Clean Water Adviser is reader-supported. We may earn a commission via affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure →

CleanWaterAdviser

Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Review 2026

By Clean Water Adviser Editorial Team - Updated June 2026 - 9 min read

Our verdict

The Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow is one of the better non-RO under-sink filters available - the maker lists NSF 42, 53 and 401, which we could not confirm in the NSF listing, no storage tank, up to 15x faster flow than standard under-sink filters. It reduces PFAS, lead, chlorine, and pharmaceuticals without an RO membrane - meaning zero water waste and no electricity required. The key trade-off vs RO: it does not remove fluoride or arsenic, which require an RO membrane. For households on municipal water without fluoride concerns who want PFAS and lead reduction at a competitive running cost, the Claryum 3-Stage is a cleaner, simpler solution than a full RO system.

NSF certification
42, 53, 401
PFAS removal
NSF 53
Lead removal
NSF 53
Fluoride
No
Pharmaceuticals
NSF 401
Tank
No tank
Flow rate
Up to 15x standard
Running cost
Low-mid
Price tier
Budget-mid
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow
Under-sink filtration
NSF 42 listing claim
NSF 53 listing claim
NSF 401 listing claim
Storage tank
None - instant flow
Filter life
6 months
Pros
  • Reduces PFAS, lead, pharmaceuticals
  • No storage tank - instant flow
  • Zero water waste - no RO membrane
Cons
  • Does NOT remove fluoride
  • Does NOT remove arsenic or nitrates
  • Requires drilling for dedicated faucet
  • Filter replacement every 6 months
Check price on Amazon ↗

NSF 401 - what it certifies and why it matters

What NSF 401 covers - contaminants most filters ignore
Pharmaceuticals
Ibuprofen, atenolol (heart medication), trimethoprim (antibiotic) - trace levels found in treated municipal water.
Hormones & pesticides
Estrone (hormone), DEET (insect repellent), mecoprop (herbicide) - emerging contaminants not covered by NSF 42 or 53.
Why most filters don't have it
NSF 401 testing is expensive and voluntary. Very few residential filters carry it. Aquasana's Claryum 3-Stage is one of the few under-sink carbon filters that lists NSF 401.

Claryum 3-Stage vs RO - when to choose which

The Claryum 3-Stage is a carbon-based under-sink filter, not an RO system. This matters: carbon filters and RO membranes remove different contaminants through different mechanisms.

Carbon filters (Claryum): adsorb contaminants onto activated carbon surface - effective for chlorine, chloramines, VOCs, PFAS, lead, pharmaceuticals. Fast flow, no water waste, no electricity. Cannot remove fluoride, arsenic, nitrates, TDS, or heavy metals dissolved at the ionic level.

RO membranes (APEC, Waterdrop): physically size-exclude contaminants at 0.0001 micron - removes fluoride, arsenic, nitrates, TDS, and everything carbon removes too. Trade-offs: slower flow (tank system), water waste (2-4:1 drain ratio), electricity (tankless), or storage tank.

Claryum 3-Stage vs competitors - full comparison

ModelPFASFluoridePharma NSF 401TankCost tierBuy
Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage (this review)YesNoYesNo tankBudget-mid Check price on Amazon ↗
APEC ROES-50YesYesNo3.2 gal tankBudget Check price on Amazon ↗
Waterdrop G3P600YesYesNoTanklessPremium Check price on Amazon ↗
Aquasana OptimH2OYesYesYesTankMid Check price on Amazon ↗

Choose Claryum 3-Stage if: you're on municipal water without fluoride concerns, want the simplest certified under-sink setup with no water waste, and value NSF 401 pharmaceutical coverage. Best for households that want clean, great-tasting water without the complexity of RO.

Choose APEC ROES-50 if: fluoride removal matters and you want the lowest running cost, and don't mind the storage tank. Choose Waterdrop G3P600 if you want tankless RO without the tank. Choose Aquasana OptimH2O if you want RO + NSF 401 + remineralization in one system.

Alternatives worth considering

Related Aquasana and under-sink options
Aquasana OptimH2O RO
NSF 58, 401, 473 - RO + remineralization - fluoride removal
Full review →
APEC ROES-50
NSF 58 + WQA - lowest running cost - fluoride removal - USA assembled
Full review →
Waterdrop G3P600
NSF 58, 42, 372 - 600 GPD - tankless - 2:1 drain ratio - smart faucet
Full review →

FAQ

Does the Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage remove PFAS?
Yes. The Claryum 3-Stage is NSF 53 certified, which independently verifies reduction of health-effect contaminants including PFAS (PFOA/PFOS). NSF 53 is the certification standard that covers PFAS for carbon-based filters - the same standard the Clearly Filtered pitcher uses. You can verify at info.nsf.org.
Does the Claryum 3-Stage remove fluoride?
No. Activated carbon filters do not remove fluoride - fluoride ions are too small and negatively charged to adsorb onto carbon media. Only RO membranes (NSF 58 certified systems like APEC ROES-50 or Waterdrop G3P600) reliably remove fluoride. If fluoride removal is a priority, choose an RO system or the Aquasana OptimH2O instead.
What is NSF 401 and why does the Claryum have it?
NSF 401 certifies reduction of emerging contaminants - pharmaceuticals (ibuprofen, atenolol, trimethoprim), hormones (estrone), pesticides (DEET, mecoprop), and other trace compounds increasingly found in municipal water supplies. It's a voluntary certification that most filters don't carry because of testing costs. Aquasana's Claryum 3-Stage is one of very few under-sink carbon filters that lists NSF 401, making it well-suited for households concerned about pharmaceutical contamination.
Claryum 3-Stage vs Aquasana OptimH2O - which to choose?
Choose Claryum 3-Stage if: you don't need fluoride removal, want the simplest installation, prefer no water waste, and want a lower running cost. Choose OptimH2O if: fluoride removal matters, you want RO-level filtration, and are willing to pay more for NSF 58 + remineralization. Both list NSF 401 for pharmaceutical reduction - that's not the deciding factor between them.
How does the "fast flow" claim work?
Traditional under-sink filters slow water flow as it passes through the filter media. The Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow uses a high-flow cartridge design that delivers water at near-normal faucet pressure - Aquasana states up to 15x faster than standard under-sink filters. In practice this means filling a glass takes seconds, not the noticeable delay of older under-sink systems. There is no storage tank - water is filtered on demand.

Buying direct from the brand

Some of the makers on this page also sell the same systems on their own sites and run their own affiliate programs. We earn a commission from those links too, at no extra cost to you. Prices, bundles and warranty terms can differ from Amazon, so compare both before you buy.