It’s no secret that the best way to get the clean water you need is with a reverse osmosis water filter. There’s just one problem: there are too many RO systems out there! Whether it’s your first time or your hundredth, finding a reliable, long-lasting RO water filter can be hard without a little help.
That’s why we scoured the net and found the best RO water filters on the market. We read tons of reviews and tested a number of countertop and under sink reverse osmosis systems so you don’t waste any time or money. Of all the systems we’ve come across, here are our picks for the Top 8 Reverse Osmosis Systems available right now:
NU Aqua Platinum Series 7 Stage Alkaline and UV Ultraviolet 100GPD RO System- Editor’s Choice
Lots of RO filters claim to give you the safest, cleanest, and best tasting water. Well, the NU Aqua Platinum Series 7 Stage Alkaline and UV Ultraviolet 100GPD RO System with Booster Pump actually does. This system not only removes sediments, rust, color, pesticides, and other organic pollutants from your water, it features two vital filters most other RO filter systems don’t bother adding: a remineralizer and a UV filter.
Sometimes filters do too good of a job filtering minerals, which means you can filter out elements that are actually good for you, your pets, and even your plants. The helpful remineralizing filter adds some of those minerals back into your water by passing water through a number of larger elements like calcite, maifan, and ORP Balls. Doing this brings your water back into the alkaline end of the pH scale by adding rich, helpful minerals back into your drinking water.
If you’re using well water or water with organic toxins, bacteria, viruses, or fungi, the additional UV filter will kill around 99% of those harmful elements. Instead of chemical sterilizing your source water- which can be dangerous, and at the very least will make your water taste bad- your water will pass through UV light that will kill off microorganisms and bacteria with ease.
It also doesn’t hurt that this NuAqua system comes with a 5-year warranty and detailed instructions so you don’t have to hire a pro to have safe, healthy drinking water.
Available at NU Aqua Systems and through Amazon.com
Home Master TMAFC & TMAFC-ERP- Best Rated RO System on the Internet
The Home Master TMAFC is probably the highest rated under sink reverse osmosis we’ve seen on the net. Whether it’s because of the name brand, its modular design, or the benefits you get from it when you use this system in your home, Home Master did a great job of designing an RO machine people love using.
Home Master has been leading the way in water filtration for quite some time, which is why it’s no surprise that you can find a good review of them nearly anywhere on the net. Maybe it’s because they’re designed in the USA, or maybe because their systems (the TMAFC in particular) can provide you and your home over 2000 gallons of water before your filters need to be replaced.
We think the modular design is what makes these water filters such well-rated and reviewed systems. The filters on this system are mounted around one central filter with no additional canisters or traditional filter housing, unlike other systems that have canisters that can crack and leak (not to mention gather bacteria). Moreover, this system includes every filter you need to improve the taste, smell, and color of your water while also adding some helpful minerals back into your water with a remineralization filter.
The setup and use of the Home Master TMAFC water filtration system are almost too easy, and the amount of water you can get with this system is impressive. While these systems may be a little bit pricey, there’s no denying the power and ease of use you’ll get with this water softener.
Available through Amazon.com
Hydrologic Small Boy Dechlorinator and Sediment Filter- Best 2-Stage Water Filter
Want to turn your tap water into fresh, clean drinking water without all the crazy connections and 4-5 different filters? Then the Hydrologic Small Boy Dechlorinator and Sediment Filter is exactly what you need.
Think of those simple filters you screw onto your kitchen faucet or those Brita filter water pitchers. Those are carbon filters, and do a great job of adsorbing chlorine to make sure your water tastes good. Now add a sediment filter to get rid of heavy elements like dirt and silt. Put both of those filters in one system, make those filters about 2-3x bigger, and you’ve got the Hydrologic Small Boy.
Sure, it’s a simple water filter, but that’s the beauty of it. Why spend $300+ for an intense, complicated water system if you don’t need to? This 2-stage system can be found for around 50% less than that and can produce up to 60 gallons of useable water per hour.
The Small Boy filters out sediments and chlorine quickly and easily. Made for mostly city and suburban homes, the Small Boy fits under your sink with plenty of room for the rest of your plumbing. With the ability to produce so much clean water, this 2-part system is great for lots of use at home and can even be used with commercial RO systems.
Available at GrowAce.com and through Amazon.com
Brondell H2O+ Circle 4-Stage Reverse Osmosis System- Easiest to Use
We can’t get over how easy the Brondell H2O+ Circle RO System is to install and use! On top of being a compact, all-in-one system that looks great, the performance and benefits of this reverse osmosis water filter are almost too good to pass up.
The H2O+ Circle is 10 times more efficient than even the best reverse osmosis filters, and this is for a few reasons. With its patented Smart Valve technology you’ll eliminate the backpressure most RO tanks create (like the majority of the systems on this list). That back pressure results in around 24 gallons of water wasted per one gallon of useable water. Combined with a flexible reservoir, this system only wastes around 2.1 gallons of water per one gallon of useable water. That means you’re both wasting less water and having more available water at any given time over other under sink RO systems.
