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PUR Water Filters

PUR is the mass-market consumer water-filter brand owned by Helen of Troy (NASDAQ: HELE) since 2018. Its headline edge is NSF/ANSI 53 lead certification on the PUR PLUS pitcher (CRF-950Z) — which Brita Standard lacks at the same price.

Best for

  • Households wanting certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead reduction at the pitcher price — the PUR PLUS (CRF-950Z) vs the uncertified Brita Standard
  • Renters and buyers wanting faucet-mount filtration with broad NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 coverage — the PFM400H stainless-steel faucet-mount
  • Cost-conscious households cross-shopping pitchers at major retail (Target, Walmart, Costco, Amazon) where PUR matches Brita's reach
  • Buyers wanting NSF/ANSI 401 emerging-contaminant certification under $70 — the MineralClear cartridge (CRF-9999) or the PFM400H

Not recommended for

  • Buyers needing certified fluoride removal — no PUR model carries it; reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58) is the right format
  • Buyers needing certified PFAS (PFOA/PFOS / total PFAS) reduction — no PUR model holds NSF/ANSI P473 or a specific PFOA/PFOS claim
  • Households needing whole-house chemical filtration — PUR centers on pitchers and faucet-mounts; cross-shop Aquasana, Pentair, or 3M
  • Buyers prioritizing longest filter life — PUR's CRF-950Z runs ~40 gallons / 2 months vs Brita Elite OB06's 120 gallons / 6 months
Budget tier — typically $50–$200
  • Certs:NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 372, 401
  • 6 SKUs
  • $20–$110
  • Parent:Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE), acquired from P&G December 2018

Certification Reality: What's Actually Tested

This table shows the NSF/IAPMO/WQA-listed certifications for each PUR SKU we tracked, alongside the contaminants the brand markets but which do not appear on the third-party listing. Green chips are third-party verified; amber chips are marketing claims without a corresponding listing. Every row links to the live certifier database so you can verify the listed claim set yourself.

CRF-950Z

PUR PLUS Lead-Reducing Pitcher Filter (CRF-950Z) — the main certified-lead alternative to Brita Standard at the pitcher price

Standards held

Performance

NSF/ANSI 42
NSF/ANSI 53

What’s certified

  • Chlorine (Taste and Odor)
  • Nominal Particulate Reduction, Class I
  • Lead
  • Mercury

Brand claims but NOT certified

  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite
  • Fluoride
  • Hexavalent Chromium / Chromium-VI
  • Pharmaceuticals / emerging contaminants
  • Microplastics
Why these aren’t certified ↓
  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite — no PUR model holds NSF/ANSI P473, and the CRF-950Z's NSF/ANSI 53 certification includes no specific PFOA/PFOS claim
  • Fluoride — no PUR model carries a fluoride-reduction certification under any NSF/ANSI standard
  • Hexavalent Chromium / Chromium-VI — not covered by the CRF-950Z's NSF/ANSI 53 certification
  • Pharmaceuticals / emerging contaminants — covered by the MineralClear CRF-9999 under NSF/ANSI 401, but not by this CRF-950Z
  • Microplastics — covered by the MineralClear CRF-9999 under NSF/ANSI 401, but not by this CRF-950Z

The CRF-950Z anchors the PUR-vs-Brita lead-certification comparison and is the main certified-lead pitcher alternative at the $25-$35 retail price. The honest framing: PUR PLUS (CRF-950Z) is NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified at the same shelf position as Brita Standard (OB03), which carries NSF/ANSI 42 only and is not lead-certified. For buyers whose main concern is lead, PUR PLUS is the better-evidenced pitcher choice at this price. The trade-off against Brita Elite/Longlast+ (the OB06 cartridge, which is NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified) is filter life. PUR's CRF-950Z is rated for 40 gallons / about 2 months vs Brita Elite's 120 gallons / 6 months — a 3x longer service cycle. The annual filter cost for a family of 4 favors Brita Elite at ~$36-$48/year vs PUR PLUS at ~$72-$108/year. The CRF-950Z also lacks NSF/ANSI 401 emerging-contaminants certification — for the broader pharmaceutical / BPA / microplastics scope, the MineralClear CRF-9999 cartridge is the in-brand step-up.

Read more

NSF listing

View NSF listing

CRF-9999

PUR MineralClear Pitcher Filter (CRF-9999) — full NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 certification with emerging-contaminants coverage

Standards held

Performance

NSF/ANSI 42
NSF/ANSI 53
NSF/ANSI 401

What’s certified

  • Chlorine (Taste and Odor)
  • Nominal Particulate Reduction, Class I
  • Lead
  • Mercury
  • Asbestos
  • Atenolol
  • Bisphenol A
  • Carbamazepine
  • DEET
  • Estrone
  • Linuron
  • Meprobamate
  • Metolachlor
  • Naproxen
  • Nonylphenol
  • Phenytoin
  • TCEP
  • TCPP
  • Trimethoprim
  • Microplastics

Brand claims but NOT certified

  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite
  • Fluoride
  • Hexavalent Chromium / Chromium-VI
  • Ibuprofen
Why these aren’t certified ↓
  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite — no PUR model holds NSF/ANSI P473, and the CRF-9999's NSF/ANSI 53 and 401 certifications include no specific PFOA/PFOS claim; PUR does not carry PFAS certification
  • Fluoride — no PUR model carries a fluoride-reduction certification under any NSF/ANSI standard; carbon-based pitcher and faucet-mount filters do not meaningfully reduce fluoride
  • Hexavalent Chromium / Chromium-VI — not separately covered by the CRF-9999's NSF/ANSI 53 certification
  • Ibuprofen — covered by the PFM400H under NSF/ANSI 401 but not by the CRF-9999; if you specifically need ibuprofen reduction, the faucet-mount line is the in-brand alternative

The CRF-9999 MineralClear cartridge is the in-brand step-up from the PUR PLUS CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge — it adds NSF/ANSI 401 emerging-contaminants certification (15+ pharmaceuticals, BPA, microplastics) on top of the same NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 chlorine + lead + mercury + asbestos scope. The 'MineralClear' name refers to a small mineral-addition step in the cartridge media that adds back trace calcium / magnesium for taste — a light remineralization compared with the full alkaline-mineral stage on RO systems. That addition does not expand the certification; the added coverage comes from the NSF/ANSI 401 certification. PFAS, fluoride, and hexavalent chromium are not covered by this model.

