Best Water Ionizers in 2022 – Reviews and Buying Guide

If you zoned out when your chemistry teacher started talking about acids, alkalines and pH levels then you’re not alone.

Who knows their acids from their alkalines?

Or what a pH of 8 means for your drinking water?

But chemistry is all around us, whether we like it or now. And the chemistry of our water can make a big difference to our health.

Everybody knows that water is good for you. It’s the basis of life. But wouldn’t it be great if we could make it even healthier? Water ionizers let you pack your water with health-boosting properties, so that every drop is doing the maximum good.

So if battling cancer with a bottle of water sounds good…

Or if you fancy aiding digestion with an after-dinner drink of water…

Then a water ionizer is an essential addition to your kitchen. By adjusting the pH level of your water, water ionizers give you control over your water – don’t say pHooey to ionized water!

We’ll take a look at the best water ionizers on the market in 2022. The Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 stands out as the best of the best, but we’ve got ionizers to suit every budget including the affordable Aqua Ionizer 5.0.

There are under-sink models that give you ionized water straight rom the faucet and and stylish countertop systems that let you show off your alkaline designs.

So let’s dive in to the world of water ionizers. Ready for a chemistry lesson you won’t forget?

The Aqua Ionizer Deluxe has a built-in activated charcoal filter that is able to remove pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals and whole host of other nasty chemicals. This addition means that the water you’re drinking will taste much fresher as adding health benefits, making it a great option if you’re looking for an ionizer that does more than just give you alkaline water. 

In terms of design, the Ionizer Deluxe is a stylish machine, which is great as, it’s made for counter top use so it will be on and will be on display 24/7.

Its intuitive control panel has seven different water settings, allowing you to control the pH level of the water in order to produce alkaline water (up to a pH level of 11).

What's surprising, it can also produce acidic water down to a pH level of 5, making it a great choice both for making quality water and skincare. Just make sure you know which one it is before you drink! Drinking acidic water is not harmful, unless done over a long period, but it is certainly not good for you.

The filter in the Aqua Deluxe is able to process about 4,000 gallons of water, which equates to roughly a years’ worth of use from an average family.

Something that I like about The Aqua Deluxe is that it's built for ease of installation. You don’t need a plumber here! Average users find that it takes about 10 minutes to install it on top of a counter with an average faucet. 

Although it comes with all the necessary instructions and diagrams for home installation, It’s also easy to find online walk throughs if you struggle.

The Aqua Ionizer Deluxe is durable and energy efficient, making it a great option for larger families or people who are particularly conscious of their effect on the environment.

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The Bawell connects to your faucet underneath the sink, meaning that (unlike some other water ionizers) all of the messy pipes and things are hidden from view, just leaving the sleek, stylish ionizer itself on display. 

The visual display and control panel on the Bawell is easy to use, although the letter can be a little small – something to keep in mind if you are buying this for an older family member. This might be something to keep in mind if you are buying this for an older family member. The voice system enables you to vocalize your entry, meaning that if the letters are a bit blurry, they will at least know what they have set it to.

The Bawell has an impressive range settings, allowing you to produce water from pH level two, all the way up to 12. Water at the lowest end of this should not be used for drinking, as it can lead to heavy metal poisoning, but it is very effective when used for cleaning. It also gives you a very large range of alkaline levels to choose from depending on the kind of detoxification you’re looking for.

The Bawell filters last up to 5,000 gallons which is an impressive capacity. There is also a voice prompt that will let you know when the filter is coming up to the end of its lifespan, which is a pretty nifty feature and, again, good for elderly users. 

While the Bawell is technically usable on a supply of water coming from a well, it does require a constant water pressure. If the pressure from your well supply fluctuates, you find that the Bawell loses some functionality. 

The Bawell uses seven (that’s right, seven!) titanium and platinum plates, coming to a total of 144 square inches. To put this simply, the larger the surface area of the electroplates, the faster the water will become ionized. To put it even simpler: many plates good.

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Made entirely with FDA approved food safe plastics, and platinum coated titanium plates, the Deluxe 9.0 will never cause an off taste in your drinking water. And talking of the plates, there are nine of them in this machine, means, this really is an efficient machine and you’ll be sipping on filtered, alkaline water in no time.

The seven water settings are put into simple categories so you know exactly what each pH setting should be used for. These include Cooking, Brewed Tea/Coffee, Daily Drinking, Initial Detoxification Drinking, Purified Water, Cosmetic and Household Cleaning. Water for every use!

The Deluxe 9.0 is also completely self-cleaning, meaning you won’t have to mess around trying to scrub it or rinsing out the hose. It also means there’ll never be any kind of limescale build up or anything else that could affect the quality of quantity of your water.

This water ionizer can be installed on top of your counter or under the sink (if you prefer hidden pipes setting). The filter will last one average about 4,000 liters which also track on the display screen for ease.

The Deluxe 9.0 is called that for a reason. It offers a much broader spectrum of pH levels than the other Aqua Ionizer models, which is why you’ll pay a little bit more for it. Really, though when you weigh up the price against the usability, this is a good deal.

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This is one of the most budget friendly models on offer from Aqua Ionizer Pro but it still has a lot to offer. All materials are FDA and RoHS approved, meaning you can rest easy knowing that it’s safe to use. It also contains an activated charcoal filter, meaning that your water will be filtered of impurities and pollutants as well as alkalinized.

One of the most interesting features of the Deluxe 7.0 is its self-cleaning settings. Water ionizing machines lose much of their effectiveness if they aren’t regularly cleaned and this can take a lot of effort.

But that's not the case with the Deluxe 7.0.

After each use it reverses the polarity of the plates to clean as it goes. Not only that, it also goes through an intense self-cleaning process after every ten and half gallons of water processed to ensure that it’s always working at maximum effectivity with minimal work from you. 

The lifespan of the filter is just over 1500 gallons, meaning you only need to change it once a year (depending on use). The LCD display system has a counter to keep you aware of how much water each filter has processed and to let you know when a replacement is needed. 

In general, durable plates, long life filter and the self-cleaning features mean you can set this ionizer up and leave it to get on with its job. If you want no hassle alkalized water, go for this one.

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There are five water settings, allowing you to choose the alkalinity or acidity of your water. The settings it allows you to choose from are: Strong Kangen Water, Kangen Water, Neutral Water, Beauty Water, and Strong Acidic Water. The Kangen water settings are for water with antioxidant qualities, beauty water is for skin care and strong acidic water is for cleaning.

The K8 uses smart filter technology, meaning that after every 10 minutes of usage it will drain for 10 seconds to clean itself. Not only this, the K8’s display panel will let you know when you need to replace the filter.

What's interesting? The K8's voice setting will clearly let you know the setting you have selected, to avoid any accidents due to poor eyesight or lack of concentration. Both the audio and the visual display panel are able to be set in eight different languages making it perfect for multilingual households or small businesses. 

Kangen aims to help you conserve energy. There is an auto on and off feature to make sure that it isn’t accidentally left on when it doesn’t need to be. Powering those electroplates can be energy consuming and costly so this feature could potentially save you a lot of money in electricity bills.

The K8 is a stand-alone, counter top model, it’s not suitable for under counter or under sink installation so it will be on display. It’s quite a bulky and, not very aesthetically pleasing model so it’s worth bearing this in mind if you’re particularly concerned about decor.

The filters in the K8 (and in all Kangen models) last for around 1,200 gallons, which depending on use will mean they need to be changed fairly often. Kangen also recommends descaling using a cleaning cartridge once or twice a month and having a complete factory cleaning (which they offer for free) once a year. Altogether this makes for a fairly serious amount of maintenance and may be something you need to consider if you’re looking for an easier machine.

The K8’s multiple language settings make it a good option for a home or workplace where more than one language is spoken, or if English isn’t your first language and you’d rather your machine was in your own language. 

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It comes with a built-in activated carbon filter so that not only are you getting water of your preferred pH level, but also filtering out a lot of other pollutants and contaminants. It’s worth noting that, like some other water ionizers, the AquaGreen is not recommended for use with well water.

The AquaGreen is a sleek, small machine that can be tucked away easily or, if you choose to have it on display, will not take up too much space. It also has attachments for wall-hanging which is a feature some people might appreciate, especially if counter space is at a premium in your kitchen. 

There is a good-sized LCD screen that displays the selected pH level, ORP and water flow rate, as well as the life expectancy of the current filter. There is also a voice that reads the display of the screen to help people with poor eyesight.

Strangely, the AquaGreen plays a little jingle while it is processing the water. Some users might find this rather odd feature to be charming but many report it as incredibly annoying and difficult to turn off. 

A great feature of the AquaGreen is its easy installation. It’s incredibly lightweight and even those with a very minimal knowledge of plumbing and DIY should be able to do it without having to hire anyone. The filters are also very easy to change.

The AquaGreen is one of the most inexpensive water ionizers on the market. Combined with its low installation costs and the fact it has seven options for water output, this really is a bargain. The only cost that you need to consider is buying new filters. These activated carbon filters last for approximately six months so will need to be changed more often than some other machines.

Are you new to all this? Perhaps you don’t know a lot about it but you’ve heard about the antioxidant effects and want to give it a go without blowing your savings. If this sounds like you, I recommend AquaGreen.

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The plates the Tyent uses are a little different to regular machines as well. It uses solid/ mesh hybrid plate technology that maximizes not only the durability of the plates (meaning they’ll last much longer) but also surface area, meaning the amount of water that can be processed at one time is significantly increased.

Tyent also claims that their plates are the thickest and longest of any company and have custom distribution methods to maximize electrical conductivity. To ensure that their plates last as long as possible they are dipped multiple times into platinum, rather than just once, meaning they will never crumble or leach into your water. 

In the case of Tyent it is certainly true that if you want a high end product, you need to pay high end money. It isn’t cheap, but with multiple layers of platinum on 11 long, thick plates you wouldn’t expect it to be.

