Why would you buy bottled water when you can have just the right amount at your own kitchen counter? Opting for the best countertop water filter on the market will ensure exactly that. The only challenge is locating the one that suits your needs and this is what we are here for.
Our expert team has compiled the following buying guide with tips, lists, and instructions. Our main goal is to raise your awareness and present you with the most reliable countertop water filter reviews out there. We always strive to deliver up-to-date information and this article is no different.
Feel free to ask us anything related to the subject of countertop filters but first make sure you go through all the crucial sections below.
See The Quick Comparison Chart
Why You Need a Countertop Water Filter
We aren’t even going to dabble into how important water filtration is. This is an apparent advantage of pretty much all the finest domestic water filtration systems. Are countertop water filters any good? Since you have a number of options on the market, we are going to now focus on the upsides of countertop filters specifically.
Money Matters
This sort of household water filtration is among the best money-saving options out there. Let’s begin with the initial price you will have to pay. Well, for starters, large systems such as the best whole house water filters will set you back a large amount right off the bat. In our case, you are buying a smaller unit that will rarely reach a 3-figure price.
Maintenance also won’t cost a fortune. The cartridge is not so large and depending on the usage frequency, the filter might not need to be replaced that often. This way you will still have sufficient amounts of fresh drinking water without having to pay regularly for it.
A countertop water filter dispenser will also not affect your utilities directly. Some other systems require to be plugged in or work on batteries thus wasting a lot of electricity. Here, you have a device that won’t require any electricity to run. Do not forget to check our guide on the highest-quality instant hot water dispensers, too!
Less Hassle
So installation is not a big deal here. Most products will come with comprehensive instructions regarding how to be installed. The best part is that no plumbing experience is required. All you have to do is connect a few tubes and you are good to go. The main components are:
- A body
- A faucet
- A cartridge
- A couple of water lines
You will not need to install any bypass valves, cut pipes or disassemble half of your plumbing system. There’s also no need to install any extra accessories such as a frame or а casing. What’s even better is the fact that no separate faucet is usually required. These filters come with their own faucet and all you have to do is place the unit so that the faucet can be over the sink. Of course, you can always consider buying a high-grade faucet water filter as an alternative.
Filter changes are also easy. This is not to say that all other water filtration systems are tough to maintain but here it’s really easy. There’s barely any disassembling to be done as you only have to open the unit and just replace the cartridge. That’s it!
Water Is Simply Better
Being healthy is among the greatest reasons why you want to have a water filter in the first place. Larger systems will drive your water through pipes and other smaller products such as the best shower head filters bear the danger of creating buildup.
With countertop filters, your water leaves the filter and immediately comes out of the faucet. This water will taste better and all odor will be removed. Some products will alkalinize your water and others will simply remove heavy metals and sediment. Whatever the case, you shouldn’t doubt the functionality.
Healthy water is also essential for the physical development of children. A large number of kids grow up with allergies, breathing problems, and other conditions. This happens to a large degree thanks to unfiltered water. Taking good care of the young ones in your family is aided by the presence of a countertop filter.
Little Room is Required
According to all countertop water filter consumer reports, these products are not big. They can’t be considered portable but they are definitely small. Even though you will have to keep such a filter on your countertop, it will not consume a lot of space.
One of these units is typically as large as a jug or a little at best. Other systems which require specific installation and feature more than one cartridge will also need more space. People often lose big areas of their basements or their under-sink space. Here you won’t have such limitations.
Best Countertop Water Filters Comparison Chart
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | APEX Countertop Drinking Water Filter |
| View On Amazon |
 | CleanWater4Less® Countertop Water Filtration System |
| View On Amazon |
 | Big Berkey BK4X2 Countertop Water Filter System |
| View On Amazon |
 | Brondell H2O+ Cypress Countertop Water Filter System |
| View On Amazon |
 | Aquasana Countertop Drinking Water Filter System |
| View On Amazon |
 | AquaTru Countertop Water Filter Purification System |
| View On Amazon |
 | Brondell H2O+ Pearl Countertop Water Filter System |
| View On Amazon |
Best Countertop Water Filters In The Market
As promised, we will present you with short and sweet reviews on the finest countertop water filters available. We will not drown you in information as we believe that the most essential content can be delivered concisely. Here are 10 of the best units you will find in no particular order:
1. APEX Countertop Drinking Water Filter
The APEX Countertop Filter is a cost-effective one. It is not suspiciously cheap, but also not too harsh on your budget. And still, it is a dependable and efficient unit. It uses a 5-stage filtration, including a coconut activated carbon filter and a KDF-85 one. The system gets rid of typical contaminants such as chlorine and chloramines, heavy metals and microorganisms, taste, and odor.
