Choosing a home water filter system can be challenging considering the wide range of options to choose from. In this filter comparison, we will be comparing the Alexapure vs Berkey water filter. More specifically, we will be comparing the Alexapure Pro vs Big Berkey, Berkey's closest contender in terms of size and output to the Alexapure Pro — the only model produced by Alexapure. Both the Big Berkey and the Alexapure Pro are stainless steel, gravity-fed countertop filters with a filtration capacity of 2.25 gallons — capable of providing clean water for a medium-sized family. The performance specs and results of this filter comparison are listed side-by-side so that you can easily compare features and choose the option that best meets your needs.

At a glance

While the Big Berkey and Alexapure Pro are very similar in looks and specs, when it comes to overall performance, the Big Berkey has the edge. Like the Alexapure Pro, the Big Berkey is capable of removing over 200 common drinking water contaminants. It does this without stripping minerals that are beneficial to health from the water. When it comes to removing heavy metals and other harmful contaminants such as Chromium VI, the Big Berkey is just that much more efficient than the Alexapure Pro. For example, the Big Berkey is lab certified to remove 3.5% more lead than what the Alexapure Pro is certified to remove.

Alexapure Pro vs Big Berkey Comparison

 

Big Berkey Alexapure Pro

Contaminants Removed 200+ 200+

Chlorine Removed >99.9% >99.9%

Chloroform Removed >99.9% >99.9%

Chromium VI Removed >99.8% >98.7%

Copper Removed >99.9% >99.0%

Lead Removed >99.9% >96.4%

Capacity (Gallons) 2.25 2.25

Upfront Cost $278 $270

Max Filter Lifespan (Gallons) 6000 5000

Filter Replacement Costs (per set) $120 (x2) $120 (x1)

Price per Gallon (6000 gallons) 4 cents 6.2 cents

Filtration quality

Both the Big Berkey and the Alexapure Pro water filters are able to remove a wide range of common water contaminants such as bacteria; heavy metals; volatile organic compounds (VOCs); common chemicals such as chlorine, herbicides and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceutical drugs.

• A full list of contaminants the Berkey is certified to remove can be found here.
• A full list of contaminants the Alexapure is certified to remove can be found here.

The Berkey not only removes slightly more contaminants, it is also lab certified to remove a higher percentage of harmful contaminants such as lead, copper and chromium VI.

Advantage: Berkey

Performance comparison

Berkey filters 3.5 gallons of water per hour (with standard 2 filter elements fitted), but the flow rate can be doubled to 7 gallons per hour if an additional 2 filter elements are purchased and 4 filter elements are fitted in the upper chamber. The Alexapure Pro filters 1 gallon per hour with the single filter that comes fitted standard. The flow rate can be increased to a maximum of 4 gallons per hour if additional (up to a total of 4) filters are added. While gravity-fed filters naturally tend to be a bit on the slow side, the flow rate of the Berkey outcompetes that of the Alexapure Pro regardless of whether additional filters are added or not.

Advantage: Berkey

Models & upfront cost

In this section we compare the different water filter model options offered by Berkey vs Alexapure Pro water filters, together with the upfront purchase costs.

The Range of Berkey models

Berkey offers a variety of models ranging in size from 1.5 gallons (Travel Berkey) to 6 gallons (Crown Berkey). They also offer a light-weight BPA-free plastic version (Berkey Light) for those looking for a more cost-effective option without compromising performance.

• Travel Berkey water filter (1.5 gallons)
• Big Berkey water filter (2.25 gallons)
• Royal Berkey water filter(3.25 gallons)
• Imperial Berkey water filter (4.5 gallons)
• Crown Berkey water filter (6 gallons)
• Berkey Light water filter (2.75 gallons)

The initial Upfront cost of the Berkey water filter systems range between $250 and $360. The systems come fitted standard with two Black Berkey filter elements, with the option to purchase an additional two Black Berkey elements (for around $120 per set of 2) to double the lifespan of the four filter elements fitted in the system. A set of 2 PF-2 arsenic and fluoride filters can be purchased (for around $65 per set of 2) and added to the lower chamber of the Berkey water filters to remove these contaminants (optional).

The Range of Alexapure models

Unlike the Berkey, the Alexapure Pro is not available in a range of different sizes. It only comes in one size, the 2.25 gallon version, which is comparable to Berkey's most popular water filter system — the Big Berkey.

When comparing the upfront costs of the Big Berkey and the Alexapure Pro, with a price difference of around $10 in favor of the Alexapure Pro, there really isn't much in it. The wider range offered by Berkey, including cheaper options, gives customers a broader choice, allowing them to choose a system that best meets their needs or budget.

Advantage: Berkey

Filter lifespan & replacement costs

As filter lifespan and filter replacement costs can ultimately affect the overall cost of the clean water provided to you, it is important to factor in these costs when making your purchasing decision. A comparison of filter lifespan and replacement costs for Berkey vs alexapure water filters is outlined below.

Berkey filters

The Big Berkey is sold with two Black Berkey filter elements, which have a combined lifespan of 6000 gallons. This means that when used together as a set of 2 filters, they will filter 6000 gallons before needing to be replaced. A replacement set of filters (consisting of 2 Black Berkey filter elements) will cost $120 and will last for around 4 years before needing to be replaced once again. Berkey offers you the choice of opting to purchase a set of 4 filters (at a cost of $240 for a set of 4 Black Berkey elements), which will effectively double the lifespan of the filter elements to approximately 8 years.

Alexapure filters

The Alexapure Pro is sold with one filter, which has a lifespan of 5000 gallons. The replacement cost of a single filter is $120, which will last for around three years before needing to be replaced. You can purchase additional filters (up to a max of 4) to increase the lifespan up to 20,000 gallons if 4 filters are fitted, but at a cost of $120 per filter ($480 per set of 4), this doesn't come cheap.

From a cost perspective, for $120 you will get 5000 gallons from the Alexapure compared to 6000 gallons from the Berkey.

Advantage: Berkey

Cleaning and care

In order to get the maximum life out of any filter it is essential that it is maintained according to the manufacturers recommendations. Cleaning and care instructions for the Berkey and Alexapure Pro are outlined below.

Berkey filters

Before using a Berkey water filter you should rinse out the interior chambers to remove any dirt that may have accumulated. You then need to prime the Black Berkey filter elements before installing them into the upper chamber. The priming process is a simple procedure that involves forcing water through the tiny filter pores to clear any air that may have been trapped within the micro-pores during the manufacturing process. Berkey recommended washing out the lower chamber once a month with soapy water. When used with hard water with high mineral content where scale is likely to accumulate on surfaces, affected parts can be cleaned by soaking in a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water for around 15 minutes. Use a soft brush or ScotchBrite pad to remove calcium scale, then wash with soapy water and rinse.

If the flow rate slows significantly before the lifespan of the Black Berkey filter elements is up, its most likely that the tiny micro-pores of the filter elements have become clogged with sediment. Since the Black Berkey filter elements are re-cleanable, you do not need to replace them at this stage. To restore optimal flow rate simply remove the Black Berkey filter elements and scrub the external surface of each filter with a ScotchBrite pad or toothbrush, before re-priming and reinstalling back in the upper filter chamber. 

Alexapure filters

Before using an Alexapure filter, it is advisable to rinse the interior chambers with clean water to flush out any dirt or dust that may have accumulated. The internal hybrid ceramic filters will need to be cleaned from time to time to remove mineral scale that can accumulate on the filters. To clean the outer surfaces of the filters, carefully remove them from the chamber, then scrub them with a scouring pad and clean water (no soap), rinsing thoroughly before inserting them back in the upper filter chamber. When flow rate starts to diminish significantly, it's time to change the filters.

Since both the Big Berkey and the Alexapure Pro are similar in design and construction, there is not much difference with regards to their cleaning and care requirements. With proper care and maintenance both units should function optimally.

Advantage: Neither

Pros and cons of Berkey vs Alexapure

In this section we discuss some of the pros and cons of the Berkey vs Alexapure water filters to help you narrow down your selection. 

Berkey Pros:

• Multiple models to choose from — Having a wide range of sizes and different model options (including a lightweight travel version and BPA-free plastic model) to choose from sets Berkey apart from Alexapure. No matter what size water filter you are looking for, you are sure to find something suitable within the Berkey range of water filters.
• Longer filter lifespan — When comparing the Berkey vs Alexapure, the Black Berkey elements will last longer, filtering out 6000 gallons before they will need to be replaced.
  

Berkey Cons:

• Not NSF certified — While the Berkey does meet NSF standards, it is currently not NSF certified due to the high yearly costs associated with maintaining certification.
• Rubber taste issues — Some users have complained of their water tasting like rubber due to rubber parts used inside the filter chambers.
  

Alexapure Pros:

• Relatively long lifespan — The Alexapure Pro is able to filter 5000 gallons of water per filter element inserted into the filter chamber. While not as efficient as the Berkey, it should give you clean water for three years or more before needing to replace the filter element, which is still pretty impressive as water filters go.
• Lower purchase price — while the price difference is not significant, the Alexapure Pro costs roughly $10 less than the Big Berkey, making it the slightly more affordable option when looking at purchase price only.
  

Alexapure Cons:

• Single model only — the Alexapure Pro is the only model offered by Alexapure. There are no other sizes or options to choose from.
• Comes with 1 filter only — while the Alexapure Pro can be upgraded with additional filters to improve performance and lifespan in line with that of the Big Berkey which comes fitted standard with 2 filter elements, these are expensive to purchase individually and can ramp up the overall cost significantly.

The Bottom Line

The results of our comparison between the Alexapure pro vs Berkey water filter show that out of the two, the Big Berkey is the best water filter overall. The Big Berkey outcompetes the Alexpure Pro in terms of filtration capability, filter lifespan, and overall costs. To cap this, Berkey also offer a 100% guaranteed lifetime stainless warranty on any manufacturing or workmanship defects compared to Alexapure's limited one-year warranty.

Berkey vs Alexapure: which water filter is best for me?

When choosing between the Alexapure Pro vs Berkey water filter there are a number of factors you need to consider. First and foremost, is the number of people you are wanting to provide water for. Both the Big Berkey and the Alexapure Pro are well suited for a medium sized family of up to 4 people. If you need to cater for a larger family you may want to look at larger units, (e.g. Royal Berkey, Imperial Berkey or Crown Berkey) currently only offered by Berkey. By the same token, if you are wanting a smaller unit or a lightweight unit that you can take with you on vacation, the Travel Berkey or Berkey Light may be more suitable for your needs.