Review: RKIN Zero Installation Purifier AlcuPure Countertop RO Water Filter

This page may contain affiliate links. If you buy a product or service through such a link we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

The Zero Installation Purifier, many people also call it “ZIP”, by RKIN is a countertop reverse osmosis water filter that provides great-tasting drinking water ridded of most potentially harmful contaminants.

But for us, the system’s key feature is the plug & play functionality. Basically, the Zero Installation Purifier doesn’t require any sort of plumbing or drilling to set up. This makes it suited for both renters and people who simply don’t want to deal with a tedious install or hiring a professional.

Want to learn more? You’ll find all the features, pros, and complaints in the following review!

RKIN Zero Installation Purifier AlcuPure Countertop RO Water Filter

RKIN Zero Installation Purifier AlcuPure Countertop RO Water Filter

Price: $$$
Filter Stages: 4
Water Production: 0.5 Gallon in 15-20 Minutes
NSF Certifications: 58
Annual Cost: ~$105-125

Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.

Get 8% Off! Use Code: BOS8%OFF

RKIN Zero Installation Purifier Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter (AlcaPure) – All Specs

  • Model: RKIN-ZIPAL-BLK, RKIN-ZIPAL-WHT
  • Last Price: $439.95
  • Annual Maintenance Cost: ~$105-125
  • Filter Media/Process: Sediment Filtration, Activated Carbon, RO, Remineralization
  • Filter Stages: 4
  • Membrane Rating: 75 gpd
  • Recovery Rate: 55.08%
  • Filtering Capacity: 1-2 Years
  • WxHxD: 9.5″x16.25″x14.5″
  • Weight: 25 lb.
  • Water Temperature: 68-78 °F
  • NSF Certifications: Standard 58
  • Warranty: 1 Year

Pure Water Guys – Discount Code

The RKIN Zero Installation Purifier is sold by Pure Water Guys. You can use our code BOS8%OFF to get an 8% discount on any purchase you make on purewaterguys.com.

RKIN Zero Installation Purifier (AlcaPure) – Key Features

Most importantly, the RKIN Zero Installation Purifier Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter uses an NSF-certified 4-stage filtration process to remove up to 99% of a broad range of contaminants:

  • Stage 1 is a 5-micron sediment pre-filter. It traps large particles to protect the rest of the RO system from clogging.
  • Stage 2 uses an activated carbon block filter (coconut-based) to adsorb chlorine and its byproducts, bad tastes and smell, chemical residues, pesticides, and more.
  • At stage 3, the preconditioned water has to diffuse through the reverse osmosis membrane. It rejects TDS, fluoride, lead, chromium, and other heavy metals and salts among most other stuff.
  • Stage 4 is a polishing carbon post-filter. It adsorbs any remaining impurities. And because this is the AlcaPure edition of the Zero Installation Purifier, the post-filter also adds healthy calcium and magnesium back into the water. This is not only good for your daily nutritional intake, it also improves water taste and increases alkalinity for a more balanced pH (7-8). By the way, this remineralization is why your TDS meter won’t read “0” which is NOT a water quality issue!

On a side note: If your water is very high in hardness or TDS you should consider using the optional anti-scale carbon pre-filter as an alternative to the regular activated carbon filter block in stage 2. The anti-scale filter is better suited to prevent scale-buildup which ensures a long RO membrane life.

Another key feature that we wanted to point out is the pressure pump. It boosts water filtration speed – one batch of water (1 gallon) takes 15-20 minutes to process depending on TDS and hardness – while reducing the amount of wastewater produced. In the end, the recovery rate is roughly 50%, meaning out of every 1 gallon of feed water you get half a gallon of filtered RO water. This might not sound super-efficient, but the average reverse osmosis system wastes 3-5 gallons for every gallon of filtered water.

By the way, you can choose from 2 colors (silver white, space black) and there’s a 1-year warranty (limited) as well as a 1-year money back guarantee.

RKIN Zero Installation Purifier Pros

What are more benefits of the RKIN Zero Installation Purifier AlcaPure?

  • As mentioned, it is NSF-certified – against Standard 58 for the reduction of TDS, fluoride, lead, PFOA/PFOS, and chromium 3 + 6. This essentially guarantees that the system is effective at removing harmful contamination.
  • Many people swear by alkaline drinking water, and the Zero Installation Purifier gives it to you. Added mineral content also improves the taste of the purified water.
  • Initial setup does not require plumbing or drilling. The process is very simple.
  • What’s more, the water filter is very easy to use. All you have to do is fill the bottom container with water, push the start button, and wait. The filtered water will be collected in a separate tank ready for dispensing. The dirty water is routed back into the feed water tank ready to be discarded.
  • Speaking of tanks, they’re BPA-free and can be easily removed for cleaning.
  • We estimate $105-125 in annual filter replacement cost which is totally acceptable. Also, an LED indicator light lets you know when it’s time to replace filters. The replacement process itself is child’s play.
  • And lastly, we have US-based support.

