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Dyson / Amazon
A smart air purifier offers the same air-cleaning benefits as non-connected models but with the added conveniences of app, voice control, and wider smart home integration. These features allow you to change and monitor settings, set schedules, and/or know when the filter needs replacing—from a distance. In addition to these connected features, smart models should deliver the level of performance and coverage area you need for your home.
“Really what a smart air purifier also does is it gives you data,” says Vinny Lobdell, the founder and past president of Healthway family of brands and Intellipure, Inc. “That data allows you to basically look at what’s happening in your space and, ultimately, it should allow you to change behavior of what you do at what times. Regular purifiers don’t give you that intelligence and they also don’t give you the ability to control the system away from it.”
To make our recommendations, we researched the top models on the market and evaluated testing insights from The Lab, where we tested 38 air purifiers, including eight smart models, to see how they delivered on crucial factors, including design, effectiveness, noise level, and features. We also tested these models at home to observe how they'd hold up to real-life usage over time.
Here are the best smart air purifiers to consider, backed by our extensive research and testing.
Best Overall
Coway Airmega 400S Smart Air Purifier
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Amazon
HEPA filtration
Quiet operation on Sleep Mode
App is very easy to use
Sleek design
High mode is on the noisier side
Overall size is fairly large
The Coway Airmega 400S Smart Air Purifier earns our top overall spot based on its well-rounded feature set. It comes in a sleeker design than some alternatives, covers larger rooms with a three-stage True HEPA system, and offers convenient app, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa voice connectivity for remote control and monitoring.
After both lab and long-term home testing, we gave it a perfect rating for setup, noting that the pictures in the instruction manual were easy to follow and that downloading the companion app was speedy and straightforward. After a few months of use, our real-world testing revealed that the app is convenient for controlling and monitoring the device, rather than using the touch controls on the machine. The app allows you to view air quality, choose one of four fan speed settings, manage scheduling, and turn the machine’s light on or off.
You can also keep an eye on the filter’s lifespan from the mobile app. In at-home testing, we appreciated and primarily used this model’s Smart Mode, which changes the fan’s speed automatically based on the air quality. This device includes a Sleep Mode, which reduces the noise level and distractions at bedtime, and an Eco Mode that activates to conserve energy after the air purifier senses Smart Mode has done an effective job of cleaning the air.
When put to the test in the lab, the Coway Airmega 400S’s multi-stage filtration system delivered impressive results overall. This model uses a pre-filter to capture pet hair and dust, an activated carbon filter to trap odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and a Green True HEPA H13 filter to keep bacteria and viruses at bay. It performed superbly at its lowest speed to filter pet hair and smoke and even better on high mode. However, when testing the purifier’s VOC-filtering abilities in the lab, the low mode proved much less effective than the high mode, which was slow to work. The high mode was also noticeably louder, as many air purifiers are when working harder.
Though this model has a larger build than some alternatives, its coverage area, performance, and connectivity make it a compelling choice as a daily air purifying tool at home.
Price at time of publish: $522
Dimensions: 14.8 x 14.8 x 22.8 inches | Coverage Area: 1,560 square feet | Filter Type: True HEPA H13 | CADR Rating: 328 (smoke), 328 (dust), 400 (pollen) | Works With: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
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The Spruce / Henry Wortock
Best Value
Levoit Core 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier
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Amazon
HEPA filtration
Quiet operation on Sleep Mode
Alexa and Google Assistant-compatible
Lightweight, compact design
High mode is on the noisier side
Doesn’t filter pet hair
If you’re interested in a more compact model that’s still packed with top-notch features and offers solid coverage area, the Levoit PlasmaPro 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier offers a perfect combination of value and advanced functionality. It’s small enough to move around your home (and comes with two convenient handles for that purpose) and find a place for it from room to room. Both our lab and at-home testers remarked on the light, portable build and ease of movement.