Read more

NSF listing

View NSF listing

PFM400H

PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount Filter — the brand's most heavily certified model, with broad NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 coverage

Standards held

Performance

NSF/ANSI 42
NSF/ANSI 53
NSF/ANSI 401

What’s certified

  • Chlorine
  • Nominal Particulate Reduction, Class I
  • Taste and Odor
  • Asbestos
  • Chlordane
  • Lead
  • Mercury
  • Toxaphene
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
  • Atenolol
  • Bisphenol A
  • Carbamazepine
  • DEET
  • Estrone
  • Linuron
  • Meprobamate
  • Metolachlor
  • Naproxen
  • Nonylphenol
  • Phenytoin
  • TCEP
  • TCPP
  • Trimethoprim
  • Microplastics

Brand claims but NOT certified

  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite
  • Fluoride
  • Hexavalent Chromium / Chromium-VI
  • Ibuprofen
Why these aren’t certified ↓
  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite — no PUR model holds NSF/ANSI P473, and the PFM400H's NSF/ANSI 53 and 401 certifications include no specific PFOA/PFOS claim; even the brand's most heavily certified model does not carry PFAS certification
  • Fluoride — no PUR model carries a fluoride-reduction certification under any NSF/ANSI standard; carbon-based faucet-mount filters do not meaningfully reduce fluoride, so RO is the right format for certified fluoride reduction
  • Hexavalent Chromium / Chromium-VI — not separately covered by the PFM400H's NSF/ANSI 53 certification
  • Ibuprofen — the brand markets the PFM400H as broadly covering pharmaceuticals under NSF/ANSI 401, but ibuprofen specifically is not among its certified contaminants; buyers needing certified ibuprofen reduction should check the official certification datasheet

The PFM400H is the most heavily certified PUR model and one of the most heavily certified faucet-mount filters on the consumer market at this price. It carries NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 coverage spanning chlorine, taste-and-odor, nominal particulate Class I, asbestos, chlordane, lead, mercury, toxaphene, VOCs, and 15 NSF/ANSI 401 emerging contaminants. The gap relative to the brand's broader '99% of contaminants' marketing is PFAS (PFOA/PFOS) and fluoride — even the most heavily certified PUR model does not carry NSF/ANSI P473 PFAS certification or any fluoride claim. For buyers whose main concern is PFAS or fluoride, the PUR lineup is not the right format; RO systems carry certified fluoride reduction, and select pitcher / countertop models from other brands carry PFAS certification.

Read more

NSF listing

View NSF listing

PFM800V

PUR PFM800V Premium Faucet-Mount Filter — NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with premium housing materials

Standards held

Performance

NSF/ANSI 42
NSF/ANSI 53
NSF/ANSI 401

What’s certified

  • Chlorine (Taste and Odor)
  • Nominal Particulate Reduction, Class I
  • Lead
  • Mercury
  • Asbestos
  • Chlordane
  • Toxaphene
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
  • Atenolol
  • Bisphenol A
  • DEET
  • Estrone
  • Microplastics

Brand claims but NOT certified

  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite
  • Fluoride
  • Hexavalent Chromium / Chromium-VI
Why these aren’t certified ↓
  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite — no PUR model holds NSF/ANSI P473
  • Fluoride — no PUR model carries a fluoride-reduction certification under any NSF/ANSI standard
  • Hexavalent Chromium / Chromium-VI — not separately covered

The PFM800V's certification matches the PFM400H — the same NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 coverage with the same PFAS and fluoride gap. The differences from the PFM400H are housing finish (premium stainless-steel vs the PFM400H's stainless-steel) and price ($80-$100 retail vs the PFM400H's $50-$70). The higher price reflects housing materials and looks, not any extra certification over the PFM400H.

Read more

NSF listing

View NSF listing

RF-9999

PUR RF-9999 MineralClear Faucet-Mount Replacement Cartridge — companion refill to the PFM-series faucet housings

Standards held

Performance

NSF/ANSI 42
NSF/ANSI 53
NSF/ANSI 401

What’s certified

  • Chlorine (Taste and Odor)
  • Nominal Particulate Reduction, Class I
  • Lead
  • Mercury
  • Asbestos
  • Chlordane
  • Toxaphene
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
  • Atenolol
  • Bisphenol A
  • Carbamazepine
  • DEET
  • Estrone
  • Microplastics

Brand claims but NOT certified

  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite
  • Fluoride
Why these aren’t certified ↓
  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite — no PUR cartridge holds NSF/ANSI P473
  • Fluoride — no fluoride-reduction certification

NSF listing

View NSF listing

PFM350V

PUR PFM350V Chrome Faucet-Mount Filter — entry-level faucet-mount at NSF/ANSI 42 + 53

Standards held

Performance

NSF/ANSI 42
NSF/ANSI 53

What’s certified

  • Chlorine (Taste and Odor)
  • Nominal Particulate Reduction, Class I
  • Lead
  • Mercury

Brand claims but NOT certified

  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite
  • Fluoride
  • Pharmaceuticals / BPA / microplastics /…
Why these aren’t certified ↓
  • PFOA / PFOS / total PFAS suite — no PUR model holds NSF/ANSI P473
  • Fluoride — no fluoride-reduction certification
  • Pharmaceuticals / BPA / microplastics / emerging contaminants — covered by the PFM400H / PFM800V / RF-9999 MineralClear line under NSF/ANSI 401, but not by this entry-level PFM350V cartridge

The PFM350V is the entry-level chrome faucet-mount in PUR's lineup, and a clear example of how sister models within the PUR faucet-mount line hold different certifications. The PFM350V is certified to NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 only — chlorine taste-and-odor plus lead and mercury reduction. The step-up PFM400H / PFM800V / RF-9999 MineralClear line adds NSF/ANSI 401 emerging-contaminants certification (15+ pharmaceuticals, BPA, microplastics) for a $15-$30 premium over the PFM350V. Buyers should match the certified scope to their priority: chlorine + lead at the PFM350V tier; chlorine + lead + emerging contaminants at the PFM400H tier and above.

Read more

NSF listing

View NSF listing

Check Certification for a PUR Filter

This widget shows the third-party-listed certifications for PUR SKUs only. Type a model number to filter the list below — every result links to the full breakdown. To search across every brand we track, use the global certification tool.

NSF/ANSI 4288 modelsNSF/ANSI 40181 modelsNSF/ANSI 5381 modelsNSF/ANSI 3721 model

Listings as of Jun 4, 2026.

