The best countertop water filters, UK

We share the five best countertop water filters, including water distillers and reverse osmosis devices. Use our handy comparison tables to help you choose

There are so many countertop water filters to choose from, in this article we share the best options available in the UK. Take a quick glance at our top picks below or read on for a more in-depth review from key features to running costs.

The best countertop water filters, UK - At a glance

Searching quickly for the best options for you? Check out our quick countertop water filter recommendations list below.

1. Best overall: H2O Labs Stainless steel distiller

2. Best distiller: H2O Labs Stainless steel distiller

3. Best reverse osmosis: AquaTru Carafe

4. Best hot and cold filter: Osmio Zero 2.0

5. Smallest unit: AquaTru Carafe

6. Largest water tank: Waterdrop A1

7. Lowest waste water: H2O Labs Stainless steel distiller

8. Best looking water filter: Waterdrop A1

9. Cheapest upfront cost: Osmio Stainless steel distiller

10. Cheapest annual running cost: Waterdrop A1

What is a water distiller?

A water distiller is a device used to purify water by mimicking the natural water cycle. It works by boiling water, capturing the steam, and then condensing it back into liquid form. This process leaves behind most contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, heavy metals like lead and arsenic, and dissolved salts. Some water distillers have an additional layer of filtration, such as activated carbon pods to remove any impurities that may remain. The result is highly purified water.

What is reverse osmosis?

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a filtration method that pushes water through a semipermeable membrane under pressure. The membrane allows water molecules to pass through while blocking contaminants such as chlorine, fluoride, nitrates, heavy metals, and some microorganisms and pesticides. RO systems usually consist of multiple filter stages to improve effectiveness.

Distilled water filtration vs reverse osmosis

The key differences between the two methods lie in their operation and efficiency. Distillation relies on heat and phase change to remove contaminants, making it highly effective but slow and energy-intensive. The biggest pros are that they typically contain less plastic, you do not need to buy expensive filters, they are generally easier to clean and maintain and they produce very pure water. In addition to this, if you have solar panels then you can significantly reduce your running costs as the largest annual cost is electricity.

Reverse osmosis, on the other hand, uses pressure and filtration, offering faster output but at the cost of higher water waste, filter replacements and potentially more complex maintenance.

Both have a reasonably neutrual taste, will lose their health supportive minerals (click here for ideas on adding these back in) and have similar annual running costs.

In summary, a water distiller is best suited for those who need extremely pure water and are not concerned with speed or energy usage. Reverse osmosis systems are more practical for everyday home use, offering a good balance of purity and efficiency, despite their higher water waste. Choosing between them depends on your specific needs, such as water quality, usage volume, and energy or environmental considerations.

The best countertop water distiller

H2O Labs Stainless steel distiller with glass carafe

Best overall & best distiller

Buy H2O distiller

Unit cost	£279
Filters	Activated charcoal pods
Annual filter cost (guide)	£29.50 (4L per day) / £59 (8L per day)
Annual power costs (guide)	£200 (4L per day) / £400 (8L per day)
Unit size	H: 20cm (7.87") x D: 41cm (16.14")
Boiling chamber capacity	4L
Carafe capacity	4L
Filtration time	4 hours
Waste water	Negligible
Power usage	580W
Warranty	1 year
Pros	Glass carafe, cheap filters, easy to repair, easy to clean, heats the room, replacement parts available, water does not touch plastic
Cons	Long filtration time, smelly boiling chamber, heavy jug and boiling chamber when full, higher electricity costs, heats the room

Osmio stainless steel distiller with glass carafe

Cheapest upfront cost

Buy Osmio distiller

Unit cost	£169
Filters	Carbon bags
Annual filter cost (guide)	£6.98
Annual power costs (guide)	£230 (3.8L per day) / £460 (7.6L per day)
Unit size	H: 38cm (15") x W: 19cm (7.5")
Boiling chamber capacity	4L
Carafe capacity	3.8L
Filtration time	3.5 hours
Waste water	0.3-0.5L
Power usage	750W
Warranty	3 years
Pros	Cheap upfront cost, glass carafe, cheap filters, easy to repair, easy to clean, heats the room, long warranty, replacement parts available, water does not touch plastic
Cons	Long filtration time, smelly boiling chamber, heavy jug and boiling chamber when full, higher electricity costs, heats the room

The best countertop reverse osmosis water filter

AquaTru Carafe reverse osmosis water filter

Best reverse osmosis water filter

Buy AquaTru Carafe

Only £329 using our AquaTru discount code

Unit cost	£449 (With our discount code £329)
Filters	Pre-carbon filter, reverse osmosis, VOC or VOC with pH+ mineral boost
Annual filter cost (guide)	£240 - £260 (3L per day) / £480 - £520 (6L per day). Savings available if bought in bulk.
Annual power costs (guide)	£11 (Running device 1 hour per day and leaving in standby mode the rest of the time)
Unit size	H: 33cm (13") x D: 35.5 cm (14") x W: 19cm (7.5")
Water tank capacity	2.5L
Carafe capacity	1.9L
Filtration time	15 minutes
Waste water	1:3
Power usage	36W
Warranty	2 years
Pros	Glass carafe, low power costs, quick filtration time, option to add minerals (electrolytes), small unit, filtered water is not held in plastic container
Cons	High waste water ratio, expensive filters, European plug (adaptor included)

