The 8 Best Ionic Air Purifiers of 2023

Photo: Fellowes

There are various ways of cleaning and purifying the air in your home, but investing in the best ionic air purifier is perhaps one of the easiest and most effective ones.

Ionic air purifiers are the types that will create negative ions in the air, and they will do this by discharging an electric current into your air. These negative ions then attach to pollutants in the air like allergens and dust.

The fusion between the ions and pollutants makes them heavy, causing them to fall to surfaces instead of being airborne, which ensures you will not inhale them.

To help make buying one of these air-purifying machines easy, here we review some top-rated models and show you how to choose one.

8 Best Ionic Air Purifiers – Review

IMAGE	​PRODUCT	​FEATURES
	1. AeraMax 9320501 (Best Overall)	Up to 600 square feet coverage 4-stage purification AeraSmart sensor Soft-touch controls
	2. 03 Pure AAP 50 (Best for the Money)	Budget-friendly purifier Optimum output control Chemical-free and low maintenance Compact design
	3. Honeywell HFD-120-Q (Best for Small Rooms)	170 sq. ft. coverage for small rooms Permanent filters Energy-star certified 5 times an hour circulation
	4. AeraMax 9320301 (Best Automatic)	AeraSmart sensor Odor eliminator 4-stage filtration Filter change indicator
	5. SilverOnyx XP-180 (Powerful Multi-Level Filtration)	Powerful 5 level filtration Air quality monitor Built-in timer Change filter indicator
	6. IonPacific 8541833053 (Filterless Mobile Negative Ion Generator)	Filter and ozone-free Travel-friendly size and design Multiple power options Energy efficient
	7. Envion 90IP01TA01-W (Sleek-Looking Tower Design)	Sophisticated and pleasant tower design Energy-efficient Forever filter 3 times air cleaning for 500 square feet
	8. GreenTech Environmental GT50 (Compact & Portable)	Super compact purifier Adjustable purification Simple plug-in operation Eliminated smoke and odors

1. AeraMax 9320501 – Best Overall Ionic Air Purifier

Photo: Fellowes

• Coverage Area: 300 to 600 sq. ft.
• Technology: True HEPA filter, carbon filter, AreaSafe antimicrobial treatment, PlasmaTRUE technology
• Filtration Stages: 4

AeraMax 9320501 covers up to 600 square feet, which makes it our best overall model as this is the broadest coverage on our ionic air purifier review. Besides the extensive coverage, it will deliver the cleanest air thanks to an efficient 4-stage purification.

The purification stages will include a carbon filter that helps get rid of unwanted odors and AreaSafe antimicrobial treatment to prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and fungi.

With the soft-touch controls, this will be an easy air purifier to control. Because this unit has automatic sensors, it will detect the air quality automatically and adjust the speed accordingly. And overall, this unit has a slim and slick design to ensure it looks fantastic in your space.

Noise seems to be the most notable shortcoming for this air purifier as it can get quite loud, but switching off the ionize function seems to make it quieter. The higher price tag is only a result of the superior build quality and performance.

Pros:

• Covers wide spaces
• Include more filtration stages
• Easy to use controls
• Completely automatic operation
• Slick and slim design

Cons:

• Can be a little loud
• Relatively pricier

2. 03 Pure AAP 50 – Best Ionic Air Purifier for the Money

Photo: 03 Pure

• Coverage Area: Up to 150 sq. ft.
• Technology: Ionic generator
• Filtration Stages: 1

Sometimes you just want something affordable but still effective at purifying your air. In such instances, the 03 Pure AAP 50 will be an excellent buy as it is an inexpensive plug-in device that will be super easy to use.

Another element that makes this one of the best ionic air cleaners is that it will clean the air without using any chemicals, and it is also filter-free to ensure low maintenance.

Despite the smaller price tag and size, this machine will still offer optimal output control as it has an adjustable ozone concentration to allow you to fine-tune it to suit your specific situation. Besides use in the house, this machine can work well for RVs and other small spaces.

The lower coverage of this purifier is its most significant drawback. However, it is meant for a small room, and so the 150 square feet should be good enough.

Pros:

• Highly affordable
• Requires minimal maintenance
• Cleans air without using chemicals
• Ideal for small spaces
• Easily adjustable design

Cons:

• Smaller coverage

3. Honeywell HFD-120-Q – Best Ionic Air Purifier for Small Rooms

Photo: Honeywell

• Coverage Area: Up to 170 sq. ft.
• Technology: Pre-filter, high-performance filter, ionizer
• Filtration Stages: 3

If you have a small room that you want to clean the air, the Honeywell HFD-120-Q is the best ionic air purifier for you as it is just the perfect size and with a decent 170 square feet coverage.

