Best Air Purifiers to Buy in 2023

The good news is there is a solution to this problem:

A high-quality air purifier can keep your home air clean day and night.

But finding the right product is not easy. For you, we review the best air purifiers to buy!

Best Air Purifiers on the Market in 2023

1. Coway Airmega – Best Air Purifier 2023

The Coway Airmega is a new and improved version of the company’s best-selling Coway Mighty air purifier. It’s just as powerful and efficient in removing everyday allergens but now comes in a more modern, smarter package.

Let’s take a closer look at the upgrades!

How Does The Coway Airmega Work

The new Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS comes with a powerful three-stage cleaning system that’s even more efficient than before:

• Its high-quality pre-filter captures larger particles.
• A new and improved honeycomb carbon filter is excellent at eliminating smells and gases.
• An improved true HEPA filter removes even the smallest allergens such as dust, pet dander, and pollen.

What makes it our top choice for 2023 are the improvements over the old model:

1. The new Airmega is completely ozone free as it doesn’t use the ionizing function anymore.
2. Although the Coway Mighty did remove some household smells from the air, its odor-controlling abilities weren’t that great. The new model comes with a new carbon filter that makes it much more efficient at reducing smells and strong odors!

New Features

The new AP-1512HHS is a smart air purifier, meaning you can connect it to your Wi-Fi network and control it through Coway’s mobile app or with Google Voice Assistant/Alexa.

The IoCare mobile app allows you to:

• Monitor air quality in real-time.
• Turn the unit on/off, set a timer, change between different fan speeds and modes – all that at a distance.
• Get notifications when it’s time to change the filters.
• Schedule smart and sleep modes.

Connecting the Airmega to the app can be a bit of a hassle. For one, it only works in the 2.4Ghz network. The app may also be buggy at times, so you’ll have to restart it more than once. Once it’s set up, it works beautifully, though!

Design and Size

One of the best things about this Coway air cleaner is how quietly it works:

It is barely audible on the ‘Low’ setting and not much louder than a whisper when it runs on ‘Medium.’ It’s a perfect choice if you’re looking for an air sanitizer that you could use in your bedroom.

It also stands out because of its beautiful modern design:

The new Coway Airmega is available in black only and it blends into most backgrounds beautifully.

It’s still compact in size, although it’s a bit heavier now at nearly 20 pounds. It’s still super easy to move from one room to another, though.

Room Size

The Coway Airmega has a CADR rating of 216 and should work well in medium to large size rooms up to 325 sq. ft. in size. As we explain in the Buying Guide and based on its CADR capacity, you’ll get the most out of this air purifier in rooms up to 216 sq. ft.

Changing the Filter

Although you need to change the filter about every twelve months, the Coway Airmega is still one of the cheapest appliances to operate over time:

The cleaner doesn’t consume too much energy (it’s Energy Star certified), and you can get the true HEPA filter for about half the price of other air purifier filters. The carbon filter is now washable, too, so it doesn’t need replacing that often!

Also, if you don’t run it non-stop, you can probably extend the filter life by a couple of months.

The new Coway Airmega AP-1512HHs is the best air purifier for 2023. It’s capable of removing even the tiniest allergens from the air, works very quietly compared to other products on this list, is sensibly priced, AND comes with low operating costs.

Other Features

• Automatic setting to adjust unit speed based on air quality.
• Indicator for air quality.
• Automatic Eco mode, which will switch off the Airmega if air stays clean for 30 minutes.
• Warranty of 3 years.

2. Winix 5300-2 – Highest-Rated Air Purifier

The Winix 5300-2 air cleaner is our second pick for 2023. It’s almost as powerful as the Coway Airmega reviewed above and has been designed to remove harmful gases and vapors from our homes.

How Does The Winix 5300-2 Work

With the Winix 5300-2 you get an air cleaner with an efficient 4-stage technology:

• A washable pre-filter serves as the first barrier to capture larger particles such as hair and lint.
• A charcoal filter removes harmful VOCs and household smells from cooking, smoking, and pets. It also eliminates some dust and helps extend the life of the true HEPA filter.

