We Tried It: The Best Air Purifiers for Clean Breathing

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If you’re prone to coughing and sneezing indoors, your air quality could be to blame. But fret not, in our ongoing search for the best air purifier that’ll finally rid your homes of airborne dust mites and pesky dander, the team at Clever has been diligently testing some of the top picks for purifiers on the market. To take some of the guesswork out of things, we’ve written up what you need to know about these eight air purifiers, many which are simple to use, contain top-tier filtration systems, and are even stylish enough to blend in with any home aesthetic.

Area coverage

While some devices like the My Happi are designed to purify small rooms, you may want something more powerful like Coway’s AirMega series, which can cover an area of up to 930 square feet. We recommend designating a room for your purifier beforehand to help decide the best option for you—whether you plan on using it in your bedroom or somewhere with constant fumes like the kitchen.

What is a HEPA filter?

HEPA stand for “high efficiency particulate air [filter]” (defined by the Environmental Protection Agency) and it’s a designation used to describe filters that can trap 99.97 percent of particles that are 0.3 microns. According to Coway, they were originally created to capture radioactive particles during atomic bomb tests in World War II. Today’s filters—usually made out of maze-like, interlaced glass fibers—are used to trap air contaminants like dust, mold, and pollen.

Filter replacements: How much should they cost and how often should you be replacing yours?

Replacing your filters when it’s time is crucial in ensuring your air purifier is performing at its highest efficiency. We’ve outlined the cost and process of replacing filters for each of these units—from the more cost-effective Blueair to the splurge-y Dyson—but strongly recommend you check out the cost to maintain your purifier before hitting “add to cart.”

Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde

Tester: Rachel Fletcher, commerce editor

My space: I have pretty intense dust and fragrance allergies and I work from home full-time these days with a large dog in an old building. It’s not an exceptionally dusty space, but we live on a block with a decent amount of car traffic and I’m pretty much always obsessing about the air quality. If I start sneezing or waking up with a sore throat, I want answers!

Area coverage: The Humidify+Cool is meant to work in a single room at a time (it was previously tested by Dyson in an 81 cubic feet chamber), and I placed it in my bedroom, which is the smallest room in my home.

Filter replacements: Filter replacements cost $79.99 and it’s recommended that they be replaced once every year. Installing them initially was quite quick–they snapped into place fairly easily.

My experience: It’s rare to find a machine that can purify your air, humidify it, and cool down a space all in one–so I was impressed right off the bat. An update to earlier Dyson models, this machine does all that and aside from getting rid of the usual particles, it also removes formaldehyde (which can cause even more irritation to your eyes and throat) from the air.

The Humidify+Cool has a HEPA filtration system and a separate carbon filter detects formaldehyde. I guess it could be due in part to my obsession with clean air, but so far the Dyson has reported good air quality every time I’ve checked in–the only exceptions being after I’ve lit candles or cooked something on the stovetop. But when the air quality has dipped below ideal levels, it doesn’t seem to take much time for the purifier to do the job once I turn up the fan speed (it should be noted that this model also has an auto purify setting that will kick into high gear if the quality dips, but it is a little loud for my taste so I tend to keep it on a lower setting).

While I hate having an app for literally every device in my home, installing the Dyson Link app really did make installation a snap. And I love being able to check in on the air stats (temperature, particle level, humidity level, etc) whenever I want. You can also control the fan speed, oscillation range, and set timers from the app.

As for specific features I appreciate, filling the water tank from the top is a huge plus and it’s large enough that it doesn’t have to be refilled every day. I also appreciate the night mode setting, which makes everything a little quieter and less bright.

What I would change: This may be a misconception about the purpose of a humidifier, but I am used to really intense humidifiers that emit visible plumes of moist steam all night long. This is not that. The humidity that the Dyson model generates in the house is definitely a healthy and reasonable level (most sources recommend 30–50% humidity, and the Dyson, at its highest humidity setting, hovers around 60%), but if you are like me and want more targeted humidity in the super dry winter months, this is not the machine for you and you might want to stick to separate devices for purifying, humidifying, and cooling.

