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8 Best Water Ionizers of 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

Alkaline Ionized Water on white_food impressions_shutterstock

Alkaline Ionized Water on white_food impressions_shutterstock

Developed in Japan as integral support for the alkaline diet, water ionizers can turn the most boring and unpleasant tasting tap water into a source of delicious, health-supporting alkaline water.

Based on the idea that a highly acidic diet of processed meats, refined sugars, and high-fat dairy products imbalances the body, proponents of alkaline diets seek to balance their body’s natural nutrient productions with highly alkaline foods and drinks. While this generally takes the form of more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, purified and alkalinized water has become a popular and great-tasting supplement in these diets as well.

Whether you’re looking to install a water ionizer for its taste benefits or health benefits, choosing to invest in a system with robust purifying features will always pay great dividends. We’ve tested dozens of water purifiers and ionizers in our own homes to bring you this list of reviews for the best water ionizers around, so read on to discover everything you need to know about this latest trend in drinking water!


A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2023)

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Aqua Ionizer Deluxe AWL-7000 Water Ionizer Aqua Ionizer Deluxe AWL-7000 Water Ionizer
  • One-touch versatility
  • Long-lasting ionizing plates
  • Built-in 1-year filter
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Pure Hydration PH127 Alkaline Water Ionizer Pure Hydration PH127 Alkaline Water Ionizer
  • Easy to install
  • Excellent filtration system
  • Simple one-touch dispensing operation
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Bawell 2195 Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Bawell 2195 Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer
  • Full lifetime warranty
  • Produces pH ranges from 3.0 to 12.0
  • Two-stage internal filter system
  • aQuasafe Home Water Ionizer aQuasafe Home Water Ionizer
  • 5 preset water dispensing options
  • Built-in activated carbon filter lasts for a year or more
  • Self-cleaning design
  • IntelGadgets IT-580 Alkaline Water Ionizer IntelGadgets IT-580 Alkaline Water Ionizer
  • Best in class self-cleaning features
  • Remarkably accurate pH consistency
  • Easy push-button controls
  • The 8 Best Water Ionizers – Reviews 2023

    1. Aqua Ionizer Deluxe AWL-7000 Water Ionizer – Best Overall

    1Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 7.0

    With a quick glance at any online marketplace, you’ll see that there’s no shortage of water ionizers available to choose from – but of all the ionization systems we’ve tested, only the Aqua Ionizer Deluxe AWL-7000 truly outperforms all the hype surrounding this category of products.

    Featuring 7 water options, including 4 different degrees of ionized alkaline water, 1 non-ionized purified water, and 2 ionized acidic presets, the AWL-7000 offers a surprisingly easy-to-use interface with versatile flavor and health options. The platinum-coated titanium ionization plates are exceptionally durable and long-lasting, pairing nicely with the machine’s full 5-year warranty to make it a safe investment.

    Each built-in water filter for the Aqua Ionizer Deluxe is rated to purify over 1,500 gallons of water, or about a year’s supply of drinking water. This is backed up by the machine’s self-cleaning cycle, making it an exceptionally low-maintenance option. Overall, it’s easily our favorite countertop water ionizer.

    Pros
    • Seven different water dispensing modes provide one-touch versatility
    • Durable and long-lasting ionizing plates
    • Built-in 1-year filter requires zero maintenance and infrequent changes
    • Self-cleaning function further reduces maintenance requirements
    • 5-year warranty protects your water ionization investment
    Cons
    • Does not remove chlorine

    2. Pure Hydration PH127 Alkaline Water Ionizer – Best Value

    2Pure Hydration Alkaline Water Machine

    There’s something so refreshing about a water dispensing system that does exactly what it needs to, without any additional fuss or distracting added features. If your life or kitchen trends towards minimalism, the Pure Hydration Alkaline Water Ionizer will surely suit you well. When all is said and done, we think it’s the best water ionizer for the money available today.

    A built-in four cartridge system removes more than 99.9% of common water contaminants, as well as reinvigorating the water source with minerals and raising the pH before serving. It’s exceptionally quick and easy to install and includes a diverter valve that will adapt to any standard sink fitting.

    Perhaps the only downside of the PH127 from Pure Hydration is the frequency with which you’ll need to change the included filter cartridges. Given its lower initial price, though, this is a flaw but far from a dealbreaker.

    Pros
    • Inexpensive and easy to install
    • Excellent filtration system produces great tasting water
    • Simple one-touch dispensing operation
    • Slim countertop-friendly design
    Cons
    • Requires frequent filter changes

    3. Bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer – Premium Choice

    3bawell Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine

    If you’re already a devotee of the benefits of alkaline water or the alkaline diet, investing in a more substantial filtration and ionization system may be the next step in improving your home. When that’s the case, we can easily recommend Bawell’s Platinum Alkaline Water Ionizer Machine. It’s a marvel of ionizing technology and a significant investment in the quality and health benefits of your drinking water.

