I think we all get a little squigged out when we think about drinking straight tap water. But what’s the alternative? Paying extra for plastic bottles filled with the same water?
Home filters are the obvious answer, but which do we choose?
Brita is probably the most widely known option, but does that make it the best?
Let’s talk about the differences between Berkey and Brita filters–their lifespan, taste, microplastic content, filtration specs, and price differences.
Water filter lifespan
When choosing a water filter, it’s important to think of those ongoing maintenance costs, not just the upfront investment.
A Brita filter typically lasts for 40 gallons.
A Berkey lasts for 6,000 gallons.
That means you have to buy replacement filter parts significantly more often with a Brita, incurring more costs overtime.
Winner for water filter lifespan: Berkey
Taste difference
Taste preferences are obviously up to personal opinion, but I’ll share my experience.
I’ve used Brita, Zero Water, and Berkey filters. Without filtration, my local tap water tastes a bit like chlorine. The Zero Water filter got rid of this taste, but the filter needed replacing every couple of months, or else it tasted horrible. The Brita tasted like chlorine and plastic from the jump. The Berkey tastes like water.
Winner for taste: Berkey
Microplastics
One of the biggest concern consumers have with Brita filters is the insertion of microplastics. With a plastic case and plastic filter, obviously there will be some plastic added to your water.
With a Berkey filter, the case is stainless steel and the filters are made of materials like high-grade coconut shell carbon, meaning there is no plastic to contaminate your water.
Winner for microplastics: Berkey
What do they filter?
| Contaminate Type | Berkey (Black + PF-2) | Brita (Elite/Standard) |
| Pathogens (viruses, bacteria) | ✅ ~99.999% removal – suitable for untreated water | ❌ Not rated – for treated tap water only |
| Heavy Metals | ✅ 99%+ (lead, mercury, aluminum, uranium, chromium-6) | ✅ Lead (~99%), others limited or not removed |
| Chlorine & Taste/Odor | ✅ ~100% (plus trihalomethanes) | ✅ 97–99% reduction (chlorine & taste only) |
| VOCS & Pesticides | ✅ ~99%+ reduction | ⚠️ Some removed, varies by filter |
| Pharmaceuticals | ✅ 95–99%+ (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, etc.) | ⚠️ Some (up to ~96%), varies |
| Fluoride & Arsenic | ✅ ~97–99% (with PF‑2 filters) | ❌ Not removed |
| PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”) | ✅ Up to 100% (per EWG testing on Royal Berkey) | ⚠️ ~22% reduction (limited effectiveness) |
Sources:
https://waterfilterguru.com/berkey-vs-brita
https://consciouswater.ca/berkey-vs-brita-water-filters/
https://thewatermachine.com/blogs/news/berkey-vs-brita-which-one-is-the-best-in-2021
What about essential minerals?
Water naturally contains minerals–electrolytes–that are essential for proper hydration. Without a balance of electrolytes, the water hydrates you less effectively.
Some filters strip water of these natural minerals, while others preserve them.
| System | Leaves Essential Minerals? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Berkey | ✅ Yes | Berkey filters are designed to retain beneficial minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium while removing harmful contaminants. This is possible because Berkey uses a gravity-fed microfiltration and adsorption process, not reverse osmosis or distillation, which strip everything out. |
| Brita | ⚠️ Partially | Brita does leave some minerals in, but it also reduces mineral content more than Berkey due to its activated carbon and ion-exchange resin, which can bind to calcium and magnesium. It’s designed primarily for taste and odor, not mineral preservation. |
Source: https://etrlabs.com/
Winner for contaminate filtration + mineral preservation: Berkey
Price
Let’s look at the start-up and maintenance costs for each filter option.
Brita start-up costs
You can currently buy a 1.5 gallon Brita piece for $37.99 at Target.
Brita maintenance costs
A Brita filter should be replaced every 40 gallons, which is roughly every 2 months for the average person. Extra filters cost around $26.
$26 every 2 months = $156 annually in upkeep costs.
It’s also important to note that the Brita filter is made of BPA plastic, which means you’ll have to replace the entire product itself as the plastic wears down. Their average lifespan is 3-5 years, depending on care and conditions.
Berkey start-up costs
A Berkey filter of similar size to the aforementioned Brita is the 1.5 gallon travel filter currently listed on theberkey.com for $327.
Berkey maintenance costs
$166 every 6,000 gallons of water, roughly every 8.5 years = $19 annually in upkeep costs.
While a Berkey is obviously an upfront investment, it will save you money in the long run. The Berkey is made of stainless steel, which means it can last over 20 years.
To simplify the cost analysis, let’s look at what it would cost to use Brita and Berkey for 10 years.
Brita:
$38 start-up cost
+ 1,560 in replacement filters
+ 114 in replacement cases
= $1,712 for 10 years of Brita
Berkey:
$327 start-up cost
+ 190 in replacement filters
= $517 for 10 years of Berkey
Winner for price long-term: Berkey
Should I buy a Berkey or a Brita?
With the information we’ve reviewed today, here are the results:
| Who’s best? | Berkey | Brita |
| Filter lifespan | ✅ | |
| Taste | ✅ | |
| Microplastics | ✅ | |
| Filtration + minerals | ✅ | |
| Price | ✅ | (more expensive, but lower startup cost, half a point?) |
I feel bad that Brita scored maybe half a point, so I will give them 1 point for whatever this marketing strategy is, because I love it:
If you grab your own Berkey, let me know how you like it!
