Best Countertop Water Filter UK
Settled? Comfortable?
Great, then let’s check out the best countertop water filters in the UK.
These are the ones that you fill with water, the water passes through a filter, and the water is there ready for you to dispense water from the spout or tap.
There are a few different types; we’ll let you know the best of each kind.
The top water chiller is the Aqua Optima WC0112, the winner for the best alkaline water countertop dispenser is the pH Recharge Glass filter, the winner for Fluoride removal is the Zero Water Dispenser, and the budget pick is the Philips Water 3L model.
Aqua Optima Lumi Chiller WC0112
- Capacity: 8.2L
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 34.6 x 26.4 x 42.8cm
- Weight: 5.9kg
- Mains AC power supply needed?: Yes
pH Recharge Glass Alkaline Countertop Water Filter
- Capacity: 8.5L
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 28.2 x 43.2 x 27.7cm
- Weight: 3.8kg
- Mains AC power supply needed?: No
Zero Water 20 Cup Water Filter Dispenser
- Capacity: 4.7L
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 10.6 x 5.5 x 11.8cm
- Weight: 1.5kg
- Mains AC power supply needed?: No
Philips Water Instant Water Filter
- Capacity: 3L
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 23.3 x 15.2 x 26.3cm
- Weight: 1kg
- Mains AC power supply needed?: No
Water filters is our game; the clue’s in our name!
In this case we’re checking out the UK market’s leading countertop filter dispensers.
These models all provided enough filtration quality for the needs of an average person.
Our selections were based on:
- Filtration effectiveness
- Range of contaminants removed by the filter
- Usable one-time capacity (how much filtered water the unit can provide in one use)
- Build quality of the dispenser; likely longevity
- Attractiveness; how well does it fit into your kitchen
- Ease of setup, if any is required
We’ll also discuss how to decide which one is best for your requirements, and how to pick.
Best Countertop Water Filter Dispenser Category Winners
- Best Chiller Dispenser: Aqua Optima Lumi
- Best For Alkaline Water: pH Recharge Glass
- Top Countertop Filter For Fluoride Removal: Zero Water 20 Cup
- Budget Model: Philips Water Instant Water Filter
Countertop Filter Dispenser Reviews
Here are the full reviews of those winning models.
Aqua Optima Lumi Chiller WC0112 Dispenser
Pros and who needs this chiller countertop filter:
There’s something about chilled water
On a hot summer’s day. Right? The Aqua Optima Lumi does the job it’s supposed to do – giving you filtered, chilled water on demand, whenever you need it. Here’s why drinking cold water is so good for you.
High quality filtration effectiveness
Effective for removing pesticides, lead, microplastics, chlorine and heavy metals. Also good for reducing limescale in the water.
Actually a decent price for a chiller with filter
As you’ll go on to read, it’s the most expensive option of the winning models in this review. But high quality chiller dispensers (like this Primo water chiller) can set you back several hundred pounds; this does the job for a fraction of the cost.
Cons and why it’s not the right one for you:
Limited capacity of chilled water
Only 0.8 litres of chilled water is available. In other words, the chiller doesn’t keep the whole 5.3L of filtered supply chilled the whole time, just 800mL of it.
The most expensive of these options
The Lumi costs more than any other countertop filter on this page. As mentioned in the Pro section, it’s actually good value for a quality chiller with filter.
Where can you get it?
You can check it out on Amazon here.
pH Recharge Glass Filter Dispenser
Plus points and who needs this one:
Has the superb and well-renowned pH001 filter
The pH001 filter, developed by pH Recharge is one of the best on the market. It has high-end impurities removal, taking chlorine, chloramine, lead, mercury, arsenic, zinc. It has activated carbon, zeolite, KDF layers, among several others.
Gives you genuinely alkaline water
That filter not only removes contaminants, it also adds back essential minerals like calcium, selenium and magnesium. This is called remineralisation. That increases the negative ORP (oxidation-reduction potential) value and the pH level. Alkaline water grows in popularity and reputation as each year passes, with a range of health benefits becoming apparent.
It looks fantastic
We think it looks beautiful. Our realistic hopes, and maybe you’re the same, was for a countertop dispenser that doesn’t look too out of place; not an eyesore. But the pH Recharge glass countertop dispenser looks eye-catchingly good, sitting on your counter.
Long-lasting filter lifespan
360 litres is how long the pH001 will last; another reason for its good reputation. Of course, it depends on the size of your household and how much water you drink, but for small household that could last as long as 2-3 months.
Cons and why this model is not for you:
Some assembly required
It’s the only model in this list that requires assembly. It comes with a wooden stand, which you’ll certainly want to use. It’s basically just screwing a few pieces together, though. Which only takes a few minutes. As with anything you assemble, make sure to put it together tightly and securely to prevent leaks.
