Why I'm Reviewing Brita
I know what you're thinking: isn't this a site that reviews the good stuff? Yes. But I get asked about Brita more than any other product. People want to know if the Brita they already own is "enough." And the honest answer is: it depends on what you're trying to protect against.
If your only complaint is that your tap water tastes like a swimming pool, Brita does the job. It reduces chlorine taste and odor, and it does it cheaply. There's nothing wrong with that.
But if you bought a Brita because you're worried about PFAS, lead, fluoride, microplastics, or any of the contaminants that health researchers are actually concerned about — your Brita is not doing what you think it's doing. And you deserve to know that.
What Brita Is
A Brita pitcher is a gravity-fed water filter that uses granular activated carbon (GAC) — essentially loose carbon granules — to filter water as it passes through. Water sits in the top reservoir, drips through the filter, and collects in the pitcher below. It's the most basic form of water filtration available.
Brita makes two filter types that fit their pitchers. They remove very different things, and most people don't realize they're probably using the worse one.
Standard Filter (White) — What Comes in the Box
This is the filter that comes with every Brita pitcher. It's certified under NSF Standard 42, which covers aesthetic effects only — meaning taste, odor, and appearance. It reduces chlorine taste, zinc, copper, mercury, and cadmium. That's it. It does not remove lead. It does not remove PFAS. It does not remove fluoride or microplastics.
Elite / Longlast Filter (Blue) — Sold Separately
This is the upgrade filter most people don't know about. It adds NSF Standard 53 certification, which covers health-related contaminants. The Elite filter removes everything the Standard does plus lead (99%), asbestos, benzene, and some pharmaceuticals. It's a meaningful improvement — but it still does not carry NSF P473 certification for PFAS and does not remove fluoride or microplastics.
The problem
Most people buy a Brita pitcher, use the Standard (white) filter it comes with, and assume they're filtering out "the bad stuff." They're not. They're filtering out chlorine taste. That's a $28 taste improvement, not a health solution.
What Brita Removes vs. What It Doesn't
Standard Filter (White)
- Chlorine taste and odor — this is the main thing it does
- Mercury
- Copper
- Zinc
- Cadmium
What Neither Brita Filter Removes
- PFAS / PFOA / PFOS — the "forever chemicals" in 97% of Americans' blood
- Fluoride
- Microplastics — not NSF-certified for removal
- Chromium-6
- Nitrates
- Bacteria or viruses — Brita is not a purifier
- Total dissolved solids (TDS)
Quick Reference
Cost Breakdown
Brita is cheap upfront. Here's the full picture.
| Item | Standard (White) | Elite (Blue) |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | $28 | $28 (same pitcher) |
| Filter cost | ~$6 each | ~$17 each |
| Filter life | 40 gallons / 2 months | 120 gallons / 6 months |
| Replacements per year | 6 | 2 |
| Annual filter cost | ~$36 | ~$34 |
| Removes lead? | No | Yes |
| Removes PFAS? | No | No |
The annual cost is roughly the same whether you use Standard or Elite filters. Given that, there is no reason to use the Standard filter. If you own a Brita, switch to the Elite (blue) filters immediately — you'll get lead removal for the same annual price.
What's Good About Brita
- Cheap upfront — $28 for a pitcher
- Available everywhere — Target, Walmart, Amazon, grocery stores
- Improves tap water taste significantly (chlorine reduction)
- Elite (blue) filter removes lead — genuinely useful
- Easy to use — no setup, no plumbing, just fill and pour
- Low annual cost (~$35/year for filters)
- BPA-free pitcher
- Better than nothing — and I mean that sincerely
What's Not Good About Brita
- Does NOT remove PFAS (no NSF P473 certification)
- Standard (white) filter doesn't even remove lead
- No fluoride removal
- Not certified for microplastics
- Granular activated carbon is the most basic filtration technology
- Standard filter only lasts 40 gallons (2 months)
- "Water filter" label creates a false sense of security for most families
- Doesn't remove chromium-6, nitrates, or bacteria
How It Compares
Brita vs Clearly Filtered
The Clearly Filtered pitcher ($90) uses a carbon block — not loose granules like Brita — and is certified to remove 365+ contaminants including PFAS, lead, fluoride, and microplastics. It costs 3x more upfront and filters are pricier, but it actually removes the contaminants that matter. If you're buying a pitcher because you're worried about what's in your water, Clearly Filtered is the better choice. Read the full review.