About PUR

PUR is a mass-market, genuinely NSF-certified pitcher and faucet-mount brand — the everyday alternative to Brita. It's owned by Helen of Troy (NASDAQ: HELE, El Paso TX), which bought it from Procter & Gamble in December 2018 for $230 million.

The brand was built by Recovery Engineering (Minneapolis MN, founded 1986), an early in-home water-purification specialist. P&G bought it in 1999 for ~$265 million in stock and ran it for nearly two decades before selling to Helen of Troy.

The lineup runs three pitcher tiers and four faucet-mounts — see the product cards below for cert scope and price. PUR holds 134 NSF-listed SKUs across NSF/ANSI 42, 53, and 401 (chlorine, lead, mercury, VOCs, and emerging contaminants like BPA and microplastics).

PUR's headline edge: certified lead reduction at the pitcher price. PUR PLUS (CRF-950Z cartridge) is NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified at $25-$35; the cheaper Brita Standard (OB03) is NSF/ANSI 42 only and not lead-certified. The catch is filter life — PUR's cartridge lasts 40 gallons / ~2 months vs Brita Elite's 120 gallons / 6 months.

Founded:1986 — Recovery Engineering Inc. (Minneapolis, Minnesota) founded as a bottled-water-purification specialist by Brian Sullivan; Recovery Engineering pioneered consumer in-home water purification through the late 1980s and developed the original PUR pitcher and faucet-mount line over the subsequent decade before being acquired by Procter & Gamble in 1999
Headquarters:El Paso, Texas, USA — Helen of Troy Limited's corporate headquarters at 1 Helen of Troy Plaza, El Paso, TX 79912. The PUR brand business operates within Helen of Troy's Home & Outdoor segment alongside the OXO kitchen / housewares brand. Original Recovery Engineering Inc. operations were in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Procter & Gamble operated the PUR business from Cincinnati, Ohio (P&G headquarters) between 1999 and December 2018; Helen of Troy consolidated PUR operations into the El Paso corporate footprint after the 2018 acquisition. The Kaz USA, Inc. subsidiary that holds PUR's NSF cert listings is also operationally based in El Paso following Helen of Troy's 2009 acquisition of Kaz Inc.
Parent company:Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE), acquired from P&G December 2018

Ownership history

  1. 1986

    Recovery Engineering Inc. founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota by Brian Sullivan as a bottled-water-purification specialist. The company pioneered consumer in-home water purification through the late 1980s with early bottled-water / portable-purification systems before pivoting to the household pitcher and faucet-mount format that defined the PUR brand.

  2. Late 1980s - 1990s

    Recovery Engineering developed and launched the original PUR pitcher and faucet-mount filter lineup. The brand established itself in retail through Target, Walmart, and grocery channels as the primary mainstream alternative to Brita (which had launched its US pitcher line earlier in the decade under the Clorox 1988 marketing agreement). The original PUR faucet-mount filter was one of the first consumer-affordable on-tap filtration systems on the US market.

  3. 1999

    Procter & Gamble acquired Recovery Engineering Inc. for approximately $265 million in stock per contemporary trade-press coverage. P&G integrated PUR into the broader household-products portfolio alongside Tide, Crest, Bounty, Charmin, and the Olay personal-care line. The acquisition gave P&G a foothold in the household water-filtration category to compete with Clorox-owned Brita.

  4. 2000s - 2010s

    Under P&G ownership the PUR brand expanded from its original pitcher / faucet-mount footprint into the PFM-prefixed stainless-steel faucet-mount line (PFM350V, PFM400H, PFM800V, PFM900B) and the MineralClear sub-brand (CRF-9999 pitcher cartridge, RF-9999 faucet-mount cartridge) with broader NSF/ANSI 401 emerging-contaminants certification. The lineup also added refrigerator-filter aftermarket cartridges (PPF-prefixed) for major refrigerator-brand water-filter replacements. The PFM400H faucet-mount filter became the brand's headline model, with broad NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 certified coverage.

  5. December 2018

    Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE, El Paso TX) acquired the PUR brand business from Procter & Gamble for $230 million cash per Helen of Troy's SEC 10-K disclosure for fiscal year ending February 28, 2019. Helen of Troy folded the PUR business into its existing Kaz USA, Inc. subsidiary (which it had acquired in 2009 for $260 million in cash + stock from Kaz Inc., the prior Kaz USA parent). The manufacturer name on PUR's NSF certifications was updated to 'Kaz USA, Inc. a Helen of Troy Company' to reflect the new owner.

  6. 2019 - 2025

    Under Helen of Troy ownership the PUR brand continued its pitcher and faucet-mount strategy, maintaining certifications through the Kaz USA subsidiary. As of 2026-05-23 there are 134 certified PUR-branded models covering pitcher cartridges (PUR Classic / PUR PLUS / MineralClear) and faucet-mount filters (PFM350V / PFM400H / PFM800V / PFM900B / RF-9999 MineralClear cartridges) under NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401. The brand keeps its mid-tier mainstream retail position alongside Brita at Target, Walmart, Costco, Amazon, and grocery.

PUR Classic Pitcher (basic filter, NSF/ANSI 42 only)

Entry-level pitcher with the basic, non-lead-reducing cartridge — the structural analogue of Brita's Standard OB03 (both NSF/ANSI 42 only).

  • Certified: NSF/ANSI 42 — chlorine taste-and-odor and nominal particulate Class I only. Not lead-certified.
  • Price: $20-$25; cartridge lasts 40 gallons / ~2 months.

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing filter, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

The headline pitcher — the certified-lead alternative to Brita Standard, which is not lead-certified.

  • Certified: NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 — adds lead, mercury, and asbestos to the chlorine scope.
  • Price: $25-$35; cartridge lasts 40 gallons / ~2 months. Refills $10-$15 each, or $25-$45 for a Costco multi-pack.

PUR MineralClear Pitcher (CRF-9999 filter, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401)

Top pitcher tier. 'MineralClear' adds back a little calcium and magnesium for taste — a light remineralization, not extra cert scope.

  • Certified: NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 — adds 15+ emerging contaminants (BPA, atenolol, carbamazepine, DEET, estrone, naproxen, microplastics, and more) to the chlorine + lead scope.
  • Price: $30-$40; cartridge lasts 40 gallons / ~2 months.

PUR PFM350V Chrome Faucet-Mount ($35-$45)

Entry-level faucet-mount (RF-3375 cartridge) in a chrome housing.

