PUR Plus vs Culligan FM-25 Faucet Filter

Faucet filters look interchangeable, but the difference between the PUR Plus and Culligan FM-25 hides in the certification fine print — and it's the single most useful thing to understand before buying. Many faucet filters carry only NSF/ANSI 42, which certifies that the filter improves taste and odor; it says nothing about lead, pesticides, or pharmaceuticals. The PUR Plus goes much further: it's certified by both NSF and WQA to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, and 401 — and that 401 standard is the rare one, covering "emerging contaminants" like trace pharmaceuticals, herbicides, BPA, and DEET. All told, it's certified to reduce more than 70 contaminants including lead, mercury, chlorine, and microplastics — more than any other faucet filter we've seen — using a Mineral Core cartridge that also improves taste, with a roughly 100-gallon (3-month) life. The Culligan FM-25 is the value answer. It's the budget-friendly pick that nails the essentials — independent testers rate it best-in-class specifically for lead reduction — for noticeably less money. Both click onto a standard faucet tool-free in about five minutes (neither fits pull-out or sprayer faucets), and both filter cold water only. Here's how to choose.