AquaTru Carafe (Smart) Review: Lab Analysis & Hands-On Testing

Full Analysis of the AquaTru Carafe and Carafe Smart

Please note: AquaTru Carafe and AquaTru Carafe Smart are identical in terms of filtration hardware, performance, NSF/ANSI certifications, and usability. The only difference is the Carafe Smart’s app integration for monitoring water quality, usage, filter status, and more.

Filtration: 4.99/5.00

The AquaTru Carafe countertop RO system scored 4.99/5.00 for filtration. How? Most importantly, it achieved solid (2024) to excellent (2025) results in our lab testing and the filtered water had a clean taste and no odor. In addition, the system is fully NSF/ANSI-certified for the reduction of all the important contaminants – 82 in total.

1. Lab Results: 5.00/5.00 (2025) & 4.49/5.00 (2024)

In our 2024 and 2025 lab tests comparing an unfiltered and a filtered tap water sample, the AquaTru Carafe could remove 10 undesirable impurities and contaminants to below the minimum detection level (so essentially to 100%): chlorine, bromodichloromethane, bromoform, dibromochloromethane, chloroform, copper, barium, lithium, manganese, and nitrate.

The following substances remained in our water:

• Boron was reduced by a moderate 60% in 2024 and was completely removed in 2025.
• Strontium was reduced by a very high 98% in 2024 and was completely removed in 2025.
• Iron increased by 100% in 2024. While that might seem like a poor result at first glance, iron was measured near the analytical detection limit (0.01 ppm) in 2024, so this percentage change reflects a minimal absolute difference and could also represent natural fluctuations. In 2025, it was completely removed.
• Aluminum increased by 300% in 2024 (not present in 2025), which seems unlikely to be due to natural fluctuations. While not ideal, aluminum was at the lowest detectable level (0.01 ppm) in the 2024 unfiltered water and at 0.04 ppm in the filtered water. In other words, this 300% increase represents a relatively small jump in the actual aluminum content. Plus, 0.04 ppm is still 15x lower than the strictest health guideline at 0.6 ppm.
• Zinc was reduced by a moderate 50% in 2024 (not present in 2025).
• Fluoride was reduced by a solid 67% in 2024. Our lab findings initially may seem to contradict AquaTru’s NSF/ANSI certification for fluoride reduction, which claims the reduction of fluoride by an average of 96.40% according to the official performance data sheet. However, this apparent discrepancy may be explained by very different test conditions: AquaTru’s feed water had a 19x greater concentration of fluoride (8 ppm) compared to our feed water (0.42 ppm). This was confirmed in our 2025 lab test – we used a different and more precise fluoride detection method and fluoride was completely eliminated.

Finally, TDS decreased by 93% in 2024 and by 95% in 2025. While TDS should not be interpreted independently, as it does not override inadequate removal of individual contaminants, ≥90% TDS reduction is high and shows that the RO membrane works as intended.

Aside from contaminant reduction, we also found aluminum (0.0809 ppm) in our 2025 filtered water that was not present in the unfiltered water, consistent with our 2024 results and again suggesting potential leaching. 0.0809 ppm is 7x lower than the strictest aluminum health guideline.

Lab Results Charts

2. NSF/ANSI Certifications and Other Test Data

The AquaTru Carafe is fully NSF/ANSI-certified by the IAPMO for the reduction of all the important contaminants – we counted 82 in total – against NSF/ANSI standards 42, 53, 58, and 401.

Reported reduction rates include:

• Organics, including VOCs, herbicides, pesticides, and DBPs (95.00-99.50%+)
• PFOA/PFOS (99.00%+)
• Chlorine (96.80%)
• Chloramine (96.60%)
• Emerging contaminants, including trace pharmaceuticals (89.50-99.70%)
• Microplastics (98.96%)
• Arsenic V (98.80%)
• Barium (95.40%)
• Chromium 3 (99.60%)
• Chromium 6 (97.50%)
• Lead (99.20%)
• TDS (94.40%)
• Cysts (99.90%)
• Fluoride (96.40%)
• Nitrate (98.30%)
• Nitrite (90%)
• Perchlorate (98.30%)
• Radium 226/228 (96.40%)
• Selenium (98.10%)

Reduction rates are per the official performance data sheet.

