If you’re looking for a Drinking Water Filter for your home, it’s likely that Berkey’s Benchtop range has come up on your radar. While Berkey is one of the most popular, efficient water filter brands on the market, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best.
You only have to search a little longer to come across Phoenix.
In this article, we will compare the Berkey Gravity Water Filter range with their Phoenix counterparts to see how they compare in the ultimate showdown for best value water filter in 2024.
Read on for all the details so you can make an informed decision when the time comes to buy the best water filter for your home.
MATERIALS USED
Both Berkey and Phoenix use high polish 304 stainless steel with a spigot (tap) made from BPA free high impact FDA grade black polypropylene plastic.
SIZES AVAILABLE
Berkey Sizes
The Berkey water system comes in several different models. The most important factor to consider is the number of people that the specific Berkey water filter model would be able to supply drinking water.
The second most important factor is the purpose you intend to use the filter for.
For example, will you be using the water filter system to supply just drinking water or would the water from the Berkey also be needed for hygiene and cooking purposes?
Finally, would you be using the Berkey system for everyday use or only in emergencies?
Berkey’s current range of countertop water filters is as follows:
- Travel Berkey - 1.5 Gallons (5.8L)
- Big Berkey - 2.25 Gallons (8.5L)
- Royal Berkey - 3.25 Gallons (12.3L)
- Imperial Berkey - 4.5 Gallons (17L)
- Crown Berkey - 6 Gallons (22.7L)
As you can see, Berkey provides many different options for all types of situations.
Phoenix Sizes
When it comes to the Phoenix, they’ve made the decision making process simple and cater for the most common capacities that our customers prefer, based on the size of their household as listed below.
- 8-Litre – For up to 3 people
- 12-Litre – For up to 4 people
If you’re not planning on catering for large groups of people, or assisting your street during an emergency like a bushfire or flood, then a Phoenix will likely be perfect for your family.
CARTRIDGE PERFORMANCE
Berkey Performance
Berkey Systems equipped with Black Berkey Elements removes:
- Viruses (99.999%)
- Pathogenic bacteria (99.9999%)
- Chloramine (below lab detectable limit)
- Trihalomethanes (99.8%)
- Pharmaceuticals (99.9%)
- Most heavy metals
- Pesticides (below lab detectable limit)
Phoenix systems equipped with the powerful Phoenix Carbon cartridges removes:
- Greater than 99.9999% of E.coli, Salmonella, Cholera, Terrigena, and all other bacteria.
- Greater than 99.9% of cysts such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
- Greater than 98% of Chlorine
- Greater than 98% of heavy metals like Lead
- Greater than 98% of VOCs
- Greater than 98% of pesticides
- Greater than 98% of chemical contaminants
The main advantage of the Phoenix Gravity’s purification technology is that it filters only the harmful contaminants in your water – such as pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and cysts, and chemical contaminants such as Chlorine, Lead, Heavy Metals, VOCs and Pesticides, while leaving the naturally present beneficial substances such as sodium, potassium, chlorides and other minerals to remain in your water.
If you’re serious about results, like we are, you won’t find a problem with either Berkey or Phoenix when it comes to what they are protecting you from.
PRICE
This is a big one, and we’ll let the numbers speak for themselves. So we are comparing apples with apples, we compare the prices for the 2 most common sizes our customers need: 8L and 12L.
Berkey Price
You’ll pay $659.99 for a 2.25 Gallon Berkey system (8.5L) and $729.99 for a 3.25 Gallon Berkey System (12.3L).
Replacement Per 2 Cartridges: $309.99
Phoenix Price
You’ll pay $354.99 for a 1.75 Gallon System (8L) and $434.99 for a 2.6 Gallon System (12L).
Compared to the 2 closest sizes in the Berkey range, a Phoenix system is significantly cheaper.
Replacement Per 2 Cartridges: $139.99
Assuming you’ll replace your cartridges once every 12 months, you will also save $170 a year with Phoenix.
