10 Best Countertop & Portable Reverse Osmosis Systems in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

With a history dating back to the mid-1700s, reverse osmosis water filters have had an exceptionally long time to evolve and develop into the products we know and love today. Well regarded for their ability to remove nearly 100% of common water contaminants, reverse osmosis systems also have the profound benefit of being user-friendly and easier to install than other countertop water filters.

We’ve tested dozens of home water filtration systems to bring you this: our comprehensive guide to the best countertop (and portable) reverse osmosis systems available on the market today, complete with reviews and an in-depth buyer’s guide. Follow along as we explore the benefits and features that you should expect from a reverse osmosis system, and by the end, you’ll be able to decide on which of the models in our review is perfect for your home.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		APEC Water Systems RO-CTOP-C Water Filter System	Incredibly easy to set up Takes up very little countertop space Compatible with all standard faucets	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		LiquaGen 703610776425 RO Portable Water Filter System	Fast and easy 5-minute installation Comprehensive 4-stage filtration system Exceptionally affordable	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		RKIN ZIP2BLK AlcaPure RO Countertop Water Filter	4-stage filtration system Easiest setup Attractive countertop design	CHECK PRICE
		AQUA TRU 90AT02AT01 Countertop Water Filtration System	Ultra-simple setup and installation Large water reservoir Simple one-touch water dispensing	CHECK PRICE
		Express Water EZRO5 Countertop RO Water Filtration System	Robust 4-stage filtering system Compact space-saving design Unique water faucet design	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Countertop Reverse Osmosis Systems

1. APEC Water Systems RO-CTOP-C Water Filter System – Best Overall

Having tested somewhere near 100 different water filter systems in our lifetimes, one of your authors’ biggest pet peeves is having a lengthy, cumbersome installation process. In an ideal world, going from tap water to delicious and healthy filtered water should be as easy as placing an order, waiting for your filter system to arrive, taking it out of the box, and screwing it into your faucet.

Amazingly, the APEC Water Systems RO-CTOP-C Water Filter System does almost exactly that. As long as you have a standard-sized faucet (not a pull-out or sprayer style), getting started with this countertop reverse osmosis system is as easy as screwing in the included adapter and letting the water run for about 10 minutes.

A 4-stage filter system makes for better-than-bottled-water taste, and the high capacity filters last for up to a year on average. It’s equally suitable for homes, apartments, dorm rooms, and RVs – anywhere that you have at least 40 PSI of water pressure. The price is just a bit on the high side, but it’s well worth the complete lack of hassles that this filter system offers.

2. LiquaGen 703610776425 RO Portable Water Filter System – Best Value

In searching for the best countertop and portable reverse osmosis system for the money, we were spoiled for options. There are plenty of 3-stage countertop filter systems available at extraordinarily low prices, but only the LiquaGen RO Portable Water Filter System offers 4-stage filtration at such an amazing price.

Designed for supporting saltwater or freshwater aquariums where an ultra-pure water source is a necessity, the LiquaGen is conspicuously absent of an easy way to transform it into a drinking water supply. To do so, you’ll have to fill a container using the included tubing, then decant from that container into your drinking glass.

Given how easy the LiquaGen is to install – and how inexpensive it is to purchase and maintain – we can firmly recommend it for anyone whose purified water needs trend more towards hobbyist uses, as well as anyone who is okay with filling their own pitchers to pour from.

3. RKIN ZIP2BLK AlcaPure RO Countertop Water Filter – Premium Choice

The veritable Rolls Royce of countertop reverse osmosis water filters, RKIN’s AlcaPure Zero Installation Countertop Purifier take healthy hydration habits to a new level. A sleek and compact design might give the impression of being all show and no go, but this couldn’t be further from the truth: equipped with a 4-stage filter system and regulating reverse osmosis booster pump, it’s the most fully outfitted filter in our review.

A much higher price tag reflects the abundance of thoughtful features that comprise the ZIP2BLK, but its ridiculously easy setup really puts it head and shoulders above the competition. Once your filter system arrives, all you need to do is unbox it, plug it in, run two filter cycles, and then pour yourself a glass of perfectly filtered water.

4. AQUA TRU 90AT02AT01 Countertop Water Filtration System

If you liked the countertop looks of our premium choice filter system listed above, consider the AQUA TRU as well before deciding which is right for you. As another reservoir-style system, it requires essentially no setup and features the same push-button convenience of other countertop models.

While it features a larger water reservoir that requires less frequent refills than similar models, the AQUA TRU suffers from fewer filters and shorter filter lifespans. The 3-stage system still produces exceptionally clean-tasting water, though, so long as you’re willing to change the filters every 6 months.

Overall, this reverse osmosis system from AQUA TRU is likely to appeal most to anyone who wants a countertop solution that requires no installation setup.

5. Express Water EZRO5 Countertop RO Water Filtration System

The only reverse osmosis filter in our review to feature a built-in water faucet, Express Water’s EZRO5 Countertop RO Water Filtration System offers an excellent combination of the benefits of 4-stage filtration and countertop dispensing. Its 4-point setup is slightly more laborious than similar models, but the included faucet adapters make it a sure bet for installation in any home.

Billed as removing up to 99.99% of major contaminants, the EZRO5 certainly produced some of the best-tasting water of any filter we tested. And with its long-lasting filters working for a year or more, maintenance costs are minimal. Overall, it’s a great option for anyone looking for a versatile and comprehensive reverse osmosis system.

6. SimPure Y5 Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

UV light filtration is a much rarer find in any filter system, let alone a countertop water dispenser. That’s why we were curious to know whether the SimPure Y5’s taste and purity would stand up to the more conventional options available on the market today.

The good news is it most certainly does. Combining a 3-stage reverse osmosis system with a final UV purifying stage, it produces water that tastes as good and tests as clean as any other system out there. Even with side-by-side tastings of non-UV systems and the SimPure, though, we’re not sure that we could taste any appreciable difference in the water quality.

The bad news: it’s fairly bulky for a countertop machine, quite expensive, and relatively slow at purifying water. Overall, it’s an excellent idea, but we’re not sure where it would be of greater benefit than similarly priced machines that take up less counter space.

7. KFLOW Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

Resembling nothing so much as a countertop coffee maker, the KFLOW Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System’s unique appearance helps it to stand out from the water filter crowd. Another of the tank-style countertop units, it requires no plumbing installation to get it up and running, though this comes with a significantly increased price tag.

While we were impressed with the 2-year lifespan of the KFLOW’s 4-stage filter system, it made us wonder: Why do these filters last longer than most of their competitors?

Unfortunately, the answer has to do with the filter components. They’re significantly less powerful than many other filters on the market today and left us wanting for a slightly better-quality system. Overall, this is a serious detriment to an otherwise well-made reverse osmosis filter system.

8. Geekpure RO3–100G Portable Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System

Though reverse osmosis water systems have been around for quite a while, it’s only in the past decade or so that 4-stage filtration systems have come to be the industry standard. This leaves filters systems like the Geekpure RO3-100G in an odd position: affordable and well-made, but somewhat outdated.

If you’re looking for a simple way to purify water for your aquarium or watering plants, the Geekpure might be the most affordable option on this list. But with a more difficult setup, no attachment for drinking water, and only 3 stages of filtration, we will usually recommend stepping up to one of our other recommendations first.

9. Hydro-Logic 741627 Portable Reverse Osmosis System

Some reverse osmosis water filter systems fall into a unique category: those intended almost exclusively for aquarium and reef keeping. Sparsely equipped, sometimes difficult to install, and always lacking in any sort of drinking water attachment, they have a clear and narrow range of purposes.

The Hydro-Logic Portable Reverse Osmosis System fits almost entirely into this category. It is, however, the smallest reverse osmosis system of any we could find. If space is at an absolute premium in your RV or camper van, it may be the only suitable option and is included here for that reason.

10. Omnipure Countertop Portable RO Purification Water System

Last in our review, the Omnipure: A Countertop Portable RO Purification Water System that, at first glance, looks to be incredibly impressive. As the only reverse osmosis system in our testing to feature a 5-stage filtration system, we had high hopes for the Omnipure – hopes that would prove to be almost completely unfounded.

Designed specifically for traveling, the Omnipure is only capable of producing 3 gallons of purified water per hour, already making it less than suitable as a countertop unit in the home. Most alarmingly, upon testing the water that was produced, we found that it still contained notable levels of impurities – and that the Omnipure had failed to live up to its filtering claims.

Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Best Portable Reverse Osmosis System

Reverse osmosis technology has come a long way since its first proof of concept in France, using a pig’s bladder. Today’s countertop and portable systems feature finely tuned water filtration technologies and can be found at prices ranging from the surprisingly low to the shockingly high. In the sections that follow, we’ll be introducing you to the principles of reverse osmosis, as well as how those can inform your decision on which reverse osmosis system is right for your needs.

How Does Reverse Osmosis Work?

At its simplest, reverse osmosis works through the coordination of water, a semi-solid barrier, and pressure. Because the impurities and undesirable chemicals in water are larger than the molecules of water itself, they can be trapped by passing the water through a fine filter.

Attempting to pass the water through a filter this fine, however, will take far too long – unless you apply enough pressure to force the water through, speeding up the process and leaving all of the undesirable solids behind.

While a single barrier is enough to remove a large portion of contaminants in water, modern reverse osmosis systems tend to feature multiple chambers of increasingly fine filters. This ensures that the final water will be as pure as possible and prevents the unnecessary clogging that can occur with a single filter.

How to Choose the Best Countertop and Portable Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

Since most reverse osmosis water filter systems are based on similar design principles, it’s useful to compare them based on the following five qualities:

Conclusion

Of all the countertop and portable reverse osmosis water systems in our reviews, only the APEC Water Systems RO-CTOP-C Water Filter System receives our highest recommendation. Easy to install, extremely efficient in its filtration capacities, and requiring the least maintenance of any product that we tested, we’re confident in recommending it to any homeowner. And with its streamlined design, it’s equally well suited to be taken on the road in your RV or camper van.

For the most cost-effective option available on the market, consider the LiquaGen 703610776425 RO Portable Water Filter System as an excellent alternative to our top pick. While it’s not quite as well suited for setting up a faucet or drinking water station, its rock-bottom price for a 4-stage filtration system is impossible to match in any other setting. Equip yourself with a glass jug, and you can easily decant the best-tasting purified water you’ve ever had into this vessel for drinking whenever you want.

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Featured Image Credit: tetiana_u, Shutterstock