Best Air Purifier for Allergies in 2023 (Buying Guide)
If you’ve got allergies, you probably suffer from a range of symptoms such as itchy, red and watery eyes to an itchy nose and more. While taking allergy medication can help in alleviating those symptoms, you should also consider investing in an air purifier.
These nifty appliances help in filtering bacteria, pollen, dust, pet dander and more. What you’ll get is filtered air that’s both clean and fresh.
It’s not only better for your home, you’ll also be better able to manage your allergies, and greatly ease your symptoms
To help you in the process of finding a fantastic air purifier for those allergies, we’ve put together a guide with some of the best ones. This guide will not only show you the pros and cons of each air purifier, you’ll also get the answers to some frequently answered questions, along with insight into the differences between an air purifier and a humidifier.
Why Use an Air Purifier?
While most individuals that purchase an air purifier usually have some sort of allergy, air purifiers are great for all individuals and families. They help in purifying the air by filtering out pet dander, dust, smoke, pollen, odours and more.
According to the EPA, indoor air is known to be filthier than outdoor air. Hence, having an air purifier at home means that you’ll be breathing in air that’s both clean and fresh. By investing in an air purifier, you’ll be reaping some pretty incredible effects!
What’s the Best Air Purifier for Allergies?
There’s an overwhelming selection of air purifiers on the market, and if you need allergy relief fast, you probably won’t want to spend weeks comparison shopping.
But fear not–we’ve compiled this list of the very best air purifiers, each selected for their ability to help you lead a life free from allergies.
1. Bionaire Tower Air Purifier with Permanent HEPA-Type Filter
We rate the Bionaire Tower Air Purifier with Permanent HEPA-Type Filter as the best overall since it comes with a range of features at a relatively affordable price. This air purifier both filters and reconditions the air in your home for maximum comfort and freshness. It removes up to 99% of airborne pollutants as small as 2 microns from smoke to pet dander, pollen, dust and more.
There’s even a particle sensor on the air purifier that automatically helps to optimize filtration in accordance with the air quality. The air purifier also comes with an optional ionizer function for further particular filtration along with three speed settings.
Who Should Buy This?
This air purifier is great for all users and comes with a plethora of great features. It also has two permanent HEPA-type filters that never need to be replaced. There’s also a washable pre-filter, eight-hour time, quiet operation setting, four speed settings, LED filter indicator and more.
Pros:
- Has a range of useful and powerful features
- HEPA-type filter never needs to be replaced
- Particle sensor to optimise filtration
- Relatively affordable
Cons:
- Some users report that it’s a tad noisier than other air purifiers
2. De’Longhi Air Purifier
The De’Longhi Air Purifier is a bargain that won’t compromise on solving your indoor allergies. It’s got all the trappings of a first-rate filter, including a three-step filtration system that traps pet dander, pollen, dust, and other VOCs. Also featured is an inbuilt ionizer, which not only neutralizes microbes and other harmful particulates, but offers a range of health benefits.
You can set the fan to 3 different levels for optimal circulation and cleansing, and it’s also easy to set a 1-3 hour timer for more efficient usage with its convenient soft-touch panel. If that weren’t enough, the De’Longhi is famed for its solid air purification which comes on just seconds after turning on the device.
Who Should Buy This?
Anyone who doesn’t want to spend an excessive amount of money on an air purifier that just works. It doesn’t come with any fancy features, but it will alleviate your allergies without breaking the bank at purchase or on your monthly power bill.
Pros:
- Affordable pricing
- Easy to use
- Energy-efficient with all of the basic features required
Cons:
- It can be a bit loud at night
3. Winix Tower Q Air Purifier with Wi-Fi Enabled App
The Winix Tower Q Air Purifier with Wi-Fi Enabled App comes with a plethora of great features designed with your convenience in mind. It all starts with the Smart Application, which makes it possible to easily control the air purifier from any remote, Internet-connected location, and which offers a wide range of programming possibilities for more efficient usage. If that weren’t enough, you can monitor the air quality of your room through the app at a glance.
But this is a review for a purifier, not an app! On its own merits, you’ll find the Winix Tower Q comes fully equipped with a true HEPA filter to capture 99.97% of particles, including the vast majority of common allergens. Also inside is the carbon filter, which neutralizes odours, and PlasmaWave–technology designed to destroy viruses and render gases inert without dumping ozone byproduct into the air.
Who Should Buy This?