This comprehensive NSF/ANSI certification makes the AquaTru Carafe a really noteworthy system. The only countertop water filter that exceeds this number of certifications is its larger-scale cousin, the AquaTru Classic (Smart).

3. Filtration Process

We have 3 filter cartridges which comprise 4 filtration stages.

• Stages 1+2 are performed by the composite pre-filter (sediment pre-filter + coconut-shell granular activated carbon). The sediment filter is mechanical filtration – it acts like a sieve to remove solid, undissolved particulates such as dirt or rust. Granular activated carbon removes things like bad tastes and odors, chlorine/chloramine, disinfection byproducts and other organics, as well as certain metals. By removing chlorine and other contaminants, this pre-filter protects the RO membrane from damage.
• Stage 3 is performed by the RO membrane, which uses reverse osmosis to effectively remove the vast majority of contaminants and minerals.
• Stage 4 is an activated coconut-shell carbon block post-filter, which acts as a “polishing” filter to remove lingering bad tastes/odors and VOCs. In addition, the block structure provides fine mechanical filtration due to its smaller pore size compared to granular carbon.

4. Taste and Odor Tests

In our 2024 and 2025 tests, the filtered water was odorless and had a perfectly clean taste.

Usability: 4.03/5.00 (Carafe Smart: 4.43/5.00)

The AquaTru Carafe achieved a usability score of 4.03/5.00, based on its performance in the following categories:

1. Initial system assembly including filter priming (0.80/0.80)
2. Everyday use (2.73/3.70)
3. Filter replacements (0.50/0.50)

The AquaTru Carafe Smart achieved a usability score of 4.43/5.00, based on:

1. Initial system assembly including filter priming (0.80/0.80)
2. Everyday use (3.13/3.70)
3. Filter replacements (0.50/0.50)

1. Initial Setup: 0.80/0.80

Assembling the AquaTru Carafe is easy. In addition to clear, illustrated directions in the thorough owner’s manual and helpful quick start guide, there are tutorial videos on YouTube. Labeled, color-coded filters make initial filter insertion simple.

However, while setup was straightforward in 2024, we had a small issue with our 2025 unit – it stopped filtering during priming. After troubleshooting with AquaTru’s customer service, we were able to solve the problem by pressing the valves on the bottom of the feed tank a few times to loosen them as they were a bit too stiff initially.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the setup procedure:

1. After washing your hands and cleaning your work surface, wash the feed tank and carafe with soap and rinse.
2. Remove the blue filter plug.
3. Lift up on the filter lock and slide in the first filter, making sure to align it properly with the filter channel in the AquaTru base. Push it all the way in and press down to lock it in place.
4. Repeat with the remaining two filters.
5. Fill the feed tank with cold water and reinstall.
6. Insert the glass carafe, ensuring the lid is placed properly.
7. Plug in the unit – it will start filtering automatically. The “Purifying” light will be illuminated while it is processing water and turns off when it is finished. This first filtration cycle will take longer than normal.
8. The AquaTru Carafe will stop filtering when the filtered carafe is full or it is time to refill the feed water tank.
9. Empty and rinse both the feed tank and filtered water carafe/tank.
10. Refill the feed tank, reinstall both tanks on the base, and repeat the filtration process 3 more times, for a total of 4 full filtration cycles.
11. Now your AquaTru Carafe is ready to use.

For the Carafe Smart, setup is exactly the same, only you start by connecting to the app via Wi-Fi – this was easy, though we had to close and reopen it during the first attempt. After that, it worked consistently. Both the owner’s manual and quick start guide provide QR codes which link to the iOS or Android app stores.

2. Day-to-Day Use: 2.73/3.70 (Carafe Smart: 3.13/3.70)

2.1 Speed & Water Capacity: 0.98/1.40

The AquaTru Carafe is well-suited for daily use. Firstly, its filtered carafe stores plenty of water for later – up to 8 cups (0.50 gal) after filtering a full feed tank (~0.72 gal). Consequently, you can fill a 40-oz bottle on a single refill all in one pour – no need to perform multiple feed tank refills or wait for additional cycles of water processing.