This ionic air purifier will also deliver up to 5 air changes per hour, to make sure that you will always have the cleanest air in the room. And with the energy start certification, you can be confident it will be a highly energy-efficient model.

Because this machine uses permanent filters that are washable and reusable, you will not need to spend a lot of cash replacing filters, which makes it an even more cost-effective model.

This air purifier is not as quiet as many users would want, but the sound it makes is still tolerable. And the chemical smell seems to dissipate after just a few hours of use and is hence not a big deal.

Pros:

• Perfect size and coverage for small rooms
• Delivers more air circulations per hour
• More energy efficient
• Washable and reusable filters

Cons:

• Relatively louder machine
• Chemical smell when new

4. AeraMax 9320301 – Best Automatic Ionic Air Purifier

Photo: Fellowes

• Coverage Area: 100 to 200 sq. ft.
• Technology: Carbon filter, true HEPA filter, AeraSafe antimicrobial treatment, PlasmaTrue technology
• Filtration Stages: 4

AeraMax 9320301 is a smart air purifier that makes use of AeraSmart sensor to monitor the air quality and adjust the fan speed accordingly to ensure you maintain optimal air quality without having to make manual adjustments.

Besides just removing contaminants from your air, this machine will also leave it smelling fresh as it has an effective odor eliminator as part of the efficient 4-stage filtration setup.

Operation is easy and convenient with the simple controls, and you can quickly tell the fan speed and when you need to change filters as this machine has indicators for this.

Like many other budget air purifier, this one seems to have a strong chemical smell when new, but the good news is that it does not last long.

Pros:

• Automatic air quality monitoring and adjustment
• Efficient multi-stage filtration
• Highly effective at removing odor
• Easy to tell when to change filters
• Simple controls

Cons:

• Strong chemical smell when new

5. SilverOnyx XP-180 – Powerful Multi-Level Filtration

Photo: SilverOnyx

• Coverage Area: Up to 500 sq. ft.
• Technology: Mesh pre-filter, true HEPA filter, activated carbon filter, UV light sanitizer, negative ion generator
• Filtration Stages: 5

With up to 5 levels of filtration, the SilverOnyx XP-180 is a powerful ionic air purifier that will ensure you get clean air fast. These filtration levels will include a carbon filter to eliminate odors and both UV light and ion generator to sterilize the air.

This machine comes with an automatic air quality monitor and a built-in timer, which will combine to ensure you can clean your air without having to operate it manually.

There is also a filter change indicator that will ensure you know when you need to replace the filter. And with the easy to use interface, the operation will be more effortless. What’s more, this unit has a sleep mode to ensure you can still sleep well even when the machine is running.

While the provided instructions are a little wanting and not very detailed in some sections, there is nothing hard to figure out with this machine, and so they should not be a deal-breaker.

Pros:

• More levels of filtration
• Timer allows you to set and leave it
• Includes a filter change indicator
• Monitors air quality automatically
• Sleep mode included

Cons:

• Instructions are a little wanting

6. IonPacific 8541833053 – Filterless Mobile Negative Ion Generator

Photo: IonPacific

• Coverage Area: Up to 500 sq. ft.
• Technology: Negative ion technology
• Filtration Stages: 1

Anyone looking for a negative ion generator they can rely on to clean their air when traveling, the IonPacific 8541833053 is an excellent choice. But what indeed makes it stand out is that it is a filterless model that will not create any ozone for cost-effective and safe use.

This small ionic air purifier is also one of the most energy-efficient options on our list as it will only use 1.5 watts. Hence, this machine will not have any significant impact on your energy bills.

Besides being energy-efficient, this air purifier will give you more power options as you can charge it via a plug-in, USB, and even power it with your PC and car.

For its size, this negative ion generator is quite noisy. But, the sound it makes is white noise that will help you sleep faster and better.

Pros:

• Does not require any filters
• Will not create an ozone
• Small and portable
• Uses up less energy
• Variety of power options

Cons:

• Noisier for its size

7. Envion 90IP01TA01-W – Sleek-Looking Tower Ionic Air Purifier

Photo: Envion

• Coverage Area: Up to 500 sq. ft.
• Technology: Ionic generator
• Filtration Stages: 1

If looks matter a lot to you when buying any appliance, the sophisticated tower design of the Envion 90IP01TA01-W will impress you as it gives it a sleek and more attention-grabbing look. This tower design will also make it possible to place it in tight spaces.

This Envion ionic air purifier is highly energy efficient as it will use less energy than a bulb, and it will clean the air up to 3 times every hour, which is quite efficient when compared to other models.

