
Coway
Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty
Durable, effective for allergens/odors, but loud on high.

Running these analyses costs money. Buy through my links to help keep lights on! I may get a small commission.
I have the Winix. No issues to date. I don’t use the plasma wave feature.
I have a Winix from Costco. It’s easy to move. Good value for CADR when they have a sale. Comes with an extra filter and there are knockoff replacements (may not be equivalent )on Amazon. It defaults every time to PlasmaWave mode which generates a tiny bit of ozone. I turn that off.
Definitely recommend Winix. Australian and comes out top of various tests. (If you haven’t been warned- don’t buy Dyson) Super sensitive to more than just particulates and has a ‘pet filter’ that is changed monthly that goes around the main filter and prevents it getting clogged with dust. Helps to prolong its life if you have pets
I say about 1/3rd of my Winix's have a bit of a smell that dissipates quite quickly.
If you're in north america, use the buying guide and grab whatever is cheapest. I recommend going oversizing twice the AHAM/size rating - as purifiers are rated at max speed and most people are unlikely to run it at that speed. I'm partial to Winix (as they tend to be the cheapest both new and open box from Winix/resellers), but anything on the guide will be fine. If you're going for the bedroom, go as big as you can afford - larger fans typically can be run slower and quieter while providing more airflow than a smaller fan. There's more to sound than volume and size, but its a good starting point since sound quality and levels are poorly documented and are difficult to compare across models. Purification is always the last step - vacuuming, good HVAC (good central air filter), and washing sheets/textiles properly is essential. Do not neglect the other steps first; as they're likely to make more profound impacts than the purifier. I have a dust mite allergy, and no amount of purification would ever compensate for regular sheets washing in hot water (and appropriate detergents, ty r/laundry) and clothes washing.
AVOID DYSON AT ALL COSTS!!! They look cool but are RIDICULOUSLY overpriced for what you get. Spent $500+ on one and my cheaper Winix outperforms it by a mile. Total marketing scam.
If you want HEPA, look on Facebook marketplace for something that has been lightly used. You’ll just need to replace the filter inside. Levoit and Winix are my preferred brands but it really depends on the size of the room you are trying to filter. As others have suggested, corsi rosenthal boxes are a really good option for filtering large spaces.

Coway
Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty
Durable, effective for allergens/odors, but loud on high.

Levoit
Vital 200S-P
Smart, effective dust/odor; some find replacement filters pricey.

Winix
5500-2
Budget king, durable; poor VOC removal, Plasmawave disliked.

Coway
Airmega Mighty
Durable, great for allergies/dust, responsive auto-fan.

Winix
5510 & 5520
Good value, durable, effective for pets; carbon filter issues.

Ranked #1
IKEA - UPPÅTVIND

Ranked #1
CleanAirKits - Corsi-Rosenthal Box

Ranked #1
Austin Air - Healthmate Plus

Ranked #1
Winix - 5500-2

Ranked #1
Coway - Airmega 400

Ranked #1
Coway - Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty