PUR PLUS 11-Cup Pitcher Review

The PUR PLUS isn't like other pitchers. Its 3-stage system is certified by heavy hitters like the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and the Water Quality Association (WQA) to reduce lead, microplastics, chlorine, and over 20 other contaminants, making it one of the most thorough pitchers on the market. Plus, our independent lab tests showed it also hits PFAS and other heavy metals, making it that much more impressive.

Our PUR PLUS 11-Cup Pitcher Experience

With a compact, installation-free design, the PUR PLUS Pitcher is one of the easiest ways to get cleaner, better-tasting water. It filtered out almost as many common contaminants as bulky reverse osmosis systems, but spared us the hassle of drilling into our countertop or tapping into our water line. Renters (especially those in old homes), unite!

It's simple to use — just fill it, let it filter, then pour. Then, you've got clean, great-tasting water. The downside is that removing all those contaminants requires water to move slowly through the filter. This required a bit of patience on our end to let it do its thing. That said, the wait time pays off every time you pour a glass.

Given the slow filtration time and compact size, we found that the PUR Pitcher works best for small households with low water demands. Anything more than that, and it becomes inconvenient to refill the pitcher throughout the day and pricey to replace the filters. Still, for serious filtration without the hassle of a reverse osmosis system, it doesn't get better than the PUR PLUS.

Lead & Metals

The PUR PLUS provides outstanding protection against toxic heavy metals. Over several rounds of testing, it consistently removed 100% of lead, arsenic, and uranium from our water, setting it right on par with fancy reverse osmosis systems that cost hundreds of dollars more.

If your home was built before 1986 or your city has outdated water lines, there's a chance lead could be making its way into your drinking water. Arsenic and uranium can also show up, either naturally or from nearby industrial and agricultural activity. If any of these elements have tested high in your water, we're confident the PUR PLUS can bring them back down to safe levels. The PUR PLUS is also certified by the Water Quality Association to reduce lead, copper, cadmium, and mercury, adding that extra peace of mind for metal-heavy water.

While the PUR Pitcher excelled at removing most of the metals we tested, it struggled with lithium. Sometimes it did well, removing upwards of 80%, while at other times it did poorly, removing only 30% — a reminder that filters don't always perform the same way with every water source. Lithium is naturally high in Arid Western and Great Plains states, like New Mexico and the Dakotas, and may be linked to autism, though we're still not totally sure. If you live in this region and like to play it safe, your best bet is to invest in a full reverse osmosis system.

Forever Chemicals (PFAS)

While many pitchers we tested struggled to remove harmful PFAS chemicals, the PUR PLUS 11-Cup Pitcher excelled, removing a whopping 97%. This placed it among the top tier for PFAS removal. Unlike basic pitcher filters that rely solely on carbon, the PUR PLUS adds ion-exchange media, giving it an extra boost against tough contaminants that competing pitchers leave behind.

PFAS are a family of tens of thousands of manmade substances that never break down and build up in your body over time, hence the name “Forever Chemical.” Think non-stick pans or water-repellent finishes. They can affect your hormones and liver, cause cancer, and more, so we like to avoid ingesting them as much as possible. If you live along the Western or Eastern US Coasts, chances are you have a concerning level of PFAS in your drinking water.

Our tests specifically looked at two forever chemicals: PFNA and PFBA. Since PFNA and PFBA behave differently, this gave our filters a more well-rounded challenge. The PUR PLUS reduced both to barely detectable levels, showing it can handle a wide range of PFAS. While it's not officially certified, we trust the PUR PLUS for PFAS removal.

Microplastics

The PUR Plus Pitcher also slayed in our microplastics challenge. It outperformed most other pitchers we tested, offering reverse osmosis-grade filtration for those pesky plastic particles.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in drinking water, with most households having some level of microplastics flowing from their taps. Scientists are still trying to understand exactly how they affect us, but there are concerns that the smallest varieties can accumulate in our bodies and cause health issues over time. That's reason enough for us to get them out of our water.

In our tests, the PUR PLUS removed 100% of microplastics down to the tiny 2.5-micron size. It's also certified by the National Sanitation Foundation to reduce microplastics, for those of you wanting that extra level of protection.

