Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated:
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A great shower filter reduces the amount of harmful contaminants in your shower water which will benefit your skin, hair, and nails as well as your overall health – time to say goodbye to itchiness, dryness, and irritation.
Plus, a shower filter neutralizes unpleasant odors allowing you to enjoy your daily showers to the limit.
On top of that, most shower water filters are inexpensive and easy to install without the need to make any permanent changes to your plumbing. What better solution is there to improve how you look and feel?
How to find a good or the best shower water filter? You are about to find out!
On This Page You Will…
Filters | Details | |
---|---|---|
![]() Best Shower Filter: Aquasana AQ-4100 | Get Up to 50% Off! Use Code: |
Price: $$ Type: Inline Filter Filter Life: 10,000 gal NSF: 177 Annual Cost: ~$100 Read Review: Click Alexa’s Video Review: Click |
![]() Best for Well Water: Crystal Quest | Get 5% Off! Use Code: |
Price: $$ Type: Inline Filter Filter Life: 6-12 Months NSF: – Annual Cost: $30-60 Read Review: Click |
![]() Best for Alkaline Shower Water: pH Energize |
Price: $ Type: Inline Filter Life: 4-6 Months NSF: – Annual Cost: ~$30-45 Read Review: Click | |
Best for Vitamin C Induced Filtration: Sonaki |
Price: $$$ Type: Inline Filter Filter Life: Up to 2,640 gal NSF: – Annual Cost: ~$40 Read Review: Click | |
Review Order
In our opinion, the best shower filter in 2023 is the Aquasana AQ-4100/4105. That’s mainly because, according to NSF Standard 177 lab testing, the filter removes around 90% chlorine from water even after 10,000 (!) gallons filtered. That’s why for us it’s also the best shower filter for chlorine.
What’s more, it reduces water contaminants including toxic lead, chloramine, hydrogen sulfide, iron, mercury, and volatile organic compounds, says Aquasana.
Thus, you can be sure to get much better water and air quality inside your shower – for a fair price.
![]() Aquasana AQ-4100 Shower Filter with Head | |
Price: | $$ |
Type: | Inline |
Filter Capacity: | 10,000 gal |
NSF: | 177 |
Annually: | ~$100 |
Our Rating
Get Up to 50% Off! Use Code: |
Pros
Cons
Best for
The Aquasana AQ-4100 and AQ-4105 are best for people who want a shower filter that’s affordable, easy to install and maintain, NSF-tested for 91.61% chlorine removal, and long-lasting.
→ Read Our Full Aquasana AQ-4100 & AQ-4105 Review Here
In our opinion, the best option for well water is the Crystal Quest Luxury Shower Power Filter, especially due to the fact that it uses 2 types of KDF filter media: Eagle Redox Alloy 6500 and 9500.
Together, they remove or reduce chlorine, water-soluble heavy metals (iron in particular), and hydrogen sulfide. All are commonly found in well water. Above that, KDF is great for controlling bacteria, algae, and scale.
![]() Crystal Quest Luxury Shower Power Filter with Head | |
Price: | $$ |
Type: | Inline |
Filter Capacity: | 6-12 Months |
NSF: | – |
Annually: | $30-60 |
Our Rating
Get 5% Off! Use Code: |
Gallery
Pros
Cons
Best for
Crystal Quest’s shower filter is best for people on well water with iron, sulfur, bacteria, algae, or chemicals.
If you want alkaline water in your shower, the pH Energize Shower Filter by Invigorated Water is your best bet.
Using 15 different filter layers, it increases water pH and softens hard water for healthier skin and hair, all while removing nasty impurities like heavy metals and chemicals.
(The shower water filter is even supposed to improve the immune system and overall well being and enhance your energy levels. We leave it up to you to decide what you make out of this.)
![]() Invigorated Water pH Energize Alkaline Shower Filter | |
Price: | $ |
Type: | Inline |
Filter Capacity: | 4-6 Months |
NSF: | – |
Annually: | ~$30-45 |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Best for
The pH Energize by Invigorated Water is best for people who want alkaline shower water with reduced hardness, chemicals, and heavy metals.