Like the Coway Airmega 400S, this Levoit option also employs a three-stage filtration system with a pre-filter for capturing lint and pet hair, a True HEPA filter for taming dust, dander, and bacteria, and an activated carbon filter to trap VOCs, smoke, and smells. In the lab, these layers of defense proved highly effective at cleaning the air on low and high modes. We also noted that this model performed extremely quietly on its Sleep Mode and low fan settings.
Unfortunately, the high mode proved noticeably more audible, but you may not need to run this setting often. In at-home testing, we marveled at how whisper-quiet the Sleep Mode is—you can barely hear it when it's running. We also noted that this machine seemed to eliminate a damp smell in the home's entryway, and it makes a noticeable difference in air quality compared to rooms where it’s not present.
Beyond the impressive performance, the Levoit PlasmaPro 400S is also convenient to operate. In addition to onboard indicators that alert you to air quality levels, the companion VeSync mobile app brings you access to information about indoor air quality, filter life, and lets you schedule a custom cleaning routine. The app is also the place to set up Alexa or Google Assistant for help monitoring and controlling settings without picking up your smartphone or physically interacting with the machine.
Price at time of publish: $220
Dimensions: 10.8 x 10.8 x 20.5 inches | Coverage Area: 403 square feet | Filter Type: H13 True HEPA | CADR Rating: 260 | Works With: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
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The Spruce / Henry Wortock
Best Budget
Wyze Air Purifier
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Wyze
Multiple HEPA filter options
Feature-rich
Compact but offers solid coverage
Some reports of Wi-Fi issues
Lacks multi-stage filtration
While we haven’t had a chance to test the Wyze Air Purifier in our lab, this device offers many desirable features at a more budget-friendly price point. It’s similar in size to the small Levoit PlasmaPro 400S, making it easy to maneuver when cleaning or moving to another room. The coverage area is also similar at 452 square feet, and it comes with a unique silicone cushion at the bottom, meant to protect floors.
Like all of the models we recommend, the Wyze Air Purifier comes with physical controls on the unit and a display with a readout of the fan speed and icons that indicate the air quality level. It also includes a child lock button and a filter-life monitor. Unlike some of the more advanced models on our list, this device doesn’t use a multi-stage filter system. Instead, you can choose between one of three True HEPA options: the standard Allergen filter which filters for pet dander, pollen, and mold, the Formaldehyde filter more advanced pollutant filtering of chemicals and strong odors, and a Wildfire filter that targets smoke and gas.
The Wyze Purifier offers several modes, including an Auto Mode that regulates the air for you. If you prefer to have more manual control, you can use the companion app to choose between one of the four available fan speeds (Min, Mid, Max, and Turbo), set timers, and lock the device to prevent any unwanted changes with physical taps. Another boon is the indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring the app reports, which could be helping for tracking certain allergens that are active in your area.
One roadblock to the functionality this model offers is potential Wi-Fi spottiness, which users indicate can be an issue at setup and throughout routine use. However, assuming the app is up and running without issue, you can also ask Alexa or Google Assistant to perform basic controls like changing the mode or powering off the device.
Price at time of publish: $170
Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.4 x 18.5 inches | Coverage Area: 550 square feet | Filter Type: True HEPA H13 | CADR Rating: 350 | Works With: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Best App
Mila Air Purifier with Basic Breather Filter
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Amazon
Detailed air quality data
Advanced modes and interactive quality
7 filter options
No filter replacement indicator
Loud on highest setting
All the smart air purifiers we chose offer the flexibility of voice assistant or app control, but the Mila Air Purifier offers more customization and interactivity than its competitors. We found that connecting to and setting up the Mila via the Mila Cares app was relatively easy, though not incredibly fast, but critical to the user experience. Once connected, you can set the location of the device based on the placement in your home and your geographical location to compare air quality trends in your neighborhood and home and monitor allergen levels. The Mila bot tab offers conversational updates and lets you know when conditions outside have reached poor levels, even recommending that you stay inside.
