REASONS TO BUY
Reduces PFNA to near-undetectable levels
Fast flow
REASONS TO AVOID
No lead filtering
Doesn't filter acidic compounds well
Requires a second unit for both hot and cold lines
Waterdrop WD-10UA Under Sink Review
A solid middle-tier filter if your city water's already safe, but you want extra peace of mind and better taste or clarity
Credit: Matt Lighthart
By Sam Hill ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ December 5, 2025
Our Verdict
The Waterdrop WD-10UA Under Sink Filter is a budget-friendly pick for homes with generally safe municipal water that just need a cleaner taste and look. Its overall score landed at the bottom of the pack out of the filters we tested, but stood out for maintenance ease and operating cost; it's one of the easiest and cheapest filters to own. However, its critical contaminant removal and heavy metal removal scores show it's not suited for homes with health-related water concerns. This filter might make your water taste a little crisper, but not healthier. The WD-10UA fits best as an affordable, light-duty filter for city water, not a safety solution for high-risk sources.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Waterdrop WD-10UA Under Sink Filter stands out for its sleek, compact design and surprisingly high capacity, making it a low-profile addition to any kitchen. Installation is straightforward — just a few everyday tools will get it mounted without having to splice into water supply lines or drill holes. Rated to filter up to 8,000 gallons per year, it keeps operating costs low at roughly $33 annually, making it highly cost-effective. Users report water that tastes noticeably cleaner and crisper. The downside here is its base filtration for contaminants — it does really well with PFNA, but doesn't filter lead or contaminants you're looking to avoid.
The Waterdrop is one of the most minimalist under-sink filters we tested.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Critical Contaminant Removal
This filter does a decent job with certain contaminants, but won't protect you against the most common ones. It did a great job with PFNA (92.25% removed), which our tester called, “a pleasant surprise.” It was able to filter trace amounts of nitrate, but barely enough to mention. It only filtered out 3.8% of lead, 10% of uranium in our testing, and it isn't certified to reduce arsenic.
“I would NEVER get this if any health-related contaminants were a concern,” our tester concluded.
Assembling the Waterdrop WD-10UA doesn't take a lot of effort, but as with any under-sink model, it will take a bit more time than a simple pitcher filter.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Heavy Metal & Trace Element Removal
It handled removing 100% of zinc in contaminated samples (that's what it's certified for), but other metals like cobalt and chromium mostly pass through. On the plus side, it doesn't seem to introduce any new leaching issues, so at least it isn't adding anything harmful to your water.
While slim and sleek looking, the Waterdrop filter doesn't remove as many contaminants as we'd like to see.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Taste
For most users, the water comes out crisp, fresh, and chlorine-free. Some notice a big improvement in drinks like coffee, while a few report only subtle changes, so results can vary. Taste is obviously subjective, but no negative notes were mentioned during internal testing, and we found minimal negative comments in online reviews. Overall, we'd say it's a noticeable but not game-changing upgrade in taste compared with untreated tap water. Of course, this will vary by your location.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Maintenance & Setup
Installation is straightforward, and the included hardware makes it easy to mount under the sink. A reminder button keeps you on track for replacements, and swapping the filter is simple once the unit is installed. Tight spaces might take a little patience (be sure to check manufacturer size specs before planning an install), but overall upkeep is minimal. Our tester said, “Maintaining this filter isn't much more effort than a pitcher-style filter, besides having to be under your sink.”
Filter changes on the Waterdrop are almost as easy as with a pitcher-style filter.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Operating Cost
Replacement filters cost around $33, and the system can handle up to 8,000 gallons before a change is needed. That makes it extremely budget-friendly, especially compared with other under-sink options that require more frequent replacements. This is easily the cheapest filter to operate out of the ones we tested, but obviously, it doesn't deal with contaminants well across the board. No reason to change the filter often if it isn't doing a lot of work.
Should You Buy the Waterdrop WD-10UA Under Sink?
This filter is a great choice if your tap water is already safe and you primarily want to improve the taste, clarity, and enjoy a low-maintenance, budget-friendly system. It's especially convenient for renters or anyone who wants an under-sink setup that's mostly invisible and easy to move.
It's an odor and taste-focused system, not a health-focused one. It's not suited for homes with health-related water concerns, like high lead or other heavy metal contamination, since it won't reliably remove those contaminants. For everyday use and fresh-tasting water, though, it's an easy, cost-effective option.
Compared to other undersink models, the Waterdrop is very space-efficient. Unfortunately, this also cuts back on its filtering power.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
What Other Water Filter Should You Consider?
If you need an under-sink water filter system that is built to filter out serious contaminants, you'll want to move up to the iSpring RCC7AK. It's a big jump in price ($242), but it's the most affordable under-sink filter we tested, and it has killer scores in all contaminant tests. It'll cost more to operate and be a bit more of a pain to install, but it'd be worth it if you have serious health concerns with your water.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Alternatively, if you don't need fresher water right out of the tap, you might want to try some of our favorite pitcher-style filters like the Pur Plus 11-Cup Pitcher or Culligan with Zerowater 8-Cup Pitcher. These will cost less and remove more contaminants — you'll just have to refill them instead of getting water straight from the tap.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Waterdrop WD-10UA Under Sink versus top competing products:
—Sam Hill
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