Refer-A-Friend: Earn up to $200 for Yourself and a Friend When They Sign-up with HomeWater. Learn More
December 2022
HomeWater vs. Culligan: Which Water Filter Is Best for You?
Comparing HomeWater vs. Culligan water filtration systems can be exhausting — which offers more benefits? Which is the preferred choice in the comparison between HomeWater vs. Culligan? What’s the primary distinction between the two?
This guide compares HomeWater vs. Culligan, outlining each brand’s pricing, products, and reviews to help you make the right choice for your home’s tap water.
So keep reading to discover why HomeWater is our preferred choice for under-counter and whole-house water filtration systems.
What Do Home Water Filtration Systems Address?
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), untreated drinking water sources may contain harmful substances such as pesticides, chlorine, chloramine, PFOS, and PFOA. A home water filtration system removes contaminants and increases water quality, so you can enjoy better-tasting water that’s healthier for your whole family.
In addition to health risks, hard water can lead to scale buildup, which occurs when water contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. It can cause water heater damage, leaky valves, blocked pipes, and issues with your kitchen, laundry, and bathroom appliances.
Do You Need a Home Water Filtration System?
A water test is the only way to know if you need an under-counter or whole-house water filter. Whether your home is on a municipal water supply or well water, you should know what’s in it.
HomeWater offers a free in-home water test that provides instant, detailed results after checking for things like:
- Chlorine levels
- Water hardness
- Iron content
- Total dissolved solids
After testing for water problems, HomeWater will recommend personalized water solutions with zero upfront costs. We believe that people deserve better water without chlorine, lead, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other contaminants and particulate matter.
HomeWater vs. Culligan: Meet the Brands
HomeWater and Culligan work to provide cleaner water with a line of water softeners and filtration systems. Below, you’ll find a quick introduction to each brand.
Who Is HomeWater?
HomeWater serves thousands of customers throughout the U.S. and Canada, focusing on innovation and environmental conservation. Our guiding principles include:
- No scare tactics: “We empower you with honest information to make the best decision for you and your family.”
- Education: “We want to make the science of water filtration easy to understand for everyone.”
- Quality: “We precision engineer and meticulously test our flagship products here in North America.”
- Eco-awareness: “We want to eliminate waste caused by bottled drinking water and promote sustainable water use.”
- Customer satisfaction: “We want you to be happy with our products. If you have a problem, please contact us and we will try to make it right.”
HomeWater designed the patented EZChange Filter System to provide the best-tasting drinking water possible while maintaining a minimal equipment footprint and easy installation. We also emphasize innovation and continue to strengthen our brand with products we believe in and stand behind.
What Conservation Efforts Does HomeWater Support?
At HomeWater, we care about sustainability, water pollution, and protecting the environment. So we’ve partnered with Terrapass, a leader in renewable energy solutions and carbon offsets, to help restore the natural balance and create a greener world.
Through Terrapass, we empower our customers with Water Restoration Certificates® from BEF with affordable monthly pricing. BEF supports high-quality water restoration projects and focuses on improving ecosystems, streams, and rivers.
In addition, HomeWater helps fund carefully selected restoration and conservation projects throughout North America. We empower our customers to reduce plastic waste by making filtered water more accessible at home.
Who Is Culligan?
Culligan was founded to make conditioned water available to homeowners. In addition, the brand provides water softeners, water filtration systems, water treatment solutions, and bottled water delivery to businesses, industrial facilities, and residential customers.
With products ranging from industrial water solutions to simple water filtration systems, Culligan works to support the health of communities and the environment. They also participate in disaster relief projects and provide bottled water to areas affected by crises.
HomeWater vs. Culligan: How Do Prices Compare?
Unfortunately, we cannot compare rates between HomeWater vs. Culligan — Culligan requires potential customers to connect with a local Culligan water expert for information about current pricing.
However, you’ll find prices for each HomeWater product, replacement, and subscription in the product comparison section below.
HomeWater vs. Culligan: How Do the Products Compare?
HomeWater products include under-counter filters, whole-home systems, and accessories. All HomeWater products are made in North America, NSF 53-certified, and come with a 30-day guarantee — discounts are available for several options. HomeWater offers:
- Under-counter water filters: These products install in less than 15 minutes and feature quick, easy filter changes.
- Whole-house water filtration systems: These products work with homes of different sizes, with modular options available. They feature easy filter changes.
