Find the water filter that actually removes what's in your water.
We check your tap water against EPA records, then match you to filters independently certified to remove those exact contaminants — ranked by real cost, not by who pays us.
5,685 certified filter models from NSF, WQA and IAPMO · 114 reviewed in depth · 29 contaminants · EPA data for 21,455 water systems
Most-asked answers
Refrigerator water filters
Most cheaper copies of a fridge filter are certified for taste and odor only, not lead. Pick your filter number to see which copies are certified, checked on the NSF and IAPMO listings.
Find your filter number → The certified pick for each fridge filter → Ice maker making small ice? →
Three steps to the right filter
See what's in your water
Enter your ZIP and get a plain-English report from EPA records — the contaminants found, and how the levels compare to federal limits.
Match to certified filters
We show only filters independently certified (NSF, WQA, IAPMO) to remove your specific contaminants — not marketing claims.
Buy the best value
Compare real cost per gallon — including replacement filters — so you don't overpay for the same clean water.
The cheap-looking filters cost the most
A $20 pitcher or fridge filter feels cheap — but per gallon of clean water it's often the most expensive option, because the cartridge runs out fast. A pricier under-sink or gravity system is far cheaper over time. We compute the real cost for every filter.
Compare real costs →Representative figures from our cost model (filter price ÷ certified capacity). Whole-house systems are lower still on a different basis.
Filters certified to remove…
"Tested to" isn't "certified"
Many brands say "tested to NSF Standard 53" without holding certification. We only count filters actually listed in the NSF, WQA, or IAPMO databases — and we flag the difference.
"NSF certified" isn't one thing
A filter certified for lead may do nothing for PFAS, arsenic, or fluoride. We list the exact certified claim for every filter so you know what you're actually getting.
Data decides, not dollars
Rankings come from independent certification and real cost per gallon — computed before any buy link. See our methodology.
Pitcher, under-sink, or reverse osmosis?
Six types, and the right one depends on your water and where you want to treat it. We compare all of them honestly — what each removes, real cost per gallon, and who each is for — and help you find yours in three questions.
Which filter is right for me? →