Boroux vs. Rorra vs. Culligan: Water Filters, Tested Head to Head

Published 1 August 2026 · india

And so since March, I have been putting these new-school stainless steel filter systems to the test. The Boroux Legacy Water Filter System ($419) is

And so since March, I have been putting these new-school stainless steel filter systems to the test. The Boroux Legacy Water Filter System ($419) is a handsome gravity-fed filter system from a former Berkey distributor whose livelihood was disrupted by Berkey's fight with federal regulators (see below). At a much lower upfront cost, the Culligan MaxClear Gravity Water Filter System ($199) is the best-certified stainless steel gravity system I've tested, at the expense of very slow filtration and expensive filter replacements over time. The Rorra Countertop System ($549) is a newer-school, celebrity-endorsed filter from a trio of serial entrepreneurs, with smart features that include sensors for both filter and water levels. In testing each, I assessed ease of setup, plastic content, total chlorine reduction, and changes to dissolved solids or pH.

I also pored over each filter's NSF/ANSI certifications and independent testing results. Update July 2026: I tested and added the Culligan MaxClear Gravity Water Filter system to my comparison, and named it the best-performing and best-certified water filter overall, while keeping Boroux's water filter system as my top pick for most people. Love WIRED? Add us as a preferred source on Google to see more of us. Benefits and Detriments of Gravity-Fed Water Filter Systems Gravity-fed water filter systems gained their biggest prominence in the United States with a system called the Berkey—whose makers began in 1998 as a distributor for a much older filter system called the British Berkefeld. Amid regulatory troubles for Berkey's classic black filters (see below), a newer generation of gravity-fed filters has risen to prominence.

I'm also testing a brand called Phoenix Gravity Filters recently endorsed by Berkey for use in its filter systems. Multi-gallon filters like this are imposing beasts—as much statement pieces as water filters. They're big, holding a gallon or more. They live on your counter or your table, and take up significant space there. But because they are so large, they are difficult to fill and slow to filter. In my early testing, gravity-fed filters like the new Boroux and Rorra don't necessarily filter water any better out of the box than plastic pitchers that can fit in your fridge door, or in-line filters under your sink. And because they don't fit in your fridge, your water is room temp.

But convenience is relative. The jugs on gravity-fed filter systems are big enough on an overnight refill to provide a day's worth of water for most families, for sipping and cooking and coffee. I find this can be easier than the constant cycle of filling and waiting that plagues smaller water pitchers, especially for large families, coffee lovers, or avid cooks. And whereas most water pitchers require regular filter re-ups, the Boroux filters that they need replacement only once a year. (More on this claim later).