Best on-tap water filter UK: BRITA vs Waterdrop vs FlowPure
- Mar 10
- 7 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
If you’re looking for the best on-tap water filter in the UK, we’ve compared three of the most popular options — FlowPure, Waterdrop and BRITA — to help you work out which is actually worth buying.
Rather than judging them on marketing claims alone, we looked at filtration performance, filter lifespan, running costs, build quality, tap compatibility and real customer feedback.
Our best overall tap water filter is the FlowPure Pro Tap Filter, while Waterdrop stands out for value and BRITA offers a simpler option from a familiar brand.
Quick verdict
Please note:Â This page may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Recommendations are always based on independent research and analysis.
For all the hard water homes out there, it's worth mentioning from the get-go that none of these tap water filters soften hard water. They don't remove the calcium and magnesium minerals responsible for hardness, so they aren't an alternative to a water softener.
FlowPure is the exception in one respect: the manufacturer claims it can help reduce limescale build-up, which we look at in more detail below.
*All prices and specifications correct at time of publishing
FlowPure – best overall tap water filter
The FlowPure Pro Tap Filter is our overall pick if filtration performance is the main reason you're buying an on-tap water filter. It has a stainless steel housing and uses multiple filtration stages, including activated carbon, activated alumina and a ceramic filtration layer.
The ceramic stage is stated to filter down to 0.1 microns, making it the finest stated filtration of the three filters in this comparison.
FlowPure says the system reduces 150+ substances, including: lead, chlorine, microplastics and nanoplastics, PFAS and other “forever chemicals”, THMs (trihalomethanes), arsenic, selenium and pesticides.
That's one of the reasons it takes our top spot. Waterdrop is cheaper to run and BRITA is the more familiar name, but neither offers the same breadth of stated contaminant reduction.
What about limescale?
FlowPure is also the only filter specifically marketed as helping with limescale build-up.
It's important to understand what that means. FlowPure does not soften water or remove the calcium and magnesium that make water hard, so it won't eliminate limescale altogether.
However, if you mainly want better filtered drinking water and would also like to reduce how quickly visible scale builds up in your kettle, FlowPure has an advantage over Waterdrop and BRITA, which don't make the same limescale claim.
What customers say
Customer feedback is another reason we've ranked FlowPure first.
The filter currently has a 4.8-star rating on the brand’s website, with customers frequently mentioning improved taste and straightforward installation. That positive picture is echoed on Trustpilot too, where FlowPure currently has a 4.3-star rating.
To get a better picture of how FlowPure performs in real homes, we analysed 100 FlowPure customer reviews for recurring positives and negatives. The feedback was strongly positive, with 92% of customers rating it 4 or 5 stars.
Cost
FlowPure sits at the slightly higher end price-wise, which reflects its finer filtration and more premium build.
On the most cost-effective subscription with 2 filters delivered every 6 months:
First year:Â ÂŁ78.98
Ongoing annual cost:Â ÂŁ68
If you’d prefer a one-off purchase instead, you can use the code HARDWATERHOMEUK for 10% off.
Best for
Buyers who want maximum filtration
Those concerned with fluoride / limescale
People who find subscriptions convenient (non subscription basis also available)
Not ideal for
Budget-conscious buyers
Waterdrop – best value tap water filter
Waterdrop is our best-value option, particularly if you want a stainless steel tap filter without FlowPure's higher ongoing cost.
The WD-FC-06 uses food-grade 304 stainless steel housing and a carbon-block filtration system combined with mesh and PP cotton layers. It's primarily designed to reduce chlorine and improve the taste and smell of tap water while filtering certain particles.
Its big advantage is filter capacity. Waterdrop states that each cartridge can treat up to 1,200 litres, compared with 600 litres for the BRITA On Tap V.
At the current replacement-filter price, it also has the lowest annual running cost of the three, making it a good choice if you're more interested in taste, convenience and value than the more extensive filtration claims offered by FlowPure.
What the reviews tell us
The Waterdrop filter currently holds around a 4.4-star rating on Amazon. After reviewing recent feedback, the majority of users reported positive experiences, particularly mentioning:
Easy installation
Improved taste
Strong water flow
The small number of negative reviews typically mentioned installation issues if the seal wasn’t fitted correctly, occasional leaks, or difficulty fitting certain taps.
Overall, the feedback suggests most users find the filter simple to install and effective at improving drinking water taste.
Cost
Waterdrop has the lowest ongoing filter cost of the three options we've compared.
First year: ÂŁ72.99
Ongoing annual: ÂŁ49.32 (for recommended 4 filters per year)
Best for
Homes wanting low ongoing costs
Households with higher water use
People who prefer stainless steel instead of plastic
Not ideal for
Buyers wanting very fine filtration
Those concerned with fluoride / limescale
BRITA On Tap V – best basic tap water filter
BRITA On Tap V is the one we'd consider if you want a simple filter from a familiar water-filtration brand rather than the widest contaminant reduction.
