Trying to figure out the best faucet water filter for your home is not an easy task.
From activated carbon to comparable water flow, who’s got the time to try and understand how faucet water filters work? I mean, how could you know which one is best without installing the whole thing?
To make sure you can find the best faucet water filter for your home, I’ve spent four months reviewing, comparing, and ranking the best faucet water filters for your kitchen sink. Here’s what I found.
1. PUR PLUS Horizontal Faucet Mount — 9.5/10 (Best faucet filter for your kitchen sink) — $35
The PUR PLUS PFM400H Horizontal Faucet Mount is the best faucet water filter for your home because of its accessible price point, straightforward installation, and easy-to-replace cartridges. Above all, the system takes first place because of its capacity to filter out over 70 contaminants, including 96% of mercury, 92% of pesticides, and 99% of lead.
Pros
The PUR PLUS Faucet Mount produces the best tasting filtered water of all the faucet water filters I tested. Refreshing and thirst-quenching, it was by far the best tap water filter on the market right now.
This filter system was beyond easy to install, and it screwed onto my kitchen sink water tap without issue, almost like it was specifically made for it. It took me five minutes of configuration before it was up and running.
PUR’s well-known brand meant that locating replacement filter cartridges was a breeze. The filter life was strong, and at $30 to replace them every three months, their maintenance costs were also on par with any Brita faucet water filter.
I was a big fan of PUR’s CleanSensor Monitor display that indicates the filter is due for a swap out. This helps users get the most out of each filter, saving money in the long term.
It’s also effortless to clean, which extends the life of the filter system. Just take the unit apart and give it a reasonable inspection and cleaning. It’s easy to reassemble and reattach when you’re done.
The best thing about this faucet mount filter is the number of impurities it manages to clear from tap water.
For the most part, everyone knows that faucet water filters are considered the outcast of the water filtration industry. Most are flimsy and unreliable and, when it comes down to it, don’t filter out any harmful contaminants at all.
Like most of you, it felt like I was going through faucet filters faster than I was actually pouring water. Finding a faucet filter that delivers the goods felt like an unwinnable ping-pong match.
Then I found the PUR PLUS.
The PUR faucet mount system clears over 70 different types of harmful contaminants from my tap water, and it does this by having a completely reliable filter cartridge. This left me with a well-constructed unit that could be counted on to remove chlorine, lead, mercury, and pesticides from my drinking water supply.
Cons
The overall design of the PUR PLUS leaves a little to be desired. Compared to other tap water filters, this unit is built sideways, which can be an issue if you don’t have a dishwasher. Washing dishes in the sink itself would be pretty tough with the faucet water filter blocking access to the sink itself.
Overall
The PUR PLUS is the best faucet water filter for your home because it actually filters your drinking water, unlike most faucet-mounted systems.
Its uncomplicated installation process, easy-to-find replacement filters, and CleanSensor Monitor display make the PUR PLUS my first choice for the best faucet water filter today.
While its oddly shaped horizontal design can limit your functional sink space, it is, without a doubt, the best filter for clearing tap water of unwanted impurities.
If you want clean, delicious drinking water that comes straight from the tap, without the hassle of complicated setup and hard-to-find replacement cartridges, get The PUR PLUS here.
2. Brita Basic Faucet Filtration System — 7.9/10 (Great-tasting water but incompatible with many faucets) — $57
Brita’s Basic Faucet Filtration System is #2 because it also pours premium water straight into your cup, but sadly, it isn’t functional with spray-style faucets, which is a bummer.
Pros
This faucet filter has a noticeable effect on the taste and clarity of drinking water, making an almost immediate impact. My coffee and tea tasted better than ever, and my fruits and veggies had a bit more flavor after washing them with filtered water.
Installation was a breeze, as is usual with Brita filter systems, and although I did notice flow diminishing as a couple of months passed, but with some fiddling I was able to get my pressure back to where it was when I first installed the Brita faucet filter.
The sediment filter that comes with the Brita system knocked it out of the park, catching quite a bit of sand and dirt that, when viewed up close, scared me a little, knowing that I could have been drinking it.
The Brita faucet offers three convenient spray options—unfiltered water, filtered water, and unfiltered spray. It’s nice to have options, and these do come in handy, since it’s pretty easy to switch between them. Filter replacement cartridges are also straightforward to track down too.
