The air that we breathe has a significant impact on our health, but air quality has taken a plunge over the last few decades.
Polluted air is responsible for 3.8 million deaths annually. It has become a global problem, so how do we protect our families?
Best Budget Air Purifier
- Germ Guardian AC4100 Air Purifier
- Germ Guardian AC4900CA Air Purifier
- Levoit LV-H126 Air Purifier
- Levoit Vital 100 Air Purifier
- Holmes Desktop Budget Air Purifier
Air purifiers offer a solution if you can afford it. I was shocked at how expensive the best air purifiers have become, but there are some budget-friendly options available that are just as effective.
I researched the models below to help you decide on the best budget air purifier for you and your loved ones.
The 5 Top Models
1. Germ Guardian AC4100
True HEPA air filters at this kind of price point is something I didn’t expect to find, but here it is.
The pre-filter traps larger particles, which works well with dogs that shed a lot of hair. The carbon filter neutralizes the less pleasant doggy smells, too. The desktop model is small enough to be placed right beside your pooch if needed.
The true HEPA filter catches particles 0.3 microns in size. The UV light inside zaps anything that does make it through. So, you’re probably wondering, “What’s the catch?”
The catch is that this is a desktop air purifier, so you will need at least two filters to cover larger areas.
The other issue is with the noise—it isn’t distracting, but it is louder than expensive models.
The AC 4100 is an excellent option for your desk or bedside table, though. The features are limited, but you expect that for the package.
Overall, the AC4100 is the best cheap air purifier for rounded protection.
Pros
- Air purifier catches 99.7% of particles
- Great price
- Suitable for your office desk
- Three filters
- Filters last six months
- Tech support in the United States
- One-year limited warranty
Cons
- Smaller coverage area
- Air blows toward the left
- Noisy
2. Germ Guardian AC4900CA
The AC4900CA will turn a few heads. It looks good, and it has useful features, but these benefits also mean that these air purifiers sell out quickly.
Looks aren’t everything, though. How does it handle its purpose?
The first thing that strikes me about this model is that it’s lightweight, which makes it an economical buy. You can move it from room to room as necessary, and if you’re on a lower budget, portability is a fantastic money saver.
Performance-wise, the model is similar to the previous one, but you can think of the AC4900CA as the AC4100’s bigger brother.
You get the same pre-filter, carbon filter, and HEPA filter, but this model also uses UV rays to zap any bugs that make it through.
The model is also slightly quieter than the desktop version. On the lowest setting, it sounds like white noise. The sound will only be problematic for those who are extremely sensitive.
Pros
- Air purifier catches 99.7% of airborne particles
- Excellent price for an air purifier
- Three filters
- Filters last six months
- Covers up to 130 square feet
- Three-year limited warranty
Cons
- Sounds like white noise at night
3. Levoit LV-H126
The Levoit LV-H126 gets my vote as the quietest model on the list.
It’s a desktop option that should work with any office décor. I like that it looks like a speaker and has a retro vibe.
Some of us are a little forgetful, and Levoit has catered for us by adding a simple dial. You won’t find this feature on many models. You adjust the dial to reflect the month—January is “1,” February is “2,” and so on.
Find this wheel to check when last you changed your filters.
If you have asthma attacks, it’s also worth looking at this model—it doesn’t ionize the air. The jury is out on whether ionizing helps or hinders asthma, though. In one review study (2), researchers concluded that negative ions could benefit the respiratory tract—some anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise.
I’m not taking sides–you decide.
As only 0.1% of particles make it through, Levoit felt it was unnecessary to include a UV lamp.
Pros
- Air purifier catches 99.9% of particles
- Filters last six months
- Compact
- No lights make it ideal for the bedside
- Good coverage
Cons
- Pricier than our other choices
4. Levoit Vital 100
What I like about this air purifier is that it cleans 500 square feet in half an hour (using only minimum energy).
At a running cost of about $2 a month, it is my best air purifier choice in terms of power. The replacement filters are reasonably priced and easy to find, but it is also the smartest model we have found.
It has a built-in sensor to detect air quality. If the air quality is poor, the Levoit Vital will scrub the air again.
Another useful quality is that you can dull the LED lights for night-time use.
