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The Best Air Purifiers

Which Air Purifier is the Best?

Imagine coming home after a long day, only to be greeted by a stuffy atmosphere and a musty smell in your living room. You open the windows, but the outdoor air carries in pollen that makes you sneeze. Sound familiar? An air purifier might be just what you need.

These devices can help remove pollutants, allergens, and odors from the air to make your space cleaner and more comfortable. While not a substitute for other preventive measures, air purifiers with HEPA filters may also help reduce the risk of airborne transmission of viruses, including the one that causes COVID-19, by removing particles from the air.

Monday, November 4th

2024 Air Purifier Reviews

Alen Review Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award 5 Star Rating

Alen

5 Star Rating Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award

Alen offers you 3 top-rated HEPA air purifiers. These Energy Star certified purifiers not only clean your air effectively but also look great in your home, thanks to customizable color panels. With features like automatic speed adjustment, quiet operation, dimmable lights, and coverage of spaces up to 2,600 square feet, Alen's air purifiers should be a great fit. What's more, they back their products with a lifetime warranty and excellent customer service, and the company has earned an "A+” from the BBB. It's no wonder Alen is our top pick for air purifiers.

Coway Review 4.5 Star Rating

Coway

4.5 Star Rating

Coway offers you a range of innovative air purifiers that look great and work well. You'll find models with smart features like automatic speed control and real-time air quality monitoring. Some models are claimed to be especially effective at removing COVID from the air. We've given Coway a very high rating - customers are happy with their functionality, but there's room for improvement with customer service.

Levoit Review 4 Star Rating

Levoit

4 Star Rating

Levoit offers air purifiers in product lines including the Core series ($50 to $250), Vital series ($120 to $190), EverestAir ($499.99), PlasmaPro ($290 to $350), and LV series ($39.97 to $236.98). While lots of customers find Levoit purifiers satisfactory, some air purification experts are concerned about their designs and whether they meet True HEPA standards. Levoit offers a 30-day return policy and a 2-year warranty. However, their customer service is hit-or-miss. We'd recommend Levoit, but they don't earn our top spot.

IQ Air Review 3.5 Star Rating

IQ Air

3.5 Star Rating

IQAir offers you high-end air purifiers with HyperHEPA technology that can filter out even the tiniest particles, including viruses and bacteria. While their products are quite expensive, they provide the best air filtration money can buy, for personal use to whole-house systems. Your warranty can allegedly be extended up to 10 years, but it requires extra steps and ongoing filter purchases, and some customers have not had their warranties honored. Overall, IQAir seems to be best suited for commercial spaces (and commercial budgets).

Honeywell Review 3 Star Rating

Honeywell

3 Star Rating

Honeywell offers over 20 different air purifiers, mostly for smaller spaces, with prices ranging from about $70 to $400. Their air purifiers use HEPA filtration to remove airborne particles and are Energy Star certified for efficiency. While they offer good features on paper, like multiple cleaning levels and quiet operation, independent reviews on Trustpilot are poor, and the company has a low rating with the Better Business Bureau. This suggests that while Honeywell's air purifiers might look good in theory, you may find that they don't live up to your expectations in practice.

InvisiClean Review 3 Star Rating

InvisiClean

3 Star Rating

InvisiClean is a Southern California-based company that makes air purifiers and cleaning devices. They have personal air purifiers ($39.95) and large room models ($199.99). Their purifiers use True HEPA filtration and often include features like UV-C light, ionizers, and multiple fan speeds. They provide a 30-day return policy for unused or defective items and a 1-year warranty on most models. While InvisiClean has competitive prices and better discounts on automatic filter delivery, the lack of reliable customer reviews makes it difficult to fully recommend their products.

Blueair Review 2.5 Star Rating

Blueair

2.5 Star Rating

Blueair is a Swedish company that sells air purifiers for all sizes of rooms (90 to 1,500+ square feet) with prices ranging from $60 to $830. Their products have features like WiFi control and air quality sensors. However, there are concerns about the company. Blueair is owned by Unilever, which has a poor environmental record. The Better Business Bureau revoked Blueair's accreditation in February 2024 due to customer service issues. Customers have reported problems with connecting to WiFi, finding replacement filters due to discontinuation, and getting help from customer service. While Blueair's air purifiers work well when functioning, the company's issues make it risky to buy their products.

Dyson Review 2.5 Star Rating

Dyson

2.5 Star Rating

Dyson, known for vacuum cleaners, has expanded into air purifiers. While their devices offer one-of-a-kind features like formaldehyde removal and multi-function capabilities (heating, cooling, and humidifying), they don't necessarily deliver on promises. Dyson doesn't publish CADR scores, and when found through Energy Star, they're lower than competitors. Their products are also expensive, ranging from $529 to $1,100. Despite a high BBB rating, customer reviews are mostly negative, citing poor customer service and product reliability issues. Given these factors, you'll find better value and support from other air purifier brands.

