Ozone generators (also called ozonators) are a very nice and proven way of cleaning, deodorizing, and sterilizing air and water. They are a subtype of air purifiers, mainly used to remove mold and odors, while having the ability to deal with a few other air pollutants and improve our overall air quality. In case you are in a hurry or just want to get straight to the point, here is my list of the best ozone generators to get in 2022:
- Airthereal MA5000 – best budget ozone generator.
- OdorStop OS2500UV – best ozone generator for mold.
- Enerzen O-888 – best ozone generator for odor removal.
- OdorStop UV600 – best ozone generator for small rooms.
- OdorStop OS3500UV2 – best ozone generator for home use.
- Airthereal MA10k-PRO – best ozone generator for basements.
As you can see, I picked a winner for each of the most common categories that people are looking for. This should make it easier to quickly pick a winner (for your needs), based on a quick glance. Feel free to read further for a deeper analysis. I will start things off with a comparison chart between each of the above-listed ozone generators. I compared only the most important and relevant aspects in this table.
After looking at the table above you probably noticed some pretty large differences in numbers. This brings us to the next logical question.
Why is there such a difference in ozone production between OdorStop and other listed brands?
OdorStop actually answers this themselves – they claim that most other companies highly exaggerate their ozone production levels, as a regular person has no way of testing that claim. This is partially why I have also chosen only well-established and legitimate brands – the chance of them giving out wrong information is much lower than new brands and upcoming brands. That being said, OdorStop is the only company with some ozone generators that can be used in occupied areas, which is a big plus. The ozone production in all of the listed models is more than sufficient for commercial use and even many professionals use OdorStop ozone generators for their cleaning services.
That being said, let us take a look a closer look at each listed ozonator.
Airthereal MA5000 – best budget ozone generator.
Ozone production: 5000 mg/hr
Coverage area: 1000 sq ft
Dimensions: 6.8 x 7.4 x 6.8 inches
Numbers of plates: 1
Timer: 2 hours
Warranty: 3 years
I picked the Airthereal MA500 as the best cost-effective ozone generator that you can currently find on the market. It is just a solid-all around device that will not break your budget. It comes with a really high ozone production for the cost, it is very light & portable, and covers reasonably large areas. Inside of the housing is 1 standard ozone plate and a washable filter. You can expect the plate to last you about 5000 hours, which is a little over 208 days. At only 50 watts of power consumption, this becomes a truly the best budget-friendly ozone generator on the market.
It is generally used to remove odors, smoke, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your air. As is with most ozone generators, it should be turned on only when there are no occupants in the room. Regarding the timer – the MA500 comes with a knob that can you can set up to 120 minutes (2 hours). It needs anywhere between 10 minutes and 1 hour to clean a room, depending on the room size. Along with the timer, you also get a “hold” option which enables continuous production of ozone. Sadly, there is no additional knob that would allow you to set the ozone production level. Due to a very small size and low weight, you can easily carry this device around from room to room.
All-around best budget pick, especially for odors. Current price and availability of Airthereal MA500:
OdorStop OS2500UV – best ozone generator for mold.
Ozone production: 1200 mg/hr
Coverage area: 2500 sq ft
Dimensions: 12.5 x 9 x 7.5 inches
Numbers of plates: 2
Timer: 12 hours
Warranty: 5 years
I picked OdorStep OS2500UV as the best ozone generator for mold. It has a relatively low ozone production on the surface, but in reality is it more than enough to get the job done, efficiently. The two ozone plates and an extra-large fan vent ensure that you get the maximum result out of your ozone generator. Weighing in at 10.25 lbs, this is a very light and portable model. It is great against mold because it has an added UV-C light function, which is used to destroy microorganisms and disinfect the room. So you actually get a really nice double layer of protection against mold – ozone and UV light. It covers large spaces of up to 2500 square feet, making it a viable choice for any large room in the house, hotel rooms, saunas, or even large basement.
This unit comes with two knobs – one for timer and one for ozone output. The timer is super long and can be set up to 12 hours, which is way above average and offers you a lot of options. As is the case with most other ozone generators, you get a hold option for continuous use. What is unique about this device is the second knob, which is used to change the ozone output levels (depending on your needs). You can set the ozone output anywhere from 100 mg to 1200 mg/hr. The ozone plates can be switched without having to disassemble and reassemble the device, making it very convenient to use. With regular cleaning, they can easily last you 5+ years.
My #1 choice for dealing with mold, due to using two very good ozone plates and a UV light. Current price and availability of OdorStop OS2500Uv:
Enerzen O-888 – best ozone generator for odor removal.
