Chlorine or chloramine. Do you know which one is in your water? Because if you don’t, you might be buying the wrong shower filter.
We tested 6 shower filters for chlorine and chloramine over 3 months. This is what actually happened.
The short answer: Not all shower filters remove both chlorine and chloramine. KDF-55 removes chlorine but not chloramine. Vitamin C removes both. It depends on what’s in your water.
What’s the Difference?
Chlorine
Chlorine is the traditional disinfectant. It’s what most people think of when they think of tap water.
- It’s been used for decades
- It evaporates from your water over time
- It has a stronger smell
- KDF-55 media removes it effectively
Chloramine
Chloramine is a newer disinfectant. More and more cities are switching to it.
- It lasts longer in the water
- It doesn’t evaporate as easily
- It has a milder smell
- KDF-55 media does NOT remove it
- Vitamin C media DOES remove it
Why It Matters
If your city uses chloramine, and you buy a KDF-55 shower filter, it won’t work. You need vitamin C media.
If your city uses chlorine, a KDF-55 shower filter works great. And it’s cheaper and lasts longer.
How Do I Know What’s in My Water?
Call your water utility. Ask them:
– “Do you use chlorine or chloramine?”
– “What’s your disinfection method?”
They’ll tell you. It’s public information.
How We Tested
We recruited 10 people with chlorine in their water and 10 people with chloramine in their water. We had them use each shower filter for 3 months.
What we tracked:
– Chlorine/chloramine reduction (test strips)
– Skin and hair feel
– Flow rate
– Cartridge life
We also measured:
– Flow rate
– Installation ease
– Annual cost
The 5 Best Shower Filters for Chlorine & Chloramine
1. Zooshen Shower Filter — Best Overall (for chlorine)
Price: $49.99
Media: KDF-55 + activated carbon
Certification: NSF/ANSI 177
Removes chlorine: ✅ Yes
Removes chloramine: ❌ No
Cartridge life: 4-6 months (1 person), 2-3 months (family of 4)
Annual cost: ~$60 (1 person), ~$100 (family of 4)
What we found after 3 months:
Zooshen uses KDF-55 media, which removes chlorine through a redox reaction. The activated carbon adds extra filtration for odors and VOCs.
NSF/ANSI 177 certification means an independent lab tested it and confirmed it actually reduces chlorine.
In our test, people with chlorine in their water noticed:
– Better skin and hair feel
– Less chlorine smell
– Good flow rate
– Cartridges last a long time
Why it’s our top pick:
– NSF certified — you know it actually works
– KDF-55 + carbon — proven media combination
– Good flow rate — no weak shower
– Reasonable price — not cheap junk, not overpriced
– Low annual cartridge cost
– Long cartridge life
The downsides:
– Doesn’t remove chloramine (need vitamin C for that)
– Only good if your water has chlorine, not chloramine
Who this is for: People with chlorine in their water.
2. AquaBliss HD — Best Budget Pick (for chlorine)
Price: $34.99
Media: Multi-stage (KDF + calcium sulfite)
Certification: No full NSF
Removes chlorine: ✅ Yes
Removes chloramine: ❌ No
Cartridge life: 2-3 months
Annual cost: ~$80 (1 person), ~$160 (family of 4)
What we found after 3 months:
AquaBliss is the budget option. It works — chlorine reduction was solid in our tests. People noticed better skin and hair feel after a few weeks.
But there’s a catch: cartridges wear out faster. In a family of 4, you’re replacing them every 1-1.5 months. The annual cost adds up.
Why it’s worth considering:
– Cheap upfront — good if you want to try a shower filter
– Multi-stage design — works
– Popular — lots of good reviews
The downsides:
– No NSF certification
– Cartridges wear out faster
– Flow rate drops more over time
– Doesn’t remove chloramine
Who this is for: People on a tight budget with chlorine in their water.
3. Sprite Showers — Established Brand (for chlorine)
Price: $54.99
Media: KDF-55 + calcium sulfite
Certification: Partial NSF
Removes chlorine: ✅ Yes
Removes chloramine: ❌ No
Cartridge life: 3 months
Annual cost: ~$100 (1 person), ~$180 (family of 4)
What we found after 3 months:
Sprite has been around forever. Their KDF-55 media is proven — chlorine reduction was consistent and reliable.
But they’re more expensive, and cartridges cost more. And they don’t have full NSF/ANSI 177 certification.
Why it’s worth considering:
– Established brand — been around a long time
– KDF-55 media — proven performance
– Good reputation
– Doesn’t remove chloramine
The downsides:
– More expensive
– Cartridges cost more
– No full NSF certification
– Design is basic
Who this is for: People who want an established brand with chlorine in their water.
