Review: AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System

Full Analysis of the AquaTru Classic

Filtration: 5.00/5.00

The AquaTru Classic achieved 5.00/5.00 for filtration. How? It did great in our lab testing, it has all the important NSF certifications, and the filtered water tasted and smelled perfectly clean.

1. Lab Results: 4.97/5.00

In our lab test comparing an unfiltered and a filtered tap water sample, the AquaTru Classic could remove all undesirable impurities and contaminants to below the minimum detection level (so essentially to 100%) with the only 2 exceptions being strontium and fluoride.

• Strontium was reduced by 96% so an almost perfect score.
• Fluoride was reduced by at least 41%, meaning there was some fluoride remaining in the filtered water, but it was so little that the lab couldn’t quantify exactly how much was left but it was less than 0.1 parts per million (ppm). And so at a fluoride concentration of 0.17 ppm in the feed water, we calculated a minimum reduction rate of 41%. However, the actual reduction rate was probably much higher, because the AquaTru Classic is NSF-certified for fluoride reduction with an average reduction rate of 93.5% according to the official performance data sheet. In other words, the system is highly effective at reducing fluoride from water (more info below).

Finally, 91% TDS reduction clearly shows that the RO membrane works as intended.

Our only issue is that the AquaTru Classic might have leached a tiny amount of aluminum into our water. The lab detected 0.05 ppm in the filtered water sample while there was no aluminum detected in the unfiltered sample. This isn’t ideal obviously, but 0.05 ppm is well below even the strictest health guideline on aluminum we could find which is set to 0.6 ppm.

Lab Results Chart

*100% means reduction to below the minimum detection level. To learn more about our testing procedures check our editorial guidelines.

Link to Filtered Water Report
Link to Unfiltered Water Report

2. NSF Certifications and Other Test Data

The AquaTru Classic countertop RO system is certified for contaminant reduction by the IAPMO against NSF standards 42, 53, 58, and 401. All the important contaminants are covered – we counted 85 substances in total – including dozens of VOCs (up to 99% reduction), arsenic 5 (98%), chromium 6 (97.2%), fluoride (93.5%), lead (99.1%), nitrate (87.2%), chloramine (96%), so-called emerging contaminants (around 90-95%), PFOA & PFOS (97.5%), and microplastics (96.48%).

This makes the AquaTru Classic really stand out from the competition. In fact, only very few countertop water filters can even remotely compete with that.

3. Filtration Process

The AquaTru Classic uses the go-to filtration process for RO systems:

• The mechanical/carbon pre-filter traps sediment, rust, and other large particles, and also takes care of chlorine, THMs, bad tastes and odors, and more.
• Next, the pre-conditioned water is treated by the RO membrane. Reverse osmosis is a highly effective water purification method removing heavy metals such as lead and chromium-6, but also stuff like fluoride, nitrate, radium, and overall TDS.
• Lastly, an activated carbon polishing block filter reduces leftover organic compounds such as PFOA, PFOS, pesticides, and drug residue. It also provides for a pristine water taste.

4. Taste and Odor Test

In our test, the freshly filtered water provided by the AquaTru Classic tasted and smelled perfectly clean.

Usability: 5.00/5.00

The AquaTru Classic achieved a usability score of 5.00/5.00 because the system is incredibly easy to set up, use, and maintain. Filtration speed is also good and you can dispense water quickly.

1. Initial Setup

Assembling the AquaTru Classic is easy and only takes a few minutes. Filter priming is also very easy, although our unit didn’t work at first. We think this was because water got into the front handle. Anyway, we could resolve the issue by simply allowing the handle to dry.

Here is a quick rundown of the setup process:

1. Wash both tanks.
2. Remove the side panel.
3. Install the 3 color-coded filters by twisting clockwise until the red arrows align.
4. Close the side panel.
5. Put the clean water tank on its base.
6. Fill the feed water tank with tap water and put on base.
7. Plug unit in and flip power switch.
8. The unit will automatically begin filtering.
9. Wait for the filtration cycle to complete.
10. Empty both feed and clean water tank.
11. Filter and discard 3 more clean water tanks.

