PUR PLUS Vertical Faucet Review

Certified to reduce over 60 contaminants by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and the Water Quality Association (WQA), the PUR PLUS Vertical Faucet packs an impressive amount of filtration into a compact faucet-mounted design. It hits common concerns like lead, PFAS, microplastics, and chlorine, as well as a whole slew of “emerging compounds,” including certain prescription drugs, weed killers, insect repellents, disinfecting byproducts, and flame retardants. Not too shabby for a little gadget hanging off your sink.

Our PUR PLUS Vertical Faucet Experience

There's no denying that the PUR PLUS does an incredible job filtering impurities from your water. We'll discuss those impurities in more detail in the following sections, but for now, we want to rave about how much we enjoyed using this thing, and who we think it's best for.

What made the PUR PLUS Faucet stand out to us is how little effort it takes to set up and use it day to day. The filter easily attaches to most standard faucets without the need for tools. This makes it a great option for renters and users who want a less permanent option than a reverse osmosis system but don't want to refill a pitcher every day. Just clean, filtered water on demand, any time you need it.

The initial investment is low, and replacement filters are cheap in the long run, which is a huge bonus for anyone shopping on a budget. Basically, the only people we think the Faucet won't work for are those with a modern pull-out or spray faucet, or users on a private well who need more specialized filtration. But for everyone else, it's an awesome choice that comes in a variety of colors and styles, from chrome, black, sea glass, and more to match your aesthetic.

Lead & Metals

When it comes to metals, most people's primary concern is lead. Lead can enter your water through old pipes and can cause damage to the brain, nervous system, and kidneys. It's yucky stuff, even in trace amounts. Luckily, the PUR PLUS Faucet stopped lead in its tracks, removing 100% of the lead we spiked into our test water. It's also certified to remove lead. This earned it an above-average score in our Lead & Metals metric.

The PUR PLUS struggled, though, to catch other metals we tested. It removed little to no arsenic, uranium, and lithium. These metals may be naturally high in your water or elevated by industrial and agricultural runoff and are linked to cancers and other diseases. If you're curious whether they're an issue in your area, a personalized water test or a look at your local water report can give you a much clearer picture.

Because water moves so quickly through the filter, the PUR PLUS Vertical Faucet has a harder time trapping every contaminant. If you need something with a more widespread net, your best bet is to invest in a reverse osmosis system.

Forever Chemicals (PFAS)

The PUR Faucet is also certified to reduce PFAS. Our tests showed it held true to the claim, removing 100% of these pesky chemicals, earning it one of the top spots for PFAS removal.

There are tens of thousands of PFAS varieties, and what makes them harmful is that they never break down. That's why we call them “Forever Chemicals.” Over time, they can accumulate in your body, wreaking havoc on your health. They generally enter our water through nearby industrial sites, airports, data centers, and landfills, and are very common in urban areas.

Because the PUR PLUS filter uses both granulated activated carbon and ion exchange, it excels at trapping a wide range of PFAS substances. After spiking our water, we measured both PFNA (typically easier to remove) and PFBA (more challenging for filters to capture). In both cases, the PUR PLUS reduced them to nondetectable levels. If your tap water is loaded with a scary amount of PFAS, this faucet filter will leave zero in your cup.

Microplastics

As with PFAS, the PUR Filter earned top ranks for microplastic removal. It removed 100% of the microplastics we added to our water. And it's certified by the National Sanitation Foundation to remove microplastics and BPA.

Should you be concerned about microplastics? We think so. They're not federally regulated, and nearly every water supply contains some level of microplastics. When you drink the smallest varieties, they can stay trapped in your brain, heart, and testes (yikes!). We're still not entirely sure what the long-term health effects are, but we don't want to be the guinea pigs for that experiment.

Whether looking at minuscule 2.5-micron microplastics or larger 15-micron microplastics, the PUR PLUS Pitcher trapped them all. It's certainly a filter we'd trust for microplastics-free peace of mind.

