Featured in this article
Best Shower Filter OverallRorra Filtered ShowerheadRead more$199
Rorra (with subscription)
Best Inline Shower Filter for Chlorine and LeadWeddell Duo Shower FilterRead more$90Amazon
Best Filtered Handheld Shower WandCanopy Handheld Filtered ShowerheadRead more$150 $125 (17% off)Canopy
Best Value Filtered ShowerheadCanopy Filtered ShowerheadRead more$150 $100 (33% off)Amazon
Can you trust the water from your shower? The answer, according to WIRED reporting, is not always encouraging. For more than a year, I've tested the best shower filters among a new generation of stylish showerheads that promise to solve whatever your deteriorating pipes and chemical-filled shower water might be doing to your body, during what may otherwise be the only peaceful five minutes of your day.
If you can rid yourself of the chlorine or other contaminants in your water, the argument goes, clean water may be the cure for your most embarrassing problems: everything from frizzy hair to limp hair to dandruff, hair loss, eczema, dry skin, itchy skin, split ends, blackheads, and the heartbreak of psoriasis. Some of the best shower water filters have been certified to remove PFAS, or “forever chemicals.” The best showerhead filters I tested are quite good at removing the abrasive chlorine compounds that cities add to your tap water to kill bacteria. I have verified this using chemical test kits.
These are the best shower filters I've found. Note that each filter might perform differently depending where you live, because different cities use various chlorine compounds to disinfect your water. For a preview, my favorite filtered showerhead, the Rorra Filtered Showerhead ($199), pairs handsome design with effectiveness and longevity, as shown by both WIRED's own tests and publicly available, independent lab testing (a rarity among the often non-transparent makers of filtered showerheads.) The Canopy Filtered Showerhead ($150), combines effective chlorine removal with variable spray settings and easy installation. And the Weddell Duo ($90) is an inline filter that offers the widest array of public, independent testing for filtering impurities, including PFAS and lead. So, let’s say you don’t like chlorine in your water.
For more purity filters and tests, check out our guides to the Best Backpacking Water Filters, Best Water Filter Pitchers, Best Air Purifiers, and Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors. For more ways to level up your bathroom, check out our guides to the Best Bidets, Best Electric Toothbrushes, and the Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products for Your Home.
Updated April 2026: I added Boroux's shower water filter as the inline filter I recommend for the half of US cities that use chloramine to treat their water. I also added the HigherDose Red Light Shower Filter to the honorable mentions.
Table of ContentsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron- Compare the Top Shower Water Filters
- Honorable Mentions
- Also Tested
- How I Tested Shower Water Filters
- What Do Shower Filters Do?
- What Is Chloramine?
- Are Shower Filters Effective for Hard Water?
Best Shower Filter Overall
- Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
- Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Rorra
Filtered Showerhead
$199Rorra (with subscription)
The biggest problem with showerhead filters is untested and sometimes wild claims. WIRED conducts its own tests using the same chemical indicators as professionals (as opposed to imprecise test strips, results of which can be the scientific equivalent of a shoulder shrug). But there's no substitute for independent, third-party lab testing. And most filter makers won't release their results.
Well, Rorra isn't most. The company is not shy about releasing its independent third-party testing results, showing the precise longevity of the shower filter's effectiveness. Unsurprisingly, the showerhead fared as well as possible in WIRED's tests, reducing not just chlorine but also chloramine to undetectable levels.
The Rorra filtered showerhead is handsome, sturdy, and modern, available in a number of colors, including chrome, glossy black, and bronzed brushed nickel. Installation and filter replacement are easy, without the need for plumber's tape or wrenches. Rorra is primarily a water filter company, and I've recently also had good results testing its gravity-fed countertop water filter (if you want, you can bundle this product with the showerhead).
The showerhead is a two-part filter: a mix of KDF-55 and calcium sulfite, without the activated or catalyzed carbon layer some filters use (which has some efficacy, but does tend to lead to faster diminishing returns). Rorra purports to use 30 percent more filter media than its competitors. My testing results show Rorra reduces total chlorine to undetectable levels out of the box for weeks of showers, with better longevity than others I've tested. Independent, public lab testing shows this removal rate stays above 90 percent for three months of daily eight-minute showers by a pair, or maybe six months for a singleton. After that, the filtration rate slowly dips, reaching half-effectiveness by double that span. This tested effectiveness outperforms other KDF filter systems I've tested—some begin losing ground after only a month.
