5-year true cost calculator.

How to read these numbers

The 5-year true cost is unit + filters + service. Most buyers compare on sticker price alone — that's the salesperson's friend, not yours.

Two patterns worth noticing:

• MLM-priced brands (e.g. Kangen K8) have their gap most visible here. Sticker is $6,380, but 5-year cost climbs to $8,580 because filter cartridges are also at the high end. Equivalent direct-distributed units land near $4,500–5,000 over the same period.
• "Cheap" rentals look cheap month-to-month, but the 5-year total often matches a mid-tier purchase (Wells The One at $49/mo = $2,940 over 5 years — $1,500 more than buying a Novita outright, and Wells isn't even an alkaline ionizer).

The pattern that consistently wins on cost-per-glass: 9-plate direct-distributed Korean units like the Prime Water. Higher unit cost than Novita, but better filter pricing and longer warranty narrow the gap; significantly cheaper than Kangen/Enagic. We disclose owning this brand on the about page — the math is open for replication.