7 Best Shower Filters of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

The devices remove minerals that cause hard water, plus other impurities that can take a toll on hair and skin.

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If your home has hard water, bad hair days aren’t the only concern. The scale deposits from hard water also wreak havoc on a home’s plumbing, water heater, dishwasher and more. A whole-house water softener is the best fix, but the systems can cost thousands of dollars, plus they need to be serviced annually by a professional. Enter the shower filter. This relative newcomer to the water filtration category is a cost-effective way to treat just the water coming from your showerhead, the same way an under-sink filter only tackles water from the kitchen faucet. Shower filters remove minerals like magnesium and calcium that result in hard water, which prevents soap and shampoo from forming a rich lather. Most shower filters also reduce the chlorine that's used in many municipal water treatment facilities. "At higher levels, chlorine is known to be drying and can lead to a rash on the skin known as contact dermatitis (a type of eczema)," says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., the director of cosmetic and clinical research at the Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Dermatology. To find the best picks for your shower, our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab evaluated more than a dozen shower filters covering a range of budgets and shower types.

Since its launch in 2021, Jolie has generated some of the biggest buzz on social media, with a steady stream of influencers singing its praise. Based on extensive Lab and in-home testing, our experts say it lives up to the hype, offering the best design and overall user experience of all shower filters we reviewed. That said, the Jolie is also one of the most expensive picks in this report, when you combine the upfront price with the ongoing cost of operation.

We love Jolie's simple all-in-one design and direct-to-consumer business model (it’s been called the Warby Parker of showerheads). The Jolie is also extremely user-friendly. "It was such an easy install, especially considering I’ve never replaced a showerhead before," said Good Housekeeping's former editor Jacqueline Saguin. "Following Jolie’s helpful three-step guide, it took me about 15 minutes to get it up and running."

Jolie’s filter contains a proprietary blend of KDF-55 and calcium sulfate that the brand says is better than typical carbon-based filters at capturing contaminants from hot, high-pressure shower water. The showerhead also "far exceeds" the industry's NSF/ANSI 177 water filtration certification, aimed at lead removal.

In our home tests of Jolie, we've also noted some positive effects against hard water. "There's been less scale buildup near the drain of the tub since using the showerhead," said Saguin, adding that the "water feels softer without any sacrifice in pressure."

Jolie recommends replacing the filter every three months, more often than the six months we see with most competitors. That makes the Jolie the most expensive to operate, though we think the cost could be justified if it leads to healthier hair and skin.

Delta is a trusted brand with our test engineers, having secured top spots in roundups of our favorite traditional showerheads, rain showerheads, kitchen faucets and more. The Clarifi, the brand's first-ever shower filter, lives up to the same high standard, especially given its competitive price.

During extensive Lab evaluations, the filter proved easy to install in our test shower chamber. It's available in the Standard version (shown), in which the in-line filter is clearly visible, and a Premier version, with a curved attachment that helps conceal the filter behind the main showerhead.

If you're looking for an even more polished look, Delta sells a bundled product that includes the Clarifi filter and a showerhead with a matching design and finish.

One caveat: Delta told our experts that the Clarifi has been independently tested to exceed NSF/ANSI 177 for chlorine removal, but it is still awaiting official certification. We will update this report when the product is certified.

Just like showerheads themselves, shower filters are rated by flow rate, which tells you how much water pressure they can withstand, measured in gallons per minute (gpm). The Duo shower filter's flow rate of 2.8 gpm is the highest of any tested model, making it a good fit for users who like a strong spray, say to rinse shampoo and conditioner from their thick head of hair. To be clear, the Weddell will not improve your showerhead's water pressure, but it won't make it worse, which could happen if you choose a filter with a lower flow rate than that of your showerhead.

Our engineers were able to install the Duo in minutes in our test chamber. It's long, cylindrical design is among the more conspicuous, and the plastic housing means no matching the filter to your showerhead and other fixtures in the bathroom. But if you can live with the design, the filter should deliver solid performance. It is even third-party tested to remove PFAs, also known as forever chemicals, because they don’t break down in the environment or in our bodies. If PFAs are present in your home's water, it's most important to remove them from the main tap where you get your drinking water. But it's a good idea to catch them at the showerhead, too.

Winner of a 2025 Good Housekeeping Home Reno Award, Kohler's Cinq showerhead was a hit with our test engineers and expert testers alike. The all-in-one filter is available in several handsome finishes, including matte black (shown), polished chrome, brass and brushed nickel. The sleek design earned universal praise. As one of our style experts put it: “Most shower filters are big and clunky. The Cinq is the perfect size — not too big, not too small — with a nice finish and clean lines that add to its sleek look.”

Of course, performance is what matters most, and on that note the Cinq was equally impressive, posting perfect scores with our panel of testers for its superb water pressure, solid construction and quick installation. “The whole hookup process took under 10 minutes,” one reported. The five-filter design also delivered on its promise of removing chlorine and heavy metals. “I deal with dry skin on my scalp and face, and using the filtered showerhead for a few weeks made a huge difference,” said one tester. It's available in a 2.5 gpm flow rate, for maximum pressure, and a 1.75 gpm flow rate, for users who want to maintain optimal water efficiency.

A 25-year leader in water filtration, Aquasana impressed our engineers with the Deluxe Shower System's combination of performance, value and ease of use. Like other filters in this roundup, it's certified to the NSF/ANSI 177 standard, so it's guaranteed to remove virtually all chlorine from your home’s water.

The all-in-one filter and showerhead combines superb filtration with a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute, meaning you won't have to give up an invigorating spray for filtered shower water (though, because of this, it may be less water-efficient than others). Our experts also like that the adjustable showerhead offers multiple settings, from gentle to pulsing.

With a claimed filter life of 10,000 gallons, you'll only need to change the filter a couple of times a year. Each filter is about $70, so the cost does add up.

This high-efficiency, all-in-one shower filter from Kohler uses just 1.75 gallons of water per minute (gpm), down from 2.5 gpm of standard showerheads. That’s good enough for the EPA’s WaterSense seal and, better yet, it could save you up to 3,000 gallons of water over the course of the year. The filter is not certified to NSF/ANSI 177 though, so we can't speak to the Aquifer’s ability to reduce chlorine levels in water.

Still, our engineers like its smart design, including the multi-spray feature that lets you switch from a gentle mist to a concentrated pulse with the press of a button. In terms of style, this is one of the better-looking filters our experts reviewed, whether you choose the polished chrome or brushed nickel finish.

Not to mention, Kohler is one of the more popular brands of plumbing fixtures — and for good reason. The brand is known for its marriage of affordability, aesthetic and function. In fact, one of Kohler's showerheads tops our list of the best showerheads to buy. One drawback is that its filter capacity, at 8,000 gallons, is lower than others on this list.

We consider Multipure another top brand in residential water filtration, thanks to our experts' experience with its consistent performance and reliability over the years. The brand's Aquaversa MP750 is one of our top-rated under-sink water filters, and our engineers expect the same filtration power from the Aquashower, especially with the removal of chlorine, since it carries the NSF/ANSI 177 certification.

But it’s the simplicity of the installation that makes the Multipure our top pick for DIYers. Simply unscrew your current showerhead and thread the Aquashower onto the pipe, then put the showerhead back on. When it comes time to replace the filter — something that only has to be done once every six or seven months, thanks to its incredible capacity — the Aquashower unscrews at the middle. It's one of the smartest designs we've seen in the category, but we do wish the design was a little more imaginative. Its plain, plastic housing does not make for a very sleek look.

Our market analysts at the Good Housekeeping Institute stay on top of bathroom trends by attending trade shows and industry events, including the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. That's how we first spotted the uptick in consumer interest around shower filters starting a few years back. Our editors also saw the trend picking up steam on social media.

For this report, we researched and identified the top-selling shower filters that you’re most likely to find at home centers and online. Then, drawing on two decades of combined experience testing water filters, our experts focused on about a dozen brands with a proven track record for performance and reliability.

Hands-on testing took place in the Home Improvement Lab at the Institute, as well as in the homes of consumers, giving us a combination of controlled Lab results and user feedback based on performance in real-world conditions.

The filter industry is closely regulated, so we reviewed standards and third-party certifications set by NSF to determine which impurities the filters can capture.

After reviewing the user manuals, our engineers then installed the filters in our shower test chamber, assessing ease of set up, and ran the shower over an extended period to observe any changes in water pressure. Finally, we pored over thousands of consumer reviews to spot any red flags related to usability, safety and maintenance.

First and foremost, check the certifications to determine which contaminants the filter can remove, based on third-party testing and standards established by NSF, the organization that develops public health standards and certification programs for the filtration industry. The two most relevant standards are:

The certification, which should be clearly listed on the product packaging and website, "also ensures that the product does not leach contaminants that would be harmful to your health and also ensures its structural integrity under household pressure," says Stefan Buck, senior manager of the Global Filtration Division at NSF.

From there, the decision comes down to the installation method. There are two basic types to consider:

✔️ In-line shower filter: This type of filter sits between your current showerhead and the main shower arm that connects to your home’s plumbing. Installation and filter replacement can be a bit more complicated, since you have to make a new connection in two places (at the the arm and showerhead). But in-line filters allow you to keep your showerhead — both a cost savings and an aesthetic win.

✔️ All-in-one shower filter: With this type, you replace your existing showerhead with a new showerhead that's designed with a built-in filter. It’s an easy swap, but might not be worth it if you love the look and performance of your current showerhead.

If you go the all-in-one route, you'll then need to sort through all the same features you'd find with standard showerheads:

Most shower filters need to be replaced every 10,000 gallons, though that’s admittedly a little hard to keep track of at home. This is why most brands also suggest replacing the filter every six months. This is based on the average person’s shower consuming 17 gallons of water, according to a study by the Water Research Foundation. That works out to 68 gallons per day for an average four-person household, or 12,240 gallons over six months.

Not every household member will shower every day, so it’s safe to assume 10,000 gallons in a six-month timeframe. These are rough guidelines, but you can use the basic math to figure out how often you’ll need to change the shower filter in your home. Keep in mind that water quality is yet another variable. For example, if you have very hard water, the scale buildup will cause the filter to clog more quickly.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab provides expert reviews and advice on all things home-related, including water filtration systems.

In his role as director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, Dan DiClerico brings 25 years of experience to the Institute, having reviewed thousands of products for Good Housekeeping, as well as brands like Consumer Reports and This Old House. He has also overseen the testing of all types of point-of-use water filters, including carafe-style, under-sink and faucet-mounted.

Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.

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