Air purifiers are designed to clean the air, not to create more pollution. Unfortunately, this is partially true! Many air purifiers use electronic filtrations as main or as add-ons. Which are usually responsible for producing ozone, formaldehyde, and/or other chemical byproducts. You should avoid those air purifiers if you have asthma or any respiratory illness.
We compiled a list of the 7 best ozone-free air purifiers, which are only based on physical filters such as HEPA. We have also included the ideal room size, filter replacement costs, and a buying guide to make your selection faster.
Let’s go.
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Table could not be displayed.Why Ozone-free Air Purifiers?
Many air purifiers in the market produce a traceable amount of ozone. Although the atmospheric-level ozone safeguards our planet, ground-level ozone is unpleasant for our lungs. Even a ‘safe ozone level‘ air purifier can cause harm. Since we use air purifiers in a closed room, ozone concentrations can increase over time.
A study shows, long-term exposure to ozone is as bad as smoking one pack of cigarettes a day. Avoid electronic or hybrid air purifiers, especially if you want to use them for:
- Persons with asthma or breathing issues.
- Kids and babies.
- Pets, especially birds, have susceptible respiratory systems.
Types of Air Purifiers
There are mainly three types of air purifiers in the market:
- Mechanical: Use only physical filters such as fibrous or carbon-based filters.
- Electronic: Use electronic filtration such as Ionizer, UV light, Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO), Plasma, Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP), and Ozone Generators.
- Hybrid: Use both physical and electronic filters.
The mechanical-only air purifiers are entirely safe for everyone and also effective for filtering airborne pollutants. Electronic air purifiers often produce ozone, formaldehyde, and other harmful chemicals when reacting with the air molecules.
The factors that we took into account:
- Mechanical-type air purifiers (no electronic add-ons)
- Overall effectiveness
- Listed on the CARB-certified air purifiers
- User ratings
- Trusted brands
Related reviews:
The 7 Best Ozone-free Air Purifiers List:
1. Levoit LV-H133 Air Purifier
All of the Levoit purifiers are 100% ozone-free since they do not use any electronic air filtration methods in their air purifiers. Levoit LV-H133 is the best mid-range air purifier from Levoit, suitable for medium to large rooms.
The purifier has a maximum CADR of 274 cfm, the second-highest among the Levoit air purifiers. The strong air delivery rate can clean a 410 square feet room five times per hour, which is perfect for medium-sized living rooms and bedrooms.
Besides the robust filtration rate, it comes with a 3-in-1 physical filter that includes a pre-filter, an H13 True HEPA filter, and an activated carbon filter. The pre-filter blocks larger pollutants in the first place. The true HEPA filter captures tiny airborne particles and droplets as small as 0.3 microns with 99.97% efficiency.
The activated carbon will help to remove light household odors and VOCs. Levoit LV-H133 also has a built-in particle sensor, which helps the air purifier to adjust the fan speeds automatically.
Room Coverage: 410 sq ft five times per hour (CADR 274 cfm).
Filter Replacement Costs: ~ $49, 6 to 8 months usage (check availability & filter price).
Ionizer, UV, Plasma, PCO, ESP: None.
Pros & Cons:
In-depth review >>> Levoit LV-H133 Air Purifier.
Check out our top picks >>> The 5 Best Levoit Air Purifier.
2. Whirlpool WPPRO2000 Air Purifier
Our second top pick is the Whirlpool WPPRO2000 (Whispure Pro 2000) air purifier. It’s a 3-stage air purifier that comes with a True HEPA filter as the main particle filter. The first filter is a pre-filter sheet impregnated with activated carbon.
This filter combination effectively removes particulate pollutants from the air. However, an impregnated-type carbon filter sheet is less effective for removing odors.
This purifier is suitable for large rooms. With a CADR rating of 328 cfm, it can ideally clean a 500 square feet room five times per hour. As such you can use it in large rooms. Also, for small and medium rooms, you will get higher air changes per hour.
It has four-level fan speeds with an auto mode based on the air quality sensor. However, the sensor only can detect odors and can’t detect particles in the air.
Whirlpool WPPRO2000 air purifier comes with a smart touch control screen panel for convenient use.
Room Coverage: 490 sq ft five times per hour (CADR 328 cfm).
Filter Replacement Costs: ~ $79 for HEPA, 1-year usage (check availability & filter price), ~ $34 for Charcoal Pre-filter x 4, 1 year pack (check availability & filter price).
