Best Countertop Water Filter Reviews

One of the most problematic expenditures that people make is on bottled water. Not only is it awful for the environment, but it's also awful for their bank accounts. The worst part, though, is that these purchases are understandable for anyone who actually wants filtered water. What comes out of your tap isn't always healthy, and it's good to have an alternative.

A Preferable Alternative to Bottled Water

Instead of buying bottled water, you'll be better off buying a filtration system. Though the ones we're going to talk about on this page don't distill water (we'll talk about that later), they do help to remove the harmful minerals and chemicals found in your tap water.

There are many different types of filtration systems, though, ranging from those that have to be installed by a professional to those that can be attached to your faucet quickly and easily. Many use fairly basic filters, but they also run the gamut from those that use pressured membranes (reverse osmosis) to those that use gravity-assistance to separate particles. 

If you're looking to buy a countertop water filter, there are definitely plenty of great choices out there. If you want to simplify your search, though, you'll definitely want to look at those listed below.

11 Top  Countertop Water Filters

As you scroll down, note that the first three units are Reverse Osmosis (RO) filters, and the remaining models are a more standard type of filter. We discuss the benefits of RO in great detail here, but simply put, these types of system remove pretty much everything from your water.

Notice we're listing the "top 11" instead of a usual "top 10." That's because the field has broadened with numerous excellent countertop models now on the market, and we wanted to offer you a wider variety to choose from. 

Another thing: As we updated our 2021 recommendations, we have noticed that a number of units have been gaining greater consumer confidence as reflected by improved Amazon ratings! With that said, let's dive in.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Now that you have read the reviews for a few of the best options available, we can get into some of the most common questions that people tend to have when researching these systems for their home or business.

How Do Countertop Water Filters Work?

These are not complicated machines. It doesn’t take very much effort to install them and most models are easy to transport if necessary. There are a few basic types of countertop models: those that are attached at the faucet, those that stand alone, and water pitchers (which we will discuss in a separate article since that's a category all its own! Here is how each type is installed and used.

To install a faucet-mounted device, you simply replace your faucet’s current aerator with the filter’s diverter valve. The aerator should easily screw off so that you can screw on the diverter valve and begin using the filter. (Of course each model has its own differences, so you will need to follow the manufacturer's instructions.)

In order to use your filter, run cold water from your faucet and let the water run down the drain. Then, pull the small lever or button that is located on the diverter valve. This will cause the water to go through the small pipe that leads to the water filter instead of the sink’s normal faucet.

The filter cartridge is located within the housing. The water will go through the cartridge and exit the filter by going through the spout. From there, you’ll be able to collect the water in your cup, bottle or other water-holding container.

It’s very easy to turn the filter off; you just turn off the main faucet’s cold water tap. Once the water is turned off, the diverter valve will pop back into its original position and your faucet will operate normally until you activate the lever/button on the filter again.

To see a very general example of this, have a look at the following video, which depicts the installation of a fairly typical model.

How Do I Determine The Right Type For Me?

As I mentioned earlier, there are two general types of countertop models to choose from: faucet-mounted filters and stand-alone. Going over the pros and cons of each type can help you determine which one is best for you.

• Stand-alone options are not connected to your sink’s faucet. This is a great advantage if you do not have a lot of space near the sink, or if you want something that goes beyond a standard carbon filter (which is the primary media of the faucet mounts). These pitchers can be placed on a different counter, in the refrigerator, or any other location that you prefer. The major downside to these filters is that you have to manually refill them with water as the reservoir of filtered water runs out.
• Faucet-mounted options are directly connected to your sink’s tap. Since they are always connected, they are more readily available for immediate usage. They also easy and quick to install. One of the main downsides of this type of filter as that it is hard to tell how much water has been filtered in order to determine when to change the filter cartridge (unless the model that you are purchasing has some type of indicator or is in a clear housing that makes it easier to see if the cartridge needs changing - like the iSpring above).

In addition to features such as size, and ease of use, other criteria that can help you make a decision on which filter to buy are: filtration capacity, price, contaminants removed, maintenance required and how the water tastes. I will go through each of these criteria in further detail later on.

Different Types of Models

Let’s have a look at what you might find in this category.

Gravity-Fed Systems

These filtration systems use the power of gravity to allow the water to flow through the filter. The process begins when water is poured into the top of the filter container, passes through the filter, and then into a reservoir below. The filter water collects in the reservoir until you are ready to use it. The major advantage of this system is that it usually does not require any effort to install. (See the Big Berkey and Royal Berkey models described above as an example of gravity-fed systems.)

Countertop Reverse Osmosis Systems

Although these are usually found BELOW the counter, you will find some countertop reverse osmosis systems - and we specifically looked at three of them here, above:

• The Zero Installation "ZIP" model
• The AquaTru model
• The Reverse Osmosis Revolution model

This happens to be one of the more complex, yet most thorough methods for water filtration. With this type of system, water pressure forces the unpurified water through a membrane and several other filters in order to purify it. Installation can be a little more complicated and most of the "below counter" reverse osmosis systems come with their own faucets, instead of attaching to your existing faucet. 

