10 Best Countertop Reverse Osmosis Systems in 2024 (Lab-)Tested + Reviewed
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ก.ค. 2024
- Sara reviews the 10 most promising and most popular countertop reverse osmosis systems on the market.
Here is how we tested and ranked the 10 countertop RO systems:
-Filtration effectiveness based on real-life contaminant reduction rates achieved in our lab testing
-NSF certifications and NSF testing
-Filter process
-Filtered water taste and odor
-Usability
-Pure-to-drain ratio
-Upfront price and long-term cost for replacement filters
-Other factors
Google sheet with full analysis of each of the 10 countertop ROs including lab reports: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
System Recommendations
1️⃣ Best Overall: AquaTru Classic
→ Buy Here (Free Replacement Filter Bundle): shrsl.com/4fo7t - Use code “BOSAQUATRU” for 15% off!
2️⃣ Best Budget Pick: AquaTru Carafe
→ Buy Here: shrsl.com/4fsc8 - Use code “BOSAQUATRU” for 15% off!
3️⃣ Best for Hot Water: NU Aqua 4-Stage Countertop Reverse Osmosis System and APEC ROCT-PLUS
→ Buy NU Aqua 4-Stage Here: nuaquasystems.com/products/nu... - Use code “BOSWATER” for 5% off!
→ Buy APEC ROCT-PLUS Here: amzn.to/3SUfwxR
4️⃣ Honorable Mention: Bluevua RO100ROPOT
→ Buy Here: amzn.to/3SSMPkU
Other Countertop Reverse Osmosis Systems Reviewed in This Video
Waterdrop C1H → Buy Here: www.waterdropfilter.com/produ... - Use code “WD10BOS” for 10% off!
Waterdrop A1 → Buy Here: www.waterdropfilter.com/colle... - Use code “WD10BOS” for 10% off!
Frizzlife WB99-C → Buy Here: amzn.to/49DtquP
Crystal Quest Countertop Thunder → Buy Here: crystalquest.com/products/cou... - Use code “BOS5OFF” for 5% off!
SimPure Y7P-BW → Buy Here: www.simpurelife.com/products/... - Use code “SPY7P” for 20% off!
Table of Contents
00:00 - Intro
00:27 - Our 10 Countertop ROs
01:15 - How We Tested & Rated
04:32 - System Setup & Filter Priming
04:48 - Sampling Process
05:51 - Lab Testing Disclaimer
06:17 - Taste & Odor Test
06:38 - Speed Test
07:15 - Pure-to-Drain Ratio Test
07:41 - Best Overall (AquaTru Classic)
10:58 - Best Budget Pick (AquaTru Carafe)
12:40 - Best for Hot Water (NU Aqua & APEC)
15:39 - Honorable Mention (Bluevua)
16:10 - Summary
Thanks for watching and don't forget to subscribe: / @boswater6065
Questions or comments? Drop them below. We are always happy to help!
Other Ways to Contact Us:
Website: www.best-osmosis-systems.com
Contact form: www.best-osmosis-systems.com/...
Facebook: / boswater
Twitter: / bos_water
Instagram: / bos_water
Pinterest: www.pinterest.de/bos_water/
Some of the products that appeared in this video were provided to us for free. All opinions are still 100% our own. Some links are affiliate links. If you buy a product or service through such a link we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Amazon disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Disclaimers
Our Testing & Lab Testing
The product or products covered in this video were tested under real-life conditions and on our specific water supply. As such, lab-testing was limited to those contaminants present in our water supply and at their respective concentrations. A product may perform differently when used on a different water supply. Furthermore, lab testing for water contaminant levels is subject to variabilities and inaccuracies. Our test results may not represent the product’s performance in other areas or under different conditions.
100% reduction means a contaminant could not be detected above the minimum detection level.
Medical Disclaimer
The information provided in this video is for informational purposes only - use it at your own risk. The provided information is no medical advice nor does it substitute for proper medical care provided by a qualified health professional. We assume no responsibility for any circumstances arising out of the use, misuse, interpretation, or application of any information supplied in this video.
#bestreverseosmosissystem #reverseosmosissystemreviews #bestrosystem #bestrosystems #bestreverseosmosiswaterfilter #bestreverseosmosissystems #reverseosmosiswaterfilterreviews #bestreverseosmosiswaterfilters #bestcountertopreverseosmosissystem #bestcountertopreverseosmosis #bestcountertopreverseosmosiswaterfilter #bestcountertoprosystem #countertopreverseosmosiswaterfilterreviews #AquaTru #APEC #Bluevua #NUAqua #Waterdrop #Frizzlife #SimPure #CrystalQuest
*Countertop RO Recommendations*
*1. Best Overall: AquaTru Classic*
→ Buy Here (Free Replacement Filter Bundle): shrsl.com/4fo7t - Use code “BOSAQUATRU” for 15% off!