- Wide range of accessories and replacement filters: These products include tumblers, water dispensers, shower heads, filter replacements, and many more options to help your home be more eco-friendly.
The Culligan products included on this list are limited to the brand’s top picks for residential customers (industrial and corporate products not listed). Culligan products include water softening and water filtration systems. All products come with a 30-day guarantee. Culligan offers:
- Water softening products: Culligan features three water softening products in their top picks for residential customers. However, information about ease of installation and replacement filters has yet to be made available.
- Water filtration products: Culligan features three water filtration systems in their top picks for residential customers. Again, information about ease of installation and replacement filters is not currently available.
From the product information available on the websites, the primary distinction between the two brands is the focus HomeWater places on ease of use and access to information. Because Culligan requires interested parties to contact a local Culligan water expert, it’s challenging to compare HomeWater vs. Culligan ahead of time.
HomeWater vs. Culligan: Detailed Product Comparison
Below, we’ll compare the products and water filtration systems offered by HomeWater and Culligan based on the information available on each brand’s website.
HomeWater Under-Counter Water Filters
HomeWater offers four under-counter water filters, including three EZChange water filter systems and one reverse osmosis system. Each option provides quick and clean filter changes with a spill-free cap.
- HomeWater EZChange 2-Stage Under Counter/Under Sink Water Filter
Standard price: $199.99 (15% off with filter subscription)
Replacement filter: EZChange 2-Stage Under Counter Replacement Blocks — $74.99 (15% off with filter subscription)
The HomeWater EZChange 2-Stage Under Counter/Under Sink Water Filter is easy to install under any sink. It connects directly to your existing faucet line without needing a tank or additional faucet. This filter improves water taste and odor while filtering chlorine, lead, rust, dirt, and particulate matter.
- HomeWater 4-Stage Reverse Osmosis Under Counter/Under Sink Water Filter
Standard price: $350 (15% off with filter subscription)
Replacement filter: Reverse Osmosis Replacement Filters — $74.99 (15% off with filter subscription)
Replacement membrane: Reverse Osmosis Membrane Replacement — $99.99 (15% off with subscription)
The HomeWater 4-Stage Reverse Osmosis Under Counter/Under Sink Water Filter uses four-stage filtration to remove contaminants and impurities, which it rinses down the drain. It stores high-quality, filtered drinking water in a sealed tank and includes a lead-free faucet to deliver fresh-tasting drinking water.
This filter improves odor and taste while reducing sediment, dirt, chlorine, dissolved inorganics, barium, cadmium, hexavalent and trivalent, chromium, lead, copper, radium 226/228, selenium, fluoride, and nitrate/nitrite.
- HomeWater EZChange Chlorine Under Counter/Under Sink Water Filter
Standard price: $59.99 (15% off with filter subscription)
Replacement filter: EZChange Single-Stage Under Counter Replacement Block (Chlorine) — $34.99 (15% off with filter subscription)
The HomeWater EZChange Chlorine Under Counter/Under Sink Water Filter is a single-stage filter that connects to an existing faucet in less than 15 minutes. It has a high flow rate and is rated for 4,000 gallons of chlorine reduction. This filter’s NSF-Certified Active Carbon Filter Block reduces chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), class 1 particulates, microplastics, and more.
- HomeWater EZChange Lead Under Counter Under Sink Water Filter
Standard price: $87.49 (15% off with filter subscription)
Replacement filter: EZChange Single-Stage Under Counter Replacement Block (Lead) — $39.99 (15% off with filter subscription)
The HomeWater EZChange Lead Under Counter Under Sink Water Filter is a single-stage filter that connects to your existing faucet in under 15 minutes. It’s rated for >97% lead reduction. In addition to lead, this filter’s NSF-Certified Specialty Blend Filter Block reduces chlorine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), class 1 particulates, microplastics, and more.
HomeWater Whole-Home Water Filters and Softeners
HomeWater offers four whole-home filtration systems and water softeners for households of different sizes.
- HomeWater 4-Stage Whole Home Filter
Standard price: $899
Replacement filter: 10” Sediment Pre-filter — $13.99 (15% off with filter subscription)
The HomeWater 4-Stage Whole Home Filter delivers filtered water to your entire home with a high-capacity system rated for 1,000,000 gallons of use. It features an easy-change 10-inch pre-filter and a modular design for expansion and customization, and it reduces contaminants like chlorine, rust, dirt, heavy metals, and VOCs. In addition, it can connect to the HomeWater Salt-Free Water Softener system to reduce scaling.