Additionally, the Tyent needs to fit an additional faucet and this isn’t something the average Joe can do. You’ll almost certainly need to be calling in a plumber to fit this for you and that can cost a lot. Add to this the cost of the filter, which are fairly expensive themselves and need to be replaced at least every six months. 

That’s not to say that the Tyent isn’t worth the money. You definitely get a lot for what you pay. It has nine pH levels of water so you really can use it for anything (they have specific settings to make the best cup of tea or to give to a baby). It’s also just really great to have all the messy machinery hidden away and only an extra faucet on display.

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The IONtech’s slimline, silver design will make it an ideal fit for most modern kitchens. The multicolored, soft select buttons make it easy to know what kind of water you are selecting and the purpose of that water. This really is one of the better looking machines on the market and with such features as an auto-safety setting to prevent you from accidentally drinking acidic water, a lot of thought has gone into its design. 

The IONtech’s smart clean technology will initiate a ten second cleaning cycle after each use and will let you know when it needs a more thorough clean. When this is the case, simply press a button and a two minute cycle will start. Aside from changing the filters once every 6 – 12 months, this is really the only maintenance necessary. Perfect for the busy family who don’t have time to worry about their ionized water not being clean! 

IONtech uses a carbon filter to rid your water of contaminants before it ionizes it, meaning the water you’re drinking will be clean. The plastic used is FDA approved and the titanium plates are platinum so there’ll be no leaching of chemicals into your water.

The installation of the IONtech is easier than expected and most people should be able to do it on their own, without the aid of a professional. Combined with its relatively low buying price, this makes it a good budget option, especially for such an innovative and attractive design.

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Guide on How to Choose the Right Water Ionizer

There are many ionizers on the market, a lot of them offer similar things but many have their own individual quirks and features. Before you buy it’s important to know what you’re looking for from your ionizer. Ask yourself:

Do you want it just for drinking?

Will you be using acidic water for cleaning?

Do you also want it to flush out any contaminants?  

A water ionizer is often an expensive investment and one you need to put a lot of thought into before you buy. Below is a list of things you must take into consideration about before rushing into purchasing one. 

1. Ease of installation

How easy is it going to be to install the ionizer?

Some are so easily installed your grandmother could probably do it (if she knows how to watch a YouTube video). On the other hand, there are some that require the help of professional plumber or electrician (potentially both) which would definitely set you back a fair amount in set up fees.

How much time, money and effort you’re willing to invest into the set up is something you need to consider.

2. Features and options 

All of the water ionizers on this list are capable of producing alkaline water. Some of them offer acidic or pH neutral water while others offer different preset water types that are designed to be perfect for specific purposes. 

Aside from the pH levels, some will also filter out other pollutants such as chlorine and pesticides. 

However, if you need you can also consider a voice setting necessary or will an LCD display alone suit your needs? Do you want something to tell you when to change the filter or are you organized enough to remember on your own? 

3. Plate count 

Plate count is vital to how effectively the ionizer will process the water. If there are a lot of plates it will do it quicker than if there are only a few. 

If you’re a small family just looking for alkaline drinking water, a low plate count will do you just fine. If there’s more of you and you want to use the water for cleaning as well as drinking, you'll definitely need something with a higher plate count.

4. Size and design

The look and size of anything that is going to be on display in your house is always important. No one wants some hideous machine blighting the corner of their kitchen, but also, you may not care enough to pay extra for an under counter mode. 

Some water ionizers can simply fit under your counter and so the looks won't be important in this case. Others will need to be on display.

A water ionizer will always need to be placed near an existing faucet and you should take this into account how it will look next to your preferred faucet before committing to a purchase.

Why should you buy a water ionizer? 

There are mixed opinions in the medical community as to whether drinking ionized water offers any direct benefits as opposed to normal tap water. 

Some health experts are yet to be fully convinced of the benefits while others say that it can have a profound effect on people suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. (1)

There’s also plenty of user-based evidence to suggest it can help with anything from difficulty sleeping to acid reflux to sunburn. (2)

Whatever the truth of the matter, it’s indisputable that ionized water tastes better than most regular tap water and is smoother and more refreshing, so if you find yourself regularly splashing out (pun intended) on bottles of water, you could have found a great way to save money. 

Not only this, most of the water ionizers we’ve looked at here also offer purified water, which is perfect for cooking, as well as acidic water which is ideal for cleaning your skin or (at higher concentrations) your household utensils. 

Final thoughts…

Turning your home tap water into a water fountain of pure hydration doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

We’ve seen something for everyone on the water ionizer market. From the budget to the bank-balance busting!

If money is no object when it comes to ionized water, then you can’t look past the Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 9.0 is first in its class. This cutting edge piece of kit gives you total control over your water’s acidity, alkalinity and anti-oxidant properties.

For shoppers with tighter purse strings, then the Aqua Ionizer Deluxe 5.0 is an excellent budget option. With the same impressive build quality as its later-generation cousin, you’re getting a premium product at an affordable price.

Whether you’re opting for a countertop ionizer or an under-sink option, the plug-in and go or the electricity free, there really is something for everyone.

Water ionizers take hydration to the next level – that’s a chemistry lesson you won’t forget in a hurry!

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