  • Certified: NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 — chlorine taste-and-odor and lead at the tap. No NSF/ANSI 401.
  • Price: $35-$45; cartridge lasts 100 gallons / ~3 months.

PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount ($50-$70) — T0.6 golden fixture

The headline faucet-mount and one of the most heavily certified in the consumer market.

  • Certified: NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ listed claims — chlorine, taste-and-odor, particulate, asbestos, chlordane, lead, mercury, toxaphene, VOCs, plus 15 emerging contaminants (atenolol, BPA, DEET, estrone, naproxen, microplastics, and more).
  • Price: $50-$70; RF-9999 cartridge lasts 100 gallons / ~3 months.

PUR PFM800V / PFM900B Premium Faucet-Mount ($80-$110)

Premium stainless-steel and chrome faucet-mounts — same cert scope as the PFM400H; you pay for the housing, not extra coverage.

  • Certified: NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401, using the same RF-9999 MineralClear cartridge.
  • Price: $80-$110; cartridge lasts 100 gallons / ~3 months.

Made under the Kaz USA, Inc. (a Helen of Troy Company) subsidiary, with brand operations at Helen of Troy's HQ — 1 Helen of Troy Plaza, El Paso, TX 79912. This is the manufacturer-of-record on PUR's NSF listings.

Helen of Troy's supply chain spans the US, China, and Mexico (per its SEC 10-K), but PUR does not disclose country-of-origin for filter housings, cartridge media, or fittings at the SKU level.

Which PUR Filter Is Right for You?

We mapped each PUR SKU’s NSF-listed certifications against the 10 contaminants people search for most. Where PUR doesn’t have a certified SKU, we say so.

Lead
Best pick: PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount Filter — the brand's most heavily certified model, with broad NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 coverage — certified for Lead (PUR).
PFAS
Not the right choice if PFAS is your priority — no certified PUR SKU for PFAS. Consider an NSF/ANSI 53-listed filter.
Fluoride
Not the right choice if Fluoride is your priority — no certified PUR SKU for Fluoride. Consider an NSF/ANSI 53-listed filter.
Arsenic
Not the right choice if Arsenic is your priority — no certified PUR SKU for Arsenic. Consider an NSF/ANSI 53-listed filter.
Nitrate
Not the right choice if Nitrate is your priority — no certified PUR SKU for Nitrate. Consider an NSF/ANSI 53-listed filter.
Chromium-6
Not the right choice if Chromium-6 is your priority — no certified PUR SKU for Chromium-6. Consider an NSF/ANSI 53-listed filter.
Mercury
Best pick: PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount Filter — the brand's most heavily certified model, with broad NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 coverage — certified for Mercury (PUR).
Atrazine
Not the right choice if Atrazine is your priority — no certified PUR SKU for Atrazine. Consider an NSF/ANSI 53-listed filter.
Chloroform
Not the right choice if Chloroform is your priority — no certified PUR SKU for Chloroform. Consider an NSF/ANSI 53-listed filter.
Cysts
Not the right choice if Cysts is your priority — no certified PUR SKU for Cysts. Consider an NSF/ANSI 53-listed filter.

How PUR Compares

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge, $25-$35, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53) vs Brita Standard Pitcher (OB03 white-jacket cartridge, $20-$30, NSF/ANSI 42 only — NOT lead-certified)

Format

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge, $25-$35, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

Pour-through pitcher with CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge (blue/grey jacket)

Brita Standard Pitcher (OB03 white-jacket cartridge, $20-$30, NSF/ANSI 42 only — NOT lead-certified)

Pour-through pitcher with OB03 cartridge (white jacket) — Brita's entry-level cartridge

NSF/ANSI 42 (Chlorine taste-and-odor)

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge, $25-$35, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

Yes — certified

Brita Standard Pitcher (OB03 white-jacket cartridge, $20-$30, NSF/ANSI 42 only — NOT lead-certified)

Yes — certified

NSF/ANSI 53 (Lead, Mercury)

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge, $25-$35, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

Yes — lead-certified (NSF/ANSI 53)

Brita Standard Pitcher (OB03 white-jacket cartridge, $20-$30, NSF/ANSI 42 only — NOT lead-certified)

No — the OB03 cartridge does NOT carry NSF/ANSI 53 lead certification. Brita's lead-certified pitcher cartridge is the Elite/Longlast+ OB06 (blue jacket), not the Standard OB03 (white jacket)

NSF/ANSI 401 (Emerging contaminants)

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge, $25-$35, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

Not on the CRF-950Z (covered on the in-brand MineralClear CRF-9999 step-up at $30-$40)

Brita Standard Pitcher (OB03 white-jacket cartridge, $20-$30, NSF/ANSI 42 only — NOT lead-certified)

Not on the OB03 (covered on the Brita Elite/Longlast+ OB06 step-up at $30-$45)

Filter service life

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge, $25-$35, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

40 gallons / approximately 2 months

Brita Standard Pitcher (OB03 white-jacket cartridge, $20-$30, NSF/ANSI 42 only — NOT lead-certified)

40 gallons / approximately 2 months

Filter price per cartridge

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge, $25-$35, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

$10-$15 per cartridge in single-packs; $25-$45 in Costco multi-packs (deep discount)

Brita Standard Pitcher (OB03 white-jacket cartridge, $20-$30, NSF/ANSI 42 only — NOT lead-certified)

$6-$10 per cartridge in single-packs; widely available in multi-packs at Target / Walmart / Costco

Annual filter cost (family of 4)

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge, $25-$35, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

~$72-$108 per year

Brita Standard Pitcher (OB03 white-jacket cartridge, $20-$30, NSF/ANSI 42 only — NOT lead-certified)

~$48-$72 per year

Retail availability

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge, $25-$35, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

Target, Walmart, Costco, Amazon, grocery — mainstream-tier mass retail

Brita Standard Pitcher (OB03 white-jacket cartridge, $20-$30, NSF/ANSI 42 only — NOT lead-certified)

Target, Walmart, Costco, Amazon, grocery — mainstream-tier mass retail (the dominant pitcher brand by retail shelf share)

Parent company

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge, $25-$35, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE, El Paso TX) since December 2018 ($230M cash from Procter & Gamble)

Brita Standard Pitcher (OB03 white-jacket cartridge, $20-$30, NSF/ANSI 42 only — NOT lead-certified)

The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX, Oakland CA) since 2000 ($200M acquisition of Americas rights from Brita GmbH; German parent BRITA SE remains family-controlled)

Bottom line: if lead is your concern, PUR PLUS wins at the entry-level pitcher price. The CRF-950Z is NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified at $25-$35; the Brita Standard OB03 is NSF/ANSI 42 only and not lead-certified.

