Pur Plus 11-Cup Pitcher Review

What really sets the Pur Plus 11-Cup Pitcher apart is its filtration technology. The 3-in-1 PUR PLUS filter is NSF certified to reduce lead, microplastics, chlorine, and over 20 other chemical and physical contaminants, making it one of the most thorough pitchers we've tested. The powerful filter sits at home in a user-friendly design, allowing for advanced filtration without having to adapt your lifestyle to fit a filter — all you have to do is remember to fill up your pitcher and buy filter replacements regularly.

Critical Contaminant Removal

Critical contaminants are those that pose a significant health risk if consumed above limits set by the EPA. We sent filtered water samples to an independent laboratory for testing to check for contaminants such as PFAS (forever chemicals), lead, uranium, and other substances.

PFAS

When it comes to PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, the Pur Plus does an impressive job. Most PFNA (a PFAS subtype) was filtered out, as well as 100% of PFBA. Bottom line: the Pur delivers some of the best PFAS removal of any pitcher-style filter, and is nearly on par with reverse osmosis systems.

Heavy Metals

The Pur Plus 11-Cup Pitcher excels in removing heavy metals, and again, rivals some reverse-osmosis systems in the lineup — an impressive feat for a simple countertop pitcher. It consistently brought critical contaminants to near-zero levels across the board, removing 100% of lead, arsenic, and uranium.

While it doesn't eliminate fluoride entirely (only 37.5% removed from tap water samples), it reduces nearly every other harmful compound to very low levels. Fluoride is commonly added to municipal water sources to protect people's teeth; however, if it is an issue for you, consider using a different filter. Otherwise, this is an overperformer in reducing critical contaminants.

Secondary Contaminant Removal

Performance with secondary contaminants is somewhat mixed, placing this Pur pitcher in the middle of the pack. The filter excels at removing copper, aluminum, vanadium, strontium, and molybdenum, but results for some other trace minerals are weaker. It also leached minor amounts of cadmium, thallium, cobalt, and silver. Of the trace elements tested, all were still far below safety thresholds.

This filter did not filter any zinc or barium from tap water samples. While most municipal water sources don't have high levels of these elements anyway, they can be present at higher levels in some private well sources. If you're concerned, you might want to test your own tap water.

It's worth noting that many of these elements are trace minerals that are necessary for normal bodily function in small doses. Keeping this in mind, the Pur is still a strong option for most city water supplies, but not a substitute for a dedicated RO system if your water has unusual metal or mineral concentrations.

Taste

Taste performance earned top marks in our research, reflecting broad user satisfaction. Customers frequently report that chlorine and other off-flavors are removed, leaving crisp, refreshing water. Some minor complaints relate to perceived bitterness if the filter isn't primed properly on first use, but overall, the filtered water is preferred over other pitchers. It was common for reviewers to regularly call out this filter for improving the water taste better than Brita filters they had tried previously.

Out of all the Amazon reviews for this filter that mention taste, 91% of them were positive. Taste is obviously very subjective, but this filter received great feedback.

Maintenance and Setup

Like any other pitcher-style water filter we tested, this model was simple to use and maintain. The pitcher is lightweight, dishwasher safe, and features a filter change indicator to prevent guessing when it comes to swapping them out. Filters need to be replaced approximately every two months (about 40 gallons), which is slightly more frequent than some budget pitchers but typical for higher-capacity, heavy-filtration pitchers.

Users regularly report that this pitcher is a breeze to clean and that you wouldn't know it was anything other than a non-filter pitcher. The drop-in filter replacements make things easier, too.

Operating Cost

The long-term costs of operating the Pur Plus 11‑Cup Pitcher are a bit disappointing, but not a dealbreaker when considering buying one. Replacement filters cost more than some simpler pitchers, particularly if you're a heavy user. Each filter lasts up to 40 gallons, which should last an average 2-person household about one month. Annual costs can add up compared to basic models, but the tradeoff is superior filtration and reduced bottled water usage.

Replacement filters cost around $10–$13 each, bringing yearly filter expenses to approximately $108 according to our tester. You can save a few bucks by ordering the filters in multi-packs. Costs adding up is never exciting, but you're getting what you pay for here — the quality is definitely superb. There are plenty of other models with similarly priced filter replacements that don't deliver the same level of filtration. If you have a larger household, you might consider an under-sink RO model. These are usually pricier up front, but are more cost-effective for high-volume filtration needs.

Should You Buy the Pur Plus 11-Cup Pitcher?

The Pur Plus 11-Cup Pitcher is an excellent option for anyone who wants high-level filtration without dealing with complex systems like under-sink RO units. Its contaminant-removal performance is impressive for a pitcher, making it ideal for households concerned about lead, PFNA, microplastics, and other common impurities. The compact, dishwasher-safe design and filter-change light make it easy to use and maintain, so it fits seamlessly into daily life. On the flip side, it's not the fastest pitcher on the market, and ongoing filter replacements can get pricey if you use a lot of water, so cost-conscious buyers or those who need rapid filtration may want to look elsewhere.

What Other Water Filter Should You Consider?

If you're willing to make the jump to a reverse-osmosis system, consider the APEC ROES-50 Essence Series. The initial cost will be much more, and setting this system up in your existing plumbing might be a bit of a pain, but it provides the best filtration out of all the filters we've tested and is surprisingly cost-efficient in the long run.