The Best Non-Toxic Countertop Filters of 2026

We scored 15 countertop filters for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. The top pick is ZeroWater ZeroWater 40-Cup Glass Water Filter Dispenser at 100/100. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.

How to read these scores. PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Each grade is a model-based assessment built from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, brand disclosures, recalls and third-party lab results where they exist. Read the full rubric to see exactly what adds and removes points.
0% of the 15 countertop filters we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
PFAS Authority, September 2026. Free to cite with a link. See the full dataset.

The safest PFAS-free countertop filters we have scored

  1. 1
    ZeroWater 40-Cup Glass Water Filter Dispenser

    ZeroWater

    40-Cup Glass Water Filter Dispenser

    borosilicate glass, plastic pitcher housing, ion-exchange resin cartridge

    PFAS Grade100Excellent
    Overall Grade88Excellent
    ⚠️

    Ion-exchange resin cartridge composition opacity

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Bacterial or mold growth in housing and spigot

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Polypropylene plastic durability and UV exposure

    Limited concern

    70

    Low risk. Glass pitcher avoids PFAS, but cartridge transparency lacking.

    ✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all

    Why this gradeBuy
  2. 2
    Culligan ZeroWater Technology 22-Cup Ready Water Filtration Dispenser

    ZeroWater

    Culligan ZeroWater Technology 22-Cup Ready Water Filtration Dispenser

    Plastic housing, activated carbon + ion-exchange resin filter media

    PFAS Grade100Excellent
    Overall Grade78Excellent
    🫧

    Activated carbon dust or resin particle shedding

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in stagnant water or unmaintained filter

    Moderate concern

    45
    ⏳

    Ion-exchange resin leaching or breakdown products

    Limited concern

    70
    ♾️

    PFAS

    Limited concern

    70

    Low risk. PFAS claims present, but verification through testing lacking.

    ✓Brand claims PFAS-free (unverified)

    Why this gradeBuy
  3. 3
    LARQ PureVis Pitcher

    LARQ

    PureVis Pitcher

    Borosilicate glass pitcher, activated carbon filter cartridge

    PFAS Grade100Excellent
    Overall Grade84Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in filter cartridge

    Limited concern

    70
    ⛏️

    Activated carbon filter housing leachables

    Limited concern

    70
    🏭

    Replacement cartridge sourcing variability

    Limited concern

    70
    ♾️

    PFAS

    Limited concern

    70

    Low risk. Glass pitcher avoids PFAS, verify filter cartridge sourcing.

    ✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all

    Why this gradeBuy
  4. 4
    LARQ Pitcher

    LARQ

    Pitcher

    borosilicate glass pitcher, replaceable activated carbon filter

    PFAS Grade100Excellent
    Overall Grade84Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in filter housing if unmaintained

    Limited concern

    70
    ⛏️

    Filter composition leachables (unspecified binders and media)

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Thermal shock cracking of borosilicate glass

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Contaminant removal efficacy not independently verified

    Limited concern

    70

    Low risk. Glass design avoids Teflon-family coating coatings entirely.

    ✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all

    Why this gradeBuy
  5. 5
    Brita Hub Compact Countertop Water Filtration Device

    Brita

    Hub Compact Countertop Water Filtration Device

    Activated carbon & ion-exchange resin filters; plastic housing

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade79Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in filter cartridge and housing

    Limited concern

    70
    🫧

    Ion-exchange resin shedding or degradation

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Activated carbon dust or fines entering water

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Improper filter replacement and contamination

    Limited concern

    70

    Low risk. Standard materials carry lower concern, but no brand transparency.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy
  6. 6
    Brita Hub Countertop Water Filter System

    Brita

    Hub Countertop Water Filter System

    activated carbon filter media, plastic reservoir housing

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade73Good
    ⛏️

    Plastic reservoir leachables (oligomers, residual monomers)

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in filter media and tubing

    Limited concern

    70
    ♾️

    PFAS

    Moderate concern

    45
    ⚠️

    Mold or mildew in housing seams and spigot

    Limited concern

    70

    Low risk. Standard filter materials pose lower concern despite brand silence.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy
  7. 7
    Brita UltraMax Filtered Water Dispenser

    Brita

    UltraMax Filtered Water Dispenser

    BPA-free plastic pitcher with activated carbon filter cartridge

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade77Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in filter media

    Limited concern

    70
    🏷️

    Incomplete contaminant removal claims

    Moderate concern

    45
    ⏳

    Pitcher housing durability and degradation

    Limited concern

    70

    Low risk. Carbon filters avoid PFAS vectors, no brand transparency offered.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy
  8. 8
    ZeroWater 32 Cup Ready-Read Water Filtration Dispenser

    ZeroWater

    32 Cup Ready-Read Water Filtration Dispenser

    plastic reservoir, activated carbon filter media

    PFAS Grade95Excellent
    Overall Grade87Excellent
    ⚠️

    Bacterial growth in filter cartridge if unmaintained

    Limited concern

    70
    ⏳

    Degradation of plastic components over time

    Limited concern

    70

    Low risk. Standard carbon filtration carries no known PFAS red flags.

    ⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

    Why this gradeBuy

Every countertop filters that passes, side by side

Sorted by score. Higher is safer.

#Countertop FiltersScoreRatingMade of
1ZeroWater ZeroWater 40-Cup Glass Water Filter Dispenser100Excellentborosilicate glass, plastic pitcher housing, ion-exchange resin cartridge
2ZeroWater Culligan ZeroWater Technology 22-Cup Ready Water Filtration Dispenser100ExcellentPlastic housing, activated carbon + ion-exchange resin filter media
3LARQ LARQ PureVis Pitcher100ExcellentBorosilicate glass pitcher, activated carbon filter cartridge
4LARQ LARQ Pitcher100Excellentborosilicate glass pitcher, replaceable activated carbon filter
5Brita Brita Hub Compact Countertop Water Filtration Device95ExcellentActivated carbon & ion-exchange resin filters; plastic housing
6Brita Brita Hub Countertop Water Filter System95Excellentactivated carbon filter media, plastic reservoir housing
7Brita Brita UltraMax Filtered Water Dispenser95ExcellentBPA-free plastic pitcher with activated carbon filter cartridge
8ZeroWater ZeroWater 32 Cup Ready-Read Water Filtration Dispenser95Excellentplastic reservoir, activated carbon filter media

The countertop filters we would skip

Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.

Brita Hub Compact Countertop Water Filtration Device

Brita

Hub Compact Countertop Water Filtration Device

Activated carbon & ion-exchange resin filters; plastic housing

PFAS Grade95Excellent
Overall Grade79Excellent
⚠️

Bacterial growth in filter cartridge and housing

Limited concern

70
🫧

Ion-exchange resin shedding or degradation

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Activated carbon dust or fines entering water

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Improper filter replacement and contamination

Limited concern

70

Low risk. Standard materials carry lower concern, but no brand transparency.

⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

Why this gradeBuy
Brita Hub Countertop Water Filter System

Brita

Hub Countertop Water Filter System

activated carbon filter media, plastic reservoir housing

PFAS Grade95Excellent
Overall Grade73Good
⛏️

Plastic reservoir leachables (oligomers, residual monomers)

Limited concern

70
⚠️

Bacterial growth in filter media and tubing

Limited concern

70
♾️

PFAS

Moderate concern

45
⚠️

Mold or mildew in housing seams and spigot

Limited concern

70

Low risk. Standard filter materials pose lower concern despite brand silence.

⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

Why this gradeBuy
Brita UltraMax Filtered Water Dispenser

Brita

UltraMax Filtered Water Dispenser

BPA-free plastic pitcher with activated carbon filter cartridge

PFAS Grade95Excellent
Overall Grade77Excellent
⚠️

Bacterial growth in filter media

Limited concern

70
🏷️

Incomplete contaminant removal claims

Moderate concern

45
⏳

Pitcher housing durability and degradation

Limited concern

70

Low risk. Carbon filters avoid PFAS vectors, no brand transparency offered.

⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS

Why this gradeBuy

What we check on countertop filters

  • Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
  • Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
  • Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
  • Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.

Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.

The countertop filters brands that will not say

5 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.

Brita, Culligan, LARQ, PUR, ZeroWater.

Common questions about PFAS-free countertop filters

Is countertop filters PFAS free?

Mostly not. Of the 15 countertop filters we have scored, 0% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 15 that pass. The highest scoring is ZeroWater ZeroWater 40-Cup Glass Water Filter Dispenser at 100 out of 100. The lowest is Brita Brita Hub Compact Countertop Water Filtration Device at 95.

What is the safest countertop filters you have scored?

ZeroWater ZeroWater 40-Cup Glass Water Filter Dispenser, at 100 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is borosilicate glass, plastic pitcher housing, ion-exchange resin cartridge. The runner up is ZeroWater Culligan ZeroWater Technology 22-Cup Ready Water Filtration Dispenser at 100.

Which countertop filters should I avoid?

The three lowest scoring we hold are Brita Brita Hub Compact Countertop Water Filtration Device at 95, Brita Brita Hub Countertop Water Filter System at 95, Brita Brita UltraMax Filtered Water Dispenser at 95. The problem with the first is that made from ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber with no PFAS risk.

Which countertop filters brands will not say whether they use PFAS?

5 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Brita, Culligan, LARQ, PUR, ZeroWater. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.

Do you lab test countertop filters?

No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.

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Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 15 countertop filters.