Best Generic Refrigerator Water Filters

Many refrigerator models now provide cold water (and even hot water!) and ice cubes from a dispenser in the front. Even though in many cases you can insert a bypass plug and use the refrigerator without a filter, it’s incomparably better to use a filter. The refrigerator will come with a proprietary filter, which will remove impurities from the water, as well as prevent lime deposits which can shorten the lifetime of the appliance. There are also microbial cysts that can be in your drinking water, which are resistant to water purification processes--a filter will successfully remove these organisms as well. 

The manufacturers of the refrigerator will say that the best results are achieved if you use the proprietary water filter for their brand. Their filters have undergone laboratory tests to remove microbial cysts, bacteria, algae, mold, lead, chlorine, and other contaminants. But there are also generic water filters that are made to be compatible with a number of refrigerators. These generic filters may be cheaper and easier to obtain than the proprietary filter. And sometimes one model of filter is good for several brands at once. So it’s worth considering whether the generic will perform as well as the brand name filter.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a generic refrigerator water filter. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of generic refrigerator water filter,

• See useful tips about that particular type of generic refrigerator water filter,

• Read reviews of different generic refrigerator water filters, and what customers are saying, 

• Select the right brand of generic refrigerator water filter, and 

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

• Verify that the generic filter matches your refrigerator: When buying a generic filter, make sure that it will match your refrigerator model. You’ll have to see that your refrigerator’s model number will appear on the label. For example, the Waterdrop MWF Filter is compatible with the following  GE models: MWF, MWFA, GWF, GWF01, GWFA, GWF06, as well as Kenmore models 9991, 46-9991, 469991.  

Waterdrop MWF Refrigerator Water Filter

• Look out for design changes: Your refrigerator may last you a good 25 years or more--so you can expect to have to change the filter as many as 50 times in the lifetime of your refrigerator. Some customers noticed that Frigidaire changed the design of their filters after 7 years of using the same filter--and they had to request a technician to properly update the filter assembly inside the fridge to make the filter work. (This was free of charge, but it took a while to troubleshoot.)

• The difference in price between proprietary and generic filters: A generic filter will usually cost significantly less than the brand name filter. For example, the Waterspecialist NSF 53&42 Certified MWF Refrigerator Water filter will be around $34.  Compare this to the GE brand filter usually available for $50. Since you can buy packs of them at a time, this savings adds up over time.

• Prefer to use the original filter: General Electric recommends using their original filters, instead of a generic alternative. GE makes several models of refrigerators that have their own specialized filter: MWF, RPWFE, XWF, MSWF, and GSWF. Each type of filter has a very distinctive shape, so it is not possible to interchange them. The generic filter may fit their model of refrigerator, but they have rigorously tested their filters to ensure that they remove over 90% of impurities. You don’t have a similar assurance when using a generic filter.

GE Refrigerator Water Filters, from left to right: MWF, RPWFE, XWF, MSWF, & GSWF

• NSF certification: You’ll see that water filters have NSF certification. This means that they pass certain standards of the National Science Foundation. The NSF 42 Standard means that the filter removes any aesthetic impurities in the water, that affect the water’s appearance, but are not a health hazard. The NSF 53 standard means that the filter reduces any health-related contaminants. NSF 372 Standard ensures that the filter is made from lead-free material. And NSF 401 standard indicates that the filter removes accidental pollutants to the extent that the water is safe to drink.

• Replacing the filter regularly: Most of the filters that we reviewed are good for up to six months of use, or 300 gallons of water, whichever comes first. It’s recommended to write the date that you changed the filter, on the new filter. If you notice that the flow rate of the water is slower, or if the ice cubes start coming out smaller than usual, it’s also a good sign that the filter needs to be changed. On the GE refrigerators, there is an indicator light that turns red when the time comes for you to change the filter.

The red indicator light on GE refrigerator, reminding to change the filter

Some companies, such as Frigidaire, allow you to put a reminder on your Google Calendar when the six months are up!

• Monitoring flow rate and water quality: Filters will have a defined flow rate for how fast the water should go out of the dispenser. For example, the water filter for the LG LT700P has a flow rate of 0.5-1.0 gallons per minute. If the water flows out more slowly than that, you should consider replacing the filter.  

• Fill the filter with water before replacing it: It is recommended to fill the new filter with water before attaching it in the fridge. This will allow water to flow through it more freely. Also, run 1.5 gallons of water through the filter, to get any air out of the system. Many filters employ carbon or charcoal to provide filtration. When you install a new activated carbon filter, make sure that the first 1.5 gallons or so is disposed of--the first water through the filter can contain some carbon particles. You might also see that the first water going through the filter will be slightly discolored. This should stop after a few minutes of use.  

• General Electric was founded in 1892 by inventor Thomas Edison in Schenectady, New York. They make home appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, washers and dryers, ovens, water filters, and more.   

• LG, an electronics company founded in Seoul, South Korea in 1947, makes a wide range of electronic kitchen appliances and home entertainment products. Their home appliances include air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, washers and dryers, dishwashers, and more. Many of their refrigerators that provide ice cubes or cold drinking water require a special water filter. 

• Frigidaire is a subsidiary of Electrolux, founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1918. They were the makers of the first commercial refrigerator, which made the name “Frigidaire” synonymous with “refrigerator”--even though they also sell washers/dryers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, ranges and stoves, and more. Their refrigerator filters go by the name “PureSource”. 

• Waterspecialist is a maker of replacement water filters for refrigerators that are compatible with a wide range of brands. Their filters are certified by the National Science Foundation for removing 99.6% of lead, benzene, and microbial cysts, as well as mercury, chlorine, and more.