2. Everyday Use

The AquaTru Classic is super easy to use: Simply fill the 1-gallon removable feed water tank and insert it into the system. The filtration will start automatically and take between 10 and 15 minutes to complete when processing a full tank. This provides plenty of RO water – roughly 0.625 gallons based on our testing. The rest – around 0.375 gallons – ends up in the feed water tank and needs to be discarded before the next filtration cycle.

What’s great is that you don’t need to stand next to the unit while it filters. And you can dispense water really quickly using the blue front button. One minor con is that a standard water bottle doesn’t fit under the spout.

Like the feed water tank, the clean water tank (0.75 gallon) is removable and so you can store your filtered water in the fridge. Also, both feed and clean water tank have a carrying handle.

3. Filtration/Dispensing Speed Test

In our speed test, the AquaTru Classic could dispense 12 ounces of filtered water within just 4 seconds. Admittedly, this doesn’t tell us much.

4. Maintenance (Filter Replacements)

Thanks to the 3 cartridges being modular and twisting in and out, filter replacements are quick and easy (takes literally 2 minutes with no need for tools).

Filter stage 1/2 lasts 600 gallons or 6 months. The reverse osmosis membrane lasts 1,200 gallons or 2 years. And the VOC filter (stage 4) is good for 600 gallons or 1 year. In other words, you only need to replace every 6 months or 600 gallons on average. Based on time passed and gallons filtered, the system’s front panel will tell you when and which filter stage(s) to replace.

Here is a quick rundown of the process:

1. Access the filter cartridge housing.
2. Pull the filters back and twist counterclockwise.
3. Insert the new filters by doing this in reverse.
4. Reset the filter life indicator by pressing the button located on the back of the unit for 3 seconds.
5. Discard the first 2 tanks of filtered water.

Costs: 3.95/5.00

1. Upfront Price

As of Aug 21, 2025, the AquaTru Classic is available for $475. But using one of our special deals you can purchase the system for $375 which, although slightly above average for a countertop RO, we find surprisingly cheap.

2. Long-Term Expenses for Filter Replacements

Based on average filter life, we currently (Aug 21, 2025) estimate $135 in annual filter replacement cost which is below average compared to other similar systems.

Additional Ranking Factors

1. Pure-to-Drain Ratio Test

In our wastewater test, the AquaTru Classic wasted 0.6 gallons per 1 gallon of purified water that you can use, which is really good.

By the way, why does the AquaTru Classic waste so much less than a traditional tank-based under sink RO which often produces up to 3-5 gallons of wastewater or even more per 1 gallon purified? This is because the AquaTru Classic uses an electric pressure pump to push the water through the reverse osmosis membrane.

2. Materials

The AquaTru Classic uses Tritan plastic free from BPA, BPS, phthalate, and estrogen & androgen activity.

3. Frequent Customer Complaints

We read about leaking due to design flaws. And there have been issues with units that stopped working after a couple of months use. Troubleshooting according to the manual didn’t help in many cases. Customer service wasn’t always helpful either.

Mind you, this only happened to a small proportion of users and there’s the 1-year warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. On top of that, we didn’t have any problems so far.

Bottom Line: Our #1 Drinking Water Filter

The AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier scores a final rating of 4.79 out of 5.00.

As mentioned before, right now it’s our top choice for drinking water filtration thanks to its highly effective filtering process and extensive NSF certification which ensures removal of more than 80 chemicals – outperforming most other filters. This was confirmed by our lab test and taste & odor test. What’s more, filtration is fast with little wastewater, the system is easy to set up, operate, and maintain, and its upfront and long-term costs are competitive.

Although our unit initially failed to work due to water entering the front handle, this issue was simple to fix. Some third-party users, however, have reported leaks or malfunctioning units. We also detected potential aluminum leaching, though the levels were extremely minimal overall.