A Review of the Best Gravity Countertop Water Filter Systems. I have selected three of the top-selling countertop water filtration systems to review in a range of prices to make finding the right one for your needs a little easier. These are all gravity water filters, so no electricity is needed. These filters are all from different manufacturers, which makes it hard to figure out which is the best filter to choose. Starting today, however, that should no longer be a problem, as you can simply reference the products included below, a list of the best filters on the market.
Water Filter Ratings
Keep your drinking water safe and great-tasting with simple pitchers that can remove off-tastes and odors.
View our ratings and reviews, and browse our buying guide to find the best water filters for your home.
Water Filter Pitchers (6)
The best model we tested did a stellar job of removing chlorine without sacrificing cartridge life or flow rate. Some others are slow, are prone to clogging, and have a short filter life.
Recommended Water Filter Pitchers Water Filter Pitchers Ratings
Under-Sink Water Filters (7)
Like countertop filters, these can filter lots of water. Instead of cluttering the counter, they rob space from the cabinet beneath the sink.
Recommended Under-Sink Water Filters Under-Sink Water Filters Ratings
Reverse Osmosis Water Filters (5)
Using standard household water pressure, water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane, then through filters. Reverse osmosis filters can remove a wide range of contaminants, including dissolved solids.
Recommended Reverse Osmosis Water Filters Reverse Osmosis Water Filters Ratings
Faucet-Mounted Water Filters (2)
If you're looking for easy installation, these are a good choice for filtering drinking and cooking water.
Recommended Faucet-Mounted Water Filters Faucet-Mounted Water Filters Ratings
Countertop Water Filters (4)
These filters are also easy to install: Just remove the faucet aerator, then screw the filter onto the faucet. This allows you to filter large quantities of water without modifying your plumbing.
Recommended Countertop Water Filters Countertop Water Filters Ratings
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Purify Your Drinking Water With the Best Water Filter
We test, evaluate, and compare the latest water filters for safety and reliability.
Water Filters Buying Guide
Water filters can improve the taste of your water, and they may even protect you from harmful contaminants, such as lead. Our tests of water filter pitchers found a couple of options suitable for removing lead and a few models that can improve the smell and flavor of your tap water.
Recently Tested
Recently Tested Water Filters
See our full list of water filter ratings.
Up & Up (Target)
10 Cup Water Filtration Pitcher 1026418
We’re 60 percent water — make sure it’s the good stuff
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The Best Budget Filter
FM-25 Faucet Mount Water Filter
How We Found the Best Water Filters
12 water filters tested
May 28, 2019 - The Mavea Elemaris XL, our pick for the Best Pitcher Filter, has been discontinued. We’re removing it from our top picks and recommending the PUR Ultimate Horizontal Water Filter instead due to its NSF-401-certified filter.
The Best Water Filters
The best water filter for you depends on what's in your water — and what you want gone. Weird taste? Bad smell? Scary contaminants? We talked with filter designers and water experts, determined the most important certifications, analyzed long-term costs, and poured a lot of water to find dependable filters that live up to their claims.
The 2 Best Water Filters
PUR 3-Stage Horizontal Water Filtration Faucet Mount -
The Best Water Filter
Culligan FM-25 Faucet Mount Water Filter -
The Best Budget Filter
The Best Water Filters: Summed Up
PUR 3-Stage Horizontal Water Filtration Faucet Mount
Culligan FM-25 Faucet Mount Filter
The best
Water filter
Budget filter
Price
$60
Starting at $31
Filter type
Faucet
Faucet
Filter life (gallons)
100
200
Filter price
$26.99 (pack of 3)
Starting at $12.59
PUR 3-Stage Horizontal Water Filtration Faucet Mount
PUR 3-Stage Horizontal Water Filtration Faucet Mount
Fresh water from the faucet with a simple click.
Cons Bulky Cheap material
Why we chose it
Easy to install
The PUR has “one-click” installation technology — all you have to do is hold down a few buttons on the side of the unit, press it up to your faucet, and let go, and the faucet mounts nice and tight.
