This article compares and reviews the best shower filters available, based on rigorous testing and analysis.
Honorable Mention Shower Filters
Filterbaby Diamond Series Shower Filter ($113): This inline filter impressively reduced total chlorine levels to virtually undetectable amounts – a rare feat among shower filters. Its inline design allows you to keep your existing showerhead and simply slot the filter in between the pipe and showerhead. However, it’s a bulky filter, lowering your showerhead by about 4 inches. The screw-in system can be awkward, requiring a wrench for proper installation. Replacement filters, while minimizing plastic usage, are more expensive at $42 every three months.
ShowerClear Showerhead ($139): Unlike a standard filter, the ShowerClear addresses a specific concern: the presence of potentially infectious bacteria called mycobacteria within showerheads. These bacteria are resistant to chlorine and grow in colonies. The ShowerClear features a hinge and latch, allowing you to open, inspect, and clean the showerhead’s interior—a rare and valuable feature. While the water flow could be improved, and the latch somewhat distracting, the peace of mind it offers is significant. (Note: to remove chlorine, you’s also need an inline filter like the Weddell Duo.)
Croix Filtered Showerhead ($129) and Croix Handheld Showerhead ($129): Founded by chemical engineer Spencer Robertson, Croix utilizes KDF-55 and calcium sulfite filters. The fixed showerhead is aesthetically pleasing, while the handheld version boasts a wide range of spray settings, including a powerful misting device. Although Croix’s filters didn’s filter the majority of total chlorine levels in our test (particularly effective in systems like those in New York City), they are successful at filtering most free chlorine and meet NSF standards. Replacement cartridges are reasonably priced, recommended every four months.
Aquasana Inline Filter ($150): This two-layer filter effectively removed the majority of total chlorine in our test, and stands out for providing independent testing data backing its chlorine-based system claims. It’s let down slightly by a flimsy shower wand with poor spray force and a tendency toward leakiness. Still, it works well and is lab-attested for free chlorine removal, making it a worthwhile recommendation.
Jolie Filtered Showerhead ($169): Jolie pioneered the influencer-driven marketing model prevalent in the shower filter market. The showerhead’s design is likable and offers even water spray and a luxurious, soft faceplate. However, Jolie did not provide independent testing data and its performance in our tests was only average.
Not Recommended
Sproos! Filtered Hand Shower ($148, $120 with subscription): While Sproos offers a range of bold colors, its filter testing was only average. During testing, the valve on the side-mounted filter broke under its own weight, causing a mess.
Kohler Cinq ($150): Kohler is a reputable brand with a classic, promising five-layer filter, including KDF-55 and activated carbon. However, the filter didn’t perform well in our tests with chloramine-treated water, and testing data wasn’t provided.
Act + Acre Showerhead Filter ($120): Act + Acre’s filter didn’t perform as well as others in our total chlorine removal tests, and the showerhead design felt awkward and drooped.
Frequently Asked Questions
How We Tested and What We Tested
The shower filter market remains largely unregulated, and performance claims often lack public, independent data. Many companies were reluctant to share lab results. (Thank you to Rorra, Aquasana, Weddell, Croix, and Curo for being exceptions.)
To ensure reliable results, we used at-home testing kits, including chemical indicators and digital/chemical tests designed for pools and aquariums, avoiding unreliable test strips. We also tested total dissolved solids with a TDS meter and assessed pH levels to verify the reliability of chemical test results.
We understand filter effectiveness diminishes over time, so we periodically retest filters and incorporate new recommendations as we update this guide.
What Does a Shower Filter Do?
Most shower filters primarily tackle chlorine and chlorine compounds through chemical reactions. Many US cities add chlorine to drinking water to kill bacteria. While safe in pipes, chlorine isn’t ideal for hair, skin, or drinking water and can produce undesirable tastes and smells.
Common shower filters rely on KDF-55 (a zinc-copper mixture effective at neutralizing “free” chlorine) and other substances like calcium sulfite and activated carbon. Our tests focused on the filters’ ability to remove total chlorine content.
We found limited evidence that these filters significantly affect water hardness or remove most minerals.
What Is Chloramine?
Many major US cities use chloramine instead of chlorine to treat water. Chloramine is more stable and harder to filter. We used a digital water colorimeter and chemical indicator to test filters’ ability to treat various chlorine compounds, including chloramine.
You can check here for a list of the 50 biggest municipal water systems in the United States and the disinfectant they use.
Are Shower Filters Effective For Hard Water?
No, generally not.
While our tested shower filters improve water quality by removing chlorine and other contaminants, they don’t significantly soften hard water or remove most minerals. Due to their small size and the demand for high-volume, high-pressure filtration, shower filters present an engineering challenge compared to larger countertop filters or reverse osmosis systems.
Solutions for hard water typically involve water softeners, reverse osmosis filters, or whole-house filtration systems.