Next on our list: The Berkey shower filter which can either be used with your own or Berkey’s optional massage shower head.
It’s based on KDF-55 filtering media rendering up to 95% of chlorine in your water harmless. In addition, the filter eliminates contaminants including hydrogen sulfide and lead.
Online feedback is A+. Most people would recommend the unit to their friends and family, and so do we! Our rating: 4 stars.
![]() Berkey Shower Filter with Head | |
Price: | $$$ |
Type: | Inline |
Filter Capacity: | 20,000-25,000 gal |
NSF: | – |
Annually: | $50 |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Best for
The Berkey is best for people looking for a shower filter that’s effective and effortless to maintain.
→ Read Our Full Berkey Review Here
The Pelican PSF-1 shower filter can help your hair and skin become more healthy, but the unit has a few drawbacks. Eager to learn more? Let’s dive right in!
Pelican PSF-1 Shower Filter | |
Price: | $$ |
Type: | Inline |
Filter Capacity: | 15,000 gal |
NSF: | 177 |
Annually: | ~$75-100 |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Best for
The PSF-1 is best for people who want chlorine and other unpleasant odors removed from their shower water.
→ Read Our Full Pelican PSF-1 Review Here
The Frizzlife 17-stage shower filter set is a combo of shower filter and shower head filter. With 17 filter stages, it removes a wide range of different water contaminants and ultimately prevents dry skin and repairs damaged hair.
![]() Frizzlife 17-Stage Shower Filter | |
Price: | $$ |
Type: | Inline + Showerhead Filter |
Filter Capacity: | 12,000 gal |
NSF: | – |
Annually: | ~$27-36 |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Best for
The Frizzlife is best for broad contaminant removal due to its 17 different filter layers.
The Hydroviv shower filter is the only we know that uses both activated and catalytic carbon to filter out chlorine and chloramine. Combined with KDF-55 and KDF-85, it makes a promising candidate for the best shower water filter. Let’s find out more!
![]() Hydroviv Shower Filter | |
Price: | $$$ |
Type: | Inline |
Filter Capacity: | 6-9 Months |
NSF: | – |
Annually: | ~$100-150 |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Best for
The Hydroviv is best for people who don’t mind paying a premium price for effective reduction of chlorine, chloramine, and other chemicals lurking in their water supply.
The Sonaki SUF-100V is best when it comes to vitamin C induced shower water treatment.
Hm, a shower filter using ascorbic acid sounds like a strange concept. Let’s find out if it really works!
Sonaki SUF-100V Vitamin C Filter | |
Price: | $$$ |
Type: | Inline |
Filter Capacity: | Up to 2,640 gal |
NSF: | – |
Annually: | ~$40 |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Best for
The Sonaki is best for vitamin C induced chlorine and chloramine filtration.
The majority of Amazon customers love the AquaBliss SF100 and SF220 shower filters. They report about skin and hair that feels noticeably softer and looks healthier. Also, the price seems fair. Just don’t expect the most sophisticated water purification process. 3.5 stars from us!
AquaBliss SF100 High-Output Shower Water Filter | |
Price: | $$ |
Type: | Inline |
Filter Capacity: | 10,000 gal |
NSF: | – |
Annually: | ~$30 |
Our Rating
|
AquaBliss SF220 Shower Filter | |
Price: | $$ |
Type: | Inline |
Filter Capacity: | 10,000-12,000 gal |
NSF: | – |
Annually: | ~$30 |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Best for
AquaBliss shower filters are best for affordable and basic water filtration combined with low service needs.
If you want a better shower experience and healthier skin and hair, you may want to give the AquaHomeGroup a try. It seems to do a great job for the majority of people!
AquaHomeGroup 15-Stage Shower Filter | |
Price: | $$ |
Type: | Inline |
Filter Capacity: | 6 Months |
NSF: | – |
Annually: | ~$20-40 |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Best for
The AquaHomeGroup is best for people on a small budget.
No more ashy elbows, softer hair, and an overall improvement of the condition of your skin – that’s what Culligan promises for the WSH-C125 shower head filter. Truth or fiction?