The Mila uses a dual HEPA and activated carbon filter and eight onboard sensors to keep an eye on everything from carbon monoxide and PM2.5 and PM10 levels (particles that are 2.5 and 10 micrometers or less) to the temperature and humidity. You can view much of this information from the onboard touchscreen, which reports the indoor air quality level (AQI), outdoor air quality level, mode, and what it calls the protection factor, which is the difference between conditions inside and outside. Conveniently, the display goes dark until you walk into the room, offering a catchy automatic update such as “Everything is awesome” or letting you know how many particle-free hours have passed when you’re nearby.
You can also monitor this same information in the Mila Cares app, which is home to the control center. Unlike other models, you can activate up to eight different settings for a customized cleaning routine. You can also choose Mila’s automatic Automagic Mode, which we relied on during our home testing, to automatically activate one of your chosen settings based on air quality changes and scheduling. One mode we relied on during real-world testing is the Bubble Boy Mode, which gives the device free rein to be as loud as necessary to remove any particles. This mode is quite loud, as any of the higher fan settings on this device tend to be. In the lab, we registered a decibel rating of 86 on high mode. However, the higher fan settings also mean more intense cleaning in a shorter period of time, and you can choose to activate these modes when you’re not in the room.
While the Mila app outpaces competitors in terms of the level of data and control it offers, this air purifier lacks an air filter replacement alert—though the manufacturer reports this feature is in the works. On the plus side, the company offers seven different HEPA filter replacement options (including several that offer more targeted VOC filtering) beyond the standard Basic Breather, which could mean even more command and peace of mind over your home’s air quality.
Price at time of publish: $408
Dimensions: 11.8 x 11.8 x 15.5 inches | Coverage Area: 1,000 square feet | Filter Type: True HEPA H12 | CADR Rating: 447 | Works With: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Best Quiet
Rabbit Air MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier SPA-780A
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Rabbit Air
Wall-mountable
Fast performance
Quiet and Silent Modes
Many filters to unwrap and place out of the box
Only Alexa-compatible
The Rabbit Air MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier lives up to its name. In our lab and home testing, we found that this model’s Silent and Quiet Modes performed so efficiently that we could barely hear any operation noises at all. Even on high, this machine barely disturbed us in our testing. In addition to operating quietly, the Minus A2 also cleaned the air quickly, though the performance was notably faster and more effective on high versus low mode. After several months of real-world use, we used the Auto Mode most frequently and noticed that it operates consistently at a quiet volume, offering reassurance that it’s cleaning the air and maintaining that quality.
Design-wise, this Rabbit Air model stands apart from the competition in several ways. It features a streamlined and portable square build that can sit on the floor or mount to the wall to save space, a mood lighting panel, and several options for adjusting the filter life sensor sensitivity based on the mode (Auto, Manual, or Pollen).
This machine also comes with a multi-layered filtering system consisting of five layers: a pre-filter for capturing larger particles like dust and hair, a medium filter to filter particles 1 micron and larger, a True HEPA filter to reduce allergens and bacteria, a custom filter (four options ranging from germ to allergen-focused filters), and a charcoal-based activated carbon filter to absorb VOCs and cooking odors. We found assembling these layers to be straightforward when following the instructions but a little time-consuming with unwrapping.
You can monitor air quality and customize settings by pressing a selection on the device’s control panel, using the included remote, or through the Rabbit Air app. Though some other apps offer more granular controls and data, the app offers another convenient control method. It allows you to view air conditions, change the mode or fan speed, adjust the lighting, set timers, and keep an eye on filter life. And while this model supports voice integration, you’re limited to an Alexa-enabled smart speaker. However, you can ask Alexa to assist with most of the same settings the app offers, including changing the fan speed, mode, lighting, and timers.
