Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Cloud Water Filters vs Glacierfresh
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Cloud Water Filters |  Glacierfresh |
|---|---|---|
| Reference models | Cloud RO | GlacierFresh U03 800GPD Undersink Reverse Osmosis System; GlacierFresh U06 Under Sink Ultra Filtration System; GlacierFresh 2.25 Gallon Gravity Water Filter System (PC04); GlacierFresh AUQAGO 3-Stage RV Water Filter System |
| Price from | $649 | $39.99Lower |
| Cartridge price | $200 | $49.99 to $59.99Lower |
| Filter cost per year | $200 to $250 | $84.99 to $169.97Lower |
| Certification scope | NSF 58 full system certification for Cloud RO, covering TDS reduction (98%), efficiency rating and extraction test, plus an added lead content test showing weighted average lead content of <=0.25% | Filtration components meet NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, and 372 standards, with SGS and CSA testing |
| Warranty | 5 yearsHigher | 2 years |
| Markets | US | US, CA, DECovers more |
| Cartridge life (l) | Not confirmed | 5,402 |
Same on both: Filter system (Reverse osmosis), PFAS and lead reduction (Yes), Installation required (Yes).
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Key differences
- Glacierfresh scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.7.
- Price from is lower at Glacierfresh: $39.99 vs $649.
- Cartridge price is lower at Glacierfresh: $49.99 to $59.99 vs $200.
- Filter cost per year is lower at Glacierfresh: $84.99 to $169.97 vs $200 to $250.
- Warranty is higher at Cloud Water Filters: 5 years vs 2 years.
- NSF/ANSI standards: only Glacierfresh offers 42, 53, 401.
- Glacierfresh is available in 2 more countries.
- Markets: only Glacierfresh offers CA, DE.
Our verdict on each
Cloud Water Filters
Cloud Water Filters suits US homes that want reverse osmosis installed under the sink and can live with a running cartridge bill of $200 to $250 a year. Cloud RO starts at $649 and carries a 5 year warranty, so the strength is certification and cover, not entry price.
Glacierfresh
Glacierfresh suits households that want component-certified under-sink reverse osmosis without a plumber-sized bill. The range starts at $39.99, the running filter cost settles at $84.99 to $169.97 a year, and the repeat purchase matters as much as the opening one for anyone comparing over a few years.
Score breakdown
| Area | Cloud Water Filters | Glacierfresh |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2Cost reads 8.2 against a Cloud RO entry price of $649 and a running bill of $200 to $250 a year. | 9.4HigherEntry at $39.99 and running filter costs of $84.99 to $169.97 keep the ownership total low for a reverse osmosis system. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherOffer reads 9.4 on the strength of PFAS and lead reduction, a 5 year warranty and full system certification under 58. | 9.3Cartridges at $49.99 to $59.99 and 5,402 litres of life spread the cost, with 2 years warranty behind the unit. |
| Trust | 8.3Trust reads 8.3: Cloud Water Filter, LLC in US, support on email, chat and help centre, so contact is digital. | 9.3HigherComponents meet NSF standards with SGS and CSA testing, and support runs on email, chat and help centre for setup questions. |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Cloud Water Filters | Glacierfresh |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $649 | $39.99 |
| Cartridge price | $200 | $49.99 to $59.99 |
| Filter cost per year | $200 to $250 | $84.99 to $169.97 |
| Warranty | 5 years | 2 years |
How they place
| Ranking | Cloud Water Filters | Glacierfresh |
|---|---|---|
| Water filters | 12 of 80 | 3 of 80 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Cloud Water Filters | Glacierfresh |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Hong Kong |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for Glacierfresh: 2.
If neither fits
FRIZZLIFE has price from at $26.99, against $649 for Cloud Water Filters and $39.99 for Glacierfresh.