*2. Best Budget Pick: AquaTru Carafe*
→ Buy Here: shrsl.com/4fsc8 - Use code “BOSAQUATRU” for 15% off!
*3. Best for Hot Water: NU Aqua 4-Stage Countertop Reverse Osmosis System and APEC ROCT-PLUS*
→ Buy NU Aqua 4-Stage Here: nuaquasystems.com/products/nu-aqua-countertop-reverse-osmosis-system?rfsn=4096226.c90f2b&.c90f2b&subid=YTTOPCTRO - Use code “BOSWATER” for 5% off!
→ Buy APEC ROCT-PLUS Here: amzn.to/3SUfwxR
*4. Honorable Mention: Bluevua RO100ROPOT*
→ Buy Here: amzn.to/3SSMPkU
Thank you for this great new video and your fantastic work! You not only help customers to choose the right unit, but also force the manufacturers to improve.
You are welcome, and thank you so much for saying that!
I've had the Bluevua ROPOT for a year now and love it. Water tastes great and even better with the remineralization filter. Customer service is also great.
Thanks for sharing!
This is such a great video! Thank you for the awesome info! I love my Nu Aqua System! Glad to see it made it on the list!
Glad you liked it!
Based on these tests, Bluevua is good as others, and removes the most fluoride. Thank you for testing.
Correct, but remember that we could only test for those contaminants actually present in our water supply. That's why we value NSF certifications so much. And you are welcome!
Great video! Thank you
Glad you liked it, and you are welcome!
Sorry but Bluevue for the win. I've gone through three AquaTru classics in a year plus one carafe, every single one of them defective. As "great" as it may be, doesn't matter if the thing doesn't work. I will say the company stands by the warranty but constantly shipping the system back to wait for a replacement is ridiculous. Everyone I've spoken to who also had (past tense) an AquaTru had similar stories. I've switched to Bluevue and absolutely couldn't be happier. Works beautifully, zero issues, does what it's supposed to do. Those I know who had AquaTru have taken my rec and switched to Bluevue.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this comment. I've had my aquatru for 2 years, and yesterday, it stopped working. So, of course, I am searching for a replacement. Your comment is very helpful. Thank you for your insight.
i'm on my second year of BlueVua under very heavy use and have been very happy with it.
Great to hear!
My uncles Blue Vua unit died within three months and he complained that he had a hell of a time working with them for any kind of warranty. Both his family and my family have the AquaTru carafe now and are quite happy with them.
Thank you BluVua is my pick! Whoever gets rid of the most flouride. There's my winner right there!
You're welcome!
The elephant in the room with AquaTru is they don't recommend using it on the water harder than 10 gpg (or 171 mg/l). Quote from their web-site under the Classic model: Can AquaTru filter hard water?
AquaTru is intended for water with hardness below 10 gpg (grain per gallon). If the hardness is higher, lime scale will build up on the membrane RO filter replacement. We do not recommend that AquaTru is used with water in excess of 10 gpg hardness, unless the water is softened prior to filtering in AquaTru, or unless you regularly complete our descaling maintenance.
First of all, you are right that the AquaTru is recommended for a maximum hardness level of 10 gpg. Btw, the same applies to the AquaTru Carafe. But this is not really the elephant in the room in my opinion. I've just checked all 8 other countertop ROs we reviewed as part of this video and none of them even mentions a maximum hardness level - but not because you could use them on any hardness level you want. Hard water will always cause scaling and this will also affect all other countertop ROs. The question is, to what extent? Can they handle more than 10 gpg or less? We don't know. What I know is that both AquaTru units are recommended for a TDS level of up to 1500 mg/L. The Bluevua is recommended for up to 800-1000 mg/L. And Waterdrop C1H, Waterdrop A1, and SimPure Y7P-BW are only recommended for a TDS level of up to 500 mg/L. Now TDS =/ hardness, but calcium does contribute to TDS. Finally, 10 gpg isn't too bad.
So, I'm not saying that what you said is wrong - not all at. I just don't think that the other systems are necessarily better in that regard.
Good point. At the same time, say, I know for a fact my water hardness is well above 10 gpg. So, I know the producer does not recommend this system for my water. And then you read those reports about the leaks. If that happens it's solely my responsibility. And if I buy a different system (1) there's a chance it will work just fine with my water and (2) if something happens there's a warranty.
