Berkey Vs. AquaTru Water Filters: Which is Better in 2024?
There are so many countertop water filters in the market that it can be overwhelming to know which one is best water filter for your needs. I bought a Berkey in 2021 after learning about what’s in my tap water and have been relatively happy with it, however, I recently got an AquaTru per my friend’s recommendation and I think it will be interesting to share the difference between the two filter brands. In this post, I’ll compare my experience with the Berkey vs. AquaTru water filter, and what the major similarities and differences are.
In this post I’ll cover everything you need to know about the Berkey vs. AquaTru water filters:
- How to test the tap water in your home
- What is the difference between Berkey vs. AquaTru water filters
- How long do Aquatru filters last
- How long do Berkey filters last
If you’re interested in trying Aquatru or Berkey I have discount codes for you at the end of this post!
How To Test The Tap Water in Your Home
If you aren’t convinced that you need a water filter, go to the EWG Tap Water Database to search your zip code to see which pollutants were found in your local water supply. When searching for what is in your water, it’s quite shocking to see how many toxins are actually allowed into our water, the same water we are drinking and bathing in each day. You can also purchase a water test kit and really see how bad your unfiltered tap water is.
These are the contaminants found in my tap water:
Shocking, isn’t it?
What are the differences between Berkey vs. AquaTru water filters?
Berkey uses gravity water filters. Meaning they don’t need electricity or water pressure to filter. This is a big perk if you’re planning to use it while camping or in an emergency.
The Berkey water filters come in sets of 2, though you can install up to 4 inside the system at one time.
Berkey’s water filters work when water is added to the top chamber of the system, it passes through the filters, which gradually allow water through while trapping the contaminants. The filtered water then comes out of the filters and into the bottom chamber of the system.
These are the standard filters. I only had two and I plugged the other two holes.
How long do Berkey filters last
Two to five years or 6,000 gallons. This is a pretty big range. It’s really hard to know if they’re still filtering properly.
How much do Berkey filters cost?
A set of 2 filters is $175. 2 fluoride filters are $99. The below image is of the fluoride filters (a must, in my opinion). They attach to the bottom of the standard filters in the bottom chamber. The standard filters are in the top chamber.
You definitely want to avoid drinking fluoride! Here is my post with my favorite Fluoride Free toothpastes.
My Berkey review after 2.5 years of ownership
I have had my Royal Berkey filter for two years now, and overall, I have been happy with it! It’s super simple to use, it filters out almost 99.9% of the most common contaminants, and you can travel easily with it considering no power is needed. I also love that it is made from stainless steel instead of plastic (although the fluoride filters are in plastic).
How Berkey works– The setup is a bit of a hassle. It took me watching a few tutorial videos and some trial and error to get everything working. But, after you set it up it’s really easy to use. You just remove the top lid and add your tap water. We have a large water pitcher that we keep nearby – we fill it and pour that water into our Berkey. It can be a bit time-consuming to fill the entire chamber.
Size– My Royal Berkey holds 3.25 gallons of water and is fairly tall, especially if you add the stand, which we opted out of because I wouldn’t have been able to reach or clean it as easily with it. Berkey has lots of different sizes depending on what you’re looking for.
Taste– I think the Berkey water tastes ok but not great. I dealt with it because I liked the idea of how pure my water was, but over the years it didn’t taste as good. Berkey leaves the beneficial minerals in the water, which give it its taste. It’s not nearly as bad as tap water, just not as good as AquaTru.
Maintenance– Cleaning the Berkey is a chore. You have to empty all of the water and scrub the filters and the upper and lower chambers regularly. I probably don’t do this as often as I should, but they say if the water is flowing at its normal speed the filters are ok. So I’d go with that.
My main complaint about Berkey is the filter process
- Berkey’s filters are VERY slow. It is a gravity filter, which means it doesn’t need any electricity to filter… but, if you run out of filtered water while you’re cooking, too bad for you. It will take a long time to refill and you’ll be done eating before there’s enough water to use.
- You have to purchase separate fluoride filters. These attach to the bottom of the top chamber (the regular filters are in the top chamber). The fluoride filters need to be replaced every 1,000 gallons and cost $99.
- There is no way to know when your filters need to be replaced. 2-5 years or every 6000 gallons? I don’t know about you but I have no idea how many gallons I use in a day so how do I know if my filters are done? There’s no notification like what the AquaTru has.
Some more Berkey FAQs
- Price of Berkey is $300-$560 depending on the size
- Does not need electricity.
- Removes over 200 contaminants all the while leaving beneficial minerals in the water
- Filters 6,000 gallons per filter but the filters have not been tested for efficiency at this level.
- Filters have a lifetime guarantee but again, they have not been lifetime tested.
- Stainless steel housing.
- Holds more water than the AquaTru.
- No way to know when filters need replacing besides the filtering slows down quite a bit.
- Cannot ship to CA because of Berkey’s lack of testing.
My AquaTru review after 4 weeks of ownership
I’ve had my AquaTru for a month now and I can honestly say that I prefer it to my Berkey!
How AquaTru works– After the initial setup (which is VERY EASY), you just add water to the back chamber and let it do its thing. It quickly filters the majority of the water into the front chamber, leaving a few inches of water in the back that needs to be dumped before refilling.
Size comparison– The AquaTru holds .75 Gallons which isn’t as big as my Royal Berkey. But because it filters so quickly it isn’t an issue.
It filters so fast! It can filter the entire tank in less than 10 minutes. This really comes in handy, especially if you forgot to refill the night before.
