Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Alen Air Purifiers vs Molekule
Where Alen Air Purifiers and Molekule differ
| Compare | Alen Air Purifiers ReviewVisitVisit | Molekule ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Reference models | BreatheSmart 75i, BreatheSmart 45i, BreatheSmart 35i | Air Mini+, Air Pro, Glow |
| Price from | $149 | $129Lower |
| Room size (m²) | 260.13Higher | 23.22 to 92.9 |
| Filter cost per year | $79.20 to $99Lower | $159.98 to $279.98 |
| Filter change interval | 12 to 15 monthsHigher | 6 months |
| Quietest noise level (dB) | 25Lower | 33 |
| Power use (W) | 1.36 to 55Lower | 26 to 123 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 yearsHigher |
| Markets | US | US, CACovers more |
| Clean air delivery rate (m³/h) | 637.125 | Not confirmed |
| Water tank (l) | Not confirmed | 2.8 |
Same on both: Mobile app (Yes).
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Key differences
- Alen Air Purifiers scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.6.
- Price from is lower at Molekule: $129 vs $149.
- Room size (m²) is higher at Alen Air Purifiers: 260.13 vs 23.22 to 92.9.
- Filter cost per year is lower at Alen Air Purifiers: $79.20 to $99 vs $159.98 to $279.98.
- Filter change interval is higher at Alen Air Purifiers: 12 to 15 months vs 6 months.
- Quietest noise level (dB) is lower at Alen Air Purifiers: 25 vs 33.
- Power use (W) is lower at Alen Air Purifiers: 1.36 to 55 vs 26 to 123.
- Warranty is higher at Molekule: 2 years vs 1 year.
- Support channels: only Alen Air Purifiers offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Molekule offers Chat.
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.
Molekule
Molekule suits US and Canadian homes that want purifier and humidifier models from the same maker, and its overall score of 8.6 reflects a balanced pick. The trade-off is the supply bill, since filters are bought on a subscription rather than only at purchase.
Score breakdown
| Area | Alen Air Purifiers | Molekule |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8HigherEntry at $149 and filters at $79.20 to $99 a year, so the purchase price is the expensive part. | 8.5Filter fees of $159.98 to $279.98 a year weigh on cost, while the $129 entry price and 2 year warranty pull the other way. |
| Offer | 8.9Higher637.125 m³/h of air delivery, 260.13 m² of coverage and hepa h13, carbon and ioniser inside 12 to 15 months. | 8.8The purifier and humidifier line is joined by the Glow with a 2.8 liter tank, a mobile app and a 2 year warranty. |
| Trust | 8.8HigherAlen Corporation is named as the legal entity, with 1 year cover and support on phone and help centre. | 8.6Molekule Group, Inc. in US, trading since 2014, gives a named company, with support on chat and help centre as the soft spot. |
By the numbers
| Fact | Alen Air Purifiers | Molekule |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $149 | $129 |
| Room size (m²) | 260.13 | 23.22 to 92.9 |
| Filter cost per year | $79.20 to $99 | $159.98 to $279.98 |
| Filter change interval | 12 to 15 months | 6 months |
| Quietest noise level (dB) | 25 | 33 |
| Power use (W) | 1.36 to 55 | 26 to 123 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Alen Air Purifiers | Molekule |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Available in 1 country for both.
How they place
| Ranking | Alen Air Purifiers | Molekule |
|---|---|---|
| Air purifiers | 7 of 71 | 10 of 71 |
A third option
Lab Charge has power use (w) at 1, against 1.36 to 55 for Alen Air Purifiers and 26 to 123 for Molekule.
Lab Charge reviewWhere these facts come from
Alen Air Purifiers
- alen.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Molekule
- molekule.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Alen Air Purifiers | Molekule |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Purifier | Purifier, HumidifierCovers more |
| Filter types | Hepa h13, Carbon, IoniserCovers more | Hepa h13, Carbon |
| Certifications | Energy star | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Alen Corporation | Molekule Group, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2014 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Alen Air Purifiers | Molekule | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $149above the median | $129above the median | $109.99 |
| Clean air delivery rate (m³/h) | 637.125above the median | Not confirmed | 424.925 |
| Room size (m²) | 260.13highest quarter | 23.22 to 92.9below the median | 124 |
| Filter cost per year | $79.20 to $99below the median | $159.98 to $279.98highest quarter | $79.60 |
| Filter change interval | 12 to 15 monthshighest quarter | 6 monthsbelow the median | 12 |
| Quietest noise level (dB) | 25at the median | 33above the median | 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.
Molekule
Pros
- A mobile app comes with the purifiers, and Molekule covers purifier and humidifier with Air Mini+, Air Pro, Glow as the reference models.
- The 6 month change interval matches the 6 month median across the field, so supply timing is predictable.
- Entry at $129 for the Glow sits right at the €127.49 category median, so the ticket price is unremarkable in a good way.
Cons
- Filter fees run $159.98 to $279.98 a year, and Molekule places 42 of 46 brands on yearly filter cost, so the running bill soon overtakes the $129 entry price.
- Support runs on chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line for setup or filter questions.
- Purifier coverage of 23.22 to 92.9 square meters stops short of the 153.29 square meter category median, so open plan rooms need extra units or a larger rival.
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.
Molekule
Who it suits
- Homes in US and CA that want purifier and humidifier models from the same maker, with Air Mini+, Air Pro, Glow as the range.
- Buyers who plan supply ahead, since the 6 month interval and a $159.98 to $279.98 a year bill make running cost easy to forecast.
- People who want app control and cover, since Molekule ships a mobile app with its purifiers and a 2 year warranty.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs a dehumidifier or a fan, since Daewoo Electricals lists purifier, dehumidifier and fan while Molekule lists purifier and humidifier.
- Vornado Air shoppers who want a fan in the same catalogue, since Vornado covers purifier, humidifier and fan.
Country by country
| Country | Alen Air Purifiers | Molekule |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Molekule
How much does a Molekule air purifier cost to start with?+
The listed entry price is $129 for the Glow, and the reference models are Air Mini+, Air Pro, Glow. The larger purifier models sit above that ticket, and running cost is separate: filters are sold by subscription, so budget the machine and the supply as two lines.
What do Molekule filters cost each year?+
Filter fees run $159.98 to $279.98 a year, and Molekule ranks 42 of 46 brands on that line, which places it near the end of the tracked table. The change interval is 6 months, so plan supply payments around that cadence.