Fortunately, as far as the countertop models are concerned, two of them are stand-alone (you fill a compartment with tap water, and the machine forces the water through the membrane and other filters into the compartment reserved for the purified water), and the other does attach to your faucet - but doesn't need a separate tap installed.

Some RO systems also include extra features like re-mineralization and UV filtration. Re-mineralization adds beneficial minerals back to the filtered water that were removed during the reverse osmosis process. This results in better tasting water. UV filtration is good for eliminating viruses, bacteria and other microscopic critters from your water.

Alkaline Systems

Alkaline filters don’t really filter impurities from the water. What they do is change the PH of the water to an alkaline level, which many people believe is better for you.

Since they do not remove contaminants or debris from your water, these types of systems are usually used in addition to one of the other systems listed here, such as reverse osmosis. You should definitely look further into the benefits of drinking alkaline water to determine if this type of system is a feature that you would need. 

In our list of the "Top Picks" above, the Apex MR-1050 model DOES have the Alkaline feature.

Distilled Water Systems

Water distillers use a different process to produce water that is pretty much the same level of purity as de-ionized water (which removes - as the name implies - all ions in the water – aka "dissolved mineral salts"). However, water distillers are not technically water filters, so they will be discussed in a category of their own at another time.

What Contaminants Are In My Water?

Depending on your water source, there can potentially be hundreds of contaminants and pollutants in your water. Here is a general overview of the most common contaminants found in tap water:

Heavy Metals

Heavy metals are substances such as mercury, lead, arsenic, chromium, zinc, copper and much more. Our bodies actually need trace amounts of some of these metals, but some are toxic to us and the beneficial ones can be toxic in high enough doses.

That’s why it’s important to know which heavy metals are in your drinking water and if they are at safe levels. Heavy metals are also dangerous because they can accumulate in your body over time, leading to a buildup of toxicity that could cause trouble for you years later.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

VOCs are toxic chemicals like pesticides, fungicides, insecticides and other chemicals that are used for pest control, farming and lawn care, among other things.

These chemicals are usually sprayed directly onto the ground, which makes it easy for them to find their way into tap water. Studies have shown that many VOC chemicals can cause damage to various organs in your body and may even cause disease.

Hormone-Disrupting Compounds

These contaminants are usually synthetic chemicals that imitate or disrupt the normal function of your body’s hormones and endocrine system when they are consumed.
These endocrine or hormone-disrupting compounds can find their way into our water, air and food via pharmaceutical products, plastics, pesticides, vehicle exhaust, cosmetics and more.

The use of most of these compounds are not regulated by the government at this time, so it is definitely a good idea to know if your water contains them and get a filter that removes as much of them as possible.

Fluoride

Almost everyone has heard the claims that fluoride may be harmful to our health. Virtually every city in America adds fluoride to their tap water with the belief that it is essential for better dental health - and Grand Rapids, MI holds the dubious honor of being the first city in the US (actually, in the world) that added fluoride to its water in 1945 (Source: Harvard Public Health Publication). However, some studies have shown that drinking fluoride does not improve overall dental health.

Instead, studies have shown that ingesting fluoride may cause thyroid disorders. Filtration systems that remove fluoride tend to be on the more expensive side, but if the possible dangers of fluoride are a concern, then you may find them to be worth the extra money.

Getting your Water Tested

It’s usually a fairly simple process to have your water tested. Your water company may provide information on their website on how to request a city water report or schedule an appointment for someone to come test your home’s water on the spot.

You may even be able to find a city-wide water report by doing an internet search for the city name and “water report”. Once you know what is in your water, you can make a more informed decision about which system is best for you.

Of course you can also purchase a water testing kit, or reach out to your local extension service for more information and advice.

Next, I will briefly go over which contaminants each system is able to remove.

Which System Removes The Most Contaminants?

Gravity-Fed Systems

In addition to removing debris from tap, rain, and fresh water, gravity-fed systems are able to remove or reduce some chemicals from your water, such as pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, etc.

Many of these systems are also able to reduce fluoride (additional parts may be needed), heavy metals, chlorine, bacteria and parasites, among other impurities. 

The level of filtration that the cartridge provides will determine how much of these impurities are removed. Filter cartridges with higher filtration levels and several layers of filtration material will be able to remove more impurities.

Gravity-fed systems that use activated charcoal as their main filtration material are typically the cheapest, but are not able to remove as many contaminants as other systems. Additionally, the dirtier the water is, the more often you will need to replace the filter.