Culligan WSH-C125 Shower Head Filter | |
Price: | $$ |
Type: | Shower Head Filter |
Filter Capacity: | 10,000 gal |
NSF: | 177 |
Annually: | ~$40 |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Best for
Culligan’s WSH-C125 is best for people who insist on NSF-certified chlorine removal.
→ Read Our Full Culligan WSH-C125 & HSH-C135 Review Here
Disclaimer: Ionic shower heads are somewhat experimental.
Even if you don’t see an improvement in the condition of your water, skin, and hair, the Luxsego ionic shower head will make you feel relaxed.
Luxsego Ionic Showerhead Filter | |
Price: | $ |
Type: | Showerhead Filter |
Filter Capacity: | 6-8 Weeks |
NSF: | – |
Annually: | ? |
Our Rating
|
Pros
Cons
Best for
The Luxsego is best for people who are into ionic showerheads.
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Water Filters | Price | Type | Life | NSF/ANSI | Annual Cost | Additional Info |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aquasana AQ-4100/4105 | $$ | Inline | 10,000 gal | 177 | ~$100 | Top Choice If Water Contains Chloramine, Easy Installation |
Crystal Quest Luxury Shower Power Filter | $$ | Inline | 6-12 Months | – | $30-60 | Ideal for Dry Skin and If Water Contains Heavy Metals, Rust, and Hydrogen Sulfide |
pH Energize | $ | Inline | 4-6 Months | – | ~$30-45 | Ideal for Hard Water, Remineralizes with Minerals Like Calcium and Magnesium, Removes Chlorine, Fluoride |
Berkey Shower Filter | $$$ | Inline | 20,000-25,000 gal | – | $50 | Long Lasting Filters (Cartridges Last Up to 25,000 Gallons) |
Pelican PSF-1 | $$ | Inline | 15,000 gal | 177 | ~$75-100 | Choose If Water Contains Chemicals |
Frizzlife 17-Stage Shower Filter Set | $$ | Inline + Showerhead Filter | 12,000 gal | – | ~$27-36 | For Hard Water, Removes Calcium and Magnesium to Soften Water and Rejuvenate Dull Hair and Skin |
Hydroviv Shower Filter | $$$ | Inline | 6-9 Months | – | ~$100-150 | For Vital Hair and Skin |
Sonaki SUF-100V Vitamin C Filter | $$$ | Inline | Up to 2,640 gal | – | ~$40 | Removes Chlorine, Heavy Metals, Rust, Use Your Existing Showerhead |
AquaBliss SF100 High-Output & AquaBliss SF220 | $$ | Inline | 10,000-12,000 gal | – | ~$30 | SF100 12-Stage Filter: High-Output For Fast Flow Rate |
AquaHomeGroup 15-Stage Shower Water Filter System | $$ | Inline | 6 Months | – | ~$20-40 | For Healthy Hair and Skin, Use Your Existing Showerhead |
Culligan WSH-C125 Filter Shower Head | $$ | Shower Head Filter | 10,000 gal | 177 | ~$40 | Wall Mounted Shower Arm, Rejuvenates Your Hair and Skin |
Luxsego Hand-Held High-Pressure Ionic Showerhead Filter | $ | Showerhead Filter | 6-8 Weeks | – | ? | Wall Mounted Shower Arm, Filters May Clog |
Shower filters are small, simple devices. Thus, we cannot compare them to whole house filtration systems that are much larger and more complex, and therefore way more effective, but also a lot more expensive.
Simply put, don’t set your expectations too high.
That being said, the following are things worth considering before you go on your hunt for the best shower filters for your home. These are also the very same criteria we focused on when picking our top products for this guide.
First of all, you need to know what it actually is that you’re facing. In other words, you need to test the water in your home as your first step. Once you know about the contaminants present, you can go out and find an appropriate water filter.
Side note: You might also find that using a shower filter won’t be enough.
An alternative to testing a direct water sample is reviewing your latest Consumer Confidence Report. You can do so here or use the EWG Tap Water Database. However, this only applies to people who receive tap water.
In case you receive water from a well, or you are worried about contaminants dissolving into your water supply along the way from the treatment facility to your place, we definitely recommend you conduct your own testing or hire a laboratory to do it for you.