- Salt-Free Water Softener & Conditioner
Standard price: $599
The Salt-Free Water Softener & Conditioner helps reduce scale buildup on appliances without monthly upkeep. It features a built-in pre-filter to reduce particulates while the conditioner minimizes scale-producing minerals.
- Compact Cabinet Water Softener
Standard price: $1,124.99
The Compact Cabinet Water Softener uses Long-Lasting Softening Resin and AutoSense™ Technology to maximize salt-use efficiency. It’s ideal for small to medium-size households and features a Low Salt Monitor to make it easier to keep up with salt replacements.
- All-In-One Whole Home & Water Softener Combo
Standard price: $1,449.99
The All-In-One Whole Home & Water Softener Combo is ideal for households of any size. It offers whole-home water filtration and a softener, using an integrated carbon filtration system to reduce sediment and chlorine. And with a self-cleaning sediment filter, you don’t have to worry about replacements.
HomeWater Accessories
The accessories offered by HomeWater are listed below:
- HomeWater X RTIC Insulated Tumbler
- Countertop Water Dispenser
- HomeWater Glass Bottle Pack (Set Of 4)
- Rainshower Restore Shower Filter
- Ecobee4 Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat With Room Sensor
- Flo By Moen Smart Leak Detector
- Drinking Water Faucet, Chrome
- Drinking Water Faucet, Brushed Nickel
Culligan Water Softening Products
Culligan highlights three water-softening products as the top picks for residential customers. They include:
- Aquasential™ Smart High-Efficiency Water Softener: This water softener removes hard water contaminants and optimizes salt, water, and electricity usage.
- Culligan High-Efficiency 1-Inch Water Softener: This water softener uses Aqua-Sensor® technology to adjust to water conditions. It also allows you to customize the water’s softness.
- Aquasential™ Select Series™ Water Softeners: This water softener softens hard water and reduces contaminants.
Culligan Water Filtration Products
Culligan highlights three water filtration products as the top picks for residential customers. They include:
- Aquasential® Smart Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System: This filtration system supplies filtered water directly from your faucet, with customization options to meet your home’s water needs. It also allows you to monitor your system and water use anytime.
- Aquasential® Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System: This filtration system uses reverse osmosis to deliver cleaner, better-tasting water.
- Aquasential® Tankless RO Drinking Water Filtration System: This filtration system provides efficient filtration without needing a tank. It helps reduce total particulates and dissolved solids by 95%.
HomeWater vs. Culligan: What Do Customers Say?
Reviews are invaluable when making a tough choice between two brands. They allow customers to share their experiences and discuss the benefits they’ve received.
HomeWater Reviews
Here are some of the most recent reviews from the HomeWater Reviews page:
- 5-star review from Nick J.: “Noticeable difference. Very happy with the whole home water filter system. In the past we had multiple filters throughout the house and we were constantly changing filters. It’s so nice to have clean water everywhere. Within a couple of weeks of installing the filter it was amazing how dark brown the pre-filter became. It really demonstrates how bad the water actually is. Highly recommend getting a whole home filter.”
- 5-star review from Andrew: “Excellent service. So far the new install has no hiccups. The tech was very professional, courteous and knowledgeable about the product. Keep up the great work!”
Culligan Reviews
Here are some of the reviews for Culligan products featured by Consumer Affairs:
- 5-star review from Bill C.: “I like the fact that our system takes out the unwanted iron in our water and also purifies the drinking water. No more yellow stains on our fixtures or water appliances! They also service yearly and if there are any issues, they are a phone call away.”
- 4-star review from Rhonda: “Initial contact and home appointment were quick which was great. Salesperson was pleasant and answered all questions. However, did not mention we needed to add an electrical outlet. Installation person didn’t read work order and almost removed existing water purification unit. He was going to replace it with the softener only. My interaction with the installer prevented a 5 star review.”
HomeWater vs. Culligan: What’s the Best Choice?
Many customers will consider HomeWater the preferred choice because of the availability of information online. At HomeWater, we also emphasize ease of use, convenience, and pricing transparency.
If you’d like to learn more about which products are best for your household, HomeWater offers educational videos and convenient purchase options. In addition, our customers can choose to begin service with zero upfront costs.