Cons
Although the Brita Basic Faucet Filtration System produces a dependable flow of filtered water, its inability to work on pull-out faucets keeps it from claiming the top spot.
Overall
Brita’s Basic Faucet Filtration System is my #2 recommendation for the best faucet filter because it can deliver mighty fine-tasting water with the twist of a tap.
While it doesn’t remove as many contaminants or work as efficiently as the PUR PLUS, it’s a trustworthy second option.
If you’d like to know more about Brita’s Basic Faucet Filtration System, you can learn more about them on their website here.
3. Culligan Faucet Mount Filter — 7.99/10 (Best for removing chemicals) — $40
Culligan’s FM-25 Faucet Mount Filter is #3 because while it’s not compatible with drop-down faucets and the filter cartridges only last two months, it still does a fantastic job of removing chemicals from drinking water.
Pros
The FM-25 features an activated carbon block as its filter media, which means it’s an absolute beast at removing harmful chemicals like lindane, chlorine, lead, and atrazine with ease. I don’t know about you, but I rest a bit easier knowing I’m not gulping down any of that after I go for a run.
The four-stage system even knocks out turbidity, rust, and microscopic impurities like microplastics, which are becoming a bigger problem every day. Knowing that a faucet filter has the power to prevent drinking plastic is a big-time plus in my books.
I was also able to install this faucet water filter easily, and its filter media cartridge quickly snapped into place, making cleaning and maintenance straightforward. It’s also compatible with most faucet types.
Cons
The biggest strike against the Culligan FM-25 Filter is that its filter cartridges only last for two months. That’s way too short a life span for a faucet water filter, and the cost of six filter replacements across a year is too rich for my blood! It also left a pretty apparent residue that I had to continually clean.
Overall
The Culligan FM-25 Faucet Mount Filter is #3 on my list because while it costs a lot over time to maintain and leaves a bit of residue, it still utilizes activated carbon block and provides above average chemical removal.
While you will remove far more contaminants from your drinking water with the PUR Chrome Horizontal, you can go here to learn more about the Culligan FM-25.
4. DuPont Premier Faucet Water Filter — $24.99
The DuPont WFFM100XCH Premier Faucet Water Filter is a low-priced point filter that doesn’t pull punches when knocking chlorine right out of your household water supply.
Featuring filter media that can reduce sediment, chlorine, cysts, benzene, and asbestos, the Dupont faucet water filter captures far more than most tap-mounted filters.
A couple of downsides to note about the Dupont faucet filter is that it has trouble fitting some taps. It also had a bit of leaking from a faulty O-ring after about a month of use. I replaced the o-ring, and everything was good again, but it was something to note.
With its inability to fit all taps and a worrisome minor leak, you’re far better off going with the PUR PLUS for your faucet filter needs.
5. Waterdrop Water Faucet Filtration System — $21
The long-lasting filter cartridges are undeniably the best part of this middle-of-the-road faucet water filter and a big reason why they claimed the #5 position.
The Waterdrop Water Faucet Filtration System is NSF certified to standards 42, so it can be counted on to remove chlorine and other typical contaminants such as rust, sediment, and other particles. The speed at which this unit filters water is another plus, as I spent very little time waiting for my water bottle to fill up.
What I don’t like about this filter is that it lacked the LED indicator that the other faucet filters were offering, and the installation itself was kind of aggravating because I had to use the adapter for it to fit by tap.
Although it is an excellent little filter, its lack of a filter life sensor and the frustration brought on by the adapter situation put this faucet filter in the fifth position.
6. Engdenton Faucet Water Filter — $100
Looking on point with a very flashy stainless steel exterior, this faucet filter has no problem blending in with your kitchen landscape.
The Engdenton Faucet Water Filter claims to remove 70 harmful contaminants, including 99% of lead found in tap water. Its filter capacity is one of the bigger ones of all the filters tested and can last up to six months, making a big difference in future maintenance costs.
The one thing that concerned me about the Engdenton mounted filter is that it claims to use “PAC technology” to deliver crystal clear water, yet, I couldn’t find any research indicating what “PAC tech” was and how it filtered water. Kind of shady.
Without the ability to back its claims of using proprietary technology to clear your water supply, you’re far better going with the PUR PLUS for your water needs.