FRIZZLIFE reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Cloud Water Filters | Glacierfresh |
|---|---|---|
| NSF/ANSI standards | 58 | 42, 53, 58, 401Covers more |
| Legal entity | Cloud Water Filter, LLC | Crisol Technology HONGKONG Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | Hong Kong |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Cloud Water Filters | Glacierfresh | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $649highest quarter | $39.99lowest quarter | $147.49 |
| Cartridge price | $200highest quarter | $49.99 to $59.99below the median | $65 |
| Cartridge life (l) | Not confirmed | 5,402highest quarter | 2,862.5 |
| Filter cost per year | $200 to $250highest quarter | $84.99 to $169.97below the median | $99.85 |
| Warranty | 5 yearshighest quarter | 2 yearsat the median | 2 years |
Median across 47 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Cloud Water Filters
Pros
- Cloud RO carries full system certification under 58, with an added lead content test on top of the standard scope.
- PFAS and lead reduction is stated for the system, so buyers focused on those contaminants have a direct answer.
- A 5 year warranty covers the unit itself, not just the cartridges that come with it.
Cons
- The Cloud RO entry price of $649 sits well above a typical site entry price of €127.49, so it asks for money up front.
- Installation is required for the Cloud RO, so it asks for a fitting job, while the IBBL range is countertop for buyers who would rather set a unit on the worktop.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line listed for problems with the plumbing.
Glacierfresh
Pros
- Purchase price of $39.99 puts a reverse osmosis system inside a first filter budget
- Components meet NSF standards 42, 53 and 58, with SGS and CSA testing behind the claim
- Cartridge life of 5,402-litre helps hold the yearly filter cost to $84.99 to $169.97
Cons
- Replacement cartridges at $49.99 to $59.99 make the running bill $84.99 to $169.97 a year, so the low entry price is not the whole cost
- Installation is required, which adds a plumber or a careful fit to the cost of getting started
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre, and phone is not among the listed channels
Who each suits
Cloud Water Filters
Who it suits
- US homeowners with plumbing space under a sink who want an installed system rather than a countertop filter.
- Households that put certified contaminant reduction, including PFAS and lead, ahead of the lowest entry price.
- Buyers who would rather cover a system with a 5 year warranty than think about cartridge pricing every year.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers with a tight opening budget, who will find entry points below €127.49 elsewhere on the site.
- Renters and anyone without a plumbing slot, since Cloud RO needs installation while the IBBL countertop units do not.
- Anyone outside US, or buyers who want to phone a company, since support here runs on email, chat and help centre only.
Glacierfresh
Who it suits
- Homeowners in the US, Canada and Germany who want filtered tap water from a reverse osmosis unit under the sink
- Buyers who read certificates, since the components meet NSF standards 42, 53 and 58 with SGS and CSA testing
- Families that budget for running costs and can plan around $84.99 to $169.97 a year in cartridges
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a countertop unit: IBBL lists countertop systems, while Glacierfresh is reverse osmosis
- Anyone who needs to talk a fault through by phone, since support runs on email, chat and help centre
- Households outside US, CA and DE, where shipping does not reach
Current offers
Glacierfresh
Current offer
Discount code
10% off your first order: 10% off first order
Email newsletter signup on the brand's own site; no end date stated
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Cloud Water Filters | Glacierfresh |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Cloud Water Filters
How much does Cloud Water Filters cost at the start?+
The Cloud RO system has an entry price of $649, which covers the unit itself. That figure sits well above a typical site entry price of €127.49, so it is the first thing to weigh against a budget. Running costs are separate and are covered by the yearly filter bill.
What does the filter cost to keep running?+
Cartridges are priced at $200 each, and the annual filter cost for a Cloud RO household runs $200 to $250. Those are the figures to plan around rather than the entry price. Cartridges are bought as they are used up, so the yearly total tracks household consumption.
Glacierfresh
What does a Glacierfresh water filter cost to buy?+
The Glacierfresh range opens at $39.99 for the opening unit. That is a purchase price rather than a plan fee, so a household can budget for the hardware once. The figure to keep in view afterwards is the replacement cartridge, priced at $49.99 to $59.99.
How much do Glacierfresh replacement cartridges cost?+
A replacement filter cartridge runs $49.99 to $59.99 at Glacierfresh. Buyers often look only at the price of the unit, but the cartridge is the repeat cost, and it is the number that decides the real running cost of a system across a few years of use.