PFOS)
  • Microplastics
  • Various metals, e.g., arsenic, lead, chromium 6
  • About two dozen pharmaceuticals
  • Herbicides
  • Pesticides
  • 100+ VOCs/semi-volatiles
  • Radiological elements
  • Bacteria, cysts, and other microorganisms

What exactly is a cartridge filter, and how does it function?

Most filter pitchers additionally employ a cartridge filter to remove solid debris from the water, such as silt, metals, and microbes.

Cartridge filters are composed of various materials designed to remove particles of a specific size. The most common cartridge filters are made of polypropylene strands. Filters are measured in microns and range from 1 to 20 microns.

The filter size of the majority of pitchers will be clearly labeled in the product description. Cartridge filters are ineffective in filtering well water that contains a large amount of silt.

It should be noted that in more modern filters, like under-sink or reverse osmosis systems, cartridge filters of varying diameters may be used to remove particles of varying sizes.

Because filter pitchers employ a single cartridge filter to remove particles of a specified size, some smaller particles may still pass through.

When and how to change a water pitcher filter

Often, manufacturers will indicate when it is the right time to change water filters. However, you can change them earlier according to the contamination level of your water source. If your water is heavily contaminated, you will be forced to change them often.

Changing water filters will take up to 10 minutes every 2-3 months, although this can vary depending on your model. 

How it’s done:

  • Fill a bowl with cold water
  • Submerge the new filter into in the water and let it soak for 10 -15 minutes
  • Take the filter out of the water and drain it a bit
  • Put the new filter in the pitcher
  • Fill the pitcher three times and throw away the water to help the carbon filter to activate.
  • The pitcher is now ready to use.

Conclusion

Water filter pitchers are a simple and affordable solution to your drinking water. They are easy to use and ensure your drinking water is clean. Getting one is one way of ensuring you and your family drink clean and healthy water.

Fortunately, there are many brands in the market to consider. Hopefully, this article will help you pick the best water filter pitcher for your home.

Jay

Jay is a health and wellness enthusiast with expertise in water quality and nutrition. As a knowledgeable advocate for holistic well-being, Jay successfully manages Type 2 Diabetes through informed lifestyle choices. Committed to sharing reliable and authoritative insights, Jay combines firsthand experience with a passion for enhancing health."