Thanks for the review. I was considering the apec for a while now. But fluoride results seem disappointing. Do you think the Bluevua and its lite version could produce the same quality water? The lite version is way cheaper to buy and to own.
Agreed!
I'm not familiar with the light version. But I'd say if it uses the same filter elements, then it should produce similar results. If lite means smaller filter elements, then it may not perform as well.
please review the Stokk T1! I like that it has the remineralization filter and UV filter in addition to the 4 standard filtration steps
Added to our list!
I would love to see a review of the SimPure Y10C system! Thank you for such thorough reviews!
Noted!
Wow amazing video. Do these RO systems remove forever chemicals?
Glad that you like it. And yes, they do remove forever chemicals.
Can you please reviews the Sans water purifier? I find it’s very similar to the aqua tru but still not sure which to get between the two.
Added to our list!
Thanks so much for making this! I recently went down a rabbit hole on a filtration system for my wife's birthday. Ended up getting the Clearly Filtered pitcher, but we are somewhat underwhelmed.
I wanted an undercounter system, but price of the unit and of install was pretty high. Is $400 for install appropriate in your opinion?
I thought a countertop unit might be best for now. But lack of effortless/affordable remineralization steered me away. I'd love to get your thoughts on if I'm overthinking that? I've heard that the vitamins you get through food are somehow not an entirley sufficient replacement, but don't know if that's legit science.
$400 for installation seems reasonable.
As for remineralization, according to the WHO what you should be most concerned about are calcium and magnesium. We always recommend people to at least consider remineralization, so you are not overthinking this imo. I know that the AquaTru can also be used with a remineralization filter. Or you could add those minerals manually with a mineral blend.
would be interested to see how much microplastic contamination these RO's leave from the plastic tubes and non-glass water tanks.
Microplastic testing is extremely expensive, unfortunately. We would like to do it at some point in future, though.
Thanks for the great reviews. I wish you would tell us where are you getting the water tested The one screenshot seems to indicate a different company than you used for testing aqua true classic.
Also would buy from your company if you sold the AquaTrue alkaline filter and extended warranty. Right now AquaTrue is having some good deals themselves with $100 off the carafe
This is the water test we are using: etrlabs.com/product/premium-water-test/
Waterandwellness.com is not our company, we just participate in their affiliate program.
@@boswater6065 Thanks for the quick reply and help, and a wonderful review videos. In this video, you didn't retest the aquatru because it had been tested on a previous review, but in that review he used tap score to test the water. The tap score test is slightly more expansive for the advanced one but looks more thorough, any thoughts on the two companies? Thanks
With ETR, you only get the lab report with no explanations whatsoever. Tap Score does a much better job here, but it also costs a bit more. So I guess it depends on what you prefer. For our purpose, we consider ETR to be totally fine.
It's so hard to find a countertop water dispenser that offers cold water. It might have the symbol ❄️ but it doesn't get chill enough. I see that the lowest it goes is 49 degrees. I have a thermometer inside my refrigerator and i have seen that i prefer my water at 40°F. I can't find any countertop water dispenser that can get this cold 🥶. Sucks!!!!
Would love for you to review the sans water filter! ❤
It's on our list!
hi guys have you considered testing the water fountains for pets like cats and dogs? there are tons of them and it would be great to see how effective they are. thanks
No, we haven't thought about that yet. Thanks for the idea!
very nice. Another thing is that we are planning to get a Bluevua mainly for the remineralizing filter, so we wouldn't like that our pet's fountain remove the mineral again. Please take that into account when you make the pet fountain review. I think chatgpt suggested to use catit brand because it can be used without filters, but then debris like hair wouldn't be removed. I'd love to find an equilibrium between using bluevua and a pet fountain haha. Thank you guys you rock
What does it mean when these filters say they are tested against NSF standards or meet nsf standards but none of them are listed on the NSF contaminate reduction claims website page ?
There are 3 organizations accredited to award NSF certifications: NSF, WQA, and IAPMO. If a water filter is NSF-certified (meaning certified against an NSF standard), then the certification must show up in the directories of one of these 3 organizations. Last time we checked, the AquaTru Carafe and Classic were the only 2 from our list with actual NSF certifications, awarded by the IAPMO. The Bluevua is in the process of getting certified apparently. All other systems claim to have performed their own independent testing against NSF standards. But that wasn't done by the NSF, WQA, or IAPMO, and thus there are no NSF certifications for that, so we need to take this test data with a grain of salt.
Side note: Certified by the WQA or IAPMO is as good as certified by the NSF directly. There is no qualitative difference there.
Hey, Sarah! Can you clarify a few questions for me if you have any time for that? I still can't make my mind up. RO membrane should not let viruses and bacteria through. Does that mean UV light is redundant? If not how bad is it for AquaTru not to have one? What about secondary contamination, what is the AquaTru pure water tank made out of? Why do RO systems need another stage after RO if the RO membrane is so thorough and much better than everything else?
1. RO membrane should not let viruses and bacteria through - true, they are too large in size. But there are several factors that could still cause those pathogens to end up in the filtered water, like a tiny amount of water bypassing the RO membrane. That said, most if not all RO systems for household use are only recommended to be used with potable and microbiologically-safe water. Some use UV light but that is only to stop the water from taking on a bad taste. In other words, if there are any potentially harmful pathogens in your water, please don't use a reverse osmosis system to remove them. Properly disinfect the water first, and then you can filter it using RO.
2. How bad is it for the AquaTru to not have UV light - I wouldn't worry about that at all. Again, this is only to try and make the filtered water taste better for a longer time. But as long as you're not allowing the water to to sit in the tank for too long, this shouldn't be an issue.
3. The website says it's Tritan plastic (BPA-free). But if you're worried about that, you could also use the AquaTru Carafe.
4. I might be wrong about this, but I think that when back in the day there were only tank-based systems, they used a carbon post-filter to refresh the taste of the filtered water after it has been sitting in the tank. So maybe they just kept doing that even with tankless systems. Or some manufacturers might use a post-filter to make sure that there aren't any chemicals from the membrane manufacturing process that could end up in the filtered water. Activated carbon is great for removing those.
@@boswater6065is that true that both AquaTru carafe and Bluevua have their carafe lids made out of plastic?
@@boswater6065Do you think it is a problem that AquaTru carafe lid is made out of plastic? Btw, is it the same way with the Bluevua? Another thing is on Amazon a 2-year set of replacement filters is $220 for either AquaTru Classic or Carafe, but the first one produces twice as much water for the same money. Not sure which one is the budget version.
No, they are both glass.
I don't know the prices on Amazon. This is based on prices you can find on waterandwellness.com
Do you know if the APEC ROCT-plus and Waterdrop K19-H are basically the same device? The machine itself, manuals, error codes, and filters seem to be of similar design. Even if similar design, is it possible that the filtering performance could be different depending on individual specifications for the manufacturers? Any additional data about whether other Waterdrop RO systems had dichloromethane issues similar to the Waterdrop A1 and C1H or follow up beyond their statement?
You are right, they look pretty similar, and the filter element looks pretty much identical. That said, we haven't tested the K19-H so far, so I can't say anything about filtration performance. If they use the same filter element, then you can expect similar filtration results, although this also depends on things like water pressure etc.
No new data about Waterdrop RO systems yet. And we are currently waiting for an update from Waterdrop.
@@boswater6065 Thank you! Even though the APEC ROCT-plus costs more than the Waterdrop K19-H, I decided to go with the APEC for a bit of extra reassurance in part because it tested well in your analysis. APEC has a more well established reputation for reverse osmosis compared to Waterdrop, correct?
That's great! Well, if I'm not mistaken APEC has been on the market for much longer. I'm not sure about the well established reputation. But what I know is that both Waterdrop ROs that we tested may have problems with releasing VOCs into the water, and the APEC ROCT-Plus didn't - all based on our lab testing.
@@boswater6065 Yeah, I'm hoping that the little bit of extra security buying something from a US-based company with a longer history will provide a bit of security in case something breaks while under warranty. Are you all going to publish a standalone review of the APEC ROCT-plus any time soon? I was unable to find much about it in contrast to the Waterdrop K19-H (they seem to be more aggressive in giving review samples to people), so I was thinking about recording an unboxing and setup video so there'd be at least a little more info out there.
We're not planning to at this point, no.
Aquatru all the way right here. I've had just the opposite experience than some others who touted Bluevua. My Aquatru hasn't leaked once in four years, and everybody I know who has one is very pleased. Aquatru holds the most stringent certification in N. America and the test results speak for themselves.
Thanks for sharing!
@@boswater6065 I don't understand why the aluminum added to the water isn't being marked as a concern?
Because there's plenty of other test data that showed no aluminum leaching, and the level we detected in our water was 10 times below the strictest health goal. So as mentioned in the video, this isn't ideal but we still think the AquaTru is the best option.
As someone who prefers cold water vs room temp. Do any of these brands have a refrigeration option that’s makes the water cold before dispensing?
From the top of my head I only know the Waterdrop A1.
Just put it in a mason jar and put it in the fridge. Problem solved
I believe that the RKIN U1 also dispenses cold water, but it is pricey, retail $750
@@yazars are people really this lazy? Dump the water in a pitcher and put it in the fucking fridge like I said
Hello, do these RO systems remove chlorine and lead?
