7 Best Countertop Water Filter Consumer Ratings and Reports 2023

Best countertop water filters are essential for you and your better living as it allows you to indulge in flavorful, healthy water.

Water filters are gaining popularity as they are perfect for improving the quality of the water plus its taste.

The water filters help in the removal of contaminants like lead. The water filter options listed below will help remove flavors and smell from the tap water.

Water filters are space-saving and cost-effective, which makes them the ideal choice for drinking water.

So let’s join me to show you some top-performing countertop water filters also known for consumer ratings and reports.

Best Countertop Water Filter Consumer Ratings and Reports

We have compiled a list of the 7 best countertop water filters based on consumer ratings and reports in 2023.

1. AQUA TRU Countertop Water Filtration Purification System

Features at a glance
  • Patented reverse osmosis technology
  • IAPMO certified
  • 4-stage purification process
  • Digital display
  • Detachable water tank
  • Streamlined countertop design

This one is a premium-grade reverse osmosis filter that uses a four-stage filtration and purification process to give you a much better quality of water.

At the first level, its pre/carbon filter removes rust and chlorine from your municipal or well water.

On the second level, its R.O. filter battles against lead, nitrates, and other harmful chemicals present in the water; and at the third stage, it eliminates the rest of the harmful contaminants from the water.

That being so, you will get the water 15 times better than a traditional pitcher filter. The filtered water would be tastier and healthier as well.

AquaTru is an affordable filter that you can install by yourself. No plumbing or tools are needed even when you want to change its filters.

With this, each filter of AquaTru is designed to provide you up to 600-1200gallons of pure and delicious water. The filter change time is between 6months to 2years.

All of these qualities make AquaTru a smart and cost-effective water filtration system. With its filter change alert, you would know when the right time has come to change the filter. So no more guesswork!

As soon as you dispense the filtered water from the tank, the unit automatically starts filtering water from its tap water tank.

A large indicator on the front display informs you when to empty and refill the tap water tank.

The most standout feature of this unit is its removable dispensing tank that enables you to store the purified water in the refrigerator for later use.

The water flow is better than many conventional filters, you can fill a container in a fraction of time. Get high-quality purified water by filtering your tap water through this impeccable countertop water filter.

What We Like!

  • Easy installation
  • Water tastes too good
  • Great flow of water
  • Easy maintenance

Things to Consider!

  • After releasing the button, the water continues to flow for a while, so may overbrim a container

2. APEX EXPRT Quality Dual Countertop Drinking Water Filter

Features at a glance
  • Certified by NSF/ANSI standards
  • DIY installation
  • 5-stage mineral cartridge
  • 1-year limited warranty

No one will deny the fact that water is life. So it’s essential to drink healthy and pure water to stay healthy and fit.

But unfortunately, even our tap water is not safe to drink. It may have impurities, but you can purify your drinking water with a top-quality water filter like this one by APEX.

It’s an alkaline filter that not only removes harmful substances from your municipal water but also adds calcium, magnesium, and potassium into your filtered water.

While balancing the pH level of your water, it will provide you pure and healthy water that is just as good as mineral water in a plastic bottle you would buy from a store.

Regarding its installation, this filter is extremely effortless. Opposite to many water filters that need to install under the sink, this one perfectly sits on your kitchen countertop.

Further, you can also attach this filter to a standard kitchen faucet. With included accessories, you can install the unit by yourself in one go.

Talking about its performance, the APEX water filter system is one of the best models on the market since its carbon block filter efficiently removes rust, mercury, pesticides, sediment from water.

Great water pressure,  thirst-quenching water taste, easy setup, increased immunity have it all with this water filter that is available at a price without costing an arm and a length.

What We Like!

  • Easy DIY installation
  • Removes 99% contaminants to provide you purified water
  • Adds healthy minerals that support the immune system
  • A budget water filter

Things to Consider!

  • The water may taste rancid and may not give you the taste of bottled water

3. Brondell H630 H2O+ Cypress Countertop Water Filter System

Features at a glance
  • Patented Nanotrap technology
  • 3-stage water filters
  • Elegant design
  • WQA certified

This water filter is just as perfect as any other traditional under-counter filter Nanotrap technology that filters water in three stages so that you can get high-quality pure water at a dispense.