Price at time of publish: $600
Dimensions: 21.4 x 7 x 20 inches | Coverage Area: 815 square feet | Filter Type: True HEPA | CADR Rating: 200 (pollen), 193 (dust), 180 (smoke)
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The Spruce / Henry Wortock
Best Compatibility
SmartMi Air Purifier P1
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Amazon
Works with HomeKit
Attractive and portable design
Relatively quiet
Smaller coverage area
No VOC monitoring
While many of the smart air purifiers on the market function well with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, the SmartMi Air Purifier P1 is one of the few to offer Apple HomeKit and Siri integration in addition to these popular voice assistants. If you’d prefer to add a model that plays well with your Apple smart home ecosystem, this model could offer a level of convenience over the more high-performing models we recommend.
We haven’t conducted hands-on testing of the P1, but this sleek and compact model offers several appealing features that make it worth considering for smaller spaces. It uses a three-layered True HEPA filtration system and an onboard PM2.5 sensor to keep an eye on air quality levels. The machine displays the air quality and pollen level on the onboard LED panel, but you can also view these readings and monitor filter life, and control the mode and timers in the SmartMi app.
And when you add this device to Apple HomeKit, which is as easy as scanning the QR code on the bottom of the machine, you can ask Siri to turn it off and on, change the mode, or integrate it with another scene or routine you’ve set up with other connected devices.
Though this HomeKit-compatible air purifier lacks more advanced air quality cleaning features, such as VOC filtering, and covers a much smaller area than competitors at 207 square feet, it runs quietly (the manufacturer estimates 19 to 49 decibels max) and includes a Sleep and Auto Mode for convenient operation. This roughly 7-pound machine also has a handle for easy transporting throughout your home if you decide to move it.
Price at time of publish: $180
Dimensions: 8.6 x 8.6 x 14.3 inches | Coverage Area: 320 square feet | Filter Type: True HEPA | CADR Rating: 250 | Works With: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartMi Link
Best for Large Rooms
Winix 9800 4-Stage True HEPA Air Purifier with WiFi & PlasmaWave Technology
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Winix
Covers rooms up to 2,420 square feet
Multi-stage filtration
Effective on low and high modes
Boxy design
Limited smart feature instructions
The Winix 9800 is a smart option for larger spaces. It uses a multi-stage filter system, which includes a pre-filter to capture larger particles, an activated carbon filter to reduce VOCs, and a True HEPA filter to control allergen and very fine particles. While it has a verified coverage area of 500 square feet, Winix indicates that it can also effectively clean rooms up to 2,420 square feet, which surpasses the coverage offered by our other picks.
We found this air purifier to be reliable and effective in all our main testing areas. It rapidly cleaned the air on low and high modes during PM2.5 level testing and immediately registered poor conditions during the VOC testing phase. However, we noted that even after removing the air purifier from the testing pod, it continued to register a “poor” air quality level reading for some time. As for real-life effectiveness, our home tester reported that after a few months of use, she noticed an improvement in her allergy systems, noting that “I’m coughing very little, if at all.”
As for connectivity, the Winix 9800 uses the Winix Smart App for setup and monitoring and integrating an Alexa-enabled speaker for hands-free control. In the lab, we found this process extremely straightforward and loved the full level of control—from monitoring filter life to selecting a fan speed and operating mode, viewing air quality, and signing up for a filter replacement club.
At home, we had a different experience, noting that the app setup was a challenge and the manual offered little guidance. If you’re new to smart devices, this model might require some additional time for setup and familiarity. However, if you want a connected model for a large room in your home, the Winix 9800 could be worth the initial learning curve.
Price at time of publish: $280
Dimensions: 16.5 x 11.8 x 23.2 inches | Coverage Area: 500 square feet | Filter Type: True HEPA | CADR Rating: Not listed | Works With: Amazon Alexa
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The Spruce / Henry Wortock
Best Splurge
Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde
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Dyson
Humidifier, fan, and air purifier in one
Sleek design
Quiet operation
Price reflects premium features
No CADR rating provided
The Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH04 requires an investment that’s heads and shoulders above our other recommendations, but its extensive list of advanced features helps justify the price point. In addition to offering cooling (fan) and humidifying features, this unit also works as an air purifier in a refined, tower-like metal design. It uses an activated carbon and HEPA H13 combination filter to capture VOCs and odors and up to 99.7 percent of the smallest particulate matter that might be lingering in your home. It also houses a permanent catalytic filter that eliminates formaldehyde.