The filter increases the pH level and adds some useful minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. The installation is simple and two faucet adaptors are included – a 13/16″ and 15/16″. Others are available upon request including the universal one. The unit doesn’t take much space and has a stylish, colorful design. The capacity of this product is about 1500 gallons or 4 months. The replacement filters are not expensive. A small disadvantage is a hose that connects the faucet to the unit. If your kitchen space is too tight it could appear a bit long for it.
2. CleanWater4Less® Countertop Water Filtration System
If you don’t want to bother with filter replacing and are not ready to buy a whole house system or a reverse osmosis system, this countertop filter might be just the product for you. The CleanWater4Less system has a simple design and a built-in carbon filter that is not replaceable. That’s why the capacity of the unit is 10 000 gallons. This should cover about 2 years of usage.
The chrome faucet and inlet are also built-in. The filter uses 5 stages of filtration. They include a sediment pre-filter, depth pre-filter, high-grade GAC activated media, depth post-filter, and a final micron filter. Nevertheless, the main filter is the carbon one. It removes chlorine, sediment, volatile organic compounds, and unpleasant tastes and odors. The installation of the unit is pretty easy and the instruction manual is included, along with the necessary adapters. Considering its price, characteristics and the job it does, it is a good value purchase.
3. Big Berkey BK4X2 Countertop Water Filter System
One of the most expensive products on the market, the Big Berkey BK4X2 Countertop filtration system is also one of the most efficient and reliable ones when it comes to purification and capacity. Using 4 different filters this unit will remove not only all the contaminants that others do. With its 2 fluorides/arsenic filters, it will also remove up to 99.9% of fluoride from your water.
Being a huge system (8.5-inch diameter x 21 inches tall) it is very convenient for a big family or an office. And considering its capacity of up to 6000 gallons before filter replacement is required, it can very well serve you almost a whole year. The unit itself can hold about 2.25 gallons of filtered water. What’s more – the production is 7 gallons per hour. Another thing worth mentioning is that the product is made of high grade 304 stainless steel. In total – an impressive, solid, and super-efficient product.
4. Brondell H2O+ Cypress Countertop Water Filter System
A mid-priced, basic solution the Brondell H2O+ Cypress countertop filter will meet your basic filtration needs for better-tasting water and lack of odor. Its price is also a budget one. A key distinction with this product is its filtration system. It’s a 3-stage one that uses a composite filter, a nano trap filter for turbidity, and a carbon block filter. This way typical contaminants will be removed from your water. Sand, rust, fine particles, chlorine, and volatile organic compounds, to name a few.
The manufacturer claims that this system can also remove industrial chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides. An advantage of the unit is its convenient and nice design. It is slim and small and doesn’t require much space. Mind that it doesn’t come with a faucet. Another downside is the cost of the replacement filters. The average lifespan is about 6 months and the nano trap filter will last for about 12 months. All in all, this product is a basic solution but maybe not of the best value on the market.
5. Aquasana Countertop Drinking Water Filter System
The Aquasana Countertop filtration system is a popular one. It removes or significantly reduces many of the dangerous contaminants of drinking water. It uses a three-stage filtration to supply you with healthy water with a great taste. Here we have a combination of carbon filtration, ion exchange, and sub-micron filtration. This system is NSF certified to remove 77 total contaminants. Amongst them are 97% of chlorine, chloramines, organic chemicals, and pharmaceuticals such as herbicides, pesticides, and VOCs. It also reduces heavy metals like lead and mercury.
The ease of use makes the filter very convenient. You simply attach it to the hose and connect it to your faucet. The kit comes with 3 types of diverters to the faucet and can fit most, if not all of the present vent designs. The lifespan of the filters is between 4 to 6 months, depending on the usage rate. A downside is the somewhat expensive replacement filters. Other than that, it is a product of great value considering its properties and price.
6. AquaTru Countertop Water Filter Purification System
The AquaTru countertop water filter is one of the finest in its class. It is expensive, but, it has a lot to offer for its price. First and most important – it uses a reverse osmosis system for filtration and at the same time is cheaper than a whole RO system. The technology also includes a mechanical pre-filter, a US-made reverse osmosis membrane, and an activated carbon filter.
The unit is NSF certified for the removal of a wide range of harmful contaminants and 15X more than standard solutions. It removes 99.1% of lead, chromium- 97.2%, copper – 95.2%, fluoride – 93.5%, radium – 96.4%, and chlorine at 96.6%. And even more – the AquaTru is designed to remove more than a thousand of other contaminants. The installation and maintenance are super easy. The filters change with just a twist and last from 6 months to 2 years. 1 gallon of purified water is produced in 15 – 20 minutes. The design of the unit is compact and stylish. As a whole, that’s a high-class efficient countertop filter.
7. Brondell H2O+ Pearl Countertop Water Filter System
The Brondell H2O countertop water filtration system is a reasonable and very compact solution for people that are not obsessive about the composition of their water. Note that this unit will not clean it from chlorine and other contaminants such as bacteria, germs, molds, rusts, and more. But its basic function would be to deliver clean and tasty water with no odor. It has a simple and space-saving design that allows placing it anywhere around the kitchen sink. You can securely attach it to your faucet.
The system uses an activated carbon block technology and provides a sufficient level of filtration. A delicate filter change indicator will remind you when it is time for a replacement. The replacement filters are somewhat expensive and are changed every 6 months. This unit fits almost all standard kitchen faucets and adapters are provided. It is not compatible with integrated pull-out or pull-down sprayer type faucets.
8. Ecosoft Countertop Drinking Water Filter System for Faucet
If you have not decided on a countertop water filter yet, The Ecosoft one is an affordable and practical solution. It is fairly easy to install – no drilling is needed. You just need to connect the tubing to your faucet. It doesn’t occupy too much space and comes in four colors to choose from. The construction is solid, manufactured in Europe using BPA-free and European Food Grade plastics.
The filtration is performed by an activated coconut-based carbon filter. It purifies the water from chlorine, lead, sediment particles, and chlorination by-products. Bad taste and odor are also removed. A nice feature is the presence of the two faucet adapters and the chrome faucet. The filter lasts 3 to 6 months depending on the size of your household. Either that or about 400 gallons. In some cases, the unit can drip a bit, but not too much to be considered a major issue.
9. New Wave Enviro 10 Stage Water Filter System
As the name of this system suggests, this is one exceptionally efficient product with 10 stages of filtration. It will remove the basic contaminants that other countertop filters remove and many more. Besides the typical chlorine, bacteria, taste, and odor, the Enviro filter removes also herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals, trihalomethanes, and organic contaminants. This includes some particles of larger and micro-size as well.
The set consists of a sponge filter, KDF-55 stage, a felt pad, superfine mesh, coconut shell, granular activated carbon, and ion exchange resin. What’s more about this filter, it will not only perform extreme purification but will also add healthy minerals to your water to increase the alkaline pH levels. The unit is attached to the faucet quickly you can get a conversion kit for under-sink installation separately. The best quality of this filter is that it can last almost one year without needing replacement. Considering its price – a great deal for what you get.
10. NutriChef Countertop Water Filter Dispenser
The NutriChef Countertop filter is a tabletop dispenser with big capacity and decent performance. It is very easy to use and carry. The body is pretty compact despite the capacity of 4 gallons. It weighs 6lbs and the only thing you need to do is pour tap water into the top & dispense. Don’t be mislead by its plastic housing. The product is made of eco-friendly and BPA-free material and you should not expect any plastic taste or worry about contamination.
The technology of filtration uses 5 built-in stages. They are as follows: a ceramic filter, an activated carbon, a mineral stone, sand quartz, and mineral balls. This means that not only your water will be purified from harmful chlorine and bacteria, but it will also be alkalinized and softened. The replacement filters are not expensive and their lifespan is 6 months for the activated carbon one and 12 months for the dome ceramic and the mineral stone filters. Overall, a reliable solution at a lower than normal price.
Downsides of Countertop Water Filters
Nothing in this world is perfect and even the finest countertop water filter is no different. There’s always something left to be desired so here’s what to bear in mind when you pick the right product for your water filtration needs.
