Compare Water Filters
AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis scores higher on safety - here's why.
R3 scored the Brita Standard Pitcher 4.3/10 and the AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis 9.9/10 on the same water filters scoring system, weighing safety, efficacy, and usability. The AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis comes out ahead, led by its safety score (9.9/10 vs 4.3/10).
The most important dimensions, side by side.
See which one actually scores higher — and why
Free account unlocks full safety scores, spec-by-spec breakdown, and the R3 verdict on Brita Standard Pitcher vs AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis.
Unlock the full Brita Standard Pitcher vs AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis breakdown
Free account unlocks all safety scores, complete spec comparison, scoring rationale, and the R3 verdict on which one to buy.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You want cleaner-tasting, chlorine-free water and have no PFAS or lead concerns in your area.
Budget is the top priority — $23 is the lowest entry price in the category.
You're buying for taste improvement only and your tap water is known-safe.
You want the highest available certification for PFAS and lead removal in a countertop unit — no plumber needed.
You're a renter or can't do under-sink installation and still want RO-level protection.
You want NSF 401 microplastics certification on top of PFAS and lead — only AquaTru covers all three.
Institutional certification and ongoing audit obligations matter to you, not just one-time lab results.
The main thing to know
Brita Standard does not remove PFAS or lead. EWG's independent test found only 66% PFAS reduction, explicitly flagged as insufficient. If health protection is your goal, this is not the right filter.
At $449 upfront, AquaTru is the most expensive unit in this category by a wide margin. Budget for it.
Skip this if you...
You need PFAS protection — EWG's test found 66% removal, explicitly labeled insufficient.
Your water supply has lead — the standard Brita filter is not certified for lead reduction.
Monthly filter replacements are inconvenient — 40-gallon lifespan is the shortest in this category.
The $449 upfront cost is out of reach — ZeroWater or Clearly Filtered offer strong certified protection at far lower cost.
You already have an under-sink RO system installed — AquaTru would duplicate it.
Counter space is limited and you'd prefer a fridge-door pitcher format.
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Water Filters options at every price pointEvery Water Filters in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Brita and AquaTru across 3 independent criteria: Safety (91%), Efficacy (6%), Usability (3%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with AquaTru AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis - it scored 9.9/10 overall in our scoring system. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy, and usability. Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Water Filters across Safety, Efficacy, Usability using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects how we weight those three pillars, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
Not the right match? Explore these alternatives in the same category.