In three different filtration stages, it will remove toxins and chemicals from your tap water. The result would be healthy drinking water that not only tastes better but would also be odor-free.

Opposite to a reverse osmosis water filter system, this one never produces wastewater to remove from the tank.

Also, this filter is rather inexpensive than a traditional RO water filter system that needs frequent filter changes.

Just with a push of a button, you can continuously retain the filtered water for drinking and other cleaning pursuits.

Since it’s a countertop water filter, it sits well on your kitchen counter. You can fit this filter into your standard kitchen faucet to enjoy strong water flow.

Moreover, you can also connect this filter with its T-connector so that it would not have to rely on the sink anymore.

Don’t worry about its installation. You can install this filter in less than 15 minutes. Maintenance is also easy and quick. Change the filter regularly and on time to save any sort of inconvenience and product failure.

What We Like!

  • Easy installation and easy filter replacements
  • Better water taste and smell
  • User-friendly push-button for dispensing water
  • A cost-effective water filter

Things to Consider!

  • The on/off push button may be stuck after some time of use

4. iSpring CKC1C Countertop Drinking Water Filtration System

Features at a glance
  • CTO carbon block filter
  • Meets NSF/ANSI standards
  • See-through housing
  • 6-months filter change
  • 1-years warranty
  • Available in different colors

Instead of having a multifaceted and expensive reverse osmosis water filter under your kitchen sink, try this simple and sleek designed model.

Without removing the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) from water, it will keep all essential minerals intact in the filtered water.

The iSpring CKC1C comes with a 10-inch filter cartridge that is enclosed in a clear transparent housing.

This will save you from the hassle of checking its filter more often. You can keep directly see through the housing to know if the filter requires a change or not.

The high-quality filter is the heart of any water filtration system and it should be efficient by every means.

The filter of CKC1C is a highly compact carbon block filter that uses coconut shell carbon and a compact fabrication.

This high-end filtration technology is capable of removing 99% of chlorine from water. In addition to this, this type of filter also removes industrial chemicals from the water.

With such a high-rated filtration, you are bound to get purer and healthier water to drink. Further to this, the filter can hold up to 500 gallons of water before a filter change.

It’s a versatile water filter. It comes with all the accessory tools that you need for attaching it to your kitchen faucets.

The unit is also one that is portable too. Take it anywhere and get the purified water for your coffee, tea, or cooking by connecting its adapter to an electrical power supply.

What We Like!

  • Lightweight and portable
  • Improved water taste
  • Removes odor from water
  • Hassle-free installation

Things to Consider!

  • Uncleared installation instructions

5. Aquasana AQ-4000W Countertop Drinking Water Filter System

Features at a glance
  • NSF-certified
  • Claryum filter
  • Flexible hose
  • No plumbing installation
  • Twin filter cartridges with a three-stage filtration process

Prioritize your drinking and cooking water needs by filtering your tap water with this unparalleled water filter.

Aquasana AQ-4000W is said to remove 97% of chlorine and 76 other contaminants from the tap water. The users have testified that this filter lives up to the performance it promises to deliver.

This water filter instantly catches your attention with its sleek and stylish design. Attach it to your standard kitchen faucet or to a sink to get healthier, crispier, and higher-quality water in the simplest way.

This AQ-4000W features NSF-certified Claryum filter technology that removes heavy metals such as mercury or lead from the water.

Not only does it reduce these heavy metals but also lowers down pesticides, herbicides, and VOCs from the tap water to provide you healthier water for drinking and cooking.

No plumbing or permanent fixtures are required for installing this unit. Attach the unit to your faucet and get the filtered water directly from your tap.

Besides, the unit is ultra-lightweight as it just weighs 3pounds, therefore a go-to water filter with improved portability.

Without stripping the healthy minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, the Aquasana AQ_4000W will give you healthy water for keeping yourself hydrated for longer.

With regular filter change after every 450 gallons of water use, you can get the great tasting healthy water at your disposal.

What We Like!

  • Compact and sleek design
  • Healthy water with great taste
  • Powerful water flow
  • Environmentally-friendly

Things to Consider!