Its sensors continuously monitor the air and report findings on everything from the temperature and humidity to particulate matter readings on the built-in display, but you can also view this information and control the device with the included remote or via the Dyson Link app. The app allows you to view filter reminders, historical air quality data, and set cleaning schedules, too. In addition to app control, the PH04 offers wide voice assistant compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. Once set up, you can ask your assistant of choice to change the fan speed, enable certain modes (which include handy Auto and Night Modes), or even turn off the device.
When we put the Dyson PH04 through our lab test, it excelled at effectively improving air quality quickly and quietly. At the lowest level, we couldn’t register any difference over the room noise level, and on the highest level, the decibel rating reached only 69, which we noted sounded like a medium-sized fan and wasn’t disruptive—especially considering it cleaned the air in our testing tent in a mere five minutes.
With continued daily use at home, we observed a noticeable difference in pet dander after running the machine daily. Our lab and home testing teams agreed that the steep price is difficult to overlook but that the effectiveness and functionality make this model worth the investment for those who can manage it.
Price at time of publish: $920
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The Spruce / Henry Wortock
Based on our testing and research, we recommend the Coway Airmega 400S Smart Air Purifier for its generous 1,560-foot coverage area, numerous control methods, including voice commands, and its effective multi-stage True HEPA filtering system that captures VOCs and pet hair. If you’re looking for a model for medium to larger-sized spaces with more than the typical three to four modes and a feature-rich app that dives deep into various air quality specs, the Mila Smart Air Purifier is worth a closer look.
How We Tested the Air Purifiers
Over the course of two days, we tested 38 air purifiers in The Lab in Des Moines, Iowa, including eight models with an app or smart home connectivity. Our testing team evaluated each model on five main criteria: setup, design, noise level, features, effectiveness, and overall value.
We unboxed each model and used a stopwatch to record how long the assembly and setup process took for each air purifier and noted how straightforward the instructions were to follow. Following setup, we rated the air purifiers on design merits, noting how aspects such as size and shape, as well as features such as displays, buttons, and lighting inform the usability of the device. We also rated the air purifiers based on noteworthy features, including app and voice assistant support, air quality monitoring, and filter change reminders.
To evaluate the effectiveness, we placed air purifiers in zip-up indoor greenhouses and used an air quality monitor to record the baseline PM2.5 (particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) levels, if applicable. Our testing team lit incense matches and released pet hair into the chamber, noted the air quality level, and then recorded the difference on low mode after allowing the air purifier to run for ten minutes. We then noted their PM2.5 findings at five- and ten-minute intervals and repeated this process on high mode. For models with VOC monitoring, we placed a 4-ounce package of mothballs into a bowl and recorded the VOC reading after 15 minutes. Similarly, after allowing the air purifiers to run for ten minutes, we recorded any changes in levels after five and ten minutes. We also used a decibel meter to record noise level on high and low modes. Based on these results, we rated each model based on the overall value for the price.
In addition to testing in The Lab, we sent home top air purifiers with and without smart features to long-term home testers to learn more about the day-to-day effectiveness and impact of each model. We considered these real-world insights when making recommendations for this list and will continue to update our findings based on each smart air purifier's real-world performance.
What to Look For in a Smart Air Purifier
Coverage Area and CADR
Smart air purifier models come with various capacities to support different room sizes. You can usually find square footage recommendations on the manufacturer’s website. Some models, like our pick for large spaces, the Winix 9800, even list third-party coverage area verification. While larger machines tend to deliver more space, the form factor doesn’t always indicate how much coverage a device offers. Our "best overall" pick, the Coway Airmega 400S, is a medium-sized device that covers up to 1,560 square feet, while the Winix 9800, which isn’t much larger, reports a verified cleaning power of 500 square feet and the potential to clean rooms up to 2,420 square feet.