The bottom line: Aside from the note above, this is a really expensive device, coming in at more than $800. That said, it might actually save you money in the long run if you don’t want to buy a purifier, a fan, and a humidifier individually and you want a powerful device for each activity. I’d recommend it if you have deep pockets and not a ton of challenging air pollution situations to combat on the regular.

Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Air Purifier, Heater, and Fan

Tester: Audrey Lee, commerce writer

My space: I’m always looking for ways to protect myself from anything that could flare up my eczema and dust allergies, but once pollen gets thrown into the mix, all bets are off. While I do a pretty good job of catching the visible aggressors with dusting and vacuuming around my house, it’s difficult to monitor microscopic allergens and airborne contaminants, so I’m usually left sniffling or itching during transitional seasons.

Area coverage: Dyson’s Purifier Hot+Cool is great for medium to large rooms and can easily cover an area of up to 315 square ft (2860 cubic feet) if not more, according to tests conducted by Dyson. I kept mine in my bedroom of about 170 square feet.

Filter replacements: Filter replacements run about $80 from Dyson, though cheaper alternatives do exist from outlets like Amazon (just know these off-brand versions have been reported to work to varying degrees). The filters easily snap into the chamber-like base of the purifier and Dyson recommends replacing your filters when you’re alerted by the app or every 12 months, whichever comes first.

My experience: In addition to a small remote control, there’s also the wifi-enabled Dyson Link app, which you can download to your smart device. I usually detest having to download an app to get the most out of my tech and appliances, though the Link app made setup a breeze; plus, if you own more Dyson home products it’s easy to manage them all in one place.

The purifier itself works like a dream, and I noticed within a week of use that I felt noticeably less congested. The intuitive device uses a 360° filtration system that implements a combination of activated carbon to remove potentially harmful gases and odors from the air and a HEPA H13 filter to capture 99.97% of particles. I appreciated that the Hot+Cold has an auto mode, which continuously monitors room temperature and indoor air quality, while also running the fan or heat to the degree of your choosing.

When you first turn on the purifier, it immediately starts assessing the surrounding air quality, and you can monitor any fluctuations in general air quality, PM2.5 (particles smaller than 2.5 microns), PM10 (particles smaller than 10 microns), VOCs (volatile organic compounds usually from air sprays or aerosol), NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide), as well as temperature and humidity. I was particularly fond of this feature and frequently looked at these charts to see how the levels would rise or decrease over long periods of time.

Visually, the Dyson purifier definitely pulls attention with its sleek, modern design—a big draw to me when incorporating it into my space. Noise was never something that bothered me, though it emits louder sounds when the fan/heater is on a higher level or if it’s working to clean the air in a more polluted space. Besides its impressive air purification skills, the device doubles and triples as an oscillating smart fan and heater with adjustable airflow which I became hugely hooked on during winter (on account of some drafty windows in my room). With the ability to set your desired temperature, the heater can make a closed space feel noticeably warmer in very little time (for my moderate sized room I would say it took under 10 minutes).

The bottom line: I really love this air purifier because I can feel and see (via the app) it working. At $650 a pop, this air purifier is definitely a splurge. Are there other air purifiers out there that work just as well at a lower price point? Probably—but I would say it’s the combination of a high-quality air purifier, fan, and heater that make this one worth its price.

Coway Airmega 250 Smart Air Purifier

Tester: Nick Mafi, features editor

My space: Luckily the air quality in my home is pretty good, and I don’t smoke nor do I live with any animals. I will say that I live in Brooklyn, and my windows face a street. So naturally, some dust from the street does find its way into my apartment.

Area coverage: My apartment is 814 square feet and I have the air purifier unit located in the center of the apartment next to a wall. At this size, the purifier can and does cycle and clean the air that spans the entirety of the space. (It can clean air in spaces up to 930 square feet.)

Filter replacements: New filters cost about $79 and replacing the pre-filter (the first of four filters) is very simple. You simply pull the washable pre-filter out of the device, clean it, allow it to properly dry, then slide it back into place.

My experience: My experience with the air purifier to date has been a very good one. When turned on, it is very quiet. This is important because I typically turn the unit on while having friends over for dinner. I do this to create an extra level of protection in my apartment during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the noise level of the product is important, so as not to drain out people speaking at the table. Fortunately, it’s not an issue with this machine. The design of the product is great too. It almost looks like a fancy, sort of futuristic speaker. In fact, it’s turned into a bit of a dinner table conversation, as people often don’t immediately guess that it’s a purifier.

