Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Cloud Water Filters vs Waterdrop（EU）
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Cloud Water Filters | Waterdrop（EU） ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Reference models | Cloud RO | Waterdrop X Series Reverse Osmosis System X12, Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO System, Waterdrop X16 Undersink Reverse Osmosis System |
| Price from | $649 | €20.99 |
| Cartridge price | $200 | €33.99 |
| Filter cost per year | $200 to $250 | €33.99 |
| 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% | X12 certified NSF/ANSI 42, 58 and 372 for reduction of TDS, PFOA, PFOS, chlorine, fluoride, barium, salt, chromium-VI, lead, heavy metals, taste and odor; F1A filter certified by IAPMO R&T (NSF/ANSI 58 & 372) and SGS |
| Warranty | 5 yearsHigher | 1 to 2 years |
| Markets | US | AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, TR |
| Cartridge life (l) | Not confirmed | 4,164 |
Same on both: Filter system (Reverse osmosis), PFAS and lead reduction (Yes), Installation required (Yes).
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Key differences
- Waterdrop（EU） scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.7.
- Warranty is higher at Cloud Water Filters: 5 years vs 1 to 2 years.
- Support channels: only Waterdrop（EU） offers Phone.
- NSF/ANSI standards: only Waterdrop（EU） offers 42.
- Waterdrop（EU） is available in 29 more countries.
- Markets: only Cloud Water Filters offers US.
- Markets: only Waterdrop（EU） offers AT, BE, BG.
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.
Waterdrop（EU）
Waterdrop's EU store suits European households that want certified reverse osmosis and a cheap annual filter bill. Filters come to €33.99 a year, which ranks 2 of 46 brands compared, and support answers by phone, live chat and email if a fitting ever leaks.
Score breakdown
| Area | Cloud Water Filters | Waterdrop（EU） |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2Cost reads 8.2 against a Cloud RO entry price of $649 and a running bill of $200 to $250 a year. | 9.8HigherFilter running cost is €33.99 a year, ranking 2 of 46, and the entry price is €20.99. |
| Offer | 9.4Offer reads 9.4 on the strength of PFAS and lead reduction, a 5 year warranty and full system certification under 58. | 9.5HigherReverse osmosis system, PFAS lead reduction stated as yes, and a replacement filter rated at 4,164 litres. |
| Trust | 8.3Trust reads 8.3: Cloud Water Filter, LLC in US, support on email, chat and help centre, so contact is digital. | 8.8HigherFounded 2015, support on email, chat and phone, warranty of 1 to 2 years, and IAPMO R&T and SGS certification on the replacement filter. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Cloud Water Filters | Waterdrop（EU） |
|---|---|---|
| Water filters | 12 of 80 | 2 of 80 |
Also worth a look
Culligan Consumer Products has warranty at 1 to 10 years, against 5 years for Cloud Water Filters and 1 to 2 years for Waterdrop（EU）.
Culligan Consumer Products reviewSources behind this comparison
Cloud Water Filters
- cloudwaterfilters.com: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Waterdrop（EU）
- waterdropfilter.eu: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Cloud Water Filters | Waterdrop（EU） |
|---|---|---|
| NSF/ANSI standards | 58 | 42, 58Covers more |
| Legal entity | Cloud Water Filter, LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Cloud Water Filters | Waterdrop（EU） | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartridge life (l) | Not confirmed | 4,164above the median | 2,862.5 |
| Warranty | 5 yearshighest quarter | 1 to 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.
Waterdrop（EU）
Pros
- Filter running cost of €33.99 a year ranks 2 of 46, among the cheapest supplies compared.
- PFAS lead reduction is stated as yes, and the certification scope names NSF/ANSI 42 and 58 plus IAPMO R&T and SGS certification for the replacement filter.
- An entry price of €20.99 ranks 4 of 52.
Cons
- Installation is required, so plan on fitting the unit before the first glass, which rules out a plug and play setup for renters.
- Warranty cover runs 1 to 2 years, which is brief for a fixed system with tubing and fittings.
- Cartridge life of 4,164 litres ranks 7 of 26, mid field on that measure.
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.
Waterdrop（EU）
Who it suits
- Households that want certified reverse osmosis (reverse osmosis) and treat PFAS and lead reduction as a must have.
- Buyers who plan filters as a yearly line item, since the running cost is €33.99.
- People shopping in the markets the service policy covers: AT, BE and BG.
Who should look elsewhere
- Lifestraw, if a jug format fits your kitchen better than a plumbed reverse osmosis unit.
- IBBL, whose countertop format suits buyers who prefer equipment that stays on the counter.
- Culligan Consumer Products, whose reference models span reverse osmosis, tankless reverse osmosis and an under sink good water machine, if you want a wider second RO range to shortlist.
Country by country
| Country | Cloud Water Filters | Waterdrop（EU） |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
| Denmark | No | Yes |
| Estonia | No | Yes |
8 of 31 countries where either is available.
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.
Waterdrop（EU）
What do filters cost each year?+
A replacement filter costs €33.99, and the yearly filter cost is €33.99. The two figures match, so budgeting a replacement filter every year is the practical assumption rather than a saving. That running cost ranks 2 of 46 brands compared.
What does a Waterdrop system cost to start with?+
The lowest price in the EU store is €20.99, which is the cheapest item rather than a complete system. The reference models named by the brand are a reverse osmosis system, a tankless reverse osmosis unit and an undersink model, and each one is a fitted unit that needs installing.