Product Review
Clearly Filtered Review — Is It Worth the Price for PFAS Removal?
Clearly Filtered makes the only NSF P473 certified pitcher on the market. But it costs 3x more than a Brita. We break down all three products — the pitcher, the under-sink system, and the water bottle — to tell you who should buy and who should skip.
Last updated: April 2026 · By the PFASFilterGuide team
The Quick Verdict
- Pitcher ($90): Buy it if you rent or want the simplest PFAS fix. Best pitcher for PFAS, period.
- Under-Sink ($450): Buy it if you own your home and have a family. Lower per-gallon cost than the pitcher.
- Water Bottle ($50): Buy it as a travel companion, not your primary filter. Per-gallon cost is too high for daily home use.
Product-by-Product Review
Best Overall PFAS Pitcher
Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher
$89.95
Best for: Renters, single households, people who want zero installation
What We Like
- NSF/ANSI P473 certified — lab-verified PFOA/PFOS removal (99.7% / 99.9%)
- Removes 365+ contaminants — more than any other pitcher on the market
- No plumbing, no tools, no installation. Fill and pour.
- Affinity filtration technology is specifically designed to trap PFAS molecules
- BPA-free Tritan plastic — no chemical leaching from the pitcher itself
What Could Be Better
- Filters last only ~100 gallons. A family of 4 may go through one per month.
- Slower pour than a Brita — the multi-stage media restricts flow
- 10-cup capacity is small for families larger than 2 people
- At $90 + $180/year, it costs 3-4x more than a Brita long-term
- The replacement filter indicator is a sticker countdown, not a sensor
Our Verdict
This is the best PFAS water filter for most people. It works immediately, needs zero installation, and has the only NSF P473 pitcher certification that actually means something. The filter cost is real — $180/year — but that is the price of verified PFAS removal. A Brita costs $30/year and removes zero PFAS.
Best for Families
Clearly Filtered 3-Stage Under-Sink System
$449.95
Best for: Homeowners, families, anyone who wants filtered water on demand
What We Like
- NSF/ANSI P473 certified — same PFAS removal tech as the pitcher, scaled up
- 2,000-gallon filter life — roughly 1 year for a family of 4
- Dedicated faucet keeps filtered water separate from regular tap
- 2 GPM flow rate — fills a glass in seconds, not minutes like the pitcher
- Per-gallon cost is much lower than the pitcher over time
What Could Be Better
- $450 upfront is a real investment — 5x the pitcher
- Requires under-sink installation (30-60 min DIY or plumber)
- Not feasible for most renters unless your landlord approves modifications
- Takes up space under the sink — check your cabinet dimensions first
- Replacement filter set is $130 — easy to forget to reorder
Our Verdict
If you own your home and have a family, the under-sink system beats the pitcher on every metric except upfront cost. A family of 4 goes through 3-4 pitcher filters per year ($240+). The under-sink filter costs $130/year and handles 4x the volume with no refilling. The math works out by month 8.
Best Portable Option
Clearly Filtered Water Bottle
$49.95
Best for: Travel, gym, office, or as a portable backup
What We Like
- Same Affinity filtration technology as the pitcher — tested for PFAS removal
- 24 oz stainless steel insulated bottle — keeps water cold for 24 hours
- Filters as you sip — no waiting for a pitcher to fill
- Portable PFAS protection for travel, work, and the gym
- Built-in filter means any tap water becomes safe to drink
What Could Be Better
- 25-gallon filter life is short — heavy users replace monthly
- Requires more sipping pressure than a regular water bottle (filter resistance)
- At $50 + filters, it costs much more per gallon than the pitcher
- Only 24 oz capacity — not enough for a full day without refilling
- Not NSF P473 certified (the bottle, specifically — the filter media is the same)
Our Verdict
The Clearly Filtered water bottle makes sense as a complement to a pitcher or under-sink system — not a replacement. Use it at work, the gym, or while traveling where you cannot control the water source. As your only PFAS filter, the per-gallon cost is too high. Pair it with the pitcher at home.
