There are a lot of models on the market – some good and some not so great.
Among many air purifier benefits, they are effective at removing air pollutants smaller than 0.3 microns. This includes respiratory viruses and bacteria.
airborne viruses , bacteria, dust, mold, smoke, pet dander, etc.
Here’s my list of best air purifiers 2021 – rankings based on features, air filter type, price & buyer reviews.
Prices range, $119 – $599.
The Best Air Purifier 2021
1. Zigma Smart WiFi Air Purifier
The Zigma air purifier is possibly the best smart air purifier released this year.
As a WiFi-enabled model it is a little more expensive, but has option to purchase as a non-WiFi air purifier too.
Buyers say it is good for anyone suffering allergies or respiratory issues (such as dust).
Rooms: 1580 sq. ft.
Modes: 5-in-1
Price: Medium
Zigma’s air purifiers are super fast at filtering — designed for large rooms, the Zigma WiFi air purifier circulates air 3-4 times within 15-mins making it one of the fastest on the market.
Voice control and intelligent control make it unique among other smart, WiFi air purifiers as well. It’s super easy to sync w/ Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.
Includes carbon filter for the smallest air particles: pet odors, fumes, and some forms of smoke!
Sleep mode allows for quieter operation, under 25 dB.
Very good buyer reviews online!
2. Okaysou Air Purifier Review
In my opinion, Okaysou is the best air purifier for home use.
They offer two models – both are very affordable and come with a True HEPA filter for capturing particles as small as 0.25 microns (such as micro-dust).
Rooms: up to 800 sq. ft.
Ideal For: Pet owners, Allergies
Pricing: Affordable
One of the nicer features is how super quiet it runs – only 22 decibels.
As a HEPA air purifier the Okaysou models capture 99.97% of air pollutants:
dust, pollen, odors, pet dander, mold, etc.
Buyers also love the filter replacement light – You should change the filter every 5-6 months for the best performance, but unlike other models the Okaysou filters are affordable too (under $20!).
So far they are the most popular air purifiers released this year, and boast a 5-star rating from users!
Lots of happy buyer reviews online!
3. LEVOIT Core 300 Review
The Levoit Core 300 is the best air purifier under $100.
IMO it’s the best air purifier for price value, and overall home improvement – quiet enough for bedrooms, apartments, or home offices.
Rooms: 215 sq. ft.
Price: Affordable
Super affordable and comes w/ a HEPA filter that removes 99.97% of pollutants (including virus-causing bacteria).
It includes a new carbon activated filter – a specialized filter that’s needed to remove the smallest air particles:
odors, pollen, pet dander + some smoke
Levoit air purifier has 3 speed settings and is whisper-quiet for night use.
Buyers also love its lightweight, portable design ~ only 8.75 pounds it’s one of the best portable air purifiers.
Lots of positive buyer reviews!
Pros
Cons
4. Levoit LV-PUR131 Air Purifier
The Levoit True HEPA was voted the best smart air purifier last year.
As a WiFi-enabled air purifier it is a little more expensive, but has option to purchase as a non-WiFi air purifier too.
Buyers say it is good for anyone suffering allergies or respiratory issues (such as dust).
Rooms: 322 sq. ft.
CADR: 135+ Rating
Price: Medium
Levoit air purifiers are super fast at filtering — designed for medium size rooms, the PUR131 air purifier able to circulate and remove 99.97% of particles within 10-mins.
Includes specialized carbon filter for removing smoke + odors.
- Levoit LV-PUR131: Original air purifier
- Levoit LV-PUR131S: Smart air purifier
Sleep mode allows for quieter operation, under 52 dB.
Lots of good buyer reviews online!
5. Rowenta Air Purifier Reviews
The Rowenta Pure Air Purifier is a solid upgrade from the earlier models.
It comes w/ 4 filter levels, including a pre-filter that increases lifespan of the HEPA filter ~ captures 99.99% of air particles!
Rooms: up to 240 sq. ft.
