The 10 Best Countertop Water Filters: Reviewed and Compared 2023

Deciding which countertop water filtration system is suitable for your home can be tricky.

The truth is, there are way too many options to choose from these days. From reverse osmosis filters to activated carbon media, filtration methods can be overwhelming. 

To ensure you find the right countertop filter for your home, I’ve spent the last 10 months reviewing, comparing, and ranking the best countertop water filters in the world. 

Here’s what I found.

1. Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher: 9.92/10

• Best countertop filter for your home

Clearly Filtered 80-ounce water pitcher is a beast against common pollutants in water, including chlorine, fluoride, PFOS, and inorganic compounds. What makes it a great choice is its limited lifetime warranty and long life. 

Pros

The Clearly Filtered pitcher is not your average filter pitcher. It can treat 99.9% of 360 contaminants in water using its proprietary Affinity Filtration Technology. You might think Clearly Filtered is just talking big, but let me tell you, its claims are legit! 

It’s got solid certifications for the NSF standards 42, 53, 401, and 473 to back them up. So, you can trust that the product delivers on its promises. This filter targets the trickiest pollutants, including lead, forever chemicals, fluoride BPA, and glyphosate.

It has a decent filtration capacity of 100 gallons, which means it can last up to three to four months before needing a replacement filter. 

Unlike typical water pitchers that use flimsy plastic, Clearly Filtered is crafted from BPA-free medical-grade Tritan material, which means it’s not only super strong but also completely safe. Plus, it’s designed to be easily gripped and fits perfectly in any refrigerator. And let me tell you, assembling this beauty was a breeze — it only took me 10 minutes. 

Lastly, Clearly Filtered is backed by a lifetime warranty and a 30-day, worry-free trial.

Cons

One downside to this pitcher is that it does not indicate the filter’s remaining life. If you forget to keep track of your filtration, you might end up drinking pollutants. Another concern is the open spout, which leaves room for dust particles and insects to make their way inside.

Overall

If you’re not looking to break the bank on a water filter, the Clearly Filtered pitcher is a solid choice. For just $90, you can enjoy the freshest and cleanest water around. And guess what? You even get a lifetime warranty and a 30-day trial at that price. Now that’s what I call a sweet deal. You can get yourself a Clearly Filtered pitcher here.

2. RKIN U1 Water Filter System: 8.53/10

• Removes most toxins but not as effective as Clearly Filtered

The RKIN U1 filter accomplishes precisely what it was created to deliver — unbelievably clear drinking water. This reverse osmosis countertop water filter is a prime example of minimal design and maximum effort combined to achieve one of the most thorough filtration processes available.

However, it’s a tad expensive and has only a one-year warranty. 

Pros

This filter uses four stages, including a sediment filter, carbon filter, reverse osmosis, and UV filter, to neutralize every contaminant you’re worried about, eradicating carcinogens, toxins, chlorine, and fluoride. 

It also features hydrogen infusion and an alkaline post-filter that infuses healthy minerals and improves your water’s antioxidant properties. The RKIN unit can increase the alkalinity of water to 7–8 pH.

The RKIN U1 is IAPMO R&T certified to remove fluoride chromium, lead, PFOS, and TDS from water. Take a moment to browse the test reports. They provide valuable information and give you peace of mind about the product. It’s always reassuring to have access to such resources!

One of the major benefits you can get out of this countertop filter is its easy installation — because there is none. Just fill its ½-gallon tank with tap water and fix it back into the system. 

The filter allows you to enjoy fresh-tasting water at your preferred temperature. Whether you desire hot or cold water, you have the freedom to adjust it accordingly. Trust me, you can’t find this feature in any other countertop water filter.

With its intelligent touch control, this device simplifies your life by offering three preset water temperature options, including water hot enough for coffee or tea. You can enjoy the convenience of easily selecting the perfect temperature for your needs. 

The smart display allows you to see the filter life as well. 

The most enjoyable part of my number two choice for the best countertop filter is that filter changes are inexpensive, and you can buy the two-year bundle at just $230. With all the costs skyrocketing around us, we all want an option that won’t break the bank every year. 

Cons

One downside of the RKIN U1 Countertop RO Filterthis filter is that it only comes with a one-year warranty to cover any issues with the unit. Compared to Clearly Filtered, this warranty is a tad underwhelming and it’s always nice to have protection for a little longer than a year.

Another drawback is that it relies on electricity to operate. This could potentially be problematic if your area frequently experiences power outages.

Although the price of replacement filters is reasonable, some users might find its initial price a bit too expensive.

Overall 

RKIN U1 Countertop RO Filter delivers the power of a whole-house reverse osmosis water filter right from your kitchen countertop.

While the warranty is only for a year and the filter requires electricity to operate, it’s well-built and removes many toxins from water. If you want a countertop water filter that purifies your water and adjusts the temperature for you, get the RKIN RO Filter here.

3. Aquasana AQ-4000: 7.75/10

• Best for a limited budget
• Still effective but slightly outdated filter technology

Aquasana AQ-4000 is my #3 because while it doesn’t come with many bells and whistles, it uses Claryum filtration to deliver clean, filtered water.

