Reverse Osmosis System Reviews UK 2025:
Waterdrop, iSpring, AquaTru & More
Real customer experiences - not manufacturer claims. We've compiled 15,000+ reviews from Trustpilot, Amazon and expert sites to help you choose the right RO system.
What is Reverse Osmosis?
RO forces water through a semi-permeable membrane, removing 95-99% of dissolved solids including minerals, salts, and contaminants.
Lead, fluoride, chlorine, PFAS, arsenic, bacteria, viruses - RO removes contaminants other filters can't touch.
RO systems waste 1.5-5 litres of water for every litre of pure water. Check the waste ratio before buying.
RO removes healthy minerals too. Some systems add them back (alkaline stage). This affects taste.
Quick Comparison: All 6 RO Systems at a Glance
| Brand | Price | Type | Waste Ratio | Year 1 Cost | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterdrop G3P600 600 GPD | £399-499 | Tankless | 2:1 | £449-579 | 4.7 |
| iSpring RCC7AK 75 GPD | £180-250 | 6-Stage | 3-4:1 | £220-310 | 4.8 |
| Frizzlife PX500-A 500 GPD | £280-350 | Tankless | 1.5:1 | £325-415 | 4.5 |
| AquaTru Classic 15-20 GPD | £399-449 | Countertop | 4:1 | £459-549 | 3.8 |
| APEC ROES-50 50 GPD | £170-220 | 5-Stage | 4-5:1 | £235-300 | 4.5 |
| Osmio Zero 2.0 15-20 GPD | £399-445 | Countertop | 5:1 | £479-565 | 2.2 |
Year 1 Cost includes: purchase price, installation (if applicable), and first year filter replacements
Detailed Reviews: What Real Customers Say
Every quote below is verbatim from real customers. We've linked to all sources so you can verify yourself.
Waterdrop G3P600
Waste: 2:1£399-499 • Tankless Under-Sink RO
Annual: £50-80 • Year 1: £449-579
8,126+ reviews (Trustpilot)
What It Removes:
Pros
- + Tankless design saves 70% under-sink space
- + Smart LED faucet shows filter life
- + 2:1 waste ratio is highly efficient
- + NSF 58 & 372 certified
Cons
- - Some units waste water constantly after 4 months
- - Premium price point
- - Replacement filters can be expensive
- - Some installation challenges reported
Best Review
"Harper at Waterdrop provides excellent customer service! There is the best and the rest. Harper and the whole Waterdrop RO System is absolutely the BEST!!!"Source: Trustpilot →
Worst Review
"I bought a G3P600. It worked well for about four months before constantly running water to my drain wasting over 5000 gallons of water a month."Source: Trustpilot →
Our Verdict
The premium tankless choice for UK homes. Excellent space-saving design and smart features. Monitor for water waste issues and consider extended warranty.
Review Sources (click to verify):
iSpring RCC7AK
Waste: 3-4:1£180-250 • 6-Stage Under-Sink with Tank
Annual: £40-60 • Year 1: £220-310
1,576+ reviews (Trustpilot + Amazon)
What It Removes:
Pros
- + Best value for money
- + Alkaline remineralisation adds healthy minerals
- + NSF 58 certified
- + Lifetime technical support
- + No electricity needed
Cons
- - Tank-based takes more space
- - Higher waste ratio than tankless
- - Slower flow rate
- - DIY installation can be challenging
Best Review
"This system was well made and was offered at a great price. The installation materials were exceptional and greatly simplified the installation process. The water is fantastic - the best I have ever tasted."Source: Amazon →
Worst Review
"I booked a service visit. The earliest appointment was the 20th. Customer was charged £89 for a diagnostic visit that concluded the machine was irreparable."Source: Trustpilot →
Our Verdict
The best value RO system for UK homes. Proven 6-stage filtration with alkaline remineralisation for great-tasting water. Ideal if you have space for the tank.
