Best Water Filters in 2026 as reviewed by Australian consumers

What does a water filter do?
Types of water filtration methods
Types of home water filter systems
Things to consider when buying a water filter

Water filter jug

What does a water filter do?

You don't need to stock up on bottled water when you can get clean, high-quality water right at home with a water filter. Many water filtration systems can rid water of bacteria, chlorine, pesticides and other contaminants that may be lurking in your tap water. While tap water is perfectly safe to drink and use, water filters can turn hard water soft, making it nicer for your hair, skin and laundry while removing odd odours and funky tastes from your drinking water.

Water filters act as an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to buying plastic water bottles and come in a range of prices to suit everyone’s budgets.

Various types of filters work in different ways and there are a few methods worth mentioning including reverse osmosis, using activated carbon or ultraviolet rays to clean and purify water. These methods can be used in filtration systems that typically come in form of water pitchers, undersink filters, stand-alone units and more.

Types of water filtration methods

Mechanical filters

A mechanical filter is the most basic type of filter available and it can help rid your water of dirt, sediments, rust or other large particles. They work by using a mesh or membrane to filter out large debris and can work in conjunction with other methods for a more effective clean.

These types of filters are most commonly used in water filter pitchers. While water jugs are effective at removing contaminants, they are small and impractical to use when cooking, washing vegetables or other tasks which require a larger quantity of water.

The membrane filtration method can also be slow as the speed depends on the size of the gaps in the water filter membrane. Smaller gaps will mean a slower water flow, but a more effective clean.

Mechanical filters are usually given a micron rating which indicates the effectiveness of the filter:

5 micron: will remove most particles visible to the naked eye.
1 micron: will remove particles that are too small to see without a microscope such as bacteria and chlorine.
5 micron: will remove microbial cysts (Giardia and Cryptosporidium).

Activated carbon filters

Otherwise known as chemical absorption, carbon is used in many filtration systems such as water pitchers, benchtop units and tap water filters to absorb the impurities in your water.

The benefits of this method include being simple to install, eco-friendly and effective at filtering out a high percentage of common contaminants. Carbon is very effective at removing chemicals such as iron, manganese, chlorine and hydrogen sulphide as well as unpleasant tastes and odours while leaving electrolytes and important minerals in the water.

Most common domestic filters contain granular activated carbon (GAC) which reduces unwanted tastes and odours by absorption. More expensive filters may use carbon block elements that carry a smaller micron rating for particle removal.

A variety of different substances can be used to make carbon for filters including wood and coconut shell, with coconut shell filters being more effective but also more expensive.

Reverse osmosis water filters

Reverse osmosis works by using semi-permeable membranes to remove ions, molecules and large particles from drinking water. Water is passed at high pressure through either a thin membrane, a sediment filter or a carbon filter and then the reverse osmosis membrane to remove the odour and taste of water.

Along with home distillation, this method is effective at purifying water to a lifeless and acidic state. However, it removes useful minerals in tap water such as magnesium, calcium, sodium and electrolytes. This pure and tasteless water may be useful for those with specific health issues or who are undergoing kidney dialysis. This method is also expensive and extensive.

A remineraliser can be bought to add useful minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium back into the water and to raise the pH of the water to alkaline levels.

Ceramic filters

Ceramic filters use small pores to keep any large particles outside. They are sometimes lined with silver which kills bacteria and prevents mould. The pros are that it is inexpensive and lasts for multiple years. It doesn’t require electricity to work and it is effective in reducing bacteria.

On the other hand, this isn’t effective against viruses and can be slow to work. Ceramic filters are often used in tandem with other filtration systems as many have an internal activated carbon core.

Ultraviolet (UV) filters

During this method, high-frequency UV light is used to irradiate water through a glass element which kills all bacteria and viruses. This method is environmentally friendly but quite expensive and not entirely effective at decontaminating water. While it sanitises water, it does not remove contaminants such as chlorine, lead or pesticides, therefore this method is often used in conjunction with other filtration methods.

Types of home water filter systems

Filters are commonly found in homes in the form of water filter pitches, faucet-mounted filters, and for those looking to invest deeply in water - a whole-house treatment unit. Each comes with its own pros and cons.

Water filter jugs

This is one of the most common types of water filters since it is affordable and convenient. The upper half is filled with water from the tap which passes through a membrane that absorbs impurities to create filtered water. This flows into the lower half of the jug and can be poured out for drinking or other use.

Portable water bottle filters function similarly on a smaller scale - they often contain a membrane or carbon filter at their core.

Pros

Inexpensive to purchase.

No installation necessary.

Easy to use.

Does not remove valuable minerals from water.

Improves water flavour.

Reduces chlorine and other impurities.

Cons

Will not remove all contaminants.

Filters must be replaced regularly.

Slow filtering.

Refrigerator filters

Many refrigerators have a built-in filter that supplies water through at attachment on the door. Some also have an automatic ice maker. They usually use a method called chemical absorption via activated carbon filters to filter their water.

Pros

Comes pre-built in many refrigerators.

Can improve the water’s taste.

Filters water used for making ice.

Quick and easy to use.

Cons

Filters must be replaced regularly.

Will need to buy a refrigerator with this feature - which may be expensive.

Girl drinking filtered tap water

Faucet-mounted filtration systems

Faucet-mounted systems attach to a standard faucet and can be switched on and off between filtered and unfiltered water flow. They're a very convenient and affordable filtered water solution.

Pros

Can easily switch between filtered and unfiltered water.

Relatively inexpensive.

Cons

Does not work with all faucets.

May slow water flow.

Stand-alone reverse osmosis unit

This unit will remove many contaminants and bacteria, but it also removes some of the trace minerals your body needs. It tends to generate up to 1 gallon of drinking water at a time and uses a lot of counter space.

Pros

Removes the majority of contaminants.

Improves water flavour.

Cons

In-home set up can be expensive.

Needs frequent maintenance and replacement.

Removes essential minerals from water.

Produces a high quantity of filtered water which you may not need.

Under-the-counter filtration system

An under-the-counter filtration system is convenient for those without much benchtop space and is a fairly affordable solution to filtering tap water. They are installed under the sink (some may require self-installation) and send the filtered water through a pipe to the filter’s own faucet.

Pros

Filters large amounts of water.

Does not take up countertop space.

Cons

Often expensive.

May require modifications to plumbing.

Whole-house water filter

Whole-house water treatment devices treat all water entering the house, not just the water used for drinking.

This method reduces hard water damage to your appliances, allows your laundry to get cleaner with fewer detergents and allows for healthier hair and skin when showering. Whole-house water filtration is an expensive investment but offers the best return on investment.

Pros

Treatment is applied to all water entering your home.

Provides instant filtered water for non-drinking purposes as well, such as when showering and washing vegetables.

Cons

Often expensive.

May require modifications to plumbing and professional maintenance.

Filtering that removes chlorine might increase the growth of germs in pipes around your home.

Things to consider when buying a water filter

Type of filter

Before deciding which product to get, decide what you want it is you want to filter from your water. If you’re doing it for specific health reasons that require purified water, then distilled water or reverse osmosis units would be best. For general everyday use, you can opt for a filtering method and system that removes odours and tastes while still leaving essential minerals in the water.

Size

It could be useful to know the volume of water you’ll be filtering a day, how much space you have available in your kitchen and if you want to dedicate that space to your water filter.

If the answer is no or not very much then many water filtration systems are compact or discrete, such as refrigerator water filters, undersink water filters or water filter jugs.

Certification

Make sure that any water filter you buy meets the relevant Australian AS/NZS4348 standard and has a WaterMark certification.

Microns

The micron level of your filter is something to look out for when making your purchasing decision, as the smaller the pore size, the more chemicals it can successfully filter out.

Filtration speed

For large-scale uses other than drinking water, you should consider the filtration speed and flow rate. If you require large quantities of filtered water, a slow filtration process can be a real pain point.

Cartridge replacement

Cartridges need to be replaced periodically in order to be effective, but this will incur additional costs. Keep this in mind when choosing which water filter to use.

Warranty

When making a big investment, you’ll want to feel confident about your product in case anything goes wrong so you’re not wasting your money. Many UV, reverse osmosis and other extensive filtration systems offer a warranty which is worth considering when buying a water filter.

Cost

The cost of water filters vary considerably from affordable filtered jugs and water bottles to entire-house filtration systems - on top of the cost of replacement filters. Consider your budget and how much you’re willing to invest in filtered water.

You can read reviews on the best water filters on our website today.

Best Water Filters

Complete Home Filtration Complete Home System CHF-6000 🏆 2026

HolyH2O Trinity Water Filter 🏆 2026

Contents

What does a water filter do?

Types of water filtration methods

Mechanical filters

Activated carbon filters

Reverse osmosis water filters

Ceramic filters

Ultraviolet (UV) filters

Types of home water filter systems

Water filter jugs

Refrigerator filters

Faucet-mounted filtration systems

Stand-alone reverse osmosis unit

Under-the-counter filtration system

Whole-house water filter

Things to consider when buying a water filter

Type of filter

Size

Certification

Microns

Filtration speed

Cartridge replacement

Warranty

Cost