Ionizer, UV, Plasma, PCO, ESP: None
Pros & Cons:
In-depth review >>> Whirlpool WPPRO2000 Air Purifier.
3. Bissell Air220 Air purifier
Bissell Air220 comes in a retro-modern design with 3 stages of mechanical filtration and doesn’t emit any ozone. Unlike most air purifiers, it comes with a separate – pre-filter, HEPA, and activated carbon filter.
Individual filters are convenient when it comes to replacement. Because sometimes the carbon filter runs out earlier than the HEPA filter. So, you can replace each filter independently from others.
The particle filter is a True HEPA grade filter that captures tiny pollutants at a 99.97% efficiency. The honeycomb filter is filled with activated carbon pellets, which effectively remove odors than impregnated carbon filters.
Bissell Air220 comes with a single knob design which also works as a button. It has a built-in VOC sensor, air quality status indicator, and separate filter replacement indicators for each filter. However, it lacks some essential features, such as a timer.
Bissell Air220 is suitable for removing particulates as well as VOCs and odors in small to medium rooms. The built-in VOC sensor will help to detects VOCs and odors.
Room Coverage: 160 sq ft five times per hour (CADR 105 cfm).
Filter Replacement Costs: ~ $22 for Pre-filter & HEPA, 6 months usage (check availability & filter price), and ~ $18 for Carbon filter, 6 usage months (check availability & filter price).
Ionizer, UV, Plasma, PCO, ESP: None
Pros & Cons:
In-depth review >>> Bissell Air220 Air Purifier.
4. Medify MA-14 Air Purifier
If you are looking for a compact ozone-free air purifier to use in your desk or your children’s nursery, then the Medify MA-14 is a good fit. The purifier has a 3-in-1 filter include an H13-grade HEPA filter as primary.
H13 HEPA filters are more effective than ordinary HEPA filters. It traps 99.9% of tiny airborne particles as small as 0.1 microns. Which includes ultrafine dust, smoke particles, and pathogens.
The filter package also has an activated carbon filter layer to remove light odors and VOCs.
Medify MA-14 features a 3 level fan speed, sleep mode, filter replace indicator, and night lights. However, it lacks a timer feature and an air quality sensor.
Room Coverage: 105 sq ft five times per hour (CADR 71 cfm).
Filter Replacement Costs: ~ $39 for the 3-in-1 filter, 3 to 4 months usage (check availability & filter price).
Ionizer, UV, Plasma, PCO, ESP: None
Pros & Cons:
In-depth review >>> Medify MA-14 Air Purifier.
5. Honeywell HPA300 Air Purifier
A powerful ozone-free air purifier from Honeywell is the Honeywell HPA300 air purifier. It offers 3 stages of physical air filtration with no ozone generating technologies. The first stage filter is a charcoal-based hybrid pre-filter, which blocks larger pollutants such as pet fur, hair, lint, and traps light odors.
The last stage is a True HEPA filter which removes 99.97% of airborne pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. The air purifier is AHAM verified, and its CADR rating for Smoke is 300 cfm. As such, it is capable of cleaning 450 square feet of room five times per hour ideally.
Honeywell HPA300 features 3 level fan speeds, auto shut off timers, filter replacement indicator, and control lights dimmer. The purifier is suitable for removing particulate allergens in medium to large rooms, not suitable for eliminating strong odors and VOCs.
Room Coverage: 450 sq ft five times per hour (CADR 300 cfm for Smoke).
Filter Replacement Costs: ~ $79 for a 1-year filter pack (check availability & filter price).
Ionizer, UV, Plasma, PCO, ESP: None
Pros & Cons:
In-depth review >>> Honeywell HPA300 Air Purifier.
Check out our top picks >>> The 5 Best Honeywell Air Purifier.
6. Renpho AP-001 Air Purifier
If you are looking for a quality ozone-free air purifier at an affordable cost, the Renpho AP-001 is for you. The air purifier has a permanent mesh pre-filter, H13-grade HEPA filter, pelletized carbon filter with a built-in particle sensor, which costs you less than 150 dollars.
With a CADR of 135 cfm, Renpho AP-001 can clean 500 square feet of rooms twice per hour. The flat design is suitable for your tight spaces, and it also allows you to place it against the wall.
Renpho AP-001 is also pet and child friendly as it has a pet/child-lock feature and sleep mode. Suitable for small to medium rooms, the purifier is worth its price.