Pricing: Medium
Super quiet operation ~ it’s perhaps the best bedroom air purifier.
Buyers love the the self-monitoring feature. The Rowenta Pure Air Purifier offers 4 speeds and auto adjusts based on air quality levels.
Very good buyer reviews online!
6. TruSens Air Purifier Review
TruSens air purifier is a newer model, but w/ very good buyer reviews.
What makes it unique is the 360-degrees filter – better than a regular HEPA filter bc it can remove smoke and odor throughout a room.
Rooms: 750 sq. ft.
Pricing: Expensive
Users love it especially during allergy season ~ they say it eliminates mostly all traces of pollen or ragweed.
TruSens Z-3000 includes five fan speeds, and “Night Mode”.
Buyers say it’s a whisper quiet for bedrooms or baby rooms.
Expensive, but upgraded air filters make it the best air purifier 2020.
Lots of good buyer reviews!
7. Colzer Air Purifier Review
The Colzer HEPA is one of the best air purifier units for large rooms.
It is ideal for living rooms with high ceilings, or offices. One buyer uses it for her classroom!
Coverage: 500 – 800 sq. ft.
Noise Level: < 28 decibels
Price: Medium
Colzer air purifier automatically detects air purity levels in realtime. Depending on the air quality, it auto adjust fan speed to for the best quality levels.
Like the Colzer dehumidifiers, the air purifier is super quiet ~ under 28 decibels (one of the quietest avail).
IMO it is the best air purifier for medium or large rooms.
Overall, an affordable model w/ very good buyer reviews!
8. Honeywell Air Purifier Review
The Honeywell QuietClean air purifier is the best air purifier w/ washable filters.
Perfect for households with allergies or families with pet dander issues – it quickly removes pet dander, allergens, dust, mold, and other pollutants.
Rooms: 170 sq. ft.
Price: Medium
Honeywell air purifier comes w/ HEPA air filters which remove 99.7% of air particles.
Best part are the washable air filters – helps save you $40-60 per year!
Lots of positive buyer reviews and affordable price!
9. Alen BreatheSmart Review
The Alen BreatheSmart FIT50 is a luxury air purifier.
It is specifically designed for capturing dust and seasonal allergies.
Rooms: up to 1000 sq. ft.
Price: Expensive
Alen BreatheSmart includes a smart sensor — It auto detects air particles larger than 0.3 microns and will adjust fan speed depending on air quality level.
There’s also an Air Quality Indicator which alerts you if pollution is detected.
Lots of positive buyer reviews — many say it is super quiet, perfect for bedrooms.
Downside is the expensive price tag.
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The Alen BreatheSmart Flex is a slightly more affordable model. Rooms: up to 700 sq. ft. Pricing: Medium |
10. Philips Air Purifier 2000 Review
The Philips 2000i is the best air purifier for “smart homes”.
Includes activated carbon filter for removing the smallest air particles – odors, smoke, and gases.
Capacity: 277 sq. ft.
Pricing: Medium
Like the Philips 1000i air purifier it offers 3-purification settings and purifies within 1-hour.
Buyers love the mobile app – Get air quality notifications or set your desired air quality level.
Good option for medium size rooms. Perhaps the best bedroom air purifier on my list.
Very good buyer reviews and fair price.
Notable: Blueair Pure 121 Air Purifier
The Blueair Pure air purifiers are designed for use in large rooms.
It’s the perfect model for living rooms, open apartments, basements, and home offices – great for pet owners!
Rooms: 350-600 sq. ft.
Pricing: Expensive
Along with the industry-recommended 5 air changes per hour (ACH), the Blue Pure 112 offers high-grade filter technology and cycles air every 12 mins!
Buyer reviews say it works well in kitchens (i.e. fish smells) and use it to remove pet dander in bedrooms.
HEPA air filters remove 99.97% of particles and 99.99% of normal household pollutants.
dust, virus bacteria, allergens, pet dander, mold spores, smoke, odors
Super lightweight it’s one of the best portable air purifiers for large rooms.
