BetterAir is billed as the world's first probiotic air purifier. Priced at $300, the only air, object and surface purifier promises to eliminate 99.99% of certain viruses and pathogens within hours. The Biotica800 ecological balancing system has no filter and is 100% organic and works by releasing a probiotic mist into the room that took 9 years of research and development before being able to be available for effective at-home indoor pollution technology.
You’ve heard of probiotics, and you've likely heard of the air purifiers exploding in popularity amid the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent scramble for cleaning devices that are shown to provide extra protection and added defense against harmful particulate matter (PM0.3, PM2.5, PM10). Probiotic purifiers uniquely combine the two popular alternative health trends into one product type.
When such statements as “according to the EPA our indoor air is 5X more polluted than the air outside” or “who could have imagined our homes and offices would become the most dangerous places for us to be” are made, it raises a cause for concern as to just how subpar indoor breathing environments may be on a day to day basis – especially if not “aired out” frequently.
Now, you can run the air purifier to eliminate 99.99% of particles in your home within 6 hours. BetterAir purportedly uses an innovative natural and organic purification system (probiotics) to get rid of harmful pathogens, including bacteria, allergens, pet dander, dust mites, mold spores and other wellness-threatening contaminants. Much like the rise in popularity for ionizers and UV sanitizers, air purifying systems are trending in demand because of their modern high-tech effectiveness at eliminating invisible airborne pathogens and allergens within hours.
When most of us hear “probiotics,” we think of gut bacteria and the leaky gut supplements that work to promote bacterial balance in the gut. However, probiotics is a catch-all term for beneficial bacteria. Probiotics are helpful bacteria. BetterAir’s research has shown that by spraying probiotics into the air, these good bacteria particles can eliminate bad bacteria in multiple ways.
BetterAir is priced at $300 and is said to be 100% organic, natural and safe for infants, humans and pets. You can buy it either through Amazon or from the official product website.
Is BetterAir worth the price? How does the BetterAir Probiotic Air Purifier compare with the Molekule Air or Dyson Pure Cool air purifier? Can you really use probiotics to cleanse the air of 99.99% of particles? Our BetterAir Probiotic Purifier review will shed light on many of the most important components of this new ‘restoring ecological balance' product that rebalances ‘indoor ecology by mimicking nature's healthy outdoor ecology'.
Contents
What is the BetterAir Probiotic Purifier?
The BetterAir Probiotic Purifier is an air purification system designed for use in your home. Each air purifier covers 800 square feet of space, according to the product's manufacturers.
The device is marketed under several names, including: Biotica800, BetterAir, and Betterair. On Amazon, the device is marketed as BetterAir. On other websites, it’s marketed as the Biotica800 by BetterAir.
The manufacturer claims the purifier is “proven to eliminate the threat of pathogens on indoor surfaces and objects within 6 hours.” Just plug in the purifier, let it run, and it will eliminate 99.99% of certain particles within 6 hours.
“BetterAir has taken the science behind probiotics and transposed it to indoor environments,” explains the official website. “Now, you can rebalance your home and rid it of harmful pathogens and allergens naturally.” As the world's first environmental probiotic, BetterAir says the organic air purification product can actually boost your immune system too because it not only targets pathogens in the air, but on objects and surfaces as well. On the BetterAir website, it shows a statement directly from the CDC where 4 in every 5 infectious diseases are transmitted by touching a contaminated surface.
This is important because of the nature in how germs only breed on surfaces, not in the air. The Biotica800 ecological balancing system attacks these harmful pollutants at their source and in the same process reduces the likelihood of these allergens, viruses and pathogens to return.
Probiotics, for those out of the loop, are helpful bacteria that help balance your digestive tract. Some people take a probiotic supplement. Others eat probiotic yogurt.
BetterAir cites a study from Dr. Judy Neff, PhD, Head of Antimicrobial Atmospheres at AirRx Anti Microbial Sciences, which proved that BetterAir “reduces FCV by more than 99.99% within 6 hours.”
“FCV” is not a common acronym in the air purification industry, and oddly, the official BetterAir website doesn’t clarify what it means. However, FCV stands for feline calicivirus, a contagious upper respiratory infection. It’s the flu for cats.
Each BetterAir unit comes with one cartridge. You plug the cartridge in, and it lasts approximately three months (90 days). The air purifier periodically dispenses liquid probiotic particles from the cartridge, and each cartridge contains billions of probiotic bacteria. You can buy replacement cartridges for $50 apiece.
How Does BetterAir Work?