While Rorra is the best overall, it isn't the cheapest filtered showerhead. If you opt-in for a filter-replacement subscription, you'll get a discount, but otherwise it'll run you $239. The filter replacements are also more expensive than some competitors. But WIRED's testing and independent lab testing, offer good reason to believe you're getting something for the money.
SpecsFilter material2 layers: KDF-55 and calcium sulfiteFilter replacements$45, once every three monthsIndependent lab testing?Independent lab testing for free chlorine removal and structural integritySpray settingsN/AFlow rate and limitersStandard 2.5 gal/min and 1.75 gal/minWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED- Lowers total and free chlorine to undetectable levels
- Public, independent lab testing verifies claims
- Handsome, luxe showerhead design
- No spray setting adjustment
- Pricier than alternatives
Best Inline Shower Filter for Chlorine and Lead
Photograph: Matthew KorfhageSave to wishlistSave to wishlistWeddell
Duo Shower Filter
$90Amazon
Most makers of shower water filters are a bit circumspect about releasing lab test data or getting their products certified by international testing bodies. Not Weddell. As of early 2026, the Weddell Duo is the only US shower water filter I've obtained that received a certification for chlorine removal from NSF International, an testing organization and health-standards authority. If your city water uses chlorine and not chloramine (check here to verify), this is probably the filter I'd get.
The Duo is also certified by NSF to remove lead from water, and Weddell cites third-party testing by IAPMO R&T showing that the showerhead removes PFAS, though this is not accompanied by any certification.
Each filter is certified to remove the lion's share of free chlorine over the course of 8,000 gallons. (An average household uses 350 gallons per person each month.) Still, according to our testing, the Duo was not as effective as the top-rated Rorra, Canopy, or Afina filters at removing chloramine, the substance used in more than half of major metropolitan areas. New York, Chicago, Seattle, Detroit, and Phoenix use chlorine to disinfect their drinking water. This is the filter I'd likely favor in those cities, if free chlorine were my main concern.
The Duo is an inline filter, which means you screw it in between your pipe and your existing showerhead. It's not overly pretty—a bit like your shower got skewered by a fuel rod—but it is lab-tested, independently certified, and the horizontal design helps it only minimally affect your shower's height.
If your city uses chloramine to treat its water, the best-performing inline filter option I tested was the Boroux shower water filter ($50–$70). Boroux is perhaps better known for its gravity-fed water filters, but right out of the box, its inline filter was able to remove about 98 percent of the chloramine from my city's water system. Independent lab testing showed similar results for chlorine, but note that the filter's efficacy will be reduced by half by the time the $40 filter needs replacing (every three months). Ultimately, it's nice that the showerhead sells for not much more than the filter. But do note that the showerhead is plastic, not much of a looker, and dribbles a little.
SpecsFilter material2 layers: activated carbon and “proprietary medium”Filter replacements$25–$30, once every three monthsIndependent lab testing?NSF certification to remove free chlorine and lead; independent testing to remove PFAsSpray settingsNo effectFlow rate and limitersRated for up to 2.5 gal/minWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED- NSF-certified to filter both chlorine and lead
- Independent lab results show PFAS filtering
- Can add to existing shower fixture
- Less effective in chloramine systems
- Shower height will lower slightly after installation
Best Filtered Handheld Shower Wand
Photograph: Matthew KorfhageSave to wishlistSave to wishlistCanopy
Handheld Filtered Showerhead
$150 $125 (17% off)Canopy
$150Sephora
Canopy is WIRED's previous pick for best filtered showerhead overall. It remains my favorite filtered shower wand. The filter in Canopy’s handheld wand is the same tri-layered puck that's in the basic Canopy showerhead, using the same effective mixture of filtering compounds. This means that the handheld, just like Canopy’s fixed showerhead, was able to bring total chlorine in my water down to undetectable amounts.
Canopy’s handheld offers a classic silhouette—without the ungainly, mad-scientist laboratory assembly that some filtered handhelds require. The reason for the simplicity is straightforward: You install the filter inside the spray head, not as a separate part. This gives Canopy’s handheld some pleasing heft, as compared to the cheap-feeling flimsiness of other filtered handhelds I tested. Others, however, may find the Canopy’s heft to be simply … heavy.
There are other trade-offs. The spray is not adjustable, which means the wand does not offer any forceful “massage” settings. And changing the filter is a bit of a pain, requiring more force than seems reasonable. Which is to say, there’s room for improvement. But in the somewhat sparse market for excellent filtered shower wands, it’s the best and most effective I’ve tried. For cities using chlorine, not chloramine, the Croix handheld shower wand offers plausible competition. According to my testing, it wasn't as effective for water that uses chloramine.
SpecsFilter material3 layers: KDF-55, calcium sulfite, activated carbonFilter replacements$25, once every three monthsIndependent lab testing?None offeredSpray settingsNo adjustmentsFlow rate and limiters2.5 gal/min; 1.8 gal/min restrictor includedWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED- Filters total chlorine to undetectable levels, according to WIRED testing
- Handheld
- Easy installation
- No public lab tests released
- Difficult to unscrew when replacing the filter
Best Value Filtered Showerhead
Photograph: Matthew KorfhageSave to wishlistSave to wishlistCanopy
Filtered Showerhead
$150 $100 (33% off)Amazon
$150 $125 (17% off)Canopy
Over multiple days of testing and at all water temperatures, Canopy was among the minority of options I tested that lowered my chloramine-treated water’s total measurable chlorine to undetectable levels. The filtration media are a mix of substances known to be effective at reducing chlorine: KDF-55, calcium sulfite, and granular activated carbon made from coconut shells.
The previous winner of all filtered showerheads, Canopy serves a good mix of value and efficacy. But unlike WIRED's current top-pick Rorra, Canopy has not released third-party independent lab testing. Canopy's filter also loses efficacy a bit faster than Rorra's, according to my own testing.
This said, Canopy is notably around half the price of Rorra—not just for the initial showerhead purchase, but also for filter replacement. At $25 a pop every 90 days, its filter subscription is among the most affordable in the game.
This is a good-looking showerhead, with adjustable spray settings and perhaps the easiest installation and filter swap-out of any brand I've tested. The brand offers aromatherapy options, like diffusers and felt air fresheners you can hang from the top of your showerhead and refresh with essential oils—a clear play to position its shower “experience” as part of a wellness-based lifestyle. The aromatherapy features adds $15 to your subscription price every three months.
SpecsFilter material3 layers: KDF-55, calcium sulfite, activated carbonFilter replacements$25, once every three monthsIndependent lab testing?None offeredSpray settingsThree settings, from wide spray to forceful centered blastFlow rate and limiters2.5 gal/min; 1.8 gal/min restrictor includedWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED- 3-layer filteration media lower total chlorine to undetectable levels
- Excellent design; easy installation and filter replacement
- Lower-cost filter replacement than other brands
- No independent lab test data released
Best Bathroom Sink Water Filter
- Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
- Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
- Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Filterbaby
Bathroom Sink Filter
$119 $98 (18% off)Amazon
OK, this isn't a shower filter, but it's still relevant. This bathroom sink filter from Filterbaby is designed to solve a specific problem: Many people wash their faces in the bathroom sink as part of their skin care regimen. But the water they're using contains chlorine, which is bad for skin—and especially bad for sensitive skin. Enter this funny-looking gadget (which actually installs reasonably handsomely, if bulbously).
The filter from Filterbaby removes almost all total chlorine from water in your bathroom sink, according to WIRED's testing—an effectiveness that will, however, depend strongly on water pressure and flow rate. At full blast in my sink, the filter was about 80 percent effective. When I turned it down a bit, that effectiveness climbed to something closer to 98 percent. To extend the life of your filter when you're not washing your face, you can actually toggle between using the filter and not—an interesting and thoughtful touch.
This said, it's still an extra and kinda bulky thing on your bathroom sink. And installation is oddly involved: You must remove your faucet's pre-installed aerator (and maybe discover particulates trapped inside the old thing, blech). Then you'll have to sort through the 10 included adapters and multiple O-rings to find the right ones for your sink. It's hardly brain science, but if you're not mechanically inclined, you may want help with this one from whomever in your life prides themselves on wrenchwork—especially because instructions and tutorial videos are only moderately clear.
Filter replacement is recommended once every three months, but in practice, this should depend quite a bit on how much you use your bathroom sink.
SpecsFilter materialProprietary "Ultra Filtration" systemFilter replacements$40, recommended once every three monthsIndependent lab testing?Available upon requestFlow settingsCan switch between filtered and unfilteredWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED- Filters total chlorine to minuscule levels at low flow rates
- Attaches to fit bathroom sink
- Can be toggled from filtered to unfiltered
- A bit bulky in small bathroom sinks
- Installation is a little tedious
- Filtration less effective at high flow rates
Best Bathtub Water Filter
- Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
- Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Canopy
Baby Bathtub Filter
$89Canopy
$89Amazon
This bathtub filter from Canopy is a concept I hadn't seen before—essentially a silicone sleeve that fits over a bathtub spout, so you can filter bathwater the same way you might do your shower. It's a clever solution to the variability of bathtub fixtures. Installation isn't too difficult: The silicone sleeve stretched quite easily over my older, bulky bathtub spout.
Like Canopy's shower filters, the bathtub filter uses a mix of activated carbon, KDF-55, and calcium sulfite. Most of the marketing is geared toward a baby’s bath time—and Canopy's website shows troubling images of baby rashes and skin irritation that the filter could theoretically help to prevent.
But bathtub spouts are a difficult problem to solve. Compared to Canopy's showerhead filters, this bathtub filter is less effective, likely because the bathtub system isn't leakproof. If your water pressure outstrips the filter's flow capacity, unfiltered water will leak out into the bathtub. On my bathtub in particular, which struggles to limit water pressure, the filter was about half as effective at filtering chlorine as Canopy's showerhead filter.
This said, half is better than zero, and I haven't yet found other bathtub filters better than this one. (You could, however, fill a bathtub from a filtered showerhead. Our top picks will be more effective at filtering all chlorine.)
SpecsFilter material3 layers: KDF-55, calcium sulfite, and activated carbonFilter replacements$25, once every three monthsIndependent lab testing?None offeredSpray settingsN/AFlow rate and limitersN/A, but you'll need to manually lower water pressure to match the bathtub filter's capacityWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED- Works on multiple sizes of spout
- Removes much chlorine from bathwater
- Not as effective as Canopy's shower filters
- No lab results made public
- A little awkward looking
Best Low-Plastic Shower Filter
Photograph: Matthew KorfhageSave to wishlistSave to wishlistCuro
Filtered Shower Head
$111Curo
A good number of filtered showerheads claim to remove microplastics. But the funny thing is, most such filters are made with a significant amount of plastic. Take that paradox as you will. But English brand Curo uses far less plastic than any other brand I've found, aside from a bit of polyester in the filter's mesh—and according to founder Harry Bilby, Curo is working on getting rid of even this tiny bit of plastic.
Like my top pick, Rorra, Curo's three-layer shower filter reduced total chlorine to undetectable levels in testing. Bilby also shared third-party lab testing results showing that the filter is effective on free chlorine levels for 8,000 gallons at a high flow rate. The catch for those in the US is that Curo is a handheld showerhead that doesn't come with a hose and adapter for American shower pipes. Americans will have to figure that out, if they don't already have a handheld showerhead setup. If you do have a handheld showerhead, just screw it off and screw on the Curo. Note that the showerhead itself is priced lower than other brands on this list, but filter replacement is more expensive.
