Comparisons
Quick answer
Each page here takes one decision people genuinely stall on and settles it on what the two options can be shown to do. There are 10 pages in this section.
MOOKA Air Purifier for Home Bedroom Large Room 2200 Ft2, HEPA Filter, Black
A machine with a published specification, which is what makes the arithmetic on these pages applicable to it rather than to a coverage claim with no rate behind it.
Prices and specifications change, so check the listing before buying.
Every page in this section
- One decision
Air purifier vs opening a window
Ventilation wins for carbon dioxide and off-gassed VOCs. Filtration wins on a wildfire smoke day. Both are correct answers to different problems in the same room.
- One decision
Carbon filter vs HEPA filter
A HEPA filter traps particles. A carbon filter adsorbs gas molecules. The carbon mass in the filter, not the word carbon on the box, decides whether the carbon stage does anything.
- One decision
Dehumidifier vs air purifier
A dehumidifier removes water vapor. An air purifier removes airborne particles. A musty basement needs the dehumidifier first, because moisture is the source of the smell.
- One decision
HEPA filtration vs ionizers
A HEPA filter physically traps particles. An ionizer charges them so they stick to surfaces, and some ionizing modes emit ozone. Here is how to tell which one is doing the work.
- One decision
Levoit Core 300 vs Core 400S
The Core 400S-P is documented at 1,733 square feet and 231 CFM CADR for $189.99. The Core 300 is the smaller model in the same lineup, priced mainly through its filter line.
- One decision
Levoit vs Winix vs Blueair
Levoit Core 400S, Winix 5510 and Blueair Blue 211i Max compared on unit price, filter price, filter life and total five year cost, not just coverage claims.
- One decision
MERV 13 furnace filter vs a portable air purifier
A MERV 13 furnace filter raises static pressure on your HVAC blower and only runs on its duty cycle. A portable purifier runs its own fan built for its own filter.
- One decision
True HEPA vs HEPA-type filters
True HEPA means tested to remove 99.97 percent of particles at 0.3 microns. HEPA-type and 99.9 percent language are marketing terms with no test requirement behind them.
- One decision
Whole-house filter vs a room air purifier
A ducted MERV 13 or whole-house filter only cleans air while the HVAC blower is running. A room air purifier runs on its own fan whenever it is switched on.
- One decision
Winix 5500-2 vs Coway AP-1512HH
The Coway AP-1512HH costs more upfront at $218.50 but its $23.99 filter on a 12 month claim beats the Winix 5510 by over $60 across five years of ownership.
Equipment that comes up most often here
- MOOKA
MOOKA H13 HEPA Air Purifier for Home Pet Large Room Up to 1300ft2, Black
- HEPA claimed
- carbon stage
- has a UV lamp
$46.98 Check pricePrices change often - MOOKA
MOOKA Air Purifiers for Home Room up to 1076ft2, True HEPA Filter, B-D02L
- HEPA claimed
- carbon stage
$49.99 Check pricePrices change often - MOOKA
MOOKA Air Purifiers for Home Room up to 1076ft2, True HEPA Filter, B-D02L
- HEPA claimed
- carbon stage
$49.99 Check pricePrices change often - Clorox
Clorox Small Room Air Purifiers for Bedroom Home, True HEPA Filter
- HEPA claimed
$59.95 Check pricePrices change often - Afloia
Afloia Air Purifier for Home Bedroom Large Room up to 1500 Sq Ft
- washable pre-filter
$59.97 Check pricePrices change often
Common questions
How is any of this researched?
From published test standards, published manufacturer specifications and owner reports, plus arithmetic that is printed on the page so you can check it. Nothing on this site was tested in a chamber by us, and no price, image or product identifier here was invented or estimated.
Do these pages recommend ionizers or ozone devices?
No. Ozone generators are harmful in occupied rooms and are never recommended here at any price, which is why California CARB regulates ozone emissions from indoor air cleaning devices. Where an ordinary machine has an ionizing or plasma mode, these pages say it can be switched off and that the filtration is doing the work.
Where should I start if I am new to this?
With the sizing calculator, because the airflow a room needs narrows the field faster than any list of machines. Once you know the number, most of the marketing on a box stops mattering, and the remaining decision is usually about noise and what the filters cost each year.
Are the prices current?
They are rebuilt from live product listings each time the site is published, so they match what things cost when these pages were last built. Prices move often, so check the listing before buying and treat every total here as a budget rather than a quote.