Kitchen Gear Wise

Choosing Between Countertop and Undersink Water Filtration Systems

Two water filtration choices fit different kitchens: a Berkey stainless gravity countertop bundle with Boroux filters, or a Simpure 5-stage undersink reverse osmosis system at the lower listed price.

Last updated Jul 9

Choosing a water filtration setup usually comes down to where you want it to live, how much capacity you want on hand, and what type of filtration method makes sense for your kitchen routine. In this comparison, the choice is especially clear: one system is a polished stainless gravity countertop setup with a large stated capacity, while the other is a white undersink reverse osmosis system built around a 5-stage filter path.

Quick take

  • Best fit for countertop use: BLEMISHED Berkey Water Filter System w/ WQA Certified Boroux Black Filters. It is described as a stainless gravity countertop system and lists a Crown capacity, making it the more capacity-focused choice here.
  • Best fit for an under-counter setup: 5 Stage Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System 75 GPD Membrane Filter. The title makes the undersink format clear, and the filtration method is listed as reverse osmosis.
  • Best fit if lowest listed price is the deciding factor: The Simpure reverse osmosis system is the lower-priced option in this pair.
  • Best fit if filter count and compatible ecosystem matter: The Berkey bundle lists 2 filters and compatibility with Berkey and Boroux models including BU2, TU2, CU2, and IU2.

Listed price comparison

The listed price range runs from USD 116.09 to USD 237.99, with the lower price sitting about 51% below the higher one. That spread is large enough that the format and filtration method should matter just as much as the price tag.

ProductListed pricePrice bar
5 Stage Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System 75 GPD Membrane FilterUSD 116.09
BLEMISHED Berkey Water Filter System w/ WQA Certified Boroux Black FiltersUSD 237.99

Decision matrix

Choose the BLEMISHED Berkey Water Filter System w/ WQA Certified Boroux Black Filters if:

  • You want a gravity countertop format rather than an undersink unit.
  • A polished stainless steel look fits your kitchen better than a white system.
  • The listed Crown capacity is appealing for keeping a larger amount of filtered water available.
  • You want the included filter count to be clear: the product lists 2 filters.
  • Compatibility with Berkey and Boroux systems is relevant to how you plan to use replacement parts or related components.

Choose the 5 Stage Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System 75 GPD Membrane Filter if:

  • You specifically want an undersink reverse osmosis system.
  • A 5-stage filtration path is the feature you are shopping for.
  • The 75 GPD membrane language in the title matches your expected daily water use.
  • Universal compatibility is more useful to you than a brand-specific compatible model list.
  • You prefer a new-condition item over an open-box, blemished one.

The biggest trade-off: the Berkey system brings a countertop gravity design, polished stainless steel color, and broader contaminant-removal wording, while the Simpure system brings a lower listed price, reverse osmosis filtration, and a new-condition status. The right pick depends on whether you are solving for countertop capacity and finish or for an undersink RO layout.

Concise product notes

BLEMISHED Berkey Water Filter System w/ WQA Certified Boroux Black Filters

BLEMISHED Berkey Water Filter System w/ WQA Certified Boroux Black Filters

This is the stronger fit if you want a stainless gravity countertop water filtration setup with a larger stated capacity. The product name and attributes point to a Berkey system paired with Boroux black filters, and the compatibility list covers Berkey, Boroux, BU2, TU2, CU2, and IU2. The polished stainless steel color is also a practical distinction if the system will remain visible on a counter. The main limitation is right in the title and condition: it is described as blemished and open box, so shoppers who want new condition may prefer the Simpure option instead.

5 Stage Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System 75 GPD Membrane Filter

5 Stage Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System 75 GPD Membrane Filter

The Simpure system is the more straightforward pick for someone shopping for an undersink reverse osmosis setup. Its title highlights a 5-stage system and 75 GPD membrane filter, while the attributes list reverse osmosis filtration, universal compatibility, and new condition. The description also lays out a filter path that includes sediment, granular activated carbon, carbon block, RO membrane, and post-carbon stages. Its limitation is that it is a white undersink system, so it is less suited to shoppers who specifically want a visible stainless countertop dispenser-style format or the Crown capacity listed with the Berkey bundle.

How to choose for your kitchen

Start with placement. If you want the filtration system on the counter and visible, the Berkey bundle is the only product here described in that direction. Its polished stainless steel color matters because the unit is not hidden away. That can be a positive if you like the look of stainless steel kitchen gear, but it also means the system becomes part of the counter layout.

If you want the filtration hardware positioned below the sink, the Simpure model is the natural match because the product title specifies an undersink reverse osmosis system. That makes it the cleaner choice for shoppers who are intentionally searching for RO filtration rather than a gravity countertop setup. Its white color is less of a style decision if it will be placed out of sight.

Next, consider filtration method. The Berkey attributes list carbon/charcoal filtration and contaminant removal as multiple. The product title also calls out WQA Certified Boroux Black Filters. The Simpure attributes list reverse osmosis and a filtration precision of 0.0001 micron, with contaminant removal stated as chlorine taste and odor. If your search terms already include "reverse osmosis," that gives the Simpure system a more direct match to your intent. If your search is more about gravity countertop filtration with included black filters, the Berkey bundle aligns more closely.

Condition may also decide the purchase. The Berkey product is marked open box and uses "blemished" in the title. That does not automatically make it the wrong choice, but it is a real trade-off against the Simpure system's new condition. If you are comparing these as kitchen fixtures, that condition difference may matter as much as filtration style.

Capacity wording is another divider. The Berkey attributes list Crown capacity, while the Simpure title emphasizes a 75 GPD membrane filter. Those are different ways of thinking about water use: one is framed around stored capacity in a gravity system, and the other around daily production language associated with an RO membrane. Pick the framing that matches how you plan to use filtered water throughout the day.

Final recommendation

For most shoppers who want the lower listed price and a clearly named undersink reverse osmosis setup, choose the 5 Stage Undersink Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System 75 GPD Membrane Filter at USD 116.09. It is the lower-priced product by about 51% versus the highest-priced option, and its new condition, 5-stage title, reverse osmosis filtration method, and universal compatibility make it the more direct choice for an under-counter RO search.

Choose the BLEMISHED Berkey Water Filter System w/ WQA Certified Boroux Black Filters at USD 237.99 if the countertop gravity format, polished stainless steel color, Crown capacity, included 2-filter count, and Berkey/Boroux compatibility are more important than paying the higher listed price. It is the better match for shoppers who want a visible stainless gravity system rather than an undersink RO unit.

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