Good, Better, Best: Ranking 4 Fridge Water Filters by Filtration Power

Keeping your water clean is a priority for many homeowners and renters.  

In this casual comparison, we rank five popular refrigerator water filters from good to best based strictly on what they filter out of your water (no talk of price or brand prestige here strictly meritocracy). 

We’ll highlight key contaminants each filter is certified or tested to reduce – from common chlorine and sediment to nasties like lead, cysts, pesticides, and even pharmaceuticals.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s a quick summary of how these five filters stack up in terms of filtration strength (Rank 1 = Best filtration). We list the key contaminants each filter tackles:

Now, let’s break down each filter’s performance from the “good” basics up to the “best” overall.

4th Place (Good Basics): GE FQK1R – Same Basic Filtration in a New Package

The GE FQK1R is the direct replacement for the GXULQR, offering the same basic chlorine and sediment filtration in an updated cartridge. It’s a solid “good” choice for better taste and clarity, though it won’t remove heavy metals or tiny contaminants.

Coming in 4th, the GE FQK1R is effectively the new and improved GXULQR – although “improved” mainly refers to design, not dramatically broadened filtration. This filter helps reduce chlorine taste & odor and filters out sediment (sand, silt, rust, etc.) just like its predecessor. The FQK1R uses GE’s twist-and-lock design for easy changes. You'll begin to get better tasting water for cooking and drinking by stripping out that chlorinated flavor and any cloudiness from particulate matter.

If your primary concern is chlorine or visible sediment, the FQK1R will do the trick. But for anything beyond the basics, you’ll want to look at the better and best filters below.

3rd Place (Better Filtration): Samsung DA29-00003G – Adds Heavy Metals & Cysts

Stepping up into the “better” filtration tier, the Samsung DA29-00003G shows a noticeable jump in capability. This Samsung genuine refrigerator filter uses a powerful carbon block that eliminates over 99% of many potentially harmful contaminants. In practical terms, that means in addition to chlorine taste/odor, it also removes nasty heavy metals like lead and mercury, plus microscopic cysts (such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium). It’s rated for Class I particulates, so it catches very fine particles that basic filters might miss. If you’re worried about more than just taste – for example, old pipes leaching lead or boil-water advisories for parasites – this filter is a big upgrade over the GE basic filters.

Using the Samsung DA29-00003G, you’ll enjoy fresh, clean-tasting water and peace of mind that common hazards are filtered out. It’s NSF-certified for standards like chlorine reduction and lead/cyst removal, so it checks the boxes for both improving taste and improving safety. However, it’s not quite the best of the best – it doesn’t specifically claim to remove things like pharmaceuticals or certain chemical pollutants. For most families, though, this “better” filter covers the major concerns: chlorine, lead, mercury, cysts, and sediment. It’s an excellent mid-tier choice if you want a balance of strong contaminant removal and affordability (and it’s designed to avoid any fridge leaks, being a genuine Samsung part). Overall, the Samsung filter brings your water from good to great, handling both aesthetic issues and serious contaminants in one cartridge.

2nd Place (Better/Almost Best): Frigidaire ULTRAWF – Broad Spectrum, Tackles Pesticides & Nitrates

The Frigidaire ULTRAWF (PureSource Ultra) filter earns the runner-up spot thanks to its impressively broad contaminant coverage. This filter goes beyond the usual suspects and targets a wide range of impurities found in tap water – including some that lesser filters leave behind. Of course it handles chlorine taste and odor with its carbon core, but it also significantly reduces heavy metals like lead and mercury, filters out pesticides, and even reduces nitrates in your water. That nitrate reduction is a big deal if you’re in an area with agricultural runoff, as not many fridge filters address it. The ULTRAWF is all about giving you “worry free water at home,” and it lives up to that by tackling contaminants in multiple categories: aesthetic, chemical, and inorganic.