BetterAir claims to work by spraying probiotic bacteria into the air. These probiotic bacteria start to work within 15 minutes.
After six hours of use, the device has purportedly killed 99.99% of certain pathogens in the surrounding environment.
BetterAir is smaller than most air purifiers. It looks like an extra long toaster. You can use the included wall mount. Or, you can stand the device on its stabilizer feet (both the wall mount and stabilizer feet are included with your purchase).
A single BetterAir unit claims to cover 800 square feet.
Here is a video to visualize how the probiotic air purifier by BetterAir works:
How Do Probiotics Clean the Air?
Here’s how the company explained the system in a 2019 interview with Forbes:
“BetterAir is the only air purification system that treats the root cause of indoor air pollution. Allergens, pathogens, germs etc. do not grow in the air, but are born and propagate on surfaces and objects. Since they are microscopic they are then propelled into the air by minute movements of air such as the wave of a hand across a tabletop or fall off a foot upon stepping onto carpet.”
The proprietary formula consumes organic allergens like pollen, mold spores, pet dander, and dust mite fecal matter. The probiotics also consume the food sources for these organic matter, which also causes them to die.
BetterAir calls its probiotic cartridges “Enviro-Biotics”. Here’s how the official website explains how they work:
“Betterair®'s Enviro-Biotics® repopulate the environment with probiotics consuming the food sources that all bacteria require resetting the indoor ecology to be healthier for our bodies.”
In other words, BetterAir sprays liquid probiotic into the air, filling your air with bacteria that consume food sources, which means the pathogens in your air have nothing to consume, so they die.
BetterAir claims to be superior to an ordinary air purifier, which cleanses the air and removes probiotics (beneficial bacteria) from the air, creating an overly sterile environment. BetterAir adds bacteria to the air, helping protect your home long-term.
Scientific Evidence for BetterAir Biotica800 Probiotic Mist
BetterAir makes big claims about its effectiveness, claiming to eliminate all pathogens and allergens and 99.99% of particles in the air, which is a claim only usually accessed by the most high-quality air purifiers.
Is there any scientific evidence that BetterAir works as advertised? Or is BetterAir exaggerating the effectiveness of their product?
First, BetterAir cites a study performed by Dr. Judy Neff, PhD. That study purportedly found that BetterAir resulted in a “complete kill (>99.99%) of the pathogens” in the air. It also found that BetterAir reduced FCV by more than 99.99%. Dr. Judy Neff is the Head of Antimicrobial Atmospheres at AirRx Antimicrobial Sciences, a Baltimore, Maryland-based company dedicated to developing aerosol and vapor disinfectants. You can view her LinkedIn page here.
In 2017, that company received patents for an aerosol-based insecticide system. The company created a system that sprayed essential oils into the air to kill pests naturally.
As far as we can tell, this document from the official BetterAir website is the only source for Dr. Judy Neff’s study. It’s more of an email than a formal study, and the study was not published in any peer-reviewed journal. This raises some red flags, as it makes it impossible to verify the legitimacy of the study or the likelihood of its claims.
In that study, Dr. Neff exposed glass slides to probiotic bacteria, then sealed the container and observed the results. Dr. Neff found that the probiotics killed the bacteria more than a placebo. The probiotics were particularly effectively against feline calicivirus (FCV). Probiotics caused a complete kill of that virus (more than 99.99% of the virus was removed) after 15 minutes of exposure and a 6 hour hold time.
The study showed that probiotic bacteria, when applied to a slide, could kill certain viruses. It did not test the effects of airborne probiotic bacteria in an 800 square foot room – the area purportedly covered by BetterAir.
Other studies, however, have shown that probiotics can cleanse the air effectively.
In a 2019 article on BetterAir, Forbes described how BetterAir’s probiotic formula was based on eight years of research, claiming that the environmental probiotics are cultured in an ISO 9001 certified laboratory, then mixed with water as a suspension agent. 
You can view a summary of BetterAir’s research here.
In one case study performed by the University of Wisconsin, researchers tested BetterAir at an assisted living facility, distributing the company’s probiotics through the facility’s HVAC system. After four months, researchers noticed a significant reduction in harmful bacteria.
Other studies have been performed by researchers at the University of Oregon, researchers in Australia, a team in South Korea, and on El Al Airways international flights.
Vice also summarized scientific evidence for BetterAir in a December 2016 article, concluding that:
“At almost $300 a pop, these purifiers purportedly “clean” your home by releasing probiotics into the air. To be sure, the word purifier is a bit misleading: These devices don't actually purify the air with a filter that conventional air purifiers use. Instead, they pump “good” bacteria into the air to rebalance the ecosystem of bacteria in your house and make the air cleaner.”