Fairly expensive for a simple filter dispenser
Unlike the Aqua Optima Lumi, which is a chiller, this is a simple filter dispenser. Why are you paying more? You’re effectively paying for the superior filter quality and the nice-looking glass and wood; and components giving it a high-end appearance.
Where can you get it?
You can see it on Amazon, right here.
Zero Water 20 Cup Water Dispenser
Positive points and why it’s the right filter for you:
Well-tested, reliable filtration at good value
Very high percentages of PFOA, PFOS, chromium, mercury and lead removed. Admittedly, it doesn’t have the ability to remove as wide a range of impurities and contaminants as the Lumi or the pH Recharge filters, but it’s a fair bit cheaper than both.
A market leader for Fluoride removal
Check out why it’s the best countertop filter for Fluoride removal. If that’s important to you, this will be a key determinant for your decision.
Verifiable water improvement
The Zero Water dispenser comes with a water quality meter. That means you can check your water before and after it goes through the filter – giving you assurance that it’s actually working as it should be. Note the following though: while it’s a good measure of the change the filter is making, don’t worry that a TDS level is too high – TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) includes some beneficial minerals too. Water quality has many variables; TDS is just one of them.
Cons and why this model is not for you:
It’s a traditional looking dispenser unit, not a kitchen-enhancing one
The pH Recharge Glass filter looks great; the Zero Water unit looks more like you’d expect a dispenser to look. Which is just fine – most people are not buying this type of product for its looks!
If you truly want the absolute maximum Fluoride removal, you’ll need a reverse osmosis filter
The Zero Water does a fantastic job, for a countertop water filter dispenser. But Fluoride is not the easiest contaminant to get rid of. Only reverse osmosis machines reach the really high percentage removals. {Update: September 2023 – the Skuma filter is a countertop filter with reverse osmosis filtration.}
Where can you buy it/see more information?
You can check price and further details here, on Amazon.
Philips Instant Water Filter
Pros and who it’s for:
Fits in the fridge
Which means a very available source of cold water. It fits most fridge doors, but we’d advise measuring your fridge door before you buy, if that’s your intended use. And make sure you can spare the space ie. it’ll take up some space you’d have used for other things.
Good quality overall, considering the low price
Lead, pesticides, chlorine, PFOAs are removed. Activated carbon filters are used in pretty much all quality water filters for a reason – they work. Check out why activated carbon filtration is so effective.
Dispenses at the touch of a button
Unlike most water dispensers, you can just hit the button for water to come out, you don’t need to hold it down. A nice ease-of-use advantage over other countertop dispensers.
Cons and why this model is not for you:
The touch sensitive button can be a little fiddly
The touch sensitive button can be very sensitive and you can find yourself touching it by accident. In addition – and we didn’t have this issue – but some have reported that it takes a few tries to actually hit the button. A mechanical button may have been more fitting for a water filter.
Some dispensing imperfections
The spout is very close to the unit itself, meaning you have to hold your cup very tightly into the unit. And that means some delicate angling required if you want to fill a larger 2L bottle, for example. The
You need to recharge it or it won’t work
Why? The water dispensing is not a mechanical process, but an electrical one. So you do need to recharge. Only very occasional, though. And by USB Type C, so it’s pretty easy to do so with a power bank.
Where can you get it?
Here’s where to see pricing and more info, on Amazon.
How to choose the right model for you?
Is it important to you to have cold water?
If so, your best choice is either the Lumi, or the Philips Water model. The Lumi provides chilled water at the push of a button. You need to plug it in to a mains connection, though. And only 800mL at a time. Then the Philips Water dispenser can be kept in the fridge (so, not really a countertop dispenser, then? Oops.) You’ll need to make sure you have space, though.
Is there a particular water type you prefer?
If you just want the absolute safest, best quality water – then the Aqua Optima Lumi or the pH Recharge models have the most effective filters.
If you’ve been hearing a lot about alkaline water, you may decide that the pH Recharge is the best option, since it provides the highest pH (ie. most alkaline) water. FYI, check out the UK’s top alkaline water filters.
Fluoride is an impurity most people are keen to remove from their water (here’s a balanced analysis of the factors on Fluoride in water). If that’s a particular concern of yours, then the Zero Water filter dispenser is your best choice (and why it’s ranked on our list of the best Fluoride removing water filters.
Update July 2024: check out our Aquatru Reverse Osmosis Countertop Water Filter review. This is another high quality type of tabletop filter.
Update October 2024: for another type of countertop filtering, here are the UK’s top home water distillers.
Best Countertop Water Filter Summary
Thanks for reading!
Those were the best countertop water filter dispensers in the UK.
We separated them into categories so you can choose based on the factors most important to you.
The top countertop dispenser chiller was the Aqua Optima Lumi WC0112. The best for alkaline water was the pH Recharge Glass. Fluoride removal? That’s the Zero Water model. And the best on a budget was the Philips Water dispenser.