Pros

Although this filter doesn’t use the latest filtration technology available to filter water, it doesn’t mean it’s incapable of delivering a higher percentage of filtered water. The Aquasana has a Claryum filtration method that uses a mix of activated carbon, ion exchange media, and sub-micron filtration to clean drinking water.

This filter is also portable, so you don’t need to install anything to get it working, and it moves where you move.

This filter also features a diverter valve, which is great because it allows you to switch between filtered and unfiltered water easily. This element helps extend the life of the filter cartridge as well.

Cons

One of the things I didn’t quite like about the Aquasana is that its filter cartridge and caps kept getting stuck when I tried to fiddle with them. It seems like this could become quite a nuisance down the road. While this is one of the best countertop water filters available right now, it isn’t the number one choice.

Overall

Aquasana AQ-4000 is #3 on my list because while it isn’t too flashy and doesn’t have the water filtration technology of most other countertop filters, it still does a superb job of filtering your tap water supply.

While you will remove far more contaminants and heavy metals from your water with the Clearly Filtered pitcher, if you want to learn more about the Aquasana, you can do it here.

4. Home Master Jr. F2 Elite Countertop Water Filter

Home Master’s countertop water filter takes the fourth spot because no matter how smelly your water is, the Jr. F2 Elite has no issue making those nasty water odors disappear entirely.

This filter offers a compact design that makes it perfect for those with limited counter space, and it comes in either black or white, blending in with most kitchen designs.

The Home Master Jr. F2 Elite also uses a combination of activated + catalytic carbon, activated alumina (AA) filter media, and KDF to achieve premium filtered water.

It also has a speedy installation, clocking in at five minutes, and is quite simple to complete.

One of the downsides to this unit is that no matter how hard I tried to find statistics regarding what it actually removes from the tap water, there wasn’t much to discover. Kind of shady, right?

Although it does significantly improve the smell of tainted H2O, its lack of information regarding what it actually takes out of the water leaves the Home Master looking like it has something to hide.

5. CleanWater4Less Countertop Water Filtration System

If you have a big household, this filter is for you. Boasting a massive 10,000-gallon filter capacity, it’s one of the most cost-effective solutions for effective water filtration. 

Very easy to install, this water filter was assembled and filtering water in seconds. It took me literally no time to put this simple filter together and start the filtration process.

I didn’t particularly appreciate that this unit doesn’t feature a filter indicator like most countertop filters. You’re left guessing when your filter has completed its life cycle.

The CleanWater4Less Countertop Water Filtration System is an excellent little water filter. Still, my first choice for a countertop water filter has so many more features, leaving this little unit in its wake.

6. Ecosoft Countertop Drinking Water Filter System

This budget filter system packs a powerful filtration process.

When it comes to your drinking water, the Ecosoft Countertop Drinking Water Filter System doesn’t play around. This little filter unit vanquishes most contaminants, including bad tastes, odors, heavy metals, and chlorine. 

The downside to this unit? It only features a 1500-gallon filter capacity, which falls relatively short of most countertop water filters. With a far bigger filter capacity, my number one selection offers way more value than the Ecosoft unit over time.

7. APEX Countertop Drinking Water Filter

This little bad boy removes up to 99% of the contaminants in your drinking

water during its filtration process—a process that uses five stages to clarify and clean drinking water.

APEX Countertop Drinking Water Filter produces alkaline water with a higher pH level and lowered acidity to promote health benefits. You can expect this water to have a higher alkaline level as well.

Nutritionists believe that alkaline water may be beneficial to your health by helping balance acidic body chemistry. Yet, one thing to consider is that drinking water with a high alkaline will mean that it is lacking in good minerals.

8. New Wave Enviro 10 Stage Water Filter System

The New Wave Enviro 10 Stage Water Filter System features a water filtration system that extracts most pollutants, contaminants, and toxins in your water by employing a 10-step filtering process.

This speedier filter can filter a gallon of water in one and a half minutes. This countertop unit can’t be beaten for those looking for quick filtered water production.

The biggest issue with this water filter is that it started leaking as soon as it was installed. The leak was very minor but a leak nonetheless.

With its leaky seal, you’re better off checking out my first choice to see what the quality craftsmanship of a countertop water filter looks like.

9. Brondell H630 Cypress Countertop Water Filter System

The Brondell H630 Cypress Countertop Water Filter System is a terrific option for those looking for a filter that doesn’t rely on electricity to function.

What I really liked about the Brondell water filter is that it can be directly hooked up to the sink’s cold water pipe, resulting in tremendous water pressure.

What I didn’t like was the fact that the Brondell appears and claims to feature an easy installation, but the fact is that it comes with a water diverter that won’t fit most taps. I even tried to get a plumber to help me with the installation and they were as stumped as I was.

The end result, this is an honorable little filter system but cannot produce the same high-quality filtered water as my first choice.

10. VitaFilta Countertop Filter & Cooler

This handy little water filter has built-in temperature control and produces cold drinking water whenever you need it.

The VitaFilta Countertop Filter & Cooler uses a simple carbon filter media to extract harmful contaminants and enhance the flavor of your tap water as well.

