We Get It—You Want to Filter Your Air, Not Filter Through Endless Product Listings.
But these days, the air purifier market is so saturated that it’s hard to make a confident decision. Nonetheless, we live in a world of wildfire smoke, microplastics, pollutants, and more… and finding the right way to keep your home fresh and clean is more important than ever.
So we decided to break down two of the top air purifiers you can find for both form and function: Sans Air Purifier and Molekule’s Air Pro. Both of these options are known for their sleek, modernist design and propensity to be shared on social media just as much as they’re known for their effectiveness, each utilizing gold-standard HEPA filters.
But as it turns out, there are some key differences between Sans and Molekule that might just make your decision much easier. Let’s get into it.
Meet the Contestants: Sans & Molekule
- Molekule Air was released in early 2017 and made an impression from the jump on social media with its sleek, cylindrical design and vegan leather straps. This thing looks like it was specifically built to be unboxed by an influencer. Molekule uses HEPA filters and something they call “PECO technology” to target gases as well as particles in the air. The big catch? It costs a whopping $649.99.
- Sans, on the other hand, was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic when so many of us were trapped indoors. Founders John Fanelly and Adam Bedford wanted to engineer a way for us to breathe clean and pollutant-free air without having to install an industrial machine in our living rooms. So Sans Air Purifier was born, and they made an impression right away with publications like Forbes and Architectural Digest, as well as with customers.
Both of these products are cut from a different cloth than their counterparts (but in the case of Molekule, maybe not for the better…) We’ll break it down into four main categories, and see which purifier is left standing.
Price: Sans Air Purifier
While the Molekule Air Pro comes in at $649.99, the Sans Air Purifier only costs $369.99—almost $300 cheaper. It’s worth mentioning that Molekule only comes in the standard color while Sans also offers a Midnight colorway option. On top of that, Sans even covers more square footage than Molekule, but we’ll get to that later.
When it comes to price, you also have to factor in the air filter subscriptions for these products, and Sans wins that match-up, too. Subscribing to Sans’ filter subscription costs $35.99 every 3 months, with the ability to skip or cancel anytime, while Molekule’s filter subscription costs $139.99 every 6 months. It took us a minute, but we were able to do that math.
Sans strongly stands out here as the better value in terms of price.
Effectiveness: Sans Air Purifier
While the Sans Air Purifier is cheaper, you of course want something that actually does its job and doesn’t just sit there looking pretty (especially when you can get an “air purifier” on Amazon for 50 bucks). But Sans is considerably more advanced than its cheaply-made counterparts and covers much more ground than the more expensive Molekule unit.
Using a 3-stage filter system, Sans protects against 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns, which means dust, dander, pollutants, odors, etc. stand no chance. Sans’ Activated Carbon Filter and UV-C light also kill any volatile organic compounds or microorganisms in the air.
Molekule’s HEPA filter also captures 99.97% of particles, but their “proprietary PECO technology” that’s supposed to destroy organic pollutants isn’t as clear, with this Consumer Reports article casting some doubt on its effectiveness. Given Sans covers up to 1560 sq. ft. in a single hour to Molekule’s 1000 sq. ft., they’ve shown enough to give them the edge here.
Reviews & Customer Love: Sans Air Purifier
Molekule boasts 276 reviews with an average rating of 4.4 stars and 86% of customers saying they’d recommend the product. Most people call out that they appreciate the Molekule’s design and look.
Sans, on the other hand, boasts 1,044 reviews with an average rating of 4.9 stars and 98% of customers saying they’d recommend the product. People call out Sans’ effectiveness at eliminating dust and pet dander from their homes, and even the fact that it stopped them from sneezing. Many also mention they love that Sans is so quiet.
Both Sans and Molekule are praised for their chic, low-profile design that looks great in any living space. They do look very similar, so it’s hard to really go wrong when it comes to aesthetics. Overall, however, we think the people give a slight edge to Sans for this category.
Bonus Battle of the Minis: Sans Air Purifier Mini
Both Sans and Molukule also offer a mini version of their respective air purifiers for smaller spaces. The Molekule Air Mini+ comes in at $249.99 and covers up to 250 sq. ft. featuring the same technology in the original.
The Sans Air Purifier Mini costs $199.99 and covers up to 490 sq. ft., nearly doubling the range of the Molekule Air Mini+ at a lower price point. Since the Sans Air Purifier Mini also features the same ultra-powerful purification as the original, it seems like a no brainer here to give the nod to Sans.
We’re always down to pay less money for more power, efficiency, range, and effectiveness… especially when the cheaper option comes with standout features like three smart sensors for air quality, a cleanable pre-filter, and 3x the amount of activated carbon as traditional filters.
We Know Which Air Purifier We’ll Be Choosing…
Because when it comes to bang for your buck and purification for your purchase… Sans really runs the table. Of course, there are plenty of factors that go into your decision and Molekule does offer some unique features that could make it the right fit for you.
But if you’re looking for the quietest air purifier in its class with a price that saves you money while eliminating dust, dander, pollutants, allergens, and more in your home… Sans might be the right choice for you. It’s worth mentioning that Sans has a 30-day free trial and free shipping, so there’s no risk in seeing what it’s like to join the Clean Air Club.
Take a Breath of Sans Fresh Air
In an over-saturated market, Sans Air Purifier will make sure your air is clear and clean.