In terms of the technology, Coway’s unit has a four filtration system, which in and of itself is kind of incredible. I mean, how often do we get four layers of protection for anything? The first layer is for the larger dust particles or pet hairs. Then the second layer involves capturing the small particles that made it through. The third layer is carbon activated, which means it can extract carbon dioxide and other harmful chemicals from the air. The fourth and final layer involves the capturing and containment of viruses and bacteria.

In terms of smart features, I was impressed with how I could control everything from the tap of a button on my smartphone. The app also allows me to set a timer for the duration that I’d like the purifier to stay on, while also providing a detailed report on the air quality in real-time.

The bottom line: I would recommend this air cleaner to anyone who is in the market. At this time, when clean air in your home is so important, this air purifier is a must for those who can afford it. I think the fact that this filter involves four layers of protection, and that the fourth actually contains and extracts 99.999% of viruses and bacteria is phenomenal. All the more so that it can do it in the midst of a global pandemic. And as we are starting to learn how to “live” with the pandemic in our daily lives, having a state-of-the-art air purifying system is all the more important. By paying $350, you are providing you and your family the safety and security to invite friends and family to your house, with much needed peace of mind too.

Blueair Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier

Tester: Zoë Sessums, digital design writer

My space: Currently, I live in a house with two cats and a wood stove, so there is often some kind of fur, dander, and smoke in the air. I’ve also found that my gas stove puts out a decent amount of VOCs every time I cook, which isn’t great. Essentially, I find my allergies constantly shifting so I’m always trying to pay attention to the air in my house.

Area coverage: I use this air purifier in my bedroom (roughly 130 square feet), since it’s best for small spaces (up to 161 square feet).

Filter replacements: The filter replacements are only $20—you can even buy a replacement pre-filter (the sleeve on the outside) for only $8—and it is incredibly easy to replace. I didn’t even need to look at the instructions, so I’d say it is very intuitive.

My experience: I really like this purifier because of how quiet it is and how there are minimal bright lights to bug me at night (I really need a totally dark room). It’s also a very unobtrusive object—it tucks into a corner quite easily and has various outer sleeve color options if you do want it to pop in a room. While it doesn’t have a ton of extra features or buttons, I enjoy how simple and efficient it is—when you want a great little air purifier for your room, this is the way to go. It’s also easy to clean—I’ve used a vacuum on it and I’ve hand washed the pre-filter/cover.

According to Blueair’s website, the purifier is ENERGY STAR rated to use less energy than the average LED lightbulb, so you can keep it running all day without using too much energy. It also has a three-part filtration system, so the fabric pre-filter catches large particles like pet hair and dust and then the combination particle and carbon filter uses a layer of activated carbon to filter light household odors from pets, cooking, and smoking, while the main particle filter removes airborne particles like pollen, dust, and pet dander.

The bottom line: At $120, I think this air purifier is worth the price. It’s an ideal option for a smaller space or single room, and with its ultra quiet operation, it is a great pick for a bedroom.

My Happi Air Purifier

Tester: Elise Portale, senior social media manager

My space: I live in a prewar apartment that is absolutely loaded with dust, not to mention that I have a cat (and light cat allergies), so my air quality is suspect for sure. My apartment is also a studio, which means that any weird smells, whether they’re from the kitchen or litter box, are inescapable if not dealt with immediately.

Area coverage: The My Happi purifier can cycle air in spaces up to 500 square feet, which is perfect since my studio is less than 400. While the appeal of bedside purification was tempting, I opted to place My Happi in the kitchen, where garbage smells, cat food odor, and other symptoms of my pandemic lockdown depression reigned supreme.

Filter replacements: Filters for the My Happi cost $35, and wow! They’re insanely easy to replace. The My Happi is literally a canister—you open up the bottom, take the old filter out, set the new one in, and close her up. I’ve had water pitchers harder to work with. You can even “subscribe and save,” getting the filters automatically delivered to you every 6 months at a 10% discount.