Those looking for a powerful air purifier that also has an app feature for ultimate convenience. Besides that, Winix is also a great brand that comes with a variety of other features from sleep mode to auto mode and a powerful fan to clean bigger rooms.
Pros:
- Has a smart app
- Uses PlasmaWave technology so harmful ozone isn’t released
- Has a sleep mode that’s great for allowing individuals to have restful sleep
Cons:
- You can’t use it with other technological devices such as Alexa
4. Honeywell Premium Air Purifier
Honeywell is a reputable brand, and you can’t go wrong with purchasing their Premium Air Purifier. It captures 99.97% of microscopic particles and allergens, and also helps in reducing unpleasant household odours. The air purifier has a smart LED air quality sensor with three colours to easily showcase the air quality in the room.
The air purifier also comes with a true HEPA filter along with five different air cleaning levels from turbo to allergens, general and more. Having a true HEPA filter is the gold standard for air purification systems, and you can’t go wrong with Honeywell’s four-stage filtration.
Who Should Buy This?
Those who want to purchase an air purifier from a reputable brand that has proven results. The Honeywell air purifier not only has a true HEPA filter, it also has a granular carbon filter, pre-filter and an ionizer. There’s even an air quality indicator that will indicate the air quality based on the room’s air condition.
Pros:
- Reputable brand
- LED air quality sensor
- True HEPA filter
- Has a quiet setting
Cons:
- Some users have issues with the glowing bright light that can’t be switched off at night
5. Winix Air Purifier Zero Pro – 5 Stage Air Purifier
The Winix Zero Pro is a great choice for folks looking for a few more technological features in their air purifier. While it isn’t the cheapest option on our list, it does feature a True HEPA filter to capture and neutralize up to 99.97% of airborne allergens (including dust mites, pollen, pet dander, dust) and other, more harmful VOCs as small as 0.3 microns. What’s more, Winix’s own PlasmaWave technology effectively kills viruses and stops harmful gases before they can hurt you or your family thanks to the production of Hydroxyls.
Even if you’ve got large rooms in your home or office, the Zero Pro is equal to the task (up to 120 square metres) with its powerful 5-stage filtration system. Should you place it in your bedroom, you can enjoy fresh, clean air without having to deal with obnoxious noises or lights thanks to its ultra silent mode.
Who Should Buy This?
Anyone looking for a purifier for larger spaces, complemented by advanced filtration features.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Utilises PlasmaWave technology
- Has both an auto mode and sleep mode function
Cons:
- Some users demand more VOC neutralization than advertised
6. Alen BreathSmart P1000 Air Purifier for Home Large Room
We must be honest, the Alen BreathSmart P1000 costs rather dearly. However, you get some of the fastest, most powerful filtration on the market for your money. It boasts the ability to scrub 102 square meters of air in just 30 minutes–no mean feat for a consumer-grade purifier in a room of that size. What’s more, it does so while barely making a peep, so you can rest and sleep easier without allergens, light or noise to keep you up.
Advanced features include a laser sensor to detect air quality and adjust performance accordingly, plus 5-stage filtration including a pre-filter, nano-silver to slay bacteria, active carbon for odours, a platinum catalyst to eliminate VOCs, and a HEPA Pure filter for dust, pollen, dander, and more. Alen is a reputable American company that’s been in the game for 16 years, and the BreathSmart P1000’s price point doesn’t seem to be a hindrance to its success.
Who Should Buy This?
Those looking for an air purifier that can tackle larger rooms. It also has raving reviews, and a range of features from sleep mode to four speed options and more.
Pros:
- Can tackle larger rooms
- Has a smart air quality sensor
- Five-star cleaning filtration
- Has WhisperMax technology for deep sleep
Cons:
- You’ll have to pay a higher price for this air purifier
7. Levoit Air Purifier for Home (Large Room)
There are a couple of great features that come with Levoit’s Air Purifier. First, it’s 100% ozone free so you won’t have to worry about producing harmful chemicals with your air purifier. It also has a 360-degree filter design and cyclone technology which means that it purifies air faster than other air purifiers.
The air purifier itself has a timer function along with three speed settings. There are also three-stage powerful filters from a preliminary filter to a true HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter. Finally, there’s a sleep mode function, auto mode, air quality indicator, and even a change filter indicator.
Who Should Buy This?
This air purifier has everything you need. It’s not only designed for a larger room, it’s also incredibly efficient in purifying the air. The change filter indicator means you won’t have to worry about figuring out when to change the filter.
