Showers and long baths are supposed to cleanse and relax you, a distraction from the chaotic reality we call daily life. But it can quickly become a nightmare if your water is full of nasty contaminants like sediment and microorganisms.
If you don’t have a whole-house water filter installed, your next best bet for getting clean water in your shower is to install a shower filter. But you don’t just want any filter, you want the best one. Here are the nine best shower filters for homes with high concentrations of chlorine.
1. Aquasana AQ-4100 Deluxe Shower Water Filter (9.85/10)
- Eco-friendly and certified
- $69.99
The Aquasana point-of-use shower filter holds nothing back when it comes to water filtration quality. The product removes more than 90% of chlorine from your water, protecting your skin and your lungs from its dangerous effects, as well as restoring your water’s delicate pH balance. Also, you know the product is legit when it has the most authentic certifications.
All this makes AQ-4100 the best shower filter on my list.
Pros
There are a few filters that perform well in all departments. Be it filtration, installation, maintenance, cost, or even environmental effects, the AQ-4100 offers the best overall performance.
Unlike other shower filters, Aquasana has patented a filtration technology that uses coconut shell and copper-zinc medium to filter contaminants. The brand claims that coconut can naturally capture chlorine, and the copper-zinc combo targets the harmful synthetic chemicals as well.
Coconut shell carbon and copper-zinc media doesn’t just filter chlorine, though that’s what it’s best at. It can also remove VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and TOC (total organic carbon). While showerhead filters are not as effective at removing heavy metals as a whole-house water softener, if you’re in an area that doesn’t have a serious hard water problem, this shower water filter will do the trick.
The AQ-4100 has a 2.5-GPM flow rate, and it remains steady throughout the filter life of six months.
You’ll like the options that come with this model. You can use your existing showerhead with this in-line filter, or choose from the Aquasana showerhead and showerhead wand. The showerhead is of nice quality and has multiple spray options.
It’s easy to install and takes a few minutes of handy work. All you need is some pliers, a plumber’s tape, and the instruction manual. Once installed, you might need to flush the filter before taking a bath.
Replacing the filter cartridge is really convenient and barely requires any effort. The whole setup is lightweight and fixes up quickly with standard pipes.
Just like any responsible customer, I make sure my filters come with all the top-of-the-line safety certifications. Fortunately, the Aquasana shower filter complies with NSF/ANSI standards. To put the cherry on top, the brand also gives a 90-day money-back guarantee and a one-year product warranty.
What I really like about the brand is its efforts for environmentally friendly ventures. First, it uses coconut-based filter media with a net zero carbon footprint. Second, Aquasana is a member of the “Water For Life” initiative, which makes all customers eligible for a 15% discount, free shipping, and extended warranties.
Cons
The AQ-4100 is at the pricier end of the spectrum at $69.99. The filter lasts for six months, which is decent, but its replacement will set you back $59.99. You’ll spend more per year on replacement filters than you did on the device. Of course, if the alternative is showering in chlorine, it’s worth it.
The only other downside I see in this product is its design. This shower filter may seem a little bulky and doesn’t blend in with regular decor. That being said, I think the chrome variant is a much better option when it comes to aesthetics. Though, it may come with a slight price hike.
Overall
Overall, the product delivers what it claims—clean water for safe and healthy showers. It’s the best shower filter for city supply water. The Aquasana AQ-4100 removes most of the nasty contaminants, even if it’s not effective against hard water.
If you need a shower water filter and you want a well-made model that does what it says it will, you can buy the Aquasana AQ-4100 here.
2. AquaBliss Shower Filter SF100 (8.50/10)
- Effective and affordable but lacks certifications
- $35.86
The AquaBliss SF100 has an extremely effective multistage filtration and is easy to install, making it a convenient choice.
Pros
An in-line filter, the SF100 has a universal fitting that can be attached to most standard shower pipes, between the shower outlet pipe and your showerhead. Some people prefer in-line filters because they can keep their existing showerhead.
The water goes through a twelve-stage filter, which says a lot about its filtering abilities. It has an activated carbon filter, redox media, steel mesh, and calcium sulfite membrane. It’s also designed to maintain a steady water flow. At no point did I notice a substantial drop in water pressure.
This filter targets dirt, chlorine, and trihalomethane, which are toxic to our hair and body. It also regulates the pH level of your water, which is great for sensitive skin and hair. The SF100 makes a valiant effort at removing hard water, but because of the regeneration process necessary to softening water, this effect is brief if anything. Still, my tests showed improved quality and softer water.