7. Instapure F2 ESSENTIALS — $25
The Instapure F2 ESSENTIALS has all kinds of certifications to back up its performance, with it being ANSI/NSF 42 and 372 certified to reduce 97% of chlorine, 99% of lead, and volatile organic compounds.
The F2 is a handy little tap water filter with a low-cost price point and several certifications. Although it doesn’t have an LED sensor, the housing itself is see-through, meaning you can see the filter cartridge, so you know when it needs to be switched out. Installation was a breeze and required zero tools, with instructions that were clear and concise.
The F2 had a couple of significant faults. It started leaking after four weeks of use, and I had to take the unit apart and re-tighten it. I cracked the faucet adapter, which was made of cheap plastic, and I had to order parts to make it work.
Although it has some great water-clearing abilities, the Instapure F2 leaves a lot to be desired in the construction of the unit itself. You’ll be happier if you go with my first choice instead.
8. iSpring Faucet Mount Water — $31
With one of the fastest flow rates of all the faucet filters I tested, the iSpring is the perfect filter for those on the go.
The iSpring DF2-CHR Faucet Mount Water is built for speed. Its ability to produce water with a flow rate of 1.5GPM makes it the fastest pour of all the filters I tested. With a filter life of 500 gallons, this filter is ideal for households without dishwashers.
The biggest flaw of the iSpring is its less than ideal design. Because it’s so bulky and awkward, it got in the way every time I tried to complete the dinner preparation test. As I kept knocking it with my arms, the impact led to the tap mount leaking every time I hit it.
Although it delivers some delicious water, due to its bulky design and its tendency to leak after being knocked, you are way better off investing in the PUR PLUS.
9. pH REGENERATE Faucet Water Filter Purifier — $75
The pH REGENERATE Faucet Water Filter Purifier alkalizes water and adds minerals back into the water supply.
This filter has a couple of cool things to note. It boosts the water’s pH level while filtering it and adds minerals you need, such as zinc, magnesium, and iron, back into your drinking water. It also does a knock-up job of removing heavy metals.
A couple of things are holding the REGENERATE back from climbing my list of the best faucet filters. It is abnormally bulky, and because of that, it won’t be able to fit in a lot of existing kitchen sinks. I could also still smell chlorine in the water, which is not good.
With its inability to knock out chlorine from my water and its incredibly cumbersome design, I have no issues telling you to go with my number one choice!
10. Aibika Water Faucet Filter System — $58
With a solid flow rate of 1.5 GPM, this high-grade faucet filter system certainly gives it an edge over the other filters on my list.
Its flow rate is the star of the show when it comes to his filter. There were no issues with the pour at all, and I was able to fill up my water bottle in seconds. I was also highly pleased with the installation process, which was very simple.
The big downside to the Aibika Water Faucet Filter System is that its filters don’t even come close to lasting six months like the specifications said they would. In fact, by month two, the filter itself looked horrendous, and the flow rate had begun to relax a little.
Although it does pour quickly, its short filtering life and bulky design put it at the bottom of my list.
The Bottom Line
After an intense four months of researching, water balloon fill-ups, and never-ending taste tests, I claim the PUR PLUS as the best faucet water filter for your kitchen sink!
With its ability to knock out over 70 different contaminants and heavy metals, the PUR faucet water filter delivers some of the best water poured from my laboratory tap.
Its price point, replacement cartridges, and ease of use point to a long life span and years of incredibly filtered water for cooking, cleaning, and drinking.
Although it is a bit bulkier, it in no way kept me from completing my tasks in the kitchen and shouldn’t be an issue in your kitchen either.
If you want a faucet water filter with a reasonable price point that delivers contaminant-free water and is easy to set up and install, get the PUR PLUS now.
Methodology
I always get asked how I go about compiling my “best of” lists, so today I’m going to pull back the curtains so you can see how I managed the faucet water filter testing process and how I arrived at my number one choice.
Step 1: A big list of every available product
Like most of my product evaluations, I started by creating a mega list of 30 different faucet-mounted filters. Yeah, you heard me right, 30! Who even thought 30 faucet water filter offerings were on the market?
I got so excited about the prospect of list-making that I picked up the phone and started to call all my friends and acquaintances to see if they knew of any filters I hadn’t thought about yet.