Overall, there’s genuine scientific evidence that BetterAir’s probiotics work as advertised to re-balance the air and eliminate pathogens/bacterial particles.
BetterAir Features & Benefits
BetterAir advertises all of the following features and benefits:
- 99.99% Effective. BetterAir claims to be 99.99% effective at removing certain particles from the air within 6 hours.
- Get Rid of Harmful Pathogens and Allergens. BetterAir claims to remove pathogens and allergens from your home, reducing your risk of disease and illness.
- Control Odor. In addition to attacking pathogens, BetterAir attacks odor-causing microbes like pet dander, mold spores, and more.
- Probiotic Cartridges.Your BetterAir purchase comes with one probiotic cartridge. You plug in the cartridge, and it dispenses liquid probiotic bacteria into the air, which purportedly removes 99.99% of airborne particles. Replacement cartridges cost $50 apiece.
- Reduce Asthma Symptoms. BetterAir claims to reduce symptoms of asthma by removing certain particles from the air.
- 800 Square Feet of Coverage. BetterAir claims to cover 800 square feet with each unit.
- Works Immediately. BetterAir claims you’ll notice the difference immediately after plugging the unit in.
BetterAir Creators
BetterAir was founded in Israel in 2010. It launched in the United States in 2017.
The company is led by President Tom Staub.
There seems to be very little information available online about the nature and history of the company behind this product. Consumers should be aware of this, particularly, if they are interested in a manufacturer with elevated levels of transparency.
You can contact the company toll-free at (833) 692-3883.
BetterAir Customer Reviews
BetterAir is an unusual product. But what do customers have to say about it? Do customers claim the air purifier works as advertised?
BetterAir has an average rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon with 30+ reviews. 46% of reviewers gave it 5 stars, while 23% gave it 1 star.
On the positive side of things, reviewers described BetterAir as “absolutely amazing”. One customer claimed that she and her family had been suffering from allergies for years without relief. After two weeks with BetterAir, they noticed significant improvement.
BetterAir also seems popular among pet owners, especially pet owners with allergies to the hair of their furry friends.
Other reviewers claim to have experienced improvements in sleeping, skin issues, and breathing. On the negative side of things, reviewers complain about poor craftsmanship. Multiple reviewers claim the air purifier broke after six weeks, for example, which is just beyond the return period.
Other customers criticize the cartridge system, claiming that paying $50-$60 for a replacement cartridge every three months is too expensive. Overall, customers seem to either love or hate BetterAir, with very little reviews in-between.
Frequently Asked Questions About BetterAir
This section will answer a few of the most commonly asked questions many consumers have about BetterAir, as well as the company behind it.
Q: How does BetterAir work?
A: Like most air purifiers, this device is plugged into a wall and works to promote air quality by eliminating pathogens and other negative particles. The system relies on cartridges, which are a consistent expenditure but may help to improve the purification process.
Q: Is BetterAir scientifically supported?
A: This is a difficult question. Some scientific evidence may support the efficiency of probiotic air purifiers, but the evidence cited by this particular organization is difficult to verify. Users should conduct their own research before making a purchase.
Q: How do you use BetterAir?
A: Simply plug the device into a wall of the room you want to purify. Each device should cover around 800 square feet of space, so more than one device may be required to purify the air of an entire home.
BetterAir Pricing
The BetterAir Biotica800 is priced at $299.95.
Included in the box are the BetterAir base unit, a single Enviro-Biotics cartridge, a wall mount, stabilizer feet, power cord, and instruction manual.
Your purchase comes with one probiotic cartridge. Each cartridge lasts approximately 90 days (three months) of normal use. Each refill cartridge is $50.
BetterAir Refund Policy
BetterAir has a 60 day refund policy. You can request a refund within 60 days and receive 100% of your money back.
Final Thoughts
Betterair is an air purification system that claims to remove 99.99% of certain particles from the environment using probiotics. The device specifically targets pathogens, allergens, germs, and more.
The manufacturer has spent eight years developing the probiotic formula, and there’s scientific evidence that the device works as advertised. Much like plug-in ionizers and the ultraviolet UV-C light sanitizers, home indoor air purification systems are a near-vital addition to consider adding should anyone be spending ample amounts of time in the same room, home and also consider the family's lung health well-being as well.
You can learn more about the BetterAir Biotica800 probiotic air purifier today and get the best price on Amazon.com.