SpecsFilter materialKDF-55, calcium sulfite, and activated carbonFilter replacements~$45 every 3 months, or ~$160 for a set of four filters for the yearIndependent lab verification?Reviewed by WIRED, from a Korean labSpray settingsIs what it isFlow rate and limiters2.5 g/min or 1.75 g/min optionsWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronWIRED- Filters total chlorine to undetectable levels for chloramine system
- Third-party lab data provided for chlorine systems
- Lower plastic use
- Does not come with handheld shower mount
- Filter replacement among most expensive
Compare Our Top Shower Filter Systems
ShowerheadFilter mediaWIRED testing resultsCertifications/independent lab data reviewed by WIREDFilter replacement costTypeOther featuresRorra Filtered ShowerheadKDF-55, calcium sulfiteReduced total chlorine to undetectable levels in a chloramine-treated systemYes$45, every 3 monthsFixtureEasy filter replacement without de-installationWeddel DuoActivated carbon, plus “proprietary medium”Removed most but not all total chlorine in a chloramine-treated system; best for chlorine-treated systemsNSF-certified to remove chlorine and lead$25–$30, every 3 monthsInline filterFilter replacement without de-installationCanopy HandheldKDF-55, calcium sulfite, activated carbonReduced total chlorine to undetectable levels in a chloramine-treated systemNo$25, every 3 monthsHandheldFilter replacement without de-installationCanopy Filtered ShowerheadKDF-55, calcium sulfite, activated carbonReduced total chlorine to undetectable levels in a chloramine-treated systemNo$25, every 3 monthsFixtureAdjustable sprayFilterbaby Bathroom Sink FilterPropietary “Ultra Filtration” systemReduced most but not all total chlorine in a chloramine-treated systemAvailable upon request$40, every 3 monthsFixtureCan switch between filtered and unfilteredCanopy Baby Bathtub FilterKDF-55, calcium sulfite, activated carbonAbout half as effective at reducing total chlorine levels as the Canopy Filtered ShowerheadNo$25, every 3 monthsFixtureWorks on multiple spout sizesCuro Shower WandKDF-55, calcium sulfite, and activated carbonReduced total chlorine to undetectable levels in a chloramine-treated systemIndependent data for chlorine-treated systems: removes chlorine for up to 8,000 gallons~$45 every 3 months, or ~$160 for a set of four filters for the yearHandheldLow plastic useHonorable Mention Shower Filters
Photograph: Matthew KorfhageHigherDose Red Light Shower Filter for $599: The HigherDose Red Light Shower Filter (6/10, WIRED Reviewed) is, in some ways, the most intriguing shower filter idea I've encountered in the past year: It incorporates a ring of lights, delivering dual red and near-infrared wavelengths at purported therapeutic intensity (though the verdict is still out on the efficacy of red light therapy in general). The 10-layer filter is among the most complex I've tested, including steel-mesh filter for sediment and microplastics as well as layers of vitamin C and E. According to my testing, it's effective: This filter reduced total chlorine to undetectable levels. So, far so good. The company also claims that independent testing showed the shower filter could remove the vast majority of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), microplastics, mineral hardness, and heavy metals like lead and cadmium. But HigherDose was not willing to share these results, nor the identity of the lab. So, the high cost of this shower filter system mostly stems from the (somewhat ingenious) ring of therapeutic red lights, better known from their role in red-light masks and red-light hair growth hats. The actual effects of the showerhead's red light therapy are difficult to gauge, given that dosage will differ wildly depending on your distance from the showerhead and how long you like to shower.
Afina A-01 Filtered Showerhead for $129: Afina’s two-stage chlorine filter is as effective as any of the filtered showerheads I tested out of the box, reducing total chlorine levels to undetectable amounts. The broad, spa-like spray was also among the most pleasant of any showerhead I tried. But no independent lab testing was offered, and filter replacement is a bit more expensive than some, at $29 every two months with a subscription (or $40 every two months without).
Filterbaby Diamond Series Shower Filter for $113: This inline filter was able to reduce total chlorine levels to undetectable amounts, one of few filters on the market able to do so—and the fact that it's an inline filter means you'll be able slot this filter in between the pipe and your existing showerhead. That said, it's a bulky filter, which means your showerhead will be about 4 inches lower than it used to be, and the screw-in system is a little awkward: It's one of the only showerheads I actually needed a wrench to install properly. The replacement filters ($42 every three months) are designed to use minimal plastic.
