Humidifiers / Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) vs Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF)
$39.99
VSCrane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
$44.99
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) vs Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
A nursery classic whose own manual and its retail listings disagree on almost everything.
Wins overall by 0.5 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.5-point gap makes the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier the straightforward choice here. A nursery classic whose own manual and its retail listings disagree on almost everything.
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) and Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier are both closely matched humidifier models, and the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) is $5 cheaper than the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier ($39.99 vs $44.99). On Output, the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier leads (6.0 vs 3.0/10) — actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box. On Runtime & Refill Interval, the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier leads (5.5 vs 3.5/10) — how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is. On Cleaning & Access, the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier leads (7.0 vs 6.0/10) — whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to. Overall, the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier scores 5.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 5.4/10 for the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) | Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.99 | $44.99 |
| Release Year | 2015 | 2010 |
| Humidification Technology | Ultrasonic cool mist — a piezo disc atomises water into a visible plume | Ultrasonic cool mist — a piezo disc atomises water into a visible plume, no fan and no wick |
| White Dust & Mineral Aerosol | Yes, and Pure Enrichment says so in its own catalogue: the MistAire Decalcification Cartridge Filter is described as reducing "white dust from minerals in tap water". It is a $12.99 accessory, not included, and Pure Enrichment recommends changing it every six months. the EPA's "Use and Care of Home Humidifiers" states that ultrasonic and impeller humidifiers "are very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air" and that they "can disperse materials, such as microorganisms and minerals, from their water tanks into indoor air" | Yes, and Crane's own manual says so plainly: "filtered or distilled water is recommended to avoid white dust if tap water is too hard". Crane sells a demineralisation filter as an accessory, but retailers cannot agree on which one — Home Depot's listing cites HS-1932 and FiltersFast cites HS-3161. the EPA's "Use and Care of Home Humidifiers" states that ultrasonic and impeller humidifiers "are very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air" and that they "can disperse materials, such as microorganisms and minerals, from their water tanks into indoor air" |
| Tank Capacity | 1.7 L / 0.45 gal — the smallest tank here after the Canopy | 1 gal / 3.78 L |
| Rated Output per Day | Published: 120 mL/hr on high and 60 mL/hr on low, i.e. 2.9 L/day and 1.4 L/day. That is a desk-scale output and Pure Enrichment is honest about it | "Approx. 2.3 Gallon / 8.7 Liter" per Crane's manual — from a 1 gallon tank. Reaching rated output means filling it two and a bit times in 24 hours |
| Quoted Runtime (and at which setting) | Up to 25 hours on LOW, up to 12 hours on HIGH — Pure Enrichment publishes both, which almost nobody else in this set does | Crane's manual gives both ends: "Max. up to 24 hours / Min. 11 Hours". Retail listings quote only the 24-hour figure, which is the lowest output setting |
| Rated Room Coverage | Up to 250 ft² (Pure Enrichment) — the smallest claim here, and the only one that is consistent with the published output | Sources conflict outright: Crane's own manual says "Up to 250 sq. ft. / 23 m2", while Home Depot and Lowe's list the identical EE-5301 at up to 500 ft² — a 2x discrepancy between the manufacturer's manual and its own retail listings |
| Humidistat | None. Two mist settings on a dial and an auto shut-off for a dry tank. No humidity sensor, no auto mode, no readout | None. A variable-output knob and an auto shut-off for a dry tank. There is no humidity sensor and no auto mode anywhere in the Drop line |
| Noise | Not published as a decibel figure — Pure Enrichment says "whisper quiet". At 12W with no fan the noise is the ultrasonic hum and the water | Not published as a decibel figure — the manual and retail listings say only "whisper quiet". No fan, so the noise is the ultrasonic hum |
| Filters & Cartridges (Annual Cost) | Optional decalcification cartridge at $12.99, changed every six months — about $26/yr if you use it. Nothing is required for the unit to run, but running it on tap water without the cartridge is what generates the dust | Nothing required — Crane's design is explicitly filter-optional. The demineralisation filter is an accessory whose part number varies by retailer; distilled water is the alternative, at roughly $1-1.50/gal |
| Cleaning Burden & Dishwasher-Safe Parts | Small, so it is quick, but the 1.7L tank neck is narrow and the supplied disk brush exists precisely because you cannot get a hand round the transducer. Nothing is dishwasher-safe. At 1.7L you are handling it daily anyway | Crane's manual asks for daily emptying and a weekly deep clean: half a gallon of warm water plus two tablespoons of white vinegar in the tank, shaken and left 20-30 minutes, then repeated for the basin. The tank has a detachable bottom cap and a removable level sensor, which genuinely helps. Nothing is dishwasher-safe |
| UV / Antimicrobial Claim | None claimed. No UV, no antimicrobial coating, no bacteriostatic additive supported | Claimed by retailers, absent from the manual. Home Depot's listing says the unit is "made with clean control anti-microbial material which reduces mold and bacteria growth by up to 99.96%"; FiltersFast's listing for the same model says no antimicrobial claims are made, and Crane's own manual contains no such claim. Treat the 99.96% figure as unsubstantiated |
| Mist Temperature & Burn Risk | Cool mist at room temperature — no burn risk, and no thermal kill step on the water | Cool mist at room temperature — no burn risk, no heater, no thermal kill step |
| Warranty | 60 months | 12 months |
| Colors | White, Gray | White, Blue/White, Clear/White, Grey, Pink, Orange |
Category Scores
Freedom From White Dust
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) leads clearly here, 4.0 against 3.5 — a 0.5-point margin on the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine.. If that is what you are buying for, the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier does not close the gap elsewhere.
