When it comes to choosing a countertop water filter, there are two clear leaders in the space – the Aquasana AQ-5200+ and the Berkey BK4X2-BB. Both filters offer excellent filtration, but there are some key differences to consider before making a purchase.

Aquasana AQ-5200+

The Aquasana AQ-5200+ is a whole-house filtration system that attaches to your home’s main water line. This means that every time you turn on the faucet, shower, or run the dishwasher, the water is filtered. The AQ-5200+ uses a three-stage filtration process to remove over 97% of chlorine, lead, and other contaminants from your water.

The first stage of filtration is a pre-filter that captures sediment and larger particles. The second stage is a carbon filter that removes chemicals, while the third stage is a post-filter that polishes the water. Aquasana recommends replacing the filters every 6 months, which is easy to do thanks to the included filter replacement kit.

Berkey BK4X2-BB

The Berkey BK4X2-BB is a countertop water filter that does not require any plumbing installation. It is a gravity-fed filtration system that uses a two-stage filtration process to remove contaminants from your water.

The first stage is a sediment filter that captures dirt, sand, and other particulates. The second stage is a carbon filter that removes chemicals, including chlorine, lead, and mercury. Berkey recommends replacing the filters every 6,000 gallons, which is about every 2 years for a family of four.

Price

The Aquasana AQ-5200+ costs $499, while the Berkey BK4X2-BB costs $279. This is a significant difference, but it’s important to note that the AQ-5200+ is a whole-house filtration system, while the Berkey BK4X2-BB is a countertop filtration system.

Filtration

Both the Aquasana AQ-5200+ and the Berkey BK4X2-BB use a multi-stage filtration process to remove contaminants from your water. However, the AQ-5200+ has a three-stage filtration process, while the Berkey BK4X2-BB has a two-stage filtration process.

The Aquasana AQ-5200+ removes over 97% of chlorine, lead, and other contaminants from your water. The first stage of filtration is a pre-filter that captures sediment and larger particles. The second stage is a carbon filter that removes chemicals, while the third stage is a post-filter that polishes the water.

The Berkey BK4X2-BB removes chlorine, lead, and mercury from your water. The first stage is a sediment filter that captures dirt, sand, and other particulates. The second stage is a carbon filter that removes chemicals.

Capacity

The Aquasana AQ-5200+ has a filtration capacity of 500,000 gallons, which is enough to filter the water for a family of four for 10 years. The Berkey BK4X2-BB has a filtration capacity of 4,000 gallons, which is enough to filter the water for a family of four for 2 years.

Conclusion

The Aquasana AQ-5200+ and the Berkey BK4X2-BB are both excellent countertop water filters. The AQ-5200+ is a whole-house filtration system that attaches to your home’s main water line, while the Berkey BK4X2-BB is a countertop filtration system that does not require any plumbing installation.

The AQ-5200+ costs $499 and has a filtration capacity of 500,000 gallons, while the Berkey BK4X2-BB costs $279 and has a filtration capacity of 4,000 gallons.

The AQ-5200+ uses a three-stage filtration process to remove over 97% of chlorine, lead, and other contaminants from your water. The first stage of filtration is a pre-filter that captures sediment and larger particles. The second stage is a carbon filter that removes chemicals, while the third stage is a post-filter that polishes the water.

The Berkey BK4X2-BB uses a two-stage filtration process to remove chlorine, lead, and mercury from your water. The first stage is a sediment filter that captures dirt, sand, and other partic