Coverage area can also be closely linked to a device’s Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). This figure describes how fast an air purifier can filter the air to remove smoke, pollen, and dust. According to the independent testing party, Air Verifide, an air purifier’s CADR should reach at least two-thirds of the room’s square footage. Generally speaking, the higher an air purifier’s CADR, the faster it will work to clean the air. While smart air purifiers don’t necessarily have higher CADR than regular air purifiers, they do have the ability to automatically adjust the speed at which they move air through their filters, which regular purifiers cannot do. “Let’s say there’s a really big pollution event, that CADR [of a regular air purifier] on low speed may never be able to keep up with that pollution event,” says Vinny Lobdell, the founder and past president of Healthway family of brands and Intellipure Inc. “However, if you have a smart air purifier and it senses that pollution, it’s going to kick that smart purifier to a higher CADR level, or a higher speed, which is then going to reduce the pollution in that space much quicker than a standard air purifier running on low.”
It’s worth noting that the maximum CADR listed reflects the model’s highest setting, which you may not end up running all that often or for very long. This setting also tends to be noisiest. The Mila Air Purifier, which has a coverage area of 1,000 square feet and CADR of 447, registered at 86 decibels on high mode during our lab testing. By comparison, the Levoit PlasmaPro 400S, which has a 403-square-foot capacity and a CADR of 260 came in at 72 decibels on its highest mode, which is still noticeably louder than its near-silent low mode but quieter than the Mila and other higher-coverage models.
Lobdell also warns that an air purifier that’s completely silent may not be pushing air through fast enough to eliminate any potential pollution events—such as strongly scented cleaning products—and therefore does not have the power to effectively and efficiently clean a space’s air. “The benefit with a smart air purifier is if the smart air purifier is giving you the intelligence to state that there’s really no air pollution impacting the environment (there’s no real air pollution problem), then it may not have to operate at a high speed—it may be able to operate on a lower speed,” says Lobdell.
Filters and Maintenance Costs
All of the models we recommend come with a high efficiency particulate air filter, also known as a HEPA filter. These True HEPA filters eliminate up to 99.97 percent of airborne substances including dust and mold that are 0.3 microns (micrometers) or less. Many of our recommendations, including our "best splurge" option, the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH04, combine this filter technology with an activated carbon filter to capture VOCs. Others feature several layers for multi-stage purification, starting with a pre-filter that filters out larger particles like hair and pet dander.
Our "best quiet" pick, the Rabbit Air MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier, takes multi-stage filtration to the next level with five layers of protection, including a custom filter based on concerns such as allergies. The Wyze Air Purifier, our "best budget" pick, and the Mila Air Purifier, which earns our recommendation for the best smart features, also offer various HEPA filter types for customizing the air purifying experience.
An important factor to consider with filter effectiveness is the sensor system(s) at work in an air purifier. “Make sure you’re buying something that’s high quality, and is not just telling you it’s sensing,” says Lobdell. “And really look at the type of sensor that’s in it. People are spending lots of money on these machines, so I caution people—you pay for what you get—and buying something with smart sensing that actually has good quality sensors in it will pay off long term.”
As for filter replacements, manufacturers usually provide a general recommendation about the timeline for maximum effectiveness. The best interval for your home could be different depending on your preferences and the air quality conditions. All of our picks, except the Mila Air Purifier, provide filter monitoring within the companion app or on the device itself, which can be another handy way to monitor filter efficiency. Many brands also offer filter subscription services within the app or online for convenient maintenance.
While filter replacement comes with an additional cost for all the models we recommend, you may find your dollar stretches more with certain models. The ultra-quiet Rabbit Air Minus A2, for example, comes with four filters to replace. However, the company offers a $95 replacement bundle that includes all necessary filters and covers running the device 24 hours a day for a full year. Conversely, the splurge-worthy Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH04’s $80 filter requires replacing every 12 months assuming you run it only 12 hours a day.