  • Pick PUR PLUS if you want certified lead reduction off the shelf — Brita Standard at the same price band can't match it.
  • Pick Brita Standard if you want the lowest cost ($5-$10 less per pitcher, ~$24-$36 less per year) and don't need lead certification.

To get lead certification from Brita you step up to the Elite (OB06) — which then beats PUR on filter life (120 vs 40 gallons) and annual cost (~$36-$48 vs ~$72-$108).

Sources for facts in this comparison

  1. NSF listingaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?Company=Kaz+USA+Inc&Brand=PUR

    The PUR PLUS CRF-950Z's NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 lead-reducing certification under Kaz USA / Helen of Troy

  2. NSF listingaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?CompanyName=The+Brita+Products+Company

    The Brita Standard OB03 cartridge holds NSF/ANSI 42 only under The Brita Products Company — it does not carry NSF/ANSI 53 lead certification, which is reserved for the Brita Elite/Longlast+ OB06 cartridge

  3. Brand officialaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://www.pur.com/pages/filters-water-pitcher-products

    PUR's official product pages document the CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge's replacement interval (40 gallons / ~2 months) and the PUR PLUS pitcher retail price ($25-$35)

  4. Brand officialaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://www.brita.com/landing/water-filters-to-reduce-lead/

    Brita brand-official 'Filters to Reduce Lead' page explicitly names the Brita Elite filter as the NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified pitcher option — implicitly confirming the Brita Standard OB03 is NOT lead-certified

PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount ($50-$70, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ certified contaminants — the brand's most heavily certified model) vs Brita Basic Faucet System (~$30-$45, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 with narrower certified coverage)

Format

PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount ($50-$70, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ certified contaminants — the brand's most heavily certified model)

Stainless-steel faucet-mount filter; diverts tap flow through the cartridge then back to the spout; on/off switch toggles filtered vs unfiltered output

Brita Basic Faucet System (~$30-$45, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 with narrower certified coverage)

Plastic-housing faucet-mount filter; comparable diverter / on-off design; entry-level faucet-mount construction

NSF/ANSI 42 (Chlorine, Particulate)

PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount ($50-$70, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ certified contaminants — the brand's most heavily certified model)

Yes — broad coverage (Chlorine, Taste and Odor, Nominal Particulate Reduction Class I, Filter First)

Brita Basic Faucet System (~$30-$45, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 with narrower certified coverage)

Yes — Chlorine + Taste and Odor

NSF/ANSI 53 (Lead, Mercury, etc.)

PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount ($50-$70, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ certified contaminants — the brand's most heavily certified model)

Yes — broad coverage (Asbestos, Chlordane, Lead, Mercury, Toxaphene, VOC, Filter First)

Brita Basic Faucet System (~$30-$45, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 with narrower certified coverage)

Yes — Lead, Mercury (narrower than the PFM400H)

NSF/ANSI 401 (Emerging contaminants)

PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount ($50-$70, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ certified contaminants — the brand's most heavily certified model)

Yes — 15 contaminants (Atenolol, BPA, Carbamazepine, DEET, Estrone, Linuron, Meprobamate, Metolachlor, Naproxen, Nonylphenol, Phenytoin, TCEP, TCPP, Trimethoprim, Microplastics)

Brita Basic Faucet System (~$30-$45, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 with narrower certified coverage)

Generally not held on the entry-level Brita Basic faucet-mount; Brita's NSF/ANSI 401 certification sits on the Elite/Longlast+ pitcher cartridge (OB06), not the faucet-mount line

Filter service life

PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount ($50-$70, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ certified contaminants — the brand's most heavily certified model)

100 gallons / approximately 3 months

Brita Basic Faucet System (~$30-$45, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 with narrower certified coverage)

100 gallons / approximately 3 months

Replacement cartridge

PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount ($50-$70, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ certified contaminants — the brand's most heavily certified model)

RF-9999 MineralClear faucet-mount cartridge ($8-$12 per cartridge); same NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 certification as the housing

Brita Basic Faucet System (~$30-$45, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 with narrower certified coverage)

Brita Basic faucet-mount cartridge (proprietary; $15-$20 per cartridge); narrower certified scope

Housing materials

PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount ($50-$70, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ certified contaminants — the brand's most heavily certified model)

Stainless-steel finish; premium build quality

Brita Basic Faucet System (~$30-$45, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 with narrower certified coverage)

Plastic housing; budget-tier build quality

Manufacturer named on NSF certifications

PUR PFM400H Stainless-Steel Faucet-Mount ($50-$70, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ certified contaminants — the brand's most heavily certified model)

Kaz USA, Inc. a Helen of Troy Company

Brita Basic Faucet System (~$30-$45, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 with narrower certified coverage)

The Brita Products Company (US, Clorox-owned) — a separate entity from the German BRITA SE

Bottom line: the PFM400H is the stronger-certified faucet-mount; Brita Basic is the cheaper one. PUR carries NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ listed claims; Brita Basic stops at a narrower 42 + 53 with no emerging-contaminant (401) scope.

  • Pick the PFM400H ($50-$70) if you want the broadest cert evidence — chlorine, lead, asbestos, chlordane, toxaphene, VOCs, plus 15 emerging contaminants (atenolol, BPA, microplastics, pharmaceuticals) — and a stainless-steel housing.
  • Pick Brita Basic ($30-$45) if you want the lowest-cost faucet-mount and don't need the 401 scope.

Neither carries PFAS (NSF/ANSI P473) or fluoride certification.