My experience: As someone who has never had an air purifier before, I was a little intimidated and wasn’t totally convinced it would be worth the hassle of taking up space in my small apartment. But I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how well it handles kitchen odors in particular. The key to the My Happi is the five-layer HEPA filter, which catches all sorts of particles in the air. It’s kind of incredible how much coverage this purifier has given how small the unit is—a huge plus, given I have so little square footage to give up to an appliance like this. Along those same lines, this thing is quiet, which is ideal for a studio. If the air quality gets bad for some reason (the LED indicator changes color to indicate this), the fan picks up speed and can get quite loud, but it’s usually only for a moment or two. I’m so happy with this purifier that it’s really hard to think of any improvements. If only it could work double duty as a humidifier, then me and my eczema could be truly happy.

The bottom line: If you need a purifier, this is the one, I’m telling you. It’s so easy to use and maintain, and with such a tiny footprint to boot. If you’ve got a smaller space like I do and the thought of another appliance taking up space stresses you out, My Happi is for you. It’s barely bigger than a cookie jar and after a time, you’ll stop noticing it entirely. What you will notice is that bad smells, allergies, et cetera, don’t seem to bother you as much. It’s really a small thing that makes a huge difference.

Sans HEPA 13 Air Purifier

Tester: Sophia Herring, associate editor

My space: My boyfriend is a smoker so the air quality isn’t always the best in the apartment. I usually kick him out when he wants a smoke but regardless, the smell lingers. I’m super sensitive to everything: I’m asthmatic, I have pollen allergies and super intense dust allergies. Whenever I sleep in an old house, I can feel it the next morning. I wake up very congested.

Area coverage: The purifier has air coverage up to 1560 square feet every hour, or 780 square feet every half hour. I have mine in the living room which has about 800 square feet.

Filter replacements: You will be alerted when it’s time to replace the filter and each provides about three months of continuous use. Replacements cost $39.99 and slip right in so it’s super easy.

My experience: This purifier is an amazing find. The design is super unobtrusive and fits seamlessly in front of a white wall without much visual obstruction. It’s also very quiet—so much so that I frequently forget it’s there.

I appreciate it most whenever we cook, and the fumes and smoke fill up the living room (since our kitchen is windowless and relatively unventilated). Each time, the Sans blinks and signals an upward motion, telling us where the air impurities were. It has a HEPA 13 medical grade filter, which is said to remove 99.97% of air bacteria. Within no time, it clears the smells and the fumes. It’s particularly amazing in winter, when the last thing you want to do is keep the windows open for the freezing cold air to clear everything out.

The bottom line: For those who are willing to splurge on a durable purifier to stand the test of time, I definitely recommend it (I would love for it to come in different sizes someday!). The filtration system is really high-end, and the quietness is not something you always get with purifiers. It also has a bunch of other great qualities such as auto-cleaning, U.V. light self-sterilization, and an air quality display to keep you in the know. Although not all of this is needed, having it has been a much welcome added-bonus.

Levoit Core 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier

Tester: Rebecca Grambone, associate social media manager

My space: No matter how much I dust my bedroom in my apartment, the wood floors always seem to get dusty the next day. I live with two other roommates and my bedroom is attached to a hallway that we all are constantly walking through to get to the bathroom or the laundry area. I’ve realized recently that having a bedroom near a “high traffic” area of the apartment may be the culprit behind my dust issue, especially if people are walking through after having been outside.

Area coverage: The effective range of the air purifier is 403 square feet and can be used in larger areas, however purification will take longer. I used it in my bedroom, which is approximately 12 feet by 13.

Filter replacements: The filter replacements for this particular model cost around $50. I haven’t had to replace my filter yet since it lasts about 12 months. However, when you first take the air purifier out of its delivery packaging, you have to remove the filter from a plastic covering and place it back in the purifier. I found this process super simple since all you have to do is twist the bottom portion of the purifier off, remove the filter, put the cleaned filter (or a new one) back in, and then twist the bottom portion back on.