Photograph: Matthew KorfhageSproos! Filtered Hand Shower for $148 ($120 with subscription): Sproos is a quirky, kicky, kooky shower brand offering a rainbow of bold colors for handheld filtered showerheads. Sproos has made some improvements to its design since WIRED first tested it in 2024. Its shower filters are also recyclable, a rare distinction. During our testing in early 2026, the filter removed most, but not all, total chlorine right out of the box in a chloramine-treated water system. Independent, third-party testing reviewed by WIRED showed similar results for free chlorine (i.e., chlorine-treated water systems), removing the majority of chlorine throughout the likely filter lifespan.
Hydroviv Filtered Showerhead for $173: Hydroviv is a water filter company of long standing, and its showerhead filter that uses KDF-55, calcium sulfite, and catalyzed carbon was able to reduce total chlorine levels down to undetectable levels out of the box in a chloramine-treated water system. Hydroviv suggests filter replacements once every six months, a longer span than comparable shower filters such as Canopy or Afina; that said, its $78 filters cost double or more what other filters do, and I noted significant loss of efficacy after four months. As with most makers of shower filters, requests to see independent lab testing results were unsuccessful. Hydroviv claims its filter media help reduce bacterial growth, though the materials cited are the same listed in other shower filters.
ShowerClear Filtered Shower Head, pictured as installed at a WIRED reviewer's home.Photograph: Matthew KorfhageShowerClear Showerhead for $139: OK, you got me. This isn't a filter. The ShowerClear is instead designed to solve a different problem: Potentially infectious bacteria called mycobacteria, which are prone to causing lung infections, enjoy growing inside showerheads, and are resistant to chlorine-treated water. They grow in colonies, a bit like fungus. Hence, the name. What's worse, if you can't open up your showerhead, you can't see them and you don't know they're there. Gives you the willies. Anyway, this ShowerClear has a hinge and a latch. This means you can open it up, look inside, and clean its interior completely, with soap or vinegar or disinfectants. This is a rare quality even among filtered showerheads. I'd be happier if the ShowerClear's water flow fanned out a little better, or if the latch were less of a defining design feature. But what's all that for a little peace of mind? (That said, if you want a filter to remove chlorine, you'll also need an inline filter like the Weddell Duo.)
Photograph: Matthew KorfhageCroix Filtered Showerhead for $149 and Croix Handheld Showerhead for $149: Shower filter company Croix was founded by chemical engineer Spencer Robertson, an old hand at water filtration. The fixed showerhead is handsome, and the handheld shower has a much broader array of spray settings than most—including a fun, ultra-broad spray setting that's like a savagely powerful misting device. This said, the KDF-55 and calcium sulfite filter didn't filter even close to the majority of total chlorine levels from my chloramine-treated water system. Based on results I've reviewed from Croix's internal testing, the filters were successful at filtering most free chlorine from water, in accordance with NSF standards. For this reason, I'd more likely recommend this device for chlorine-treated systems, like the one in New York City. Replacement cartridges and filters are reasonably priced and recommended once every four months, a longer interval than most brands on the market.
Photograph: Matthew KorfhageAquasana Inline Filter for $170: Aquasana's funnily bulbous two-layer filter removed the majority of total chlorine in my chloramine-treated system, and it was also one of the only shower filter companies to offer independent testing data backing up its claims for chlorine-based systems. So far, so good. So why’s it not up near the top of our list? A flimsy shower wand with poor spray force and radius, a slight but unfortunate tendency toward leakiness at the shower connection, and unforgiving geometry that means it doesn't link up well with all showerheads as an inline filter. Still, it works and it's lab-attested for free chlorine removal, and I happily recommend it.