You may be wondering what VOCs are:

They are vapors and gases that can be emitted by everyday items found in our home: disinfectants, paints, glues, air fresheners, etc.

• The true HEPA filter eliminates allergens like dust and pollen from our home air.
• Winix’s innovative PlasmaWave Technology further removes chemical gases and vapors from the air as well as allergens, bacteria, and other indoor pollutants.

The PlasmaWave Technology isn’t supposed to produce any ozone, but I wouldn’t use this function in the bedroom overnight or if there are small children in the room, just to be safe.

Design and Size

The Winix 5300-2 is about the same in weight as the Coway Airmega. At almost 18 pounds, it might not be suitable for transporting from room to room if carrying heavy things is an issue for you.

It is a great choice for an air cleaner because it runs so quietly you barely notice it:

There are four different speeds, and all of them, except the highest ‘Turbo’ mode, are virtually noiseless.

Room Size

The Winix 5300-2 comes with a CADR rating of 232 for smoke, 246 for pollen, and 243 for dust. It’s just as powerful as the Coway Airmega reviewed above.

Winix recommends using it in larger rooms up to 360 sq. ft., but based on its capacity, we think it best suits rooms up to 240 sq. ft. in size.

Changing the Filter

You should change the carbon filter every three to six months and the true HEPA filter every twelve months or so, depending on how often you use it.

The Winix 5300-2 is a great alternative pick to Coway Airmega: it’s just as effective in removing airborne allergens and household smells, but comes with the additional ability of removing harmful chemicals from your home air as well.

Other Features

• Automatically adjusts fan speed based on air quality (if on the selected mode)
• Air quality indicators
• Automatically dims lights
• Filter replacement reminder
• 1-year warranty
• Remote control

3. Winix HR900 Ultimate Pet – Best Purifier for Pets (New model!)

The Winix HR900 is an upgraded version of the wildly popular Winix WAC9500 Ultimate Pet. It is the best air purifier for pets (and pet hair) on the market today!

With its powerful 5-stage air filtration system and SmartSensors, the HR900 is designed to eliminate all pet-related allergens from the air.

How Does The New Winix HR900 Ultimate Pet Work

The new ‘Ultimate Pet’ is also a powerful 5-stage cleaner that is very effective in removing pet hair, pet smells and getting rid of germs and bacteria. It’s also efficient when it comes to cleaning your home air from other allergens and odors.

Here’s a quick overview of its updated filtration system:

• The first layer is the “pet” pre-filter, which captures larger particles like lint and pet hair. It should be replaced about once a month.
• Then, there’s the fine mesh washable pre-filter that extends the life of the remaining filters by capturing large particles that pass through the first layer.
• The activated charcoal filter (washable) absorbs strong pet smells and also eliminates harmful chemicals and VOCs.
• The true HEPA filter eliminates pet dander and other allergens.
• The Winix PlasmaWave technology further neutralizes bacteria, viruses, household smells, chemical vapors, gases, etc.

The PlasmaWave technology Winix uses works great at neutralizing airborne bacteria and viruses, but it’s a function I wouldn’t use in the bedroom. Although all Winix air cleaners are California Air Board Certified, the PlasmaWave technology can still affect sensitive users.

The good news is, you can switch this feature off whenever you like!

Design and Size

The new Winix HR900 is considerably lighter than the old WAC9500, weighing at least 5 pounds less at just under 19 pounds. It’s still large and bulky in size, though.

For such a large machine it’s surprisingly quiet:

Lower and medium speed levels are barely audible.

Room Size

The ‘Ultimate Pet’ has a CADR rating of 220 for smoke, 194 for pollen, and 200 for dust, which is a bit more than what the old model had. Officially, it should work well in large rooms up to 300 sq. ft. in size (compared to 285 sq ft before).

Based on its capacity and cleaning power though, we think it works best in medium-sized rooms up to 225 sq. ft.

Changing the Filter

The pre-filter and activated carbon filter of the HR900 are washable, so you can reuse them over and over.

The “pet” pre-filter is essentially a sheet of paper, which can break easily and should be replaced once a month. The T-type true HEPA filter needs replacing once a year.

Unfortunately, you can only buy the replacement filters at WinixAmerica.com at the moment. The good news is that the unit comes with three extra pet filters, which means you can put off further expenses by a couple of months!

Although not the most powerful air cleaner available today, Winix’s ‘Ultimate Pet’ is the perfect choice for any pet owner. It features a 5-stage cleaning technology that thoroughly purifies the air from pet hair, dander, removes strong odors, and neutralizes bacteria, germs, and viruses.

Other Features

• SmartSensor for measuring air quality
• Auto mode for managing air quality
• Sleep mode, which switches the fan to the lowest speed setting and turns off light notifications
• Filter change indicator
• Child lock
• Timer (1, 4, and 8 hours)
• 2-year warranty

4. Honeywell HPA-300 Allergen Remover – Best Air Purifier for Allergies

Although not the newest product on the market, the Honeywell HPA-300 is still the best air purifier for allergies.

It comes with a powerful true HEPA cleaning system and is very well rated by thousands of users who all agree that their home air is noticeably cleaner when using this unit.

How Does The Honeywell HPA-300 Allergen Remover Work

The HPA-300 uses two sets of filters to clean the air:

• An activated carbon pre-filter traps larger particles and eliminate gases and household smells.
• Three true HEPA filters capture airborne viruses and bacteria, dust, pollen, mold spores, and other allergens.

While its odor removing capabilities are not the best, it’s very efficient in removing allergens from your home air due to the three layers of HEPA filters!

Before I continue with this Honeywell review, I want to make one thing clear though:

Air purifiers, no matter which brand you pick, are NOT magic devices – they will NOT cure you of anything. If you have asthma or serious allergies, an air purifier alone will not fix your health problems.

That said, some allergists do acknowledge that they can have health benefits for some people. The only way to know is by trying a high-quality product like this one for two months and see if you notice any change.

Design and Size

Because it’s been on the market for many years now, the Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover isn’t exactly a modern-looking air cleaner:

It’s a rather large tower-style unit that weighs in at over 20 pounds. It’s definitely not something you’d want to move around in your home every day.

The HPA-300 comes with three speed options plus a Turbo mode.

While the two lowest settings are quiet enough, the higher settings are very loud compared to other air purifiers in this list.

Room Size

The Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover is a very powerful machine:

Its CADR rating is 300 for smoke and pollen and 320 for dust. This is why it’s so efficient in maintaining proper air quality and producing clean air!

According to Honeywell, it’s suitable for rooms up to 465 sq. ft. in size, but based on its capacity, it will work best in rooms around 300 sq. ft. in size.

Changing the Filter

Like all other units on this list, the HPA-300 too needs a regular filter change. The charcoal pre-filter should be changed every three months or so for optimal performance.

You need to change the three HEPA filters every twelve months, but you may be able to go longer than that if you don’t use your cleaner 24/7.

The Honeywell HPA-300 True HEPA Allergen Remover might be a good choice if you’re seeking relief from allergies. It’s powerful, very efficient in large rooms and comes with three HEPA filters that eliminate most common allergens from your home air.

Other Features

• Three different timer settings
• Filter change indicator
• 5-year warranty

5. Blue Pure 211+ – Best Looking Air Purifier

The Blue Pure 211+ is one of the newest products on the market and is quickly becoming a top pick for people who are looking for a high-quality unit that can clean their homes from the most common pollutants.

It is one of our top picks for 2023 because it is very efficient in reducing particulates (by 99%), even in large rooms.

