Compare Faucet Mounted Water Filter
Culligan FM-15A Level 3 Faucet Filter scores higher on safety - here's why.
R3 scored the Waterdrop WD-FC-06 Faucet Water Filter 2.8/10 and the Culligan FM-15A Level 3 Faucet Filter 6.5/10 on the same faucet mounted water filter scoring system, weighing safety, efficacy, and usability. The Culligan FM-15A Level 3 Faucet Filter comes out ahead, led by its safety score (6.8/10 vs 2.3/10).
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 Waterdrop WD-FC-06 Faucet Water Filter vs Culligan FM-15A Level 3 Faucet Filter.
Unlock the full Waterdrop WD-FC-06 Faucet Water Filter vs Culligan FM-15A Level 3 Faucet Filter 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 only need chlorine taste and odor reduction (NSF 42) — no other contaminants — and want the longest filter life (320 gallons) in the category.
You're renting and want the stainless steel aesthetic of a faucet filter without committing to a high-certification option for a temporary home.
Your water source is already very clean and regularly tested, and you're filtering only to improve taste with a filter you rarely need to replace.
Your primary concerns are lead and chlorine/DBP removal and you know PFAS is not a documented issue in your water supply.
You want the longest filter life of any NSF-certified faucet filter (200 gallons — roughly 6 months for a typical family) to reduce replacement hassle.
Per-gallon cost matters and you're comparing NSF-certified options — Culligan FM-15A is 28% cheaper per gallon than PUR Plus.
The main thing to know
NSF 42 only — no verified lead removal, no PFAS testing, no health-effects certification. NSF 372 on the packaging certifies lead-free housing materials only, not that the filter removes lead from your water.
NSF 42+53 certified for lead, chlorine, and DBPs — solid conventional water protection at the lowest certified per-gallon cost ($0.19/gal). No NSF 401 means PFAS and emerging contaminants are unverified.
Skip this if you...
Lead is a concern in your home or municipal water — Waterdrop's lead removal claim is unverified by NSF 53 or any independent performance standard.
PFAS, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, or any health-relevant contaminant are concerns — NSF 42 covers only aesthetic/chlorine parameters.
You need certified water safety for children or immunocompromised family members — this filter's certification scope is insufficient.
PFAS, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, or emerging contaminants are a concern — no NSF 401 means these are unverified by any independent body.
You want an electronic filter replacement indicator — Culligan FM-15A has no indicator and requires manual tracking of the 200-gallon schedule.
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Faucet Mounted Water Filter options at every price pointEvery Faucet Mounted Water Filter in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Waterdrop and Culligan across 3 independent criteria: Safety (85%), Efficacy (9%), Usability (5%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with Culligan Culligan FM-15A Level 3 Faucet Filter - it scored 6.5/10 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 Faucet Mounted Water Filter 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.
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