Most people buy the Brita filter that fits the pitcher already in the fridge, and most are surprised by what it does and does not do. The white Standard filter, for example, does not list lead at all. The names are confusing too: the Elite was once called Longlast, the Plus is new, and the Stream is a separate system.
This guide sorts Brita’s seven filter types for people who have settled on the brand and only want to know which to buy. To compare Brita with other makers, read our water filter pitcher guide, and for a filter chosen specifically for lead, see our guide to lead-removing pitchers. Certifications below come from Brita’s own data sheets, which we read directly.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. We have not used these filters ourselves. Recommendations rest on Brita’s published data sheets and the independent reviews we read and name below.
Quick verdict: which Brita filter to buy
Buy the Elite if you can only choose one: its certified list includes lead and it lasts about six months. Buy the Standard if chlorine taste is all that bothers you. Use the Faucet filter if you cook with lots of water. Own a Stream pitcher? Only the Stream filter fits it, and it does not reduce lead.
Five Brita filters side by side
One for each kind of buyer. The certified lists come from Brita’s data sheets.
| Brita filter | Best for | Lasts | Lead on its list? | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Brita Elite Pitcher Filter, 1 PackBest overall
|
Most homes, lead concern | About 6 months | Yes, per Brita | View on Amazon |
Brita Standard Pitcher Filter, 4 PackBest for taste
|
Chlorine taste | About 2 months | No | View on Amazon |
Brita Plus Pitcher Filter, 3 PackBest step up
|
A longer list, same schedule | About 2 months | No | View on Amazon |
Brita Elite Faucet Filter, 2 CountBest for the faucet
|
Big pots at the tap | About 4 months | Yes, per Brita | View on Amazon |
Brita Stream Pitcher Filter, 3 PackBest for speed
|
No waiting | About 2 months | No | View on Amazon |
The Hub and water bottle filters only fit their own systems and are covered below. Substances reduced may not be in your water, so check your utility’s water report.
Our picks for the best brita filter
Seven filter types, not seven pack sizes. Filter life is Brita’s rating; hard water may shorten it.
1. Brita Elite Pitcher Filter, 1 Pack – Lead Reduction and Six-Month Life
If you are buying one Brita filter, this is the one we would start with, because it is the only pitcher filter here whose certification covers lead. Brita’s performance data sheet says WQA certified the Elite against NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53 and 401, and it lists lead reduction of 99.5 percent at pH 6.5 and 99.6 percent at pH 8.5. Brita rates it for 120 gallons, or about six months for an average family, three times the life of the Standard.
Independent results line up with the lead figure. GearLab’s July 2026 review of the Ultramax dispenser with this filter reports about 99 percent lead removal and calls it a “highly effective microplastics shield.” It also found about 91 percent total PFAS reduction, while pointing out that the filter is not certified for PFAS, and it found no removal of fluoride, nitrates, sulfate, arsenic, uranium or lithium. So it does a specific job and is not a cure-all. Brita’s sheet carries the standard caveat that the substances named are not necessarily in your water, so a local water report tells you whether this matters at your tap.
Why we like it
- Lead is on its certified list, per Brita’s data sheet
- About six months per filter, per Brita
- GearLab’s results agree on lead
- Fits every Brita pitcher and dispenser except Stream, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | OB06 |
|---|---|
| Fits | Brita pitchers and dispensers, not Stream |
| Filter life | 120 gallons, about 6 months |
| Certification | WQA to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 |
| Key substances named | Lead, chlorine, mercury, microplastics |
| Pack on this listing | 1 filter |
| Seller | Amazon.com |
| Sits where | Pitcher or dispenser |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone in a home where lead is the concern, and anyone who is tired of changing a filter every two months.
Skip it if you want fluoride or nitrates out of your water: GearLab found no removal of either.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Broadest certification among these pitcher filters
- Long filter life
- Independent support for its lead figure
Cons
- Not certified for PFAS, per GearLab
- No fluoride or nitrate removal, per GearLab
- Does not fit the Stream pitcher
2. Brita Standard Pitcher Filter, 4 Pack – Better Taste for Less Fuss
The Standard is the white filter most Brita owners already know. Think of it as a taste filter, not a lead filter. Brita’s data sheet says WQA certified it against NSF/ANSI 42 and 53 for chlorine (95 percent), zinc (64 percent), cadmium (91 to 94 percent), copper (73 to 89 percent) and mercury (82 to 86 percent), depending on pH. Lead is not on that list, and buyers often assume it is.