    Featuring an LCD screen that clearly displays the alkaline level, pH, and status of both of the machine’s integrated filters, you’ll never be left wondering exactly what you’re drinking. If we had one complaint about this ionization system, it would be that the filters require frequent changing – approximately every 6 to 9 months, on average.

    The sting of the Bawell’s larger price tag is easily diminished by its full lifetime warranty. On the rare occasions where you have difficulties with this well-designed machine, it’s easy to get in touch with the company and work things out in no time – just another reason we recommend the Platinum machine so highly.

    Pros
    • Only water ionizer to offer a full lifetime warranty
    • Produces pH ranges from 3.0 to 12.0
    • Two-stage internal filter system gives exceptionally clean-tasting purified drinking water
    • Electronic display clear shows pH and filter wear levels, making it easy to adjust
    Cons
    • Quite expensive
    • Requires frequent filter changes

    4. aQuasafe Home Water Ionizer

    4aQuasafe Home Water Ionizer

    For a sleek and attractive countertop option that doesn’t sacrifice utility for its good looks, consider the aQuasafe Home Water Ionizer. Featuring a remarkably similar design as our top pick, it’s a well-made water ionizer with clear, intuitive controls.

    With 5 options for water preferences, the aQuasafe makes it easy to customize your drinking habits. The integrated carbon filter is rated for an impressive 2,113 gallons of water filtration, lasting up to a year or more under average conditions.

    Our only gripe is the infrequency with which the 1-year warranty can be honored, as the company is very hard to get in touch with when problems arise. Given the self-cleaning nature of the machine, however, we found it to be a reliable and worthwhile addition to our home.

    Pros
    • 5 preset water dispensing options make it easy to gain specific health benefits
    • Built-in activated carbon filter lasts for a year or more and requires no maintenance
    • Self-cleaning design requires little to no maintenance
    • Clear, easy-to-read display gives plentiful information about the quality of your water
    Cons
    • Difficult to contact customer service
    • Somewhat pricey

    5. IntelGadgets Alkaline Water Ionizer

    5IntelGadgets

    Offering a simpler analog-style design than the many high-tech water ionizers we tested, IntelGadgets’ Alkaline Water Ionizer gave us some of the most consistent pH readings of any water ionizer in our reviews. A basic hard water filter combines with a carbon fiber filter to remove impurities like chlorine and pesticides, before passing through a final stage to become alkaline or acidified water.

    Precise pH adjustments are easy with the soft push-button display on the IT-580, and these remain true to the display thanks to a vigorous self-cleaning cycle on the machine. Whereas other water ionizers perform regular cleanings, the IT-580 automatically engages a 10-second cleaning after each use as well as a longer two-minute cleaning cycle that you can activate whenever necessary.

    All in all, IntelGadgets’ water ionizer is a fine choice for anyone who wants to really dial in exact and consistent water pHs, all in a conveniently compact countertop unit.

    Pros
    • Best in class self-cleaning features
    • Remarkably accurate pH consistency
    • Easy push-button controls
    • Compact and space-saving design
    Cons
    • Somewhat difficult to install, as the instructions aren’t entirely clear

    6. iRayer Alkaline Water Ionizer

    6Alkaline Water Ionizer

    Another excellent budget-friendly countertop option, the iRayer Alkaline Water Ionizer features many of the benefits we’ve come to expect from a compact ionizer. From multiple water dispensing modes to an active carbon water filter and self-cleaning function, it’s a well-designed piece of water treatment equipment that’s only held back by inconsistent manufacturing.

    First, the benefits: A large and intuitive LCD display shows water pH, current dispensing mode, remaining filter life, and more, and is easy to adjust with the press of a button. The water filter is rated for 6,000 liters, or somewhere between 6 and 9 months of regular use. Round those out with a self-cleaning function to prevent scale buildup, and the iRayer requires little to no regular maintenance.

    For the unit we tested, however, the claims to adjusting water pH did not hold out well against our independent testing. After speaking with others who had experience with this machine, opinions differed; while some machines produced consistent pH water, many did not.

    If you’re willing to do a fair amount of troubleshooting, the 5-year warranty on the iRayer makes it a very reasonably priced option.

    Pros
    • Offers 7 different water dispensing options for alkaline, non-ionized purified, or acidic water
    • One of the most affordable water ionizers we reviewed
    • Low maintenance thanks to integrated self-cleaning features
    • Long 5-year warranty for protecting your investment
    Cons
    • Inconsistent manufacturing
    • Inconsistent pH adjustments

    7. IonTech Compact Under Sink Alkaline Water Ionizer

    7IonTech IT-750

    One of the very few under sink ionizers to make our review list, we had high hopes for the IonTech since these models are especially well-suited for apartments with small kitchens. And while it works quite well once you get it set up, the process of installation and figuring out the controls was incredibly frustrating.

    At a glance, the included faucet top and compact under sink unit would seem to be a space savers dream come true. Add in variable water dispensing options, automatic cleaning features, and a 2-year warranty, and it looks like a great option for kitchens where space is at a premium.