At a lower fan speed, it is also the best cheap air purifier for a child’s nursery. It filters out 99.9% of particles sized 0.3 microns and above, providing your little one with plenty of clean air.
The purifier also has a smart sensor to tell you when to change the filter.
In this price range, you don’t find much choice, but the Levoit Vital has some bonus features that most others don’t, so it is ideal for gadget freaks.
It’s not the best cheap air purifier in terms of initial outlay. You can find cheaper air purifiers.
The ongoing costs make it worth spending the extra money.
Pros
- Air purifier catches 99.9% of particles
- Complete filtration system
- Pre-filter, carbon, and HEPA filter
- Filters last six months
- Streamlined design
- Monitors air quality
- Powerful
Cons
- Pricier than our other choices
- A little loud at maximum
5. Holmes Desktop Budget
Holmes is a model that most of us can afford, and It’s the best cheap air purifier for allergens. The fine filter will trap particles 2 microns or larger—pollen and pet dander are history.
If you have allergies, put one in every room in the house—at this price, you can afford it.
I like that there are only two filters to change (I can barely remember to change one).
I can’t stand the smell of smoke, and the Holmes filter removes stubborn odors, like cigarette smoke.
Finally, unlike most manufacturers, Holmes opted for a horizontal design, which makes it easy for you to pop the purifier on a shelf.
It’s best in a small room, where the effect will be felt. The limited range of this model is the tradeoff for savings in the price.
Like me, Holmes prefers to let you decide about ionizers yourself. In this case, the ionizer is an optional extra.
Pros
- Good for allergies
- Fan speed is adjustable
- Pre-filter and primary filter
- Filters last six months
- Small and easy to use
- Affordable
Cons
- Loud
- Small coverage area
Here at Dehumidifier Critic, we have expertly-reviewed the following air purifiers to create our 2021 buyers guides.
Coway Airmega 200M, Coway Airmega 400, Coway Airmega 150, Coway Airmega, Coway AP-1512HH, Honeywell HEPA InSight HPA5300B, Honeywell Bluetooth Smart Air Purifier, Honeywell PowerPlus, Honeywell, Honeywell HPA100, Honeywell premium, Blueair Pure 411 Auto, Blueair Classic, Airpura. HEPA filters Blueair, TaoTronics TT-AP005, Blueair 411, Blueair Blue Pure 211+, Blueair Classic 280i, Blue Pure 411, 480i IQAir, IQAir Medical-Grade, Dyson Pure Humidify + Cool, Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Cryptomic, Wynd Halo & Max Bundle, Wynd Plus, Dyson Pure, Molekule, Mokulele, Levoit Core 300, Levoit LV-H132, Levoit H13 True HEPA Air Purifier, Levoit LV-H126, Levoit, Bissell, Levoit Vital 100, LEVOIT, LEVOIT H13, Alen BreatheSmart for HEPA filter, Alen BreatheSmart 45i, Bi-Polar Alen BreatheSmart FIT50, HealthProtect™, GermShield™, AirSoap, Winix, Oransi, PhoneSoap, AM90, Medify, Hathaspace True, AeraMax, TaoTronics HEPA, H13 True HEPA Filter, Partu BS-03, Winix 5500-2, Ikea Fornuftig, KOIOS, Pure Enrichment PureZone 3-In-1, Jinpus, Partu BS-03, Therapure TPP440, Envion by Boneco, TREDY TD-1500, PECO, Winix 5300-2, QuietPure, AHPCO, UV-C, Winix 5500-2, Airpura G600, AllerAir AirMedic Pro 5 Vocarb, Amaircare 3000 VOC, Philips AC3256/30, Winix, Proscenic A8, iAdaptAir, Whirlpool Whispure True, Toshiba, Toshiba Smart Wi-Fi air Purifier, GermGuardian AC4100, GermGuardian - GG1100B (HEPA Filter, Noise Level, Pure Cool Link TP02, Greenote Air Purifier, AHPCO, GermGuardian AC4825.
The above air purifier models were expertly reviewed for DehumidifierCritic.com.
Our resident HVAC engineer Oliver Periman has spent hundreds of hours looking at the air purifier or air cleaner models worldwide. From needing to improve indoor air quality for people with allergy or asthmatics. To helping filter second-hand tobacco smoke using an air handler unit and Pressure swing adsorbers air purifier. We have determined what models are of benefit for Dust, pollen, dander, mold spores, dust mite feces, allergens, allergies, particles, volatile organic compounds and even sick building syndrome.
We hope our expert air purifier content is helpful for you.
Different Types
Most air purifiers use a pre-filter, a High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) filter, and an activated carbon filter. Quality purifiers contain at least two of the three filters.
What is a Pre-Filter?
It catches larger particles, like dog hair, and prevent bigger particles of dirt and debris from hitting your HEPA filter. These screens are often washable.
What’s a HEPA filter?
A High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter is capable of catching particles up to 0.3 microns in size. It must catch 99.7% of particles of this size.
Anything that stops short of this can’t legally be called a HEPA filter.
Do HEPA filters stop everything? No, gas molecules will get through. What else will get through HEPA filters? See for yourself in this video.
What’s an Activated Carbon Filter?
An activated carbon filter uses absorption to catch much smaller particles, but its main function is to remove the many volatile organic compounds that pollute the air through the pre-filter. It is typically not as effective as a HEPA version for air purification.
Do they really work?
I always wondered how effective home purifiers were, and it never made sense that something that small was able to do as much as it claimed. Not all machines are created equal, though.
There are a few factors that influence how effective the purifier is, including filters, contaminants, and noise.
Filters
The secret here is the quality of the filters. Without high-quality filters, the best home air purifiers are useless.
When choosing your product, check the filters first. The best air purifier should have a pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter. The order of the final two doesn’t matter much.
It’s worth noting that even the best filter clogs over time. You should budget to replace your air filters every six months. Depending on the number of particles in your area, you might be able to stretch it to eight months, but you will need to check the purity regularly—a clogged filter makes the air purifier inefficient.
Settled Dust and Particles
A HEPA filter doesn’t mean the end of dusting, though. An air purifier draws in air, so if any dust settles on surfaces around the home or office, you’ll have to clean it.
The filtration system will pull in any particles floating in the air, so you will need to keep your machine unobstructed for the best results.
Make sure that your air purifier is in a place where the air circulates naturally.
Noise
Another quality indicator of an air purifier is how noisy the motor is in general. The best air purifiers use sound-dampening technology, but you won’t find this in cheaper models.
The more square feet your air purifier covers, the noisier you’ll find it. If it bothers you, it’s better to purchase a more expensive model.
What’s the point of having the best air purifier if you don’t use it?
Don’t Expect Miracles
When I first got my air purifier, I sat back and waited. I wanted that fresh, clean mountain air smell. Don’t make the same mistake as I did–that’s not how these purifiers work.
The air will seem fresher, and the air purifier removes most smells, but it can’t add the thousands of ambient scents that you might find in other locations, like sprawling alpine vistas.
Are they really worth it?
I believe that the answer is yes. You also get what you pay for, though. You can’t expect a $50 machine to operate at the same level as a $300 masterpiece, for example.
The models that I have reviewed below are all reasonably priced in the lower range. I stuck with reputable brands, as these companies pare down the features to reduce prices.
If you see air purifiers in this price range with all the features, don’t be fooled, especially if it claims to cover extensive square feet. There are only so many ways to save money on an air purifier, best that you choose wisely. Forgoing features for quality air is smart.
Look for brands that have products tested independently and follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.
How many hours a day will the air purifier run?
Most lower-priced models run for a few hours a day. If you run it all day, it will burn out quickly. Running on clogged filters will also hasten their demise.
Maybe, I’ll adjust my definition a little—an air purifier is worth it if you look after it properly.
Conclusion
That rounds up the reviews of my top picks for best air purifier on a budget. Choosing the best model wasn’t that hard—the Levoit Vital ticks all the boxes. It’s quiet and efficient.
Simple, useful features add to its value, and the smart sensor to monitor air quality pushed the Levoit Vital into the top spot.
The model uses a true HEPA filter, a pre-filter, and a carbon filter, which filters out the maximum number of particles.
Those who want an ionizer will have to find another type of air filter, though. For everyone else, it provides everything that you need.
