Quick answer
A jug if you want cold water at home without installing anything. A tap filter if you drink and cook a lot with filtered water. A filter bottle if you want it away from home: work, travel, mountains. All three improve the taste of tap water; only those with a membrane retain bacteria, and almost none remove limescale.
All three rely mainly on activated carbon, which retains chlorine and reduces odours and tastes. The difference is where and how you use them. The table summarises what to expect from each format in general; each model states on its spec sheet what it reduces and how often the cartridge is changed.
Comparison table
| Jug | Tap | Bottle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you use it | Home (fridge) | Home (kitchen) | Away from home |
| Typical technology | Activated carbon (+ resin in some) | Activated carbon | Membrane + carbon (depends on model) |
| Speed | Wait for it to filter | Instant | Instant |
| Capacity | The jug's | Unlimited | The bottle's |
| Installation | None | Tap adapter | None |
| Chlorine and tastes | Reduces them | Reduces them | Reduces them if it has carbon |
| Bacteria | Not its job | Only models with a membrane | Yes, if it has a membrane (e.g. 0.2 μm) |
| Limescale | Some, if it has resin | Usually not | No |
Filter jug
The classic: fill the top reservoir and water runs through the cartridge. Some combine carbon with ion-exchange resin, which reduces some limescale.
- Best for: cold water at home, rented flats, low upfront budget.
- Drawbacks: you wait for it to filter, it takes fridge space, and cartridges need frequent changes (follow the manufacturer — an exhausted cartridge stops working and can harbour bacteria).
Tap filter
Attaches to the tap (or sits under the sink) and filters instantly.
- Best for: people who drink and cook a lot with filtered water; families.
- Drawbacks: not every tap is compatible, it reduces flow a little and, if you rent, ask first.
Filter bottle
Filters as you drink. Outdoor models have a membrane (for example 0.2 μm) that retains bacteria and protozoa; with carbon they also reduce chlorine. So they work for taps as well as fountains and clear streams.
- Best for: work, travel, the Camino de Santiago, mountains, vans.
- Drawbacks: limited capacity and no use for cooking; rinse and let it dry.
Interested in this format? Compare models in GoPure vs LifeStraw vs Katadyn.
What to choose
- Living alone or as a couple, drinking at home: jug.
- Family that cooks a lot: tap filter.
- Out all day or travelling: filter bottle.
- Both: jug or tap at home + bottle when out.
Frequently asked questions
Do any of them remove limescale?
Activated carbon doesn't. Some jugs with resin reduce it partly; to really remove it you need a softener or reverse osmosis.
Do I need to filter tap water?
Mains water is already drinkable. Filtering is mostly about taste. If chlorine is the issue, read how to remove chlorine from tap water.
What about microplastics?
Some manufacturers state that their membranes retain them; check each model's spec sheet, as not all of them claim it.
Transparency: we sell GoPure, a filter bottle (0.2 μm membrane + carbon, 1,500 L filter).