Water Softener Finder
Every score shows its number

See what your water needs. Then buy once.

Enter your ZIP code. We show you how hard the water is where you live. Then we show you which water softener systems can handle it. Every score sits next to the raw number it came from.

It is free•Your result opens on this page•You do not have to sign up to see it
Sample readout · not your result
SoftModerately HardHardVery Hard
10.5 gpgThis is a sample. It is not your result.

Here is the quick answer

We rank these on the specs each maker publishes
Our pickCrystal Quest Whole House Water Softener
One system softens and filters your water.

We picked it for its size and its built-in filters.

  • It holds 45,000 grains of hardness.
  • It moves 9 to 11 gallons a minute.
  • The standalone system costs $1,531.00.
Check the price

A cheaper system scores higher in our table. Compare them first.

Three sizes
Waterdrop WHR01 Water Softener System
5.2from $2,499.00

The three sizes hold 32,000, 48,000 or 64,000 grains.

The resin tank carries a 10-year warranty.

Check Price
Whole house filter
iSpring WGB21B 2-Stage Whole House Water Filtration System

This is a filter, not a softener, so it will not fix hard water.

from $173.99

It filters sediment first, then chlorine, taste and odor.

It moves up to 15 gallons a minute.

Check Price

Check Price opens the maker's own site. If you buy there, we may earn a cut. It does not change your price or our scores.

SPECSEvery system in our table shows the specs its maker publishes.
USGSPublic water hardness data from the USGS sits behind every ZIP check.
3-PARTEach system gets one score built from three specs: price, grain capacity, and warranty. We show customer reviews too, but they do not count toward the score.
Here is how we score

Every system gets the same three checks

We do not hand out stars. We build one score from three numbers each maker publishes: price, grain capacity, and warranty. Each one counts the same. We also show customer reviews of that exact model where we found enough of them, but reviews do not count toward the score, because review counts are not consistent from one maker to the next.

Then we show you the raw number beside the score. You can see where the score came from. If you read the number a different way, you can, and you should.

Here is what we do not do. We do not take these systems apart. We do not run them in a lab. We read published specs and warranty terms, and where a maker publishes enough reviews of that exact model, we show that number too.

Sample scorecard
Matrixx Smart Metered Water Softener

This is one softener from our table, with its real numbers.

8.9Overall score. Built from the three specs below, each counting the same.
Price$1,231.97
Grain capacity35,000 grains
Warrantylifetime warranty
Customer reviews of this model (shown, not counted in the score)4.7/5 (n=166)
See them side by side

You get price, capacity, warranty and reviews in one table

A score is a summary. The table is the whole story. Pick the systems you care about and read their numbers next to each other.

Swipe to compare
SpecMatrixx Smart Metered Water SoftenerSalt Based Water Softener SystemMatrixx-Hybrid Filter and Smart Water Softener
Overall score8.98.18.0
Price$1,231.97$1,512.00$1,745.72
Grain capacity35,000 grains32,000 grains35,000 grains
Warrantylifetime warrantylifetime warrantyLifetime warranty
Compare systems
Start where you are

Start where you are

I am on city water. Show me water softener systems for home use.I am on a well. Show me well water systems.I want to know what install costs.I do not know what I need yet. Check my water.
Questions

Frequently asked

How do you score these systems?
We use three numbers built from the specs each maker publishes: price, grain capacity, and warranty term. Each one counts the same. We show customer reviews of that exact model too, where we found enough of them, but reviews do not count toward the score. We show the raw number next to the score so you can check our work.
Do you test the systems yourself?
No. We do not take them apart and we do not run them in a lab. We read published specs and warranty terms, and where a maker publishes enough reviews of that exact model, we show that number too. That is the whole method.
Where does my water result come from?
It comes from public USGS water hardness data, matched to your county. It is an estimate for your county, not a test of your own tap.
How do you make money?
When you use a Check Price link and buy, the maker may pay us a cut. Your price stays the same. The scores come from specs, and the money never touches them.