The Best Home Reverse Osmosis Systems: A Review of the Top Models

Find the best reverse osmosis home systems and decide which is the right one for your family.

The term reverse osmosis sounds like something your chemistry teacher in high school droned on about, right?

If you tuned out your teacher to doodle on the margins of your notebook, now is the time to learn what reverse osmosis is and how it can improve the quality of your drinking water.

Our 2021 Review of the Best Alkaline Water Reverse Osmosis Systems

We’ve reviewed the top brands selling reverse osmosis systems and found the best models that also produce alkaline or mineralized water.

First, we’ll talk a little about each of the top brands since it is important to buy from a company with a solid reputation when it comes to something as important as the quality of your drinking water. Then we’ll review the most important features and each model.

At the end of our mini-reviews, you’ll find the larger comparison chart so you can see how the different models stack up against each other.

If you are short on time, here is a summary of our recommendations for each of the nine reverse osmosis systems. Click on the link to quickly jump to that section of our review.

#	Model	Best Use
1	Home Master TMAFC-ERP RO Water Filter System	Our 2021 Winner
2	Home Master Artesian Full Contact (TMAFC)	Mid Range Choice from HomeMaster
3	Home Master Hydroperfection (TMHP)	Our Choice for Well Water Systems
4	APEC Top Tier Alkaline Mineral pH+ (ROES-RH75)	1st Runner Up Best Budget Choice
5	APEC Top Tier Supreme Alkaline Mineral pH+ High Output (RO-PH90)	Good for Larger Families
6	iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage	Another Good Budget RO System
7	iSpring RCC7AK-UV Deluxe	Another Option for Well Water Systems
8	iSpring RCC1UP-AK 7 Stage 100 GPD Maximum Performance	Good for Larger Families and Low Water Pressure Homes
9	iSpring RO500 Tankless RO Water Filtration System	Tankless for Filtered Water OnDemand

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Home Master Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Systems

The first three reverse osmosis systems on our list are made by Home Master. The company is one of the leading sellers of reverse osmosis filters and one of our favorite brands. They offer an impressive 5-year manufacturer warranty.

The Home Master brand, (formerly known as Tap Master) is owned by Perfect Water Technologies. The company was founded in 2002 and manufactures several types of household water purification systems. They currently have an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau.

Perfect Water’s product line includes reverse osmosis systems, whole house water filters, faucets, and shower filters. We reviewed three of their reverse osmosis water filters that include mineralized water on tap.

1. Home Master TMAFC Artesian Full Contact Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System

The Tap Master Artesian Full Contact System (TMAFC) uses a seven-stage filtration process. This RO filter removes up to 99% of heavy metals, chlorine, fluoride, dissolved solids, and other contaminants.

What makes the TMAFC model different is the design of the filter system. Instead of using a canister, each filter is self-contained within a filter housing. This helps to reduce leaks and build-up on the housing. Instead of just replacing the filter, the entire filter housing is replaced. Plus, the filters last a long time, requiring replacement after 2,000 gallons or about 1 year.

The Home Master RO system uses a full-contact natural mineralization system to balance the water’s pH. This occurs in two separate stages – once when the water goes into the tank. Then a second time just before it is dispensed into the faucet. The result is slightly alkaline and clean tasting water.

See more about the Home Master TMAFC Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter here.

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2. Home Master TMAFC-ERP Artesian Full Contact Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter

The Home Master TMAFC-ERP is one of our favorite units. Included in the system are all the same great features of the base unit: an easy to change, modular filter design, seven stages of filtration including two remineralization points, and DIY installation instructions.

In addition, The TMAFC-ERP includes a built-in pump system that reduces wastewater by 4 times the original design and increases output to 75 gallons per day. This improves the efficiency of your system and also increases the flow rate when compared to similar systems.

If you take a look at our larger comparison chart here – you’ll see that almost all the other units have double or triple the amount of wastewater. This was a pretty big selling feature.

The improved flow rate, better wastewater ratio, and natural alkalinizing process make this our favorite reverse osmosis home system of the year. Plus you get a 5- year manufacturer’s warranty from the company.

Read more about the Home Master TMAFC-ERP reserve osmosis system and see why it’s our winner.

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3. Home Master TMHP HydroPerfection Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter

Home Master TMHP HydroPerfection has nine total stages of filtration. The water is processed through the same 7 stages as the previous model to remove 98% of contaminants and adds back the beneficial minerals to produce alkaline water. In addition, there is an added: UV light and an Iron prefilter.

The Ultraviolet light filter is used to protect against microorganisms, viruses, and bacteria that may be lurking in the water. UV light is recognized by the EPA as a safe way to sterilize water without adding any additional chemicals. Also included is an additional Iron prefilter that protects the reverse osmosis membrane from the type of dissolved iron found in many well water systems that could damage your unit.

While most city water sources may not require these two extra layers of protection, it can be useful for untreated water sources from rivers and lakes or homes that use well water.

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APEC Reverse Osmosis Water Filters

Our next two home reverse osmosis systems are from the Advanced Purification Engineering Corp or APEC. APEC has been making water treatment systems for over 20 years. Some of their customers include the US Coast Guard, the Mayo Clinic, and Boston Children’s hospital.

On the APEC website, they proudly state that the APEC systems are custom built in the United States. The company’s headquarters are located in the City of Industry, California.

The APEC product line includes reverse osmosis filters, whole house water filtration systems, shower and bath filters, food service filtration systems, water quality testing kits, and more.

4. APEC Top Tier Alkaline Mineral pH+ 75 GPD 6-Stage Ultra Safe Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System

The APEC Top Tier Alkaline Mineral pH+Reverse Osmosis system has 6 stages of filtration and removes up to 99% of chemicals, bacteria, fluoride, copper, lead, arsenic, and more.

APEC uses double carbon blocks to remove the maximum amounts of chlorine and chemicals. The 5th stage of the Apec filter is a bit different as they use an advanced coconut shell carbon filter to remove any remaining residue or taste. Each large-capacity filter lasts up to one year.

The sixth stage is where calcium carbonate is added back to the water to create purified alkaline water. APEC uses only high-purity, US-made calcium mineral cartridges to raise the pH of the water.

The company has a 2 year extended warranty and easy to follow video & written DIY installation instructions. They also offer free technical support for the lifetime of their products.

At one of the lower price points on the market, this system gets our vote for the best RO filter if you are on a budget.

Read more about the APEC Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter here.

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5. APEC Top Tier Supreme Certified Alkaline Mineral pH+ High Output 90 GPD 6-Stage Ultra Safe Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System 

The APEC Ultimate RO-PH90 system boasts a longer-lasting filter and high-performance output with 90-gallon per day capacity. This is the highest capacity of all the models on our list.

This particular system is great for bigger families or if you do a large amount of cooking. It has just a slightly higher price point than the previous model.

The RO-PH90 filters are put through extensive testing and are certified by the Watter Quality Association (WQA). This ensures that the system is working as expected and meets the standards for reducing total dissolved solids (TDS) such as pesticides and other contaminants in the water tested.

Learn more about the Apec High Output 90 GPD 6-Stage RO Water Filter here.

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iSpring Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Systems

iSpring Water Systems is a family-owned business that specializes in reverse osmosis systems. In addition to RO systems, their product line also includes whole house filtration systems, shower, faucet, and countertop water filters.

**Note: There was an FTC action against iSpring in April of 2019 for stating that its products were made in the USA, where it was found that many products were actually sourced from overseas. You can read more about the complaint here.

The iSpring systems have been a popular choice amount customers and their reverse osmosis filters are WQA certified, so we have included their most popular models in our list.

iSpring has 3 reverse osmosis systems for the home that include an alkaline filter to remineralize the water. We’ve summarized the primary features and differences of each system below.

6. iSpring RCC7AK 6-Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filter System

The iSpring 6 Stage Reverse Osmosis Water Filter is a high-capacity system offered at a moderate price point. What added this RO filter to our favorite list is the sixth stage of filtration where the water goes through a remineralization filter. This raises the pH by using natural mineral stones. The result is great tasting water with a balanced alkaline level.

The first five stages of the RO filter remove all the contaminants you don’t want in your water. This includes chlorine, arsenic, fluoride, lead, mercury, giardia, bacteria, and viruses. The membrane is so fine; it keeps particles out down to .00001 microns.

The iSpring water filters are tested every year by the Water Quality Association to ensure they are removing all the contaminants as expected. The iSpring RCC7AK has received the Gold Seal certification.

Read more about the iSpring RCC7AK Reverse Osmosis System.

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7. iSpring RCC7AK-UV Deluxe Under Sink 7-Stage Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System

This next model has all the features of the RCC7AK with the added benefit of an ultraviolet sterilizer. This is the perfect solution for customers who have well water or other water sources that may have a higher number of live micro-organisms in them.

The UV light works by using a specific frequency designed to kill bacteria and viruses and other micro-organisms such as e-Coli and salmonella. This type of process is common in medical sterilization. The system comes with an energy-saving sensor to turn the light on and off with the water flow.

The iSpring RCC7AK includes a lead-free brushed nickel faucet, DIY installation instructions, a one-year money-back guarantee, and a 1–year manufacturer’s warranty.

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8. iSpring RCC1UP-AK 7 Stage 100 GPD Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System With Booster Pump, Alkaline Ph+ Remineralization Filter And UV Sterilizer

The final iSpring system on our list is one of the highest-powered RO systems available. It has a whopping 100 gallons per day capacity, which is excellent for larger families. For all its power, the pump is relatively quiet.

Another advantage of this system is the booster pump, which helps bring water to the pump at a faster rate. This is very helpful for homes that have lower water pressure. The booster pump also helps to minimize the amount of wastewater created by the system.

Learn more about the system & see the latest price on Amazon.com.

9. iSpring RO500 Tankless RO Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

New on our list this year is the Tankless RO system from iSpring. While this unit does not produce alkaline water, we thought it deserved a place on our list because it has many unique features that some of the other systems on our list do not.

The tankless design filters your water on demand instead of storing the water in a tank. This means your water is always freshly filtered from the tap. You will need to wait a little longer when filling up your drinking glass, but many folks think it is worth the wait.

It also produces the highest amount of pure water vs wastewater. The most any standard RO system will produce is an even split (1:1 ratio), but the tankless iSpring RO500 produces twice the amount of clean water vs wastewater, that’s a big difference. Finally, the unit also has the highest gallons per day production at a whopping 500!

Now on the downside, it does not produce alkaline water, but if you want a system that produces a high quantity of filtered water on demand, a tankless RO system may be what you are looking for.

A close second in this category was the Waterdrop Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System. This product was still a little too new to make the list this year but we’ll keep an eye on the performance for 2022.

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Reverse Osmosis Home Systems – 2021 Comparison Table

Compare the RO systems on our list by the filtration stages, capacity measured in gallons per day, and wastewater ratio.

#	Model	Stages	Gallons Per Day	WW Ratio
1	Home Master TMAFC-ERP	7	75	1:1
2	Home Master (TMAFC)	7	50	4:1
3	Home Master (TMHP)	7	75	4:1
4	APEC (ROES-RH75)	6	75	4:1
5	APEC (RO-PH90)	6	90	4:1
6	iSpring RCC7AK	6	75	3:1
7	iSpring RCC7AK-UV	7	75	3:1
8	iSpring RCC1UP-AK 7	7	100	2:1
9	iSpring RO500 Tankless	3	500	1:2

Learn More About Choosing the Best Reverse Osmosis System for Your Home

Find out all the facts on reverse osmosis home systems and decide whether you should purchase one for your home.

What Is Reverse Osmosis?

In the simplest terms possible, reverse osmosis, or RO, is a system that pushes water through a series of filters and membranes to remove impurities. There is a lot of history behind it and a more scientific way to explain the process, but to understand how it can make the water you consume cleaner and healthier, you can skip the history lesson and the geek-speak.

RO On A Grand Scale

Most municipal water systems use reverse osmosis to clean the H2O that flows out of your tap. Large water filtration systems like that usually use a cellulose triacetate filter (CTA) that requires the water flowing through it to be chlorinated to keep bacteria from building up on the filter.

A higher-quality filter known as TCF does not need the water to be chlorinated to work and usually employs a carbon filter to absorb chlorine and keep the water tasting good.

Despite the fact that city water supplies are put through some reverse osmosis, the water that ends up in your faucet usually has some sediment, minerals, bacteria, chlorine, and even viruses in it.

Reverse Osmosis Home Systems – Benefits and Cost

A reverse osmosis system for the home is an excellent way to produce very clean, pure, healthy water. Here is what a home RO system can do for your water and why they are a good investment:

• Removes impurities like salt, heavy metals, odors and other impurities from your drinking water
• They have a low energy consumption
• They are easy to maintain (filters last about a year)

For between $200 and $500 you can find a lot of different models. Buying on the higher end of that price range will ensure you get a better quality model. The main difference between the numerous systems to choose from is the quality of the filters and membranes.

When you make your purchase, see if the unit has a warranty and for how long. Find out how easy it is to replace the filters and look for product certifications.

The National Sanitation Foundation (NFS)and Water Quality Association (WQA) are independent 3rd party certifiers of quality RO water systems. A good system should get:

• From NSF a standard of 58
• From WQA a Gold Seal Certification

Types of Reverse Osmosis Home Systems

There are a couple of options to choose from when deciding to purchase an RO unit for your castle.

1. Traditional Tank System

This is a unit that is installed under your sink and uses a series of filters that tap water is pushed through to clean and then is stored in a tank. These types of systems have an additional faucet separate from your sink faucet to dispense the water.

Be sure to get a model with an automatic shut-off valve so that it stops producing water when the tank is full instead of the water being wasted down the drain.

2. Tank-less System

These are relatively new to the marketplace. The advantages of having a tank-less system are:

• It is connected directly to the tap water faucet and dispenses water on demand
• There is less cabinet space needed because there is no storage tank
• This kind of system can dispense a large volume of purified water out of numerous faucets in the home

The disadvantage of a tank-less model is the higher cost of the unit, you have a lot more filters and membranes to replace, and it may require an additional purchase of a pressure booster pump to keep the water flowing.

The Stages of Reverse Osmosis

Here is how your unit will function and what each filter and membrane is for.

Phase 1 – water passes through a sediment filter to get rid of silt, dust, and large particles

Phase 2 – GAC (granular activated carbon) filter removes chlorine, odors, mineral oil, and bad tastes from the water

Phase 3 – A more dense carbon filter removes any remaining chlorine or bad odors or tastes that may still be lurking about

Phase 4 – this is the big one; reverse osmosis. The water is pushed through a very fine filter that can remove around 95% (or more) of the remaining impurities in the water like fluoride.

Phase 5 – a polishing carbon filter keeps the water in the tank from tasting stale while it sits in storage

Phase 6 – here is where your water gets alkalized, meaning the pH is adjusted to 7 or above using good minerals like calcium and magnesium.

Phase 7 – this final step employs a UV filter to kill any bacteria or viruses in the water

Now that you have an answer to how does reverse osmosis works, you can see the advantages of installing an RO home system. Fresh, clean, alkalized drinking water is more appealing to drink straight, use to make coffee or tea, and include in our cooking.

Which is the Best?

Still not sure which system is right for you?  For more information on the different types of alkaline water systems available, visit our home page.