Ozone production: 1100 mg/hr
Coverage area: 2250 sq ft
Dimensions: 6.75 x 8 x 5.75 inches
Numbers of plates: 1
Timer: 3 hours
Warranty: 3 years
I picked the Enerzen O-888 as the best ozone generator for odor removal. It actually has no special features that it can brag about, but it performs very good and very fast. It is such a simplistic, yet effective machine that it does not need any special features. This is exactly what you would want if odors were your primary issue, even strong odors like cigarette smoke. Enerzen is a very respected brand that focuses on results first, and everything else later. A combination of high ozone output, ceramic ozone plates, and an above-average fan make the Enerzen W888 model the best choice for removing even the most stubborn odors in your home.
The device comes with a timer knob which can be set to 3 hours, and a “hold” function for nonstop use. It weighs only 5 pounds, making it easy to move around without any issues. It is also CE and RoHs certified which basically means that it is safe to use and complies with all governmental regulations. Easy to maintain, simple to use, and relatively quiet is the combination you are getting with the Enerzen O-888. The ceramic ozone plates are very durable and last up to 6000 hours if you clean them regularly. You are really getting your money’s worth here.
My #1 choice for removing any odors and smells, while also a good option for mold. Affordable, effective, and long-lasting. Current price and availability of Enerzen O-888:
OdorStop UV600 – best ozone generator for small rooms.
Ozone production: 300 mg/hr
Coverage area: 600 sq ft
Dimensions: 12.5 x 9 x 7.5 inches
Numbers of plates: 1
Timer: 2 hours
Warranty: 5 years
I picked the OdorStop UV600 as the best ozone generator for small rooms. It has by far the lowest ozone production on this list, however still more than enough to effectively deal with small rooms. It covers up to 600 square feet, but is best used in small spaces or small rooms in your house/apartment. What makes this unit stand out is that you can safely use it in occupied spaces. This is because it comes with an additional UV light and a charcoal filter, which can be turned on separately from the ozone production. This ensures that your room still gets cleaned even when it is occupied and the ozone function is turned off. You are getting the best of both worlds in this case.
The devices comes a washable antibacterial filter, easy to clean ozone plate, and a charcoal filter that deals with odors when the ozone function is turned off. Like already mentioned, the ozone production can be turned on/off, timer can be set for up to two hours with a “hold” function included. This model has no ozone output knob, which is understandable due to the relatively low max ozone output. With regular cleaning, the ozone plates can easily last you 5+ years. Odorstop UV600 is effective against microorganisms and strong odors, especially caused by cigarettes, tobacco, mold, fire.
The combination of switching between good ozone production (for small rooms) and UV light + charcoal filter make this the best choice for small rooms, as it is suitable even for occupied rooms. Current price and availability of OdorStop UV600:
OdorStop OS3500UV2 – best ozone generator for home use.
Ozone production: 1800 mg/hr
Coverage area: 3500 sq ft
Dimensions: 12 x 10 x 9 inches
Numbers of plates: 3
Timer: 12 hours
Warranty: 5 years
I picked the OdorStop OS3500UV2 as the best ozone generator for home use. It has the biggest price tag on this list, but comes equipped with everything needed to justify it. It has a high ozone output for a commercial ozone generator and covers up to 3500 square feet. This makes it a very viable whole-house solution. It features 3 very durable and high-quality ozone plates that make sure even the strongest odors get removed. Similarly to the UV600 model, you also get a UV light and a charcoal filter, which can be operated separately. This makes the OS3500UV2 model a viable choice even for occupied rooms, which is what you would want in an ozone generator for home use. A combination of 3 different air cleaning methods can remove any type of odors and microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria. It can play a great role as a disinfectant too as the UV light has a wavelength of 254 nm (effective against microorganisms).
OS3500UV comes with a unique on/off button for the ozone function, letting you easily switch between generating ozone and cleaning the air with UV light + charcoal filter. The timer function is very flexible and can be set for up to 12 hours, “hold” function included. You also get a knob that controls the overall ozone output, letting you set the desired amount of ozone. As is the case with all OdorStop devices, ozone plates can be removed and cleaned without having to use any special tools or opening up the housing. With regular cleaning, the ozone plates can easily last you 5+ years.
Compact, powerful, convenient, and safe to use in even large occupied spaces is what pushed OdorStop OS3500UV2 as my top pick for home use. Current price and availability:
Airthereal MA10k-PRO – best ozone generator for basement.
Ozone production: 10.000 mg/hr
Coverage area: 2000 sq ft
Dimensions: 7.1 x 9.3 x 6.8 inches
Numbers of plates: 1
Timer: 2 hours
Warranty: 3 years
I picked the Airthereal MA10k-PRO as the best ozone generator for basements. Basements are usually areas that have continuous smell & mold problems. They are also very rarely occupied, which gives the MA10kPRO`s large ozone production of 10.000 mg/hr a great opportunity to shine. It has one powerful ozone plate that uses Hexagon Honeycomb Current technology – this simply means that it can generate an enormous amount of ozone with just 1 ozone plate. This is powerful enough to completely clean a 300 square feet room in as fast as 15 minutes, and 1500 square feet in 90 minutes. Room coverage is up to 2000 square feet, which is enough for the vast majority of basements. It primarily deals with odors, formaldehyde, mold, and mildew found in basements.
