Reviews of The Best Countertop Water Filters of 2024
We all know the importance of drinking water. We are much more health conscious than we used to be, and drinking more water is one of the most important steps to take. Can you believe that 15 years ago, the average American consumed more soda than water? Either way, many of us are guilty of not drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water per day.
One way to get into the habit of drinking more water is to buy the best countertop water filter you can afford. The saying “out of sight, out of mind” is true when it comes to water; you don’t exactly feel thirsty when you see a metal faucet. With a beautifully designed countertop water filter that delivers the purest, most refreshing water every single day, it will be easy to stay healthy and hydrated.
There are many great products to choose from when it comes to buying a countertop water filter. One of the best features of these products is that they can travel anywhere!
So whether you’re in charge of the family BBQ, or want to provide everyone with clean drinking water at the pool or the lake, having a high quality countertop water filter will come in handy whether at home or camping!
Countertop Water Filter Comparison
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Top Buying Considerations
Buying a counter top water filter system isn’t a complicated decision, but there are a few important factors to help you decide if a countertop water filter is for you. There are other water filtration systems that might be a better fit for you.
Space
Do you actually have enough space on your countertop for a new appliance? If not, you may want to consider purchasing an under the stink water filtration system
Household Size
The water filter jugs come in a variety of sizes, and you’ll want to adjust depending on how much use it will get in a regular day. Also the more it’s used, the more frequently you’ll have to change the filter.
Your Budget
These types of water filters start at around $75 and go up from there. If you are very tight on budget, you may want to consider a simple water filter pitcher to keep in the fridge.
Specific Water Treatment Need
Depending on why you’re seeking a water filter, you may need different levels of filtration. For example, if your water is contaminated, you’ll want to go with a reverse osmosis model. If your water is a little hard, a simple gravity filter will suffice. If you have excessive fluoride in your water, you can purchase additional fluoride filters for most systems. It truly depends on your need.
Types of Countertop Water Filter Systems
Gravity Filter Water Dispenser:
These are the types of filters that use gravity to pull the water through a filter. You a probably familiar with a Brita filter that uses this concept. For countertops, you pour tap water in the top of the jug which funnels to the filter, and the purified water drips into a bottom chamber. You then dispense your clean water from the bottom chamber. The great benefit is they don’t require any installation at all.
Faucet & Sinktop Water Filters:
These are simply water filters that are hooked to kitchen faucet with the water filter sitting near the sinktop, as opposed to an under the sink water filtration system. This saves money and installation cost vs hiding the filter system under the sink. The filters come in wide variety of qualities, which we will discuss later on in this guide.
Countertop Reverse Osmosis Filtration System:
There are counter top water filters that use reverse osmosis, which is one of the most advanced and safe ways to filter water. If you are looking for a full reverse osmosis system, you can read our buyer’s guide on the best reverse osmosis systems.
Countertop Alkaline Water Filters
If you’d like to have water that is pH adjusted up, you can purchase a countertop alkaline water filter dispenser
We researched over 55+ best selling counter top water filter systems and narrowed down the best one in each category for our readers.
Best Countertop Water Filter Reviews
Berkey Water Filters are a premium name and known for making the best gravity-based countertop water filters on the market. No installation is required, simply pour your water in the top chamber and enjoy the very best water a gravity water filter can offer.
Berkey is one of the only countertop gravity filters that also offer an effective fluoride filter, which is a major concern for a lot of people in the United States. It is also one of the only all stainless steel countertop water filter to match your kitchen appliances.
We were also able to find some lab results from the Berkey filters (same ones regardless of size of tank) and they were impressive.
If you are looking for the best of the best in gravity filters, then look no further than the Berkey Filters.
The Berkey line of water filters comes in a large variety of sizes, try to find the one that is best suited for your family. To find out which size is best for you, check out this great video guide:
If you want a really high quality countertop gravity filter but don’t want to spend top dollar for the Big Berkey, a very comparable and less expensive options is the Santevia Gravity Water System with Fluoride Filter. Unlike many other countertop water filters, this model is capable of removing fluoride, arsenic and other contaminants, as well as improving the overall taste of your water.
We also love the elegant design and transparent filter, this model is definitely not an eye sore. It is very easy to assemble and doesn’t require any installations or hook ups to water supplies.
If having great tasting, safe water always available on your counter top then you should check out this fantastic countertop gravity filter.
If budget is a concern and alkaline water is what you seek, then the Zen Water Systems Countertop Water Filter Dispenser is for you. This affordable water filter has a 5 stage water filter, capable of filtering most bacteria, chlorine and other contaminants. It’s worth noting it does not remove fluoride.
