GoKawiilCompare Our Picks
WIRED TIRED Recommended water Fillability Dishwasher safe tank? App, voice control? Mist Air sensor? Filter? Warranty Blueair Invisible Mist Humidifier Multiple fill options; antimicrobial wick filter to capture minerals and pollutants N/A Tap Tank with handles or top pour-through Yes Yes Invisible Yes Yes, with optional subscription 1-3 years Dreo Humidifier 524 User-friendly app; color correlated settings Filter needs to be bought separately Purified or distilled Top fill tank No Yes Adjustable Built-in humidistat Yes, but sold separately 1 year HoMedics Natura Small Plant Humidifier Bamboo material and pot for plants; built-in humidistat and an easy-to-see digital display Isn’t app compatible Tap or distilled Top filler or pull-out tank No Yes Adjustable Built-in humidistat Demineralization cartridge included 2 years HoMedics Ultrasonic Humidifier CMTF14 Petite and portable; built-in seven-color glowing nightlight N/A Tap Tank No No Visible No Demineralization cartridge 2 years Carepod One Inexpensive; has a timer for four, six, and eight hours, along with three levels of mist No sensor, auto mode, heat, or sterilization Distilled or filtered Remove tank to fill Yes No Visible No No 1 year Blueair 2-in-1 Purify + Humidify An air purifier and humidifier in one sleek appliance The water tank holds only 3 liters of water Tap Tank or top pour-through Yes Yes Invisible Both air sensor and humidistat 1 year with optional subscription 1 year Dreo Smart Humidifier 735S 11L Nearly three gallon tank means fewer refills; 100 hours of constant humidifying The tall tower tank might be difficult to fill from certain faucets Tap Tank or top pour-through No Yes Visible Humidistat Demineralization cartridges 1 year
Recommended With Reservations
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Carepod Mini for $150: When turned on, the Carepod Mini looks like a Brita Filter that's also an electric tea kettle. And you’ll think this too because of the Carepod’s unique oscillator that moves the water around inside the clear plastic tank. And unlike the larger stainless steel parts of the larger Carepod models, the Carepod Mini is not dishwasher safe. However, like all Carepod models, the Mini doesn’t have a filter because Carepod recommends using filtered water, putting the water-purifying duties on the user. I would prefer a model with a filter option. Still, the Mini is easy to clean with mild soap and water, unlike some humidifiers that require special descaling solutions. I like what Carepod is trying to do in the humidifier market space, but I almost tipped the whole thing over when I instinctively picked it up by the handle that only lifts up the top part. Still, I found the percolating water effect to be soothing and it does a good job of providing a steady flow of mist. I elevated my Carepod Mini because of its slightly sideways mist flow. I put it on a ceramic plant stand because Carepod warns against placing the Mini directly on wood or furniture because of possible water damage. And while I still do not understand the benefits of Carepod’s oscillator, it looks cool.
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Dreamwell Humidifier from Blueair for $190: Blueair’s DreamWell Humidifier has several features to make this one of the easier humidifiers to use and maintain. Blueair makes the DreamWell in both 1- and 2-gallon tank sizes. WIRED tested the 1-gallon model. The DreamWell has mood lighting (warm, normal, and bright), along with a scent pod that can be filled with a few drops of essential oil, which turns this humidifier into a sleep aid. Its understated design blends into most interiors. Similar to Blueair’s Signature air purifier, reviewer Lisa Wood Shapiro found the DreamWell’s control panel difficult to see in bright light. What the control panel lacks, Blueair’s advanced app makes up for. Blueair has a “welcome home” function that uses geolocation to turn the humidifier on 15 minutes before the user walks in the front door. In using the feature, the user needs to plug in their mode of transportation: walking, biking, public transport, or car. There’s also an option for drying the wick, the humidifier’s machine-washable filter, which starts automatically when the tank is empty. The DreamWell comes in Coastal Beige or Stone Gray and is the ideal size for a small bedroom. For larger rooms, go for the 2-gallon DreamWell. And while the tank is only 1 gallon, the fill-top option makes for easy refilling.
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Molekule Glow Smart Ultasonic Humidifier for $130: The Molekule Glow is small and quiet, with a gentle, sub-40-decibel sound like a babbling brook, and a dim green glow—suitable for a midsize room. Its tank is detachable for easy filling. It's good to run gently for a day, can be timed for turn-on and shut-off, and is easily controlled from your bed with an intuitive phone app. It is, in short, perfect for bedroom humidification, and it blends easily into a cool minimalist aesthetic. Indeed, its humidifier spot top looks a little like a blank, cartoon smile. It's friendly. Compared to our previous top bedroom pick, the Blueair Dreamwell, the price is also friendly. But the smart app is needed for any features beyond setting the humidity level, and filters aren't part of the bargain. As of the end of March 2026, the device is already out of stock after a January release.
Levoit Dual 150 Ultrasonic Cool Mist for $44: This Levoit model is priced at the most affordable end of the spectrum, and advertises itself as appropriate for aromatherapy as an essential oil diffuser. But unlike other aromatherapy-ready humidifiers, the Dual 150 doesn't offer pads on which to apply the oil—meaning any aromatherapy is applied directly to the basin and a bit permanent. Geraniums forever! Lavender till the end! The filters also seem to wear out quickly. But at a mere $44, it still might fit the bill for a dorm or nursery, and offers up a nice mist for a medium-sized room. A 10-pack of Levoit filters also costs less than $15, so replacement is easy. A two-year warranty is far better than expected for a device at this price.
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