Hi there, chlorine 100%. We couldn't test for lead ourselves because it isn't in our water supply, but both AquaTru units are certified against NSF standards for lead removal (99.1% and 99.2% average reduction). Also, the combination of activated carbon + RO which all of these systems use is highly effective at reducing lead from water.
which one actually gets the tds monitor to read 000
Hi @boswater6065, do you ship AQUATRU products in Australia? Hope you can answer me. Planning to order. Thank you!
We don't sell any products, we only review them. But I've checked with the seller we use and it looks like they do ship to Australia!
i wish the aquatru classic came in glass, or the carafe was faster! seems like there's no perfect solution in the mean time
When will you guys release the video about gravity countertop filters (ie Berkey, ProOne, etc)?
Hopefully within the next few weeks.
Hey there, is super pure water supposed to taste kinda sweet and bitter? idk if that's normal or my aquatru is defective or if it's just my taste buds
Most people would describe RO water as tasting flat, so like not much at all. When was the last time you replaced your filters?
@@boswater6065 it's brand new and I ran the system through 4 times before using. might just be my taste buds haha. thanks for replying
Hm, weird. Would be interesting to do a pH test!
@@boswater6065 yup, had the same idea! ordered some test strips, will test the raw tap, purified, and wastewater.
it's not too late to cancel my order, are there any reliable test strips you'd recommend?
btw bought my aquatru with your code, keep up the great work!
No, I can't recommend any strips specifically. But I used some before and they weren't accurate at all. I can't remember the brand, though.
Can you test the Sans water filter?
Added to our list!
Why are you guys claiming the carafe has the same certifications as the Classic when it's missing the 473 rating?
P473 was for PFOA and PFOS reduction, and that is now part of NSF 53 and NSF 58. So P473 merged into 53/58. And because the AquaTru is certified for PFOA and PFOS reduction, it basically has P473.
@boswater6065 very cool, I'll look into that. Thanks!
The AquaTru Carafe shows a 300% increase in aluminum? Where is the aluminum coming from?
We don't know. Might be coincidence. Also, remember that 300% increase sounds like a lot, but it was from 0.01 mg/L to 0.04 mg/L which is still well below the strictest health goal of 0.6 mg/L set by the OEHHA.
do these also remove microplastics?
Yes
Will these reverse osmosis systems remove plastics at a micro level?
Yes!
Please test the Osmio Zero from the UK 😅
Added to our list!
Amazing thank you 🤩
I had an Aquatru and in 2 months it was leaking everywhere.
Thanks for sharing. We never had an issue with leaking so far.
I saw sev complaints about the leaking as well on a reddit post and on amazon. I'll be avoiding that one.
@@RapturereadyNOW This is useless to 'review' a brand new unit. They should be a few months old with constant use and then do a review. Definately do not invest in this brand, mine I had to toss out, Customer Support was non existent.
We've been using 2 units for months and never had an issue except for what was mentioned in the video.
How’s the waterdrop? I didn’t see anything on that one
Both their filtered water samples contained elevated levels of dichloromethane (aka methylene chloride), so no recommendation at this point.
@@boswater6065 Could you please help me choose the best system for our situation. We’re trying to be as non toxic/plastic reducing as possible. We love the idea of the Aquatru glass carafe but we’re a family of 4 with 2 cats who will be drinking the water. How is the safety of the plastic with the Classic model and does it shed microplastics into the fresh water container? Is the plastic BPA free? We also will be transferring the clean water into a glass carafe to sit in the fridge for cold water!
Their website shows they're NSF/ANSI 58&372 Certified but the google sheet says they're not NSF certified. Any clarification? 🙏🏼 I just purchased the Aquatru Classic. Ive heard good things about Waterdrop though
i actually realized this certification is for the under the sink model
The Google sheet lists all NSF certifications for contaminant reduction, and it lists several certifications for the AquaTru Classic and the Carafe. It doesn't matter that the NSF certifications were awarded by the IAPMO. IAPMO is fully accredited.
About your other questions, we couldn't test for microplastics. The plastic is BPA-free. I think that if you store enough water in a glass carafe or two, then the AquaTru Carafe will provide your family with enough water.
Is BOS Water under new ownership?
No. Why do you ask?
Please do not buy Aquatru classic filter from water and wellness and for 3 times i always got defective products. I assume it is just that third party dealer not able to do packaging right and also once i got used water filter where i do see water inside filter.Finally these filters are not cheap though.
We never had any issues with them, but thanks for sharing!