Alexapure vs Berkey – My Honest Take After 3 Months of Use

If you’re looking for a reliable countertop water filter, you may have come across the Alexapure Pro and Big Berkey. They both look similar: tall stainless steel bottles that use gravity to filter water, and don’t need electricity. Both promise clean and safe drinking water.

I have used both for about three months each. I switched between them at home and even took one with me camping off-grid. I also checked online reviews, lab tests, and data to understand how they compare.

If you’re trying to pick between the Alexapure Pro and Big Berkey, this review will help you decide which one is worth your money and trust.

Quick Comparison – Alexapure vs Berkey

Alexapure is faster, cheaper upfront, easier to set up, and sleeker, while Berkey is long-lasting, offers larger models, costs less per gallon, and has a proven track record of reliability.

Here is the quick summary table of Berkey and Alexapure:

|| Also Read: Boroux vs Berkey – Which I Found Best?

How Easy Are They to Set Up?

After opening both filters, I immediately noticed a difference in design and setup.

The Alexapure Pro was easy to assemble and took approximately 30 minutes to put together. The filters were already prepared, so I didn’t have to do any messy work. It was simple: rinse the stainless steel part, screw in the filters, and it’s ready.

The Berkey was more complicated. It took over an hour and about twelve steps, mainly because the Black Berkey filters need careful priming. If you don’t prime them right, the water will flow slowly or won’t filter properly.

After both were set up, they looked good on the counter.

One more thing: the Alexapure’s matte finish makes fingerprints and water spots less noticeable, while the shiny steel of the Berkey shows smudges easily, even after cleaning.

Build Quality and Design Differences

Both water filter units are made of stainless steel and are durable. The Alexapure feels a bit heavier and comes with a stainless steel spigot (tap) included. The Berkey, surprisingly, comes with a plastic spigot, unless you pay extra for a steel one.

In terms of weight, the Alexapure weighs about 8 pounds, while the Big Berkey weighs around 7 pounds. Both are sturdy yet easy to move around.

Over three months, I didn’t see any leaks or rust on the Berkey. Some people online have reported rust spots on certain Alexapure units, especially near the seams, but mine stayed in good shape.

Looking at how they look, I’d rate the Alexapure very highly at 9.9 out of 10 for design. The Berkey looks more old-fashioned and gets a 6.7 out of 10.

How Fast Do They Filter Water?

I was surprised to find that the Alexapure filters water faster than the Big Berkey. The Alexapure can filter about 1 gallon per hour with two filters, while the Big Berkey filters about 0.75 gallons.

If you add more filters to the Alexapure (it can support up to 4), it gets a bit faster, but it’s still slower than bigger Berkey models like the Crown Berkey, which can filter over 6 gallons per hour.

For a small family (1–4 people), the Alexapure is fast enough. But if you have a larger family or need a lot of water every day, the bigger Berkey options are better because they can filter more water at once.

How Berkey vs Alexapure Handles Tap and River Water

I tested both systems with city tap water and river water.

Tap Water Tests

This test used local city water. The Alexapure filter removed all of these harmful things: lead, chloroform, THMs, aluminum, copper, and manganese. It also cut down barium by 43%, sulfate by 16%, sodium by 6%, and chloride by 1%. 

The Berkey filter removed all of the same harmful substances like barium, chloroform, THMs, copper, lead, and manganese. However, it had some trouble with aluminum at first, showing 1.4 ppm (parts per million). After I re-primed (refilled and reset) the filters, aluminum dropped to 0.069 ppm. This shows that setting up the filter can make a difference.

River Water Tests

Both filters cleaned the river water well. They removed all E. coli, Enterococcus, and coliform bacteria. I was very impressed by that.

The Alexapure filter reduced iron by 80% and completely removed manganese and phosphorus. The Berkey filter reduced iron by 70% and also fully removed manganese and phosphorus. Interestingly, sulfate levels increased by 162% after using the Berkey filter, probably because of minerals released from the filter or the initial water.

Both filters made muddy water safe to drink. The water from the Alexapure tasted slightly dull and more neutral, while the Berkey water had a faint mineral taste, likely from the materials inside the filters.

Fluoride and Heavy Metal Removal Capability

Many people who use Berkey water filters say they need to buy extra fluoride filters called PF-2, which cost about $114 for a set. Alexapure, another brand, says it can remove fluoride without needing anything extra.

In my tests, Alexapure did reduce fluoride, but it didn’t completely remove it. Some tests show it only takes out between 0% and 60%, depending on the water. Berkey’s fluoride filters work very well, removing almost all fluoride after they’re primed, though they had some issues with aluminum leaching in the past. That problem is mostly fixed now.