Photograph: Matthew KorfhageJolie Filtered Showerhead for $169: The Jolie showerhead pioneered the influencer-centric, testimonial-driven marketing model that has made shower filters so dominant in the public conversation. Its design, which looks a bit like a giant Monopoly playing piece and comes in chrome, gold, black, or red, is eminently likable. The device offers even water spray and a soft, stippled faceplate that feels luxuriant in the strangest of ways. But Jolie didn't respond to requests for independent testing when I asked in 2024, and our own testing put it somewhere in the middle of the pack in terms of removing total chlorine from a chloramine-treated system.
Also Tested
Kohler Cinq for $150: Kohler is a venerable Wisconsin brand with a number of water treatment options for showers and faucets. The Cinq filtered showerhead is admirably classic in form, and its five-layer filter looked equally promising, advertising in particular KDF-55 and activated carbon. Home testing didn’t show great results with my chloramine-treated water, however. Requests for independent lab testing data in 2024 didn’t get results.
Act + Acre Showerhead Filter for $120: Beauty company Act + Acre’s filtered showerhead didn’t perform as well as others in my home testing of total chlorine. I also didn’t fall in love with the showerhead itself, which looks a bit like a gooseneck desk lamp and droops awkwardly from the shower pipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How I Tested and What I Tested
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevron
Photograph: Matthew KorfhageThe market for filtered showerheads remains young and largely unregulated, and performance claims are only rarely backed up publicly by independent data. I made lots of requests, but few shower filter companies hand over their lab results. (Thank you Rorra, Boroux, Aquasana, Weddell, Croix, and Curo for being among the exceptions.)
Some makers told us that independent labs and certifying bodies have been backed up, and that data is forthcoming. Many offered customer satisfaction surveys or anecdotal studies instead. This all means that some skepticism is warranted.
So, I also got at-home test kits. First I test the total chlorine levels in the water without any filtering, a measure that includes either chloramine or free chlorine that's interacted with whatever's in your pipes. Then I test the water filtered by the showerhead. I perform each test multiple times to account for imprecision or fluctuations in testing and in municipal chlorine levels. In most cases, I do this over multiple days upon initial testing to account for any inconsistencies in my own water supply.
For testing, I avoided painfully unreliable home test strips, and instead got out somewhat nasty chemical indicators and used digital and chemical tests designed for pools and aquariums.
I also tested total dissolved solids using a TDS meter, and separately tested filters' effects on pH in order to gauge effects but also to verify the reliability of chemical test results.
The effectiveness of filters goes down over time, of course, depending on how much contamination it filters out of the water, which is why filters always need to be changed. As I update this guide, I'll continue to test the most effective showerhead filters to see how their efficacy changes over time—and add any new shower filters we’re able to recommend.
What Does a Shower Filter Do?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronThe key measurable function of most shower filters is to remove chlorine and chlorine compounds, mostly through chemical reactions. Pretty much every American city adds low concentrations of chlorine or chlorine compounds to drinking water to kill potentially harmful bacteria. This is all well and good when the water’s still in the pipes. But chlorine’s not exactly great for your hair or your skin, and few people like to drink it. Some are also especially sensitive to the taste or smell, or prone to skin reactions.
The most prominent home shower filters rely in part on a zinc-copper mixture called KDF-55, known to be quite effective at neutralizing “free” chlorine in chlorine-treated systems. Other common substances used to treat chlorine and chlorine compounds include calcium sulfite and activated or catalytic carbon. The most effective filters use these in some combination. I tested and verified the best shower water filters' ability to remove the total chlorine content of water coming out of your shower.
We’ve seen little evidence that the most common showerhead filters have much effect on the softness or hardness of water, or on calcium buildup. In fact, some early academic studies present evidence that they don’t. The shower filters I tested also had very little effect on the sum total of dissolved solids in our water, according to measurements with a TDS meter—i.e., the filters aren’t removing a large amount of materials or minerals from the water.
I wasn't able to test claims by some companies that these filters remove heavy metals like lead and arsenic, which thankfully aren’t in my pipes. I only found one company, Weddell, whose filter was certified to remove lead. Nonetheless, if you believe you have dangerous lead or arsenic in your water, you probably shouldn’t try to fix the problem with a mail-order showerhead. Talk to a water treatment professional or your public health authority.