The machine notifies you when you need to replace filters. Yes, filters may not last as long as the Berkey but they’re also not as expensive, and you can be more confident that you’re drinking clean water.
AquaTru Countertop and Under Sink purifiers are certified to NSF standards to remove 83 contaminants, including arsenic, lead, PFAS (PFOA and PFOS), chlorine, fluoride, nitrates, nitrites, glyphosate, and many more.
I found this really interesting… We make our own ice in an ice machine with our filtered water. The Berkey ice was cloudy and the AquaTru ice was very clear!
Size– The AquaTru takes up more counter space but isn’t as tall so it doesn’t block the view out my window.
Taste– The water tastes SO GOOD. If you like Aquafina or Fiji bottled water you’ll like AquaTru. It tastes clean and kind of sweet. It’s much smoother than the Berkey water. Some people are concerned that reverse osmosis filters out all of the good minerals but with a decent diet a lot of minerals can easily be replaced. You can also add the Perfect Minerals that AquaTru sells under their accessories.
Maintenance– You need to clean the water containers occasionally. The Pre-Filter lasts up to 6 months, the RO filter lasts up to 2 years, and the VOC filter lasts up to 1 year
AquaTru Filters
AquaTru has a 4-stage water filtration process that requires three water filters. It’s a bit more complex than Berkey. Aquatru’s requires an electricity source for it to work – it uses a 120-volt outlet, so you shouldn’t notice a big surge on your electricity bill.
Water passes through a pre-filter that removes sediment, before moving onto an activated carbon filter, like the Berkey’s, which uses adsorption to trap 99.9% of chlorine.
Next – and what makes the AquaTru completely different from Berkey’s offering – water passes through the AquaTru reverse osmosis filter, which removes the bulk of contaminants from water, including heavy metals and trace pharmaceuticals. It finishes by passing through another activated carbon filter, this one made from coconut shell, which eliminates any remaining contaminants.
Aquatru’s reverse osmosis technology makes the tap water filtration process much quicker than Berkey’s.
Note: Aquatru also sells three system upgrades, including the Aquatru Alkaline Classic and the Aquatru Alkaline Connect. These two models feature an alkalizing remineralization filter that adds healthy minerals back into RO purified water.
How long do Aquatru’s filters last?
The pre-filter lasts for 6 months, the VOC filter lasts 600 gallons or 12 months, and the reverse osmosis membrane lasting for two years or 1,200 gallons. The system will notify you when your filters need to be changed.
At the moment, you can buy a one-year combo pack of filters for Aquatru’s system, including 2 pre-filters and a carbon filter (no RO filter), for around $59. You can buy the same pack, but with double the number of filters and a reverse osmosis membrane, for around $149.
Cons of AquaTru:
- It requires electricity and needs to be near an electrical outlet to work.
- The machine is plastic BUT AquaTru uses Tritan plastic, the same BPA & BPS-free plastic used in best-selling food blenders like Vitamix and Nutri Bullet. Tritan has been tested at universities and independent third-party labs and the results have overwhelmingly demonstrated that it is safe and free of estrogenic and androgenic activity.
Pros:
- Removes 95% of drugs like Ibuprofen and Naproxen
- Filters have proven test results. Certified to NSF standards to remove the contaminants claimed.
- The unit notifies you when filters need changing.
- They have a best water you’ve ever tasted; guarantee or your money back!
The good news is I love both of these systems- it’s not like one is substantially better than the other. But, I find myself reaching for my AquaTru water more because of the taste and quick filtration, however, I plan to keep my Berkey for emergency situations or if we want to travel with a filter. Both are a good option.
I recently installed the under-sink system from AquaTru. If you own your own home, or your landlord will allow you to add a water filtration system, DO IT! It’s so nice to just turn on the faucet and know you are drinking safe water. My ultimate goal is to get a one of those whole house units but in the meantime, My Aquatru filter will work just fine!
If you’re looking for a shower filter I recommend, try this one! I replace it every 3 months and it’s very easy to isntall.
Do Basic Countertop Filters Work?
The prices of both of these units are higher than your standard Brita so if you’re wondering if a Brita will suffice here’s your answer. They’re definitely better than not having a filter at all but they don’t filter nearly as much as the Berkey or AquaTru. You can read a good comparison of the Berkey vs. Brita here. If either of these two filters is not in your budget at this time, I would suggest at least getting a filter from a more reputable source; for example, this water pitcher filter system is only $40 bucks and at least removes up to 99% of heavy metals. Search the site for: Water Pitcher Filter System.
Coupon Codes –
How do you choose which is the very best filter? It’s a touch decision between Berkey Water filter systems Vs. AquaTru Water Filters? Well, I think this one is going to come down to priorities and which are most important to you and your family. For us, I am really glad that we are able to have both as if we do lose power, having the Berkey is a huge asset as we will always be able to have clean water with or without power. Additionally, I do have discounts on each unit so whatever appeals more to you, you can save a little money.
Take $100 OFF any AquaTru system here.
Take 20 % OFF any Berkey system with code LAURENE here
Have something about these units I missed or forgot? Leave a comment below! I will continue to update this as I find relevant info!
I hope you found this review of Berkey vs. AquaTru water filters helpful! Whichever you choose, the bottom line is both are a good water filter and there’s a reason they remain the most popular options in the market.
If you enjoyed this post you’ll love:
How To Recognize And Treat Parasites
How To Heal Your Cold, Flu, or Sore Throat Holistically
The Differences Between Non-GMO and Organic Food
The Benefits of Taking Borax: Dosage, Usage Tips, and More
xx,
Lauren
