Pur Plus Vertical Faucet Review

The Pur Plus Vertical Faucet stands out mainly for its simple installation process. The filter attaches quickly to most standard faucets without tools. This makes it a great option for renters and other users who need a more portable, less permanent filter, but don't want to refill a pitcher every day. The unit includes a built-in filter change indicator and a lightweight housing, making maintenance a breeze. Each filter can handle up to 100 gallons or roughly three months of use, and its long-term operating costs are decent compared to similar filters.

When it comes to filter performance, we were impressed with its capabilities for the price. It was able to filter out the most harmful contaminants like lead and PFNA without hassle and managed most heavy metal contaminants as well. This is our favorite faucet filter on the market right now, so if it fits your lifestyle, we definitely recommend it.

Critical Contaminant Removal

This filter excels at lead and PFNA reduction, bringing both to near-undetectable levels — “A top choice for removing lead and PFNA!” wrote our tester in their notes. It also effectively reduces chlorine, improving the water's taste immediately for most tap water sources.

It's not designed to remove fluoride (29.4% removed), arsenic (9.4% removed), or high uranium (28.2% removed) concentrations from tap water we tested, so it's best suited for standard city water rather than extreme contamination scenarios. Overall, it's solid for everyday use, but not a replacement for more robust filtration systems if you're looking to filter water for health concerns.

Heavy Metal and Trace Element Removal

The Pur Plus performs well across most metals like barium, copper, zinc, and iron, with 100% removal of all contaminants across testing. These are the most common metals you might find raised levels of in your tap water, so it certainly covers the basics.

There was very minimal leaching of metals across our tests (aside from some minuscule amounts of cobalt), which is always a good sign for a strong filter.

Like its scoring for more critical contaminants, this filter is good enough for typical tap water, but not for extreme cases of contaminated water.

Taste

Filtered water from the Pur Plus Vertical Faucet is consistently reported as clean and refreshing. Most users notice an immediate improvement over unfiltered tap water, with a strong reduction of chlorine taste and other off-flavors common in city water.

We did not complete a detailed internal taste test for this model, but customer reports across the internet are mostly positive. Out of 509 Amazon reviews of the filter that mentioned taste, over 87% were positive.

Compared to other filters, its taste scores landed in the middle of the pack. There are definitely noticeable improvements, just not life-changing quality changes.

Maintenance and Setup

Installation is tool-free with the one-click system, which is a major plus if you want cleaner water but aren't handy when it comes to installs. But the simplicity of the setup does raise some questions. Our tester noted that they “worry about thread damage” when it comes to quick installs. There were some reports from customers online who noted leaking after using the filter for a while — it's unclear if those issues were caused by user error while popping on the filter or because of hardware failure.

The other concern is the filter's size. It's designed to be compact and take up less space in your home than an under-sink system or even a pitcher-style filter, but it's still a gadget attached to your faucet that you have to get used to. It's low-key, but just big enough for a bump here and there while performing regular kitchen duties around the sink. It isn't for everyone.

Operating Cost

Filter packs are reasonably priced, with options to buy in bundles for savings. Operating costs are low if you stick to the recommended replacement schedule, making it an economical choice overall. Our tester estimates that filter replacements will cost you about $59 a year, with each filter lasting 100 gallons or about three months.

Your operating costs are going to depend on how much you use your filter. With the Pur Plus Vertical Faucet, you can easily turn the filter on and off with a switch, so you can get filtered water only when you need it. Paying attention to this can save you a little money on filter replacements. Of course, if you live in a busier household, you might need to replace filters more often.

Should You Buy the Pur Plus Vertical Faucet?

If you want a faucet filter that's easy to install and actually does what it promises, the Pur Plus Vertical Faucet is a solid choice. It knocks out lead, PFNA, chlorine, and most common metals, so your tap water tastes cleaner right away. Setup and maintenance are simple, and the filter lasts a decent amount of time. That said, it's not going to handle fluoride, arsenic, or high uranium, so it's not for anyone dealing with extreme water issues. For everyday city water and a hassle-free experience, this one's definitely worth considering.

What Other Water Filter Should You Consider?

Take a look at the Brita Elite Advanced Faucet if you're deadset on a faucet filter. It has a similar design and overall filter performance (and costs a little more in the long run), but it might be better for you if you have specific contaminant concerns or are already in the Brita ecosystem with other products. And if you're willing to consider a pitcher option, the Pur Plus 11-Cup Pitcher is hands down our top pick. Our Editor's Choice pick for best pitcher has serious scores in filtering critical contaminants and is just as simple to use.