Aquagear vs Brita Pitchers: Which To Get?
Water that has been filtered is the best beverage for your body, skin, and internal organs. It is also the least expensive. Drinking pure and clean water is great for your skin because it aids in weight loss and keeps you feeling active and youthful. The cost of a water filter is significantly higher than the cost of bottled water, but the enhanced performance is well worth the extra cost.
The only disadvantage of utilizing a water filter instead of bottled water is a reduction in pressure. The degree of efficacy with which water filters remove impurities from the water should be of primary significance to you. If you want to drink clean water every day, you might consider purchasing a water filter pitcher.
If you’re familiar with water pitcher filters, you’ve probably heard of Brita. Brita, which has been in business for more than 50 years, has become something of a household name in the United States, appealing to families searching for an easy way to acquire clean drinking water on a regular basis.
When it comes to simple water filtration, though, Brita is far from the sole option. There are numerous companies that tout their own unique water filtering benefits, acting as direct competitors to Brita and, in some cases, delivering even more than any other filter on the market. One of them is the Aquagear water filter pitcher.
In this comparison review, we will compare the water filter pitcher of Aquagear vs Brita, comparing their features and assisting you in deciding which, if any, is best for you.
Comparing Aquagear Water Filter and Brita Filters
Aquagear Filters
The Aquagear pitcher comes with a single water filter, a 150-gallon replacement filter that provides effective contaminant removal for 6 months. This filter is white in color and smaller in size than Brita’s.
However, in terms of design, it is constructed from a similar filter media – a coconut shell activated carbon media that, once again, uses adsorption to decrease contaminants such as chlorine and lead.
The Aquagear water filter, like the Brita standard filter, features ion exchange components. Its vast variety of pollutant removal capabilities distinguishes it from its competitors, including Brita.
We think that the filter is fantastic, however the product design of the Aquagear pitcher itself is kinda bad. When filling the pitcher, we can’t determine when the water has completed filtering or how close to the top the water level is. And pouring from the pitcher is rather difficult due to the loose lid; it requires both hands to operate to avoid spilling.
Brita Filters
Brita pitchers use one of two filters: the Standard filter or the LongLast filter. The Standard filter lasts 2 months and filters water in around 10 minutes.
It includes many stages of water filtration, including passing water through a built-in mesh screen to prevent black carbon flecks and then through an activated carbon media that employs absorption to minimize contaminants such as chlorine, taste and odor, and mercury. There is also an ion exchange resin that reduces the levels of zinc, copper, and cadmium in drinking water.
Brita’s LongLast water filter works the same, but lasts an additional 4 months – for a total of 6 months. These filters are distinguished from Brita’s standard filters by their blue, rather than white, color. They employ pleated patented media and active proprietary filtering agents to decrease contaminants in water such as lead, cadmium, and asbestos.
Brita pitcher looks great, works great, and filters well. However, it is drippy, so you must learn how to pour and fill it properly to avoid making a mess.
Can Aquagear and Brita Water Filters Remove Contaminants?
Brita is well-known for its thorough, effective contaminant removal, but Aquagear’s marketing provides it a competitive advantage — the brand claims to remove “2,000% more toxins than the leading pitcher” (which I can assume is Brita).
While both filters remove chlorine, lead, and other common contaminants from water, Aquagear goes a step further by removing lesser-known contaminants such as chromium 6. The Aquagear water filter pitcher used to remove fluoride but no longer does as of June 5, 2021. Instead, it now removes PFAS.
As with other pitchers, use the Aquagear filter only with treated water because the filter it employs does not eliminate microbiological contaminants such as bacteria and viruses.
Performance Difference between Brita vs Aquagear Pitcher
Aquagear
Aquagear’s intensive filtering process is a big selling point for the company, and there are no flaws in the filter’s performance in terms of contaminant removal. When comparing the Aquagear water filter to the Brita, the Aquagear removes more impurities, including chromium 6, which may entice you if you’re seeking for the most thorough contaminant removal.
Because of the extensive filtering of the Aquagear water filter pitcher, it may take between 5 and 15 minutes to filter water, depending on the quality of your drinking water and the age of the filter. Some consumers have reported that filtration takes even longer than this, so be patient when filling the pitcher filter.
Again, you’d anticipate (and hope) that a pitcher filter would take this long to filter your water, as it’s a strong indication that the water isn’t simply passing past the filter material without being properly filtered.
