Shower Filter vs Water Softener: Which Do You Actually Need?

Shower filters and water softeners both improve your water — but they solve different problems. Here’s how to work out which one you actually need.

Browse our shower filter range or see our Shower Filters Guide.

What a Shower Filter Does

A shower filter removes chlorine, chloramines, and some heavy metals from your shower water using KDF or vitamin C filtration media. It installs directly on your shower arm or hose in minutes, costs $50–$150 upfront, and needs a cartridge replacement every 6–12 months.

What it fixes: chlorine smell and taste in shower water, dry/irritated skin and hair from chlorine exposure, chlorine vapour in the shower steam.

What it doesn’t fix: hard water mineral build-up on tiles and fixtures, limescale in pipes and appliances, the “slippery” feel of soft water.

What a Water Softener Does

A water softener is a whole-house system that removes calcium and magnesium (the minerals that cause hard water) through ion exchange, replacing them with sodium. It treats every tap in the house — showers, kitchen, laundry, and appliances.

What it fixes: limescale build-up on tiles, fixtures, and appliances; hard water damage to washing machines and dishwashers; the dry, tight feeling that hard water leaves on skin.

What it doesn’t fix: chlorine — a water softener doesn’t remove chlorine. You’d still need a shower filter or drinking water filter for that.

Which Do You Need?

If your main concern is chlorine — dry skin and hair, chlorine smell in the shower, chemical sensitivity — a shower filter is the right tool. It’s affordable, easy to install, and directly addresses the problem.

If your main concern is hard water — limescale on tiles and fixtures, appliance damage, water that leaves a film on skin — a water softener addresses the root cause. It’s a larger investment but a whole-house solution.

If you have both problems — hard water and chlorine — you may want both: a whole-house softener plus a shower filter (or a drinking water filter). Call us on 1800 789 781 for advice on your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions