If you’re in the market for a water purifier, you’ve probably narrowed your choices down to two of the best on the market: the Berkey Water Filter and the Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow. Both of these filters are excellent at purifying water, but which one is the right choice for you?

To help you decide, we’ve put together an in-depth comparison of the two filters. We’ll cover key features, price, capability, quality, and real-world use cases. We’ll also weigh the pros and cons of each filter. By the end of this article, you’ll know which water purifier is the right choice for you.

Product Comparison

Let’s start by comparing the key features of the two filters.

Berkey Water Filter

The Berkey Water Filter is a gravity-fed water purifier. That means you fill the upper chamber with water, and the water filters through the purifier into the lower chamber. The filter can purify up to 4 gallons of water per hour.

The filter itself is made of black carbon and ceramic. The carbon filters out chlorine, pesticides, and other chemicals. The ceramic filters out bacteria and viruses.

The filter is also adjustable. You can choose how much water you want to filter, and the filter will automatically adjust the flow rate.

Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow

The Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow is an electric water purifier. That means you hook it up to your water line, and it purifies the water as it comes into your home. The filter can purify up to 0.5 gallons of water per minute.

The filter itself is made of a three-stage filtration system. The first stage filters out sediment and rust. The second stage filters out chlorine, pesticides, and other chemicals. The third stage filters out bacteria and viruses.

The filter also has a backwash feature. This cleans the filter and extends its life.

Price

Now let’s compare the price of the two filters.

Berkey Water Filter

The Berkey Water Filter costs $249. That includes the filter and a set of two black filters. The filters need to be replaced every 6,000 gallons, which costs $60.

Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow

The Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow costs $499. That includes the filter and a set of three filters. The filters need to be replaced every 3 months, which costs $60.

Capability

Now let’s compare the capability of the two filters.

Berkey Water Filter

The Berkey Water Filter can purify up to 4 gallons of water per hour. That’s enough for a family of four to drink and cook with for a week.

Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow

The Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow can purify up to 0.5 gallons of water per minute. That’s enough for a family of four to drink and cook with for a day.

Quality

Now let’s compare the quality of the two filters.

Berkey Water Filter

The Berkey Water Filter is made of black carbon and ceramic. The carbon filters out chlorine, pesticides, and other chemicals. The ceramic filters out bacteria and viruses.

Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow

The Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow is made of a three-stage filtration system. The first stage filters out sediment and rust. The second stage filters out chlorine, pesticides, and other chemicals. The third stage filters out bacteria and viruses.

Real-World Use Cases

Now let’s compare the real-world use cases of the two filters.

Berkey Water Filter

The Berkey Water Filter is great for camping, hiking, and emergency situations. It’s also great for purifying water from questionable sources, like a river or lake.

Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow

The Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow is great for purifying tap water in your home. It’s also great for purifying water from questionable sources, like a river or lake.

Pros & Cons

Now let’s weigh the pros and cons of each filter.

Berkey Water Filter

Pros:
-The filter is made of black carbon and ceramic, which filters out chlorine, pesticides, and other chemicals.
-The filter is also adjustable. You can choose how much water you want to filter, and the filter will automatically adjust the flow rate.
-The filter is great for camping, hiking, and emergency situations.

Cons:
-The filter needs to be replaced every 6,000 gallons, which can be expensive.
-You have to gravity-feed the water into the filter, which can be difficult in an emergency situation.

Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow

Pros:
-The filter is made of a three-stage filtration system, which filters out sediment, rust, chlorine, pesticides, and other chemicals.
-The filter has a backwash feature, which cleans the filter and extends its life.
-The filter is great for purifying tap water in your home.

Cons:
-The filter needs to be replaced every 3 months, which can be expensive.
-You have to hook the filter up to your water line, which can be difficult if you don’t have a plumber.

Conclusion

So, which water purifier is the right choice for you? If you’re looking for a filter for camping, hiking, or emergency situations, the Berkey Water Filter is a great choice. If you’re looking for a filter for your home, the Aquasana AQ-5200+ Max Flow is a great choice.