Why NSF P473 Matters
NSF/ANSI P473 is the only certification that tests specifically for PFOA and PFOS removal. Without it, a company can say “removes PFAS” based on their own internal testing — or no testing at all.
NSF P473 Certified
- Tested by accredited independent lab
- Specific PFOA and PFOS reduction verified
- Annual re-testing required to keep certification
- Clearly Filtered, Aquasana, and a few others hold this
No NSF P473
- May use in-house testing (or none)
- PFAS removal claims are unverified
- No annual re-testing requirement
- Brita, PUR, ZeroWater, most Amazon brands
Cost Comparison (3-Year Total)
| Filter | Year 1 | 3-Year Total | PFAS Removal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brita Standard Pitcher | $35 | $95 | No PFAS removal |
| Clearly Filtered Pitcher | $270 | $450 | 99.7%+ PFAS removal |
| Clearly Filtered Under-Sink | $580 | $710 | 99.7%+ PFAS removal |
| AquaTru Countertop RO | $530 | $690 | ~90% PFAS removal |
| SpringWell Whole House | $1,500-$2,000 | $1,500-$2,000 | PFAS removal (not NSF P473) |
*Year 1 includes unit price + first year of filters. 3-year total adds subsequent filter costs.
Who Should Buy Clearly Filtered
Buy if you...
- Have detectable PFAS in your water (test first)
- Want verified, certified PFAS removal — not marketing claims
- Rent and cannot install permanent plumbing (get the pitcher)
- Own your home and want one-tap convenience (get the under-sink)
- Live in a high-PFAS state (NJ, MI, CA, NC, OH, PA)
Skip if you...
- Only care about taste/chlorine — a $35 Brita handles that
- Want whole-house filtration — Clearly Filtered only filters one tap
- Have a tight budget and your water tests below PFAS limits
- Already have an under-sink RO system (RO removes PFAS too)
Common Questions
Does Clearly Filtered actually remove PFAS?+
Yes. Clearly Filtered holds NSF/ANSI P473 certification, which is the only standard that specifically tests for PFOA and PFOS removal. Independent lab tests show 99.7% PFOA removal and 99.9% PFOS removal. This is not a marketing claim — it is verified by accredited third-party testing.
Is Clearly Filtered better than Brita for PFAS?+
Yes, dramatically. Brita does not remove PFAS at all. Standard Brita filters use basic activated carbon that cannot capture PFAS molecules. Brita does not hold NSF P473 certification and has never claimed to remove PFAS. Clearly Filtered costs more, but it actually filters what matters.
How long does a Clearly Filtered filter last?+
The pitcher filter lasts about 100 gallons, which is roughly 4 months for one person or 1-2 months for a family. The under-sink filter lasts about 2,000 gallons — roughly 1 year for a family of 4. The water bottle filter lasts about 25 gallons.
Is the Clearly Filtered pitcher worth the price?+
If you are concerned about PFAS in your water, yes. The pitcher costs $90 upfront plus $180/year in filters. A Brita costs $35 plus $30/year — but removes zero PFAS. The real question is what PFAS removal is worth to you. For the 100+ million Americans with PFAS in their water, $180/year is a small price.
Should I get the pitcher or the under-sink system?+
If you rent, get the pitcher. If you own your home and have a family, the under-sink system saves money after 8 months and requires zero daily effort. The pitcher needs constant refilling. The under-sink system gives you filtered water on demand at the turn of a faucet.
The Bottom Line
Clearly Filtered makes the most trustworthy PFAS filter on the market. The NSF P473 certification is real, the removal rates are verified, and the products work as advertised. Is it expensive compared to a Brita? Yes. Does a Brita remove PFAS? No. Start with the pitcher if you rent. Upgrade to the under-sink if you own your home.