Compare Water Treatment Systems

105 side-by-side comparisons across 15 systems. Specs, prices, and honest recommendations based on your water data.

Choosing between water treatment systems is confusing because specs look similar but performance differs significantly. Our comparisons break down the real differences: grain capacity, flow rate, certifications, warranty terms, salt efficiency, and total cost of ownership. Every recommendation links back to your city's water data so you can match the right system to your actual water chemistry.

Start with our softener vs. filter decision guide if you are not sure which category you need. If you already know, pick a comparison below.

Water Softeners

For homes with hardness above 120 PPM. Removes calcium and magnesium via ion exchange.

Filters & RO Systems

For contaminant removal: PFAS, lead, chlorine, arsenic.

SpringWell SS1 vs SpringWell FutureSoft FS1

Salt-Based Water Softener vs Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,495 vs $1,549

SpringWell SS1 vs SpringWell CF1

Salt-Based Water Softener vs Whole House Water Filter · $1,495 vs $908

SpringWell SS1 vs SpringWell MMV-1

Salt-Based Water Softener vs Filter + Softener Combo · $1,495 vs $2,508

SpringWell SS1 vs Aquasana EQ-1000

Salt-Based Water Softener vs Whole House Water Filter · $1,495 vs $999

SpringWell SS1 vs Pelican PSE2000

Salt-Based Water Softener vs Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,495 vs $1,940

SpringWell SS1 vs Waterdrop G3P800

Salt-Based Water Softener vs Reverse Osmosis System · $1,495 vs $999

SpringWell SS1 vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Salt-Based Water Softener vs Pitcher Filter · $1,495 vs $90

SpringWell SS1 vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Salt-Based Water Softener vs Gravity Filter · $1,495 vs $284

SpringWell SS1 vs APEC ROES-50

Salt-Based Water Softener vs Reverse Osmosis System · $1,495 vs $200

SpringWell SS1 vs AquaTru Classic

Salt-Based Water Softener vs Countertop RO System · $1,495 vs $450

SpringWell SS1 vs SpringWell UF1

Salt-Based Water Softener vs Under-Sink Filter · $1,495 vs $150

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs SpringWell CF1

Salt-Free Water Conditioner vs Whole House Water Filter · $1,549 vs $908

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs SpringWell MMV-1

Salt-Free Water Conditioner vs Filter + Softener Combo · $1,549 vs $2,508

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Fleck 5600SXT

Salt-Free Water Conditioner vs Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,549 vs $650

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Aquasana EQ-1000

Salt-Free Water Conditioner vs Whole House Water Filter · $1,549 vs $999

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Whirlpool WHES40

Salt-Free Water Conditioner vs Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,549 vs $550

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126

Salt-Free Water Conditioner vs Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,549 vs $1,350

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Waterdrop G3P800

Salt-Free Water Conditioner vs Reverse Osmosis System · $1,549 vs $999

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Salt-Free Water Conditioner vs Pitcher Filter · $1,549 vs $90

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Salt-Free Water Conditioner vs Gravity Filter · $1,549 vs $284

All Comparisons

SpringWell SS1 vs SpringWell FutureSoft FS1

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $1,549

SpringWell SS1 vs SpringWell CF1

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $908

SpringWell SS1 vs SpringWell MMV-1

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $2,508

SpringWell SS1 vs Fleck 5600SXT

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $650

SpringWell SS1 vs Aquasana EQ-1000

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $999

SpringWell SS1 vs Pelican PSE2000

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $1,940

SpringWell SS1 vs Whirlpool WHES40

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $550

SpringWell SS1 vs Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $1,350

SpringWell SS1 vs Waterdrop G3P800

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $999

SpringWell SS1 vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $90

SpringWell SS1 vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $284

SpringWell SS1 vs APEC ROES-50

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $200

SpringWell SS1 vs AquaTru Classic

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $450

SpringWell SS1 vs SpringWell UF1

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,495 vs $150

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs SpringWell CF1

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $908

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs SpringWell MMV-1

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $2,508

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Fleck 5600SXT

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $650

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Aquasana EQ-1000

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $999

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Pelican PSE2000

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $1,940

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Whirlpool WHES40

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $550

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $1,350

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Waterdrop G3P800

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $999

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $90

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $284

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs APEC ROES-50

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $200

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs AquaTru Classic

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $450

SpringWell FutureSoft FS1 vs SpringWell UF1

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,549 vs $150

SpringWell CF1 vs SpringWell MMV-1

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $2,508

SpringWell CF1 vs Fleck 5600SXT

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $650

SpringWell CF1 vs Aquasana EQ-1000

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $999

SpringWell CF1 vs Pelican PSE2000

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $1,940

SpringWell CF1 vs Whirlpool WHES40

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $550

SpringWell CF1 vs Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $1,350

SpringWell CF1 vs Waterdrop G3P800

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $999

SpringWell CF1 vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $90

SpringWell CF1 vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $284

SpringWell CF1 vs APEC ROES-50

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $200

SpringWell CF1 vs AquaTru Classic

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $450

SpringWell CF1 vs SpringWell UF1

Whole House Water Filter · $908 vs $150

SpringWell MMV-1 vs Fleck 5600SXT

Filter + Softener Combo · $2,508 vs $650

SpringWell MMV-1 vs Aquasana EQ-1000

Filter + Softener Combo · $2,508 vs $999

SpringWell MMV-1 vs Pelican PSE2000

Filter + Softener Combo · $2,508 vs $1,940

SpringWell MMV-1 vs Whirlpool WHES40

Filter + Softener Combo · $2,508 vs $550

SpringWell MMV-1 vs Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126

Filter + Softener Combo · $2,508 vs $1,350

SpringWell MMV-1 vs Waterdrop G3P800

Filter + Softener Combo · $2,508 vs $999

SpringWell MMV-1 vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Filter + Softener Combo · $2,508 vs $90

SpringWell MMV-1 vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Filter + Softener Combo · $2,508 vs $284

SpringWell MMV-1 vs APEC ROES-50

Filter + Softener Combo · $2,508 vs $200

SpringWell MMV-1 vs AquaTru Classic

Filter + Softener Combo · $2,508 vs $450

SpringWell MMV-1 vs SpringWell UF1

Filter + Softener Combo · $2,508 vs $150

Fleck 5600SXT vs Aquasana EQ-1000

Salt-Based Water Softener · $650 vs $999

Fleck 5600SXT vs Pelican PSE2000

Salt-Based Water Softener · $650 vs $1,940

Fleck 5600SXT vs Whirlpool WHES40

Salt-Based Water Softener · $650 vs $550

Fleck 5600SXT vs Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126

Salt-Based Water Softener · $650 vs $1,350

Fleck 5600SXT vs Waterdrop G3P800

Salt-Based Water Softener · $650 vs $999

Fleck 5600SXT vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Salt-Based Water Softener · $650 vs $90

Fleck 5600SXT vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Salt-Based Water Softener · $650 vs $284

Fleck 5600SXT vs APEC ROES-50

Salt-Based Water Softener · $650 vs $200

Fleck 5600SXT vs AquaTru Classic

Salt-Based Water Softener · $650 vs $450

Fleck 5600SXT vs SpringWell UF1

Salt-Based Water Softener · $650 vs $150

Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Pelican PSE2000

Whole House Water Filter · $999 vs $1,940

Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Whirlpool WHES40

Whole House Water Filter · $999 vs $550

Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126

Whole House Water Filter · $999 vs $1,350

Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Waterdrop G3P800

Whole House Water Filter · $999 vs $999

Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Whole House Water Filter · $999 vs $90

Aquasana EQ-1000 vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Whole House Water Filter · $999 vs $284

Aquasana EQ-1000 vs APEC ROES-50

Whole House Water Filter · $999 vs $200

Aquasana EQ-1000 vs AquaTru Classic

Whole House Water Filter · $999 vs $450

Aquasana EQ-1000 vs SpringWell UF1

Whole House Water Filter · $999 vs $150

Pelican PSE2000 vs Whirlpool WHES40

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,940 vs $550

Pelican PSE2000 vs Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,940 vs $1,350

Pelican PSE2000 vs Waterdrop G3P800

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,940 vs $999

Pelican PSE2000 vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,940 vs $90

Pelican PSE2000 vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,940 vs $284

Pelican PSE2000 vs APEC ROES-50

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,940 vs $200

Pelican PSE2000 vs AquaTru Classic

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,940 vs $450

Pelican PSE2000 vs SpringWell UF1

Salt-Free Water Conditioner · $1,940 vs $150

Whirlpool WHES40 vs Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126

Salt-Based Water Softener · $550 vs $1,350

Whirlpool WHES40 vs Waterdrop G3P800

Salt-Based Water Softener · $550 vs $999

Whirlpool WHES40 vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Salt-Based Water Softener · $550 vs $90

Whirlpool WHES40 vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Salt-Based Water Softener · $550 vs $284

Whirlpool WHES40 vs APEC ROES-50

Salt-Based Water Softener · $550 vs $200

Whirlpool WHES40 vs AquaTru Classic

Salt-Based Water Softener · $550 vs $450

Whirlpool WHES40 vs SpringWell UF1

Salt-Based Water Softener · $550 vs $150

Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126 vs Waterdrop G3P800

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,350 vs $999

Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126 vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,350 vs $90

Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126 vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,350 vs $284

Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126 vs APEC ROES-50

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,350 vs $200

Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126 vs AquaTru Classic

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,350 vs $450

Crystal Quest CQE-WH-01126 vs SpringWell UF1

Salt-Based Water Softener · $1,350 vs $150

Waterdrop G3P800 vs Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Reverse Osmosis System · $999 vs $90

Waterdrop G3P800 vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Reverse Osmosis System · $999 vs $284

Waterdrop G3P800 vs APEC ROES-50

Reverse Osmosis System · $999 vs $200

Waterdrop G3P800 vs AquaTru Classic

Reverse Osmosis System · $999 vs $450

Waterdrop G3P800 vs SpringWell UF1

Reverse Osmosis System · $999 vs $150

Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher vs Berkey Travel Berkey

Pitcher Filter · $90 vs $284

Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher vs APEC ROES-50

Pitcher Filter · $90 vs $200

Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher vs AquaTru Classic

Pitcher Filter · $90 vs $450

Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher vs SpringWell UF1

Pitcher Filter · $90 vs $150

Berkey Travel Berkey vs APEC ROES-50

Gravity Filter · $284 vs $200

Berkey Travel Berkey vs AquaTru Classic

Gravity Filter · $284 vs $450

Berkey Travel Berkey vs SpringWell UF1

Gravity Filter · $284 vs $150

APEC ROES-50 vs AquaTru Classic

Reverse Osmosis System · $200 vs $450

APEC ROES-50 vs SpringWell UF1

Reverse Osmosis System · $200 vs $150

AquaTru Classic vs SpringWell UF1

Countertop RO System · $450 vs $150

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best water softener for the money?
For most homes, the Fleck 5600SXT ($650) offers the best value with 48,000 grain capacity and NSF 44 certification. The SpringWell SS1 ($1,495) adds Bluetooth monitoring and a lifetime warranty for those wanting premium features. See our full comparison →
Do I need a water softener or a water filter?
A softener removes hardness minerals (calcium, magnesium) that cause scale. A filter removes contaminants (chlorine, PFAS, lead). They solve different problems. Many homes need both. Read our decision guide →
What removes PFAS from water?
Reverse osmosis and NSF P473 certified carbon filters are the most effective. The Waterdrop G3P800 and APEC ROES-50 are under-sink RO systems that remove 95-99% of PFAS. The Clearly Filtered pitcher is the best portable option with NSF P473 certification. PFAS filter guide →
Are expensive water systems worth it?
Not always. A $650 Fleck 5600SXT softener performs comparably to $1,500+ systems for basic softening. Premium systems add features like Bluetooth, higher efficiency, and longer warranties, but the core softening performance is similar. Start with your water data to understand what you actually need.