Pros:
- Purifiers air faster than other air purifiers
- Suited for large rooms
- 100% ozone-free
- Aircraft engine-inspired design
Cons:
- Individuals have mentioned that it’s on the heavier side and isn’t as portable
Allergies: Humidifier vs Air Purifier
There can be confusion between a humidifier and an air purifier because it seems like they both help with similar issues. There are, however, quite a few differences between the two, and knowing these differences can help you better decide what you actually need to purchase.
When to use an air purifier
Air purifiers are mainly used for issues that are associated with allergies, asthma and any other respiratory problems. Air purifiers help to cleanse the air within the room or house, and help to filtrate out any dust, pollen, pet dander in the air. The result is clean and fresh air that helps in alleviating any symptoms that individuals with the issues above may have.
Filters
Air purifiers help to filter the air, and hence there are plenty of different types of filters on the market. It’s best to purchase an air purifier that utilizes mechanical filtration. This means that the air purifier will usually physically trap the pollutants that pass through them.
The main filter is an important component of an air purifier and a HEPA filter is usually what you should be looking for. While you do need to replace HEPA filters regularly, they help to trap 99.97% of particles. You do want to be careful with purchasing air purifiers with HEPA filters as some of them falsely advertise them. You should opt for a reputable brand that uses either HEPA or true HEPA filters.
Other filters include electrostatic filters but there isn’t really a filter replacement and only about 30% of airborne particles are eliminated. Ozone filters help to eliminate heavy odors, mold and more but they’re also extremely dangerous and generally unsafe for residential use. Another popular filter is ionizers as they clump airborne particles into larger particles and is a great complement to HEPA filtration. Ionizers can be effective without HEPA filtration though, so it’s important that they work in tandem.
When to use a humidifier
The main function of a humidifier is to help in adding moisture back into the air within your home. How a humidifier works, is that it pumps water vapor into the room. To keep the humidifier running, you usually add water to a reservoir which will then convert this into a fine mist that is released into the air.
Most individuals that use humidifiers do so because they need moisture to be added back into the air as the air within the room or the house is exceptionally dry. Humidifiers also help in relieving dry skin, sinus issues, throat irritation, nose bleeds and more.
RELATED READING: Best Dehumidifiers on the Market for Your Home
Should you be investing in an air purifier or a humidifier?
Now that you’ve got a better idea of what an air purifier and a humidifier does, which one would suit your needs better? Generally speaking, an air purifier is best for individuals that suffer from any type of condition such as asthma or allergies that stems from polluted air. It’s also good for individuals that want to reduce the amount of pet dander or allergens present in the air. These air purifiers also help in reducing dust, along with household odors, smoke, mold and more.
On the other hand, a humidifier would work best for individuals that live in a climate that’s dry and arid. It’s great in increasing moisture levels within the air so it’s also the perfect addition to your home if you have sinus issues, nosebleeds, or if you have a tendency to be aggravated by dry air.
Is an air purifier or a humidifier better for allergies?
If you have allergies, definitely opt for an air purifier. Air purifiers help to remove particles associated with allergies such as dust, pollen, pet dander and more. Removal of these particles help in ensuring they don’t end up in your lungs, eyes and throat. A humidifier doesn’t help in removing any of these particles in the air, they only help in adding moisture back into the air.
FAQ: Best air purifiers for allergies
What does an air purifier do for allergies?
An air purifier helps bring allergy relief, as the filters within an air purifier helps to filter out these pollutants. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air and you’d want to look for an air purifier with a HEPA filter as it can efficiently trap harmful particles from dust mites to pollen and more.
Can an air purifier help with cat allergies?
Yes, it can. Air purifiers capture allergens in the air and thus can help with cat allergies. The air is clean with a special filtration system that can usually trap 97-99% of allergens. One of those allergens is pet hair along with pet dander, that can greatly help with cat allergies.
Do air purifiers work for pet allergies?
Yes, air purifiers work great for pet allergies as it helps in removing tiny particles and provides relief for both allergy and asthma triggers. It also helps in getting rid of any pet odors, a win-win situation.
Conclusion
After taking a look at the above, we hope you enjoyed the article and were able to get a better idea of what air purifiers are, the pros and cons of some of the air purifiers, and the differences between an air purifier and a humidifier.
Having the right air purifier can significantly help with allergies, but there are also plenty of other benefits of investing in an air purifier.
We hope that this article has narrowed down some choices of air purifiers for you, and that you’ll be able to find a product that works best for you. Whether you’re looking to invest in a premium air purifier or something inexpensive, there’s sure to be something that suits your needs.