There are different types of shower filters and different types of filter media being used. We are going to discuss each type in more detail below, but for now, you should know that there are
Also, depending on what you want to achieve, a certain type of filtering media will be more effective than others.
For instance, if you are on a chlorinated city water supply, a regular carbon a.k.a. charcoal water filter seems like the way to go. After all, activated carbon adsorbs all kinds of chemicals from water, such as pesticides, herbicides, and of course chlorine. Another advantage is that carbon filtration is budget-friendly.
However, charcoal is a cold water filter. It exceeds at low temperatures; with hot water not so much. Some online sources even claim that in very hot water activated carbon will release some of the impurities it has previously trapped.
Often the better solution is a multi-stage shower water filtration system that combines regular activated carbon with KDF (and maybe even other media layers). KDF (copper-zinc blend) is effective against heavy metals – think lead and mercury – sulfur gas, and free chlorine. Also, it stops microorganisms from accumulating.
Lastly, we want to mention shower filters based on ascorbic acid. These are very effective at removing chlorine PLUS chloramine from cold, warm, and hot water. (Source)
Manufacturers can make promises about contaminant reduction rates all day long, but only NSF/ANSI certifications provide proof.
A Standard 177 certification means a shower water filter has met the NSF requirements for chlorine reduction, safety of materials, and structural integrity. Unfortunately, the standard only indicates that a tested product is capable of eliminating a minimum of 50% free chlorine (not to be confused with total combined chlorine).
Filtration Capacity (Lifespan) & Replacement Cost
Most companies say their shower filters last for around 10,000-15,000 gallons or 6 months – whichever comes first. However, this only applies under ideal conditions.
If you live in an area with hard water, chances are that you will need to replace your filter far more frequently, maybe every 2 to 3 months. Also, the actual longevity depends on how often and how long you shower.
Furthermore, you want to double-check that replacement cartridges are widely available. Replacing a filter on a regular basis is vital to ensure that it’s working properly. Above that, remember that replacement filters come at additional cost. This can become a significant outlay over the course of let’s say 5 to 10 years.
Bottom line: Check the cost and lifespan of new filter cartridges before you commit to a certain shower filter model.
Another imperative factor is durability determined by materials used to produce a unit.
Simply put, all shower filters we know are plastic. But there are nuances, since there are different kinds of plastic and material thickness also comes into play.
A shower water filter featuring an upflow design is great as it does not lower the height of your shower head. This is a must under certain conditions provided that you want to stand comfortably.
Apart from that, we prefer slim and lightweight units as long as water filtration performance doesn’t get compromised. A ball joint provides for adjustability.
Most filters for showers work at about 2.5 gpm water flow. Shower head filters with an EPA WaterSense certification have a maximum flow rate of 2.0 gallons per minute. This will save water and reduce your water bill, but you might notice a slight drop in water pressure.
For installation, it’s important that a filter fits industry standard ½” connections. This is the case for all models that are part of this guide. As long as there’s a standard fitting, most shower filters are easy to install.
Aquasana, Crystal Quest, and Pelican clearly outperform the competition here. Their filters are warranted for 1 year, and Aquasana and Pelican even offer a 90-day money-back satisfaction guarantee.
This is the last factor to consider: Your budget. The good news is, even the top shower water filters aren’t overly expensive.
More on Shower Filters
A shower water filter is a piece of equipment that can be used to purify shower water.
It gets installed directly onto the shower stem providing filtered water at the point of use.
Most systems use 2 to 3 filter stages to target a wide range of contaminants. Filter media we commonly find are activated carbon and different types of KDF. They excel at removing chlorine taste and odor, chemicals like pesticides, VOCs, heavy metals, and hydrogen sulfide. KDF also controls the growth of microbes.
The greatest benefits of installing a filter in your shower is improved water quality – ideal if you’re facing excessive chlorine, lead, etc.
Generally speaking, shower filters are easy to install and maintain. And they’re affordable, too!
Let’s take a closer look at the different types of shower water filters and how they work.