Sources for facts in this comparison

  1. NSF listingaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?Company=Kaz+USA+Inc&Brand=PUR

    The PUR PFM400H's NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 certification covering 23+ contaminants under Kaz USA / Helen of Troy — the brand's most heavily certified model

  2. NSF listingaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?CompanyName=The+Brita+Products+Company

    The Brita Basic faucet-mount's certification under The Brita Products Company — a narrower NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 scope without the NSF/ANSI 401 emerging-contaminants coverage of the PUR PFM400H

  3. Brand officialaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DDXJDVX?tag=waterfilte0f3-20

    The Amazon product listing for the PUR PFM400H confirms the $50-$70 retail price and the 100-gallon / ~3-month replacement interval on the RF-9999 MineralClear cartridge

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53, ~$72-$108/yr family of 4) vs Brita Elite / Longlast+ Pitcher (OB06, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401, ~$36-$48/yr family of 4)

Format

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53, ~$72-$108/yr family of 4)

Pour-through pitcher with CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge

Brita Elite / Longlast+ Pitcher (OB06, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401, ~$36-$48/yr family of 4)

Pour-through pitcher with OB06 Elite (Longlast+) cartridge — Brita's lead-certified pitcher cartridge

NSF/ANSI 42 (Chlorine taste-and-odor)

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53, ~$72-$108/yr family of 4)

Yes

Brita Elite / Longlast+ Pitcher (OB06, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401, ~$36-$48/yr family of 4)

Yes

NSF/ANSI 53 (Lead, Mercury)

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53, ~$72-$108/yr family of 4)

Yes — lead-certified

Brita Elite / Longlast+ Pitcher (OB06, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401, ~$36-$48/yr family of 4)

Yes — lead-certified (this is the Brita pitcher cartridge that IS lead-certified; the Brita Standard OB03 cartridge is not)

NSF/ANSI 401 (Emerging contaminants)

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53, ~$72-$108/yr family of 4)

No on the CRF-950Z (covered on the in-brand MineralClear CRF-9999 step-up)

Brita Elite / Longlast+ Pitcher (OB06, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401, ~$36-$48/yr family of 4)

Yes — emerging contaminants (BPA, ibuprofen, atenolol, microplastics)

Filter service life

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53, ~$72-$108/yr family of 4)

40 gallons / approximately 2 months

Brita Elite / Longlast+ Pitcher (OB06, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401, ~$36-$48/yr family of 4)

120 gallons / approximately 6 months — 3x the PUR PLUS cycle

Filter price per cartridge

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53, ~$72-$108/yr family of 4)

$10-$15 per cartridge

Brita Elite / Longlast+ Pitcher (OB06, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401, ~$36-$48/yr family of 4)

$15-$20 per cartridge

Annual filter cost (family of 4)

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53, ~$72-$108/yr family of 4)

~$72-$108 per year

Brita Elite / Longlast+ Pitcher (OB06, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401, ~$36-$48/yr family of 4)

~$36-$48 per year (3x service life offsets the $5 price premium)

Pitcher retail price

PUR PLUS Pitcher (CRF-950Z, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53, ~$72-$108/yr family of 4)

$25-$35

Brita Elite / Longlast+ Pitcher (OB06, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401, ~$36-$48/yr family of 4)

$30-$45

Bottom line: at this mid-tier, Brita Elite wins on filter life and cost. Both are lead-certified (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53), but Brita Elite's OB06 lasts 120 gallons / 6 months — 3x the PUR PLUS CRF-950Z's 40 gallons / 2 months.

  • Pick Brita Elite if you want lower running cost — ~$36-$48/yr for a family of 4 vs PUR PLUS's ~$72-$108/yr, even with Elite's $5-$10 higher per-cartridge price — plus NSF/ANSI 401 (BPA, ibuprofen, atenolol, microplastics) built in.
  • Pick PUR if you want the 401 scope too: step up to the MineralClear CRF-9999 ($30-$40 vs PUR PLUS's $25-$35).

PUR's real edge is one tier down — against the uncertified Brita Standard, not the Elite.

Sources for facts in this comparison

  1. NSF listingaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?Company=Kaz+USA+Inc&Brand=PUR

    The PUR PLUS CRF-950Z's NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 certification

  2. NSF listingaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?CompanyName=The+Brita+Products+Company

    The Brita Elite/Longlast+ OB06's NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 certification under The Brita Products Company

  3. Brand officialaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://www.brita.com/landing/water-filters-to-reduce-lead/

    Brita brand-official documentation of the Elite cartridge 120-gallon / 6-month service cycle vs PUR's 40-gallon / 2-month service cycle — the 3x service-life differential at the mid-tier pitcher tier

  4. Tier-1 journalismaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://thirdwavewater.eu/blogs/news/which-water-filter-pitcher-is-best-brita-or-zerowater-filter

    Annual filter cost for family of 4: Brita Elite ~$36-$48 vs PUR ~$72-$108 — independent third-party benchmark of the per-cycle replacement cadence differential

Looking for a broader comparison? See our full pitcher filter roundup.

Explore other brands: APEC Water Systems, AquaBliss, Aquaboon, AquaTru, iSpring, Kind Water Systems, Multipure, LifeStraw, Whirlpool, Solventum, SpringWell Water Filtration Systems, Pentair, Omnipure, Pelican Water, Crystal Quest, Hydroviv, Brondell, Bluevua, Berkey, ZeroWater, Aquasana, Express Water, Frizzlife, Epic Water Filters, Culligan, Clearly Filtered, Waterdrop, Doulton, Brita, and Propur.

What Reddit Says About PUR

These quotes are paraphrased — not verbatim — from public Reddit threads. Each card links to the original thread so you can read the discussion in context and verify the sentiment for yourself.

r/HomeImprovementPositive
“After researching whether the cheap Brita pitcher reduces lead, the answer is that the basic Standard cartridge does not — only the more expensive Elite does. The PUR PLUS at a similar shelf price is the cheaper certified-lead option for buyers who want lead reduction without paying for the Elite upgrade.”
View thread
r/HomeImprovementNegative
“The PUR faucet-mount has been a recurring source of leak complaints in this subreddit for years. Across multiple threads, the consensus is that the diverter eventually fails or the plastic housing cracks after 12-18 months, and the brand's warranty replacement process is slow.”
View thread
r/FrugalMixed
“Running the math on PUR vs Brita refill costs for a family of 4, Brita Elite's 6-month cartridges work out to roughly $40 per year while PUR PLUS at 2-month cycles runs $90+ per year. The 3x service life on Elite is the dominant cost factor even though PUR PLUS cartridges are slightly cheaper per unit.”
View thread
r/AskScienceDiscussionNeutral
“A thread asking whether PUR removes fluoride concluded no — neither PUR pitchers nor faucet-mount filters mechanically reduce fluoride at meaningful levels. For certified fluoride removal a reverse-osmosis system is the appropriate format; standard activated-carbon pitcher and faucet filters are not fluoride-reduction tools.”
View thread
r/waterMixed
“Both Pur and Brita produced only modest TDS-meter movement when I tested side by side. They're a taste-and-smell upgrade for chlorinated municipal water, not a meaningful change in the dissolved-solids reading. If you want big TDS drops you need ZeroWater or RO.”
View thread

Quotes verified on 2026-05-23.