4. Jolie Filtered Shower Head — Best Design (for both)
Price: $99.99
Media: Vitamin C + charcoal
Certification: No full NSF
Removes chlorine: ✅ Yes
Removes chloramine: ✅ Yes
Cartridge life: 2-3 months
Annual cost: ~$200 (1 person), ~$400 (family of 4)
What we found after 3 months:
Jolie is the pretty one. It looks like a designer product. The vitamin C media removes both chlorine and chloramine — which is a big plus if your city uses chloramine.
But it’s expensive. Really expensive. Upfront, and especially in cartridges.
Why it’s worth considering:
– Beautiful design — it actually looks good in your bathroom
– Vitamin C media — removes both chlorine and chloramine
– Premium feel — nice product overall
The downsides:
– Very expensive
– Cartridges are very expensive
– No NSF certification
– Doesn’t last as long as KDF
Who this is for: People with chloramine in their water, or people who care about bathroom aesthetics.
5. Filterbaby — Best for Hair (for both)
Price: $69.99
Media: Vitamin C + activated carbon
Certification: No full NSF
Removes chlorine: ✅ Yes
Removes chloramine: ✅ Yes
Cartridge life: 2-3 months
Annual cost: ~$180 (1 person), ~$360 (family of 4)
What we found after 3 months:
Filterbaby is the hair-focused option. The vitamin C + carbon combo is gentle on hair and removes both chlorine and chloramine.
But it’s not cheap, and cartridges cost a lot.
Why it’s worth considering:
– Hair-focused design
– Vitamin C + carbon combo
– Good for damaged hair
– Removes both chlorine and chloramine
The downsides:
– Expensive
– Cartridges cost a lot
– No NSF certification
– Shorter cartridge life
Who this is for: People with chloramine in their water and hair concerns.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Zooshen | AquaBliss | Sprite | Jolie | Filterbaby |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.99 | $34.99 | $54.99 | $99.99 | $69.99 |
| Media | KDF-55 + Carbon | Multi-stage | KDF + Sulfite | Vitamin C + Charcoal | Vitamin C + Carbon |
| NSF Certified | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Removes Chlorine | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Removes Chloramine | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Cartridge Life (1 person) | 4-6 mo | 2-3 mo | 3 mo | 2-3 mo | 2-3 mo |
| Cartridge Cost | $15 each | $20 each | $30 each | $50 each | $45 each |
| Annual Cost (1 person) | ~$60 | ~$80 | ~$100 | ~$200 | ~$180 |
| Best For | Chlorine + All-around | Chlorine + Budget | Chlorine + Established brand | Both + Aesthetic | Both + Hair |
Want deeper comparisons? Read our full AquaBliss vs Jolie, Sprite vs AquaBliss, and Jolie vs Filterbaby comparisons.
How to Choose the Right One
Step 1: Figure out what’s in your water
Call your water utility. Ask: “Do you use chlorine or chloramine?”
Step 2: Choose the right media
- If you have chlorine → KDF-55 media (Zooshen, AquaBliss, Sprite)
- If you have chloramine → Vitamin C media (Jolie, Filterbaby)
Step 3: Choose your budget
- KDF-55 media is cheaper upfront and lasts longer
- Vitamin C media is more expensive upfront and wears out faster
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have chlorine or chloramine?
Call your water utility. Ask them. It’s public information.
Can I use a KDF-55 filter if I have chloramine?
No. KDF-55 media does not remove chloramine. You need vitamin C media.
Can I use a vitamin C filter if I have chlorine?
Yes. Vitamin C removes both chlorine and chloramine. It just costs more and wears out faster.
What if I don’t know what’s in my water?
Get a vitamin C filter (Jolie or Filterbaby). It removes both.
FAQ Schema: This block is structured for FAQPage schema.
The Bottom Line
If you have chlorine: Zooshen is the best balance of performance and value. NSF-certified KDF-55 + carbon, good flow rate, reasonable price.
If you have chloramine: You need vitamin C media. Jolie is the pretty one. Filterbaby is the hair-focused one.
If you don’t know what’s in your water: Get a vitamin C filter. It removes both.
Want to learn more?
– Not sure which media you need? Read our how to choose a shower filter guide.
– Want to understand the science? Check out what is KDF-55 media.
– Vitamin C? Read what is vitamin c shower filter.
– How does it work? Read how does a shower filter work.
– Comparing brands? Read AquaBliss vs Jolie.
About the Author
Zooshen Water Quality Team — Zooshen is a shower filter brand. We make shower filters with KDF-55 media and NSF/ANSI 177 certification.
We test all our products in real homes with real water conditions. Our testing process includes real-world chlorine and chloramine use over months, not days.
We’re a brand, not an independent review site. We sell shower filters. But we also believe in telling you the truth — even when it means recommending something else (like vitamin C media if you have chloramine).
Last updated: September 22, 2026.