Fluoride & Nitrates

Breaking its winning streak, the PUR PLUS Vertical Faucet underperformed in fluoride, nitrate, and sulfate removal. These contaminants are tricky to remove, so it's not that surprising that the PUR missed the mark in this metric. In fact, most of the faucet and pitcher filters we tested struggled to remove these impurities.

Fluoride, nitrate, and sulfate aren't a concern in every home. Nitrate is often elevated near farmland or leaky septic tanks and is a concern for formula fed babies. It's also associated with cancer. Fluoride can be present at high levels in certain well waters and is sometimes intentionally added by water treatment facilities to prevent tooth decay. While most US homes are OK, at excessively high levels it may affect brain development. And finally, sulfate can cause diarrhea and give your well water a bitter taste or a rotten-egg smell.

If any of these are a concern, a reverse osmosis system is the tool for the job.

Taste & Chlorine

The PUR PLUS Vertical improved the taste of tap water, but not as dramatically as some other models we tested. Having pored through thousands of Amazon user reviews, we can confidently report that the majority of users are happy with the taste, while a small fraction report little change.

Like most filters we tested, the PUR PLUS removed 100% of the chlorine from our intentionally contaminated water stock. So, if you're looking to remove that specific chemical odor and taste, this faucet is a great pick.

The PUR PLUS Faucet filter (but not the PUR PLUS Pitcher filter) is unique in that it contains a coral calcium core specifically designed to impart a mineral flavor to your water, so it tastes less “flat”.

Daily Use & Upkeep Cost

Filtration quality aside, you might be thinking, yeah, yeah, but what's it actually like to use the PUR Vertical Faucet day-to-day? Pretty freaking awesome! No pitchers to fill, no pipes to install, just clean, filtered water on demand. It's also crazy cheap to maintain, making it one of the best options for daily use and upkeep costs.

This faucet filter comes with a special attachment that screws into your existing faucet. If you have a faucet with a sprayer or pull-out hose, it won't work. But if you have a traditional fixed spout, installation just takes a few minutes. Once the attachment is installed, you can snap on your filter, flush it, and voila, you're ready to go.

The water flows from the filter a little slower than typical tap water, but it is still one of the fastest filtration options we've tested. Pitchers are notoriously slow, and under-sink systems require a complicated install. The PUR PLUS Faucet strikes a nice balance between convenience and filtration performance.

The filters also last longer than standard pitchers. For a typical household of two people using filtered water for coffee, pasta, and drinking, you can expect the filter to last about 2-3 months. For larger groups with higher water demands, you may be looking at closer to once a month. In either case, the Vertical Faucet is one of the cheapest to maintain. For around $50-90 a year, you can keep a steady supply of filtered water flowing without putting much of a dent in your budget. We also appreciate that the filter lights up to let you know when it's time to change, so that's one less thing to keep track of.

Should You Buy the PUR PLUS Vertical Faucet?

If you want a high-quality, easy-to-use, budget-friendly filter, the PUR PLUS Vertical Filter is an excellent option. It provides clean water on demand, installs in minutes, and costs suprisingly little to keep running year after year. It knocks out lead, PFAS, microplastics, and chlorine, making it a great fit for anyone who wants clean, better-tasting water without overcomplicating things. That said, it won't fit all faucets and isn't equipped to handle more specialized filtration for arsenic, uranium, nitrate, and fluoride. But for everyday city water and a hassle-free experience, this one's definitely worth considering.

What Other Water Filters Should You Consider?

The Brita Elite Advanced Faucet performs similarly to PUR in terms of contaminant removal and has a slightly faster flow rate, but it's not as convenient to remove when you need more space at the sink and costs more to maintain. If you have a small sink, the PUR PLUS 11-Cup Pitcher may be a better fit, though you'll have to wait for each batch of water to filter before pouring a glass. Or if you live in a newer home with a fancy faucet and are mainly concerned about microplastics, PFAS, and chlorine removal, the Waterdrop WD-10UA Under Sink is another great, budget-friendly option for on-demand water needs.