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FilterScored

Water · Best-of

Best Water Filter for Microplastics

Bottom line

In our scoring, the Brita Elite Pitcher (10-Cup) leads at a composite of 8.4 - it pairs a verified microplastics certification with a wide certified contaminant list including lead, mercury, PFOA, and PFOS, all at a low cost per gallon. The AquaTru Classic Countertop RO is our runner-up for households that also want certified fluoride and arsenic reduction.

If you want to cut microplastics from tap water, the filter has to be certified for that job, not just marketed for it. For this list we include only filters with an accredited certification covering microplastics on a public database (NSF, WQA, or IAPMO) - a label that says "tested to NSF standards" earns no credit here. Microplastics are particles the EPA and other agencies are still studying, which is why we lean on certified particulate and contaminant reduction rather than marketing claims. The ranking below reflects our scoring under our published rubric.

How we score: We require an accredited microplastics certification verifiable on an official database (NSF, WQA, or IAPMO), then rank every qualifying filter by its composite score under our rubric. Filters without a verified microplastics certification do not appear on this page.

  1. 18.4
    Brita Elite Pitcher (10-Cup)

    The Brita Elite Pitcher (10-Cup) is a pitcher water filter. It is third-party certified (WQA/NSF/IAPMO) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury, cadmium, asbestos, benzene, particulates, PFOA, PFOS, microplastics. Running cost works out to about $0.167 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury, cadmium, asbestos, benzene, particulates, PFOA, PFOS, microplastics
    • Cartridge life: 120 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.167
  2. 27.5
    AquaTru Classic Countertop RO

    The AquaTru Classic Countertop RO is a ro water filter. It is third-party certified (IAPMO) to reduce lead, PFOA, PFOS, fluoride, arsenic, chromium-6, nitrate, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, VOCs, microplastics. Running cost works out to about $0.287 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: lead, PFOA, PFOS, fluoride, arsenic, chromium-6, nitrate, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, VOCs, microplastics
    • Cartridge life: 600 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.287
  3. 37.2
    Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-Sink

    The Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-Sink is a under sink water filter. It is third-party certified (WQA) to reduce lead, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, PFOA, PFOS, VOCs, mercury, asbestos, cysts, MTBE, microplastics, pharmaceuticals. Running cost works out to about $0.148 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: lead, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, PFOA, PFOS, VOCs, mercury, asbestos, cysts, MTBE, microplastics, pharmaceuticals
    • Cartridge life: 500 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.148
  4. 47.0
    Brita Faucet Mount (FF-100)

    The Brita Faucet Mount (FF-100) is a faucet water filter. It is third-party certified (WQA) to reduce lead, chlorine taste and odor, asbestos, benzene, VOCs, microplastics. Running cost works out to about $0.180 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: lead, chlorine taste and odor, asbestos, benzene, VOCs, microplastics
    • Cartridge life: 100 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.180
  5. 56.4
    PUR Plus Faucet Mount (PFM400H)

    The PUR Plus Faucet Mount (PFM400H) is a faucet water filter. It is third-party certified (NSF) to reduce lead, chlorine taste and odor, mercury, asbestos, benzene, microplastics, pesticides. Running cost works out to about $0.250 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: lead, chlorine taste and odor, mercury, asbestos, benzene, microplastics, pesticides
    • Cartridge life: 100 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.250
  6. 65.9
    PUR Plus Pitcher (7-Cup)

    The PUR Plus Pitcher (7-Cup) is a pitcher water filter. It is third-party certified (NSF/WQA) to reduce chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury, copper, zinc, cadmium, microplastics. Running cost works out to about $0.374 per gallon.

    • Certified to reduce: chlorine taste and odor, lead, mercury, copper, zinc, cadmium, microplastics
    • Cartridge life: 40 gallons
    • Cost per gallon: $0.374

FAQ

Can a water filter really remove microplastics?
Some can, and the way to confirm it is an accredited certification listed on a public database (NSF, WQA, or IAPMO) that names microplastics. Every filter on this page carries that verified certification. We never credit a filter that is only 'tested to' a standard, because that is not the same as being certified to it.
Which filter format is best for microplastics?
In our view the format matters less than the certification. Our top pick, the Brita Elite Pitcher, is a pitcher, while our runner-up, the AquaTru Classic, is a countertop reverse-osmosis unit. Both hold a verified microplastics certification, so we rank them on composite score rather than format alone.
Why is the Brita Elite Pitcher ranked first?
In our scoring it earns the highest composite (8.4) of all microplastics-certified filters we list. It combines a verified microplastics certification with a broad certified contaminant scope - including lead, mercury, cadmium, PFOA, and PFOS - at a low cost per gallon, which is why we rank it our top pick.

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