There is activated carbon and there is catalytic carbon. With shower filters, we usually find the former. Carbon filters are effective against chemicals like pesticides and herbicides, chlorine, and disinfection byproducts. Carbon also helps to remove unpleasant tastes and odors from water.
But, carbon filter media performs better in cold water. That’s why, for shower applications, using just carbon isn’t optimal; unless you like to enjoy cold showers.
Combining carbon with KDF filters is really effective. That’s because with KDF, or Kinetic Degradation Fluxion, media it doesn’t matter if you’re using cold or hot water.
Besides, it’s effective against many heavy metals, hydrogen sulfide, and free chlorine. In addition to that, KDF is bacteriostatic and protects your filter from algae, fungi, mold, and bacteria infestation.
Vitamin C is most effective at removing chlorine and chloramine, regardless of water temperature. Achieved reduction rates are 99.9%, according to test data.
The main drawback of using ascorbic acid is that it quickly degrades in water. That’s why water filters based entirely on ascorbic acid require frequent replacements.
As the name suggests, inline shower filters are installed in-line. So the actual filter element sits in front of the shower head. This allows you to use the shower head of your choice.
Showerhead filters have the filter element integrated, which means that you can’t use your own shower head. These also come in the form of handheld wands.
What’s more, shower head filters tend to be more expensive both at purchase and for maintenance. Often you can’t change the filter cartridge alone but have to replace the entire unit.
Some setups combine inline shower filters with shower head filters for the most comfortable shower experience. Costs tend to be higher for obvious reasons.
Shower filter installation is simple and straightforward. We’ll explain the process on the basis of the wall mounted Pelican PSF-1:
All you need to do for maintenance is change the filter on a regular basis. This is even easier than installing the unit in the first place. Again, we’ll explain the process using the Pelican PSF-1 as an example:
What are the main benefits of installing a shower filter system in your home?
The number one benefit is that your overall exposure to water contaminants goes down. Less pesticides, herbicides, VOCs, metals, disinfectants and their byproducts, etc. in the water you’re using at home, who wouldn’t want that?
Chlorine and other chemicals are known to cause skin conditions like eczema and dandruff. 2 good reasons to have it removed from your water!
Brittle hair is often another consequence of substandard shower water quality. If you want vital hair, get yourself a shower filtration system.
Chlorine is a volatile water contaminant. It evaporates into the surrounding air above a certain temperature. Chlorine-laden air in the bathroom makes it harder to breathe and can even cause allergies and asthma. No, thank you!
Personally, I don’t mind using shower water that doesn’t smell like a swimming pool. Also, you can even take a sip or two when you’re getting thirsty –only if the water quality allows of course!
You may be wondering, Why use a shower water filtration system in the first place?
First of all, if you already own a proper whole-house water treatment system then there’s probably no reason for you to use an additional filter in the shower.
If that is not the case, a shower water filter can be a convenient and cost-efficient way to protect your body from potentially harmful contaminants that might be present in your water supply.
Do you purify your drinking water before consumption? If so, it’s not a huge leap to consider a shower filter to eliminate chlorine, chloramine, and any other disinfectant and its byproducts.
Because these chemicals don’t need to be ingested to cause health problems such as asthma. And this is not only about your lungs and the fact that you can breathe easier in chlorine-free bathroom air. Your skin absorbs all kinds of things while you are in the shower. For example, it is estimated that more than half of our daily chlorine exposure comes from chlorinated shower water.
On top of that, chlorine damages your hair and skin by causing dryness through removing oils that your body produces naturally. Less to no chlorine is also a remedy against eye irritation and skin conditions like eczema. Not to mention that chlorine-free water smells a lot better. In fact, it doesn’t smell at all.
Back in 2009, a team of scientists conducted a study analyzing showerhead biofilms, concluding that “showerheads may present a significant potential exposure to aerosolized microbes“.
So, you can try to keep your shower as clean as possible. But if bacteria and other germs form in the shower head which you can’t clean, they rain down on you whenever you are showering.
Unfiltered shower water can also contain impurities like heavy metals and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Ideally, you want to have them removed to keep them off your body.
Questions about the best shower head water filters? Ask away!
And keep in mind: We’ll add new shower filter reviews occasionally. So come back for more!