    The catch? What little information you get with this machine is not nearly enough to set it up on your own unless you have significant plumbing installation experience. Between the hoses, clamps, T-connectors, and more hardware included, you’ll likely find it a daunting task, and hiring a professional installer is an expensive addition to an already too-expensive product.

    Pros
    • Compact and space-saving design
    • Low maintenance and self-cleaning
    Cons
    • Comes with insufficient instructions for installation
    • Quite difficult to install
    • Too expensive for what it offers

    8. Life Ionizer M9 Counter Top Water Ionizer

    8M9 Counter Top Water Ionizer

    In an attempt to combine countertop and under sink features in one product, Life Ionizer’s M9 has taken on quite a task. And while this might be a fine option in theory, in practice we found it to be needlessly cumbersome and overly expensive, all without any unique benefits to differentiate it from other products.

    While the lifetime warranty on parts and labor and powerful pre-filter system initially put this product in our good graces, contacting the company proved to be too difficult and fruitless to make these promises worthwhile.

    In short: pass on this water ionizer in favor of our top pick or best value choice; we think you’ll be much happier with either.

    Pros
    • Custom pre-filter system
    • Countertop or under sink design
    Cons
    • Too difficult to install
    • Lacking in company support for warranty and installation questions
    • Inconsistent pH results

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    Buyer’s Guide – Finding the Best Water Ionizers

    Selecting and installing a water ionizer in your home requires a substantial investment of time, money, and energy. Learning about how to choose the best water ionizer for your home, however, is much simpler: just read through this handy guide to develop a useful base for comparing all of the products available today, then compare it to the products in our review.

    How Does a Water Ionizer Work?

    First and foremost, water ionizers will take your existing source of tap water and run it through a system of purifiers, preparing it for ionization processes. Most water ionizers feature multi-stage filtration systems similar to an in-home water filter, making them a very useful addition to any home that has problems with the quality of its tap water.

    Next, the ionizer will utilize a precisely directed electrical current to engage electrolysis on a purified water source, separating it into acidic and alkaline components. Lastly, the alkaline component is collected in a reservoir and dispensed into your drinking glass!

    What to Look for In a Water Ionizer

    In testing and reviewing water ionizers, we found the five features listed below to be essential in determining which ones were worth the cost, and which were better left behind.

    • pH Range is perhaps the most important quality of all, as it will determine how effectively a water ionizer does its primary job. Wider pH ranges give you more control over the acid-base balance in your water and allow you to dial in a specific taste as well.
    • Filtration is a necessary first step in preparing water for ionization, and the better the filtration system the healthier and better-tasting your final water outcome will be.
    • Size and shape are important in planning exactly where your water ionizer will live in your kitchen. Since most water ionizers are designed for countertop use, we recommend looking for smaller and more compact models.
    • Installation ranges from the ultra-simple to complex enough to require professional help. Wherever possible, we’ve only recommended those products that can be installed with minimal DIY know-how.
    • Maintenance includes both machine cleaning and filter changes, and the longer a water ionizer can go without needing pampering, the better it scored in our reviews.

    Potential Benefits of an Alkaline Diet

    Spend even a little bit of time researching alkaline diets, and you’ll likely notice that the field is very divided over the science behind consuming more alkaline foods and drinks. Based on the idea of replacing acidic (or acid-forming) foods with more alkaline choices, proponents of the alkaline diet claim a wide range of potential benefits, such as:

    • Promoting weight loss
    • Preventing cancer
    • Improving kidney health
    • Preventing osteoporosis
    • Improving hormonal balance
    • Treating or preventing heart disease

    And while all these benefits have been seen in people following an alkaline-heavy diet, the reasons why they are healthier are not as clear-cut.

    Simply put, the rules of an alkaline diet encourage greater consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as less consumption of heavily processed foods as well as meat and dairy. Evidence strongly suggests that the health benefits mentioned above come not from changing the body’s pH balance, but from making the transition to a lower-fat and lower-sugar diet that is high in natural and organic foods.

    Whether the science behind an alkaline diet is exactly correct in describing its effects or not, it’s clear from further scientific studies that an alkaline diet does correlate strongly with a wide variety of health benefits. In our minds, that’s enough reason to consider making changes towards a more alkaline diet, such as drinking purified and ionized water.

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    Conclusion

    After careful consideration, we’re proud to endorse the Aqua Ionizer Deluxe Water Ionizer as the overall best water ionizer in our reviews. It consistently outperformed the competition in almost every measure and offers a versatile selection of features that make it suitable for anyone’s needs. Add responsive customer service and easy setup to that package, and it easily secures our top spot.

    For a no-frills and budget-friendly alternative with impressive filter life, consider the Pure Hydration Alkaline Water Ionizer. It’s a compact and easy to use addition to your countertop, and features a complete filtration system that makes for some of the best-tasting water of any ionizer we tested.


    Featured Image Credit: Food Impressions, Shutterstock

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