  • A high-priced water filter

6. APEC Portable Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System

Features at a glance
  • WQA certified
  • 4-stage filtration process
  • 5-micron sediment filter
  • TFC reverse osmosis membrane
  • aluminum case
  • Compatible with standard faucets only

If you are sick of lugging heavy plastic water bottles to your building, this APEC portable countertop water filter system is the best choice to go for.

It brings you the richness of pure water right on the countertop of your kitchen.

The APEC water filter system works on the principle of reverse osmosis. It also uses four stages to do the water filtration.

The advanced and patented filtration technology can hold impurities larger than 5 microns in size.

Not only pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, and other VOCs are reduced through the filter system of the APEC water filter system but it also removes 99% of TDS from the tap water.

No odors, no cloudiness, and no more chlorine in the filtered and dispensed water. Get crystal-clear water while filtering your water through this R.O. water filter system.

It can not attach to any special-featured faucet, instead, the filter is designed in a way to meet the standard faucet attachment needs.

No plumbing is needed to get the said job done. Using its adapted, attach the filter to your standard faucet with less effort and in no time.

The APEC RO_CTOP_C stands among traditional RO water filter systems for its superior performance. This water filter system is worth considering if you want an advanced water filter system on a budget side.

What We Like!

  • Best affordable reverse osmosis filter system
  • Absolute clean and purified water with no traces of cloudiness
  • Easy setup
  • Compact and sleek design

Things to Consider!

  • The very slow flow of water

7. Cleanwater4less Countertop Water Filtration System

Features at a glance
  • No filter cartridge to replace
  • 5-stage filtration process
  • Sealed ABS housing
  • Improved sediment and micron filters
  • Brushed stainless steel body

The cleanwater4less is an odd-one-out water filter unit that requires no filter changes throughout its lifespan.

It is built to provide you its service for 7 years. Once the years are over, discard the unit since it has its expiry date.

Well, this water filter system uses a five-stage granular carbon filter that is seal-packed into a stainless steel ABS housing.

It means you can’t open the housing to see the condition of the filter. So if you are a skeptical-natured person, you might have to take this point into your consideration before buying the product.

In 5 stages, the filter removes toxins, microns, and other harmful substances from the water by giving you refined and more nutritious water for drinking. with every sip, you will visibly mark the difference in the taste of water filtered through this filtration system.

If you are looking to get 100% safe and purified water to drink, this one is probably not for you.

It is good at removing chemicals and pollutants from your municipal water but its performance for heavy water is quite debatable.

The unit can provide you 10,000 gallons of fresh water in its entire lifespan and will save you to spend your money on expensive plastic water bottles.

So if you are looking to get tastier drinking water, this one comes in handy.

What We Like!

  • Tastier water
  • No maintenance is required
  • Portable water filter

Things to Consider!

  • The unit never comes with a warranty

Buying Guide for Countertop Water Filter

When buying the best countertop water filters, look at the features you need to consider while purchasing the countertop water filters.

Price range

When buying the countertop water filters, check the price range you plan to invest in, as this is the essential feature based on your pocket.

Check out all the features plus their price to identify the best product meeting your needs.

Test the water

Now check the water from your tap to identify the ingredients or contaminants present in them.

You can buy the water testing kits from the market at highly affordable prices to find out the ingredients in water like pharmaceuticals, herbicides, and pesticides.

Testing the water allows you to buy the water filters which are capable of making your water worth drinking without any contaminants like copper, lead, chlorine or others.

Find the contaminants

Quickly research the water from the tap, whether they have contaminants or not, and whether they are harmful or not. Chlorine, lead, aluminum, mercury are quite toxic and can result in complicated reactions.

Lastly, choose the model which helps in the removal of water contaminants and offers you healthy water. If you cannot purchase the water filter that gets rid of all the pollutants, then choose the product that provides the best water.

Certification

When buying the countertop water filters, choose the one that comes with the certification of removing specific substances present over the pitcher’s packaging.

There are third-party labs that certify the products’ standards to NSF, including CSA Group, Water Quality Group, and Underwriters Laboratories.

Filters

The water filters come with filters that are replaced periodically in order to function correctly. You need to check the specifications and features to find out the costs of replacing filters. The price for replacement ranges from $30-$90.