It’s a well designed unit with a transparent filter chamber. They have 3 sizes available: 4, 6 and 8 Gallon, which is great to customize relative to your household size. Each filter is capable of filtering 500 gallons, which is on the lower end of filter life relative to the other countertop water filters on our list, so be sure to factor replacement filter costs into your buying decision.
Don’t let the affordable price fool you; this is a very high quality countertop water filter.
One of the most innovative water filters in the market today is CleanWater4Less Countertop Water Filtration System, one of the only water filters that requires virtually no filter changes. With the ability to filter over 10,000 gallons of water before needing to be replaced, it is by far the most enduring water filter on our list.
You’d think that for such innovative technology, you’d have to pay a pretty penny for it. You’ll be surprised to learn that this is one of the most affordable water filters on our list!
If you want a no-hassle water filter that hooks directly to your kitchen faucet and virtually never needs to be replaced, this is the right water filter for you.
If you are looking for an affordable, elegant and highly effective counter top water filter system, then take a look at the Home Master TMJRF2 Counter Top Water Filtration System. For less than half the cost of a Berkey Filter, you can still achieve up to 93% removal of contaminants such as Fluoride, Chlorine, Aluminum and Arsenic. If you already live somewhere with a very clean public water supply, but you are just looking to get that pure water taste, then this will be the perfect water filtration system for you.
With prices in the mid range of our guide and the filter itself taking up virtually no space, this is an easy choice for more budget conscious customers who are looking to upgrade the taste of their water filters.
If you are a little bit concerned about the installation, take a look at this short video which shows just how easy it is to install this water filter on your counter top.
There is a reason why the Armed Forces use reverse osmosis water filtration systems when they are deployed around the world. It is simply the best way we humans know of filtering water, and it can achieve up to 99.9% filtration of contaminants, depending on the filter.
The ZIP Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter is the best of the best when it comes to Countertop RO technology. The unit itself is stunning and not an eye sore like some of the cheaper models. This model requires no installation whatsoever; simply plug it in and pour water into the chamber and instantly get access the the purest water this earth has to offer.
If you are interested in seeing other Reverse Osmosis Filtration Systems, please see our buyer’s guide for places other than the counter top.
If reverse osmosis is the filter you need but you’re afraid to install an under the sink version and don’t have a top dollar budget for the Zip model, there is a cheaper alternative in the APEC Portable RO Water Filter System. While not the most elegant water filter to look at, it requires no installation and hooks directly to the kitchen faucet.
If you only require a small amount of RO water per day you can pick up this unit for an extremely affordable price.
This can be a great solution for a single person or couple living in an apartment or condominium who require an RO filter but can’t install any modifications to the unit.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive Alkaline water ionizer and water filter in one, we have just the countertop unit you’re looking for. The pH Recharge Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine by Invigorated Water is one of the best countertop water purifiers available for under $100.
This 6 stage water filter removes most chlorine, fluoride, pathogens and other contaminants, while adding beneficial minerals like calcium and selenium.
Based on our tests the filter doesn’t remove much TDS from the water, although it does adjust the pH as described and the water tastes great.
For this price, it’s one of the best countertop water filters you can get.
Water Contaminants and Filter Guide
If you are unsure about which filter you need, we’ve borrowed the guide directly from the EPA that indicates what your water might taste, smell or look like depending on the contaminants.
Contaminant | Countertop Filter Needed | Noticeable Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Gravity | colored water |
| Chloride | Gravity | salty taste |
| Color | Filtration System | visible tint |
| Copper | Filtration System | metallic taste; blue-green staining |
| Corrosivity | Reverse Osmosis | metallic taste; corroded pipes/ fixtures staining |
| Fluoride | Reverse Osmosis | tooth discoloration |
| Foaming agents | Filtration System | frothy, cloudy; bitter taste; odor |
| Iron | Gravity | rusty color; sediment; metallic taste; reddish or orange staining |
| Manganese | Gravity | black to brown color; black staining; bitter metallic taste |
| Odor | Reverse Osmosis | “rotten-egg”, musty or chemical smell |
| pH | Filtration System | low pH: bitter metallic taste; corrosion high pH: slippery feel; soda taste; deposits |
| Silver | Gravity | skin discoloration; graying of the white part of the eye |
| Sulfate | Gravity | salty taste |
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | Gravity | hardness; deposits; colored water; staining; salty taste |
| Zinc | Gravity | metallic taste |
Bottom Line
The main reason to get a counter top water filter, as opposed to any other type of filtration system, is to remind you to drink more water! Counter top water filtration systems take up more visible space than other water filters, such as under sink or whole house water filters, or a simple pitcher to place in your fridge. Remember, out of sight is out of mind, so with a water filter right on your counter top, you have no excuse not to drink your recommended water each day.