Room Coverage: 200 sq ft five times per hour (CADR 135 cfm).
Filter Replacement Costs: ~ $30, 6 months usage (check availability & filter price).
Ionizer, UV, Plasma, PCO, ESP: None
7. Coway Airmega 300 Air Purifier
Coway Airmega series air purifiers are completely ozone-free and offer a high air delivery rate for massive room coverage. Coway Airmega 300 comes with two sets of 2-in-1 replaceable True HEPA and honeycomb activated carbon filter. The fine mesh pre-filters are washable and permanent.
The dual air inlet makes it possible to deliver a maximum of 335 cubic feet of clean air every minute (cfm). With this CADR rating, this air purifier can clean a large 1,256 square feet room twice per hour. Which is suitable for faster air cleaning.
Coway Airmega 300 has a built-in particle sensor, filter replacement indicators, and timer feature. However, don’t confuse the term “Smart” as it has no Wi-Fi connectivity. The Coway Airmega 300S model is Wi-Fi-enabled and has an ambient light sensor to activate the night mode automatically.
Room Coverage: 500 sq ft five times per hour (CADR 335 cfm).
Filter Replacement Costs: ~ $60, 12 months usage (check availability & filter price).
Ionizer, UV, Plasma, PCO, ESP: None
Pros & Cons:
In-depth review with comparison >>> Coway Airmega 300 Air Purifier.
How to Choose the Best Ozone-free Air Purifiers:
Types of Filters
Only select the air purifiers with 100% mechanical filtration (HEPA, adsorbent media). Many air purifiers use optional add-ons such as ionizers, UV-C lights, or plasma to boost the air filtration rate.
It would be best if you don’t select those hybrid air purifiers with electronic add-ons to keep your air purifier completely ozone-free and safe for everyone.
Clean Air Delivery Rate
Before you go into the market to buy an air purifier, it is recommended that you find out what size you need. To determine the air purifier size, you have to calculate the required Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) for your particular room size.
Please find out the required CADR for your room using our CADR Calculator.
Features
Modern consumer air purifiers are loaded with convenient features. Which includes air quality sensors, auto mode, sleep mode, timer, night lights, and pet/child lock. Some air purifiers have Wi-Fi connectivity so that you can monitor and control them from your smartphone.
For your convenience, look at the features you need the most.
Maintenance
Unlike electronic air filters, the physical air filters need to be replaced regularly. The filter replacement frequency varies from 6 to 12 months on average. Also, depending on the indoor air quality and usage, you may need to replace them earlier.
Some air purifiers have higher filter replacement costs than others. As you shop, be sure to check the yearly maintenance costs too.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best ozone-free air purifier does not have to be as difficult as people make it seem. As long as you know the most important features to you, you will always find one that will suit your needs perfectly. From this in-depth research, we hope you can make informed decisions to get an ozone-free air purifier for your home or office.
JEan ciarleglio says
Excellent
Kristen Wardynski says
If you purchase an air purifier that is mechanical but also has the add-on’s that are bad for you, like the electronic and UV Features, but if you Don’t use/select the Add-On’s when you use them and Only Use the Mechanical Options, will it Still be Considered Just as Safe as if you Purchased just a Mechanical One without the Add-ons?
Or Will these Other Functions Still Some-how Leak Ozone Bad Particles into the Air Regardless if these Functions are Being Used or Not? If you Could, Please let me know if You Have any Kind of Answers for this?
~ Thank You!
Reviewsofairpurifiers says
A physical-filter air purifier with an electronic add-on (ionizer, UV, PCO, or others) is entirely safe (100% ozone-free) until you use those functions.
There are no ‘leakage-things’ since the ozone or other chemical byproducts are being produced during the process.
However, some air purifiers integrate electronic filtrations with their mechanical filter at the core. For example, Blueair’s hybrid HEPASilent filter combines mechanical and electrostatic filtration, and you can’t switch off the electronic function.
Thank you.
Jane says
Please let me know if Medify MA-25 Air Purifier is ozone free; when I called customer service they stated that the air purifier was listed as electrical (which I read means it will emit Ozone) – but they stated that it did not have a izoner on it so it would not emit Ozone- and it has a True H-13 HEPA filter – but I am stuck on them stating that it is electrical type – this has been very difficult – I have lung issues and I cannot have an air purifier that emits Ozone.