Buyer’s Guide 2025: How To Choose The Best Home Reverse Osmosis System

If you’re looking for effective, comprehensive filter solutions for drinking water quality, a reverse osmosis system is just what you need. Sometimes called RO, these under-sink water filters are an ideal choice for homeowners looking for top-quality water and protection.

But how do you choose the right option for you? The key to selecting the best home reverse osmosis system is to consider all factors including what contaminants are targeted, how many stages of filtration are included, efficiency, available smart features, total costs and more.

Our buyer’s guide has everything you need to make this important water quality decision. Read on for help finding the best RO system for your home.

5 Steps to Choosing the Right Reverse Osmosis System

When choosing a home water filter solution like an RO filter system, it’s important to have an organized approach. After all, there are so many ways to get filtered water — but not all drinking water systems are created equal.

Start your research process by considering the following:

#1: Your Drinking Water Quality

The goal of getting a filtration system is generally to get cleaner water — and, often, to reduce reliance on single-use bottled water that can be pricey and bad for the environment. That means your first step should be scheduling a professional water test.

Different kinds of water test results can tell you what’s in your drinking water, from common impurities like chlorine and iron to harder-to-detect contaminants like “forever chemicals” (PFAS) and lead. A local water expert can tell you which tests you need and what the results mean. With Culligan, you can start with a free in-home water test that covers some of the most common water quality issues.

#2: Understanding Water Filtration

Once you know which issues you may need to target, it’s time to learn about different kinds of filtration and why some may not be as effective as others.

For example, you may see pitcher or refrigerator filters advertising that they provide clean water — but the truth is that these methods alone are not nearly as comprehensive as the type of filtration you can get in a multi-stage reverse osmosis system. These simpler solutions often designed to focus mainly on aesthetic issues like taste and appearance, focusing on common problems like chlorine.

 

Reverse osmosis filters force water through a specialized, ultra-fine membrane at high pressure. This enables filtration of even the tiniest dissolved substances – things far too small to see, smell or taste. The most comprehensive RO systems combine this process with multiple additional stages of filtration within the system to

target even more potential contaminants in your water, including bacteria, viruses, microplastics, forever chemicals and more.

#3: Features and Preferences

Once you’ve decided that you want a reverse osmosis water filter system, it’s time to consider features. You have a lot of choices, including:

• Smart technology: Smart features add convenience and control by helping you track filter life, savings and hydration goals, while also helping simplify maintenance, monitor water quality and more.
• Faucet designs and options: Quality can vary in faucet styles and options among different RO systems. Look for a system that works seamlessly with your preferences and current kitchen design. Culligan RO systems, for example, offer options including brushed nickel, matte black, chrome and bronze — plus integrated monitor lights for real-time, at-a-glance filter life and water quality insights.
• Go faucet-free: Some RO systems offer the ability to access filtered water without replacing your regular faucet. With Culligan’s innovative ClearLink PRO™ technology, you can switch between RO and tap water with the touch of a button.

#4: Understanding Total Costs

Every water filter solution comes at a cost, but the best reverse osmosis system can fit your budget over the long term. That’s because you’ll know all the costs of RO upfront, from purchase price to ongoing maintenance. For example, Culligan RO filters last up to two years and the reverse osmosis membrane lasts up to five years, meaning you can stay fully aware of when your filters will need changing and how much it will cost.

#5: Analyzing Quality

When it comes to water treatment systems, it’s not just filter longevity that determines quality. You should also look for:

• System efficiency
• Durable, space-saving designs
• Third-party certifications for contaminant reduction
• Satisfaction guarantees
• Expert support and service

With hassle-free maintenance and filter changes, Culligan customers like Tiana L. in California enjoy the convenience of both the RO system itself and the accompanying expert service. “I love that the water is easily accessible from my own kitchen faucet. I also like that every year I get a service call, no added expense to switch out all filters.”

Top Reverse Osmosis Systems

You have plenty of options for a house water filter. That’s why it’s important to compare top systems with different features: <h3> Aquasential® Smart Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System

This top-of-the-line choice is equipped with smart features and is also the world’s most efficient reverse osmosis syste,.* It’s 3 to 5 times more efficient than other leading ROs, which means less water usage and lower water bills. The Smart RO is also certified to reduce more than 90 contaminants and, for even more control, you can choose from options like an additional arsenic filter or our Culligan Mineral Boost Cartridge.

Aquasential® Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System

This advanced system offers all the benefits of the smart RO but without the smart functionality, Like the Smart RO, it’s certified to reduce 18 times more contaminants than the leading standard pitcher filter.** It also offers the same premium faucet designs and optional ClearLink PRO™ technology for added convenience.

Aquasential Tankless Reverse Osmosis System

If you need a smaller reverse osmosis system that can deliver a high volume of filtered drinking water to your home, look no further than this compact option. It can supply up to 20 times more water per day than traditional RO systems and offers an advanced four-stage filtration process, including a 2-in-1 sediment and carbon filter.

Benefits of Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration

RO water filtration systems provide benefits for your home, wellness and budget, such as:

• Convenience: Enjoy a virtually limitless supply of fresh, filtered water right from your faucet without the hassle of frequent refills and filter changes or a big pitcher taking up fridge space.
• Cost: Know the total cost of ownership before you purchase and count on long-lasting filters, membranes and filter housing. Plus, you’ll save money by reducing your reliance on single-use bottled water.
• Space savings: Make the best use of your home’s space with thoughtful, compact designs and professional installation.
• Comprehensive treatment: Complete RO filtration solutions can address a wide range of impurities — often including emerging contaminants that may not yet be covered by water quality regulations. You’ll also enjoy cleaner, clearer water with fewer taste, odor and appearance concerns.
• Plastic reduction: Keep single-use bottles from ending up in landfills and avoid extra exposure to additional contaminants like microplastics.
• Complementary solutions: Your reverse osmosis system will work excellently with a water softener for even more control over your water, including its feel and impact on you and your home.
• Peace of mind: Perhaps most importantly, RO systems allow you to enjoy every sip of tap water knowing that it’s been treated with cutting-edge technology.

The ability to access filtered water right from the faucet is a big benefit for our customers, especially those who consume a high volume of water as a household – like Gabe G. in Michigan: “I love that my family is never out of water! We are big water drinkers over here. And I’m grateful to have a solution that is environmentally friendly. No more plastic water bottle waste. No more water filter pitchers that haven’t been refilled when you want water.”

Reverse Osmosis System FAQs

Tank vs. Tankless RO system: What’s best for my home?

Both RO filter systems have their advantages, so it depends on your home and your needs. If you’re short on space, a tankless RO system is a great option as it features a compact design. These systems also are great for homes that use a high volume of drinking water – the Culligan Aquasential® Tankless RO can supply up to 20 times more water daily than traditional reverse osmosis systems. If more comprehensive filtration is your focus, then a tanked system like our Aquasential® Smart Reverse Osmosis System could be a better choice. This option offers up to 7 stages of filtration with 14 filter options, and is certified to reduce more than 90 contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, arsenic and forever chemicals (PFAS).

What is the best reverse osmosis system for a small home?

If your under-sink or utility room space is limited, our tankless RO could work best because of its compact design. This system uses a four-stage filtration process and is third-party certified to reduce the metals, salts and minerals in your water known as TDS (total dissolved solids). Plus, it can be customized with features like the Culligan Mineral Boost+ Cartridge which adds calcium, magnesium and potassium for optimally alkaline, pH-balanced water.

What is the best reverse osmosis system for a large home?

One of the best RO systems is our Aquasential® Smart Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System. In addition to offering 14 filter options and up to 7 stages of filtration, it includes smart features like filter change alerts, water usage tracking, contaminant reduction tracking and more right from your phone using the Culligan Connect App. However, if your primary interest is having unlimited filtered water on tap, you may prefer the tankless option, which can provide unlimited filtered water on demand.

Does a reverse osmosis system preserve the value of my home?

For many prospective buyers, a reverse osmosis system could be seen as an upgraded feature of your home, adding to its overall value. In fact, smart home technology is highly sought after in today’s market, making our Aquasential Smart RO filter system a good choice.

Get the Right Water Filtration System for Your Home

Choosing the best reverse osmosis system is a journey — one that begins when you decide it’s time to take control of your water quality. And here at Culligan, we’re committed to supporting you through that journey.

We’re proud to provide millions of customers like Terri D. in Alberta with high-quality drinking water and friendly, helpful service. “I have been drinking and cooking with Culligan reverse osmosis (RO) water for 36 years,” says Terri. “When I purchased a rural home in 2021, I rented and had an RO unit installed in my home. I love the convenience of RO water at my kitchen sink, and once a year Culligan comes and checks my water system and replaces the filters and battery. Whenever I call the office, they are always friendly … very personable and professional.” Are you ready to find the best RO system for your home? Start by scheduling your free, in-home water test and consultation.

*Efficiency is based on 3rd party testing to NSF/ANSI standards for a tanked RO system.

**Aquasential RO and Smart RO when configured with post-filter and Total Defense cartridge