Quick Answer: The best water filter for chloramine in 2026 is the SpringWell CF1 whole-house system, which uses catalytic coconut-shell carbon — the medium purpose-built to break down chloramine, not just chlorine. For a single tap with no plumbing, the AquaTru Classic countertop reverse osmosis system removes chloramine along with lead, PFAS, and dissolved solids. The one rule that matters: chloramine requires catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis — an ordinary Brita-style carbon filter reduces it far more slowly and less completely than it does free chlorine, because chloramine is a much more stable molecule.
Chloramine is not the same problem as chlorine, and treating it like one is the most common filtering mistake. Utilities create chloramine by combining chlorine with ammonia because the bond is more stable and lasts longer in the distribution pipes — the very durability that makes it a better disinfectant is what makes it harder to remove at home. The EPA reports that more than one in five Americans is served by a water system using chloramine, and that share has grown as utilities switch over to meet disinfection-byproduct limits. Free chlorine will off-gas from an open jug overnight; chloramine will not. Below are the filters we’d actually buy to remove it in 2026, from whole-house catalytic-carbon tanks to countertop reverse osmosis.
Best water filters for chloramine at a glance
| Filter | Best for | Method | Chloramine removal | Install | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SpringWell CF1 | Best whole house | Catalytic coconut carbon | Whole-home reduction | Main line | ~$1,016 |
| Aquasana Rhino | Best value whole house | Catalytic carbon + KDF | Whole-home reduction | Main line | ~$1,000 |
| AquaTru Classic | Best countertop | Countertop RO | High (carbon + membrane) | None (plug-in) | ~$350 |
| APEC ROES-50 | Best under-sink | Under-sink RO | High (carbon + membrane) | Under-sink plumbing | ~$200 |
| Clearly Filtered Pitcher | Best pitcher | Catalytic / ion exchange | Lab-tested reduction | None | ~$90 |
| Waterdrop 10UA Under-Sink | Best simple tap filter | Carbon block | Moderate (slower) | Under-sink plumbing | ~$50 |
1. SpringWell CF1 — Best Whole House
SpringWell CF1 Whole House Filter
The SpringWell CF1 is the pick when you want chloramine reduced at every tap, shower, and appliance. It's a whole-house tank built on catalytic coconut-shell carbon — the reactivity-enhanced carbon designed to break down chloramine, which ordinary carbon struggles with. It handles high flow without a pressure drop, needs no electricity, and the media is rated for years of service before replacement, so running cost per gallon is very low. For chloramine specifically, whole-house catalytic carbon is the gold standard because it gives the water long contact time with the media.
Check price on Amazon →The trade-offs are upfront cost and main-line installation (a plumber or confident DIYer). If your goal is chloramine plus chlorine, taste, and sediment for the whole home, see our best whole house water filter and best whole house water filter for city water guides for more catalytic-carbon options.
2. Aquasana Rhino — Best Value Whole House
Aquasana Rhino EQ-1000
The Aquasana Rhino pairs catalytic activated carbon with KDF media, a combination that targets chloramine, chlorine, and heavy metals across the whole home. It's a long-running, well-supported system with a strong warranty and a large capacity rated in the hundreds of thousands of gallons, so per-gallon cost is minimal. Aquasana sells versions with an optional salt-free conditioner and post-filter, letting you build up to a full treatment train if you also have hard water.
Check price on Amazon →It installs on the main line like the SpringWell. If hard water is also on your list, compare it with our best whole house water filter and softener combo guide.
3. AquaTru Classic — Best Countertop
AquaTru Classic
If you only need chloramine gone at your drinking tap, the AquaTru Classic is the easiest route. It's a four-stage countertop reverse osmosis system that needs no plumbing — its carbon pre-filter reduces chloramine before the RO membrane strips remaining contaminants, so you get chloramine, lead, PFAS, arsenic, and dissolved solids removed in one pass. It carries deep NSF/ANSI certifications (53, 58, 401, P473) and simply plugs into a wall outlet.
Check price on Amazon →It’s ideal for renters and anyone who can’t plumb in a system. See our best countertop reverse osmosis system and best countertop water filter guides for more no-install picks.