Brita vs AquaTru
Different league entirely. The AquaTru ($475) is a countertop reverse osmosis system that's NSF-certified to remove 84 contaminants including PFAS, lead, fluoride, chromium-6, and microplastics. It costs 16x more than a Brita, but it removes everything a Brita can't. If you can afford it, it's the best water filtration you can get without a plumber. Read the full review.
Brita vs Doing Nothing
A Brita is better than unfiltered tap water for taste. The chlorine reduction is real and NSF-certified. If the choice is Brita or nothing, use the Brita — especially with the Elite (blue) filter for lead removal. It's not a comprehensive filter, but it's not worthless either.
Who Should Use a Brita
Brita is fine if...
- Your only complaint is that your tap water tastes like chlorine
- You've checked your water quality and your area has no major violations
- You're on a very tight budget and $90 for a Clearly Filtered isn't possible right now
- You just need something while you save for a better filter
Get something better if...
- You have kids at home — children are more vulnerable to contaminants like lead and PFAS
- You're pregnant or planning to be — contaminants hit hardest during pregnancy
- Your water quality report shows PFAS, lead, or other health violations
- You want actual protection, not just taste improvement
- You assumed your Brita was "filtering out the bad stuff" — it probably isn't
My Verdict: 5 out of 10
I don't think Brita is a bad product. It does what it says — which is improve the taste of your water. The problem is what it doesn't say. When you call something a "water filter," people assume it filters out the things they're worried about. And Brita doesn't.
If all you need is better-tasting water and your local water quality is solid, Brita is fine. Use the Elite (blue) filter for lead protection and call it a day.
But if you have kids, if you've looked at your water quality report and seen things that worried you, or if you bought a Brita thinking it was protecting your family from PFAS and lead — it's time for an upgrade. The Clearly Filtered pitcher at $90 is the most painless next step. The AquaTru at $475 is the one I sleep well at night knowing my kids drink from.
A Brita makes your water taste better. The right filter makes it safer. Know the difference.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It depends what you're trying to accomplish. If you just want better-tasting water, yes — a Brita pitcher is an affordable way to reduce chlorine taste. But if you're trying to protect your family from health-related contaminants like PFAS, lead (standard filter), fluoride, or microplastics, a Brita is not enough. For actual contaminant protection, the Clearly Filtered pitcher ($90) or AquaTru reverse osmosis ($475) are significantly better options.
No. Neither the Brita Standard filter nor the Brita Elite/Longlast filter is certified to remove PFAS forever chemicals. Brita uses granular activated carbon, which cannot reliably capture PFAS molecules. To remove PFAS, you need a filter with NSF/ANSI P473 certification, such as the AquaTru or Clearly Filtered pitcher.
Only the Brita Elite/Longlast filter (blue) is NSF 53 certified for lead reduction. The standard Brita filter (white) that comes with most pitchers does not remove lead. If lead is your concern, make sure you're using the correct filter type — or consider a reverse osmosis system like the AquaTru, which removes 99.1% of lead.
The Standard filter (white) needs replacing every 40 gallons or roughly every 2 months. The Elite/Longlast filter (blue) lasts 120 gallons or about 6 months. For a family of four, that means 6 standard filter replacements per year (~$36) or 2 Elite replacements per year (~$34). Annual costs are similar, so there's no reason not to use the better filter.
Clearly Filtered is significantly better for health-related contaminant removal. It uses a carbon block (not loose granules like Brita) and is certified to remove 365+ contaminants including PFAS, lead, fluoride, and microplastics. It costs more upfront ($90 vs $28) and filters are pricier, but it actually removes the contaminants that matter most for families. Brita is better only if your sole concern is taste and you want the cheapest possible option.