Three picks here list under $200 on the maker's own store. Two more list above $200. We show them as step-up picks for bigger rooms, and we say so on each one. Every pick is sorted by the CADR, room size and noise its maker publishes.
Last updated: October 2026 · By the CleanAirHomeLab team
Quick Picks
Best overall under $200: Levoit Core 300S, $149.99 list, 22 dB at its lowest, app control
Best value under $200: Levoit Core 300, $99.99 list, CADR 143 CFM
Best for small rooms: Levoit Core 200S, $89.99 list, 140 sq ft
Step-up pick for large rooms, lists above $200: Levoit Core 600S, $299.99 list, CADR 391 CFM
How We Picked
Every figure on this page is the maker's own. We read each one on the maker's page on the date shown in the sources at the foot of the page. We do not test products. The price shown is the maker's list price. Store prices change, so check the listing for the price today. This page gives no medical advice.
All Five, Side by Side
The last column uses the EPA's sizing chart, which assumes an 8-foot ceiling. It shows the largest room on the chart that each maker's CADR covers.
Purifier
Maker list price
CADR
Room size (4.8 ACH)
Noise range
EPA chart room
Levoit Core 300S
$149.99list price
141 CFM
219 sq ft
22 to 50 dB
200 sq ft
Levoit Core 300
$99.99list price
143 CFM
222 sq ft
24 to 54.5 dB
200 sq ft
Levoit Core 200S
$89.99list price
90 CFM
140 sq ft
27 to 48 dB
100 sq ft
Medify MA-40Step-up, lists above $200
$249.99list price
239 CFM (smoke)
373 sq ft
40.5 to 53.3 dBA
300 sq ft
Levoit Core 600SStep-up, lists above $200
$299.99list price
391 CFM
606 sq ft
26 to 55 dB
600 sq ft
What Size Do You Need?
The EPA says to pick a portable air cleaner with a CADR large enough for the room. Here is its chart for an 8-foot ceiling. AHAM, which runs the CADR certification program, gives a 2/3 rule: the CADR should be at least two thirds of the room's area in square feet. The EPA notes that the CADR rating is for particles only.
Levoit lists the Core 300S at $149.99. It is the smart version of the Core 300. You can set schedules and timers in the VeSync app, or use Alexa or Google Assistant. Levoit lists it at 22 dB on its lowest setting, the lowest figure on this page. It rates it for 219 sq ft at 4.8 air changes an hour and labels it ozone free.
What We Like
22 dB at its lowest, by Levoit's figure
App and voice control
Levoit labels it ozone free
2-year limited warranty, by Levoit
Watch Out For
219 sq ft suits a bedroom, not a big living room
The app needs setting up before the smart features work
Levoit lists the Core 300 at $99.99. Its CADR is 143 CFM, about the same as the Core 300S. Levoit rates it for 222 sq ft at 4.8 air changes an hour. It has no app. The filter is $29.99, and Levoit says to change it every 6 to 8 months.
Levoit lists the Core 200S at $89.99. It is the small smart model, with app and voice control. Levoit rates it for 140 sq ft at 4.8 air changes an hour, which suits a small bedroom or a dorm room. Its top speed is 48 dB, the quietest top speed on this page.
What We Like
App control, with 2, 4 or 8 hour timers
48 dB at full speed, the lowest top-speed figure here
These two list above $200 on the maker's own store. They are here for rooms bigger than the picks above can cover.
#4 Step-Up Pick: Lists Above $200
Medify MA-40
$249.99list price
CADR
239 smoke, 231 dust, 240 pollen
Room size
373 sq ft at 4.8 air changes an hour
Noise range
40.5 to 53.3 dBA
Filter
$59.99, 3,000 hours (4 to 5 months)
Medify lists the MA-40 at $249.99, so it is above this page's line. It is here for a room the in-band picks are too small for. Medify gives a smoke CADR of 239 CFM. It says the MA-40 is AHAM Verifide at 373 sq ft, at 4.8 air changes an hour. Medify describes its filter as pre-filter, HEPA and active carbon composite. It has no app. Medify lists its lowest setting at 40.5 dBA.
What We Like
Smoke CADR of 239 CFM, by Medify's figure
Touch controls, child lock and a 0 to 8 hour timer
Medify labels it ozone free. The ionizer is an option
Limited lifetime warranty, by Medify
Watch Out For
Lists at $249.99, above $200
40.5 dBA at its lowest, by Medify. Levoit lists 22 to 27 dB for its picks here
Levoit lists the Core 600S at $299.99, well above this page's line. It is here for a big living room. Levoit publishes a CADR of 391 CFM and rates it for 606 sq ft at 4.8 air changes an hour. Its auto mode changes fan speed based on air quality. It works with the VeSync app, Alexa and Google Assistant.
A filter is a cost you pay again and again, so check it before you buy. Levoit lists the Core 300 filter at $29.99 and says to change it every 6 to 8 months. Medify lists the MA-40 filter at $59.99 and rates it for 3,000 hours, which it puts at 4 to 5 months.
We do not have the maker's filter price on file for the Core 300S, Core 200S or Core 600S. Check the listing for the filter price today.
Common Questions
Can a cheap air purifier clean the air?+
The EPA says portable air cleaners can reduce indoor air pollution, but they cannot remove all pollutants from the air. It says to pick one with a CADR large enough for the room. That rule is the same at any price.
What should I look for in an air purifier under $200?+
Start with CADR. The EPA chart asks for 130 cfm in a 200 sq ft room and 195 cfm in a 300 sq ft room, with an 8-foot ceiling. AHAM's 2/3 rule says the CADR should be at least two thirds of the room's area. Then check the maker's noise figure, the filter price and how often you change it. The EPA also says to make sure an air cleaner does not make ozone.
Is Levoit a good brand?+
We do not rate brands, and we do not test products. Levoit publishes CADR, room size and noise for each Core model on its own pages. That is why four of the five picks here are Levoit. Levoit lists a 2-year limited warranty on each of them.
Do I need a smart air purifier?+
Only if you will use the app. Levoit lists the Core 300 at $99.99 and the smart Core 300S at $149.99. The two have about the same CADR, 143 and 141 CFM. The smart model adds app schedules and voice control.
Ready to See the Full List?
Our full air purifier roundup includes bigger and higher-priced picks, for when budget matters less.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links and may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Our picks are based on the makers' published figures, not commission rates. Full disclosure.
Sources and last review
Specifications on this page are taken from the documents below, on the dates shown. We do not physically test products; read our methodology. Page last reviewed .
Corrections, October 2026: the Levoit Core 600S ($299.99 list) was this page's top pick and is now a step-up pick. The Medify MA-40 was shown at $170 with a CADR of 330 and a low of 35 dB. Medify lists it at $249.99, with a smoke CADR of 239 CFM and a low of 40.5 dBA, so it is now a step-up pick. The Winix AM90 is gone: Winix America no longer lists it.