CARTRIDGE LIFESPAN AND REPLACEMENT
Berkey Cartridge Lifespan
Each pair of Black Berkey cartridges have a lifespan of 22,000 Litres (less than 2 cents per gallon of water).
Phoenix Cartridge Lifespan
Each pair of Phoenix Carbon Filter cartridges included with the system have a lifespan of 20,000 litres! (less than 2 cents per gallon of water)
While the Berkey will give you a little over 2,000 more litres per pair of cartridges, the cost of replacing two Phoenix cartridges is roughly half the price of Berkey replacement cartridges.
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
Now that we know that we are choosing between two of the world’s best water filter products, we look to find the best product in terms of value for money.
Phoenix are so confident you will love their product that they are happy to let you try it for free for 100 days. If you don’t like it, you can put it straight back in the box and send it back for a full refund.
Berkey aren’t currently offering to match this trial period.
|
System |
Berkey |
Phoenix |
|
Sizes Available |
Travel Berkey - 1.5 Gal (5.8L) Big Berkey - 2.25 Gal (8.5L) Royal Berkey - 3.25 Gal (12.3L) Imperial Berkey - 4.5 Gal (17L) Crown Berkey - 6 Gal (22.7L) |
8L 12L |
|
Housing Warranty |
1 Year |
10 years |
|
Price |
$599.99 - 1.5 Gal (5.8L) $659.99 - 2.25 Gal (8.5L) $729.99 - 3.25 Gal (12.3L) $809.99 - 4.5 Gal (17L) $854.99 - 6 Gal (22.7L) |
$354.99 - 8L $434.99 - 12L |
|
Price Of Replacement Cartridge (2 Cartridges) |
$309.99 |
$139.99 |
|
Cartridge |
Fast Flowing Carbon |
Fast Flowing Carbon |
|
Cartridge Warranty |
2 Years (calculated 6 monthly) |
12 Months (calculated 6 monthly) |
|
Cartridge Flow Rate (2 Cartridges) |
8L per hour |
8L per hour |
|
Contaminants Removed |
Viruses (99.999%) Pathogenic bacteria (99.9999%) Chloramine (below lab detectable limit) Trihalomethanes (99.8%) Pharmaceuticals (99.9%) Most heavy metals Pesticides (below lab detectable limit) |
Viruses > 99.9% Lead > 99.9% Chlorine > 99.9% E.Coli > 99.999% Cysts > 99.9% Volatile Organic Compounds > 98% Pesticides > 98% Bad Odors and Bad Tastes |
|
Lifespan Of 2 Cartridges |
22,000 Litres |
20,000 Litres |
|
Product Material |
High polish 304 stainless steel |
High polish 304 stainless steel |
|
Free Trial |
None |
100 Days |
SHOULD I BUY BERKEY OR PHOENIX?
At My Water Filter, we review each product and cartridge, ensuring we provide only the best in water filtration at great prices. For us, it’s all about the quality of the water you are pouring into your glass for you and your families best health.
Now it’s time to summarise so we can pick the winner of the best value water filter in the ultimate Berkey vs Phoenix Showdown.
We established that we are comparing apples for apples in terms of Filter Performance.
Both Berkey and Phoenix are very reputable brands and use high quality 304 stainless steel.
Berkey and Phoenix both provide two brilliant carbon block fast flowing filters and have the capacity to add 2 additional cartridges.
Phoenix is almost $300 cheaper on the 12L and $305 cheaper on the 8L.
Phoenix provides a whopping 10-year warranty on their systems while Berkey only offers 1 year.
The biggest bonus with the Phoenix is that it has a 100-day free trial!
This takes away any risk of trialing & using this product for 10 years.
Having said that, if you want to return a Phoenix after you’ve purchased it, it needs to be sent back in good condition in the original packaging, within 100 days.
Our #1 Pick: A Phoenix Gravity Water Filter (Best Option for Quality and Price)
Our #2 Pick: A Berkey Gravity Water Filter (Best Option for Variety of Sizes)