The Aquasana and the iSpring are excellent reverse osmosis water purification systems. They have a minimalistic design, can be concealed under the sink to free up your over counter space and they remove up to 99% of contaminants. The Aquasana comes with 3 water purification stages, does not require any mains electricity to operate and is very easy to install while the iSpring comes with 6 stages, requires electricity and operates very quietly. Which reverse osmosis system beats the other? We will compare the two reverse osmosis water purification systems against each other and help you make a judgment as to which system is best for you.
Alternatively, just skip to either the Aquasana or the iSpring on Amazon.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table Aquasana vs iSpring
| Aquasana AQ-5300 | iSpring | |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |
| Under Sink | Yes | Yes |
| Leak Detection | No | No |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year plus 1 year money back guarantee |
| Stages | 3 | 6 |
| Transparent? | No | Yes – 1st stage |
| Easy to install | Yes | Yes |
| Quiet | Yes | Yes |
| Contaminants removed | Lead, pesticides, chlorine, chloramites and more | Lead, pesticides, chlorine, chloramites and more |
| Requires Electricity? | No mains electricity needed | Yes |
| Filter changing | Twice a year | Twice a year |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Key Similarities between the Aquasana and the iSpring
- Under sink installation
- Filter changing
- Easy to install
- Contaminants removed
- Quiet
- Leak detection
Key Differences between the Aquasana and the iSpring
- Electricity requirements
- Warranty
- Water purification stages
- Design
A Comprehensive Comparison between the Aquasana and the iSpring
Under Sink Installation
Reverse osmosis systems are designed in many configurations. Some are made to be installed over the counter, some do not need installation at all as they are portable and some require that you install them under the sink. The Aquasana AW-500 and the iSpring RCC7P-AK both require you to install them under the sink. This allows you to save space over the counter for more important things. In addition, this design helps keep your counter clean and clutter free.
Filter Changing
The Aquasana AQ-500 and theiSpring RCC7P-AK both use filters in the water purification process. These filters help to remove contaminants and prevent harmful elements such as chlorine from reaching the reverse osmosis membrane as it can be easily damaged by such elements. Both the Aquasana AQ-500 and the iSpring RCC7P-AK need you to replace the filters about two times a year. The Aquasana does come with a mechanism to remind you to change your filters. It has a small buzzer which is battery powered and goes off when the filter needs to be changed. This is quite a handy feature for those who are a bit forgetful.
Ease of Installation
The Aquasana AQ-500 and the iSpring RCC7P-AK are easy to install. The manufacturers designed the reverse osmosis water purification systems in such a way that you will not need a plumber to install them and set them up. This means that any do-it-yourself enthusiast will be able to setup these devices with great ease. The instructions provided are very clear, well organized and in addition, you can check for instructional videos online.
Contaminants Removed
Water purification systems are made to remove contaminants. Reverse osmosis systems are no different. Both the Aquasana AQ-500 and the iSpring RCC7P-AK remove harmful contaminants that are found in tap water such as chlorine, rust, lead as well and more. This ensures that the water that you drink will be clean and perfectly healthy. This helps keep your family as healthy as possible.
Sound
The use of technology to improve our lives must not bring about annoying things to our lives such as unbearable noise. The manufacturers of the Aquasana AQ-500 and the iSpring RCC7P-AK both understand this simple concept. Both the Aquasana AQ-500 and the iSpring RCC7P-AK were designed and developed to operate as quietly as possible. This allows them to help improve the water quality without us having to worry about annoying humming sounds coming from the kitchen in the middle of the night.
Leak Detection
Water is the number one enemy of a lot of elements in the home. Floors can easily get ruined if they are exposed to water for too long, electrical devices can easily get damaged when exposed to it and mechanical devices can end up getting rust which severely impacts the functionality of the mechanical device. Both the manufacturers of the Aquasana AQ-500 and the iSpring RCC7P-AK understand this and made their devices to be as leakproof as possible. Unfortunately, however, they did not include any leak detection mechanisms to help alert the user when a leak is present.
Electricity
Reverse Osmosis systems do not usually use electricity. This is because the very design of the reverse osmosis system allows them to filter out water by just using pressure. There are exceptions to this general concept. The iSpring requires electricity as it comes with a booster pump. This addresses the problem of low water pressure at the source. It brings the pressure entering the membrane at an ideal level. By doing this, the booster pump optimizes every aspect of the reverse osmosis process from production speed to drain ratio. The Aquasana does not have this feature. One can interpret this difference as that the Aquasana is cheaper to run than the iSpring.
Warranty
Water purification devices are not usually cheap. They usually leave a dent in your pocket. This means that you need to buy one that comes with the longest warranty possible so that if you have a problem due to a defect, you know that the manufacturer will be able to resolve it for free. The iSpring is equipped with a longer and better warranty than the Aquasana. It comes with a 1 year money back guarantee as well as a 1 year manufacturer warranty. In addition to all this, it comes with a unique lifetime technical support as long as you are in the United States. The Aquasana just comes with a 1 year manufacturer warranty.
Water Purification Stages
There are different water purification stages in different reverse osmosis systems. Some have just a few stages which are sufficient to remove most of the contaminants and others come with very many stages that are aimed at removing as many contaminants as possible as well as adding back minerals to the water to make it taste great and be very healthy. The iSpring is equipped with more purification stages than the Aquasana. It has six stages, with the last stage being designed to restore the natural alkalinity and mineral balance of the water. The Aquasana only comes with 3 stages in its water purification process.
Design
The Aquasana and the iSpring are designed differently. The iSpring is better looking than the Aquasana as it comes with one transparent 1st stage filter. This transparent filter is there for you to visually inspect the water that is entering the system. This allows for you to check the state of your purification system. You can then detect if there are any problems present and replace the filters before it is too late.
Our Pick
We fell in love with the iSpring. This is because this filter comes with an extensive warranty – it has a 1 year warranty and a 1 year money back guarantee. It is transparent which helps you to detect any problems in time. It comes with a booster pump to enable that the water flow is always constant. It is quiet and it is very easy for any one with basic tools to set it up. All these features made it very hard for us not to choose it as the winner.
Why Do You Need a Reverse Osmosis System?
Contaminants
Water that comes from the water mains supply is filled with contaminants. These contaminants range from harmful metals to tiny bacteria and viruses. All these contaminants need to be removed to ensure that the water is clean and safe to drink. Reverse osmosis systems are very good at removing up to 99% of the contaminants. Both the Aquasana and the iSpring remove up to 99% of contaminants
Electricity
Reverse osmosis systems do not usually require electricity. This is because they are designed to just use the pressure from the water to carry out all of the water purification. This results in cost savings that you would not have had if you decided to use a water purification system that uses a different water purification method.
Quiet
Reverse osmosis systems are not noisy. This is mainly because they lack electrical equipment. Most electrical equipment such as motors, etc produces noise. Since such equipment is not usually present they operate as silently as possible. This ensures that you do not have to wake up at odd hours because of noise produced by your water purification system.
Installation
The reverse osmosis systems that are quite popular today are very easy to install. All you need to do is to follow the instructions present in the friendly user manual and you are good to go. In addition, they are usually installed under the sink. This allows you to save space on your countertop. This reduces clutter.
Maintenance
Reverse osmosis systems are very easy to maintain. Most of them come with cylinders that you simply need to twist and pull to remove them, and to install them you simply twist and push them into position. This is convenience.
Factors to Consider When Choosing between the Aquasana and the iSpring
Design
The iSpring is designed differently from the Aquasana. It comes with a transparent casing in the first stage. This design allows for you to get a visual indication of what is happening inside your water purification system. This allows you to identify any potential problems and address them before they cause any damage to your water system. In addition, it also helps to show you when the filter needs to be changed.
Filter Notification
The Aquasana comes with a mechanism to alert you when the filters need to be changed. It has a battery that is connected to a buzzer. This buzzer goes off when the filter needs to be changed. This is quite a handy feature to those who are forgetful. However, it is a double edged sword as on one hand it is a great reminder feature, but on the other hand, it can be annoying when it keeps beeping. The iSpring does not have such a feature and you will only have to depend on visual inspection of the 1st stage to see whether it is time to change the filters or not.
Electricity
The main reason why some people opt for reverse osmosis water purification systems is that they do not use electricity. The iSpring breaks this norm as it uses a booster pump which requires electricity for it to operate. This booster pump does ensure that you have a smooth, constant flow of water. Some may regard this to be an unnecessary additional expense. If you are one of them, then consider going for the Aquasana.
Warranty
Water purification systems are not usually cheap. It is quite normal for them to cost several hundreds of dollars. As a result, it is best to go for the water purification system that has the longest warranty. The iSpring comes with a 1 year warranty plus a 1 year money back guarantee. This means that if you identify a defect with the product, you will be able to get it repaired for free as long as you find the defect during the warranty period.
Stages
Reverse osmosis water purification systems have different stages. The number of stages depends on the manufacturer. The Aquasana comes with just 3 stages while the iSpring comes with 6 stages. The additional stages in the iSpring ensure that the water gets its minerals back in the “remineralization” stage. This ensures that the water you drink is healthy for your body.
Aquasana vs iSpring FAQs
Are they Noisy?
These systems are very quiet. Most modern water purification systems are designed to be as quiet as possible and these systems are no exception.
Are the Filters Included?
Yes. The kits come with filters to get you started. You will have to buy replacement filters when these eventually run out.
Can I use them in an RV?
That may be possible. It is important to note that these systems are for drinking water and not for showering as the flow rate will not be adequate enough to meet the needs of a shower. As long as you have space and sufficient pressure, they could work.
Can I install them Without a Tank?
No. Reverse osmosis is a bit slow. When you take water out of the system, the system replenishes it rather slowly. The tank makes the process seem instant but it is the tank that stores the replenished water. Without this tank using these systems may not be very pleasant.
Can I install it in the Basement?
Yes you can. You may have to buy extra pipes as well as a pump to make the water be able to get enough pressure for you to use it properly.
Conclusion
In this article, we explored the similarities and diffierences that exist between the iSpring and the Aquasana. We found the iSpring to be the winner. This is because it comes with 6 stages, has a 1 yearwarranty and a 1 year warranty and comes with a booster pump that will ensure that the water flows steadily. In addition, we found the design to be eyecatching, although this may not be quite relevant since it will be under the sink.
We included a comprehensive list of features that we believe you need to consider when choosing between the Aquasana and the iSpring. This was aimed at helping you to choose which reverse osmosis water purification system best suits your needs for your particular application.
Check out the best reverse osmosis water purification system, the iSpring on Amazon.