Output
The Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier leads clearly here, 6.0 against 3.0 — a 3.0-point margin on actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box. If that is what you are buying for, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Runtime & Refill Interval
The Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier leads clearly here, 5.5 against 3.5 — a 2.0-point margin on how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is. If that is what you are buying for, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Cleaning & Access
The Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.0 — a 1.0-point margin on whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to. If that is what you are buying for, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Running Cost
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on wicks, demineralisation cartridges, antimicrobial additives, distilled water and electricity — everything you keep paying after the purchase. If that is what you are buying for, the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier does not close the gap elsewhere.
Quietness
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) and Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier are level here, at 8.0/10 each. noise at the setting people actually run it overnight, weighted toward independently measured figures over manufacturer claims is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Humidity Control
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) and Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier are level here, at 2.0/10 each. whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Safety Around Children
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) and Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier are level here, at 8.5/10 each. burn and scald risk from boiled or heated water, tipping hazard, and whether the hygiene story holds up in a nursery is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) if…
- • Running Cost matters most to you — the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) scores 8.0/10 here (wicks, demineralisation cartridges, antimicrobial additives, distilled water and electricity — everything you keep paying after the purchase).
- • Freedom From White Dust matters most to you — the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) scores 4.0/10 here (the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine.).
Choose the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier if…
- • Output matters most to you — the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier scores 6.0/10 here (actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box).
- • Runtime & Refill Interval matters most to you — the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier scores 5.5/10 here (how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is).
- • Cleaning & Access matters most to you — the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier scores 7.0/10 here (whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to).
Pros & Cons
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF)
Pros
- +A five-year warranty at $39.99, which no other humidifier in this comparison comes close to
- +Publishes both output (120/60 mL/hr) and runtimes for both settings — rare honesty at this price
- +Pure Enrichment openly sells a cartridge described as reducing "white dust from minerals in tap water", so the problem is at least acknowledged
- +12W and auto shut-off; small enough to sit on a desk without dominating it
Cons
- −1.7L and 120 mL/hr is a desk humidifier, not a bedroom one — a full tank on high lasts twelve hours and covers 250 ft² at best
- −Ultrasonic, so it makes white dust; the demineralisation cartridge that reduces it is a $12.99 accessory sold separately on a six-month cycle
- −No humidistat of any kind — two settings on a dial and nothing that senses the room
- −Narrow tank neck means you clean the transducer with the supplied brush rather than your hand
- −No antimicrobial or UV stage, and Pure Enrichment publishes no noise figure
Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Pros
- +Crane's manual is unusually honest — it publishes 2.3 gal/day output, both ends of the runtime range, and tells you outright to use filtered or distilled water to avoid white dust
- +Detachable bottom cap and removable water-level sensor make the tank genuinely easier to clean than most ultrasonics
- +Variable-output knob rather than two or three fixed steps, so you can dial in a low continuous rate
- +A gallon of capacity and six colour options for $44.99
Cons
- −Crane's own manual (250 ft²) and its own retail listings (500 ft²) disagree by a factor of two on coverage, and by nearly $21 on price
- −Ultrasonic white dust, and the demineralisation accessory has two different part numbers depending on which retailer you ask (HS-1932 vs HS-3161)
- −The "reduces mold and bacteria growth by up to 99.96%" antimicrobial claim appears on retail listings and nowhere in Crane's manual — another retailer says the model makes no antimicrobial claims at all
- −2.3 gal/day rated output from a 1 gallon tank means two-plus refills a day to hit the number
- −No humidistat, no humidity readout, and a one-year warranty against five on the cheaper Pure Enrichment
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) or Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Output, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) or the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier?+
The Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier scores higher on Output (6.0/10 vs 3.0/10) — actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box.
Which is better for Runtime & Refill Interval, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) or the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier?+
The Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier scores higher on Runtime & Refill Interval (5.5/10 vs 3.5/10) — how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is.
Which is better for Cleaning & Access, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) or the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier?+
The Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier scores higher on Cleaning & Access (7.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to.
Which is better for Running Cost, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) or the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier?+
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) scores higher on Running Cost (8.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — wicks, demineralisation cartridges, antimicrobial additives, distilled water and electricity — everything you keep paying after the purchase.
Is the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) worth the price difference over the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier?+
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) is the cheaper option at $39.99 versus $44.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Output.
What's the warranty on the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) vs the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier?+
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier (PEHUMIDIF) ships with a 60-month warranty; the Crane Drop EE-5301 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Vicks Warm Steam Vaporizer V150 (V150SGN / V150RY series) — $19.79
Premium Option
Levoit Classic 300S (Classic300S) — $79.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.