Top 5 Air Purifiers in 2023
If you want to ensure that you’re breathing in healthy and quality air everyday, you’ll need a good air purifier.
Air purifiers remove any bacteria, allergens, dust, or even unpleasant odors from the air around you.
However, all air purifiers aren’t made the same.
We’ve researched over 23 different air purifiers and looked for something with innovative technology, 360° air circulation, multiple speed levels, noise reduction, and many other important factors.
Here are this year’s top 5 picks:
Penny M - Research Specialist
With over 15 years of experience researching and inspecting tech gadget and tools, Penny dived deep into world of technology and gained admirable knowledge. Check out her world-class knowledge in our Top 5 series.
Overall Grade
A+
Rating
9.8/10
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Osmo AirFresh is by far our favorite choice on the market.
The first thing that makes it outstanding is its innovative technology which features a 2-stage purification system to quickly and efficiently remove any harmful bacteria from the air.
Unlike other air purifiers that use cheaply made filters, AirFresh uses real HEPA filters to achieve high efficiency.
Another very impressive feature is 360° air circulation that clears the air evenly in each corner of the room, so it ensures that air is completely bacteria-free and allergens-free.
You’ll be surprised how quiet it is.
On highest speed settings, it has around 30dB which equals library-type noise – you can safely carry it in the office or any other place without disturbing anyone.
Although AirFresh is a bit smaller in design (made to be portable), it’s still very powerful and it’s more efficient than many other “larger” units.
It has superior battery life.
You can carry it practically anywhere and it has a USB-C port, so it can be charged while running as well.
Without any doubt, AirFresh deserves #1 place considering all the factors.
They even offer a 14-day money back guarantee, so you can try it out for two weeks and receive a full refund if you’re not thrilled with the results.
Pros
Innovative technology
360° air circulation
2-stage purification system
Multiple wind speed settings
Superior battery life
Library-type noise (<30db)
Lightweight and portable
USB-C charging
Efficient and fast
Self-cleaning system
Insured shipping in US
14-day money back guarantee
Cons
Often runs out of stock due to high demand
Often runs out of stock due to high demand
WRAP-UP
Osmo AirFresh is fairly priced for a market-leading air purifiers with innovative technology and adjustable speed settings. Take advantage of this limited-time discount while supplies last.
Osmo offers a 14-day money-back guarantee and free shipping. Osmo AirFresh was unanimously voted the best air purifier of 2023.
Overall Grade
B+
Rating
8.8/10
OVERALL ANALYSIS
As we mentioned, this formidable model tops our list as the best overall air purifier. Honeywell’s workhorse air purifier has the largest number of favorable reviews at the lowest price — nearly 30,000 positive ratings on Amazon — for the amount of space it covers. An easy reference guide makes it simple to put to work right out of the box, and the model includes regressed handles for easy placement around the house, which is extremely useful if you’re frequently moving your air purifier into whatever room you’re in.
In our testing, we also found it to be the quietest air purifier of the bunch. Even at its top setting of Turbo mode, it was quieter than your average fan and noticeably quieter than the rest of the air purifier field. The simple user interface also offers timed settings, with auto-off after two, four or eight hours.
Pros
Solid purifying
Multiple different options
Small-size design
Made from quality material
Nice design
Free shipping
Quiet
Cons
Too expensive
Outdated technology
Overall Grade
B
Rating
8.3/10
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Blueair’s line of Blue Pure air purifiers are small, sleek, powerful, and easy to use — essentially a “plug and play” operation for those who want to get set up without diving into the instruction manual. We found this to be the most user-friendly of the models we tested. The Blueair Blue Pure 211 Plus Auto is an updated version from the already popular 211 Plus model, with the addition of auto mode, which uses an integrated particle sensor to adjust the speed based on actual air quality, and offers an LED air quality indicator.
Otherwise, the extremely simple interface has settings for low, medium and high, and that’s it. It’s one of the smallest models available for large room air purification, with a cylindrical design that allows for 360-degree air collection; a low bells-and-whistles option with high efficiency, low-to-moderate noise, and a customizable prefilter sleeve that’s available in five different colors to match your vibe. A dual-part HEPA and activated carbon filter can also help with odors from pets, cooking and smoking.