Timer can be set for up to 2 hours with an extra “hold” for continuous use – if your basement is close to 2000 sq.ft, then this setting becomes relevant. Apart from that, the MA10k-PRO does not really have any other settings. Its ozone plates are of high quality and can last you up to 20.000 hours or 5 years. Considering how powerful this ozone generator is, it produces only 45 dB of noise – equivalent to the sound of bird calls. In contrast, a lot of power is needed to produce such a big ozone output. This is why the power consumption of Airthereal MA10k-PRO is listed at 150 watts – this up to 3x more than some of the other ozone generators on this list.
Simple, powerful, cheap. The best combination to have for unoccupied spaces, which is exactly where Airthereal MA10k-PRO shines. Available on Airthereal`s official website.
Ozone generator buying guide
When choosing an ozone generator, there are a few things that you should take into consideration before buying a unit. These are:
Ozone output. This basically means how much mg of ozone an ozone generator will produce in an hour. The higher the number, the faster the cleaning speed and the more effective it will be at removing odors and mold. There are quite a few factors that influence this number, such as the number of ozone plates, technology used, and overall size of the device. If you are looking at an ozone generator and can not find this information…chances are that the number is probably too low. Otherwise, the number would be immediately be seen and featured throughout the product information text. To give you a number estimation – despite the thousands of mg/hr ozone production throwing around, a simple 350 mg/hr of ozone is enough for most home and commercial needs. The more the better of course, but not always necessary. This is partially why OdorStop ozone generators have such “low” numbers compared to others.
Rom coverage. This works in correlation with ozone output – generally the bigger the output, the more room it can cover. However, this is also influenced by the fan size, fan power and humidity levels. In most cases, manufacturers list the maximum working area, which you can then scale backwards to see how long it will take to clean a specific room size. For example, if the maximum room coverage is 2000 square feet and cleaning time is 2 hours, you can quickly calculate that it will take an hour to clean 1000 square feet. The first step here is to even define where you plan to use your ozone generator and go on from there. If you are looking to use one in small rooms, there is no need to get a model that covers 5000 square feet.
Maintenance. Some ozone generators come with easy and some with more difficult maintenance. Always check how difficult it is to replace the ozone plate(s). Some ozonators have specific patents that allow you to simply remove the plate with ease, while others require you to open up the housing or use special tools. Also, check if the plates even are removable – if they are not, you will have to change the whole ozone generator when the plate is not good anymore.
Extra features such as UV-light and charcoal filters. Some ozone generators include and UV lightbulb and some (exclusively OdorStop brand) even a charcoal filter. These are additional methods of purifying the air, with UV light specializing in destroying microorganisms. They are especially great for directly dealing with mold & mildew, and offer a great alternative way of keeping your air cleaner even when the ozone function is turned off. Do not forget to check if these functions work independently from the ozone production function. If they do, then you have a great commercial ozone generator for home use (even in occupied spaces).
Price. Ozone generators are in general much cheaper than mid to high tier air purifiers. That being said, there are some price differences between different models. Expect to pay a bit more for any special features such a UV-light (well worth it tho), additional knobs, or LED monitors. Most of the time you are paying for the ozone plate technology and quality of material used. The majority of ozone plates have a long lifespan of a few years, so you will not have a lot of extra costs. Another important thing to look at here is power consumption – I found that this one varies most between 50 – 150 watts. Longterm, this can make quite a difference in your electricity bill if you plan to use your ozone generator regularly.
Warranty. Despite looking very simple on the surface, warranties are very specific and can be a real headache. Most people just look at the number (usually in years) and that is it. By doing that you are skipping some very important information – how much does the warranty cover? Is it a complete replacement or only specific parts? Perhaps the only thing that the “great 10 year warranty” offers is only free repairs and nothing else. I really recommend you take warranties seriously and turn to the manufacturer if you can not find the answers to all of your warranty questions.
Brand. Lastly, I want to touch on the brands. I believe it is very important to (at least in the start) try to stick with established brands. It is very difficult for an individual to measure such a large amount of ozone. This is a fact that many lesser-known brands exploit by exaggerating their product specifications such as ozone production. The other aspect here is customer service, which is an important factor in the customer journey process. You do not want to get a faulty unit and have no one to turn to or ignore your messages. My favorite and currently well-established brands in the ozone generator space are Airthereal, OdorStop, Ivation, Enerzen and Alpine.
You have made it until the end! Thank you for reading my list of best ozone generators to get in 2022. I hope it helped you narrow down your choices and ultimately pick a winner.