Its four-stage filtration system is designed primarily to improve drinking-water quality and taste, reducing chlorine, particles larger than 0.6 microns and certain metals including lead and copper.
Unlike FlowPure and Waterdrop, the housing is plastic. BRITA also states that the system does not reduce water hardness or limescale, so it isn't our first choice for households where scale is an important consideration.
The biggest thing to check before ordering is tap compatibility. A noticeable theme in lower-rated customer reviews is difficulty fitting the unit to certain UK taps, depending on the tap and aerator thread.
What the reviews tell us
The product currently holds an average rating of around 4.2 stars on Amazon. When we looked through recent reviews, the majority were positive, with many users mentioning improved taste and simple installation.
However, a notable number of lower-rated reviews mentioned compatibility issues with UK taps. In practice, this means some households may find the filter doesn’t fit their tap properly, depending on the aerator thread.
If you do decide to try it, buying through Amazon or another retailer with a straightforward return policy is a good idea.
Cost
The Brita filter option comes in middle of the pack.
First year: ÂŁ75.50
Ongoing annual: ÂŁ58.50 (for recommended 3 filters per year)
Best for
Households who prefer a familiar brand
Buyers looking for a simple tap filter and taste improvement
Homes that use less water
Not ideal for
People wanting strong filtration performance
Homes with unusual or non-standard taps
Buyers looking to avoid plastic
Those concerned with fluoride / limescale
Which on-tap water filter should you choose?
For us, FlowPure is the best on-tap water filter of the three. Its stainless steel build, 0.1-micron stated filtration and much broader range of contaminant-reduction claims make it the strongest option if you're buying a filter primarily for water quality.
It's also our pick for a hard-water home because, although it doesn't soften the water, it's the only one of the three specifically designed to help reduce limescale build-up.
Choose Waterdrop instead if price is more important. Its stainless steel housing, 1,200-litre stated filter capacity and low replacement-filter costs make it a very good-value everyday filter.
BRITA On Tap VÂ still has appeal if you want a familiar brand and relatively simple taste filtration, but its plastic construction, lower capacity and reported compatibility problems mean we'd choose FlowPure or Waterdrop first.
Alternatives to on-tap water filters
Under-sink filters
If you want something more effective against limescale, under sink water filters sit neatly in your cupboard and need less frequent filter changes. They’re low maintenance and a good balance of price, ease, and performance. Our best balance between price and performance is the Maverick Mav 02.
Read more Best under sink water filters UK
Water softeners
If hard water is the main issue, this is the real solution. A water softener treats the whole house, helping reduce limescale in showers, appliances, and pipework — not just at the tap.
Reverse osmosis (RO)
For the highest level of filtration and removal of the minerals that cause limescale, RO systems remove far more from your water than standard filters. Best suited if your focus is ultra-clean drinking water, but they’re more expensive and involved to install.
When it comes to reverse osmosis, Waterdrop filters are a well-known option — particularly for compact plumbed in under-sink systems and countertop devices (no plumbing needed) that aim to remove a wide range of impurities.
Read more about reverse osmosis systems for hard water
Do on-tap water filters remove limescale?
No. Standard on-tap water filters do not soften hard water, so they don't remove the calcium and magnesium minerals responsible for limescale.
Their main job is drinking-water filtration — for example reducing chlorine, certain metals, particles and other contaminants, depending on the filter.
That means even after fitting a tap filter, you may still see limescale forming in your kettle.
Of the three filters we've compared, FlowPure is the only one that specifically claims to help reduce limescale build-up. That may make it the better choice for a hard-water household, but it still isn't the same thing as removing hardness minerals from the water.
If you want to tackle limescale at the source, you'll need a different type of treatment.
What actually removes limescale from tap water?
If you want to stop limescale at the source, there are two main options:
Water softeners
These systems remove calcium and magnesium from the water supply using ion exchange. This is the most effective way to eliminate limescale in the home.
Reverse osmosis systems
These filters remove a wide range of dissolved minerals, including those responsible for hardness, although they’re usually installed under the sink rather than on the tap.
Keen to filter your shower water too?
Many people start by tackling hard water in the kitchen, then realise it's also affecting their skin and hair. If that's the case, a shower filter could be your next upgrade.
Our guide to the best shower filter for hard water UK compares the most popular options side by side. We've also looked in depth at real Curo Skin customer reviews and asked is Hello Klean worth it? by analysing feedback from 100 buyers.
All product specifications, pricing and review ratings correct at 4 March 2026.
Author bio: Lucinda Smalley is the founder of Hard Water Home, a UK-based consumer site helping households in hard water areas understand the challenges and solutions more easily — and make smarter choices for their health and homes. Based in Poole, she also co-runs an award-winning plumbing company, giving her first-hand insight into how water quality affects everything from appliances to skin and hair. When she’s not writing, she’s happiest at the beach with her family and a good cup of coffee (minus the floaty bits!). More about us ➡