Control Methods
The flexibility of remote app control is a primary advantage of smart air purifiers over standard models. While all of our top selections feature touch controls or buttons on the physical machine, they also offer the freedom to avoid manual operation altogether. Some models, including the Rabbit Air MinusA2 and the Dyson Purifier Humidity+Cool PHO4, come with a remote control in addition to a mobile app for an added layer of convenience.
While you may be able to use any of our recommended smart air purifiers without setting up the app, you will miss out on the full functionality. For example, models that offer voice assistant support require app integration. Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are the most common voice assistants you can work with, though some models, including the SmartMi Air Purifier P1, our "best for HomeKit" pick, also work with an Apple-connected smart home, which is rarer in smart air purifiers. It’s also important to note that you may not be able to remotely control every aspect of your air purifier with the help of a voice assistant, which will mean dependence on the app for some features. Manufacturers usually list the kinds of commands you can issue, which typically include powering the device, changing fan and mode settings, and checking on the air quality.
Models with advanced control options also need the companion app for more streamlined and detailed monitoring of historical air quality trends, allergen alerts, scheduling, and mode selection. The Mila Air Purifier is a prime example of the necessity and benefit of using the companion mobile app. During our testing, we found the app essential to getting the most out of the device, from controlling fan and mode settings to getting a broad picture of how the air quality changed over the course of several months. If you prefer a more set-it-and-forget-it approach, air purifiers with automatic or smart modes can provide that level of convenience and peace of mind by adapting to air quality changes automatically without your input.
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Do I need a smart air purifier?
You might consider a smart air purifier if you use a smart home hub with other devices in your hands-free or app control for daily routines. Models with voice assistant support can allow you to enlist the help of your preferred virtual assistant to quickly change settings on the machine, such as turning on an energy-saving or sleep mode at bedtime or when you’re away or performing a deep clean when you’re in another room.
Even if you don’t use a smart assistant or smart speaker daily, if you appreciate the ability to monitor and control this type of device from a mobile app, a smart air purifier could also be more beneficial over a non-connected model. Most standard models come with a display or onboard controls, but smart air purifiers also offer an easier method for viewing and switching fan and mode settings, customizing schedules, and even obtaining customer support directly from the app.
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Do smart air purifiers use a lot of energy?
While it’s up to you how frequently and long you run a smart air purifier, you may find the most benefit from continuously operating the machine. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a typical air purifier can use up to 450 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which surpasses the demand of some refrigerators. However, some smart air purifiers come with energy-saving modes that put the devices on standby to reduce operating costs when air quality has reached a sustainably good level.
If you plan to run a smart air purifier 24/7, you might consider an Energy Star-rated model to maximize your investment and savings. The EPA estimates that going this route could mean a 25 percent increase in energy efficiency and utility bill savings of up to $15 a year.
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Is it possible to make an air purifier smart?
You may be able to control a non-smart air purifier with a smart plug if it turns on when you plug it in. In this case, just as with other devices that work with smart plugs, including lamps, speakers, or other appliances, plugging an air purifier into a smart plug offers convenient on/off control from the smart plug’s app. However, be aware that smart plugs won’t give you more remote access to an air purifier’s features beyond basic powering.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Yoona Wagener is a commerce editor specializing in smart home technology and home tech for The Spruce. When making recommendations for this article, she researched top alternatives, weighing their mix of smart home features and integration, effectiveness, and coverage area. She also considered insights from The Lab and long-term feedback from home testers who are continuing to monitor the real-world performance of several top models with smart features. Yoona also factored in her own experience with long-term testing the Mila Air Purifier, noting her positive experience with the app and its many customization options.
Emma Phelps is an updates editor for The Spruce who has previously covered updates for stories about technology cleaning supplies and air purifiers. To support this roundup, Emma connected with Vinny Lobdell, who was the founder and past president of Healthway family of brands and Intellipure Inc. He is an Air Quality Expert and global entrepreneur with more than 25 years of IAQ experience. Lobdell provided essential insight into how smart purifiers operate and sense changes in air quality.
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