Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Alen Air Purifiers vs Lab Charge
What sets them apart
| Compare | Alen Air Purifiers ReviewVisitVisit | Lab Charge ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Reference models | BreatheSmart 75i, BreatheSmart 45i, BreatheSmart 35i | #1 Plug-in Air Purifier; BEST IONIC AIR PURIFIER ON THE MARKET (LabCharge Ionic Air Purifier); Top-Rated Pet Air Purifier In The Market; 5pcs Ionic Air Purifiers |
| Price from | $149 | $49.99Lower |
| Room size (m²) | 260.13Higher | 23.2 |
| Filter cost per year | $79.20 to $99 | $0Lower |
| Quietest noise level (dB) | 25 | 0Lower |
| Power use (W) | 1.36 to 55 | 1Lower |
| Mobile app | YesHas it | No |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 yearsHigher |
| Clean air delivery rate (m³/h) | 637.125 | Not confirmed |
| Filter change interval | 12 to 15 months | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Markets (US).
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Key differences
- Lab Charge scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.9.
- Price from is lower at Lab Charge: $49.99 vs $149.
- Room size (m²) is higher at Alen Air Purifiers: 260.13 vs 23.2.
- Filter cost per year is lower at Lab Charge: $0 vs $79.20 to $99.
- Quietest noise level (dB) is lower at Lab Charge: 0 vs 25.
- Power use (W) is lower at Lab Charge: 1 vs 1.36 to 55.
- Mobile app: only Alen Air Purifiers.
- Warranty is higher at Lab Charge: 2 years vs 1 year.
- Support channels: only Lab Charge offers Email.
- Filter types: only Alen Air Purifiers offers Hepa h13, Carbon.
Our verdict on each
Alen Air Purifiers
Alen Air Purifiers suits buyers who want a single machine covering a large open floor and will keep it running for years. The top BreatheSmart purifier delivers 637.125 m³/h of clean air delivery for a 260.13 m² room, and the entry tower purifier opens the range at $149.
Lab Charge
Lab Charge suits buyers who want a plug-in ionic purifier for a small room and low running costs. The Black model enters at $49.99 with annual filter spend of $0, while coverage stops at 23.2 m².
Score breakdown
| Area | Alen Air Purifiers | Lab Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Entry at $149 and filters at $79.20 to $99 a year, so the purchase price is the expensive part. | 9.7HigherEntry price of $49.99 ranks 17 of 76, and annual filter cost of $0 ranks 1 of 46. |
| Offer | 8.9637.125 m³/h of air delivery, 260.13 m² of coverage and hepa h13, carbon and ioniser inside 12 to 15 months. | 9.0HigherOne purifier type at $49.99, cover of 23.2 m², a 2 years warranty, and email, phone and help centre support. |
| Trust | 8.8Alen Corporation is named as the legal entity, with 1 year cover and support on phone and help centre. | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Alen Air Purifiers | Lab Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Air purifiers | 7 of 71 | 4 of 71 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Alen Air Purifiers | Lab Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Available in 1 country for both.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Alen Air Purifiers | Lab Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Purifier | Purifier |
| Filter types | Hepa h13, Carbon, IoniserCovers more | Ioniser |
| Certifications | Energy star | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Alen Corporation | Lab Charge LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Alen Air Purifiers | Lab Charge | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $149above the median | $49.99below the median | $109.99 |
| Clean air delivery rate (m³/h) | 637.125above the median | Not confirmed | 424.925 |
| Room size (m²) | 260.13highest quarter | 23.2lowest quarter | 124 |
| Filter cost per year | $79.20 to $99below the median | $0lowest quarter | $79.60 |
| Filter change interval | 12 to 15 monthshighest quarter | Not confirmed | 12 |
| Quietest noise level (dB) | 25at the median | 0lowest quarter | 25 |
Median across 65 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Alen Air Purifiers
Pros
- 637.125 m³/h of clean air delivery with 260.13 m² of stated coverage, so a single unit handles a big open room.
- Filters last 12 to 15 months and cost $79.20 to $99 a year, which spreads the running cost over fewer purchases.
- Runs at 25 dB on the quietest setting, so a machine in a bedroom does not need switching off at night.
Cons
- Entry price of $149 ranks 49 of 76 brands, so this is not the cheapest way into the category.
- The catalogue is limited to purifier, so Vornado Air or Daewoo Electricals suit a buyer who also wants a fan or a dehumidifier.
- Availability is listed for US alone, so a buyer elsewhere has less reason to choose this brand over Clarifion.
Lab Charge
Pros
- Annual filter cost of $0 ranks 1 of 46, keeping running costs low.
- Entry price of $49.99 sits under the group median of €136.80.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, with a 2 years warranty behind the unit.
Cons
- Room coverage of 23.2 m² is small against a group where cover runs 153.29 m² at the median.
- There is no mobile app, so settings and status stay on the plug-in unit rather than a phone.
- Filter media listed under ioniser is an ioniser alone, with no particle filter named beside it.
Who each suits
Alen Air Purifiers
Who it suits
- US buyers who want a single purifier sized for a large open room rather than a small bedroom.
- Households that want app control alongside phone and help centre support from the maker.
- Owners who plan to keep one unit running long term, since 12 to 15 months between filter changes spreads the cost of $79.20 to $99 a year over fewer purchases.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want fans and humidifiers as well as purifiers, since Vornado Air covers purifier, humidifier and fan.
- Homes that also need drying, since Daewoo Electricals covers purifier, dehumidifier and fan.
- Pet odour cases, since Clarifion lists a pet smell neutralizer among its models.
Lab Charge
Who it suits
- Renters and homeowners wanting a cheap purifier for one bedroom or office.
- Shoppers who want a low running cost, since annual filter spend is $0.
- Anyone avoiding app-based setup, since there is no mobile app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone covering a whole floor, since cover stops at 23.2 m².
- Buyers who want app control or a wider air range than purifier.
- Shoppers outside US, where delivery is not listed.
Country by country
| Country | Alen Air Purifiers | Lab Charge |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Alen Air Purifiers
How much does the cheapest Alen purifier cost?+
The entry tower purifier sets the entry point at $149. Filters for the top BreatheSmart model add $79.20 to $99 a year on top, so the yearly figure matters as much as the sticker price for anyone keeping the unit for years.
What do replacement filters cost and how often do they need changing?+
Filters for the top BreatheSmart model run $79.20 to $99 a year, and filters hold for 12 to 15 months between changes. That interval sits above the 6 months typical across the category, which is why the yearly figure reads as reasonable.
Lab Charge
What does a Lab Charge purifier cost at entry?+
The Black plug-in ionic purifier is listed from $49.99. Product type is a purifier only, and the range covers single units alongside multi-unit packs for shared rooms. Buyers pay once for the unit, with nothing recurring to weigh later.
What is the yearly filter cost?+
Annual filter cost for the Black model is $0, which works out at free over a year. That figure places Lab Charge at 1 of 46 brands ranked on the same measure.