Both systems are very good at removing heavy metals like lead, copper, zinc, and nitrites, with removal rates of about 82% to nearly 100%.

Filtered Water Taste

After three months, my family agreed that both water systems improved the taste and removed the chlorine smell.

The Alexapure water tasted clean and pure, like bottled spring water. The Berkey water felt slightly softer in the mouth, probably because it had a higher pH level (around 8.7), compared to the Alexapure’s neutral 7.5-8.5.

For everyday use, the Alexapure was more convenient. It had a steady flow of water, and changing the filters was easy: just unscrew, rinse, and put them back.

With the Berkey, the water flow slowed down every few weeks, and cleaning the black filters was a bit difficult. It also needed scrubbing every few months to prevent mold in humid weather.

Maintenance and Cost Over Time

Here’s the simple version: the most important thing to consider is how much each gallon of water costs.

• The Alexapure costs about 59 cents per gallon, with an initial price between $280 and $400.
• The Big Berkey costs about 13 cents per gallon, but it costs at least $447 plus $99 for fluoride filters.

In the first few years, the Berkey might seem more expensive, but over 5 to 10 years, it’s actually cheaper because its filters last longer.

The Berkey filters can clean about 6,000 gallons each, while Alexapure filters last anywhere from 200 to 5,000 gallons, depending on use.

If you plan to use the filter for many years, the Berkey ends up costing less over time.

However, the Alexapure filters are easier to change and don’t need priming, but they don’t last as long. So, it’s a choice between effort and how long the filters last.

Lab Testing and Certifications Explained

Neither system has official certifications from NSF, WQA, or IAMPO, even though they say they’ve been tested by independent labs. Alexapure’s filters were tested in 2019 and removed about 86% of bacteria like coliform and 87% of E. coli, which is good but not perfect. 

Berkey used to share test results, too, but they took them down after some disagreements over lab methods. Despite that, real-world testing and many users over the years show that Berkey still works well. 

In short, neither filter has official certification, but both are effective and trusted by many people.

Capacity and Options

Both the Alexapure Pro and Big Berkey can hold 2.25 gallons of water, which is good for a small family of up to four people.

The Berkey has more size options, from the smaller Travel Berkey (1.5 gallons) to the larger Crown Berkey (6.5 gallons). There are also smaller and lighter models for traveling.

The Alexapure only comes in one size, a 2.25-gallon countertop model, which means it’s less flexible if your needs change.

The Berkey can hold up to 8 filters in its biggest model, but the Alexapure maxes out at four filters.

If you have a big family, the Berkey is a better choice because it can grow with your needs.

Durability, Warranty, and Brand Reputation

Berkey has been around since the 1800s and is well-known in the prepping and off-grid communities. They offer a lifetime warranty on the stainless steel parts, which makes people feel confident in their quality. 

Alexapure is newer, supported by My Patriot Supply, and comes with a 1-year warranty.

After using both for a few months, I found both to be durable. Berkey has a long-standing reputation, but recently, a lawsuit with the EPA and some filter shortages have caused some confusion and made people look at other options like Alexapure or Boroux. 

Overall, even though Berkey is more established, Alexapure is currently easier to find, simpler to maintain, and less complicated.

What Real Users Say Online

Reading through Reddit, prepping forums, and YouTube reviews, I noticed some consistent themes:

Alexapure users loved:

• Easy setup, no priming
• Clean, modern look
• Great taste
• Simple maintenance

Common complaints about Alexpure:

• Filters clog early in hard-water areas
• Slow flow after a few months
• Higher replacement costs

Berkey users praised:

• Long-lasting filters
• Excellent long-term value
• Proven performance for decades
• Wide model range

Complaints about Berkey:

• Setup frustration
• Mold risk if water sits
• Pricey upfront
• The plastic spigot feels cheap

I’ve noticed online that many people like to mix both brands together because they can complement each other. For example, they put Berkey filters inside Alexapure tanks and vice versa.

My 3-Month Verdict on Berkey vs Alexapure

After trying both for about 3 months, here’s my summary.

Alexapure Pro is easier to set up, looks nice, filters water faster, and gives good quality water daily. But it’s more expensive over time and not the best for big families.

Big Berkey is the classic choice. It’s a bit harder to install and clean, but it lasts longer and costs less in the long run. It’s better for larger households, off-grid living, or if you trust the brand and need more capacity.

If I had to choose for everyday use in the kitchen, I’d pick Alexapure because it’s simpler and less trouble. But for emergencies or a big family, Berkey would be better.