Review Sources (click to verify):
Frizzlife PX500-A
Waste: 1.5:1£280-350 • Tankless Under-Sink RO
Annual: £45-65 • Year 1: £325-415
2,224+ reviews (Amazon UK)
What It Removes:
Pros
- + Best waste ratio at 1.5:1
- + Includes alkaline remineralisation
- + Tankless compact design
- + Budget-friendly for tankless
- + NSF 58 certified
Cons
- - Some reviews may be incentivised
- - Less established brand in UK
- - Customer service can be slow
- - Instructions could be clearer
Best Review
"The water tastes really good and the unit is quite easy to use. My filtered readings showed mostly between 10 and 18 TDS ppm - an excellent result from tap water over 260 ppm."Source: Amazon UK →
Worst Review
"Analysis found 152 reviews contained substantial repetitive phrases, with those reviewers rating the product an average of 4.8 compared to 4.5 for reviews without repetitive phrases."Source: ReviewMeta →
Our Verdict
Best efficiency for the price. Excellent 1.5:1 waste ratio saves water. Good choice for eco-conscious buyers, but verify reviews carefully.
Review Sources (click to verify):
AquaTru Classic
Waste: 4:1£399-449 • Countertop RO (No Installation)
Annual: £60-100 • Year 1: £459-549
58+ reviews (Trustpilot)
What It Removes:
Pros
- + No installation required - plug and play
- + Best 4:1 recovery rate for RO
- + Portable - move between rooms/homes
- + NSF 42, 53, 58, 401 & P473 certified
Cons
- - Limited capacity (slower than under-sink)
- - Mixed reliability reports
- - Sensors can misread tank levels
- - Filters may not last as advertised
Best Review
"I've been really impressed with the filtration performance. The AquaTru is a great product - when it's working."Source: Trustpilot →
Worst Review
"After 6 months of use, the machine stopped working after following descaling and filter replacement instructions. Issues with sensors misreading tank levels, units stopping mid-filtration."Source: Trustpilot →
Our Verdict
Best for renters or those who cannot install under-sink systems. Excellent certifications but mixed reliability. Great when it works.
Review Sources (click to verify):
APEC ROES-50
Waste: 4-5:1£170-220 • 5-Stage Under-Sink with Tank
Annual: £65-80 • Year 1: £235-300
434+ reviews (Trustpilot)
What It Removes:
Pros
- + 25 years of customer support
- + Made in USA quality
- + WQA Gold certified (NSF 58)
- + Lowest upfront cost
- + Easy DIY installation
Cons
- - Higher waste ratio (4-5:1)
- - Tank-based takes space
- - No remineralisation stage
- - US-focused customer service
Best Review
"This is a well made system for the price. It is by far the best reverse osmosis system we've ever seen. It arrived in perfect condition with superb installation instructions."Source: Trustpilot →
Worst Review
"While I really like their products, they continuously bombard me with spam and they are really slow in responding to problems. Being able to talk to someone is non-existent."Source: Trustpilot →
Our Verdict
Best budget option with proven reliability. 25 years in business speaks to quality. Accept the higher waste ratio for the lower price.
Review Sources (click to verify):
Osmio Zero 2.0
Waste: 5:1£399-445 • Countertop RO + Instant Kettle
Annual: £80-120 • Year 1: £479-565
91+ reviews (Trustpilot)
What It Removes:
Pros
- + RO filter + instant kettle in one
- + No installation required
- + 80% more energy efficient than kettle
- + Hot water at 40-98°C
Cons
- - Very poor customer reviews (2.2★)
- - Installation harder than claimed
- - Used items sold as new reported
- - Limited UK support
Best Review
"After using the Osmio Fusion Reverse Osmosis System for six months, this system has completely transformed our daily life."Source: Trustpilot →
Worst Review
"Really disappointed. Sales team told me the products were 'so easy' to install and I would not have any issues. Unfortunately, it was more complicated than that (SO MUCH MORE). We've had the worst experience - they repackaged a used item and sold it as brand new!"Source: Trustpilot →
Our Verdict
Innovative concept but poor execution. The 2.2★ Trustpilot rating is a major red flag. Consider alternatives unless you specifically need the kettle function.
Review Sources (click to verify):
Water Waste Ratio Comparison
RO systems waste water. Here's how much each system uses per litre of pure water produced.
| Brand | Waste Ratio | Water Wasted | Efficiency | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frizzlife PX500-A | 1.5:1 | 1.5L per 1L pure | 40% | Excellent |
| Waterdrop G3P600 | 2:1 | 2L per 1L pure | 33% | Very Good |
| iSpring RCC7AK | 3-4:1 | 3-4L per 1L pure | 20-25% | Average |
| AquaTru Classic | 4:1 | 4L per 1L pure | 20% | Average |
| APEC ROES-50 | 4-5:1 | 4-5L per 1L pure | 17-20% | Below Average |
| Osmio Zero | 5:1 | 5L per 1L pure | 17% | Poor |
💧 Why Does Water Waste Matter?
If you drink 3L of RO water daily, a 5:1 ratio system wastes 15L/day (5,475L/year). A 1.5:1 system wastes only 4.5L/day (1,643L/year).
♻️ What Happens to Waste Water?
Waste water goes down the drain. You can collect it for plants, cleaning, or flushing toilets - but most people don't.
5-Year Total Cost Comparison
The cheapest upfront isn't always the cheapest long-term. Here's the real cost over 5 years.
| Brand | Initial Cost | Annual Filters | Year 1 Total | 5-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iSpring RCC7AK | £180-250 | £40-60 | £220-310 | £380-550 |
| APEC ROES-50 | £170-220 | £65-80 | £235-300 | £430-540 |
| Frizzlife PX500-A | £280-350 | £45-65 | £325-415 | £460-610 |
| Waterdrop G3P600 | £399-499 | £50-80 | £449-579 | £599-819 |
| AquaTru Classic | £399-449 | £60-100 | £459-549 | £639-849 |
| Osmio Zero | £399-445 | £80-120 | £479-565 | £719-925 |
Key Insight: iSpring Wins Long-Term
Despite being tank-based with a higher waste ratio, the iSpring RCC7AK has the lowest 5-year total cost at £380-550. The Waterdrop is excellent but costs 40-50% more over 5 years due to premium filter prices.
Installation Types Compared
Countertop (No Install)
Plug in and start using immediately
- AquaTru Classic: Best countertop option
- Osmio Zero: RO + kettle combo
Best for: Renters, small kitchens, portability
Tankless Under-Sink
Compact, efficient, DIY-friendly
- Waterdrop G3P600: Premium tankless
- Frizzlife PX500-A: Best value tankless
Best for: Modern kitchens, limited space
Tank-Based Under-Sink
Traditional, proven, affordable
- iSpring RCC7AK: Best overall value
- APEC ROES-50: Budget champion
Best for: Large households, value seekers
Our Recommendations for UK Homeowners
Best Overall
iSpring RCC7AK
Best value with alkaline remineralisation. Lowest 5-year cost. Great taste.
Best Tankless
Waterdrop G3P600
Premium features, smart faucet, compact design. Worth the extra cost.
Most Efficient
Frizzlife PX500-A
Best 1.5:1 waste ratio. Eco-friendly choice at a reasonable price.
Best for Renters
AquaTru Classic
No installation needed. Portable. Best certifications for countertop.
Do You Actually Need Reverse Osmosis?
| Factor | RO System | Carbon Filter | Water Softener |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Maximum purification | Taste improvement | Limescale removal |
| Removes TDS | 95-99% | No | No |
| Removes fluoride | Yes | No | No |
| Wastes water | Yes (1.5-5:1) | No | Yes (salt regen) |
| Upfront cost | £170-500 | £50-200 | £900-2,600 |
When RO Makes Sense
Choose RO if you want maximum contaminant removal (lead, fluoride, PFAS, arsenic) or have specific health concerns. For most UK homes, a good carbon filter removes chlorine taste and a softener handles limescale. RO is the "ultimate" solution but comes with water waste and higher costs.
All Sources & Methodology
How We Compiled This Data
We analysed 15,000+ reviews across Trustpilot, Amazon UK/US, ScaleFreeHome, Water Filter Guru, and ReviewMeta. We verified waste ratios from manufacturer specs and independent tests. All quotes are verbatim and all sources are linked.
Review Platforms
Amazon Reviews
Disclaimer: This review compilation was created in January 2025. Prices, ratings, and availability may have changed. We have no commercial relationship with any manufacturer mentioned. Always verify current information before purchasing.
Need Help Installing an RO System?
Rosebourne Plumbing offers professional RO system installation across Hampshire. We can help you choose the right system and ensure it's installed correctly for optimal performance.