The Aquagear water filter pitcher, like the Brita, is NSF certified for standards 42 and 53, which address the removal of lead and chlorine taste and odor. An NSF certification is the best indicator of good performance because it provides third-party verification that a system performs as well as the manufacturer claims.
Brita
Brita’s Standard water filters are NSF certified for NSF 42 and 53, chlorine and taste reduction, and particulate reduction. This is pretty much what you can expect from any water filter pitcher on the market – but, of course, Brita is one of the brands that has been doing it the longest and has built a solid reputation for reliable performance over the years.
If we solely consider performance over lifespan, there is a clear winner among Brita filters: the LongLast filter. It is Brita’s main selling point; the filter provides thorough water filtration for a full 6 months, whilst the majority of competing water filters struggle to retain high performance after only two months.
Both Brita’s Standard and LongLast filters filter a pitcher-full of water in about 10 to 15 minutes, which is average for a water filter of this type. Because Brita is not connected to a water source or energy, the system naturally takes longer to eliminate impurities. It’s actually a good sign that Brita’s filtration isn’t instant, implying that the filtration wasn’t complete enough.
Models & Upfront Costs: Is Aquagear More Expensive?
Aquagear
Aquagear only offers one pitcher filter type, a simple transparent, white, and blue BPA-free design that holds 8 cups of water. This limits them considerably when compared to Brita, since having a good number of options, both in terms of aesthetics and filters, offers Brita a slight edge.
That being said, if you’re looking for a simple water filter pitcher that does its job well, the Aquagear water filter pitcher will suffice. It’s the perfect size for most small-to-medium families, and the style is simple enough to fit in with most modern kitchens.
The Aquagear water pitcher costs about $70, which is slightly more than the rest of Brita’s offerings (Brita’s Everyday 10-Cup Pitcher, for example, which is most similar in style to Aquagear’s pitcher, costs just over $30). The water pitchers, on the other hand, comes with a lifetime warranty, which is a significant selling point if you want to get your money’s worth.
Brita
Brita filters are available in a range of models and styles. At the moment, there are 15 different varieties of Brita pitcher filters available, with styles in a variety of colors and capacities to suit all preferences. They’re also completely BPA-free, which is a good indicator – but this is to be expected for a water filtration product nowadays.
Pitchers range in price from $20 to $45, depending on size. Though filters vary in shape and size, the majority of them can be used with whichever Brita filter you pick – Standard, Stream, or LongLast.
The following is a complete list of Brita’s current available models:
- Monterey with Longlast Filter
- Ultraslim Stream® Dispenser
- Ultramax Dispenser with Longlast Filter
- Stream® Cascade Pitcher
- Grand
- Lake
- Wave
- Metro
- Soho
- Rapids Stream® Pitcher
- Everyday
- Pacifica
- Space-Saver
Filter Lifespan & Replacement Costs
Aquagear
In terms of filter selections, the Aquagear water filter pitcher is again significantly limited when compared to Brita. There is just one filtered water cartridge available: the Aquagear Replacement Filter. Each filtering cartridge lasts approximately 150 gallons, or approximately 6 months, thus the fact that Aquagear only offers one filter is not such a drawback.
However, the new cartridge is far more expensive than Brita’s LongLast – it costs roughly $40 to $50, depending on where you buy it. There is little doubt that Brita provides superior value for money, giving a cartridge with the same filter lifespan for less than half the price.
However, keep in mind that Aquagear is more effective at contaminant removal than Brita, so you could argue that the extra cost is justified in exchange for a more comprehensive tap water filtration.
Brita
The cost of a Brita replacement filter varies depending on the type you choose. The Standard and Stream filtered water cartridges have a 2-month lifespan, which is average for water pitcher filters in general. They range in price between $6 and $7, depending on where you buy them, giving them a decent value for money — if you used them constantly for a year, you’d pay roughly $35 to $40 for a full 12-month supply.
Brita’s LongLast water pitcher filter offers a 6-month lifespan, which is the best of any tap water pitcher filter on the market right now. The LongLast filter costs roughly $17, making it a better deal than the Standard filter because it lasts three times as long yet costs less than three times as much.
Customer Reviews & Complaints
Aquagear
The majority of customer reviews praised Aquagear’s extensive filtering, while some noted that tap water filtering takes substantially longer as a result.
Customers were pleased with the pitcher’s craftsmanship, stating that the plastic is sturdy, durable, and BPA-free. Many consumers complimented the Aquagear pitcher for its ease of use and lifetime warranty.