Blue Pure 221 air purifier is Verified by AHAM for a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of:
Dust/350, Pollen/350, Smoke/350
Expensive, but overall a terrific model for daily use at home!
Notable: Medify MA 40 Review
The Medify MA 40 is the best air purifier with medical grade filters.
It is one of the few HEPA air purifiers for bad allergies and sensitivity to dust – medical air purifier filters are replaceable.
Coverage: 800 – 1300 sq. ft.
Price: Very Expensive
Medical Grade H13 air filters, the Medify MA 40 can remove all pollutants, including smoke.
Compared to similar size air purifiers, the Medify air purifier cleans rooms very quickly.
Buyers love the indicator color on the control panel – particle sensor assesses your room air quality in realtime and changes the color as needed.
Medify MA 40 doubles as a tower fan for summer.
Affordable price and very good buyer reviews!
Notable: Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS (AP-1519P)
Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS is a Wi-Fi enabled smart air purifier.
New release this year, it was voted the best air purifier w/ activated charcoal filters under $300.
Rooms: up to 325 sq. ft.
Price: Medium
True HEPA filters remove 99.97% of particles including NH3 & CH3CHO fumes. LED indicator lights on top let you know the current air quality.
Buyers like the mobile app function – current air quality level, turn on/off, adjust speed, or use eco-mode.
Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS has washable pre-filters (to decrease costs).
Medium price + good buyer reviews!
Notable: Philips Air Purifier 1000
The Philips HEPA 1000 is a smart air purifier w/ professional-grade air filters.
It is one of the few air purifiers that can monitor your air quality and automatically adjust fan speed as needed.
Room size: 277 sq. ft.
Price: Medium
Has three modes of operation:
general mode, sleep mode (very quiet), allergen mode
For the price, the Philips Air Purifier 1000 is the best air purifier for those with allergies – buyers love it for removing pet dander and allergens:
pollen, ragweed, dog dander, dust, and odors
One of the best air purifier models with “Smart” controls – Very good buyer ratings too!
Notable: Levoit LV-H134 Review
The new Levoit LV-H134 was released just in time for the Fall allergy season!
It includes three powerful filters and is capable of removing some forms of smoke and odor (which are the smallest micron).
Coverage: 500 – 710 sq. ft.
Noise level: ≤ 54 decibels
Price: Expensive
You can choose from three fan speeds, but buyers like the “Auto Mode” – when set, the Levoit LV-H134 will auto adjust fan speed and purifying rate for the highest air quality.
Similar to the Levoit humidifier, the air purifier is super quiet!
Levoit LV-H134 is expensive, but the perfect solution for most households.
Good Air Purifiers for 2020
Below are a few models that didn’t quite make our list, but are still high-quality options for home use. Many include HEPA filters too!
For this list prices range from $200 to $550.
Notable #1: Blueair 205 Air Purifier Review
The Blueair 205 is a high-quality, affordable air purifier.
Designed for mid-sized rooms, it can cycle air 5X per hour (on max speed).
Coverage: 180 – 279 sq. ft.
Noise level: 32 – 56 decibels
Buyers say it is one of the best smart air purifiers on the market — very easy to connect to your home WiFi and control via mobile app.
Once connected to your internet, use the Blueair mobile app to control all settings:
Blueair 205 is the most popular, but it is available in four sizes:
| Blueair Classic 203 | No Wi-Fi | up to 240 sq. ft. |
| Blueair Classic 205 | WiFi enabled | up to 280 sq. ft. |
| Blueair Classic 480i | WiFi enabled | up to 434 sq. ft. |
| Blueair Classic 605 | WiFi enabled | up to 775 sq. ft. |
Overall, the Blueair models are some of the best air purifier models with mobile app functionality.
Lots of positive buyer reviews and moderate price.
Notable #2: Levoit PUR131 Review
The Levoit True HEPA is the best smart air purifier available.