Fluoride & Nitrates

In our fluoride, nitrate, and sulfate tests, the PUR PLUS delivered mixed results. Sometimes it performed well, and sometimes it didn't, which landed it in the middle of the pack. That's not a huge surprise, though, given that these contaminants are best handled by a reverse osmosis system, not a standard pitcher. Since the PUR PLUS doesn't claim to reduce them in the first place, we're not mad at its average performance.

First, let's talk about where it excelled — nitrate. Nitrates mainly come from fertilizer or manure runoff from agricultural zones and can cause cancer and other diseases. They're also harmful to formula-fed infants. The PUR Pitcher removed over 90%, which is great for city-dwellers who want extra peace of mind. But if you live near farmland with especially high nitrate levels, the filter can wear out quickly, making a reverse osmosis system the safest choice.

For fluoride and sulfate, the PUR PLUS was hit-or-miss. With some water supplies, we saw 90% removal, while with others, we saw far less. To err on the side of caution, we based our scores on its weakest performance. Many municipalities add small amounts of fluoride to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay, but at excessively high levels, it can have adverse health effects. Sulfate generally enters water naturally and is more of a nuisance, adding a bitter taste or nasty rotten-egg smell. If either of these is a concern for you, the PUR PLUS simply won't cut it. And given that it's American Dental Association (ADA)-Accepted, it wasn't designed to remove fluoride.

Taste & Chlorine

Thanks to its excellent filtration, the PUR PLUS delivers great-tasting water. It scored among the best in our flavor tests, with one reviewer noting, “I've used Brita, but PUR just tastes better!”

Not only did the water taste great to us, but over 90% of Amazon reviewers agree that the PUR PLUS Pitcher removes the chemical, chlorinated taste and smell, which can make a glass of water feel more like a swimming pool. Don't get us wrong, chlorine is necessary to keep your water pathogen-free, but that doesn't mean we have to taste it every time we take a sip. In our tests, the PUR PLUS removed 100% of chlorine, leaving you with better-tasting water for coffee, tea, or cooking.

Daily Use & Upkeep Cost

The PUR PLUS's excellent taste and filtration come at a cost, though. It takes time to produce water this pure, and replacement filters are pricey. This set the Pitcher below average in our Daily Use & Upkeep Cost metric.

That said, it's not all bad. The PUR PLUS is a pitcher, which means there's no installation required. It's also small, which means it can easily tuck into your fridge. This makes it a great fit for renters or anyone with limited space. Need something even smaller? Try the 7-Cup version.

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Just note, its small size means you'll have to fill it up frequently, which isn't as convenient as a screw-on faucet option. In addition, the small opening wasn't as easy to fill up as other pitchers, and the flip-top lid frequently broke off. It's a little annoying, but we were still able to use the pitcher just fine.

The filters need to be replaced every 40 gallons, which is about once a month for a two-person household using filtered water for cooking and drinking. If you're just one person or only using the water for drinking, they'll last longer, about two months. No need to mark your calendar; the pitcher will light up to let you know when it's time.

While buying the pitcher is relatively cheap, paying $10 for a new filter each month can quickly add up over time. We estimate that the PUR PLUS costs about $100 a year to maintain for most small households, and quite a bit more for larger families with high water demands. This is slightly more expensive than the norm, so we wouldn't recommend the PUR to someone looking to save money in the long run.

The PUR PLUS is also one of the slowest water filters we tested. On average, it took about 30 minutes to filter a gallon of water. If you have a busy household, that may be one too many things to keep track of in the back of your mind. But for singles or couples with more modest water needs, it's a small tradeoff for some of the best filtration performance we've seen from a pitcher.

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 the complexity of a reverse osmosis system. Its contaminant-removal performance is impressive for a pitcher, making it ideal for households concerned about lead, PFAS, microplastics, and other common impurities. 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 Filters Should You Consider?

If you're set on a pitcher and need something a little more budget-friendly, check out Amazon Basics 10-Cup Pitcher. It doesn't stack up to the PUR in filtration quality, but long-term operating costs are substantially lower. We'd also choose the PUR over the Culligan with Zerowater 8-Cup Pitcher because the Zerowater is ridiculously expensive to maintain.

If you have high water needs, try the PUR PLUS Vertical Faucet. It filters out contaminants almost as well as the PUR Pitcher, but it costs significantly less and provides filtered water instantly. Or, for the best filtration quality, consider the APEC ROES-50 Essence Series reverse osmosis system. The initial cost is much higher, and setting it up is a pain, but it's surprisingly cost-efficient in the long run.