The best water filter for microplastics for most homes is the AquaTru Carafe: countertop reverse osmosis certified by IAPMO R&T to NSF/ANSI 401 for microplastics, plus lead, fluoride, arsenic, and PFOA/PFOS, with no plumbing.
The catch: It needs an outlet and counter space, and makes half a gallon at a time.
Health information, not medical advice. Test your own water and speak to your local health authority about what it contains. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links; it never affects our scores.
What should a microplastics filter be certified for?
A water filter for microplastics should list microplastics in its NSF/ANSI 401 certification from NSF International, IAPMO R&T, or WQA. Every pick below does. Check the claim itself: NSF/ANSI 401 covers a menu of emerging contaminants, and a filter can be certified to it for pharmaceuticals alone, with no microplastics claim. See our microplastics guide.
- Best overall: AquaTru Carafe, microplastics plus lead, fluoride, and PFOA/PFOS.
- Best pitcher: PUR PLUS, certified for microplastics, lead, and Total PFAS.
- Best without power: Culligan MaxClear, a gravity system certified for microplastics, lead, and Total PFAS.
Which filters are certified for microplastics?
Six filters with a certified microplastics claim, ranked by overall score. How we score
| # | Filter | Score | Certified by | Lead | PFAS | Fluoride | Running cost | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | AquaTru CarafeBest overallCountertop RO | 4.6 | IAPMO R&T | Certified | Certified | Certified | $0.33/gal | $335.75on Amazon › |
| 02 | Aquasana Claryum Max FlowBest under the sinkUnder-sink carbon | 4.3 | WQA | Certified | Certified | No | $0.11/gal | $224.99on Amazon › |
| 03 | Aquasana Clean Water MachineBest countertop, no wastewaterCountertop carbon | 4.3 | WQA | Certified | Certified | No | $0.12/gal | See priceon Amazon › |
| 04 | Waterdrop ED01Best small dispenserGravity dispenser | 4.1 | IAPMO R&T | Certified | Claim | No | $0.08/gal | $45.99on Amazon › |
| 05 | PUR PLUS PitcherBest pitcherPitcher | 4.0 | IAPMO, WQA, NSF | Certified | Certified | No | About $0.25/gal | $28.12on Amazon › |
| 06 | Culligan MaxClear VentureBest without powerGravity | 3.6 | IAPMO R&T | Certified | Certified | No | $1.58/gal | See priceat Culligan › |
Certified: Certified by an independent body (named in each pick). Lab test: Tested by a named independent lab, not certified. Claim: The maker's claim, not certified. No: No claim. PFAS means PFOA/PFOS, or Total PFAS where the pick says so.
Our six picks in detail
AquaTru Carafe
One of the broadest certified claim lists we've seen, including fluoride and arsenic, with no plumbing. It needs an outlet and makes half a gallon at a time, and its filters work out to about $0.33 a gallon at AquaTru's prices.
Aquasana Claryum Max Flow
Certified lead and PFOA/PFOS reduction without reverse osmosis: it keeps minerals, wastes no water and pours 0.72 gallons a minute. Filters are about $0.11 a gallon. It doesn't reduce fluoride.
Aquasana Clean Water Machine
Certified for lead, PFOA/PFOS and microplastics with no wastewater, and Aquasana says it fills an 8-ounce glass in about 8 seconds. It doesn't reduce fluoride or dissolved solids, which takes reverse osmosis. Filters run about $0.12 a gallon in a 2-pack.
Waterdrop ED01
Our highest score here: certified lead reduction for about $40, with filters at roughly $0.08 a gallon in a 3-pack. It's small, though: 15 cups at a time, pumped out by a rechargeable battery. Buy the ED01, not the ED01A, which uses a different filter certified for chlorine only.
PUR PLUS Pitcher
Certified lead and Total PFAS reduction for about $0.25 a gallon with a 3-pack of filters. You change it every 40 gallons, and owners say it slows as it fills.
Culligan MaxClear Venture
The only gravity system we found with certified lead and Total PFAS reduction. The cost is the filter: about $79 each on Amazon for 50 certified gallons, roughly $1.58 a gallon. No fluoride claim.
Which filters claim microplastics but aren’t certified for it?
- Epic Smart Shield. Certified by IAPMO R&T under NSF/ANSI 401 for six compounds, but its microplastics figure is Epic’s own test. Our Epic Smart Shield review.
- Fridge filters. Some are certified for microplastics (the everydrop Filter 1, Samsung DA29-00020B, and Frigidaire PureSource Ultra II) and some aren’t, including GE’s. See our fridge filter finder.
Does reverse osmosis remove microplastics?
Certified RO systems do. The AquaTru Carafe and Classic are certified by IAPMO R&T for microplastics under NSF/ANSI 401, but not every RO system carries the claim, so check the listing. Carbon block filters can be certified for it too, as the Aquasana Claryum and Clean Water Machine are, with no wastewater. See how reverse osmosis works.
Common questions
What is the best water filter for microplastics?
The AquaTru Carafe for most homes: certified by IAPMO R&T for microplastics under NSF/ANSI 401, plus lead, fluoride, and PFOA/PFOS, with no plumbing. In a pitcher, the PUR PLUS is certified for microplastics, lead, and Total PFAS.
Which water pitcher removes microplastics?
The PUR PLUS, with the PUR PLUS filter (PPF951K), certified by IAPMO R&T. The Brita Elite filter (OB06) is also certified for microplastics, by WQA under NSF/ANSI 401, in most Brita pitchers, though not the Tahoe. We found no microplastics listing for the standard Brita filter.
My filter says NSF/ANSI 401 certified. Does that cover microplastics?
Not necessarily. NSF/ANSI 401 lists many compounds, and each certification covers only the ones named on the listing. Look up the exact model and check that microplastics appears. See our guide to NSF certification.
Do fridge filters remove microplastics?
Some are certified for it: the everydrop Filter 1, Samsung DA29-00020B, and Frigidaire PureSource Ultra II. GE’s and LG’s genuine filters aren’t. See our fridge filter guide.
Does boiling water remove microplastics?
Boiling isn’t a certified way to reduce microplastics. Use a filter certified for them under NSF/ANSI 401.
Sources
Prices as of November 1, 2026. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.