Reverse Osmosis Systems

These systems remove even more contaminants than gravity fed systems - in fact RO technology is one of the best methods of filtration on today's consumer market. In addition to removing fluoride, heavy metals and chlorine, reverse osmosis systems can also arsenic, asbestos, and most minerals contained in the water. On the downside, reverse osmosis systems are not very good at removing VOCs or hormone disrupters that may be in your water supply.

Most RO systems include an activated carbon filtration phase to help remove what the RO membrane itself cannot (e.g. VOCs).

Some people don’t like the fact that these systems remove minerals from the water because it negatively affects the taste. In these cases, it is possible to add trace minerals back into your water. This does of course add additional cost to the filtration process, since you would need to purchase a system that includes a phase that reintroduces the trace minerals to the "finished product."

De-ionization (DI) Systems

DI systems remove inorganic compounds from your water at an ionic level. This enables them to remove most chemicals completely or at least reduce them to extremely low levels. On the downside, de-ionization is not able to remove dissolved organic compounds, debris, particulates or bacteria from your water.

Because of this, it is necessary for most filters to use de-ionization in combination with an additional system, such as reverse osmosis. This can make DI systems quite pricey, but if you require water that is pure down to the ionic level, then you may want to look into them.

Pros and Cons of Countertop Filters

Depending on your individual needs, there are likely to be pros as well as cons to using one of these devices. Individual needs depend on the initial quality of the water source, contaminants in the water and health concerns. Therefore, it is important to go over the various attributes of various filtration systems to see what fits your particular needs the best.

I will go over some basic pros and cons now that should make it easier to decide if a countertop system is right for you.

Pros: 

• Price: They usually don’t cost as much as other systems, such as under-the-sink filters. They offer a good level of basic activated carbon filtration at the most affordable price (Note however that the countertop RO systems are typically more expensive.).
• Space-Savers: Many of us simply don’t have a lot of room in our kitchens for large filtration systems. Countertop systems are usually small, portable and many are designed to be stack-able with other items.
• Installation: As we discussed, there are two types of systems--faucet-mounted and stand-alone. Faucet models are simply screwed onto or in place of your existing faucet and the pitcher models only require you to insert the filter, and then pour water into the top reservoir to start the filtration process.
• Effectiveness: These filters still work very well despite their smaller size and ease of use. Most countertop filters are able to remove or reduce contaminates at levels that are acceptable to the average consumer.
• Easy to Maintain: Aside from general cleaning of the housing, the only other maintenance required is periodic replacement of the filter cartridge. The more water you filter or the dirtier your water is, the more often you should change your filter. Most models have some kind of indication system that helps you determine when your filter needs to be replaced.
• Adding Trace Minerals: Some filtration systems remove minerals from the water that are good for us and improve the taste of our water. Due to this, many units also have a built-in feature that will add those beneficial minerals back into your water for optimal taste and health.
• Filter Priming: All filter cartridges need to be primed before their first use. For most countertop models, this process can be as simple as rinsing the cartridge under cold water for a certain amount of time. Compared to other filtration systems, countertop filter cartridges are the easiest to prime. Instructions on how to prime your cartridge should be included with your system when you purchase it.

Cons:

Much like any other product, there are some attributes of countertop systems that some consumers may consider to be a disadvantage.

• Appearance: These units can sometimes be seen as a bulky eyesore attached to your normal faucet. The cheaper models may not come in a color or style that fits the current theme of your kitchen. Most pitcher systems are designed to look sleek and unassuming, but that too will depend on what kind of look you are going for.
• Limited Use: Unlike a whole house system that filters all the water supplying your household, these can only be connected to one faucet at a time. If you would prefer to filter the water from every faucet in your home, you’ll either have to buy a faucet system for each faucet or install a different type of system that connects directly to your home’s water line. Water pitchers can of course only filter water that is manually poured into its filtration chamber.
• Limited filtration capabilities: Unless yours is a Reverse Osmosis model, most of these units are fairly simple in that you are only going to remove what the single carbon filter (in most cases) is designed to treat.
• Not as Efficient: Countertop systems are very efficient for the price, but other filtration systems are much more efficient at removing contaminants faster and on a larger scale, although they may cost more.
• Speed: Water filter pitchers are known for being notoriously slow. It can take 10 minutes or longer for a pitcher to filter a full reservoir’s worth of water, depending on the size of the reservoir. Faucet models are faster, but may still be too slow if you need to fill many containers quickly.

As you can see, it is very important to consider all aspects of the various filtration systems available in order to decide what will work best for you. What one person considers a con may be a pro for you, and vice versa.

You may go into your decision-making process thinking that a countertop filtration system is best for you, but in the end discover that an under-sink system fits more of your needs.

In Conclusion

Countertop water filter systems are a great way to remove most contaminants from your water without breaking the bank. They are compact, portable, easy to use and install, and come in a variety of models and colors.

If you’re in the market for one of these units, be sure to check out the filters I introduced on this page. Thanks so much for reading our guide! I hope this information helps you make the best decision possible for you and your health.