As a WiFi-enabled air purifier it is a little more expensive, but has option to purchase as a non-WiFi air purifier too.
Buyers say it is good for anyone suffering allergies or respiratory issues (such as dust).
Room size: 322 sq. ft.
CADR Rating: 135+
Levoit air purifiers are super fast at filtering — for medium size rooms, the PUR131 air purifier able to circulate and remove 99.97% of particles within 10-mins.
They also come with a specialized carbon filter for removing smoke + odors.
- Levoit LV-PUR131: Original air purifier
- Levoit LV-PUR131S: Smart air purifier
Sleep mode allows for quieter operation, under 52 decibels
Very positive reviews and ratings online.
Notable #3: Coway Airmega 400 Air Purifier
The Coway Airmega is a heavy duty air purifier.
Designed for large rooms, the Airmega models are among the best air purifiers with mobile control.
Coway Airmega 300: up to 1256 sq. ft.
Coway Airmega 400: up to 1560 sq. ft.
They are also equipped with a pollution sensor.
If the air quality falls below a certain point, the indicator light will let you know – You can also get a notification on your smart phone.
Personally I think it is the best air purifier for large rooms, especially for the price.
Lots of positive buyer reviews!
Notable #4: Austin Air Healthmate Review
The Austin Air Healthmate features medical-grade air filters and a 360-degree intake system.
Although it is one of the most expensive on my list, it is possibly the best air purifier for removing odors, including smoke.
Room size: 700 sq. ft.
Weight: 21 pounds
Austin Air Health-Mate air purifier includes a pre-filter that captures large particles and HEPA medical-grade carbon filter that removes the smallest particles, including smoke and odors.
FYI: normal HEPA filters remove 99.97% of particles larger than 0.3 microns
It was recently chosen by Johns Hopkins Hospital to conduct clinical trials — it was selected by the USA Federal Gov. for emergency situations.
The Health-Mate is a top rated air purifier w/ very good buyer reviews.
Downside is the expensive price tag.
Notable #5: Winix 5500-02 Review
The Winix 5500-2 eliminates 99.97% of airborne pollutants.
It is designed w/ a specialized carbon filter — able to remove the smallest, most difficult particles:
odors, toxic gasses and cigarette smoke
Although expensive, it comes w/ washable air filters to help save money longterm.
PlasmaWave is voted one of the best air purifier models w/ WiFi – use your mobile app to view air quality level & adjust fan speed.
Winix PlasmaWave is very expensive, but buyers say it quickly improves air quality in large rooms.
Notable #6: Honeywell AirGenius 5 Review
The Honeywell AirGenius is designed for pet dander and “reducing odors”.
As an air purifier it works quickly to filter air – it uses a turbo fan which circulates air up to five times per hour.
Pricing: Expensive
Rooms: 250 sq. ft.
Perfect in the Fall or Spring, buyers say the AirGenius 6 is the perfect solution for allergies!
Reading buyer reviews, some say the mobile app is “advanced” while others say it is “complicated” – depending on you tech savviness, it may be a good an ideal option.
Read our review on the Dyson Air Purifier Fan.
Notable #7: Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Review
The Rabbit Air BioGS is one of the larger HEPA purifiers.
With its advanced 4-stage air filtration process it can capture 99.97% of airborne particles measuring 0.3 microns in size.
Pricing: Expensive
Room size: 650 sq. ft.
Includes a high-performance charcoal activated carbon filter — this specialized air filter is required to capture particles smaller than 0.3 microns (i.e.fumes, cigarette smoke + greenhouse gases)
Buyers love the ultra quiet performance.
Motor offers five speeds of air purification — runs nearly silent, making it great for bedrooms.
Rabbit Air BioGS is very expensive, but a top rated model w/ newest air filtration system.
Read about the benefits of air purifiers for homes.
Notable #8: Winix AM90 Review
The Winix AM90 is a top rated HEPA air purifier.