AquaBliss also claims to revitalize your water by adding healthy minerals like vitamin C to the mix. There is also some talk about a shower feature that involves magnetic therapy, but I think it’s more of a marketing gimmick because it lacks scientific evidence.
The filters last the standard six months, but if your water supply has a higher concentration of sediment, it can shorten the life-span to four months.
The SF100 is priced at $35.86 with free shipping across the US on orders above $20. The filter lasts for four to six months and the replacement filter costs $15.99, which is quite reasonable. AquaBliss offers a one-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee on all its products.
Cons
The company claims that this product has an external testing certification by the FDA, which is odd considering the FDA doesn’t certify filters.
Anyhow, I would be more satisfied with the quality if the product had some NSF certification. It’s worth noting that certification isn’t necessary for a shower filter, but it certainly speaks volumes about product quality.
Overall
The AquaBliss has a multistage filtration process that removes many harmful elements. While the product lacks proper certification, it’s a reliable second option.
If you’d like to explore more about AquaBliss shower filters, visit its website here.
3. Berkey Shower Filter (7.45/10)
- Best filter life span
- $70
Berkey is a popular brand when it comes to water filters. The new point-of-use shower filter by Berkey has a high filtration capacity with the largest lifespan, but it’s a bit pricier than other filters on my list.
Pros
I like the Berkey shower filter because of its effective filtration process. It’s a US-based company that specializes in water filtration. This specific product uses redox reaction and copper-zinc mechanism to reduce chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, and other harmful chemicals from showers.
The result I got from my testing was also satisfactory, although still subpar to Aquasana’s AQ-4100. So, you can expect a healthy bath without worrying about filtration quality.
The Berkey in-line shower filter does come with its own (optional) showerhead that has a nice spray and doesn’t clog up even with high sediment concentration. The showerhead has soft spikes that you can use to message your head.
It’s easy to install, and the design is pretty aesthetic. Moreover, it lasts for one whole year or 20,000 gallons, whichever comes first.
Frankly, that’s the best life-span you can get in the market. The shower filter costs $70, and the replacement $42.99.
Cons
The Berkey system ranked third on my list because it falls short of my expectations in a few areas. First, the flow rate of this shower filter is quite low at 1.75 GPM. It works well under normal circumstances but can pose a problem if water pressure decreases in your pipes.
Second, the brand claims to have met the NSF/ANSI standards but isn’t actually certified. The wording seems subtle, but the devil is in the details.
Overall
Berkey shower filters are high-quality, low-maintenance, and safe shower filters for healthy baths. However, due to a lower flow rate and certification, it falls behind the Aquasana AQ-4100 shower filter. Learn more about it here.
4. Aroma Sense Vitamin C AS-701ST Shower Filter
Next up on my list is the Aroma sense vitamin C filter. As obvious from the name, this handheld shower filter infuses water with aroma and vitamin C, making your bath kind of like aromatherapy. It has a stylish design that complements the high-end decor.
Aroma sense uses a vitamin C cartridge which, as they claim, promotes healthy skin and hair. You get to choose between plenty of aromas, such as citrus, lemon, vanilla, jasmine, and lavender. However, if you are sensitive to scents, this may not be for you, as the aroma can get intense.
It also uses a negative ionizer and chlorine-removing filter media. During my testing, the results were, at best, average and definitely below the top three on my list. The AS-701ST can also capture rust if your piping system is old.
The water flow is amazing and was close to 2.5 GPM. There was no clogging, even with high dust, debris, and sediment concentration.
The brand talks about quality but doesn’t have any certification from NSF or ANSI, which is disappointing.
The Aroma Sense is also the most expensive product on my list. The standalone in-line filter costs $95, and the replacement filters come in a pack of three, costing $45. It needs a replacement every six months. The cost is ridiculously high, considering Aroma Sense doesn’t offer any refunds.
5. Culligan WSH-C125 Wall-Mount Filtered Showerhead
The Culligan WSH-C125 has a sleek design and efficient filtration. It’s also the last filter on my list that is made in the USA.
What’s unique about this is that it has a built-in filter instead of a separate in-line filter, which makes it really compact.
It targets chlorine and sulfur odor effectively. However, its efficiency lowers after three months of use. Also, there was no significant difference in TDS (total dissolved solids) score of filtered water. If your water is riddled with contaminants, you might want to buy a shower filter with better filtration.