Importantly, the Frigidaire ULTRAWF is tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 401, meaning it’s proven to reduce a host of contaminants in those standards. NSF 42 covers chlorine and taste/odor, NSF 53 covers health-related contaminants (like lead, cysts, etc.), and NSF 401 is for “emerging contaminants” – things like certain pharmaceuticals and herbicides. In plain English, this filter is certified to knock out everything from chlorine and lead to some of the trace chemicals/pharmaceuticals that might be in water. For example, Frigidaire mentions it removes pesticides (great for rural areas or anyone nervous about lawn chemicals) and it’s built to handle “impurities… such as lead, nitrates, pesticides, and mercury”. That covers heavy metals, agricultural contaminants, and industrial chemicals pretty comprehensively.

So why is the ULTRAWF not number one? It’s almost the best, but our top pick edges it out by claiming a tiny bit more contaminant removal (we’ll get to that next). The Frigidaire ULTRAWF is still an outstanding “better” filter – nearly the best – offering broad protection. It’s a perfect choice for households that want to ensure their fridge water is not only great-tasting but also safe from a wide array of contaminants. From city water with chlorine and lead, to well water with nitrates or pesticides, this filter has you covered.

1st Place (Best Overall): LG LT700P – Ultimate Filtration Champion

Finally, at the “best” tier, we have the LG LT700P refrigerator filter – the filtration powerhouse that takes the crown. If you’re the type who wants the maximum range of contaminants removed, this is the filter for you. The LG LT700P is NSF-certified not just for Standards 42 and 53, but also 401, and its performance claims back that up. This cartridge removes 99.99% of cysts (nearly all microbes), 99% of asbestos, and almost all the big heavy hitters like mercury and lead. It doesn’t stop there – it also filters out volatile organic chemicals like benzene, and reduces herbicides, pesticides, and even pharmaceuticals that can end up in water. In short, the LG LT700P is tackling everything the other filters do and then some. Chlorine taste and odor, sediment and rust, check. Heavy metals and cysts, check. Industrial chemicals, agricultural runoff, and medical residue, check. It’s about as comprehensive as a fridge filter gets!

Using this LG filter, you’ll be giving your family clean, fresh water with peace of mind that few contaminants are slipping through. It’s designed to keep the beneficial minerals (like fluoride) in your water while taking out the bad stuff. The result is water that not only tastes better but is safer for drinking and making ice. The LT700P is often praised for its ability to deliver “fresher and better tasting water” and ice by reducing contaminants like pesticides, chemicals, and detergents – a testament to how broad its filtration spectrum is. It even mentions removing trace pharmaceuticals, which is a rare claim and highlights why this filter sits at #1.

In practical terms, if you have any concern – be it old pipes, agricultural chemicals, disinfection byproducts, or microscopic cysts – the LG LT700P rises to the challenge. It’s the best overall performer here because it provides the highest contaminant reduction across the most categories. This is the filter for the truly health-conscious or those who just want the top-line protection for their water. In the Good-Better-Best lineup, the LG LT700P is firmly in the “Best” category, earning 1st place as our ultimate filtration champion.

In summary, all five of these filters will improve your drinking water to some degree, but their capabilities vary widely:

• The GE FQK1R are good for basic taste and odor improvement (bye-bye chlorine and cloudiness), but they won’t remove more dangerous contaminants.

• The Samsung DA29-00003G steps it up by adding protection against lead, mercury, and cysts, making your water safer as well as tasty.

• The Frigidaire ULTRAWF goes further, tackling a broad spectrum including pesticides and nitrates, which earns it the “almost best” title.

• The LG LT700P reigns supreme as the best filter for all-around contaminant removal, covering basically every common impurity you can think of.

When choosing a fridge filter, consider what matters for your water. If you’re only annoyed by chlorine or sediment, a “good” basic filter might suffice. But if you’re concerned about health-related contaminants like lead, or you want to block out pesticides and pharmaceutical traces, aim for the better or best filters on this list. Clean water is crucial, and with the right filter, you can sip with confidence knowing your fridge is dispensing H2O that’s not just refreshing but also contaminant-free! Stay hydrated and healthy. Cheers to better water!