It is one of the few smart air purifiers that is affordable — control it using the mobile app!
Perfect for larger rooms with open-layouts or high ceilings.
Coverage: 280 – 360 sq. ft.
Purification: 3-stage air filter
Smart Sensors constantly monitor your rooms air quality — it will automatically increase speed if it detects an increase in particles/pollution.
Captures and removes 99.97% of airborne particles:
dust, bacteria, pet dander, mold spores, pollen/ragweed, smoke & odors
Also includes new sleep mode for quieter operation.
Little expensive, but a top quality air purifier for any type of situation.
Types of Air Purifiers
Basic Air Cleaner – remove 99% of household airborne particles
HEPA Air Purifiers – remove 99.97% of airborne particles larger than 0.03 microns
Carbon-Activated Filter Purifiers – remove smallest particles like cigarette smoke (0.01 – 0.04 microns)
HEPA Filter vs. Non-HEPA
Before an air purifier can be deemed “HEPA” it must be tested and approved by the U.S. Dept. of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
HEPA is a type of pleated mechanical air filter. It is an acronym that stands for “high efficiency particulate air [filter]” (as officially defined by the U.S. Dept. of Energy). This type of air filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm). The diameter specification of 0.3 microns responds to the worst case; the most penetrating particle size (MPPS). Particles that are larger or smaller are trapped with even higher efficiency. Using the worst case particle size results in the worst case efficiency rating (i.e. 99.97% or better for all particle sizes).
By purchasing a HEPA air purifier for your home, you can be assured of its quality – they can capture the majority of irritants that often trigger allergy or asthma symptoms. By reducing the particles in the air, you will reduce the amount of airborne irritants that you and your family breathe in through your respiratory systems, which may relieve allergy and asthma symptoms.
If you or a member of your family suffers from allergies or asthma, or if you want to avoid airborne irritants that might trigger symptoms or conditions yet undiagnosed you should consider a Levoit or Winix model.
What Do HEPA Filters Remove
Microns pertains to the size of the various airborne particle and pollutants. For example, dust particles measure between 2.5 and 10.0 microns in size.
When purchasing an air purifier you might see a MERV Rating in the description. Each number on the scale demonstrates the an air purifiers ability to capture particles within a micron range.
Below is a MERV Rating chart for HEPA air purifiers.
HEPA Pre-Filter Models
In addition to a genuine HEPA filter, the air purification unit that you use should have come with pre-filter that captures larger particles. Since you need to purchase new air filters or wash them yourself, having pre-filter to capture larger micron particles will add to the longevity to filters.
Also, an activated carbon-activated filter is always a good add-on since it can adsorb smoke (such as cigarette smoke), inodorous gases, vapors and VOCs with ease. Most importantly, though, you should invest in a true HEPA air purifier from a reputable brand.
The benefits of a HEPA air purifier are well worth the extra cost.
Carbon Activated Air Purifiers
Activated carbon filters are often called Super HEPA filters. They are able to filter out 99.99% of airborne particles measuring 0.1 micron in diameter. (HEPA filters 0.3 micron particles).
Since they are a higher quality filter you should expect to pay more for them – however they are able to remove most odors including cigarette smoke, wild fire smoke, and unpleasant odors. The best carbon activated air purifier brands IQAir, Winix and Blueair.
Below is a chart showing the micron size of dust, pollen, pet dander and cigarette smoke.
Air Purifier FAQ
Below are a few common questions that are asked before purchasing an air purifier.
Q: How does an air purifier clean air?
A: An air purifier cleans the indoor air by drawing the polluted indoor air into the unit and trapping the particles, allergens and contaminates onto a filter.
Q: What kind of filter does an air purifier have?
A: Most air purifiers use either a HEPA filter or a charcoal-activated filter. Some air purifiers also use a pre-filter to increase the overall filtration efficiency.
Q: Why does indoor air quality matter?
