Although both are meant to help you achieve comfortable indoor air, air conditioners and air purifiers are not the same. Instead, they have different systems that serve other purposes. For example, a home might need an air conditioner, not an air purifier, or vice versa.

The Purpose

The main purpose of an air conditioner is to cool down the indoor air. Meanwhile, an air purifier works to remove pollutants from the indoor air. In addition, AC units usually have filtration systems that can capture particulates or any other type of air pollutant.

However, its ability to clean the air is still far behind that of an air purifier. Meanwhile, air purifiers are not able to control the air temperature. It serves no other purpose than removing pollutants and neutralizing odors.

Besides that, AC units also help remove excess moisture from the air to some extent. But relying on your AC will not be enough if you have a serious humidity issue with your indoor air. It would help if you had an air dehumidifier for such purposes.

The System

Air conditioners strip the excess heat from your indoor air while also removing the excess moisture. The chilled air is then blown back into the room. But before it comes out of the AC unit, the air passes through a filtration system to capture the pollutants in it.

Some AC models may have more advanced filtration systems, which may be enough to keep indoor air clean if you don’t have many pollutants flowing around your house.

On the other hand, air purifiers do not condition the temperature or humidity. As a result, the purifying system may vary from model to model. Still, air purifiers generally work only to remove pollutants significantly more advanced than the filtration system built into AC units.

Which One Do You Need?

You need an air conditioner if it feels too hot inside your home. This appliance is most beneficial in tropical climates or during the summer months in other climates. They may have some purifying and dehumidifying features. Even so, air conditioners are not recommended if your main concern is high moisture levels or polluted air.

On the other hand, air purifiers are known to improve indoor air quality effectively. However, not everyone needs it in their home. Counting on the filtration system of your AC unit might be sufficient unless:

The ventilation system in your home does not allow for proper air circulation
Your indoor air feels stuffy and stale most of the time, even after you have tried to improve air circulation
Your family has respiratory issues or allergies
Your home often has odors or fumes
It doesn’t feel comfortable to breathe inside your home

Suppose you have serious concerns about the temperature and cleanliness of your indoor air. In that case, you can have both systems installed. If both work simultaneously, they may benefit each other while creating the most comfortable indoor air for your family.