How Does The Blue Pure 211+ Work

The 211+ comes with a 3-part air filtration system, using a washable fabric pre-filter, an activated carbon filter, and a particle filter to remove most common air pollutants. It also uses an electrical charge to improve its capture of these fine particles.

Note,

It doesn’t use a true HEPA filter but a ‘particle filter’ to remove mold, pollen, and other allergens instead.

You may be wondering ‘What’s the difference?’

Well,

Air cleaners with true HEPA filtration can capture tiny allergens as small as 0.3 microns. Blue Pure’s particle filter can only trap larger allergens around 2.5 microns in size.

It’s the tiny microscopic allergens that can cause the most health problems, which means the Blue Pure 211+ is probably not a good choice for those suffering from allergies or other respiratory diseases.

Both Coway Airmega and Winix 5300-2 are clearly superior here because both come with true HEPA filtration.

Design and Size

When it comes to its build, it’s about the same shape and size as the Winix 5300-2. It’s lighter and weighs the same as the Coway Airmega, but it’s very annoying to move around as it doesn’t come with handles.

The look of the product is customizable, which is one of the things we love about it the most:

It uses fabric pre-filters or “skins” which come in 5 colors. This makes it very easy to match the machine to your home decor!

The Blue Pure 211+ runs quietly on ‘Low’ and ‘Medium’ settings, but it’s still louder than the Coway. Light sleepers might find the soothing white noise to be too much.

Room Size

Although the Blue Pure 211+ is not true HEPA certified, it does have a CADR rating by AHAM – it’s rated 350 for smoke, pollen, and dust. It is the most powerful cleaner on our list!

BlueAir recommends to use it in rooms up to 540 sq. ft. in size, but we think it best fits rooms around 350 sq. ft. (See our Air Purifier Buying Guide for more information.) The 211+ beats the Coway Airmega here: the latter works best in 216-square-foot rooms only!

Changing the Filter

The fabric pre-filter is washable, so you can just clean it when needed and use it again. The particulate filter and carbon filter are 2-in-1 and should be changed every six months, depending on use. The filter is eco-friendly and can be recycled when changed.

The Blue Pure 211+ is an excellent looking air purifier that offers serious competition to our other top choices Coway Airmega and Winix 5300-2. It’s a powerful air cleaner with a minimalistic, modern design that suits those homes where getting rid of allergens is not the main concern.

Other Features

• Filter change indicator
• Automatically dims display lights
• 3 speeds
• 2-year warranty if registered with BlueAir

6. Levoit LV-H132 – Best Budget Air Purifier

Levoit LV-H132 is a budget air purifier that’s very efficient in getting rid of bad smells and dust, despite its modest price. It’s a great choice for anyone looking to clean air in small rooms!

How Does The Levoit LV-H132 Work

Levoit is a small and cheap air cleaner that comes with a surprisingly powerful air cleaning system:

• A pre-filter traps even the smallest particles and eliminates mold, pet dander, and airborne bacteria and viruses.
• A true HEPA filter further cleans the air and helps get rid of pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and other particles that can cause allergies.
• An activated charcoal filter efficiently neutralizes smells from cooking, smoking, and even pet odors.

Levoit is the only air cleaner in this list that doesn’t use the ionizer function! It’s the perfect choice if you’re looking to get cleaner air but are worried about the potential health risks of this feature.

Design and Size

Its size and weight are one of the best things about it too:

It’s very light, weighing only 7 pounds or so, which makes it easy to move from room to room. It’s only slightly over 14 inches tall too, so it’s perfect for use on tabletops.

You shouldn’t use the LV-H132 in your bedroom if you’re a light sleeper – it’s quite loud at all of its speed settings.

Room Size

Like I said at the beginning of my Levoit review, it’s surprisingly powerful. It’s rated as having a CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) of 110, which makes it suitable for use in rooms from 85 to 110 square feet in size.

Changing the Filter

The manufacturer advises users to change the filter (it comes in one piece) every six months or so, but depending on how often you use your cleaner, you might get away with changing it every 8-9 months.