More specifically and based on a single feed tank, in our test the system could dispense 62 oz in one continuous pour. Rounding up, we estimate 4 or 5 daily refills for the average US and US-family households, respectively – more than the average countertop RO.

In addition, the AquaTru Carafe filters fast enough to meet the daily water needs of the average-sized US households, and it can handle thirst bursts. In our ambient water speed tests, it could dispense 1 or 4 cups instantly when the water was pre-processed, meaning the feed tank was filled and allowed to fully filter all its water first. This is because we are pouring directly from a full carafe – no wait time for water processing needed. Upon refilling, it took 6:26 min to dispense 4 cups of water.

2.2 Dispensing: 1.00/1.00

Dispensing water is easy. The carafe has a comfortable handle, slides in and out of the base easily, and provides a smooth stream without splashing, even when pouring fast.

2.3 Refilling & Size: 0.70/0.70

Refilling the AquaTru Carafe is straightforward; the feed water tank is easy to remove, refill, and place back on its base. There is no max fill line but the instructions say to fill to “just below the handle,” which is clear enough. Note: whether you get the advertised 8 cups of filtered water on a single refill versus the ~7.75 cups we obtained in our testing is determined by your water conditions and how high you fill the feed tank.

We appreciate the simplicity of refilling: unless there is filtered water remaining in the carafe, the system processes the entire feed tank at one time – this takes about 12-15 minutes. You simply discard the feed tank’s wastewater and refill after each cycle. With other systems, you need to pay attention to the tank status indicators because they may not process the entire feed tank at once.

However, if there is still some water left in the carafe when you initiate a new filtration cycle, it might fill up before the entire feed tank has processed. For cases like this, the front panel has a water shortage (“Empty & Refill Tap Tank”) indicator to remind you to discard the wastewater from the feed tank before refilling.

Measuring 6.4″x12.7″x16″ (WxHxD), the AquaTru Carafe fits under standard height (18”) kitchen cabinets, and at 11.2 lb, it’s lighter than the average countertop RO systems we tested. Its small footprint saves space on the counter, occupying only 102.4 in² (~0.71 ft²), and it’s streamlined enough to fit in narrow spaces.

Carafe Smart: The app also reminds you to empty the wastewater prior to refilling the feed tank.

2.3 Other: 0.05/0.60 (Carafe Smart: 0.45/0.60)

The carafe fits on a standard fridge shelf or in the fridge door for chilling.

On the downside, we noticed our 2025 system was very noisy when filtering compared to our 2024 unit – we suspect this may be a valve issue, as the valves were very stiff during initial setup.

The Carafe Smart app is easy to navigate and tracks feed and filtered water quality (TDS), gallons filtered, water consumption (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly), and filter status. However, numerical values for TDS readings are not provided; instead the app shows “Low,” “Medium,” “High,” or “Very High” for feed and clean water, which is less useful than actual numbers.

3. Filter Replacements: 0.50/0.50

Filter replacements are easy as the filters are labeled and color-coded. However, you need the included tool to unlock them, which is not as easy as simply twisting in/out.

The filter change indicator lights on the control panel alert you when it is time to change each filter. Rated filter life for the composite pre-filter is 300 gal or 6 months, RO membrane is 600 gal or 2 years, and carbon post-filter is 300 gal or 12 months.

Assuming 500 gallons of yearly water consumption for the average household, we predict the frequency of your filter changes will be dictated by filter age for the composite pre-filter (2x yearly) rather than water consumption. However, for the RO membrane and carbon post-filter, we anticipate you will exceed the filters’ water filtering capacity prior to the elapsed time cutoff, so you will be changing them based off of water consumption. Therefore, expect to replace the latter two components every 1-2 years or 1-2x yearly, respectively.

For the Carafe Smart, the app displays remaining filter life and reminds you to replace filters (you can also set custom alerts). In addition, you can order replacement filters and other AquaTru products there.

Costs: 4.28/5.00

Based on value for money, the AquaTru Carafe achieved a cost score of 4.28 out of 5.00, indicating it is relatively inexpensive for what it offers compared to competing systems (a score of 4.00 represents average value). Notably, while its upfront price is slightly below average, its annual filter replacement cost is around average among the countertop RO systems we tested.

Similarly, the AquaTru Carafe Smart achieved a cost score of 4.28 out of 5.00, indicating it also is relatively inexpensive for what it offers compared to the competition. Its upfront price and annual filter replacement costs are around average.

1. Upfront Price

As of November 4, 2025, the AquaTru Carafe is priced at $375. Using our affiliate link, you can save $100, reducing the upfront cost to $275. This is slightly below the $321.89 average across all the countertop RO systems we tested.

The AquaTru Carafe Smart is priced at $425. Using our affiliate link, you can save $100, reducing the upfront cost to $325, which is around the $321.89 average across all the countertop RO systems we tested.

2. Long-Term Expenses for Filter Replacements

Based on 500 gallons consumption and a 300-gal or 6-month (composite pre-filter), 600-gal or 2-year (RO membrane), and 300-gal or 12-month (carbon post-filter) filter life, we estimate $140 in annual filter replacement costs for the AquaTru Carafe and Carafe Smart, which is around the $149.47 average across all the countertop ROs we tested.

3. Product Warranty

The system is covered by a 1-year warranty.

4. Other Cost Factors

• The system is made from medical-grade Tritan which, according to the manufacturer, is free from BPA, BPS, phthalate, and estrogen & androgen activity.
• The carafe is made from borosilicate glass.

Additional

1. Pure-to-Drain Ratio Tests

We measured a pure-to-drain ratio of ~1:0.44 (2024) and ~1:0.55 (2025), which is low wastewater for RO systems in general and better than the average ~1:0.61 ratio across the countertop RO systems we tested.

2. Construction

This system feels sturdy and well built, including the glass carafe. However, we envision the hinges on the feed tank lid not lasting over time.

3. Design

The AquaTru Carafe has a modern, appealing appearance. However, the feed water tank has a slight yellow tint, which makes you think your tap water is yellow.

4. Optional Upgrade: Remineralization

Both the AquaTru Carafe and Carafe Smart offer the option of replacing the standard stage 4 VOC carbon post-filter with a “Mineral Boost” alkaline VOC carbon post-filter, which adds healthy minerals like magnesium and calcium to your water while also alkalinizing it.

5. Frequent Customer Complaints

We read about issues with malfunctioning units that don’t last very long, as well as slow filtration. Other customers complained of poor customer service.

For the Carafe Smart model, there were complaints of major issues on both iOS and Android (connection problems, app crashes, filter life reset not working, and tracking issues).

While we did not experience these issues firsthand, we did have trouble setting the AquaTru Carafe up during our 2025 test – it stopped filtering during priming. After troubleshooting with AquaTru’s customer service, we were able to solve the problem by pressing the valves on the bottom of the feed tank a few times to loosen them as they were a bit too stiff initially. All in all, our experience with customer service has been very positive.

For the app, we had to close and reopen it during initial setup in order to get it running, but we had no problems beyond that.

Bottom Line: Our #1 Upfront Budget Pick (4.66/5.00; Carafe Smart: 4.74/5.00)

Filtration weighted at 60%, and usability and cost at 20% each, the AquaTru Carafe scored a final rating of 4.66 out of 5.00. The Carafe Smart scored 4.74 out of 5.00.

If you need a space-saving countertop RO system that uses a glass carafe and is budget-friendly upfront, the AquaTru Carafe is our top pick – alongside its app-integrated counterpart, the AquaTru Carafe Smart.

It was a close runner-up for most effective filtration – achieving an almost-perfect 4.99/5.00 in our filtration analysis. It completely removed all contaminants in our 2025 lab tests (improving on its solid 2024 results), comes fully NSF/ANSI-certified for the reduction of all the important contaminants, and its filtered water was odorless and tasted perfectly clean.

It’s also easy to setup, use, and maintain – even more so with the Carafe Smart’s app. Its upfront cost is around or slightly below average, depending on the model. With filter replacement costs also around average, either system is a great option for the budget-conscious, space-constrained water enthusiast who values knowing their filtered water is stored in glass rather than plastic.