Type

The types of countertop water filters include water filter pitcher and faucet filters. Water filter pitchers cannot be connected with the faucets, but they are efficient for water filtering.

These water filters can be kept in the office environment, small business setups, and more.

Faucet filters are connected directly with the faucet. They are highly efficient at water filtering with ease of use. You can use them efficiently for all household members. Just install it easily with periodic maintenance.

Size

Consider the size of the water filters while buying one. Choose the faucet filters which fit well with the faucet or on the counters.

The small size of the water filters allows you to place them anywhere, while the large water filters need considerable space.

Filtration capacity

These listed filters are highly effective for removing bad taste, foul odors, heavy metals, and sediments.

There are some models which are sufficient to remove chlorine or others. There are other models which are useful for the removal of contaminants and minerals.

Other than these features, check the source of water plus the water filters’ filtering speed, number of household members who are drinking water, and easy installation.

Final Verdict

Now be aware of how to invest in the best countertop water filters, which are perfect for you as well as your family’s needs. Decide to yourself now which water filters are best for your house.

However, to purchase the best filters, you must know which contaminants are present in the water tap.

Some water filters are best for removing chlorine, while others are best for eliminating fluorine, so choose the model wisely. Have fun drinking safe and healthy water.


People Also Asked

What are the best countertop water filter on the market?

Here are the 7 best countertop water filter according to consumer rating and reports in 2023:

  1. AQUA TRU Countertop Water Filtration Purification System
  2. APEX EXPRT Quality Dual Countertop Drinking Water Filter
  3. Brondell H630 H2O+ Cypress Countertop Water Filter System
  4. iSpring CKC1C Countertop Drinking Water Filtration System
  5. Aquasana AQ-4000W Countertop Drinking Water Filter System
  6. APEC Portable Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System
  7. Cleanwater4less Countertop Water Filtration System

Are there any water filters that are capable of producing alkaline water?

Yes, there are water filters that are capable of producing alkaline water.

The alkaline water can produce anti-aging effects, boost the immune system, improve the digestive system, hydrate the skin, and promote weight loss.

There are water filters that come with specialized filter cartridges, making water alkaline and allowing you to indulge in beneficial effects.

How often do you need to replace the filter cartridge?

This basically depends on the water quality, filter capacity, and usage. The filter cartridge lasts for one month to 3 years.

If you are concerned about safety and health, you need to change it every three to twelve months.

Why does my filtered water come with grey or black flakes?

If you have a water filtration system with a carbon block filter, you might have some black flakes in them.

The grey color or the black flakes are due to the new filtration system. Just open the water tap’s packaging, then flush the water filter system for around 5 minutes 2-3 times.

Can the TDS meter measure the total amount of dissolved solids within the water?

No, there are people who use TDS meters to measure total dissolved solids in water without knowing what they are measuring.

TDS meter basically measures the electrical conductivity within the water and then multiplies the EC value with the factor between 0.5 to one, which helps estimate the TDS.

The real way of measuring TDS is by evaporating water then weighing the number of dissolved residues left.

Are water filters in the USA safe?

Not really. For instance, the water filter company brought all components of the filter from elsewhere but then assembled within the USA can be called Made within the USA, but this does not indicate the product’s safety and quality.

However, if the components are all made within the USA and then assembled within Thailand, this is considered safe.

Is it essential to check the water filter brand?

No, it’s not, but it’s advised to invest in a water filter brand by the reputable brand to ensure it’s safe, comes with top-notch quality, and has incredible customer support. Check the material of the water filter’s components and their functionality.

Does the water filter need NSF certification?

No, however, it’s best advised to get the countertop water filters which come with NSF certification for all components having direct contact with water.

NSF certification system is not a quality control check so that it won’t guarantee the filter’s performance within the long run or the filter’s quality.

How to know that the filter cartridge of the water filter is clogged or needs replacement?

You can use a pressure gauge for measuring pressure drop before or after the filters. Once the filter cartridge is new, run the water filtration system and mention the pressure reading difference.

Then repeat the pressure difference measurement, and you’ll see the difference. When you know the difference between dual pressure gauges with a measurement of 15, then it’s time to replace the filter cartridge.

Ellen Thomas

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