The LV-H132 is cheap to operate long-term:

The 3-in-1 filter costs only about $20-$30 dollars, putting it at the same level as the Coway Airmega as far as filter costs are concerned.

In summary, if you want a unit that can efficiently clean your home air from dust and bad smells, but you’re not really allergic to anything, then the Levoit could be the right pick for you. You can get it for under $100, it’s cheap to run over time and you’ll barely notice it because it’s so small.

Other Features

• 3 different speed options
• Night light with two levels
• 2-year warranty
• Lifetime support

Other Budget Air Sanitizers To Consider

• GermGuardianAC4825 – Bestseller!

The GermGuardian AC4825 is one of the best-selling models on Amazon at the moment and comes highly rated by thousands of users.

It cleans air through a 3-in-1 filtration system and effectively gets rid of most common airborne allergens, viruses, bacteria, as well as most household smells.

It’s very quiet and unlike our main pick in this category, perfectly suitable for use in your bedroom. It’s small, light, and easily transportable.

The AC4825 works well in small rooms, and its CADR rating is estimated at 100+. It’s a good option for small offices or bedrooms.

It’s not our main pick because it’s more expensive to buy and replacement filters are 2-3 times the price of Levoit’s as well.

That said, it’s a great choice for someone looking for an air cleaner from a reputable brand with thousands of satisfied users.

• PureZone 3-in-1 – True HEPA Air Sanitizer

The PureZone 3-in-1 Air Purifier is another good alternative to the Levoit reviewed above. It comes with similar specifications but its long warranty time is what makes is stand out among other budget machines.

It uses a similar air cleaning technology as the Levoit and even the GermGuardian AC4825. All three budget options come with a true HEPA filter, making them a good choice for people suffering from mild allergies.

You can use the PureZone in small rooms around 100 sq. ft. in size, including your bedroom if you only run it on the lowest setting. ‘Medium’ and ‘High’ settings are rather loud so if you’re a light sleeper, use them only at day time.

Users have noted it’s very efficient in removing and keeping away mold, so it’s a good pick for anyone fighting this issue.

7. AeraMax 300 – Best Air Purifier for Smoke

The AeraMax 300, released by Fellowes, is an excellent air purifier for removing cigarette smoke from your home. On top of that, it’s also very efficient in removing airborne allergens from the air, having been certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America as “asthma & allergy friendly.”

Let’s take a closer look at the other benefits this model offers.

HOW DOES THE AERAMAX 300 WORK

The AeraMax 300 is a 4-stage air cleaner:

• The activated carbon filter, which efficiently removes even the strongest odors, also acts as a pre-filter. It capturers larger particles like lint, pet hair, etc.
• Next, the true HEPA filter traps and eliminates tiny allergens like pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and mold spores.
• The true HEPA filter is covered with an antimicrobial treatment that eliminates viruses and germs.
• Finally, AeraMax’s unique PlasmaTRUE technology (essentially an ionizer) further neutralizes airborne allergens.

Although marketed as an air purifier for asthma/allergy relief, many people have purchased this unit because of its powerful odor-removing capabilities. From pet and cooking smells to stale cigarette smoke, the AeraMax 300 leaves your home virtually smell-free!

One of the best features of the AeraMax air purifier is that you can easily switch off the PlasmaTRUE ionizer. This is absolutely essential for people who are sensitive to air quality! Another feature I love is the special high-performance mode that maximizes the efficiency for allergy and cold seasons.

DESIGN AND SIZE

The AeraMax 300 is a typical air cleaner as far as size is concerned:

It’s quite large and bulky, although it’s lighter than some of the other air cleaners on this list. Compared to the other allergy air cleaner Honeywell HPA-300, it weighs about 8 pounds less. So, weighing in a little over 12 pounds, it’s definitely light enough for you to pick it up and move from room to room.

This AeraMax model comes with four different fan speeds, the noise levels of which range from 35 to 55 decibels.