The maximum flow rate you’ll get with this is 1.8 GPM. A slight decrease in regular water pressure can slow the shower flow.
Still, this product’s quality is better than most shower filters you’ll find on the market. The Culligan WSH-C125 is certified by IAPMO & RT, a private quality inspection agency.
This shower filter will cost you $59.99, and replacements are available at $29.99 and last for six months. It’s a tad expensive since you also have to bear the shipping cost. The brand does offer a one-year warranty, though.
6. Miniwell’s shower filter L720-PH
Miniwell is a Chinese brand that makes high-quality shower filters. Being a foreign brand might be a turn-off for some, but I can assure you the quality of this shower filter is on par with local products.
It uses activated carbon filters to remove chlorine. Apart from chlorine, it claims to work best against hard water and sediment-contaminated water. The thing is, showerhead water softeners don’t actually work longer than a few days or weeks. They simply don’t have the capacity for ion-exchange technology, the only proven method for softening water. Even if they can remove heavy metals at first, this function quickly weakens without regeneration.
The Miniwell shower filter is easy to install, but the replacement doesn’t go as smoothly after considerable usage. The built-up limescale makes it harder to remove the plastic cap, which may crack if not handled with care.
This shower filter has an SGS certification that is applaudable considering its foreign origin.
Miniwell L720-PH is priced at $69.98, and replacement filters cost at least $17.99 and last for six months. The brand offers no free shipping or warranty.
7. iSpring SF1S Shower Filter
The iSpring shower filter is a good choice if you are tight on budget and your water supply doesn’t require hardcore filtration. The SF1S shower filter uses 15-stage filtration, including a vitamin replenishment feature.
With multistage filtration, I expected water quality that outclasses the rest, but its performance was meager at best. Anyhow, the flow rate remained steady after prolonged use, and the installation was quite easy.
The brand claims to have certified products, but I didn’t find any proof. It’s light on the pocket and costs only $25.99. The filter lasts for six to nine months and is priced at $13.99.
Though inexpensive, it’s not wise to compromise your health just to save a few bucks. If you want better value for money, try out the Aquasana AQ-4100 instead.
8. BWDM Filtered Shower Head
A BWDM shower filter is best if you have heavily chlorinated water. It uses an activated carbon filter to trap contaminants. However, if you have higher sediment, heavy metals, and organic contamination, this filter may not be a good choice.
BWDM has a compact design like the Culligan WSH-C125 I reviewed above. The filter is built into the showerhead, so it’s much better visually than in-line shower filters.
It’s easy to install and doesn’t require many tools. However, I noticed leakage after prolonged use. The company needs to work on the quality of this product.
This shower water filter is not certified by the NSF. BWDM filters have an average life of six months but will probably give out earlier, if reviews are anything to go by. It costs $19.98, but the brand offers no warranty or free shipping. That’s expected at this price range.
9. ADOVEL High Output Shower Filter
Last on my list is ADOVEL’s high-output shower filter that utilizes a multistage filter to clean water. When it comes to looks, it has one of the coolest designs. But the water quality is inferior to the top five filters on my list.
Also, multistage filtration is a double-edged sword because it can slow down the flow rate. I had to backwash this filter a couple of times after extended use. Not ideal if you are looking for a relaxing and hassle-free bath.
The showerhead costs $48.45, and filter elements are priced at $15, which you need to replace twice every year.
The Bottom Line
I have reviewed nine shower filters based on their features, performances, quality, lifespan, and cost. Aqusana’s AQ-4100 takes the lead on all fronts and is my number one recommendation for shower filters.
What you may like best about this is its superb filter technology, a combination of coconut shell and copper/zinc membrane. It’s highly effective against chlorine and synthetic chemicals. It even reduces fluoride in water, which is a rare find. The only filter that came close is the Aquabliss’ SF-100.
Aquansa AQ-4100 also has a consistent flow rate and doesn’t clog up after prolonged use. It can work perfectly well between 30–80 PSI.
It costs around $69.99, which is a bit pricey, but free shipping and an extended warranty make up for it.
My only reservation with the product is its bulky design. However, it doesn’t interfere with the installation and changing of the filter.
Overall, it’s a good value for money. If you want a showerhead filter that comes with certifications and guarantees, get it here.
