ZeroWater vs Brita Filter (2021): Which Water Filter Pitcher Is Better For Your Home?

The common impression these days is that in order to drink clean water, you need to shell out a hefty amount of money. While this is true for under-sink and countertop water filters, it’s not the case for water filter pitchers. ZeroWater and Brita are two trusted water pitcher filter brands that prove clean water doesn’t have to be so expensive. To help you figure out which brand is the better pick for you and your household, here’s an in-depth comparison of the two, covering their design, performance, and features.

ZeroWater vs Brita Filter Comparison Chart

Design

The ZeroWater pitcher is lighter but the Brita pitcher has a more compact design.

The ZeroWater and Brita water filter pitchers have the exact same capacity but have very different design elements that are worth taking note of. Weight-wise, the ZeroWater pitcher is the lighter of the two, measuring in at a pound when empty. Even kids won’t have a problem pouring with it. In addition, it’s complete with both a spigot and pouring spout, giving you the option to either pour or dispense water. For those who are very particular with the purity of their water, you’ll be happy to know that the ZeroWater pitcher also comes with a TDS meter.

As for the Brita pitcher, a little bit more muscle is required to pour with it, making it unideal for children or adults who suffer from painful joints. Another downside to it is its lack of a spigot which means dispensing water isn’t an option. The Brita pitcher does, however, make up for these drawbacks with its dimensions. While it’s significantly heavier than its ZeroWater counterpart, it’s actually slimmer which makes it a lot easier to fit into tight spaces like the refrigerator door. Also, it has an electronic filter indicator which lets you know when you need to swap out your filter for a new one.

Filtration

The ZeroWater pitcher is able to remove more water contaminants than the Brita pitcher.

Both NFS-certified filters, there’s no doubt that the ZeroWater and Brita water filter pitchers do a great job of purifying water. However, these two brands have very different filtering systems in place. The Brita pitcher makes use of activated carbon filters that are complemented by ion exchange resin. This combination reduces chlorine taste and odors as well as removes chemicals and heavy metals including mercury, copper, zinc, and cadmium. It’s not, however, able to remove lead. The biggest selling point of the Brita pitcher is its speedy filtering process, needing less than a minute to provide you with clean water.

As for the ZeroWater pitcher, it makes use of a 5-stage patented filtration process coupled by an ion exchange technology which promises to remove 99.6% of dissolved solids. Specifically, it’s able to get rid of chlorine taste and odor, heavy metals including lead, arsenic herbicides and pesticides, chloramines, and bacteria. The ZeroWater pitcher is able to remove a significantly higher number of contaminants, making it more ideal for people who use their area’s hard water. This also explains why it’s much pricier than the Brita pitcher.

Minerals

The Brita pitcher leaves behind beneficial minerals while the ZeroWater pitcher removes them.

While you’d want to remove as many water contaminants as possible, it’s actually helpful to leave certain minerals behind. This includes calcium, magnesium, and sodium, all of which are necessary to keep our bodies running in tip-top shape. Brita does a good job of keeping these minerals untouched, making it the better choice for those who want to benefit from them. However, those who can’t consume sodium for health reasons might be better off with the ZeroWater pitcher. It removes practically all total dissolved solids in water, including all the mentioned minerals.

Filters

The filters of the both the ZeroWater and Brita pitchers have a lifespan of around 40 gallons.

In order to make sure that water filter pitchers are able to keep doing their job well, you need to change their filters regularly. Both the ZeroWater and Brita pitchers’ filters can take around 40 gallons of water before they need to be replaced, although there are many factors that can affect this number. The fact that the ZeroWater pitcher filters out more water contaminants could mean that you need to replace its filter much sooner than the Brita pitcher. Also, the amount of impurities in your tap water plays a significant role in filter lifespan.

Verdict

Get the Brita pitcher if you just want to improve the taste and smell of your water but go for the ZeroWater pitcher if you need intense filtering.

When choosing between the ZeroWater and Brita water filter pitchers, it all comes down to your needs and budget. If you live in an urban area that has access to treated water, save your money and go for the Brita pitcher instead. It’s more than enough for those who just want to improve the taste and smell of their water without the need for intense filtering. As for those who live in areas where water contamination is a concern, you’re better off investing in the ZeroWater pitcher. It might be more expensive but it’s worth it given that impurities stand no chance against it and you’ll have complete peace of mind.

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