It’s quiet enough on the first fan speed, but the other levels are noticeably loud. For this reason, it’s best to only run it in rooms that don’t need to be silent.

Some people have also complained about the unit making a high-pitched whining sound when the ionizer is on. If you plan to use the AeraMax in your bedroom, be sure to switch the ionizer off by pressing the blue button on the front display screen. Otherwise, it might disrupt your sleep.

ROOM SIZE

Despite being advertised as a unit capable of cleaning the air in large rooms between 300-600 sq ft in size, its specs suggest otherwise:

It’s CADR rated as 188 pollen/191 smoke/196 dust, so I would say it best works in small to medium-sized rooms up to 200 sq ft in size. Choosing your air purifier wisely and according to the actual room size is essential for it to work properly!

CHANGING THE FILTER

Fellowes recommends changing the true HEPA filter once a year and the carbon filter every three months. In reality, the true HEPA filter lasts for about six months. The filter-life could be even shorter if you use your unit in heavily polluted areas. The high-performance mode for allergen-rich months also uses up the filter much faster than 12 months. You can purchase the replacement filters in Fellowes’ Amazon Store.

The AeraMax 300 is perfect for people who are looking to eliminate strong odors from their homes or who suffer from asthma and various allergies.
On par with the Honeywell HPA-300 in terms of performance, it’s an excellent choice for smaller homes. The ability to switch off the ionizer and the high-performance mode for the allergy and cold season make it worth a try if breathing clean air is important for health reasons.

OTHER FEATURES

• AeraSmart Sensor for monitoring air quality
• Filter indicator light
• Aera+ mode for cleaning room air fast 3-year warranty

Frequently Asked Questions

Things To Consider Before Buying An Air Purifier?

Before moving on to reviews of top-rated products, I want to talk about a few things you should consider when choosing between different models:

• Make sure your chosen air purifier comes with a true HEPA filter. Certified filters can catch even the smallest allergens as tiny as 0.3 microns in size. These particles can cause the most health problems as they get pulled into the respiratory system more easily than larger particulate matter.

• Use of ionizers. Ionizers are supposed to kill airborne bacteria and viruses, but they are also known to release ozone. Ozone can be a lung irritant if you have respiratory issues, so make sure you pick a unit without an ionizer or one where you can switch the ionizing function off.

• High CADR rating. The CADR rating shows how powerful the air purifier is and its ability to remove smoke, pollen, or dust from a specific amount of air. The higher the CADR rating, the more powerful the product, and the more air gets purified in one minute.

• Room size. Choose an air cleaner that’s capable of covering more square footage than the size of your home. Alternatively, pick a product with a capacity (CADR rating) of 1 per every square foot of your home.

Don’t rely on the manufacturer’s information alone!

Their figures for suitable room sizes have been achieved in hermetically sealed laboratories running the cleaners at maximum speeds. To get similar results, you would have to blast your cleaner at loud and noisy high-speed settings 24/7. And you’d never get 100% clean air as new pollutants leak in through open windows and doors constantly.

• Don’t forget to consider ongoing costs like electricity and filter replacements. To reduce recurring costs (and your carbon footprint), choose a model that is Energy Star labeled.

• If you plan to use the air cleaner in your bedroom or office, make sure it runs quietly and has a night mode to reduce noise further. Pick a model with a higher square foot capacity than what you need for the room you want to keep clean – that will allow you to run your machine at lower and quieter settings day and night.

• When researching which air purifier to buy, consider whether any additional features are important to you. Things like air quality sensors, eco-modes, filter replacement indicators, automatic timers, Google Home/Alexa integrations, etc. have been included in many of the newest models.

Wrapping It Up

These were our top air purifier picks for 2023. Which one of them is best for YOU depends on your needs and your budget. I hope these reviews will help you choose a product that’s the perfect fit!

Did I leave out any other good products? Let me know in the comments below.

Last update on 2024-11-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API