Don’t be fooled by its compact design and smallish reservoir size, though. Four filters work together to give you the cleanest, best tasting and smelling water. It looks significantly better than other under sink reverse osmosis systems and installs just as easy as any of them- if not more so! Not to mention the included faucet has a handy LED light that lets you know when to replace filters instead of visually inspecting them or worse: finding out the hard way by tasting bad water.
Available through Brondell’s official website
APEC Top Tier ESSENCE ROES-50 5-Stage RO System- Best 5-Stage Water Filter
APEC is a leader in the water filtration game, especially when it comes to reverse osmosis. This system may look like your run-on-the-mill 5-Stage RO system, but the APEC Top Tier ESSENCE ROES-50 5-Stage RO System is anything but average.
Most systems come with two carbon block filters, and while this system offers those same two filters, there’s one huge difference: surface area size. The ROES 50’s carbon block filters have a larger surface area than other water treatment systems. That means while other systems have 99% total dissolved solids (TDS) elimination, this system offers upwards of 99.9% TDS elimination, and that .9% means a world of difference when it comes to your drinking water.
On top of excellent mineral and chemical filtration, these water systems also come with FDA food-grade tubing to make sure your purified water stays fresh and isn’t contaminated on its way into and out of the storage tank. Each fitting on this RO water filter comes with stainless steel teeth for guaranteed grip and specialized o-rings for a leak-proof seal.
Though the warranty from APEC is only 1 year, there’s no denying this system is effective. With experience and quality behind them, you won’t need much of a warranty on this system so long as you perform simple, routine maintenance.
Available through Amazon.com
Express Water RO5DX- Best Value Reverse Osmosis System
The Express Water RO5DX reverse osmosis system isn’t just a great reverse osmosis water filter, it’s one of the best values on our list. Like nearly all good water filters, the RO5DX has 5 stages of water filtration: a sediment filter for particles like rust, dirt, and silt; granulated active carbon filter that removes elements like chlorine and pesticides; activated carbon filter for eliminating elements like insecticides and benzene; an RO membrane that removes 99% of contaminants left in your water; and a post activated filter for polishing your water’s taste.
Unlike other systems we’ve seen, the RO5DX comes with a Leak Stop Valve that shuts off water flow if excess water’s detected. A fabric disk on the floor next to the system, and when it absorbs water leaking from the system all water going to your system stops.
This is the best value RO system on our list because it comes with a free set of replacement filters. Filters aren’t cheap, and eventually, you’re going to need to replace them. The great thing about this system is that you already save on your first replacement set of filters. This system isn’t the least expensive on our list, but it’s certainly not the priciest, and with an additional set of replacement filters, we’d definitely say the Express Water RO5DX is one heck of a deal. Perfect for anyone who wants more bang for their buck, the RO5DX was made for lots of use right out of the box.
Available through Amazon.com
AquaTru Countertop Water Purification System with Exclusive 4 – Stage Ultra Reverse Osmosis Technology- Best Compact Unit
For those looking for a 100% plumber-less way to get pure, reverse osmosis drinking water, the AquaTru Countertop Water Purification System is the simplest system we’ve ever seen. For those without power drills or renters who aren’t allowed to modify their home’s plumbing, this AquaTru device will give you fresh water on demand in minutes.
It comes with an onboard water tank and a 4-stage RO filtration system in a compact 14x12x14” countertop unit. The four filters in this system remove chlorine, lead, chromium, fluoride, and copper just like any quality water softener should. It also has an LED-lit panel to let you know when it’s time to replace a filter, which is a lot better than finding out by taste.
Though this unit does come with a large price tag, it’s probably the most convenient reverse osmosis water filters on this list. It’s portable, so you can take it anywhere you need: home, work, even take it on vacation. When you’re not trying to play handyman but still want that fresh RO taste, the AquaTru is the system you need.
Available through Amazon.com
iSpring RCC7 5-Stage Home RO Filtration System- Honorable Mention
Rounding out our top 8 reverse osmosis water filters is the iSpring RCC7 5-Stage Home RO Filtration System. These systems are known to get rid of 99% of over 1, 000 contaminants, including lead, chlorine, fluoride, arsenic, hormones, asbestos, calcium, sodium, bacteria, giardia, viruses and more. That’s not bad for a 5-stage setup that doesn’t include UV or alkalizer filters.
Their name is big in the RO industry, and they’ve been making under sink reverse osmosis filters for so long they’ve gotten it down pat. iSpring is known for their low defect rate and longevity, and the RCC7 is a shining example of the quality they’re known for. With tight seals, heavy-duty filters, and smooth tubing and connections, the iSpring RCC7 will make a great addition to any home looking for clean drinking water.
Available through Amazon.com
