Brita-filtered water and tap water are both safe to drink where the public supply is treated, but Brita improves on tap water by reducing chlorine, some metals and odours, giving better taste. Tap water is treated to be safe and is far cheaper, while Brita adds taste improvement and reduces specific contaminants for a small ongoing cost. Neither is unsafe; the choice is about taste and contaminant reduction versus cost. This guide compares Brita vs tap water.
Both are safe where tap water is treated. Brita improves taste by reducing chlorine, some metals and odours; tap water is cheaper and already safe. The choice is taste and targeted reduction versus cost.
Short Answer
Tap water is safe and cheap; Brita-filtered water tastes better and reduces chlorine and some contaminants for a small cost. Choose Brita for taste and reduction, tap for cost.
Brita vs Tap: Comparison Matrix
| Feature | Brita-filtered | Tap water | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety (treated supply) | Safe | Safe | Tie |
| Taste | Better (less chlorine) | Varies | Brita |
| Chlorine and odours | Reduced | Present | Brita |
| Lead/metals | Reduced (Elite) | Present | Brita |
| Cost | Filter cost | Cheapest | Tap |
| Convenience | Refill and filter | Straight from tap | Tap |
Key Takeaway: This is taste versus cost, not safe versus unsafe. Where tap water is treated, both are safe to drink; Brita simply removes the chlorine taste and reduces some contaminants, which many people happily pay a little for.
What Brita Improves
Brita reduces chlorine (the main taste issue), odours and some metals, and the Elite filter also reduces lead. The result is better-tasting water. See best water filter pitchers and does filtered water taste better.
What Tap Water Offers
Public tap water is treated to be safe to drink and is the cheapest option, straight from the tap with no filter to refill or replace.
Cost and Convenience
Tap water is cheapest and most convenient; Brita adds a small filter cost and the step of refilling, in exchange for better taste. See are pitchers worth it.
Which Should You Drink?
Drink Brita-filtered water if you want better taste and reduced chlorine and some contaminants; drink tap water if cost and convenience matter most and your tap water already tastes fine. Both are safe where the supply is treated.
FAQ
Is Brita water better than tap water?
Both are safe where tap water is treated. Brita tastes better and reduces chlorine and some contaminants; tap water is cheaper and already safe. The choice is taste versus cost.
Does Brita make tap water safer?
It reduces chlorine, some metals and (with the Elite filter) lead, which can make already-safe tap water cleaner and better tasting.
Is it worth filtering tap water with Brita?
For better taste and reduced chlorine and some contaminants, yes, for a small ongoing cost. If your tap water tastes fine, the difference is smaller.
Bottom Line
Brita-filtered and tap water are both safe where the supply is treated; Brita tastes better and reduces chlorine and some contaminants, while tap water is cheaper. Choose by taste versus cost. See our best water filter pitchers guide.
