Best Under Sink Water Filters in 2024 – (Tested & Reviewed)

Finding an affordable yet effective water filtration system is challenging for many people. Trying to understand all the subtle differences between models and the fear of installation can scare people away from transforming their drinking water.

For several reasons, the under-sink water filter is one of the most popular choices among homeowners. In addition to them being affordable, they are easily installed by almost anyone and have very little maintenance.

If you are looking for an alternative to spending big money on a whole-home filtration system, then an under-counter water filtration system may be right for you.

In this guide, you will learn everything possible about under-sink water filters. We will go through all those subtle differences and help you decide the best under-sink water filter for you. There are many options, but with our guide, we are confident you will find a great filter to improve your drinking water.

I’ve installed these units the most over the past year. Its a sold system with great tasting water. The SpringWell unit is super simple to install and the 3 stage filtration system is super easy to change out when needed.

Don’t Have Time To Read? My Top 3 Under Sink Water Filter Picks
Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian Full Contact Undersink	Editor’s Choice	It will remove 99% of 77 types of contaminants. NSF certified on standard 42, standard 53, standard 401, and +P473. The filter life is roughly 600 gallons, which is great for families of all sizes.	View Latest Price
ClearlyFiltered 3-Stage UnderSink Filter System	BEST VALUE	It has the ability to remove over 99.9% of waterborne contaminants It comes to combatting fluoride and lead at an effective rate of over 99.5%. The installation simply could not be easier. It takes a mere 10 minutes on average to install.	View Latest Price
iSpring CU-A4 4-Stage Premium Under Counter System	PREMIUM UNDERSINK	Ultra Filtration Filter-contains hollow fiber membrane technology with a pore size of just 0.01 microns. It will get rid of 99% of contaminants. The filters are simple to change. They twist on and twist off with ease.	View Latest Price

First, Why Should You Install an Under-Sink Filter?

This is one of the most common questions we receive; honestly, there are so many reasons why!

Affordability

Most people are on a budget. One way to avoid blowing that budget on eater purification is to investigate under-sink water filters rather than whole-home systems. Whole-home systems can be upwards of $500+, which does not include any costs associated with installation.

Under-sink systems are affordable, and since most homeowners can install these in just a few hours, you are saving hundreds more on installation costs.

Performance

Many people associate affordability with weaker product performance. When it comes to under-sink water filters, this is not something you need to worry about.

Thanks to the evolution of home water filtration throughout the past decade, a simple under-sink water filter system can provide all the benefits of a whole-home system.

You can remove thousands of different pesticides from your drinking water and sink water with a quality under-sink water filtration system.

Mobility

Since most under-sink water filters can fit into an average-sized moving box, it is easy to uninstall and bring your water system with you. If you are moving or want to bring your clean water system to your lake home or cabin, it is simple to do so with an under-sink water filtration system.

Uninstalling is usually more manageable than the initial installation, and you cannot put a price on clean drinking water. Hence, keeping the system with you wherever you go makes sense.

Types of Under-Sink Water Filters

There are different types of under-sink filters, each with unique characteristics.

Simple Under-Sink Water Filter

The best way to define a Simple Under Sink Filter is that it connects to your already existing water line, and the water will flow out of your already existing faucet. These are usually the cheapest options for under-sink filters, but they can effectively reduce harmful traits within your water. Another benefit of these filters is that they can easily be adapted to use with any water line in your home. This could include a refrigerator line or an ice maker.

One thing to remember with the Simple Under-Sink Filters is that you will be using it for everything because there is no dedicated faucet to clean water. This will cause your filters to need to be replaced more often because more water runs through them daily.

One of the more popular simple under-sink filters is Hydroviv, featured on Shark Tank.

Conventional Under-Sink Water Filter

Like the simple filter type, the Conventional Under Sink Water Filter will connect to the cold water line under your sink.

The difference is that the Conventional style will have a dedicated faucet and tap water. This gives you a reserved filtered water line to use at your disposal on your countertop. This is beneficial because you can still use your sink’s regular faucet for dishes and other water uses.

It will also allow you to use the hot water at your kitchen sink because you will not be using the dedicated faucet with filtered water. You will also see a longer filter life because you are not using the filter for every water need in the kitchen.

Some people worry about the installation of a new faucet on their countertops. This is a legit concern and something we deal with weekly. Ensure you do not already have a hole drilled for the dedicated faucet.

It could be hiding underneath a cover, which looks like a flat disc. It is usually the same color as your faucet. It is easy if you do not have an already drilled hole, but if you are uncomfortable with it, a simple system may be best.

One of the more popular Conventional Under-Sink Filters is from ClearlyFiltered

Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems use a multi-stage filtering process and a tank system to “flush” away contaminants in your water supply. The tank system usually contains a type of resin that lets clean water through and absorbs pesticides.

Almost all RO systems have a dedicated faucet (Conventional Filter). This will save money on filter replacements and get you the most out of your under-sink water system. The RO systems are widely regarded as the most effective under-sink water filtration option due to their ability to use reverse osmosis filters and, typically water filtering stages.

One of the drawbacks of a RO filter system is the need for the system to produce wastewater after the RO system. Any water that was not let through the RO process needs to drain, and this is considered a waste of water by many. Another thing to consider with a RO filter system is that the installation and costs can be more to bear than other under-sink water systems.

Many RO systems are becoming easier to install, but there are a few more moving parts than others. The cost of the RO system is usually more than other systems, but remember, you are getting the highest quality water filtration available.

One of the more popular RO under-sink systems is the Home Master TMAFC-ERP which I have reviewed below…

Best Under Sink Water Filter Reviews

1. Home Master TMAFC-ERP RO Contact Undersink

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Highlighted Features

• It has seven stages of filtration and water enhancement.
• There is a built-in permeate pump to reduce water waste.
• The filter can be replaced quickly and painlessly with no need for tools.
• It includes a dedicated tap to add to your kitchen sink for reliable drinking water.
• This uses Reverse Osmosis (RO) to clean and purify water.

