You’ll find water filter pitchers in most big box stores, and the selection usually comes down to a few big-name brands. Brita is by far the most common, but if you’re willing to pay a little more, Pūr is usually on the shelf right next to it. Pūr generally gets good reviews for an off-the-shelf, commercial brand-name water filter pitcher—but it’s far from the most effective or even the best value.
If you’re in the market to bring home a water filter pitcher beyond what you’ll find at the store, consider any of the below Pūr water pitcher alternatives. You may not find them on the shelf at your local big-box store, but they’re definitely worth investigating if you’re looking for powerful filtration, convenience and, of course, crisp drinking water.
1. Aquaspace® Carafe® Pitchers
There’s not just one Aquaspace® Carafe® Pitcher: there’s a whole line of them, each more effective than the last when it comes to targeted filtration. For example, the basic Carafe® Pitcher utilizes the powerful Aquaspace® Compound filter to remove everything from tastes and odors, to lead and chlorine, to industrial solvents and VOCs. Want to get rid of fluoride? Give the Carafe® with Fluoride & Heavy Metal Reduction a try! There are even options for alkaline water.
Aquaspace® Carafe® Pitchers give you the convenience of choosing a water filter pitcher solution that meets your needs, instead of a one-size-fits-all solution that might be hit-or-miss. The other major benefit? Amazing filter life! Stack up these pitchers with any other on this list (or beyond) and you won’t find any that come close to the 500-gallon filter life of the standard Aquaspace® Compound filter, or the 250-gallon capacity of the Fluoride & Heavy Metal Reduction filter.
While they come at a premium cost, these pitchers give you the three major benefits you want from a Pūr water filter pitcher alternative: convenience, value and, of course, clean, safe water.
2. Aquagear Water Filter Pitchers
For people who want a comparable Pūr water filter pitcher that looks and feels like the one they’d buy off the shelf, Aquagear Water Filter Pitchers are a safe alternative. The difference? Aquagear removes more contaminants than Pūr filters and offers generally better performance over the life of the filter. Moreover, these pitchers have a more discerning filter system, which keeps healthy minerals like calcium and magnesium, while eliminating everything from chlorine to pesticides and herbicides.
Aquagear pitchers are also effective much longer between cartridge replacements when stacked up against Pūr: 120 gallons vs. 40 gallons. That means more effective filtration, longer, equating to better pitcher performance and better value. In other words, Pūrwins on price… but you get what you pay for.
If you’re looking for ultimate convenience, Aquagear offers a filter subscription service that makes replacing yours as simple as signing up. They ship every six months, which is roughly about the time you’ll need to change them (depending on usage).
3. ZeroWater Filter Pitcher
Have water that comes out of the tap cloudy or with a sedimented taste? ZeroWater Filter Pitchers are a great way to bring clarity back to your tap water, cleansing it of a wide variety of contaminants. These pitchers go further than an off-the-shelf Pūr pitcher in that they utilize a 5-stage filtration system, instead of a coconut shell carbon filtering system. That means ZeroWater Filter Pitchers clean harsh contaminants like lead, PFOA/PFOS and other contaminants, including total dissolved solids, where Pūr doesn’t.
The downfall to these pitchers is their low filter life. Each filter is only rated for20 gallons, which means you’ll end up replacing it every month or two with frequently use. Part of the reason is because it’s a five-stage filter, instead of a conventional two-stage filter. The cleansing effects are more powerful, which depletes the filter media quicker.
ZeroWater Filter Pitchers are a great alternative to Pūr pitchers, but work best with occasional use. They’re a good complement to a home that already has under-sink or other point-of-use filtration, for those who want clean, cold water on-demand.
4. Seychelle pH20 Dual Filter Water Pitcher
If you’re constantly reaching for a pitcher of chilled water, you’ll appreciate the one-gallon capacity of the Seychelle pH20 Dual Filter Water Pitcher. Not only does it offer plenty of capacity, it also excels at purifying water thanks to a dual filtering system. It’ll tackle everything from fluoride and chlorine to VOCs and heavy metals, making it one of the best total filtering systems on this list.
Another superb benefit attached to these filters is their long lifespan, which tallies as high as 200 gallons before they’re depleted. The downfall, however, is that you’ll pay double the cost since there are two filters to replace. The total cost of ownership is higher than Pūr filters, but you’re getting a lot more bang for your buck.
The only real downfall to this pitcher as an everyday option is its bulk and heft. Children and the elderly may have trouble with it when it’s freshly filled, since you’re effectively wielding a gallon of water. It can also take up a ton of room in your fridge.
5. pH VITALITY Stainless Steel Alkaline Water Pitcher
If Pūr plastic water filter pitchers seem cheap and flimsy to you, consider a stainless-steel alternative. The pH VITALITY Stainless Steel Alkaline Water Pitcher not only filters water inside a sleek, antimicrobial steel construction, it also chills water much quicker and to a cooler degree. The slim profile makes it a great addition to the fridge.
When it comes to filtration capabilities, there’s a lot to love about this pitcher. The filter itself is actually a sachet-style bag that’s a form of pass-through filter—good for just over 100 gallons of filtration. It removes chlorine and fluoride, some heavy metals and any tastes or odors. And, unlike other pitcher filters on this list, also renders the water alkaline, to afford your body the benefits that come with a slightly raised pH.
Filter replacements can be costly for this pitcher, but the 100-gallon lifespan makes the cost bearable. It’s definitely a reasonable alternative to Pūr—especially if you’re looking to explore the benefits of alkaline water.
6. Brita Everyday Water Filter Pitcher
Wondering how the other big-box brand stacks up against Pūr? Brita filters are very similar in that they’re a two-stage filtration system that relies on carbon. That said, Pūr filters do a much better job of removing contaminants. Brita filters do last longer, but they’re not as effective. If you’re set on buying from the store and your option comes down to these brands, Brita can be a stand-in for Pūr if you just need an everyday pitcher option with basic filtration capabilities. But, if you’re looking for a step up in filtration, Pūr is about as good as you’ll get in-store.