NSF-401-certified
Of the five faucet filters we tested, PUR was the only one that is NSF-401-certified. It’s capable of filtering microbiological and pharmaceutical contaminants like bacteria, herbicides, and ibuprofen. While the risk from these contaminants is low, the certification is still reassuring.
Points to consider
Bulky
The PUR is a downright giant. When we did dishes, the PUR was always in the way. Anyone without the luxury of a dishwasher might have to navigate around the faucet attachment whenever they’re rinsing the dishes.
Cheap material
When we first took it out of the box, the PUR looked pretty with its stainless steel finish, but it felt cheap because it was just metallic film over plastic. Many reviewers complained that after some use, the housing of the PUR filter cracked or leaked water. PUR has handled this feedback by offering a metal adapter attachment for free to customers who had any problems and offering a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee; however, it’s an inconvenience that’s hard to ignore.
Culligan FM-25 Faucet Mount Water Filter
Culligan FM-25 Faucet Mount Water Filter
A cheap filter that looks and works well.
Cons Weaker filter
Why we chose it
Price
Depending on the finish you choose, the Culligan comes out to half the cost of the PUR, with comparably priced replacement filters. That’s not to say it sacrifices quality; the Culligan is made of real metal, and it has a uniquely compact look. As such, it feels like an actual part of a sink, not like a shiny, plastic barnacle. Unlike the PUR, it doesn’t impede dish washing and it integrates well with any existing design.
Useful features
The filter trigger is a metal pin: Pull it out and wait for the water to flow through. It takes longer to trigger than the plastic switches on the PUR or Brita, but it also feels like it’ll outlast them. Turn off the faucet and the filter defaults back to unfiltered water — a handy feature that’s unique among its competitors.
Points to consider
Weaker filter
Our biggest complaint about the Culligan is the shorter list of NSF-53 contaminants it filters out. It only catches four: lead, atrazine, cysts, and/or turbidity. That’s part of the reason the filter lasts as long as it does — it just doesn’t have to work as hard. The filter is still certified-safe, and you’ll receive good-tasting water, but know that you’ll be getting a few more contaminants than with our other picks.
How to Find the Right Water Filter for You
Read your municipal water quality report
You won’t know what you need to filter out of your water until you know what’s in it. Your municipal water service is required to report on the most common contaminants in your water — just give them a call. The EPA also has a helpful online database with this information, or you can ask for a copy of your water utility’s annual report.
Look into a free lead test
If you’re worried about lead leaching from your pre-1986 pipes, see if your utility offers free lead tests. For drinkable water, look for a water filter that indicates the ability to filter out lead. Many with carbon filters can, including our faucet top picks.
“When in doubt,” Beeman says, “run your water through the filter two or three times. It’s all about contact time — the longer your water runs through the filter, the higher the chance the bad stuff will get filtered out.”
Compare ongoing costs
Even though a water filter may seem like a one-time investment, you will also have to purchase replacement filters every three to six months. Before choosing a water filter, look at filter lifespans and the cost of replacements. If you have a lot of people in your household, filters will need to be replaced more frequently — so it’s wiser to choose a pitcher or faucet with cheap replacement filters.
Water Filter FAQ
No. Not all activated carbon filters can remove lead. If lead is a concern in your household, check the manufacturer’s website or product description of any water filter you’re considering to ensure that it can meet your needs.
Continued use of the same filter could lead to black specks appearing in your water. In the case of a Brita filter, these specks are activated charcoal, the main filtration component. Impurities stick to the charcoal but, over time, they break away and can end up in your water. Faucet filters can experience a similar decline in water quality if they are not changed.
The need for a water filter depends on your living situation and your preference in the overall taste of your water. If your water quality is well within acceptable margins, you may not need to purchase a water filter. Check with your municipal water service to learn more about the overall quality of the water in your area.