There are reasons to choose it anyway. In Reviewed’s pitcher comparison (updated 2023), tasters preferred the taste of the Standard filter over the Longlast, which is the Elite’s earlier name. If your concern is chlorine flavor in coffee, agua fresca or rice water, it does that job. GearLab’s older review of the Everyday pitcher (2018) is a useful warning from the other side: it measured about 83.5 percent lead removal and called the result well above the EPA standard. It also found filling slow. Replace it every 40 gallons, or about every two months. The listing’s bullet points describe a one-count pack while its title says four, so check the count at checkout.
Why we like it
- WQA certified to NSF/ANSI 42 and 53, per Brita
- Reviewed’s tasters preferred its taste
- Fits every Brita pitcher except Stream
- No presoak needed, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | OB03 |
|---|---|
| Fits | Brita pitchers and dispensers, not Stream |
| Filter life | 40 gallons, about 2 months |
| Certification | WQA to NSF/ANSI 42, 53 |
| Key substances named | Chlorine, zinc, cadmium, copper, mercury |
| Pack on this listing | 4 per title; bullets say 1 |
| Seller | Amazon.com |
| Sits where | Pitcher or dispenser |
Why we recommend it
It suits a household on treated city water that mainly wants better-tasting water for drinks and cooking.
Skip it if lead is your reason for filtering: it is not on this filter’s certified list, so buy the Elite.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear job: chlorine taste and odor
- Tasters liked the result
- Widely compatible
Cons
- Lead is not on its list
- Six changes a year
- GearLab found filling slow
3. Brita Plus Pitcher Filter, 3 Pack – More on the List, Same Life
BritaPlus sits between the other two. It has the same 40-gallon, two-month life as the Standard, but a longer list on its data sheet. WQA certified it against NSF/ANSI 42 and 53, and the sheet adds benzene, ethylbenzene, tetrachloroethylene, toluene and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (79 to 89 percent) to the chlorine, zinc, copper and cadmium, with mercury at about 95 percent.
Like the Standard, it does not list lead. We read no independent test of this exact filter, so this pick rests on Brita’s data sheet and the listing. The listing also says it helps retain minerals and electrolytes naturally present in water. Treat that as a description of what it leaves in place, not as a benefit to your health, since we make no such claim. For most people the real decision is between this and the Elite: choose the Plus if the longer list is enough and lead is not an issue where you live.
Why we like it
- Adds volatile organic compounds to the list, per Brita
- Same two-month schedule as the Standard
- Fits every Brita pitcher except Stream
- WQA certified, per Brita
Key specifications
| Model | OB08 |
|---|---|
| Fits | Brita pitchers and dispensers, not Stream |
| Filter life | 40 gallons, about 2 months |
| Certification | WQA to NSF/ANSI 42, 53 |
| Key substances named | Chlorine, mercury, benzene, toluene |
| Pack on this listing | 3 filters |
| Seller | Amazon.com |
| Sits where | Pitcher or dispenser |
Why we recommend it
It suits people already on the Standard schedule who want a broader certified list with no other changes.
Skip it if you want lead reduced or longer time between changes; the Elite does both.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Longer certified list than the Standard
- Simple swap in the same pitcher
- Stated data sheet
Cons
- No lead on its list
- No independent review that we read
- Still six changes a year
4. Brita Stream Pitcher Filter, 3 Pack – Filters as You Pour
Stream is a different system: the water is filtered as you pour, so there is no wait for a reservoir to drip through. It only fits Stream pitchers and dispensers, and no other Brita filter fits those. The listing says it reduces chlorine taste and odor and Class VI particulates, with WQA certification to NSF/ANSI standards, and that it lasts 40 gallons or about two months. We could not read Brita’s data sheet for it, because the link gave us a getting-started guide, so these details come from the listing.
Consumer Reports’ face-off (updated 2023) covers the Stream Rapids pitcher, and it is frank. The pitcher won its top score for flow rate, filtering a quart in 1 minute 15 seconds, but “only the ZeroWater can filter out lead,” and it leaves about a quarter-cup of unfiltered water behind when it finishes. If you like cold water on demand at breakfast, Stream makes sense. If you want lead reduced, it is the wrong line.
Why we like it
- Top flow-rate score in Consumer Reports’ comparison
- No waiting for water to drip through
- Fits Stream pitchers and dispensers only, so no confusion
Key specifications
| Model | OB05 |
|---|---|
| Fits | Brita Stream pitchers and dispensers only |
| Filter life | 40 gallons, about 2 months |
| Certification | WQA to NSF/ANSI, per listing |
| Key substances named | Chlorine taste and odor, particulates |
| Pack on this listing | 3 filters |
| Seller | Amazon.com |
| Sits where | Stream pitcher |
Why we recommend it
It suits people who already own a Stream pitcher, or who hate waiting on a slow reservoir.
Skip it if lead is the concern: Consumer Reports found this pitcher cannot filter it out.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very fast, per Consumer Reports
- Same two-month schedule
- Listing-stated certification
Cons
- No lead reduction
- Leaves some unfiltered water, per Consumer Reports
- Only fits Stream
5. Brita Elite Faucet Filter, 2 Count – Filtered Water at the Tap
If you fill big pots for frijoles or tamale steamers, a pitcher soon feels small. This replacement filter is for the Brita Faucet Mount System, which you need already. The data sheet says the system was tested according to NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401, listing lead at 99.9 percent, asbestos at 99.9 percent, benzene at 99.8 percent and microplastics at 99.9 percent, with a filter rated for 100 gallons, or about four months according to the listing. The sheet does not name the certifying body for this model, so we do not name one.
GearLab’s July 2026 water filter roundup found Brita’s faucet filters reduced lead and PFAS strongly in its samples, while scoring poorly on fluoride and nitrates. It ranks other systems above them, and the leaders there are reverse osmosis units. Check your faucet before you buy: the Brita listing says this system fits standard faucets, not pull-out or spray styles. Our faucet water filter guide compares other makers.
Why we like it
- Strong figures on Brita’s data sheet
- No pitcher to refill
- Independent support for lead and PFAS results
- Status indicator for changes, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | FR-200 for FF-100 and SAFF-100 systems |
|---|---|
| Fits | Brita Faucet Mount System |
| Filter life | 100 gallons, about 4 months |
| Certification | Tested to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401; certifier not named on sheet |
| Key substances named | Lead, asbestos, benzene, microplastics |
| Pack on this listing | 2 filters |
| Seller | Amazon.com |
| Sits where | On a standard faucet |
Why we recommend it
It suits people who cook with a lot of filtered water and have a standard faucet with room below the spout.
Skip it if you have a pull-out or spray faucet, because the listing says it will not fit.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Filtered water on demand
- Long list of tested substances
- Colors available to match a faucet
Cons
- Needs the faucet system
- Does not fit pull-out faucets
- No fluoride or nitrate reduction, per GearLab
6. Brita Hub Filter, 1 Pack – For the Countertop Dispenser
The Hub is Brita’s plug-in countertop dispenser, and this filter only fits that machine. Its data sheet is strong: WQA certified it against NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401, and IAPMO against 53. The sheet lists lead at 99.8 percent, chlorine at 98.7 percent, chloramine at 96.7 percent, mercury at about 96.5 percent and microplastics at 99.9 percent. Replace it every 120 gallons, or about every six months for an average family.
Two things to weigh. GearLab’s roundup does not mention the Hub, and we read no independent test of it, so this pick rests on Brita’s own sheet. And this listing is sold by a third-party seller, Buy-Me-Now, rather than Amazon, so check the seller’s return terms and confirm the model number CT01 before you order. It is only worth considering if you already own the dispenser.
Why we like it
- Lead and chloramine on its certified list, per Brita
- Six-month life
- Certified by WQA and IAPMO, per Brita
Key specifications
| Model | CT01 |
|---|---|
| Fits | Brita Hub dispenser only |
| Filter life | 120 gallons, about 6 months |
| Certification | WQA to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401; IAPMO to 53 |
| Key substances named | Lead, chlorine, chloramine, mercury |
| Pack on this listing | 1 filter |
| Seller | Buy-Me-Now (third party) |
| Sits where | Hub dispenser |
Why we recommend it
It suits people who already own a Brita Hub and need the correct replacement.
Skip it if you do not own a Hub: it fits nothing else.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Broad data sheet
- Long life
- Chloramine is on its list
Cons
- Only fits the Hub
- Third-party seller on this listing
- No independent review that we read
7. Brita Water Bottle Filter, 3 Pack – Better Taste Away From Home
This small filter goes in a Brita filtering water bottle, not a pitcher. The listing says it removes Class VI particulates and chlorine taste and odor, lasts 40 gallons or about two months, and fits all Brita filtering bottles. That is a modest list, and the listing does not state a certification, so do not treat it as equal to the pitcher Elite. We also could not read a data sheet for it; the link gave us a user guide.
It is for one situation: you travel between taps, and the local water tastes of chlorine. It does not suit backcountry use, because this is not a treatment for untreated water. The listing says to rinse it for 15 seconds, insert it, and lock the lid and straw. Our filter water bottle guide covers the bottles themselves and other makers’ systems.
Why we like it
- Fits all Brita filtering bottles, per the listing
- Quick to swap
- Takes chlorine taste down, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | BB06 |
|---|---|
| Fits | Brita filtering water bottles |
| Filter life | 40 gallons, about 2 months |
| Certification | Not stated on this listing |
| Key substances named | Particulates, chlorine taste and odor |
| Pack on this listing | 3 filters |
| Seller | Amazon.com |
| Sits where | Inside the bottle |
Why we recommend it
It suits commuters and travelers who already have a Brita bottle and want chlorine taste out of tap water.
Skip it if you want anything beyond taste and particulates, because the listing claims no more than that.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Small and simple
- Three in a pack
- Same two-month schedule
Cons
- No stated certification on this listing
- Limited list
- Only for Brita bottles
Where Brita falls short, and who to look at instead
- Fluoride and nitrates. GearLab found the Elite removed none of either, and Reviewed reports that Brita itself says its filters do not remove fluoride to any significant degree. If that is your goal, look at reverse osmosis systems instead.
- PFAS certification. GearLab measured real PFAS reduction from the Elite, but says it is not certified for PFAS. Treat that as a test result, not a guarantee.
- Named rivals. GearLab’s 2026 roundup makes the PUR PLUS 11-Cup its top pitcher, and Reviewed points to the Pur Classic with Lead Reduction filter for lead. Consumer Reports found ZeroWater filters lead where the Stream does not, and Reviewed warns that removing nearly all minerals changes how water tastes.
- Older reports. Some of the independent reading here is from 2018 and 2023, and filters change. Where a review is old we say so.
How to choose a Brita filter
1. Start with what you own
Stream takes only Stream filters. The Hub takes only CT01. The faucet system and bottles have their own. The Standard, Plus and Elite all fit the regular pitchers and dispensers, which is where you have a real choice.
2. Read your water report before you pay for more
Your utility publishes a yearly water quality report. If it shows nothing worrying and you only dislike the chlorine taste, the Standard may be plenty. If you have older pipes and are worried about lead, consider having your water tested and choose the Elite or a faucet filter. For anything health-related, follow your utility or your doctor, not a shopping guide.
3. Count the changes
The Standard, Plus, Stream and bottle filters last about two months, the faucet filter about four, and the Elite and Hub about six. Heavy households will go through them faster, so rely on the gallons figure rather than the calendar.
4. Think about what you make
Filtered water helps most where water is a large part of the result: coffee, tea, agua fresca, ice and masa. If you often fill big pots, a faucet filter saves a lot of pitcher-filling.
5. Buy from the right seller
Six of these listings are sold by Amazon. The Hub filter here is not, so check who the seller is. Compatible filters from other makers appear beside Brita’s in search results. Those are not Brita filters and do not carry Brita’s certifications, so we left them out.
How we sorted these seven filters
We pulled the Brita listings from the Amazon API on November 3, 2026, kept those new and in plain stock, and chose one per filter type. Every certified figure comes from Brita’s own performance data pages, read directly, for the Elite, Standard, Plus, faucet and Hub filters. The Stream and bottle data links opened user guides, so those two rest on the listing. The NSF database we read lists certain Brita pitchers with the OB06 filter for lead reduction under NSF/ANSI 53, which agrees with Brita’s sheet. We also read GearLab, Reviewed and Consumer Reports. We did not test anything ourselves.
Brita filter questions, answered
What is the difference between the Brita Standard and Elite?
The Standard lasts about two months and its certified list covers chlorine, zinc, cadmium, copper and mercury. The Elite lasts about six months and its list adds lead, microplastics and many more substances. Reviewed’s tasters did prefer the Standard’s taste over the Elite’s earlier version.
Does a Brita filter remove lead?
The Elite, faucet and Hub filters list lead on their data sheets. The Standard, Plus and Stream do not.
Does Brita remove fluoride?
No. GearLab found no fluoride removal from the Elite, and Reviewed reports that Brita says its filters do not remove fluoride to any significant degree.
Do all Brita filters fit all pitchers?
No. Standard, Plus and Elite fit regular Brita pitchers and dispensers, but not Stream. Stream filters fit only Stream.
Have Brita products been recalled?
The CPSC database we searched on November 3, 2026 shows one Brita recall: a 2014 recall of children’s hard-sided water filter bottles for a laceration hazard. None of the filters here are on it. Search cpsc.gov for your own product.
Our final word on Brita filters
Start with the Elite unless you have a clear reason not to, and move to the Standard only if taste is your whole concern. Then keep to the schedule, since a tired filter does little. For a cold glass with your dinner and no cleaning up, call to order from Julia’s at (346) 546-8283, or read our water filter pitcher guide to compare other brands.