A: Indoor air pollutants can lead to asthma attacks, as well as itchy eyes, sneezing & runny nose. Radon and cigarette smoke can cause even worse health effects longterm, including lung cancer.
Q: How often is air filtered?
A: An air purifier should be selected to filter the air in a room a number of times and hour. A minimum of 4-times is recommended if there are any lung illness sufferers occupying that room.
Q: What does HEPA stand for?
A: HEPA is an acronym of High Efficient Particulate Air. Any true HEPA filter guarantees that the filter will capture airborne particles down to 0.3 microns in size, 99.97% of the time. (Particles smaller than 0.3 microns are still trapped by HEPA filters but effectiveness is reduced to less than 99.97%.)
Q: How does a activated carbon filter work?
A: A HEPA air filter will capture some forms of smoke, but to remove cigarette smoke a carbon-activated air purifier is the ideal solution. It is able to remove particles smaller than 0.3 microns.
Q: Difference in a HEPA air purifier vs. ionizer?
A: Even though both technologies are designed to purify air; they don’t have a lot in common. One major difference between the two technologies is the filter efficiency.
A HEPA type air purifier will offer better filter efficiency than the ionic type air purifier. In addition, most ionic air purifiers help emit ozone properties which includes harmful gas that would damage lung tissues.
Q: What is a BioGS HEPA filter?
A: Conventional HEPA filters share a common problem in which allergens such as dust mites and pollens become trapped on the surface and triggers growth of harmful bacteria and odor.
The Rabbit BioGS 2.0 HEPA filter eliminates such problem due to the use of advanced Bio-Engineer fiber material in which it gradually dissolves allergens such as pet epithelia, dust mite & ragweed/pollen on the filter.
In addition, clogged filters decrease the efficiency of conventional HEPA air purifiers by trapping and collecting particles or allergens in the filter. After a long duration you may see an air filter efficiency drop. The BioGS™ HEPA air purifier has the capacity to disintegrate allergens on the filter thus the filter efficiency maintains at the highest level during the filter life.
Q: Should I run my air purifier continuously?
A: To be fully effective, ALL air purifiers should run continuously. Scientific research confirms that indoor air pollution rapidly returns to pretreatment levels when an air purifier is turned off.
Q: What does the CADR rating mean?
A: To clean an entire room, all the air in the room needs to be cycled and filtered multiple times per hour. This is why fan speed levels are important. Air cleaners are rated by the amount of air moving through the filter. This rate is called CADR or Clean Air Delivery Rate. CADR measures the amount of particle-free air being delivered into the room. The higher the CADR rating, the larger the room size that an air cleaner can clean.
Q: How often does an air purifier filter air?
A: An air change per hour translates to how many times an air purifier can clean a room in one hour. For example, two air changes per hour shows that an air purifier can clean a room once every 30 mins. An allergy and asthma sufferer needs at least four air changes per hour, which means the air purifier will purify a room at least once every 15 mins.
Q: What are the annual costs of an air purifier?
A: It is very important to know the annual operating cost before purchasing an air purifier. It will be expensive to operate an air purifier if the filter replacement cost is high and has to be removed every 6 months. It also hurts your energy bill if the unit is not energy efficient. You can determine the annual operating cost of an air purifier by adding up the annual electricity cost and the filter replacement cost.
Q: How do I calculate air purifier energy consumption?
A: Annual Electricity Cost = Power Consumption of the unit (Watt) x Rate of Electricity ($/kWh) x Hours of operation (hr)
Air Purifier Filters
HEPA Air Purifiers are designed to remove 99.97% of air pollutants and particles.
They’re a great resource for anyone suffering from asthma or allergies — they’re also very beneficial for removing pet dander or normal house dust.
If you purchase one of the higher-grade air purifiers, it will have a carbon activated charcoal filter. This is needed to remove the smallest air particles such as odors and smoke — many buyers like using them to remove cigarette smoke.
Hopefully our review helps you find the right option for your home.
Best Air Purifiers 2021
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