Best Shower Filter Research Methodology
Sorting out the best shower filter for healthy and safe baths isn’t a walk in the park. So, to make things manageable, I devised a seven-step research methodology. Here is how I did it.
Step 1: Make a list of shower filters
I started by shopping online for popular shower filters with high-ranking and verified purchases. Then I visited a home improvement store to see what popular brands are available locally. Finally, I chose eleven shower filters from the options I deemed had potential.
Step 2: Product analysis
There are so many brands claiming to be the perfect filter that it got me confused. So, I came up with a few scoring factors to judge my available options.
- Types: in-line only, in-line with showerhead, in-line with handheld showerhead
- Target contamination: chlorine, sediment, sulfur odor, fluoride, organic compounds
- Flow rate
- Product quality
- Installation and maintenance
- Certification (NSF/ANSI)
- Cost
- Showerhead filter life
- Warranty
Based on the above factors, I gave initial scores to the 11 shower water filters on my list.
Step 3: Online reviews
Once I got my preliminary scoring, I again hopped on the internet and read what people had to say about the products. I learned a lot from people’s experiences, and some of the comments helped me gain a deeper insight into what makes a shower filter the best. I also went through the reviews on CNN, Gizmodo, and Good Housekeeping.
Step 4: Interviews with real customers
Online reviews had some great insights, but there are tons of fake comments and biased sponsored content out there. So, I interviewed real customers and noted down their experiences. I included all this information in my scoring plan.
Step 5: Interviews with shower filter brands
Until now, I had a pretty good idea about different shower filter brands and what they offered. Moreover, I also had information about their customers’ frequent complaints. There is also this issue with false certification claims.
So, I hopped on a call with their customer service departments and asked them about my concerns. As expected, some brands were quite open about their policy and cleared my doubts, while others were unresponsive. This helped me score the shower filters even better.
Step 6: Test drives
Finally, it was time to test and see what these shower filters were really made of. I designed a small testing rig to test shower filters.
I ran each through the cycle of 10,000 gallons of water. At roughly 1.8–2.5 GPM of flow rate, the test lasted for 72 hours (three days). I frequently took out the sample and tested it for chlorine, sediments, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, fluoride, and iron. This is when I realized that showerhead filters really can’t do much for hard water.
By the way, before you jump down my throat for wasting so much water, I want to make it clear that all of it was recycled and put to good use.
I observed filtration quality, flow rates, and life-span of shower filters. Once I got the results, I had all the data to finalize the ranking.
Step 7: Ranking
At the beginning of the research, I started with 11 shower filters, but after rigorous scrutiny, only nine filters made the final cut. So, I used the following parameters to rank the best shower filter for healthy and safe baths.
- Test results
- Overall filter costs, including replacements
- Filter life and ease of installation
- Authenticity of certifications
- Steady flow rate
- Customer reviews
- Customer service
- Product warranty
It took a while, but I finally had a list of the nine best shower filters, from best to worst, that you can choose from based on valid research.
The Best Shower Filter
Aquasana’s AQ-4100 is the best shower filter with high performance and quality that targets multiple contaminants.
Others come close, such as the Aquabliss and Berkey shower filters, but they don’t hold a candle to the Aquasana AQ-4100.
Here are some features that made our top pick unique.
- Superior filtration
- Longer life-span
- NSF-certified components
- Eco-friendly coconut shell filter
- Budget friendly
If you want a shower filter that treats chlorine, sulfur odor, and myriad synthetic chemicals, then the Aqusana AQ-4100 is the best bet.
And if you’re interested in learning more about different water filters, we offer a diverse selection of articles that delve into various options and their functionalities. Here are a few articles you can explore:
Is it possible for a showerhead filter to soften the water? Can it replace a water softener?
Hello Rob, You asked a very good question. There are many shower filters to choose from. The main benefit of these add-on devices is removal of chlorine disinfectants and odors. Shower filters are too small to work with traditional water softening ion-exchange resin.The resin would be used up in one shower session. A whole home water softener uses a large resin tank. The tall tank is required to achieve the long contact time between the water and the resin, which is required to remove the hardness minerals. Shower filters are very small and do not contain a lot of filter media. Some models use non-traditional “softening” media that conditions the water so hardness scale is reduces in the shower. But this type of filter does not remove the minerals from the water. A whole home water softener is the best option if you are concerned about the negative effects of water hardness on water heaters, coffee makers, plumbing fixtures, etc.