Just like the water we drink, the quality of the air we breathe has a direct impact on our health.
Indoor air pollution is linked to a variety of health issues including cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Poor quality air can also worsen debilitating diseases like asthma.
The easiest way to keep your household air clean is by regularly changing the filters in your air conditioning and heating systems.
So, let’s be completely honest: when was the last time you changed your air filters?
If you are like most people, you may not even remember.
Thankfully, automated air filter delivery services take the remembering part away. Air filters just show up when they are needed, serving as both a reminder to change them and an inexpensive way to resupply the need.
The best air filter subscription services have do more than just send you a replacement, they offer access to a wide variety of filters and offer online portals that let you customize your plans, pause them, and adjust them as needed. Many also offer other replacement parts.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the most popular and proven air filter delivery services to see how they compare – and whether one of them has your name on it.
Our Top 3 Picks
- Three ratings: MERV 8, 11, or 13.
- Easy signup process
- Free shipping
- First filter is FREE
- Shop by size, brand, or performance
- Bulk-buying option saves $$
- Guaranteed lowest price
- Custom sizes available
- MERV 13 only
- Best choice for hospitals, sensitive people
- Specialized high-loft media
- Chemical-free, dye-free, durable air filters
What's In This Buying Guide
Table of Contents
Like every other major appliance in your home, you must maintain your HVAC system in order to ensure maximum efficiency. And swapping air filters is a major part of good HVAC hygiene.
This guide will help you first decide if a subscription service makes sense for you, then help you decide which service is best suited to your needs.
We start by discussing when buying an air filter subscription makes sense vs. not.
Then we provide in-depth reviews of the best air filter subscription services available today.
We then discuss the key features and options to consider when assessing an air filter subscription service.
Finally, we answer the most common questions people ask about air filter subscription services.
So let’s dive in!
Who Should Get An Air Filter Delivery Subscription?
If you fit any of the following situations, then getting an air filter subscription is probably a good idea for you.
You Suffer From Respiratory Issues Like Asthma or Allergies
People who suffer from asthma, allergies, and other breathing issues can reduce their their symptoms by regularly swapping out air filters.
Keeping your filters clean and fresh will keep common irritants like pet dander, pollen, and dust, from reaching your sinuses and lungs.
An air filter delivery service takes the guesswork and memory out of the equation when protecting your health.
You Have Pets
There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic pet – animals retain dust and pollen in their coats and then spread them around the house.
Even cats that do not shed and dogs with short fur will release dander and skin into the air.
You may not be allergic to your pets specifically, but that doesn’t mean the extra dust isn’t causing you breathing problems.
Fresh, regularly changed air filters capture the extra dander and irritants pets drag into your home before they cause a major issue.
You Live With A Smoker (Or You Smoke)
Cigarette smoking, including secondhand smoke, can impact your health and the health of people you live with.
In fact, even the slightest amount of secondhand smoke poses a risk, and simply having open windows does not eliminate this issue.
Smoke is made up of particles smaller than pollen and dust so only the right kind of air filters can capture it.
When your HVAC system always has clean air filters of the right type, you and your family will suffer less from smoke smells and the health side effects.
You Live With Others
You can be the tidiest and cleanest person, but you still cannot control how your kids or roommates tend to behave.
If other people aren’t as meticulous as you about decluttering or they tend to bring in pet hair, dust, pollen, and dirt, then an air filter subscription will carry the burden of clearing such pollutants and filtering air around you.
You Are Pregnant
Many researchers believe that pollutants or toxins in the air can lead to diseases that begin at an early stage of life.
If you are pregnant, then, preventing chemical exposure early on is critical.
For a pregnant woman, it is important to change air filters every month, and a filter subscription will take care of this.
Especially helpful when the brain fog of caring for a newborn arrives!
You Live Near Construction or on A Busy Street
Air filters catch airborne particles such as dust that can get kicked in the air during construction or from cars and bikes driving down your road.
Keeping your windows shut will keep the debris at bay, but an air filter helps in eliminating the particles that enter your house through the cracks.
Having an air filter subscription can help you breathe better.
Best Air Filter Subscriptions
- 1. Best Filter Options: Second Nature
- 2. Best Satisfaction Guarantee: Air Filters Delivered
- 3. Best For Asthma And Other Allergies: TRU Filtered Air
- 4. Best Subscription Features: Simple Filter Plan
Second Nature
Free Shipping
Custom Filters (extra charge)
MERV 8, 11, 13
Air Filters Delivered
Free Shipping (limited areas)
Standard Sizes Only
MERV 8, 11, 13
Tru Filtered Air
Free Shipping
Standard Sizes Only
MERV 13 only
Simple Filter Plan
Free Shipping
Standard Sizes Only
MERV 8, 11, 13
Why Subscribe: Second Nature delivers air filters to your house every one to three months. They provide a wide variety of filters to suit the air quality level you are looking for with top-notch customer service.
The first pick of air filter subscription service is Second Nature, formerly known as FilterEasy. This service was founded in 2012 by North Carolina State University students Kevin Barry and Thad Tarkington.
The main aim for opening this company was to eliminate the tiresome and usually neglected trips to the store for air filters. Today, this company has a wide circle of loyal customers and has expanded in other home wellness branches, including refrigerator filtration systems.
The reason why Second Nature sits so high up in every air filter subscription service is the features it provides to users. Each and every filter they provide is of high quality, and they offer three different filtration ratings, MERV 8, 11, or 13.
MERV 8 is the basic entry-level filter; it gets the job done better than a fiberglass filter, and you can swap this filter after every three months. The next filter is the MERV 11 filter and is ideal for allergies and pets. The last filter is the MERV 13, which is great if you or someone in your house suffers from respiratory conditions.
Second Nature filters get rid of the smallest particles present and make this convenient to do so. Their automated delivery guarantees that the air filters arrive when they are due and deliver them right to your doorsteps on time. You can get rid of all air conditioning maintenance problems that come when you do not change your filter.
The best part about Second Nature is that it always provides you with free shipping. Many subscription companies charge a convenience or shipping fee, but this company charges no additional fee.
Another advantage of opting for Second Nature is that it has the easiest signup process. It takes you around three to five minutes max to complete your first order, and if you know the size of the filter you need in your house, then it’ll take even less time than that.
Simply head on to their site, select the number of filters you need at your house and then choose the quality, size, and frequency you want. Second Nature will provide you with a range of options for the size you need and also compare the different filters side by side with their pricing and information on what kind of pollutants and particles they will catch.
After you place the order, you do not have to worry about paying for the first filter because it’s free for first-timers. You will get the first filter with free shipping on your doorstep; this trial doesn’t cost you money at all, and you can also cancel the service anytime you want.
However, the cost for the filter ranges from $10 to $30, and once you have selected the model for the filter you need, you can indicate how often you would like to receive the filter shipments.
They also provide you filters for your fridge, and you can relax and leave all your worries up to them with their excellent and timely service.
Why Subscribe: Air Filters Delivered offers highly customizable subscriptions and single-purchases of air filters in a wide range of filter types, sizes, and prices. They also offer a price-match guarantee and you can buy filters in bulk for even more savings.
Since its start in 2010, Air Filters Delivered has worked consistently to provide users with high-quality filtration products at your door or business at a great price point.
Air Filters Delivered lets you customize your replacement schedule, so you no longer have to worry about having outdated filters in your basement.
The best part about the service is that they are adamant about offering the lowest price and will match the price of any online filter service out there. You can request a price match within 14 days after purchasing by emailing their contact support.
NOTE: to benefit from the price match guarantee, you need to make sure that the item matches in size, MERV rating, materials, and pack quantity. Also, Filters Delivered will not match the price with the competitor if the competitor is out of stock.
Air Filters Delivered lets you order custom-size filters if you are unable to find your size in their inventory. In order to customize, you need to enter the dimensions and the filter media you need. They offer three different filter media to choose from, including:
- MERV 8 filter media removes the largest airborne particles including household dust, dust mites, lint, pollen, and mold spores
- MERV 11 filter media can also deal with finer particles including pet dander and smoke.
- MERV 13 filter media removes even finer particles including virus carriers and bacteria.
Air Filters Delivered also lets you shop by brand – they carry the most popular brands like Carrier, Honeywell, Aprilaire, SpaceGard, and Lennox. They also carry less popular brands including Bryant, Air Kontrol, Maytag, and York.
Filters can be ordered between 1″ to 6″ thick.
You can also shop by filtration performance for the filter media that you find most suitable.
You can also buy in bulk in packs of 6, 12, or more.
The company guarantees satisfaction and risk-free purchasing, and you can cancel or update your order anytime you want.
In short, Air Filters Delivered provides an excellent selection of brands to choose from, all are available at an excellent price point.
Why Subscribe: TRU provides its customers with the best and top-performing filter only, MERV 13. It has a very informative buying procedure and is a partner of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
With TRU Filtered Air, you can take the hassle out of running to the store to get air filters for your house and get them delivered instead. TRU can deliver filters of any size to your doorstep for free.
The filters are top-rated and have medical-grade efficiency. Universities and hospitals trust MERV 13 air filters, and they have higher efficiency air filtration. This means that the filters are able to get rid of the same allergens and bacteria as hospital air filters and are effective in doing so.
Furthermore, these filters have optimized pleats for a better flow of air. A filter that has poorly spaced or few pleats doesn’t provide adequate filter area for airflow.
Similarly, having plenty of pleats can cause a reduction in airflow as well. However, the TRU filter’s pleats are spaced optimally and reinforced with metal to provide the ideal airflow and excellent pleat stability. Plus, the diagonal grid and rigid filter frame offer users maximum strength.
Furthermore, instead of opting for compressed paper, TRU uses specialized high-loft filter media to increase efficiency up to 95%.
This material is thicker and can trap and intercept a high percentage of harmful pollutants. This results in excellent filter efficiency and, all the while maintains proper airflow. The best part? TRU filters do not come with chemical coatings or any dyes.
Why Subscribe: Simple Filter Plan provides excellent subscription options for you to choose from, and they range in quality, beginning from Basic to Advanced to Premium.
At Simple FIlter Plan, you can enjoy a wide variety of air filters delivered right to your doorstep. You incur no hidden cost or any kind of exorbitant shipping fee. The first thing that the Simple Filter Plan website does before you place the order is walk you through a detailed questionnaire and determines the kind of filter you need.
It is incredibly easy to subscribe to their filtration service, and it provides you with three different options to subscribe to Advanced, Basic, and Premium. Using the advanced filter subscription option allows you to enjoy a full package of options with the best air filters provided at your doorstep.
Furthermore, these options are then divided monthly, every two months, and every three months as well. The monthly option is ideal if you have multiple pets and want to keep allergies at bay.
Meanwhile, if you have a single pet, you can opt for filter delivery every two months, and for an average suburban home, we recommend every three months.
Simple Filter Plan is an excellent delivery service because you choose when you want the filters shipped, and you can also cancel it anytime without any additional charges. They provide you with 100% satisfaction with a money-back guarantee, and you can customize your simple filter plan according to your family’s needs.
Their filters lower your energy bills, avoid breakdowns, keep your house away from pollutants and dust and ensure your AC runs smoothly, making it an excellent long-term investment.
How To Choose An Air Filter Delivery Service
Before you head on and subscribe to an air filter delivery service, you need to look out for some important notes. It can be hard to remember to change the air filter and hard to purchase and subscribe to a service.
Luckily, many manufacturers nowadays provide excellent features, causing you to tilt more towards their company.
Many private companies provide users with a wide range of options at an affordable price, making it difficult to choose a company. However, to help you out, we have mentioned some features you need to look out for. These will ensure that your subscription service puts you first.
Filter Choices
The first and foremost thing to focus on when opting for a private filter delivery service is to check if they have the filter you need available on a regular basis.
The majority of centrally air-conditioned and heating systems require a specific kind of filter because they are used to entrap the debris found at home, and the size of the filter depends on the debris it is entrapping.