Capacity
This is not about the filter life as much as it is about the amount of clean water you can have at any one time. Unfortunately, countertop water filters will not be able to produce exceptional quantities of water. They are meant for fair use and might not be great for huge families.
In case you have more traffic around the sink, then you might want to look for some other options. You should also know that the more through the filter, the slower the flow rate of the water will be.
You Get Only One Cartridge
There are no countertop filters which will house a few cartridges strung together. You get just one filter + 1 faucet and that’s it. While it is true that you can usually buy a wide array of filters, you can use only one at any given time.
This means that you will likely have to choose between certain contaminants to be removed. If you get rid of heavy metals, you might struggle to defeat viruses. This is why our quick expert advice is to go with a filter of the smallest possible micron rating. This means that it will let fewer things pass through but it will also reduce the water flow speed.
Single Point-of-Use
What really bothers some users is the fact that they cannot get fresh water from every faucet in their home. You can, of course, have such a system at a substantial price. But when it comes to countertop filters, you ought to be ready to drink clean water from just a single point-of-use.
A consolation prize, in this case, is the fact that any countertop unit can easily be relocated to another faucet. Since the connection is not hard to attach and detach, you can sort of change the location of the unit often.
It Can Be In The Way
While we already stated that a countertop filter will not require a lot of space it will still have its presence felt on your counter. That being said, you will have somewhat limited space around your kitchen sink and you will need to arrange everything else around it.
This is a device that cannot be put away in a cupboard when not in use because there will be some unplugging to be done. All you can do is try to not bump into the unit constantly.
How to Install a Countertop Water Filter
One of the greatest advantages of countertop water filters (as stated already) is that they are exceptionally easy to install. So, the installation of a countertop water filter is very easy. The whole process of preparing your product for use should take you less than 10 minutes. If you are experienced, it might be even less than 5.
No matter what type of filtration system you pick, most of it will come pre-assembled. This means that the body of the unit along with its lids, caps, housing, etc will be put together. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t check and make sure that everything is in order before proceeding with the next steps.
Before you buy a unit, see what it comes with. The finest products will also have a wrench in the set. This is a vital component and a tool because it will aid you in the future when you have to replace a filter. The wrench that comes with your countertop filter is typically class or model specific. It is designed in such a way that it doesn’t damage the unit even when you apply a little bit more force.
The steps:
- This first step is typical of filters which require to be connected to the existing faucet. Most countertop filters work that way. So, remove the aerator from your faucet – that’s the No.1 step.
- Install the rotating collar that comes with the unit. You would usually have 2 sizes so pick the one that fits your faucet.
- Once you are happy with how you’ve connected the tubes to the filter, place the unit at a convenient location near the sink.
- Turn on your water and hold the knob on the diverter valve.
- Flush the water for a few minutes especially if you use an activated carbon filter. You want to get rid of all particles prior to drinking any water from the filter.
- If you encounter any sweet taste or see bubbles in the water, just keep flushing until you are satisfied.
Changing the Filter Cartridge of Your Countertop Unit
Proper and regular maintenance is vital to the functionality of any water filter regardless of type. Here’s what you have to do to change most cartridges of your countertop filter. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions about how often this change should take place.
- Our 1st tip is to have the unit over the sink when you disconnect the tubes. Water will inevitably come out of there.
- Undo the back cap of the unit – there will usually be some arrows to follow.
- The filter will be nicely tucked in there so you might have to give it a good shake in order for it to come out.
- Put the new one in the bed – push it nicely and then snug in the O-ring.
- Make sure you tighten the cap well but not too hard
- In case you have more than one cartridge in your countertop water filter, do the same procedure.
- Connect the tubes at the end and make sure you flush the filter for a few minutes.
Wrapping Up
This is where we are about to say goodbye, hoping that our information has been useful to you. It goes without saying that the best countertop water filter is definitely out there waiting for you to get it. We believe our crew has done a good job structuring and preparing the article and we hope you think so as well.
In case you think our countertop water filter reviews could use a few touches, by all means, let us know. We rely on your feedback and any comments will be greatly appreciated. Share the guide with your friends and relatives and don’t forget to check some of our other articles such as the one about the best water softeners. Thanks for reading and as always – stay put!