How Much Tankless Reverse Osmosis Systems Really Cost


Tankless reverse osmosis systems cost between $180 and $1000. The price of a tankless system varies depending on the type of the RO (e.g., remineralizing, UV sterilizing), model, efficiency, size, and filter lifespan. The gallons of water a system can purify in a day (or ‘GPD’) has the greatest impact on price.

More than half of all Americans are concerned about contaminants in their drinking water. Reverse osmosis is the most effective way to filter drinking water at home and you may be wondering what a tankless reverse osmosis system is capable of, and how much it costs to buy, install and use.

This article will take you through everything you need to know about tankless reverse osmosis systems, what their advantages are, and more importantly, what the different costs are – broken down by system type and brand.

  • Under-sink systems are the most common type of tankless RO and range between $200 and $1000.
  • The GPD, or ‘Gallons Per Day’ purified by an RO has the greatest impact on price. Most tankless RO systems generate between 400 and 800 GPD, with most 800 GPD systems costing $700-$1000.
  • Remineralization and UV-light sterilization tankless RO systems generally cost more than countertop and under-sink units.

What is a ‘tankless’ reverse osmosis system?

Tankless reverse osmosis (RO) is a water filtration system that operates without a water tank.

Instead of storing treated water like standard RO systems, the water comes directly from the water supply, passes through the RO membrane (and other filters) for contaminant removal, and then straight to your faucet, where it is fresh, clean and ready for drinking.

However, it’s important to be aware there are manufacturers that advertise their reverse osmosis systems as being ‘tankless’ when they actually have an internal water tank.

Just because the water tank is hidden does not make an RO system tankless.

So, when considering which tankless reverse osmosis system is the right one for you, be sure to go through the specifications of each model to be sure you are purchasing exactly what you want. A good example of such a reverse osmosis system with an internal tank is the SimPure Y7 UV Countertop Reverse Osmosis system.

It has an internal water tank that you wouldn’t know exists if you didn’t look:

SimPure Y7 UV RO System showing internal water tank storage
SimPure Y7 UV RO System with internal water tank

Advantages of a tankless RO system

When it comes to cost, tankless reverse osmosis systems are often more expensive than those that include a tank. They also require electricity to operate, unlike other reverse osmosis systems, which only require water pressure.

However, there are several benefits to choosing a tankless RO system over other types of RO systems:

  • Easy to install, maintain and manage – all you need to do is change the filters.
  • Many come with “smart” features – such as integrated TDS meters for water quality, LED indicators on system components, filter change notifications.
  • Saves space – compact and often appealing designs.
  • Low water bills and low water wastage – most tankless RO’s have a low wastewater-to-water ratio of 2:1 (or better).
  • Suitable for homes with low water pressure – tankless RO systems do not require high feed water pressure, unlike traditional systems.
  • Provides clean, fresh water – filtered water is not stored in a tank.
  • Unlimited water output – because they are tankless there is no maximum amount of water that can be treated (and consumed) in a day.
  • Perform at a higher flow rate than larger systems as they have an internal pump to direct water.

The main advantage of a tankless reverse osmosis system is obviously that is does not have a water tank for storage. This provides two benefits:

  1. Saves on space – a tankless RO system can easily fit under the counter in almost every home, condo or RV. In fact, there are even countertop RO systems.
  2. Removes the risk of germ contamination – tanks are an ideal environment for the growth of mold and bacteria, a tankless system removes this risk.

A tankless reverse osmosis system requires very little maintenance, other than changing filters and faucets or batteries, which are not time-consuming to do at all. Unlike RO systems with a tank, that require regular tank cleaning and sanitizing.

The costs of a tankless RO system

Tankless Reverse Osmosis systems cost between $300 and $1000, depending on the type of system. Countertop, remineralization and standard under-sink tankless RO systems usually cost less than systems with UV sterilization capabilities.

Cost of tankless reverse osmosis systems. Cost is broken down by system type and brand. Typically, the higher the GPD, the more expensive the system. Tankless RO's with remineralization filters and UV-light sterilization are the most expensive type.
The cost of tankless reverse osmosis systems. Data sourced from the relevant brands website. Image created for waterpurificationguide.com.