Yeah, two a.m. was not the right time to do that.
Step 2: Online reviews
After my friends had forgiven me for calling them so late, and I went back to sleep for a few hours, I took my list of 30 different faucet water filters and headed over to the local library to access the internet.
I began scouring the internet, seeking all the faucet water filter reviews I could find about the many different filtration systems available for your kitchen sink. Online reviews can be a great place to get a fundamental understanding of product performance over time.
After consulting over 200 online reviews, I cut out 15 different faucet-mounted filters due to shoddy performance, weak flow rates, cheap housing units, etc.
Step 3: Product analysis
To gain a better understanding of faucet-mounted filter systems, I had to ask some pretty hard-hitting questions like:
- Can you even get quality filtered water from faucet water filters?
- Can I achieve a reasonable flow rate with one of these things?
- Aren’t faucet water filters only allowed in grandma’s houses?
- How much water will I have to drink to find the best water filter?
- How often will I knock the faucet mount water filter off the tap?
- Is the difference between filtered and unfiltered water even noticeable with tap water filters?
Step 4: Interviews with real customers
At this point, I knew that to find the top faucet water filters out there, I would have to talk to the people who’ve been living with these faucet mount filters for the past few years.
I reached out to 50 real customers of each water filtration system by email and sat back and waited for a response. Faster than you could say “faucet water filter system,” I heard my email thingy start beeping.
Low and behold, people wanted to talk about their thoughts on who has the best faucet water filters.
I garnered a 25% response rate and conducted my interviews accordingly. From replacement filters to overall filter life, I gained a better understanding of how these faucet mount water filters have changed these people’s lives.
With all my new insight, I slashed five more faucet water filtration systems from my list.
Step 5: Interviews with PUR, Brita, and Culligan
For my next step, my journey through tap water filtration was about to get a whole lot more corporate.
I put on my best red tie and started randomly booking Zoom meetings with phone numbers and contact information I could pull from the top faucet-mounted water filters websites, and guess what? Three companies actually dialed into the sessions!
After chatting for 15 minutes with each customer service agent who hopped on Zoom with me, I finalized my list of 10. It was time to determine which one was the top water filter system for my kitchen sink.
Step 6: Test drives
Most faucet water filters show their true colors in my famous Water Filter Installation Laboratory, so I took the top 10 filters there and installed each filter housing.
I grouped each water filtration system by filter type, starting with the activated carbon water filter first and installing each sink water filter on its own water hookup. Faucet water filter installation should be easy, and for the most part, there were no issues to report.
After installing the water filter faucet, I turned on each unit and let the water flow.
What followed was four months of extensive water quality sampling, flow rate testing, and comparing filter elements to determine which faucet-mounted water filter was indeed the best.
Step 7: Ratings
When it came to assigning a rating to each faucet mount water filter that I tested, I kept these essential questions in mind:
- Are the filter cartridge replacements always available for reorder?
- How long is the filter life of each filter cartridge?
- Does it have an activated carbon filter, or does it rely strictly on a stainless steel screen?
- How easy is it to replace each filter cartridge?
- Is a plastic housing safe, or should I seek a stainless steel option?
- Is a filter change sensor that important?
Best Faucet Water Filter for Your Kitchen Sink
After four months of extensive research and testing in my Water Filter Installation Laboratory, I am confident in revealing my number one choice for your home’s finest faucet water filter.
I choose the PUR PLUS Chrome Horizontal Faucet Mount as my number one choice because it has the best tasting water of all my test subjects and is the easiest to install.
The PUR filter is the number one choice for tap water filtration because it consistently delivered great-tasting water to my kitchen sink and knocked out over 70 contaminants while doing so!
- Easy sink faucet installation, so you can immediately start drinking from your tap filter
- Removal of over 70 contaminants, so you have access to only the finest tap water
- Removal of chlorine and other heavy metals, improving the overall quality of your water
While it might be considered a rather dull, odd look, the PUR PLUS is still the best bang for your buck for finding a suitable filtration process for your home. Its water quality is simply the best.
If you want a faucet water filter that will install quickly, require low maintenance, and produce great tasting water every time you turn on the tap, get the PUR PLUS Horizontal Faucet Mount now.
