ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher vs PUR Plus Pitcher
Bottom line
In our scoring the PUR Plus Pitcher comes out ahead at 5.9/10 versus 4.9/10 for the ZeroWater, a one-point gap that mostly comes from running cost. ZeroWater's short 15-gallon filter is its weakest area in our scoring (total cost of ownership 1.0/10), and at about $1.167 per gallon we view it as the worse long-run value despite the identical $24.99 price. ZeroWater's one genuine edge is certified scope: it is the only one of the two with an accredited certification for PFOA and PFOS, so if those are your concern it is the stronger pick. For chlorine, lead and general taste, we rank the PUR Plus the better everyday buy on cost per gallon.
Both of these are 7-cup pour-through pitchers that cost $24.99 up front, so the real gap is what they cost to run. The ZeroWater filter is rated for 15 gallons and works out to about $1.167 per gallon; the PUR Plus filter is rated for 40 gallons and works out to about $0.374 per gallon - roughly a third of the cost. Their certified scopes differ too: ZeroWater carries IAPMO certification for lead, chromium-6, mercury and PFOA/PFOS, while PUR Plus carries NSF and WQA certification for lead, mercury, copper, zinc, cadmium and microplastics. ZeroWater is the only one of the two with an accredited certification for PFOA/PFOS.
| 6 certified / 7 marketed | Certified vs marketed contaminants | 7 certified / 7 marketed |
| 7.0 | Verified Contaminant Reduction35% | 6.0 |
| 1.0 | Total Cost of Ownership25% | 3.5 |
| 8.0 | Certification Independence15% | 10.0 |
| 2.0 | Capacity & Flow Fit15% | 5.0 |
| 7.0 | Practical Fit10% | 7.0 |
FAQ
- Is the ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher (7-Cup) better than the PUR Plus Pitcher (7-Cup)?
- In our scoring the PUR Plus Pitcher (7-Cup) rates 5.9/10 and the ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher (7-Cup) 4.9/10. In our scoring the PUR Plus Pitcher comes out ahead at 5.9/10 versus 4.9/10 for the ZeroWater, a one-point gap that mostly comes from running cost. ZeroWater's short 15-gallon filter is its weakest area in our scoring (total cost of ownership 1.0/10), and at about $1.167 per gallon we view it as the worse long-run value despite the identical $24.99 price. ZeroWater's one genuine edge is certified scope: it is the only one of the two with an accredited certification for PFOA and PFOS, so if those are your concern it is the stronger pick. For chlorine, lead and general taste, we rank the PUR Plus the better everyday buy on cost per gallon.
- Is the ZeroWater pitcher worth the extra running cost?
- In our view, only if you specifically want PFOA/PFOS reduction. ZeroWater is the only one of the two with an accredited certification for PFOA and PFOS, but its 15-gallon filter pushes the cost to about $1.167 per gallon - roughly three times the PUR Plus at $0.374. For chlorine and lead alone, we think the running cost is hard to justify.
- Which pitcher is cheaper to run over time?
- PUR Plus, clearly, in our scoring. Both cost $24.99 to buy, but the PUR filter is rated for 40 gallons versus 15 for ZeroWater, which is why PUR works out to about $0.374 per gallon against $1.167. That gap is the main reason PUR scores 5.9/10 to ZeroWater's 4.9/10.
- Do these pitchers remove the same contaminants?
- No. ZeroWater carries IAPMO certification for chlorine, lead, chromium-6, mercury and PFOA/PFOS. PUR Plus carries NSF and WQA certification for chlorine, lead, mercury, copper, zinc, cadmium and microplastics. They overlap on chlorine, lead and mercury, but each is certified for contaminants the other is not - ZeroWater for chromium-6 and PFOA/PFOS, PUR for copper, zinc, cadmium and microplastics. Certification is not a substitute for testing your own water.