Compare Water Filters
ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher scores higher on safety - here's why.
R3 scored the Epic Water Filters Pure Pitcher 2.8/10 and the ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher 8.0/10 on the same water filters scoring system, weighing safety, efficacy, and usability. The ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher comes out ahead, led by its safety score (8.0/10 vs 2.8/10).
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 Epic Water Filters Pure Pitcher vs ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher.
Unlock the full Epic Water Filters Pure Pitcher vs ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher 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 prioritize EWG's independent lab performance results over formal certification.
Budget matters and you want the lowest annual cost among high-PFAS-performance pitchers.
You're comfortable with strong lab evidence as the basis for trusting protection, without institutional verification.
You want certified PFAS and lead reduction from an EPA-recognized body in a pitcher under $33.
You live in a low-to-moderate mineral content water area where filters last 30–40 gallons.
You value real-time water quality monitoring — the included TDS meter is the best in this category.
Budget matters and you want maximum certified protection per dollar spent.
The main thing to know
No EPA-recognized certification for any health-effects claim. 'Tested to comply' is not the same as certified — there is no ongoing audit obligation backing these claims.
A ConsumerLab study found ZeroWater's filter releases plastic particles into filtered water. If microplastics are a top concern, this is a meaningful flag — consider AquaTru instead.
Skip this if you...
You need independently-certified PFAS or lead protection — Epic Pure Pitcher has no EPA-recognized certifier.
You have young children or known contamination and want a formal, audited certification backing your filter claims.
The distinction between 'tested to comply' and 'certified' matters to you — it should.
Microplastics are a top concern — independent testing found ZeroWater adds plastic particles to water.
You live in a high-mineral-content area where annual filter costs can exceed $600.
Slow fill time is a dealbreaker — expect around 13 minutes per full pitcher.
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 Epic Water Filters and ZeroWater 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 ZeroWater ZeroWater 5-Stage Pitcher - it scored 8.0/10 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.
