Water filtration systems have skyrocketed in popularity in the last twenty years, especially as there is a push to “Go Green” in our society. Since its humble beginnings in Germany in 1966, Brita has been a leader in the water purification business. Born under a pear tree, the business was started by Heinz Hankammer, who named it after his daughter Brita.

 

Today, based out of Oakland, California, Brita is firmly the number 1 brand in water filtration systems.

Since 1986, PUR has been another leading water purification company. It started out trying to turn seawater into drinking water, and began producing water filtration systems in 1994. They have consistently produced filters that perform well and create clean water.

Having been in the business for 15 years and selling over 9 million products, Aquasana is yet another company that has had success in the water filtration market. They rival Brita as one of the top companies in America.

Each of these brands of water filters has many options available with some options including faucet filters, pitcher filters, under the counter faucet filters, and refrigerator filters. With strengths and weaknesses for each, it is important to do the research before deciding which is best for you and your home.

Brita

Brita has established itself as the leader among the many different companies by always offering cleaner, better tasting water at a cheaper cost and with less waste than using bottled water. Brita’s faucet filter comes in two types: a basic and an advanced model. The advanced model includes an LED change filter indicator to prompt you to change the filter when necessary. These range in price from $18.99 to $29.99.

One of the obvious strengths of Brita is the wide variety of products, including refrigerator filters. They offer enough different types to almost fit every refrigerator on the market. These can be yours for $29.99 to $39.99 and provide an efficient way to keep your water clean and cold. One obvious downside to this line of products is that the replacement filters are a little bit more expensive because of the quality you are guaranteed with a Brita product.

PUR

PUR has gained popularity through simple consistency. Time and time again they have created new, innovative water filters that always prove reliable. The PUR faucet filter is brand new and therefore they only have one option available. Since it is relatively young, they are still in the stages of improving it and the current style can be a bit bulky to have in your sink. Depending on the retailer, the price for this product will run from $44.99 to $49.99 making it almost double the price of Brita’s.

While offering fewer pitchers to choose from, PUR does boast that they produce the only pitcher on the market that is able to remove microbiological cysts from the water. The pitchers start at $23.99 and run to $30.99. PUR produces fewer refrigerator filters as well and only have filters that work with a few of the major refrigerator models. While PUR offers fewer options that Brita, each of their products does include a filter indicator so that you will always have the purest drinking water available.

Aquasana

Aquasana literally means “water to heal” in Latin, and the company believes in that as their motto. Aquasana doesn’t follow the government guidelines, which allow for small traces of chemicals in drinking water. They have set themselves apart by setting a high standard to produce the absolute cleanest and purest water in the world. One downfall to Aquasana is that they have fewer options available in terms of drinking water filters. However, they have many more water filters available than Brita and PUR, including showerhead filters and an option to buy a combo of each.

To compare with Brita and PUR, let’s just look at the drinking water filters. The two options that are available are the countertop filter and the under the counter faucet filter. Easy to install, the countertop filter provides thirty gallons of perfect drinking water every hour. The price is a little steeper at $124.99, but it comes with a sixty-day guarantee. If you are looking for a faucet filter that is much less obtrusive and aesthetically pleasing, then perhaps Aquasana’s under counter water filter is the best choice. Easily installed out of sight, this filter shows itself simply through another faucet next to the existing one. In a stainless steel finish, this filter will look great in any kitchen and offer clean water without the obvious filter look. Listed at $178.98, it is the most expensive of the filters discussed, but also the highest quality and best appeal.

Brita, PUR, and Aquasana are three of the leading water filter providers and have proven their quality time and again.

• If you are looking for a standard water filter that will do the job for the lowest price, then Brita is your choice. They also are able to offer you the most options to fit almost any family or home’s need.
• PUR has fewer choices and is a younger business but they give options for filtering out certain things that other brands cannot. Perhaps one of their biggest selling points is that they do not produce a product without a filter indicator on it, which helps you keep your water at its purest.
• Aquasana offers the high-end water filter product. Although the prices are much more expensive, Aquasana prides itself in a technology of water filtration that cannot be beat.

Whatever your budget, situation, or need, one of these three brands is sure to produce the perfect water filter for you.