The number one lead-removing water filter on our list is at the top for a reason. The Home Master is a simple under-sink filtering system that provides a dedicated water faucet for clean drinking water. The only model on our list that uses reverse osmosis water purification has a 7-stage filter to make your water as clean as it can be.

Installation was a breeze, and with a long-lasting filter, the amount of maintenance required on this system is minimal. It is hard to go wrong with the Home Master water purification system if you want to remove lead from your water. We saw a huge drop in traceable lead particles upon testing the treated water!

What We Like:

• It can be easily be installed by the homeowner.
• The package includes all parts needed to install and has a 5-year warranty from the manufacturer.
• The flow rate was not reduced, like some under-sink water filters.
• Before and after water testing showed that the filtration system removes many contaminants.
• The water filter adds minerals to your water, making it healthier and more refreshing.
• The filter lasts up to 2000 gallons of water, around 1-year of normal water usage.

What We Didn’t Like:

• The water feed adapter and shut-off valve only come in 3/8-inch sizes.

Here is how to install the Home Master TMAFC under your counter:

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2. Clearlyfiltered 3-Stage Under-the-Sink Filter System Review

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Highlighted Features

• This 3-filter system comes fully equipped with everything you need to install this into your existing cold water line easily.
• It can remove over 99.9% of waterborne contaminants, which amounts to over 230 toxins.
• The water lines are made from flexible stainless steel that is much longer than most water lines and easily attached to the water inlet.

The 3-stage water filtration system by Clearly Filtered is one of the easiest yet most effective water filters we have tested thus far. The combination of filters does an excellent job of ensuring that your water is among the best available at a fraction of the price compared to other water purification systems. There are 3 unique filters, each targeting a specific type of contaminant, and water testing has proven that this 3-filter combination tests off the charts.

It is one of the best DIY filtering systems for combatting fluoride and lead at an effective rate of over 99.5%. With a price tag of under $500, the test results for this system prove that you will get the most value out of this filtering system than almost any other on the market.

The average installation time of the ClearlyFiltered system is around 10 minutes, and when it comes to changing the filters, it can be done with no tools and takes mere minutes. The long, stainless-steel water lines are among the most accessible materials to use. Since stainless steel is naturally anti-bacterial, you do not have to worry about mold and mildew build-up.

What We Like:

What We Didn’t Like:

3. Brondell Circle Under Sink Reverse Osmosis System

Highlighted Features

• It is a RO filter system that has a 6-liter tank.
• There is an included chrome tap and faucet.
• There is an LED filter change indicator.
• It has four unique stages of filtration
• It is certified by NSF/ANSI on standards: 42, 53, 58, and 372.

This is the most unique RO system we have ever had the pleasure of testing. Instead of your traditional RO system with filters and a large tank, everything you need for the Brondell is encapsulated within a sleek black box. The box is not the smallest thing in the world, but it can still easily fit under all sinks.

One of the biggest complaints about RO systems is their time to regenerate. During this time, clean water is not available from your filter. Some systems can take hours to refresh, but the Brondell takes only 25 minutes on average.

In addition to that, the amount of wastewater is significantly less than in other RO systems. It does a great job removing chemicals from water and even those pesky total dissolved solids!

What We Like:

What We Didn’t Like:

4. iSpring CU-A4 4-Stage Premium Under Sink System

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Highlighted Features

• This system combines 4 stages of filtering ranging from a 5-micron pre-filter to an ultra-filtration level which includes a 0.1-micron filter, which is among the finest filters available.
• Because this is not a Reverse Osmosis Filter (RO) system, there is no wastewater involved, which saves thousands of gallons over the course of a year.
• The filters are simple to change. They twist on and off easily, and there is no need to disconnect the water hose.

The iSpring CU-A4 under-sink filter features multi-level filtration with a dedicated chrome finish faucet that provides you and your family with clean and crisp water all day long. It has a compact design which allows it to be easily installed under the sink. It was designed to be installed by the homeowner, and thanks to iSpring’s detailed technical documents and excellent virtual support, almost anybody can install this system.

Each filter has a specific role when it comes to water filtration to ensure that virtually nothing will sneak through the filtration process. To begin with, the first filtering stage has a 5-micron filter that is designed to specifically target larger in-soluble elements like heavy metals.

This stage is followed by an ultra-filtration stage that features a 0.1-micron filter that can capture both soluble and insoluble elements. The remaining stages feature an activated carbon filter that helps with odor and taste while ensuring that calcium and other valuable minerals stay in the water.

iSpring provides excellent warranty and guarantee options that allow you to be completely refunded within one year after purchase and covers all components.

What We Like:

What We Didn’t Like:

5. AO Smith 2-Stage Under Sink Clean Water Faucet Filter

Highlighted Features

• This system is certified on NSF/ANSI standards: 42, 43, and 401.
• It has two separate filtering stages and a dedicated chrome faucet.
• The filters will last for around 500 gallons of usage.
• The flow rate is 0.5 gallons per minute (GPM.)

AO Smith has been famous for water products for many years. This filtration system is exactly why. They packed a lot of features into such a small package.

It is the smallest filtration system in this article, but you are not missing out on much, even with only two filters. Chlorine, lead, and fluoride levels were all lowered with this filter.

I cannot stress enough how simple the installation of the AO Smith under-sink system was. All the parts needed to install are included, and the only real tool you need is a little wrench that also comes with the system. Maintenance will be very limited with this system thanks to its 500-gallon filter life, the 2nd best in this entire article.

What We Like: