Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
BOROUX Water Filtration vs Waterdrop
BOROUX Water Filtration vs Waterdrop: the differences
| Compare | BOROUX Water Filtration ReviewVisitVisit | Waterdrop ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Filter system | Countertop | Reverse osmosis |
| Reference models | BOROUX 3-Gallon Water Filter System, BOROUX 1.8-Gallon Water Filter System, BOROUX Proactive Fluoride Reduction Filter, Shower Filter System | Waterdrop G5P500A Alkaline RO, Waterdrop G3P800 Undersink RO, Waterdrop X12 Undersink RO, Waterdrop X16 Undersink RO |
| Price from | €245.95 | CA$339.99 |
| Cartridge price | €163.95 | CA$139 |
| Cartridge life (l) | 22,712Higher | 8,326 to 10,982 |
| Filter cost per year | €163.95 | CA$139 |
| Certification scope | WQA Gold Seal certification of BOROUX water filter systems and filters: NSF/ANSI 42 drinking water treatment units, aesthetic effects (Nominal Particulate Class I), NSF/ANSI/CAN 401 emerging contaminants (microplastics 0.5 um to under 1 um) and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 lead-free materials | G3P800 10-stage RO system certified to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 58 and 372 |
| Installation required | No | YesHas it |
| Markets | US, CA, AU, FR, MX, GB | AE, AU, BG, CA, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IT, LU, MY, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SG, US |
Same on both: PFAS and lead reduction (Yes), Warranty (1 year).
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Key differences
- Waterdrop scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Cartridge life (l) is higher at BOROUX Water Filtration: 22,712 vs 8,326 to 10,982.
- Installation required: only Waterdrop.
- NSF/ANSI standards: only BOROUX Water Filtration offers 401.
- NSF/ANSI standards: only Waterdrop offers 53, 58.
- Waterdrop is available in 16 more countries.
- Markets: only BOROUX Water Filtration offers MX.
- Markets: only Waterdrop offers AE, BG, DE.
Our verdict on each
BOROUX Water Filtration
BOROUX Water Filtration suits households that want certified filtration on a countertop with no plumbing work. The €245.95 entry price sits above the middle of this group, and the €163.95 cartridge is the line to watch, so running cost is the trade-off rather than the ticket.
Waterdrop
Waterdrop sells reverse-osmosis systems with a stated PFAS and lead reduction claim and support on chat, email and phone, which suits households ready to have a unit installed. The running cost is the trade-off: replacement filters at CAD 139 a set against a warranty of 1 year on the hardware.
Score breakdown
| Area | BOROUX Water Filtration | Waterdrop |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Filters at €163.95 and €163.95 a year sit at the expensive end, offset by a countertop system that needs no fitting. | 8.8HigherEntry at CAD 339.99 sits mid-field; filter cost runs CAD 139 a year and cartridge price ranks 41 of 50. |
| Offer | 9.2A countertop system that needs no installation, sold across US, CA and AU, covers most homes without plumbing work. | 9.2A filter set rated for 8,326 to 10,982 litres, a PFAS and lead reduction claim, and models spanning alkaline, tankless and undersink RO. |
| Trust | 8.8WQA Gold Seal certification to 42 and 401 standards, PFAS and lead reduction, and support on email, chat and phone. | 9.0HigherNSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 58 certification on the tankless RO model, warranty of 1 year, and support on chat, email and phone. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | BOROUX Water Filtration | Waterdrop |
|---|---|---|
| Water filters | 11 of 80 | 8 of 80 |
What we checked
BOROUX Water Filtration
- boroux.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Waterdrop
- waterdropfilter.ca: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BOROUX Water Filtration | Waterdrop |
|---|---|---|
| NSF/ANSI standards | 42, 401 | 42, 53, 58 |
| Legal entity | James Enterprise Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2015 | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Chat, Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BOROUX Water Filtration | Waterdrop | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartridge life (l) | 22,712highest quarter | 8,326 to 10,982highest quarter | 2,862.5 |
| Warranty | 1 yearbelow the median | 1 yearbelow the median | 2 years |
Median across 47 listed brands.
Pros and cons
BOROUX Water Filtration
Pros
- Cartridge life of 22,712 litres ranks at 2 out of 26 brands, so the pricey media goes further.
- WQA Gold Seal certification covers drinking water treatment units for aesthetic effects, emerging contaminants including microplastics, and lead-free material requirements.
- Installation required is listed as no, so a countertop system is set up where you already have a tap, with no plumber involved.
Cons
- Filters cost €163.95 each and €163.95 a year, and cartridge price ranks at 46 out of 50 brands.
- The entry price of €245.95 ranks at 35 out of 52 brands, above the middle of the group.
- Warranty cover of 1 year is short for a system most households expect to keep in place.
Waterdrop
Pros
- A stated PFAS and lead reduction claim, and the tankless RO model carries NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 58 certification.
- A filter set is rated for 8,326 to 10,982 litres, well above the 2,512.5-litre median across the ranking.
- Support runs on chat, email and phone, a wider spread than the email-only setups common in this category.
Cons
- Replacement filters run CAD 139 a set, and the annual filter cost of CAD 139 keeps adding up after the CAD 339.99 purchase.
- The hardware warranty is 1 year, well short of the 8,326 to 10,982 litres a filter set is rated for, so cover ends long before the cartridge does.
- Installation is required on the range, so the CAD 339.99 entry price is not the whole cost of getting filtered water running.
Who each suits
BOROUX Water Filtration
Who it suits
- Households that want certified countertop filtration without booking an installer.
- Buyers in the United States, CA and AU who want both tank sizes, a fluoride reduction filter and a shower filter in one range.
- People who filter a lot of water each week and can plan around a €163.95 cartridge.
Who should look elsewhere
- Reverse osmosis shoppers, since Waterdrop (EU) and Culligan Consumer Products both run reverse osmosis and reverse osmosis systems where BOROUX is countertop.
- Anyone set on a plumbed kitchen purifier, because the IBBL range is built around compressor purifiers such as the IBBL E-Due Eletrônico Prata Bivolt and the IBBL Viváx Touch.
Waterdrop
Who it suits
- Households that want a certified reverse osmosis system with a stated PFAS and lead reduction claim.
- People who want phone and chat help as well as self-service, since support runs on chat, email and phone.
- Shoppers who filter enough water to spread the CAD 139 filter set across its 8,326 to 10,982 litres capacity.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone set on a countertop system, since IBBL builds in a different format and the fitting rule does not apply to it.
- Buyers who want the Culligan Consumer Products Aquasential Smart, Aquasential or Good Water Machine range, since Waterdrop's line is reverse osmosis only.
- Shoppers who would rather order from a European store, since Waterdrop (EU) lists its own X series and tankless RO models.
Current offers
Waterdrop
Current offer
Bonus
200 points for new membership signup: 200 points
Membership signup; 1,000 points = $3 at checkout
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | BOROUX Water Filtration | Waterdrop |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Denmark | No | Yes |
| Finland | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Greece | No | Yes |
| Italy | No | Yes |
| Luxembourg | No | Yes |
| Malaysia | No | Yes |
8 of 23 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
BOROUX Water Filtration
What does a BOROUX water filter cost to buy?+
BOROUX lists its entry price at €245.95 for the system itself, paid once rather than as a subscription. That ranks at 35 out of 52 brands in this group, so it sits above a basic jug or tap filter in the same set. The next price to check is the replacement media.
What do the replacement filters cost?+
A replacement cartridge is €163.95, and the annual filter spend on the range is €163.95. The cartridge price ranks at 46 out of 50 brands and the yearly figure at 40 out of 46, which makes the media the line to weigh before the system price. It is the part of the cost that repeats.
Waterdrop
How much does a Waterdrop system cost to buy?+
Waterdrop's reverse-osmosis range starts at CAD 339.99. That is the price of the unit itself, with replacement filters bought separately afterwards. It is worth setting against the €179.99 median entry price across the ranking to see where the range sits before choosing a model.
What does it cost to keep a Waterdrop system running?+
A replacement filter set is CAD 139 and the annual filter cost works out at CAD 139. A set is rated for 8,326 to 10,982 litres, so the yearly figure moves with household size and the incoming water. Budget for filters from the outset rather than treating the purchase as the whole cost.