Is the Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink NSF certified, and does it remove lead or PFAS?

We found no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification for it in the public databases - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications, so we award no certification credit. It is marketed for lead but we found no accredited lead certification. It is marketed for PFAS but we found no accredited PFAS certification.

Is the Clearly Filtered 3-stage system NSF certified?

It is independently tested to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, and 401 protocols by an accredited lab, but that is testing to those standards rather than a third-party NSF certification.

Does it affect water pressure?

All three filters are replaced together at up to about 2,000 gallons (about 9 to 15 months), and the system typically reduces cold-water flow by roughly 25 to 35 percent.

Water filter · under-sink

Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink

Name: Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink
Brand: Clearly Filtered

A three-stage under-sink system the brand says targets 232+ contaminants, but its performance is lab-tested to NSF protocols rather than third-party certified.

1.7/ 10

Limited

Composite (0-10), water-v1.0

Confidence: Verified

Bottom line

In our scoring the Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink earns 1.7/10, a weak result. On the data, we found no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification, so its contaminant claims are unverified. It works out to about $0.198 per gallon, a middling cost per gallon. Our main catch: marketed for lead removal but not NSF/53 certified for lead.

Flags

· Marketed for lead removal but not NSF/53 certified for lead.
· Marketed for PFAS removal but not certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
· No third-party certification on the NSF/WQA/IAPMO database. 'Tested to' is not 'certified to'.

Flags indicate missing certifications or data gaps under our rubric, not a confirmed finding that a product fails to perform.

Where to buy

No buy link on this one: it scored Limited under our rubric, and we only link products we would shortlist ourselves.

Total cost of ownership

Checked 42 days ago

Cost / gallon: $0.198
~Annual filters: $218/yr

Which cartridge fits, and where to reorder it

Certifications

No third-party certification on an official database. Any performance claims are unverified.

Filters only protect you on their swap schedule. Get an email reminder when this one is due - one note around swap time, nothing else.

Overview

The Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink is a under sink water filter. It carries no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications. It is also marketed for chlorine taste and odor, fluoride, lead, PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, arsenic, mercury, chromium, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, VOCs, chloramine, for which we found no accredited third-party certification (so we award no certification credit; this is not a finding that it fails to reduce them). Running cost works out to about $0.198 per gallon.

By the numbers

Certified to reduce: nothing certified (claims are 'tested to' only)
Marketed, no certification found: chlorine taste and odor, fluoride, lead, PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, arsenic, mercury, chromium, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, VOCs, chloramine
Format: under sink
Cartridge life: 2,000 gallons
Cost per gallon: $0.198
Annual filter cost (~1,100 gal): $218/yr
Install: under-sink direct-connect, DIY, no dedicated faucet

Strengths

No standout strengths in our scoring.

Watch-outs

- Verified Contaminant Reduction: 0.0/10
- Total Cost of Ownership: 0.0/10
- Certification Independence: 3.0/10
- Marketed for lead removal but not NSF/53 certified for lead.
- Marketed for PFAS removal but not certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
- No third-party certification on the NSF/WQA/IAPMO database. 'Tested to' is not 'certified to'.

Who it is for

Who should skip it

· Anyone who needs verified contaminant removal - this product is not certified
· Anyone buying specifically for lead - it is marketed for it but not certified

What to know before buying

· All three cartridges are changed together, rated up to about 2,000 gallons (roughly 9 to 15 months depending on household size).
· The system is independently tested to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, and 401 protocols by an ISO 17025 lab; testing to a protocol is not the same as holding NSF certification.
· Flow is about 1.08 GPM and users commonly report a noticeable cold-water pressure drop of roughly 25 to 35 percent.

How it scored

Verified Contaminant Reduction

0.0/10 · 35%

Held NSF/WQA/IAPMO certifications for the contaminants that matter. A claim is not a certification.

·No third-party contaminant certification Aclaims only, uncertified - No NSF/WQA/IAPMO certification. Performance claims are unverified.

Total Cost of Ownership

0.0/10 · 25%

Computed cost per gallon vs the format-class median. The number nobody surfaces.

0Cost per gallon vs class median A$0.198/gal (above class median (expensive to run)) - Computed cost per gallon scored against the format-class median.

Certification Independence

3.0/10 · 15%

Certified on the official database vs self-claimed 'tested to' marketing.

·Not verifiable on a certification database Ano database listing - No third-party certification listing. 'Tested to NSF standards' earns no certification credit.
+3Per-contaminant reduction disclosed Bperformance data sheet - Publishes percent reduction per contaminant at rated capacity.
·Marketing exceeds certified scope Aclaims beyond certified scope - Marketing emphasizes contaminants the certifications do not cover.

Capacity & Flow Fit

5.0/10 · 15%

Cartridge life and flow appropriate to the format.

+3Cartridge life fits the format B2000 gal (norm 500) - Rated cartridge life is appropriate for this filter format.
+2Sediment pre-filter present Bsediment pre-filter - Includes a sediment pre-filter for well or hard-water sources.

Practical Fit

5.0/10 · 10%

Install, footprint, and source-water readiness.

+5Install type disclosed Cunder-sink direct-connect, DIY, no dedicated faucet - Install method and difficulty are disclosed up front.

FAQ

Is the Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink NSF certified, and does it remove lead or PFAS?: We found no accredited NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certification for it in the public databases - its contaminant claims are "tested to" lab results, not certifications, so we award no certification credit. It is marketed for lead but we found no accredited lead certification. It is marketed for PFAS but we found no accredited PFAS certification.
Is the Clearly Filtered 3-stage system NSF certified?: It is independently tested to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, and 401 protocols by an accredited lab, but that is testing to those standards rather than a third-party NSF certification.
Does it affect water pressure?: All three filters are replaced together at up to about 2,000 gallons (about 9 to 15 months), and the system typically reduces cold-water flow by roughly 25 to 35 percent.

Compared head-to-head

Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink vs Aquasana AQ-5200

Related guides

This score is our opinion under our published rubric, not a statement of objective fact or a lab test of this product. We score what third-party certifications prove; absence of a certification means we found no verification, not that a product fails to perform. Last reviewed 2026-06-01. Scored under water-v1.0. Prices were last checked 42 days ago; the freshness chip above the cost panel shows the current state. See the methodology for how each rule fires.