Molekule Air Purifiers: Are They as Good as Their Hype?

• For small spaces: Air Mini+ | Skip to review
• For large spaces and open floor plans: Air Pro | Skip to review

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution affects the respiratory health of millions of people around the world. In particular, indoor air pollutants may contribute to respiratory conditions like asthma and allergies.

Outdoor air quality has also become a greater concern over recent years. Seasonal wildfires have created poor air quality, exposing people to air dense with toxic particles. This smoke can worsen symptoms of chronic respiratory conditions and irritate your eyes and lungs.

Older adults, children, and people who have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are among those most impacted by this exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

More and more people are looking to decrease this risk with the use of indoor air purifiers, like those made by Molekule.

Molekule claims they can capture and destroy all kinds of common indoor air pollutants, from gas-based paint fumes to bacterial spores, with their air purifiers.

Thousands of satisfied reviewers say that Molekule devices make their homes smell better and help them manage dust, mold, and seasonal allergy symptoms.

But Molekule air purifiers aren’t the most affordable air purifiers on the market, and some air purifier enthusiasts say you can find a better value elsewhere.

Ultimately, your needs, budget, and expectations will determine whether Molekule air purifiers are worth it for you. Let’s take a look at what Molekule has to offer if you’re looking to improve the air quality in your home.

Molekule uses some proprietary technologies in their air purifiers, which means there are some unique pros and cons to using the products.

The Molekule family of air purifiers uses filtration and ultraviolet (UV) radiation to capture and destroy viruses and bacteria in the air. They accomplish this via a low-energy ultraviolet light and two different filters.

The purifiers have a fan inside that draws air from your space through an outside filter and into a deeper filter. The outside filter catches bigger molecules like gas particles, mold, and dust.

Inside that deeper filter, the air is exposed to UV light, which destroys harmful microbial particles. The air is then released through vents at the top of the device. This process is called photoelectrochemical oxidation, or PECO, and is unique to Molekule’s products.

The use of UV light to destroy particles is what distinguishes Molekule from other air purifiers, most of which use HEPA filtration to trap these particles and remove them from the air.

But how effective is PECO?

Molekule commissioned — paid for — testing of their PECO technology from third-party laboratories such as Minnesota College of Science and Engineering and College of Veterinary Medicine and Aerosol Research and Engineering Labs (ARE) which supported claims of PECO’s ability to destroy contaminants like bacteria and viruses.

Similar tests were also conducted during the FDA certification process, and the FDA did ultimately certify the Molekule Air Mini, Air Mini+, and Air Pro as medical devices.

While Molekule makes no claims regarding the actual clinical benefits people may experience from using their purifiers, some studies have examined that. In one small 2018 study, 46 participants with allergies used a “portable PECO air purifier” for 4 weeks and reported feeling noticeably better. A 2020 study in a hospital setting suggests PECO-enabled air purifiers could potentially benefit patients, possibly reducing the length of stay.

It’s important to note that, though both studies were peer-reviewed, all researchers were affiliated with Molekule.

In what appears to be an independent study published in 2023, researchers studied PECO air filtration compared to traditional HEPA filters when it comes to neutralizing cat dander proteins in the air. The study found that both types of filtration appeared to have some benefit, but PECO filtration might have additional efficacy. It should be noted here that this particular study was done on mice.

Molekule currently sells two different models of air purifiers. They both rely on the same technology, with the biggest difference being how much square footage they cover.

Best for small space

Air Mini+

The Air Mini+ is meant to cover 250 square feet of space. That means it’s designed for smaller spaces like a bedroom, home office, small living room, or an enclosed kitchen. It also has a small handle, and it’s only 7 pounds, so you can move it from room to room pretty easily.

The device’s circular shape means that it takes in air from all angles, so you don’t have to worry a lot about placement.

The Air Mini+ is equipped with a special sensor that can automatically adjust the fan speed depending on the particles in the air.

Best for large spaces and open floor plans

Air Pro

The Air Pro is billed as a professional-grade air purifier. It can filter spaces up to 1,000 square feet, making it a good option for larger, open floor plans and high-traffic areas. It can do this by filtering more air in less time.

The Air Pro has a particle sensor that automatically detects pollutants and shifts between higher and lower settings according to what’s needed. It weighs just under 23 lbs.

In 2021, Molekule’s Air Mini+, and Air Pro were FDA-cleared as class II medical devices. But what does this actually mean?

It means the FDA tested these devices to see if their PECO technology actually destroys viruses and bacteria as the company claims. They found that these devices work as advertised.

Products that are classified as FDA-cleared medical devices are also required to report to the FDA any adverse medical events that happen as a result of using their product.

Molekule air purifiers aren’t cheap. The company’s smallest product, the Air Mini, starts at $359.99. The Air model starts at $799, and the professional-grade Air Pro starts at $1014.99.

Shipping isn’t included in this cost, and neither is sales tax. Both can vary and are calculated based on where you live. Sometimes, Molekule runs promotions in which shipping is free.

Molekule offers a 20% discount for frontline workers such as military personnel, healthcare professionals, first responders, and teachers. They extend the discount to people who recently moved. They also offer frequent sales, and you can sometimes find additional discounts by looking around online.

Other retailers

You can also purchase Molekule air purifiers in person or online at the following authorized retailers, among several others:

• Best Buy
• Amazon
• Walmart
• Lowes
• Home Depot
• HSN

Note that if you buy from one of these retailers, you’re subject to their return policies and customer service.

Molekule is unique in that it offers PECO technology to destroy pathogens in the air. It’s also sleeker and more visually appealing than a lot of its competitors.

We don’t know for sure whether PECO is more efficient than traditional HEPA filter systems — many of which are available at a cheaper price point. The two technologies are different in that PECO destroys particles using UV light while HEPA filtration traps these particles within the filter.

Molekule air purifiers aren’t the most expensive in the air purifier space. They cost somewhere between Blueair products, which are slightly cheaper, and Dyson, which cost about the same or a bit more, depending on the model you choose.

Molekule also doesn’t share how many cubic feet of air per minute can run through their air purifiers. Without this metric, it’s hard for die-hard air purifier enthusiasts to make a fair and accurate comparison.

Some customers really love their Molekule air purifiers.

The company currently has 2.2 out of 5 stars on the independent review website Trustpilot with a total of 56 reviews ranking it as “poor.”

Molekule’s ranking at the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is also underwhelming, earning 1.6 out of 5 stars. It should be noted, though, that this rating is based on 5 individual reviews, and the company is BBB accredited with an A+ rating.

Amazon reviewers seem impressed with their Molekule products, with thousands of customers stating that their air felt cleaner and their homes smelled better after using the products.

Of course, measures like “smell” and “feel” are pretty subjective, but there do seem to be plenty of happy customers.

Molekule air purifiers do make use of a proprietary technology that kills bacteria and viruses. If keeping your home germ-free is a big concern for you, this type of air filtration device might be worth it.

While the products aren’t cheap, they’re not the most expensive when compared with industry competitors.

On the other hand, there really isn’t a ton of independent data regarding the actual health benefits of using PECO technology. There are some promising studies published in medical journals, but most studies were small and conducted by researchers affiliated with Molekule.

To buy into Molekule, you really have to like PECO technology. Otherwise, you might be better off with a more traditional — and possibly less expensive — HEPA-filter-based air purifier.