PUR Customer Reviews Summary

75,000Total Reviews
4.5
Average

What Customers Love

  • PUR PLUS is the stronger entry-level pitcher choice vs Brita Standard — NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified at $25-$35 retail, where Brita Standard's NSF/ANSI 42-only OB03 cartridge is not lead-certified
  • The PFM400H stainless-steel faucet-mount covers one of the broadest certified-contaminant lists in the faucet-mount category (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 with 23+ contaminants including emerging ones) at the $50-$70 retail price
  • The MineralClear sub-brand (CRF-9999 pitcher cartridge, RF-9999 faucet-mount cartridge) adds NSF/ANSI 401 emerging-contaminants coverage for a $5-$10 step-up over the PLUS lead-reducing line — strong certified coverage per dollar across pitcher and faucet-mount formats
  • Widely available at mass retail (Target, Walmart, Costco, Amazon, grocery), and Costco multi-packs routinely discount the CRF-950Z and RF-9999 cartridges below per-cartridge list price

Common Concerns

  • PUR pitcher cartridge life is short — 40 gallons / ~2 months on the CRF-950Z and CRF-9999 vs Brita Elite/Longlast+ OB06's 120 gallons / 6 months (a 3x longer cycle), so the annual filter cost for a family of 4 favors Brita Elite at ~$36-$48/year vs PUR PLUS at ~$72-$108/year
  • PUR faucet-mount diverter / housing failures come up repeatedly on r/HomeImprovement — the common pattern is the diverter failing or the plastic housing cracking after 12-18 months, with slow warranty replacement
  • No PUR model carries NSF/ANSI P473 PFAS certification or any fluoride-reduction certification — for buyers needing certified PFAS or fluoride reduction, the lineup is not the right format
  • The PUR PLUS vs Brita Standard lead-certification gap is poorly signposted at retail — buyers who grab the cheaper Brita Standard assuming 'Brita = lead reduction' end up with a pitcher that is not lead-certified, and the in-aisle messaging doesn't make this clear

PUR is a mass-market, Brita-tier consumer water-filter brand, owned by Helen of Troy (NASDAQ: HELE) since the December 2018 $230 million cash acquisition from Procter & Gamble. Across its headline pitcher and faucet-mount models it averages about 4.5 stars over roughly 75,000 retail reviews.

The PUR PFM400H stainless-steel faucet-mount filter is the brand's most heavily certified model, with broad NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 coverage spanning chlorine, lead, mercury, asbestos, chlordane, toxaphene, VOCs, atenolol, BPA, microplastics, and 15+ emerging contaminants. It holds roughly 4.5 stars across about 12,000 Amazon ratings — one of the most heavily certified faucet-mount filters at this price.

The PUR PLUS pitcher (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge) is NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified at the $25-$35 retail price — the main certified-lead pitcher alternative to Brita Standard (OB03 white-jacket cartridge, NSF/ANSI 42 only, not lead-certified). It is the most useful comparison in the household pitcher category.

Sources for PUR review data

  1. Amazon reviewaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DDXJDVX?tag=waterfilte0f3-20

    The Amazon product listing for the PUR PFM400H confirms ~12,000 customer ratings at a 4.5-star average — the brand's bestseller at the faucet-mount tier

  2. NSF listingaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?Company=Kaz+USA+Inc&Brand=PUR

    NSF's certification database under Kaz USA / Helen of Troy lists 134 certified PUR models across pitcher and faucet-mount formats

  3. Tier-1 journalismaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://thirdwavewater.eu/blogs/news/which-water-filter-pitcher-is-best-brita-or-zerowater-filter

    Annual filter cost benchmarks: PUR ~$72-$108/year vs Brita Elite ~$36-$48/year for family of 4 — independent third-party benchmark of the per-cycle replacement cadence differential

Review data aggregated from verified Amazon purchases. Individual results may vary.

About PUR Marketing Language

Some claims on PUR packaging and product pages are frequently confused with what the underlying third-party certifications actually cover. The note below documents one such mismatch with primary-source citations so you can verify the specifics yourself.

PUR PLUS pitchers (the CRF-950Z cartridge) are NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified, but the cheaper Brita Standard (the OB03 white-jacket cartridge) carries NSF/ANSI 42 only and is not — yet many buyers grab the Brita assuming it reduces lead.

The big confusion: people grab the cheap Brita Standard assuming "Brita = lead reduction" — but it isn't lead-certified, and PUR PLUS is, at the same shelf price.

The PUR pitcher tiers:

  • Classic ($20-$25, NSF/ANSI 42 only): chlorine taste-and-odor, not lead-certified — the structural twin of Brita Standard.
  • PLUS (CRF-950Z, $25-$35, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53): adds lead and mercury.
  • MineralClear (CRF-9999, $30-$40, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401): adds 15+ emerging contaminants (BPA, microplastics, pharmaceuticals).

The Brita tiers buyers cross-shop:

  • Standard (OB03 white jacket, NSF/ANSI 42 only): not lead-certified — the most-confused product in the category.
  • Elite / Longlast+ (OB06 blue jacket, NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401): lead-certified, and a 120-gallon / 6-month cartridge vs PUR PLUS's 40-gallon / 2-month.

So the matchup is asymmetric. At the entry tier, PUR PLUS wins — it's NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified at $25-$35 where Brita Standard isn't. Step up to Brita Elite and Brita wins on filter life and cost: a family of 4 spends ~$36-$48/yr on Elite vs ~$72-$108/yr on PUR PLUS.

One more in-brand catch on faucet-mounts: the PFM350V is NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 only, while the PFM400H, PFM800V, and PFM900B add NSF/ANSI 401 (via the RF-9999 cartridge) for $15-$30 more. Match the cert scope to your contaminant priority.

All of these list on the NSF directory under 'Kaz USA, Inc. a Helen of Troy Company' — the entity PUR consolidated under after Helen of Troy's $230 million acquisition from Procter & Gamble in December 2018.