Does My City Use Chlorine or Chloramine?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronIf you live in a major US city, chlorine is likely not what your city uses to treat the water in its pipes. New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Phoenix use chlorine, sure. But Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, and most big cities in Texas don’t.
More than half of American big cities use a substance called chloramine, a more stable and enduring chemical that’s harder to filter and test. That's also what was in my water supply. To test, I got out my handy digital water colorimeter and a somewhat nasty chemical indicator, and then tested the ability of each shower filter to treat any of a number of chlorine compounds in the water.
Curious whether your city uses chlorine or chloramine as a disinfectant in your pipes? Check here for an accounting of the 50 biggest municipal water systems in the United States.
Are Shower Filters Effective for Hard Water?
AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronNo, probably not.
The best shower filters I tested will improve your water quality, largely by removing chlorine and chloramine compounds—and other contaminants that may include heavy metals.
But shower filters can only do so much. You probably shouldn’t expect these shower filters to soften the mineral hardness of your water or remove most substances, which derives mostly from dissolved calcium and magnesium salts in your water.
After all, a filter must be relatively small to fit into a showerhead. And yet it’s being asked to filter gallons of water each minute, pushed out at both high temperature and high pressure. A showerhead filter poses a daunting engineering challenge, as compared to countertop water filters that treats only a small amount of water at a time—or a bulky reverse-osmosis device that can plug into your under-sink plumbing
Hard water is more often solved by specific water softeners, reverse osmosis filters, and whole-house water filtration systems. Some early studies show that a number of shower filters may even add a small amount of hardness to your water, via calcium sulfite filters,
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Matthew Korfhage is a staff writer and reviewer on WIRED's Gear team, where he focuses on home and kitchen devices that range from air fryers and coffee machines to space heaters, water filters, and beard trimmers. Before joining WIRED in 2024, he covered food, drink, business, culture, and technology for ... Read MoreProduct Writer & ReviewerTopicsShoppinghouseholdbuying guidesbathroomfashion & beautyEvery Smart Home Needs Some Voice-Controlled Robotic Window ShadesFrom made-to-measure smart shades to retrofit curtain bots, these are our favorite WIRED-tested drapes for your windows.Simon HillDeath to Dry Skin. These Humidifiers Are Better Than ChapstickFrom models for traveling to humidifiers that double as planters or air purifiers, we've tested a dozen of them.Matthew KorfhageThe Best Fitness Trackers Check Your Sleep, Heart Rate, or Even Your BloodWith almost ten years of hands-on testing, WIRED knows what separates the best fitness trackers from the rest.Adrienne SoThe Best Hybrid Mattresses for the Best of Both WorldsBy combining foam and springs in carefully tuned layers, hybrids hit the sweet spot between soft and supportive. Here are our favorites after extensive testing.Julia ForbesThe Best Smart Video Doorbell CamerasNever miss a delivery. These WIRED-tested picks will help you keep tabs on your front door from anywhere.Simon HillGive Your Back a Break With Our Favorite Office ChairsSitting at a desk for hours? Upgrade your WFH setup and work in style with these comfy WIRED-tested seats.Julian ChokkattuThe Best Automatic Litter Boxes Tested by Our Spoiled CatsWith these high-tech automatic litter boxes, gone are the days of scooping and smells. Welcome to the future.Molly HigginsThe Best 5 Pillows for Neck PainNeck pain takes many forms, but these WIRED-tested pillows may save your sleep.Julia ForbesThe Best Espresso Machines, Including—Surprise—the Most-Hyped Pick of 2026The best espresso makers can turn your kitchen into a café and help you hone the art of the perfect shot.Matthew KorfhageThe Best Kindles to Take Your Library AnywhereHere’s how Amazon’s ebook readers stack up—and which one might be right for you. Nena Farrell These Are Our Favorite Standing Desks to Liven Up Your WorkstationTake your home office to new heights with our favorite motorized standing desks.Nicole KinningThe Best Lightweight Hiking Boots Won’t Weigh You Down on Your Next MountainEach pair I tested weighs under 2 pounds. Whatever happens on your next adventure, your shoes won’t hold you back.Chris Haslam
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