My experience: After about a week using the air purifier in my bedroom (along with regular dusting), I noticed that I wasn’t waking up with puffy eyes anymore. This may sound cliché, but the air in my room felt crisper and definitely cleaner. I specifically liked the Auto Mode feature that adjusts the fan speed automatically based on the current air quality in the room. I also appreciated the Sleep Mode feature that keeps the air purifier operating quietly by using a fan speed lower than low speed, this way I could use it throughout the night without the sound disrupting my sleep. I found it interesting that this air purifier has a 3-Stage Filtration system: the first is a pre-filter that captures larger particles such as dust and pet fur, the second is a H13 True HEPA filter that “captures at least 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 microns in size,” and the third is a custom high-efficiency activated carbon filter that absorbs smoke, odors, and fumes. Each of these filters also serves the purpose of maximizing the filter’s life which I find makes this purifier a good investment.

I was also impressed with other high-tech features such as the VeSync app, which allows you to control the air purifier from your smartphone by connecting it through Bluetooth. Having access to the app allows you to easily view the air quality in the room you have the air purifier set up in with words like “good” or “very good.” You can also view the air purifier’s filter life, as well as set up features such as “Auto Clean,” which turns the air purifier on automatically when the air quality is bad and “Auto Stop,” which automatically turns the air purifier off when the air quality is good. I also found it helpful that the app lets you view how long you’ve had the air purifier running as well as how much air has been purified. You can visibly see the job getting done!

For someone who really isn’t that tech savvy, I found everything to be easily accessible. Sometimes products add all this extra tech just as a bonus, but I truly felt that each and every tech feature that this air purifier had to offer was functional and beneficial.

What I would change: One downside of this air filter is that it’s definitely on the larger and bulkier side and you definitely need to have the space for it, especially since the manual recommends keeping it 15 inches from anything surrounding it.

The bottom line: Overall, I found this air purifier very effective! I would recommend this specific product to anyone who is looking for more of a high-tech option that will definitely get the job done. However you definitely have to have the space for it, as it is not a sleek and sexy option compared to other air purifiers on the market that are on the pricier side.

Proscenic A9 Air Purifier

Tester: Ebonee Johnson, Editorial Operations Associate

My space: I have asthma and live in a stuffy studio apartment so I’m always looking for ways to improve air quality. In the past, my weekly cleaning routine included dusting my apartment, sanitizing my humidifier and opening all the windows to freshen up the space. I recently learned that an air purifier may cut down on all of the cleaning and be more effective in reducing chest congestion.

Area coverage: Proscenic claims this unit cleans 2,904 square feet in one hour or 968 square feet in 20 minutes. I placed the unit in the corner of my 500-square-foot studio apartment and I can definitely feel it working!

Filter replacements: Buyers beware! Proscenic recommends changing filters every six months. The process to replace a filter is very simple: The LED monitor notifies you when the filter needs to be replaced and insertion/removal is easily accessible by removing the back panel. That said, filter replacements are currently unavailable in the U.S. (though available in Europe and the U.K.) and Proscenic is working to resolve this issue. According to some Amazon reviewers, when filters are available, it seems like they’re only in stock for a short amount of time before they’re sold out again. I tried looking for a generic alternative but found no luck.

My experience: This Proscenic A9 filter uses an advanced dust sensor that can detect particles in 30 seconds and refresh the room in around 20 minutes. After a full 24 hours of use, my usually stuffy nose and congested chest were gone. Over the course of a month, I noticed there was significantly less dust in my apartment. Personally, I love that the air purifier can be monitored and controlled with the Proscenic app. Using the app, you can also set a timer for one, two, four, or eight hours to suit your air purification needs. This is a great way to conserve energy throughout the day. At night, I like to put the purifier in sleep mode—all the lights on the display turn off and the fan can be adjusted to a low noise level.

The bottom line: I have the air purifier in white but would love it in black. At the moment, this unit doesn’t come in any other color ways. Due to the cost of this unit and the lack of affordable filter replacements, I wouldn’t recommend this air purifier given that there are more affordable options on the market with readily available filter replacement options. The replacement filters also cost around $50–$70, which is pricey, compared to the cost of the entire unit. Personally, I don’t think it’s sustainable for the average customer to spend that much money every four to six months, but because it performed well for me, I’d recommend this model if the brand is able to work out their distribution and pricing issues.

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