So, the standard prices of the most common types of tankless RO systems are around:

  • Countertop tankless reverse osmosis: $300 to $400.
  • Under-sink tankless reverse osmosis: $200 to $1000.
  • Tankless reverse osmosis with UV sterilizer: ~$1000.
  • Remineralizer tankless reverse osmosis: $300 to $1000.

Tankless RO systems usually cost more than standard systems. The price is affected by a number of variables, but it is most closely related to the daily water generation requirement. 

Price influencing factors

There are several factors that influence the price or cost of a tankless reverse osmosis system:

1. GPD – The GPD or “Gallons Per Day” purified by an RO is the single most controlling factor of price. the greater the GPD the more expensive the system. Most tankless RO systems generate between 400 GPD and 800 GPD of clean drinking water.

2. The type of RO system – Each type of RO has its own unique features, tankless RO systems that use UV-sterilization are typically the most expensive. The type of system you want will have the second greatest effect on price (after the GPD).

3. Certifications – Some tankless RO systems carry particular certifications from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), meaning they have been tested and certified to remove specific contaminants from water. For example, an NSF 42 certified tankless RO can remove chlorine and chloramine from drinking water. Tankless RO systems with NSF certification often have a higher price tag than those without.

4. The model/brand – Manufacturers are not the same. Some simply charge higher prices than others for different reasons, and of course, some are of a better quality than others.

5. Number of filters – Tankless RO systems come with an RO membrane and a range or pre-filters; more pre-filters will result in a higher price tag. Of course, more filtration stages than others means they get rid of more contaminants.

6. Convenience and efficiency – This is typically how fast it produces water and how much waste water the system produces. Usually, the lower the wastewater produced the higher the purchase cost.

7. Maintenance costs – Most tankless RO systems have little maintenance but some require less than others. For instance, a countertop RO does not require installation costs, like an under-sink RO can.

Types of tankless RO systems

The type of RO has a huge impact on the cost of the unit. In fact, aside from the GPD generated by a system, it will have the greatest impact on price.

There are 5 types of tankless reverse osmosis systems:

1. Countertop: A countertop tankless RO system incorporates several filtration stages into a small unit that is intended for countertop display. These units require very little installation and are often aesthetically pleasing, designed to rest on the bench top and to be seen.

2. Hot water dispensers: These tankless RO systems purify the water before heating it to between 100 and 200 degrees fahrenheit.

3. Under-sink: This is a standard tankless RO system that is installed in the space under the kitchen sink. These tankless systems are the closest to the traditional RO systems people are familiar with.

3. Remineralization: In a reverse osmosis remineralizer, vital minerals and micronutrients are reintroduced to the water after the pollutants are removed. Calcium, magnesium, and potassium are some of the minerals most frequently added.

4. UV sterilizers: These tankless RO systems combine filters and a semi-permeable membrane with a UV light to kill germs (bacteria, viruses etc) in the water.

5. Remineralization with UV sterilizing light: This type of tankless RO system combines a remineralizer with a UV sterilizing light and are usually at the high end of the price scale.

The following table gives the price range of the different types of tankless RO systems, with some examples from a number of different brands (keep reading below for more detailed information on the different brands of tankless RO systems).

RO TYPERO BRANDPRICES
CountertopWaterdrop N1 75GPD
Waterdrop K19 75GPD
$299.00
$399.00
Hot Water DispenserWaterdrop K6$799.00
Under-sink
Bevilt 800GPD
Deepuro 400GPD
Deepuro 600GPD
Frizzlife PD400 400GPD
Waterdrop G2 400GPD
Icepure UTR400A 600GPD
Frizzlife PD500 500GPD
Waterdrop G2 600GPD
Waterdrop D6 600GPD
APEC ROTL-AIO 600GPD
Brio PRISM Tankless RO System 600GPD
NU Aqua 600GPD 
Pureit 525GPD
Waterdrop G3 400GPD
iSpring RO500AK-ORB 500GPD
Pureit 569GPD
APEC ROTL 600GPD
Frizzlife PD800 – TAM4 800GPD
Brio Aquus Tankless RO system 800 GPD
$169.99
$208.73
$282.20
$298.75
$299.99
$299.99
$319.99
$359.99
$379.00
$399.99
$459.99
$479.99
$479.00
$499.00
$508.00
$549.00
$649.99
$699.00
$999.99
RemineralizationFrizzlife PX500 500GPD
Frizzlife PD600-TAM3 600GPD
iSpring RO500AK-BN 500GPD
Waterdrop D4 400GPD
Waterdrop G2 400GPD
Waterdrop D6 600GPD
Waterdrop G3 400GPD with smart display
$479.99
$469.99 
$410.86
$319.99
$299.99
$408.00
$528.00
UV sterilizingWaterdrop 800 GPD$999.00
Remineralization
with UV sterilizing light
Waterdrop G3P800 800GPD$1,018.99