Its filter is relatively undersized for such an oversized device and doesn’t pair with other kitchen countertop devices very well.

The VitaFilta takes the last spot on my list based solely on its poor look. If you’re looking for style and substance, my first choice will stand the test of time.

The Bottom Line

After an intense 10 months of water filter testing at my water filter installation laboratory, I hereby proclaim the Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher the best counter filter for your home.

Using Affinity Filtration Technology, the pitcher filter handily removes 99.9% of your drinking water’s carcinogens, toxins, chlorine, and fluoride with ease.

It can remove many contaminants from your drinking water supply, including fluoride, chromium, lead, PFOS, and heavy metals, which is why you want a countertop filter in the first place. Forget that rinky-dink faucet water filter you borrowed from Barb, it’s time to really clean that water supply.

Methodology

Here’s how I chose the countertop water filter of the future.

Step 1: A big list of countertop filters

In the beginning, I made a list, as I have for every one of my tests. This list included all the available countertop water filters I could think of. I performed a few quick searches to enhance my list and further develop it. When I had exhausted that avenue, I called my stepdad, Terry, and asked him for advice as well.

Step 2: Online reviews

After I completed my list (thanks to Terry), I started consulting online countertop water filter reviews to get some real grassroots insight into what people thought about the filters they purchased. I found out that people feel very strongly about water filtration methods. Feelings about water filter performance were laid bare for me to pluck through and examine. After gaining a better insight into the feelings of countertop water enthusiasts, I was exhausted and went to bed.

Step 3: Product analysis

When I awoke, I realized that I had some pretty big questions I would need to answer to determine which of the available countertop water filters really were the best option. Questions like:

• Do countertop water filters work?
• Was quality countertop water the unicorn of water filtration word?
• What kind of filter stages are there?
• Are these units better than their second-rate cousins, the faucet water filters?
• How do they compare to other house water filters?
• Are there countertop water filters that actually look stylish?
• How many countertop water filters would it take to quench the thirst of eight elephants?
• Was there a countertop water filtration system that didn’t look like a robot from Doctor Who?
• Were there any countertop water filters that could turn tap water into wine?
• How much are the replacement filters for these water filters?
• Could I use any of this filtered water to start my own bottled water business?
• Can I jack up the filter capacity of these things?
• Do they have the power of whole-house water filters?

Step 4: Interviews with real customers

To get the answers to those questions, I had to go straight to the source, so I set up an interview session in a rented room at the Buffalo Marriott and promised free doughnuts and coffee for those who came and discussed their respective countertop water filtration systems.

Surprisingly, I underestimated the pull of free coffee and pastries, and over 50 real deal customers arrived. 

I didn’t have enough coffee and doughnuts. 

After some finger-pointing and pushing, I ordered coffee and doughnuts for everyone over speakerphone so they would see I wasn’t putting in a fake order. Yeesh.

After everyone got their complimentary breakfast, we talked about water filters for an hour. I cut the list down to 20 water filters, and I was out $200 bucks.

Step 5: Interviews with the companies

After the doughnut and coffee fiasco, I figured I could get some hard-hitting answers from the producers of the water filters I was testing. 

After reaching out to the 20 filters still left on my list, I heard back from 10 of them. That made arriving at the top 10 pretty easy. 

Step 6: Test drives

According to my usual test drive procedure, I purchased the 10 filters I had on my list and had them sent to my water filter installation laboratory.

I knew I would need help with this testing, so I called up my water assistant, Baxter, and let him know that we were getting the water band back together. As usual, he was precisely 15 minutes late arriving. We familiarized ourselves with the countertop water filters and then had a tea to catch up.

We spent the next 10 months pouring, filling, drinking, and testing gallons of municipal water to decide which one indeed was the best for delivering countertop water. 

Step 7: Ratings

With all I knew about these countertop filter systems, it was time to rate them. I sent Baxter home because the numbers caused him anxiety, and he started breathing weirdly, and I got to work. I then awarded a point structure based on if a filter had any of these features:

• Can it remove volatile organic compounds via osmosis systems?
• Are they recyclable or are they just plastic waste waiting to happen?
• Do any of these countertop water filters act as a water filter pitcher as well?
• Do any of these countertop water filters use ceramic filters as media?
• How many have a carbon-block filter?
• Do any of them really deliver pure drinking water?
• Which ones have a reverse osmosis filter or a reverse osmosis system?
• What is the total dissolved solids rating for each filter?
• Do any have multiple filters?

Best Countertop Water Filter for Your Home

It took a whopping 10 months and probably about 10 thousand water spills, but I finally arrived at my top choice.

The Clearly Filtered Water Filter Pitcher is by far the best bang for your buck. It delivers the best-tasting water of every unit I tasted.

With its low annual maintenance cost and perfectly designed filtration technology, you can’t beat the Clearly Filtered for the following reasons:

• Affinity Filtration Technology 
• Removal of a multitude of contaminants and pollutants
• NSF certifications 
• Lifetime warranty 

If you want a countertop water filter that will clean your tap water, not put a dent in your wallet, and stand the test of time, get the Clearly Filtered today.