MaxClear Technology Gravity Countertop Water Filter System vs 40-Cup Glass Water Filter Dispenser: which is safer?

ZeroWater 40-Cup Glass Water Filter Dispenser is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Culligan MaxClear Technology Gravity Countertop Water Filter System

Culligan

MaxClear Technology Gravity Countertop Water Filter System

PFAS grade

Excellent 95/100

Overall grade

Excellent 83/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Activated carbon, ion exchange resin, polypropylene housing

Confidence

72%

PossibleBacterial growth in filter media and housing

PossibleActivated carbon dust or fines in filtered water

PossibleChlorine or chloramine taste/odor breakthrough

Our pick

ZeroWater 40-Cup Glass Water Filter Dispenser

ZeroWater

40-Cup Glass Water Filter Dispenser

PFAS grade

Excellent 100/100

Overall grade

Excellent 88/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

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

Confidence

72%

PossibleIon-exchange resin cartridge composition opacity

PossibleBacterial or mold growth in housing and spigot

PossiblePolypropylene plastic durability and UV exposure

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Bacterial growth in filter media and housing, Activated carbon dust or fines in filtered water and Chlorine or chloramine taste/odor breakthrough on the Culligan and not on the ZeroWater.
  • We flag Ion-exchange resin cartridge composition opacity, Bacterial or mold growth in housing and spigot and Polypropylene plastic durability and UV exposure on the ZeroWater and not on the Culligan.
  • The Culligan is Activated carbon, ion exchange resin, polypropylene housing where the ZeroWater is borosilicate glass, plastic pitcher housing, ion-exchange resin cartridge, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • These two are 5 points apart, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More countertop filters: see the full ranking