Bissell Review 2 Star Rating

Bissell

2 Star Rating

Bissell, known for its vacuum cleaners, also makes air purifiers. They offer three models, cleaning rooms up to 1582 square feet priced between $130 and $340. While Bissell's air purifiers seem of decent quality, they're only available through third-party retailers. Warranties vary by model, and returns are handled by the retailer. Due to limited availability and a small product line, we can't highly recommend Bissell air purifiers at this time.

Winix Review 2 Star Rating

Winix

2 Star Rating

Winix is a South Korean company that makes air purifiers, but they have some big problems. Their air purifiers come in small, medium, and large sizes with features like HEPA filters and air quality sensors. However, the PlasmaWave technology might not be safe and could make air quality worse. Replacement filters are very expensive, costing $80 to $150. Customer service is poor, with a "D-” grade from the Better Business Bureau. The 2-year warranty is strict and only valid if you use Winix filters. Despite some good user reviews, the high costs and potential health risks make Winix air purifiers a bad choice overall.

Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

Many people can benefit from using an air purifier. If you have allergies or asthma, an air purifier can help reduce symptoms by removing irritants like pollen, dust, and pet dander from the air. If you live in an area with high pollution levels or wildfires, an air purifier can help filter out harmful particles. Even if you don't have specific health concerns, an air purifier can help improve overall air quality and eliminate unpleasant odors.

There are several types of air purifiers available, each using different technologies to clean the air. HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are the most common. They can remove 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. This includes dust, pollen, and some bacteria.

Activated carbon filters are great for removing odors and gasses. They work well for getting rid of cooking smells, smoke, and chemical fumes.

UV-C light purifiers use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses. They're often combined with other types of filters for more thorough air cleaning.

Ionizers release negatively charged ions that attach to airborne particles, making them too heavy to stay in the air. However, ionizers can produce ozone, which can be harmful to your health.

When shopping for an air purifier online, consider the following factors:

  • Room size. Make sure the purifier is rated for the size of the room where you'll use it. Each air purifier is designed to clean a specific amount of air, usually measured in square feet. Choosing one that's too small for your space won't effectively clean the air.
  • Filter replacement cost. Look into how often filters need to be replaced and how much they cost. Some purifiers have filters that need to be replaced every few months, while others can last up to a year. Factor in these ongoing costs when making your decision.
  • Noise level. Consider how loud the purifier is, especially if you'll use it in a bedroom. Air purifiers can range from nearly silent to quite noisy. If you're sensitive to sound, look for models with lower decibel ratings or those with "sleep" or "quiet" modes.
  • Energy efficiency. Check the energy consumption to avoid high electricity bills. Look for Energy Star certified models, which use less energy than standard air purifiers without sacrificing performance.
  • Additional features. Decide if you want extras like air quality sensors, remote controls, or smart capabilities. These features can make your air purifier more convenient to use but may also increase the price. Consider which ones are truly important to you.

Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best air purifiers available. We hope this review helps you find the best air purifier for your needs. With the right air purifier, you can breathe easier and enjoy cleaner, fresher air in your home, office, or even car.

The Best Air Purifiers Compare Air Purifiers Compare Air Purifier Reviews What are the best Air Purifiers Best Air Purifier Reviews

Air Purifier FAQ

Air purifiers are machines that clean the air in a room or in an entire home or office. They remove pollutants like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites from the air you breathe. Given that the EPA says that the level of indoor pollutants can be as much as five times higher than outdoors, it's obvious why so many people use an air purifier to breathe easy!
An air purifier draws in the air from the environment, passes it through a filter that catches pollutants and/or odors (depending on the filtration type you choose), and pushes out clean air into the room. Some purifiers are portable, while others are installed with your HVAC system to clean the air in your whole house.
HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air; these filters remove 99.97% of any particles that are 0.3 microns or larger, making them the best choice if you're trying to remove dust mite residue, pollen and pet dander particles from your air. Carbon filters target chemicals and odors, like cigarette smoke, kitchen smells, pet odor, and so on.
They can be - but they don't have to be. You can find small single-room air purifiers for under $60, but most fall in the $200-$700 range. Whole-house air purification systems are going to be the most costly, usually from $1,000 to $5,000+ (which includes professional installation). And, don't forget to factor in the cost of filters, which will need to be replaced periodically depending on the manufacturer's recommendations.
Check the instructions on your machine. Yours may have filters that can be cleaned and reused, or they may have to be replaced every time. Expect your air purifier to have anywhere from 2-6 filters that need to be changed every 6-12 months - but again, be sure to read the specs on your particular air purifier and follow the recommended maintenance schedule.
Most manufacturers recommend running your air purifier continuously. If yours comes with multiple speeds, you can set it to a lower speed while you're away to save energy and then turn it up when you return.
That depends on the machine you choose. If you buy a portable one designed to cover a single room, it will typically cover up to 700 sq.ft. Read the specs carefully to determine if the air purifier you're considering will be effective in the space where you intend to use it. For larger-scale air purification, a whole-house model might be a better investment.
Not necessarily. Most machines will be louder when you first turn them on, to get a good start on cleaning the air in the room you're in. But, once the pollutants have largely been removed, the fan speed usually slows down automatically for quieter operation. They're typically not much louder than a portable fan.
The Best Reviews of Air Purifiers