Aquagear’s replacement filter cartridge has a 4.4-star rating on Amazon, with over 4,300 reviews. Though the majority of responses are positive, the most common criticism leveled towards Aquagear’s drinking water pitcher is dependent on its design.
The top portion has a bigger capacity than the bottom tank, and consumers discovered that it was difficult to detect the fill amount when pouring through the small opening in the lid, making it very easy to overfill and cause the top section to overflow.
Brita
Customers love Brita’s water filter for flavor and purity, as well as the pitcher’s stylish, large-capacity designs.
Many of Brita’s pitchers are designed to save space, which customers appreciated.
Another advantage for customers was the broad number of pitchers available from Brita. However, several customers with limited mobility found a number of Brita’s filters to be somewhat hefty, making them difficult to lift while full of water.
On Amazon, Brita’s Standard tap water filter replacement has a 4.7-star rating based on nearly 8,000 reviews. Customers who have been brand loyal for nearly a decade have heaped praise on Brita online. On the other hand, some consumers claimed that their filters had leaked, while others wondered if they had received genuine Brita items.
Pros and Cons: Is Aquagear Better Than Brita?
Aquagear
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- High quality product
- Made in the United States of America
- Maintain healthy minerals
- Removes wide range of contaminants
- Long filter lifespan
- Flawless ergonomic design
- Filtering system with five stages
- Materials are environmentally friendly
Cons
- Additional salt cannot be removed
- No filter change reminder
- Rather expensive
- Spout’s flap sometimes sticks
- Does not offer many pitcher designs
- Minor design fault can cause overfill
Brita
Pros
- Simple to assemble and use
- Perfect for any home
- Longlast and Standard filters are both compatible
- Latest filtration technology
- Body made of BPA-free plastic
- Reasonably priced filter
- Wide range of pitcher designs
Cons
- Sticker Indicator
- Leakage issue
- Slow filtration
- Contaminant removal isn’t as thorough as Aquagear
- Standard filters have a rather short lifespan
Conclusion: Aquagear vs Brita?
Finally, both Brita and Aquagear pitcher filters have a lot going for them, and they’re both worth investing in for different reasons. Both remove a wide range of pollutants, have appealing designs, and are NSF certified for Standards 43 and 54, which supports their marketing claims. You can’t go wrong with any of the water pitcher filters available here.
Choosing between the two will most likely come down to price. The LongLast 6-month filtration option from Brita is less than half the price of the 6-month filtration option from Aquagear. If you’re looking for a good deal, Brita is the place to go.
On the other hand, Aquagear provides the most comprehensive contaminant removal, making it worthwhile to invest the extra money.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Aquagear effective in removing chlorine?
The majority of pitchers, including Aquagear, have a carbon-based filter that eliminates chlorine from the water. To remove chlorine from water, ion exchange is employed. There will be no odor from the water as a result of this ionic exchange, but there will be an increase in alkalinity and better-tasting water.
How long will an Aquagear filter Last?
Because this filter works so hard to eliminate harmful pollutants, it can filter roughly 150 gallons of water or for 3 to 6 months. Because filters aren’t unreasonably expensive, changing the filter every two months isn’t a big deal. Furthermore, the filter has a threefold longer life expectancy than a standard water filter and is recyclable!
What is the usage of (POU) water filters?
The benefits of water filtering benefits of POU water filter pitchers are endless, purifies your drinking water flowing from the tap instantly. As such, you’d always ensure that you’ve reliable water quality for every usage.
POU water filter pitchers function by removing harmful pathogens found in the cold water quality association through POU filter. Then, it proceeds to improve the cold water quality association. These water pitcher filters are often used in healthcare so health of patients are not jeopardized. Plus, researches have shown that these water pitcher filters effectively decrease healthcare costing by minimizing waterborne pathogens.
POU filters are usually either sterilizing-grade (“absolute bacteria retention”) or microbially-rated (log reduction of bacteria) to ensure the best water quality. According to the ASTM Standard F838, the POU filter is often tested with a particular controlled amount of bacteria to test how well it could retain the organism. POU filter has a rating of 0.2 microns or less.
When considering a POU filter, remember to compare the respective results from the ASTM F838 testing and micron size. Not all water pitcher filters are created equal and water quality may differ, even if they have the same micron sizes and share the same water filtering benefits.