4. APEC ROES-50 — Best Under-Sink
APEC ROES-50 Essence
For a permanent, out-of-sight chloramine solution at the kitchen sink, the APEC ROES-50 is the value benchmark. It's a five-stage reverse osmosis system with dual carbon pre-filters that reduce chloramine before the membrane, which then removes lead, arsenic, nitrate, and dissolved solids. APEC is a U.S. company with inexpensive replacement filters, keeping long-term running cost among the lowest of any RO system.
Check price on Amazon →The carbon pre-filters also protect the RO membrane from chloramine’s slow oxidizing effect. Compare it with tankless options in our best under sink water filter and best reverse osmosis system guides.
5. Clearly Filtered Pitcher — Best Pitcher
Clearly Filtered Pitcher
If you want chloramine reduction in a simple pour-through jug, the Clearly Filtered is the strongest pitcher pick. Its three-stage Affinity filter is independently lab-tested to reduce chloramine along with lead, PFAS, and dozens of other contaminants — well beyond what a standard Brita or Pur pitcher claims, because it uses a more reactive media and slower flow to get the contact time chloramine demands. There's no installation and no power; you just fill and pour.
Check price on Amazon →Flow is slower and filters cost more per gallon than a basic pitcher — that’s the price of stripping chloramine in a jug. Compare it with other pitchers in our best water filter pitcher guide.
6. Waterdrop 10UA Under-Sink — Best Simple Tap Filter
Waterdrop 10UA Under-Sink Filter
If you want a low-cost under-sink filter without a full RO system, the Waterdrop 10UA is a high-capacity carbon block that reduces chloramine, chlorine, and taste. It connects to your cold-water line and runs through your existing faucet, with a quick twist-off cartridge rated for around a year. It won't match RO or whole-house catalytic carbon on completeness, but for renters and budget setups it's a big step up from a basic pitcher and installs in minutes.
Check price on Amazon →Because it’s a single carbon block, give it credit for chloramine but verify the manufacturer’s specific chloramine claim and change the cartridge on schedule for consistent results.
How to remove chloramine from water
Chloramine behaves differently from chlorine, so the method matters more than the brand:
- Catalytic (activated) carbon: The purpose-built medium for chloramine. Regular carbon adsorbs; catalytic carbon is treated to chemically break the chloramine bond, releasing a trace of ammonia that’s then adsorbed. This is what whole-house chloramine systems use.
- Reverse osmosis: Removes chloramine at the carbon pre-filter and again at the membrane, so RO is one of the most complete point-of-use options. Keep the carbon pre-filter fresh — it protects the membrane. See our best reverse osmosis system guide.
- Contact time is everything: Chloramine needs longer contact with carbon than chlorine does. That’s why slow-flow pitchers and large whole-house tanks outperform fast in-line filters on chloramine specifically.
- What works poorly: Boiling and letting water sit out do not remove chloramine (unlike chlorine), and standard granular-carbon pitchers reduce it only slowly. If your utility uses chloramine, choose a filter that names chloramine — not just chlorine — in its claims.
If chlorine taste is your main complaint rather than chloramine, our best water filter for chlorine guide covers catalytic-carbon picks tuned for that. Chloramine filters also overlap with our best water filter for lead and best water filter for PFAS picks, since reverse osmosis handles all three.
How we picked
We prioritized the two technologies independently shown to remove chloramine — catalytic carbon and reverse osmosis — and weighed contact time, third-party NSF/ANSI certifications, real-world reduction data, filter life and running cost, and ease of installation. We flagged simple carbon filters as moderate rather than complete, because chloramine’s stability means an under-contact-time filter leaves more behind. Prices are approximate U.S. street prices as of 2026 and change often; always confirm current pricing and that the product specifically claims chloramine reduction before you buy.
Bottom line
For whole-home coverage, the SpringWell CF1 catalytic-carbon system is the best chloramine filter in 2026, with the Aquasana Rhino the value alternative. For a single tap with no plumbing, the AquaTru Classic countertop RO is the easiest complete solution, and the APEC ROES-50 is the best-value permanent under-sink install. Whatever you pick, make sure it uses catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis and names chloramine in its claims — because chloramine is the more stable molecule that ordinary carbon filters simply don’t strip as reliably as they do chlorine.