Sources

  1. NSF listingaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?Company=Kaz+USA+Inc&Brand=PUR

    NSF certifications for the PUR PLUS CRF-950Z, PUR MineralClear CRF-9999, and PFM400H / PFM800V / PFM350V under Kaz USA / Helen of Troy — the evidence behind the PUR-vs-Brita comparison across pitcher and faucet-mount tiers

  2. NSF listingaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?CompanyName=The+Brita+Products+Company

    The Brita Standard OB03 cartridge holds NSF/ANSI 42 only under The Brita Products Company — it does not carry NSF/ANSI 53 lead certification; the Brita Elite OB06 carries full NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 certification at the mid-tier upgrade

  3. Brand officialaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://www.brita.com/landing/water-filters-to-reduce-lead/

    Brita brand-official 'Filters to Reduce Lead' page explicitly names the Brita Elite filter as the NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified pitcher option — implicitly confirming the Brita Standard OB03 is NOT lead-certified

  4. Brand officialaccessed: 2026-05-23
    https://www.pur.com/pages/filters-water-pitcher-products

    PUR's official product pages document the Classic / PLUS / MineralClear pitcher tiers and the PFM350V / PFM400H / PFM800V faucet-mount tiers — showing how sister models hold different certifications within the lineup

Verified 2026-05-23.

Frequently Asked Questions About PUR Water Filters

Yes — PUR is genuinely NSF certified. Its pitcher and faucet-mount lineup holds 134 NSF-listed SKUs across NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 under the 'Kaz USA, Inc. a Helen of Troy Company' manufacturer-of-record on the NSF DWTU directory.

That covers chlorine taste-and-odor (42); lead, mercury, asbestos, chlordane, toxaphene, and VOCs (53); and 15+ emerging contaminants including atenolol, BPA, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals (401). The PFM400H faucet-mount has the broadest listed-claim coverage in the lineup.

The gap: no PUR SKU is certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI P473) or fluoride — for those you need reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58) or a PFAS-certified system. Before relying on any cert claim, check your water quality by ZIP code so the certified scope matches your actual water.

Sources: [1]

How We Researched PUR

Our brand assessments follow a four-tier source ladder. We start with Tier 1 primary sources — NSF International, IAPMO, and WQA certification listings, plus SEC filings and EPA records — to establish what is third-party verified. We then layer in brand-official statements (corporate sites, datasheets, support pages) for context, tier-1 journalism for independent reporting, and community signals (Reddit threads, Amazon reviews) for real-world ownership experience. Every claim on this page traces back to one of the citations below.

Reviewed by TapWaterData Editorial.

Last full review: 2026-05-23 · Next scheduled review: 2027-05-23

All sources (10)

  1. NSF listingAccessed 2026-05-23
    https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?Company=Kaz+USA+Inc&Brand=PUR

    Primary-source NSF certifications under Kaz USA, Inc. a Helen of Troy Company — the certification record for 134 PUR-branded models across NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 (pitcher cartridges CRF-950Z lead-reducing, CRF-9999 MineralClear; faucet-mount filters PFM350V, PFM400H, PFM800V, PFM900B; replacement cartridge RF-9999 MineralClear)

  2. NSF listingAccessed 2026-05-23
    https://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/Listings.asp?CompanyName=The+Brita+Products+Company

    NSF certifications under The Brita Products Company — the comparison source for the PUR-vs-Brita lead-certification framing (Brita Standard OB03 NSF/ANSI 42 only vs Brita Elite/Longlast+ OB06 NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401 vs PUR PLUS CRF-950Z NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)

  3. SEC filingAccessed 2026-05-23
    https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0000916789&type=10-K

    Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE, CIK 0000916789) SEC 10-K filings for fiscal year ending February 28, 2019 document the December 2018 $230 million cash acquisition of the PUR brand business from Procter & Gamble — the controlling parent-company SEC reference for the post-2018 ownership structure

  4. Brand officialAccessed 2026-05-23
    https://www.pur.com/pages/filters-water-pitcher-products

    PUR's official product pages document the Classic / PLUS / MineralClear pitcher tiers (CRF-950Z lead-reducing cartridge at a 40-gallon / ~2-month interval; CRF-9999 MineralClear cartridge with the NSF/ANSI 401 emerging-contaminants step-up) and the PFM350V / PFM400H / PFM800V / PFM900B faucet-mount lineup

  5. Brand officialAccessed 2026-05-23
    https://www.brita.com/landing/water-filters-to-reduce-lead/

    Brita's official 'Filters to Reduce Lead' page documents the Brita Elite filter as the NSF/ANSI 53 lead-certified pitcher option at the 120-gallon / 6-month cycle — the comparison source for the Brita Standard OB03 (NSF/ANSI 42 only, not lead-certified) vs Brita Elite OB06 (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53 + 401, lead-certified) tier within the Brita lineup

  6. Brand officialAccessed 2026-05-23
    https://www.helenoftroy.com/news/helen-of-troy-pur-acquisition

    Helen of Troy brand-official news release announces the December 2018 PUR acquisition from Procter & Gamble — confirms the post-acquisition strategic positioning of PUR within Helen of Troy's Home & Outdoor segment alongside the OXO kitchen / housewares brand

  7. Tier-1 journalismAccessed 2026-05-23
    https://www.startribune.com/business/recovery-engineering-history-water-filtration

    Recovery Engineering Inc. founding (1986, Minneapolis MN, founder Brian Sullivan, bottled-water-purification specialist) and 1999 Procter & Gamble acquisition for approximately $265 million in stock — the pre-2018 ownership history backbone

  8. Amazon reviewAccessed 2026-05-23
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DDXJDVX?tag=waterfilte0f3-20

    The Amazon product listing for the PUR PFM400H confirms its bestseller position at the $50-$70 retail price with ~12,000 customer ratings at a 4.5-star average — the brand's most heavily certified model in the market

  9. Tier-1 journalismAccessed 2026-05-23
    https://thirdwavewater.eu/blogs/news/which-water-filter-pitcher-is-best-brita-or-zerowater-filter

    Annual filter cost benchmarks: PUR ~$72-$108/year vs Brita Elite ~$36-$48/year for family of 4 — independent third-party benchmark of the per-cycle replacement cadence differential between the PUR PLUS CRF-950Z (40-gallon / ~2-month) and Brita Elite OB06 (120-gallon / ~6-month) pitcher cartridges

  10. Brand officialAccessed 2026-05-23
    https://www.helenoftroy.com/about/locations/

    Helen of Troy corporate locations page documents the 1 Helen of Troy Plaza, El Paso, Texas 79912 corporate headquarters where the PUR brand business operates under the Home & Outdoor segment after the December 2018 acquisition from Procter & Gamble

TapWaterData is independent and not affiliated with NSF International, IAPMO, or WQA.

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