Waterdrop A1 instant hot and cold water, reverse osmosis water filter

Best looking filter, largest water capacity, cheapest annual costs

Buy Waterdrop A1

Only £519.99 using our Waterdrop discount code

Unit cost	£599.99 (With our discount code £519.99)
Filters	Pre-sediment & carbon filter, RO filter
Annual filter cost (guide)	£139.96
Annual power costs (guide)	£37 (4L per day) / £74 (8L per day)
Unit size	H: 46.48cm (18.3”) x D: 43.43cm (17.1”) x W: 19.81cm (7.8”)
Water tank capacity	6L
Water dispensing options	0.1L, 0.2L, 0.5L, 0.6L
Filtration time	4 minutes per litre
Waste water	1:2
Power usage	1,700W
Warranty	1 year
Pros	Chilled and hot water options, kettle alternative, low power costs, large tap water tank, use any container, quick filtration time, easy to clean
Cons	High waste water ratio, expensive filters, filtered water held in a plastic internal tank

Osmio Zero 2.0, hot and cold water, reverse osmosis water filter

Best hot and cold water filter

Buy Osmio Zero

Unit cost	£495
Filters	Composite filter, membrane filter
Annual filter cost (guide)	£135. Savings available if bought in bulk.
Annual power costs (guide)	£96 (3L per day) / £192 (6L per day)
Unit size	H: 38cm (15") x D: 50cm (19.7") x W: 18cm (7")
Water tank capacity	5L
Water dispensing options	250ml automatically or press start/stop
Filtration time	450ml hot water per minute. 15 minutes to refill internal 1.5L tank.
Waste water	1:5
Power usage	2200W-2600W
Warranty	3 years
Pros	Long warranty, chilled and hot water options, kettle alternative, large tap water tank, use any container, quick filtration time, replacement parts available
Cons	Waste water, expensive filters, filtered water held in a plastic internal tank

---

Countertop water filter comparison tables

There are so many different options when it comes to selecting the right countertop water filter. Below we have created a number of tables ranking each of the above water filters by specific criteria, such as, upfront costs, annual running costs and unit size.

Upfront costs

Countertop water filter	Cost (*including discount codes)
Osmio Distiller	£169
H20 Labs Distiller	£279
AquaTru Carafe	£329*
Osmio RO Zero	£495
Waterdrop RO A1	£519.99*

Annual filter & power costs

Savings available on AquaTru and Osmio RO Zero filters when purchased in bulk.

Countertop water filter	Annual filter & power costs
Waterdrop RO A1	£177 - £214
Osmio RO Zero	£231 - £327
H20 Labs Distiller	£230 - £460
Osmio Distiller	£237 - £467
AquaTru Carafe	£250 - £530

Unit size

Countertop water filter	Height	Width	Depth
AquaTru Carafe	H: 33cm (13")	W: 19cm (7.5")	D: 35.5 cm (14")
H20 Labs Distiller	H: 20cm (7.87")		D: 41cm (16.14")
Osmio Distiller	H: 38cm (15")	W: 19cm (7.5")
Osmio RO Zero	H: 38cm (15")	W: 18cm (7")	D: 50cm (19.7")
Waterdrop RO A1	H: 46.48cm (18.3”)	W: 19.81cm (7.8”)	D: 43.43cm (17.1”)

Tank capacity

Countertop water filter	Tank capacity
Waterdrop RO A1	6L
Osmio RO Zero	5L
H20 Labs Distiller	4L
Osmio Distiller	4L
AquaTru Carafe	2.5L

Carafe capacity

Countertop water filter	Carafe capacity
H20 Labs Distiller	4L
Osmio Distiller	3.8L
AquaTru Carafe	1.9L
Waterdrop RO A1	No carafe
Osmio RO Zero	No carafe

Hot and cold water function

Countertop water filter	Hot and cold water function
Waterdrop RO A1	Yes
Osmio RO Zero	Yes
H20 Labs Distiller	No
Osmio Distiller	No
AquaTru Carafe	No

Waste water ratio

Countertop water filter	Waste water ratio
H20 Labs Distiller	Negligible
Osmio Distiller	1:9
Osmio RO Zero	1:5
AquaTru Carafe	1:3
Waterdrop RO A1	1:2

Annual cleaning costs

Below are a list of the branded cleaning products that you are recommended that you use to clean your distiller or reverse osmosis water filter. Cheaper alternatives for each device are available, however, check that this does not void your warranty.

Countertop water filter	Annual cleaning costs
Waterdrop RO A1	No descaler or cleaning products needed.
Osmio RO Zero	£25.20 Sanitisation kit 1st year, £5 Milton ongoing (Bleach based)
Osmio Distiller	£18 Citric acid & white vinegar (Citric acid based)
AquaTru Carafe	£25 Descaling kit (Citric acid based)
H20 Labs Distiller	£39.60 Cleaning crystals (2 pots) (Citric acid based)

Want to learn more read our hydration blog posts here and check out all of our favourite water filtration products within our product directory.

---

To be able to run this service free of charge we rely on donations and the use of affiliated links. Affiliated links have been used within this article. There will be no additional charge or noticeable differences for you, by clicking on some of the links within this directory and making a purchase we may receive commission. All donations and commission goes towards the growth and development of our free services. Please contact us for further information. Thank you for your support.