What Contaminants Are Being Removed?

While the Zero Installation Purifier removes a broad range of water contaminants, it is specifically tested to remove

  • TDS – 88.34%
  • Fluoride – 88.82%
  • Lead – 99.87%
  • PFOA/PFOS – 98.34%
  • Chromium 6 – 99.31%
  • Chromium 3 – 97.70%

RKIN Zero Installation Purifier AlcuPure Countertop RO Water Filter

The RKIN Zero Installation Purifier (AlcaPure) – learn more on Purewaterguys.com

Installation

Neither installation nor assembly is required before you can use your ZIP countertop water filter for the first time. Here’s all you need to do:

Please consider these instructions as a general guideline. Always make sure to check and follow your user manual before getting started.
  1. Place the unit on a level surface.
  2. Plug the power cord into the back of the system and the A/C adapter into a wall socket.
  3. Fill the front tank to the indicated max level and seat it back into the base.
  4. Hit the start button.
  5. Discard the first 2 batches of filtered water.
  6. Done!

The Package (Parts)

  • System
  • Pure water reservoir cover
  • Pure water reservoir
  • Supply pitcher
  • Back cover
  • Prefilters
  • Post Filter
  • RO membrane
  • Electrical AC adapter

Maintenance

As mentioned before, system maintenance is child’s play.

The filters are long-lasting so they’ll only require changing every 12 to 24 months. The front light will notify you that the time has come.

  • Red and steady LED light means the RO membrane needs replacement.
  • Flashing red LED light means it’s time to change the other filter stages.

Replacing filters or the RO membrane, the process itself isn’t complicated at all:

  1. You just need a screwdriver to remove the back panel.
  2. Then you can replace the sediment and the carbon pre-filter with a simple twist. RO membrane + carbon post-filter use quick-connect fittings which are DIY-friendly, too.
  3. This shouldn’t take longer than 5 minutes (remember to run 2 water purification cycles to flush the new filters and reset the timer by holding the start button for 5 seconds).

Cost? We estimate $105-125 yearly, which is pretty hard to beat.

Manual

Here is a link to the official manual:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0012/7349/5599/files/Zero_Installation_Purifier.pdf?v=1679587299

NSF and Other Certifications

The RKIN Zero Installation Purifier holds an NSF 58 certification that clears it for reduction of lead, TDS, PFOA/PFOS, chromium III, chromium VI, and fluoride.

Earlier Product Versions

There are no earlier versions of the Zero Installation Purifier. However, there’s an alternative version to the AlcaPure: The OnliPure. The OnliPure is designed to provide zero TDS in the filtered water. Unlike the AlcaPure, the OnliPure doesn’t remineralize water, so TDS is virtually or very close to zero.

Switching from the AlcaPure edition to the OnliPure edition (or vice versa) is as simple as ordering a different post-filter and clips for attachment.

RKIN AlcaPure Cons

In our opinion, the RKIN Zero Installation Purifier has two main issues:

  • For one, it can be difficult to lock the feed tank in place. When done improperly, it can cause leaking or the filtering won’t start. And for some people, their unit quit working after a while because it wouldn’t detect the bottom tray being pushed in anymore.
  • The second issue: Leaking from different areas (presumably) that couldn’t be fixed in all cases.

Generally speaking, considering the relatively high price tag, some system parts seem rather delicate like the dispenser tap.

And in terms of contaminant removal, we would have hoped for more thorough testing according to different NSF standards.

We also don’t really like the system’s looks, but that’s personal preference obviously.

RKIN Zero Installation Purifier (AlcaPure) Review: Our Verdict + Best for

Overall, most people are happy with their purchase and would recommend the Zero Installation Purifier Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water Filter by RKIN to their friends and family. It’s easy to use, it’s effective, it’s fast. In our opinion, the system does a solid job at filtering several harmful water contaminants, but the lab testing doesn’t go far enough. Also taking into account leaking and other issues people had, we award 4 stars.

The Zero Installation Purifier is best for people who want RO-purified, remineralized drinking water without permanently installing a reverse osmosis system under their kitchen sink.

Our Rating in Detail:

  • Filtration Performance: 4.0/5.0
  • Filter Capacity (Life): 5.0/5.0
  • Purchase Price: 4.0/5.0
  • Annual Cost: 5.0/5.0
  • Overall: 4.0/5.0

Get 8% Off! Use Code: BOS8%OFF

Comparison to Other Reverse Osmosis Systems

Let’s compare the Zero Installation Purifier two competitors, the AquaTru and the SimPure Y7P-BW. Both are countertop RO systems.

AquaTru Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System

AquaTru

Price: $$$
Filter Stages: 4
Water: 1 Gallon in 10-15 Minutes
NSF: 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Annually: ~$100-120

Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.

Get 15% Off! Use Code: BOSAQUATRU

SimPure Y7P-BW Reverse Osmosis Countertop Water Filter

SimPure Y7P-BW

Price: $$
Filter Stages: 4
Flow Rate: 0.1 Gallons Per Minute
NSF: 58
Annually: $120

Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.