Cost of installation

You do not need to be a professional to install a tankless reverse osmosis system. Installation requires just a few things like a wrench, tape, and power drill, meaning that you probably already have them on hand and can easily do the installation yourself and save yourself some money.

All you need to do is follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer in your specific user manual recommendation carefully. Installing a tankless RO can take anywhere from 30 seconds for a countertop version to 2 hours for an under-sink.

However, if you are unsure at all, you can always hire a professional plumber to come do it for you to avoid any problems, because even the slightest installation mistakes can cause an RO system to malfunction.

Depending on the type of system and how complicated the installation process is, installation prices can range anywhere from around  $100 to $800, depending on your plumber.

How tankless reverse osmosis systems are different

A tankless reverse osmosis system operates in the same way other reverse osmosis systems do, by applying pressure to push water through a semi-permeable membrane. The RO membrane has tiny pore spaces that allows clean water to pass through, but stops any dissolved solids, heavy metals, chemicals or dirt, effectively removing contaminants from the water.

A tankless reverse osmosis system typically only has two to three stages (although more is possible), including a sediment pre-filter stage and/or a carbon pre-filter stage, and an RO membrane, after which the water is ready to be used at the tap.

Remineralization systems have one extra filter (that reintroduces the minerals) and UV-sterilizers have an extra UV light decontamination stage.

Compared to most standard reverse osmosis systems that often have between three and five filtration stages.

The stages on a tankless RO system are explained below:

Sediment prefilter

The prefilter removes all the bigger impurities from the water during the first stage of reverse osmosis filtering.

In this early stage, contaminants like dust, debris, and dirt, are taken out of the water. Essentially any contaminant larger than 5 microns is eliminated by this filter.

While the smaller contaminants move on to the next stage with the water.

Carbon prefilter

A reverse osmosis system uses an activated carbon filter to remove contaminants that affect the taste and smell of water, including chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and even some PFAS. The carbon filter is often responsible for enhancing the water’s flavor and making it more palatable for consumption.

Semi-permeable membrane

The semi-permeable membrane, or ‘RO membrane’, is where a reverse osmosis system cleans the water of all other impurities, including heavy metals, salts and pesticides. Since the membrane in the majority of reverse osmosis devices has tiny pores the size of 0.0001 microns or smaller, any bigger molecules are removed with ease.

The RO membrane is actually the most important stage, where an RO system eliminates up to 98 percent of total dissolved solids (TDS) from any type of water, and when it comes to a tankless reverse osmosis system, this is the very last stage because when the water flows out of this membranes, it goes directly to the faucet ready to be consumed.

Note: Some tankless RO systems include a remineralization filter that adds healthy minerals back into the water and makes it more alkaline before the water reaches the faucet. In UV-light sterilization units, the UV-light stage is immediately after the RO membrane and deactivates microbiological contaminants, such as bacteria.

Are tankless reverse osmosis systems worth it?

Tankless reverse osmosis systems are worth purchasing as they produce clean drinking water on-demand, save space, require little maintenance, and produce fresher water than a standard RO. They also have a high water flow rate, often include smart features, and typically produce less wastewater.

Water Purification Guide has more information on reverse osmosis systems that waste less water available here.

Theresa Orr

Theresa Orr is an Earth Scientist who specializes in determining past climates from rocks using geochemistry. Her passion for clean water drives her to breakdown the science to provide easy to understand information that everyone can read.

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