Overall, this is a quieter machine that you can use in the bedroom with no problem. And to ensure you will have lower operating costs, it uses permanent washable filters that will not require any replacement for the lifetime of the machine.

There is no handle or a finger hole on this air purifier for lifting it, but you should still be able to grasp it fairly quickly as it is not very wide.

Pros:

• More attractive and space-saving design
• Uses less energy than a bulb
• Washable and reusable filter
• Cleans air 3 times every hour
• Relatively quieter operation

Cons:

• No handle or finger hole for lifting it

8. GreenTech Environmental GT50 – Compact and Portable Ionic Air Purifier

Photo: GreenTech Environmental

• Coverage Area: Up to 50 sq. ft.
• Technology: Ionic generator
• Filtration Stages: 1

GreenTech Environmental GT50 is one of the most compact and portable ionic air purifiers, not only on our list but also in the market. At just 5 ounces and around 3.5 inches wide, this will be a super easy machine to carry around for use on your travels.

This low energy consumption air purifier does not use any filters, which means a lower operating cost for you. And you can easily customize the purification thanks to the easy reach knob.

Unlike many other models out there that will only mask the odors and smoke, this small unit will remove them completely. This purifier will be an ideal model for use in closets, cabinets, lockers and other small spaces, and it will provide whisper-quiet operation.

The 50 square feet coverage, is the smallest on our list and will not be adequate for medium to large bedrooms, but for a small, portable air purifier, it will still be highly useful.

Pros:

• More compact and easy to carry around
• Easy to reach and use adjustment knob
• Low energy consumption
• Eliminates smoke and odor instead of covering them

Cons:

• Limited coverage

How to Buy the Best Ionic Air Purifier

Photo: Fellowes

1. Coverage Area

Just like when buying any other air purifier type, the coverage area needs to be one of the first factors you take into account as it will determine whether the machine will be ideal for your space or not.

While most ionic air purifiers are often smaller and more compact machines, they will still have fairly wide coverage. Typically, you can expect to get coverage of between 50 and 1,000 square feet of coverage.

However, coverage of 300 to 600 square feet like you get with the AeraMax 9320501 should be ideal for most standard size rooms.

Read More: How to Choose the Right Size for an Air Purifier

2. Filter Technology

The filter technology is vital when choosing the best ionizer for home because it will determine how effective it will be at purifying your air.

As a minimum, you need to make sure that the machine you buy will at least include an effective negative ion generator.

However, models that will also include other filtration technologies like true HEPA and activated carbon like the SilverOnyx XP-180 will be even more effective as they will filter out more contaminants.

3. Operational Cost

Many users will often pay a lot of attention to the cost of buying the ionic air purifier and forget another vital and equally important cost, which is the operational cost of the machine.

Operational costs will result from things like replacement filters. Hence, to make sure that the device you buy is cheaper to operate, you need to make sure that the filters are both affordable and long-lasting.

Also, the energy efficiency of the machine will determine the cost of running it, and the more energy-efficient the model you choose, the cheaper it will be to operate.

4. Speed Settings

A good ionic air purifier is one that will allow you to choose from different speed settings to ensure you can customize your machine to suit the prevailing conditions.

Something that comes with between 2 and 5-speed settings should be good enough as you can fine-tune the performance to suit your home.

And if the machine has smart sensors that will adjust the speed settings automatically, it will be even more convenient for you.

5. Noise Level

As handy as an ionic air purifier might be, it will be annoying to use if it makes too much noise when in operation.

Most of the sound often comes from the fan that circulates the air around the room. Hence, as you choose one of these machines, you need to check the noise level at the highest fan speed setting.

A model with a noise rating that is below 60 dBA at the highest setting and around 25 dBA for the lowest setting should be quiet enough for you.

6. Maintenance

Maintaining an ionic air purifier will mostly entail cleaning it and changing the filter if it is a model that uses filters.

Those that will not require any special tools to take apart and are easy to disassemble/assemble will give you an easy time to maintain. Also, a purifier that comes with proper maintenance instruction will be perfect.

Conclusion

With the best ionic air purifier, you can be confident of getting the best air quality in your home as they are very effective at getting rid of airborne pollutants and eliminating odors.

Ultimately, the right air purifier model for you will depend on your preferences, but there is something for everyone on our list. From this list, the 600-square feet coverage AeraMax 9320501 takes our top overall spot as it has a lot to offer including smart sensor and 4-stage purification.

But, for those looking to spend the least amount of cash and want something more portable, the 03 Pure AAP is a perfect choice.