This allows them to work at a good quality level. If the filter size varies from the size of the debris, it won’t help clean the air and void your warranty since service technicians will not be able to help you if the filter size is incorrect.
Consider Both Type of Filter - and Size
Another essential aspect to consider when finding a filter delivery service is to make sure that they carry the right air filter that your central system can handle.
Some people tend to opt for higher filtration filters to ensure that the air around them is deeply cleansed and purified.
However, the problem with that is most air systems of older models cannot keep up with the high filtration filters and get sluggish and clog up during operation. If this happens, then your central air system will overheat, leading to system meltdown and expensive repairs.
Before choosing an air filter service, you must make sure that it does not try to sell a particular size filter since this can lead to a damaged home system, and the service will not incur any repair charges. You can easily find the filter size using the index card located on the system itself or through the instruction book.
If you are unsure, you can simply call the retailer who helped with the installation. Once you find the size, make sure you check the top subscription services present and if they have the filter in stock. VAC
Customer Support
The level of good customer support is the final selling point for the best air delivery subscription service.
No matter what you are buying, whether it is a dehumidifier, a computer, or a delivery service such as this, feeling valued for your purchase is what every person needs.
But providing excellent customer service is more important for a subscription business, because if the company cannot keep their customers happy and supplied, then their business will not survive. In other words, great customer service is the mark of any healthy subscription business.
If you see any signs that the company cannot understand your needs or is uncertain about what they can provide – walk away.
The company must also be accessible to all through various hours, whether it is through telephone, email, or online chat windows. A company that is easily accessible will help you with all future inquiries regardless of the time, and this is something that makes it worth investing in.
Good customer support also requires following its date and time; if it claims that you will receive your air filters on a particular date, then they must follow through and guarantee its arrival on time. If they offer you a discount on your first year, then it should easily be available on your invoice and visible on your payment schedule.
There should be no hidden charges or fees since this can lose your trust in the company.
The last thing that companies must have in order to achieve excellent customer service is a guarantee on products. The private delivery service that you subscribe to must always send you brand new, unopened, and undamaged filters. In case they are damaged when they reach you, the company must be willing to refund you the entire cost or resend you the filters to ensure no loss at your end.
FAQs
What Is The Average Cost Of An Air Filter Subscription?
Most air filter delivery services provide free shipping on recurring orders, and they usually charge around $8 to $30 per filter, depending on the size and filter material you order.
You will be charged at intervals of your scheduled deliveries. Usually, this means you will pay once a month or once every three months, depending on your package.
Schedule adjustments, pauses, and cancellations should never incur charges.
Is It True That Pleated Air Filters Restrict Airflow?
Yes, this is true. Pleated air filters do, in fact, restrict the airflow to your HVAC system. This happens because the air pressure makes the pleats unstable and makes them overlap; this, in turn, creates a blockage in the airflow. Finding an air filter with optimal pleats is what you should look out for.
How Good Is MERV 8 Filter?
A MERV 8 air filter is very common due to the two-inch pleats it has. This makes it very efficient in trapping indoor pollutants that can debilitate allergies and asthma and also lead to long-term respiratory problems. Another factor leading to the popularity of the MERV 8 filter is that it is easy to service and very inexpensive. Depending on the company, these filters can last up to six months and even a year when used on a regular basis. These are the most suitable for basement dehumidifiers.
Final Verdict: What Is The Best Air Filter Delivery Subscription?
Even though all of the air delivery subscription services above enjoy high customer satisfaction ratings, we believe the best choice for most first-timers is Air Filters Delivered.
Along with their price-match guarantee, they offer free shipping and returns, and let you order custom-sized filters.
They offer more than enough filter choices from a wide range of popular and not-so-popular brands.
Finally, you can adjust filter selections and delivery options at any time to tweak the service as your needs change.
I’m a degreed ME (mechanical engineer) who is passionate about machines of all kinds. I created MachineWonders.com as a way to connect with others who love machines like me – or need help choosing one for their needs, application, or situation.
