Which Countertop Water Filter Is More Affordable To Maintain

The five Best Countertop H2o Filters in 2022

Our winner is the iSpring CKC1 Countertop Water Filter

We independently enquiry, exam, review, and recommend the all-time products—learn more than nearly our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Bottled water is certainly convenient, simply having a countertop filtration system at home is a much more than sustainable selection that helps protect you from pb, PFAS, and other pathogens. Not all filters remove all contaminants, though, says Rick Andrew of NSF International'southward Global Water program. That's why it's of import to first know exactly what'due south in your h2o. Y'all can find out from your local water utility's almanac water quality report, a resource available to all residents. If you suspect a problem with the plumbing in your abode or are using well water, you can have it tested in a private lab.

The Spruce Eats Acme Picks

The iSpring CKC1 Countertop Water Filter is our peak pick because information technology's compact, like shooting fish in a barrel to install, and removes 95 percent of chlorine, odors, sand, silt, sediment, and rust, co-ordinate to the manufacturer. For optimal fluoride removal, we recommend the RKIN AlcaPure Nada.

Once you lot discover out which impurities you need to remove, you may begin your search for the right filter. Brand sure to expect for the NSF certification marker for assurance that information technology actually does what information technology says information technology will exercise, and beware of counterfeits. These won't remove contaminants, and if made with substandard materials that leach, they could brand your water even worse. Plus, counterfeit replacement cartridges may not fit tightly into the filtration device, leading to h2o leaks and possible costly repairs. You tin can likewise check NSF's online listings to verify that a specific product is truly certified.

To assist you on your search for authentic products that people dearest, nosotros researched the best countertop filters to keep you hydrated.

What We Like

Compact
Retains minerals
Like shooting fish in a barrel to install

What We Don't Like

Filters demand replacing every six months

This compact filtration organisation from iSpring has a modern design that looks subtle, yet sleek on whatever kitchen counter, whether that'southward in your home, apartment, camper, or RV. In add-on to white, it comes in a transparent imperial pick, likewise.

iSpring says its coconut-shell carbon block filter lasts six months and removes 95 percentage of chlorine, odors, sand, silt, sediment, and rust. The visitor too claims it's highly effective on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), similar pesticides, herbicides, and industrial chemicals. While this product is non certified by NSF, information technology has been tested by the Water Quality Association (WQA) to come across NSF/ANSI standards.

Beyond the removal of contaminants, this product is like shooting fish in a barrel to install. All you lot have to do is remove the aerator from your faucet (if information technology has one), connect the diverter valve (two adapters and sealing washers are included to match either internal or external threads on the faucet), and plow on the water until it runs clear to flush out the loose carbon. Turning the diverter handle in line with the connecter gives y'all regular tap h2o, while moving information technology perpendicular to the connector gives yous filtered water to drink directly, bake bread, utilise for coffee, and more.

Good to Know

Await for products certified by contained third-party certification bodies similar NSF International (NSF) or other organizations accredited by the American National Standards Constitute (ANSI). Certifications are proof that product claims can exist trusted. Products are certified to reduce specific contaminants or to improve aesthetics such as taste or odor, and then it's important for consumers to know what their needs are when shopping. When because a countertop filter or any blazon of filtration device, consumers should read packaging advisedly. There is a difference between "certified to NSF/ANSI standards" and "tested to or meets NSF/ANSI standards." The latter may be true of uncertified products, but they cannot apply the NSF mark or imply that the product is certified by NSF if they have not been tested and canonical past NSF.

What We Similar

No installation required
Opposite osmosis removes most contaminants, including fluoride
Filters should last 1 twelvemonth

What We Don't Like

Expensive
Needs to be manually filled

Some studies suggest that high levels of fluoride in drinking h2o tin damage teeth and weaken bones. Fortunately, at that place are sure h2o filters that can remove nearly of the fluoride present in tap water. This model, in item, does an excellent job of that, as the visitor claims information technology removes up to 95 per centum of fluoride and up to 99 percent of other contaminants from tap water.

No installation or associates is required: The filter sits on your kitchen counter, and all yous have to practice is load tap water into the forepart. Information technology filters the clean water into the peak of the unit of measurement through a four-stage process, including one of the most efficient opposite osmosis filters. The process takes approximately xv minutes for a half-gallon of water. Of notation: The company says this device has an NSF/ANSI 58 Certified Reverse Osmosis Membrane, but it is not a fully NSF-certified product, co-ordinate to the NSF database.

Customers honey the modern, stylish look of this countertop water filter. It is as well compact, measuring 9.5 x 14.5 x 16.25 inches. Unfortunately, this filter doesn't come cheap; it'south on the higher end of available products. The iii filters must be replaced virtually every 12 months, and the reverse osmosis membrane must exist replaced about every ii years.

Filtration Type: Contrary osmosis | Contaminants Filtered: Chlorine, industrial chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, turbidity, VOCs, microorganisms | Retains Minerals: No | Certified Past: NSF/ANSI | Dimensions: 12.63 x 4.5 x 6 inches | Warranty: 1 yr

What Our Experts Say

"Reverse osmosis filters remove a big number of contaminants but are by and large more expensive. Almost models come up with an activated carbon filter to remove additional contaminants and protect the sensitive membrane of the opposite osmosis filter. 1 drawback of these types of filters is that they can waste three to v times the amount of water they treat." — Sydney Evans, Science Annotator at the Environmental Working Group

What We Like

Mod pattern
Easy to install

What We Don't Like

Filters need to be replaced every half dozen months

Countertop water filters apply incredible technology to filter your tap h2o without the need to install anything nether the sink. This i uses a iii-stage patented Nanotrap applied science, which is typically merely found in under-counter systems. It has been tested and certified by the H2o Quality Association to comply with NSF/ANSI Standards 42, 53, and 372 and will not only reduce bad tastes and odors, but besides volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chlorines, and pb.

Measuring 3.75 x x.five x 13.five inches, this model takes up little room on the counter, and customers hold that it looks precipitous with its slim and sleek pattern. There are three filters included, each corresponding with a different filter phase. Phase one (composite plus filter) and stage three (carbon block filter) crave replacements every six months, and stage two (the Nanotrap filter) requires a replacement about every 12 months.

Reviewers rave near the quick and like shooting fish in a barrel installation. Requiring well-nigh 10 minutes or less, the Cypress simply attaches to your faucet, and voilà, you lot've got clean water.

Filtration Type: 3-phase carbon filtration | Contaminants Filtered: Fluoride, chlorine, heavy metals, lead, PFOA, PFOS, others | Retains Minerals: Yeah | Certified Past: WQA | Dimensions: 10.5 x 13.5 ten iii.75 inches | Warranty: 1 twelvemonth

Expert Buying Tip

When buying a h2o filter, spotter out for cherry flags. The number 1 indicator of a fraud? Price. Counterfeit filters and replacement cartridges ordinarily cost significantly less than authentic certified products, Andrew says. Some other red flags include light weight (because they don't incorporate the proper materials to do the job), pocket-sized certification marks every bit to not draw attention, and glossy packaging to appear high-quality.

What We Like

Affordable
Retains minerals

What We Don't Similar

Filters need replacing every six months

Transform ordinary tap water into a clean, crisp drinkable with this countertop filter from Aquasana. Certified to NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, 401, and P473, this system reduces contaminants including mercury and lead, asbestos, chlorine, chloramine, cysts, and estrone.

Claryum technology (activated carbon, catalytic carbon, ion-exchange, and absolute sub-micron mechanical filtration) preserves naturally occurring minerals that your torso needs, including calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Reviewers love how easy this is to install. Simply spiral the faucet attachment to your sink and enjoy clean h2o direct from the tap. Another plus? Fewer filter replacements. I Aquasana Claryum filter lasts half dozen months or through approximately 450 gallons of h2o (whichever comes first). If for some reason, yous're unhappy with its performance, there is a 90-day guarantee and, separately, a one-year warranty.

Filtration Type: Carbon filtration and ion exchange | Contaminants Filtered: Chlorine, chloramine, lead, VOCs, asbestos, mercury, cysts, PFOA/PFOS, herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals | Retains Minerals: Yes | Certified By: NSF/ANSI | Dimensions: ix ten iv x ix.5 inches | Warranty: one twelvemonth

What We Similar

Includes dispenser and removable pitcher
Bullpen fits most refrigerator doors
Pocket-sized profile to maximize counter existent estate

What We Don't Like

Filter needs replacing every three months
Need to be manually filled

The Aquasana Make clean Water Machine features a small profile, so you tin can maximize counter infinite. The 16-cup dispenser provides filtered water at the affect of a push and, should yous want it ice-cold, the slender BPA-free 8-cup pitcher fits in most refrigerator doors.

Dissimilar a standard pitcher that uses gravity to slow-baste water over filter granules, Aquasana'due south Claryum technology uses power to filter water fast with no installation required. Just plug it into an outlet, and yous're practiced to go. The long-lasting filter provides you lot with iii months of great-tasting h2o before needing to be inverse, or 320 gallons (whichever comes first). A ane-yr warranty is included.

This system is certified to NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, 401, and P473. Aquasana says it removes 99 percentage of lead and asbestos and 96 percent of chlorine, chloramines, and 73 other harmful contaminants while maintaining naturally occurring minerals including calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Filtration Type: Carbon filtration and ion exchange | Contaminants Filtered: Chlorine, chloramine, lead, VOCs, asbestos, mercury, cysts, PFOA/PFOS, herbicides, pesticides, pharmaceuticals | Retains Minerals: Yes | Certified By: NSF/ANSI | Dimensions: xx.25 x 5.five x eleven.625 inches | Warranty: 1 year

Final Verdict

The iSpring Countertop Drinking Water Filtration System gets our tiptop recommendation for its WQA-tested filter, which effectively removes 95 percent of chlorine, odors, sand, silt, sediment, and rust—and it'southward easy to install, too. If you're looking specifically for a filter capable of fluoride removal, the RKIN AlcaPure is one of the most efficient reverse osmosis filters.

What to Wait for in a Countertop Water Filter

Style

At that place are two styles of countertop water filters: faucet diverters and complimentary continuing.

Countertop filters that connect to the faucet direct tap h2o from your sink through the filter via a pocket-sized hose. The filtered water is dispensed through a tap built in to the water filter instead of your sink faucet. This type of water filter requires user installation, but the process is normally quick, easy, and requires minimal tools.

Gratuitous-continuing countertop filters don't connect to your h2o supply. Instead, they need to be manually filled with water from your faucet. A pitcher ordinarily works well for this or a hose, if your faucet is equipped with ane, tin be used to make full a h2o filter reservoir. This type of countertop filter tends to be larger and takes upwardly more space than faucet diverters. However, freestanding h2o filters can be placed anywhere and don't demand direct access to a water source.

One thing to go on in listen when shopping for a complimentary-standing h2o filter is the capacity of the water reservoir. If in that location are several people in your household who volition exist drinking filtered water, a model that can hold several gallons will cut down on frequent refilling.

Purpose

There are two main reasons to invest in a countertop h2o filter: to meliorate the sense of taste of your drinking h2o and/or remove unwanted substances. Water filters designed primarily to remove odor and chlorine, which can affect the taste of your h2o, tend to be less expensive than filters designed to remove long lists of substances. The just manner to know whether a more expensive filter is worth your while is to research your water quality. Don't worry—it's not equally tough a job as it sounds.

If yous take city or municipal h2o, water quality reports detailing contaminant levels are available to you lot. If you have trouble locating them, contact your water supplier. If you accept well water, you can take your water quality tested independently. In one case you know what contaminants are in your h2o, you lot can determine what kind of filter y'all desire and need.

Basic countertop filters are equipped with a single carbon filter that improve the odor and gustation of h2o by arresting contaminants from the water. Other countertop filters have multiple filters designed to remove contaminants through a combination of carbon assimilation and ion exchange. Reverse osmosis filters too include a semi-permeable membrane that split contaminated water from clean water.

Filter Life

All countertop water filters require filter replacement. How frequently you have to change the filter depends on the estimated filter life bridge. A filter's life span is typically provided to consumers in months. Most of the countertop water filters on this list use filters that last an average of vi months. However, y'all should also pay attending to the corporeality of h2o the filters can process before they need replacing. If your household goes through a large amount of filtered h2o, you might need to replace the filters more than oftentimes that what is recommended.

You should also take note of the cost of replacement filters before purchasing a countertop water filter. Countertop water filters can last a long time when the filters are routinely changed. Be sure to check whether branded or generic replacement filters are recommended with your model.

Certification

Choosing a countertop h2o filtration system that has been independently certified tin can provide peace of mind that the filter is doing what information technology'south intended to do. The most common certifications to look for are NSF (National Sanitation Foundation), ANSI (American National Standards Institute), and WQA (Water Quality Association).

FAQs

What is the best way to filter tap water?

This is a matter of personal preference, the space you lot have available, and the contaminants you want to remove from your water.

A countertop water filter is a good choice if yous're but looking to filter enough tap h2o for drinking and cooking. If you have plenty of counter infinite, you may opt for a gratuitous-standing h2o filter. If you desire to filter water directly at the faucet, a countertop filter that diverts h2o from your faucet be a meliorate selection.

If countertop filter options don't appeal to you, there are besides pitcher h2o filters, under-the-sink water filters, and whole-house h2o filtration systems.

The most important consideration in choosing a water filter is what y'all want to reduce from your tap water. Reviewing a h2o quality study from your h2o supplier or an independent party is the first stride in identifying potential contaminants and/or impurities in you water. Then, choose a filter that tin reduce your top concerns.

Do countertop water filters remove fluoride?

Not all countertop water filters remove fluoride from tap water, merely some tin can. If fluoride removal is a must-have for you lot, be sure to read through the listing of compounds a filter tin remove earlier ownership a countertop h2o filter. Reverse osmosis water filters are typically the best pick for reducing the amount of fluoride in your water. Go on in mind no water filter is capable of removing 100 percent of fluoride—or anything for that matter.

How ofttimes do you need to change countertop h2o filters?

Most countertop h2o filters are estimated to concluding for almost six months, but some demand more than frequent replacing every three months and others are rated to last approximately one twelvemonth. You should go along runway of when you modify your filter and stick to the recommended replacement schedule to prolong the life of your filtration system.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Equally a longtime user of dwelling water filters, Taylor Rock, The Spruce Eats' commerce editor, is always looking for ways to reduce her carbon footprint. For this roundup, she interviewed Rick Andrew of NSF International'southward Global H2o program and used his expertise as guidance in researching summit-rated and properly tested products.

Sharon Lehman, RDN, who updated this article, is a freelance writer, recipe developer, photographer, and registered dietitian nutritionist.

An earlier version of this roundup was written past Erica Puisis, who interviewed Sydney Evans, a science annotator for the Environmental Working Group, for groundwork data on the dissimilar types of water filters, what they do differently, and how to pick the right ane.

The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to back up the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how nosotros fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Bosscher V, Lytle DA, Schock MR, Porter A, Del Toral M. POU water filters effectively reduce lead in drinking water: a demonstration field study in flintstone, Michigan.J Environ Sci Health A Tox Take a chance Subst Environ Eng. 2019;54(five):484-493. doi:ten.1080/10934529.2019.1611141
United states Environmental Protection Agency. Basic Information on PFAS.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Understanding the Quality of your Drinking Water.
National Scientific discipline Foundation. The NSF Marker.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)?
Water Quality Association. NSF/ANSI Standards and Product Certification.
Everett ET. Fluoride's effects on the formation of teeth and bones, and the influence of genetics. J Dent Res. 2011;90(5):552-560. doi:10.1177/0022034510384626
Prabhakar AR, Raju Bone, Kurthukoti AJ, Vishwas TD. The effect of water purification systems on fluoride content of drinking water.J Indian Soc Pedod Prev Dent. 2008;26(1):6-xi. doi:ten.4103/0970-4388.40314
Greenlee LF, Lawler DF, Freeman BD, Marrot B, Moulin P. Opposite osmosis desalination: water sources, technology, and today'due south challenges.Water Res. 2009;43(nine):2317-2348. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2009.03.010
Harvard Health Publishing. Precious metals and other important minerals for health.
Nutrient and Drug Administration. Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in food contact awarding.

Go on to v of v below.