Pros
Very efficient
Nice design
Great battery life
5 adjustable speed settings
Free shipping
Indoor & outdoor
Durable
Cons
A bit expensive
Noisy
A lot of upsells
Overall Grade
B
Ratings
7.8/10
OVERALL ANALYSIS
Coway’s AP-1512HH is among the only air purifiers on the market that utilize both a HEPA filter and ionic technology to remove different kinds of particles in different ways. (See below under Buying advice for the details behind the different kinds of functionality.)
When testing the Coway Airmega, our favorite feature of the compact model is its energy-efficient eco mode. When the air quality in the room remains purified for more than 30 minutes in eco mode, the fan turns off to conserve energy, turning back on when particles are again detected. (The auto mode of most other models adjusts the fan setting according to actual air quality, but never off.)
Coway’s Airmega AP1512HH model is one of the most striking designs available in air purification, with a retro, almost chrome look, available in both black and white models. Depending on your aesthetic, you could potentially disguise this as a speaker in your home entertainment setup. The newer AP-1512HHS model only comes in one color and loses the ionizer function, but for $70 more you can also get a wi-fi-enabled model with voice control.
Pros
Decent airflow
Easy to use
Affordable
Free shipping in the US
Positive reviews
30-day money back guarantee
Cons
Poor battery life
Noisy
Not using HEPA filter
Overall Grade
c+
Rating
7.5/10
OVERALL ANALYSIS
If you’re committed to whole-home air purification, the Coway Airmega 400S is the device for the job. Capable of managing a space of up to 1560 square feet, this model can take on a small home unto itself or a full apartment or a single floor of a larger home. It’s not cheap compared to other home air purifier models, but if you’re seriously managing allergies, wildfires, or aggressively smoking neighbors in your living situation, it should earn its keep.
While it is a large and boxy device that you’ll have to make space for, its power capability seems worth it, plus even as a large and sturdy device it manages to look almost mid-century in design. For your money you’re also getting all the bells and whistles: Wi-Fi capability allowing for voice or app control; smart, sleep, and eco settings; plus real-time air quality monitoring.
Pros
Smart features
Great technology
Visual effects
Solid design
Free shipping
Cons
Too expensive
Not durable
Touchscreen could be better
Mixed reviews
WHAT IS AIR PURIFIER?
An air purifier or air cleaner is a device which removes contaminants from the air in a room to improve indoor air quality. These devices are commonly marketed as being beneficial to allergy sufferers and asthmatics, and at reducing or eliminating second-hand tobacco smoke.
Benefits of Air Purifier
- Removes bacteria and allergens
- Great for people with astma
- You can carry them everywhere
- Easy to use
- Energy-efficient
- Cool and modern design
- Can be used throughout the year
- Affordable
Things To Consider WHEN CHOOSING THE BEST Air Purifier
Innovative technology
This is what separates great air purifiers from average ones, as most average purifiers have outdated technology which isn’t so useful anymore. Always go with more modern options.
360° air circulation
If you want to ensure all corners of the room are covered and that all bacteria will be removed, you need to consider 360° air circulation. This is a must have in my opinion.
HEPA filters
HEPA filters are far more efficient than other filters and it's a shame that a lot of brands are using cheaply made filters to lower their expenses and still sell their units for higher pricing.
Great battery
A good air purifier should be portable and you should be able to carry it anywhere, so superior battery life is very important as you don’t want to have it plugged in all the time.
Warranty
If the brand doesn't offer a money-back guarantee or warranty on their purifier, you should stay away from it. Always look for something you can try out and receive a full refund if you don't find it useful.
What To Avoid When Choosing Air Purifier
Noisy operation
If you were about to carry a noisy purifier to your office, it would probably disturb you and your coworkers. Always go with quiet operation as you’ll barely hear it running and you can use it at night in your bedroom.
Large units
The issue with large units is that they have fixed location and they are usually a lot noisier while still not being a lot more efficient. Don’t let the size fool you as it has nothing to do with power or efficiency.
Cheap knockoffs
There are a ton of cheap products (even on Amazon) that are just pure garbage. They aren’t even tested and they’ll just waste your time and money. In my opinion, anything below $70 can’t be functional.
Penny M - Research Specialist
With over 15 years of researching and inspecting helpful gadgets and tech devices, Penny gained an admirable knowledge. Check out her world-class knowledge and expertise in our Top 5 Reviews series.