Get 20% Off! Use Code: SPY7P

RKIN Zero Installation Purifier AlcuPure Countertop RO Water Filter

RKIN Zero Installation Purifier (AlcuPure)

Price: $$$
Filter Stages: 4
Water: 0.5 Gallon in 15-20 Minutes
NSF: 58
Annually: ~$105-125

Overall Rating: 4.0/5.0 ⓘRating based on filtration performance, filter life, price and yearly cost, NSF testing/certification, customer support, product warranty, our testing/experience, user feedback, and other factors.

Get 8% Off! Use Code: BOS8%OFF

First, we’ll consider the AquaTru. It’s our favorite reverse osmosis system by far. It uses a 4-stage filtration process that’s been independently tested and certified against NSF standards to remove close to 80 contaminants.

The AquaTru holds 5 NSF/ANSI certifications for contaminant reduction (which is impressive in itself): Standards 42, 53, 58, 401, and P473. These certifications guarantee clean drinking water and your health’s safety. This is better than what the ZIP and SimPure system can provide. The AquaTru has the following reduction rates:

  • Chlorine 96.6%
  • VOCs – 95% to more than 99%
  • 97.5% – PFOA, PFOS
  • Lead 99.1%
  • Chromium 6 97.2%
  • TDS 87.1%
  • Fluoride 93.5%
  • BPA 99%
  • Cyst 99.99%
  • Radium 226/228 96.4%
  • Several trace pharmaceuticals and pesticides (86.7%-96.6%)

It also has a simple, space-saving design, and you can get it all set up and ready to work in less than 10 minutes. It’s designed so simply even a baby could use it. Then it filters water in record time, so you don’t need to wait all day for a glass. The AquaTru wastes very little water, too! With an 80% recovery rate, only ⅕ of the input water goes down the drain. This is better than what we see with the Zero Installation Purifier and equally as good as with the SimPure.

Moreover, the AquaTru uses BPA and BPS-free Tritan plastic only. And thanks to its long-lasting filters and quick replacements (it takes 2 minutes max, no tools involved), system maintenance requires very little effort.

The AquaTru also has an indicator light that alerts you when your filters need replacement. The filters last 6-24 months, and annual replacement cost is affordable at around $120 (this is pretty much the same with the ZIP and SimPure).

Finally, the AquaTru has a limited 1-year warranty. Cons? Mainly, past users complained about leaking due to design flaws. There have also been reports of the unit knocking down after a few months’ use.

The next system we’ll compare is the SimPure Y7P-BW. It comes a close second to the AquaTru and is a good budget option for a countertop RO system. It’s also arguably the best looking.

The SimPure is installation-free, so there’s no great trouble in setting it up. It uses a 4-stage filter process. One of its filter stages is a UV post-filter that eliminates dangerous microorganisms. This UV stage is absent in both ZIP and AquaTru.

The SimPure has undergone NSF 58 testing, but it has no official NSF certifications. It also hasn’t been tested for as many contaminants as the AquaTru, but it beats the ZIP. In total, the SimPure has been tested for 16 substances. They include:

  • Chlorine (>99.45%)
  • PFOA (>98.75%) and PFOS (>98.30%)
  • Chromium-6 (>99.28%)
  • Lead (>98.46%)
  • Arsenic (99.65%)
  • Nitrate (96.26%)
  • TDS (98.64%)
  • Turbidity (99.47%)
  • Total coliforms (99.99%)

As mentioned before, the SimPure wastes only 1 gallon for every 4 filtered gallons filtered, and it is pretty fast. It also features a cup size selection: You can select 6 oz, 12 oz, 15 oz, or continuous flow.

Last but not least, the SimPure is made from 100% BPA-free material. It has a filter replacement indicator and filters are easy to change. However, filter life is only around 6 months or 528 gallons. Annual replacement costs ~$120 (about the same as ZIP and AquaTru). Warranty? 1-year.

All in all, we recommend the AquaTru RO system as the best and most effective. The SimPure is a great alternative for lower budgets. The Zero Installation Purifier comes in third.

More RKIN Reviews:

This completes our review of the RKIN Zero Installation Purifier AlcuPure Countertop RO Water Filter. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

About the Author Alexandra Uta

Alex is a content writer with an affinity for research and a methodical attention to detail. Since 2020, she has fully immersed herself into the home water treatment industry only to become an expert herself. Alex has been using water filters and similar products for years which has gained her lots of hands-on experience.
Learn more about .

Alex

Information provided on BOS is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.
We adhere to strict editorial guidelines. Rest assured, the opinions expressed have not been provided, reviewed, or otherwise endorsed by our partners – they are unbiased, independent, and the author’s alone. Our licensed experts fact-check all content for accuracy. It is accurate as of the date posted and to the best of our knowledge.

Leave a Comment: