Head-to-Head · Water Purifiers
RO vs UF Water Purifier: Which Do You Actually Need in India?
By Bikram Nath · Updated 2026-08-05 · How we pick · Affiliate disclosure: links earn a small commission
The short answer
The winner is set by your water's TDS, not by which unit is 'better'.
Best on features
Livpure GLO PRO++ RO+UV+UF Water Purifier (7 L Storage, for Borewell/Tanker/Municipal Water)
Best on value
Pureit Classic 23 L Gravity-Based UF Water Purifier (No Electricity, Activated Carbon + Germ-Kill)
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RO versus UF is not really a brand fight — it is a question about your tap water, and picking the wrong one either wastes money or leaves your water unsafe. The single number that decides it is TDS (total dissolved solids): the BIS drinking-water standard IS 10500 lists 500 mg/L as the acceptable limit, and RO is the only technology here that removes dissolved solids. The Livpure GLO PRO++ is an electric RO+UV+UF purifier (7-litre storage, ~₹8,499) built for borewell, tanker and hard water — it strips out dissolved salts and heavy metals that a UF unit cannot touch. The Pureit Classic is a 23-litre gravity-based UF purifier (~₹2,999) that needs no electricity and no running water: it removes bacteria, cysts and particles but leaves dissolved salts in place, which is exactly right when your supply is already low-TDS municipal water. Get your water's TDS tested first; this guide tells you which unit that number points to.
Livpure
Livpure GLO PRO++ RO+UV+UF Water Purifier (7 L Storage, for Borewell/Tanker/Municipal Water)
Check price on Amazon →
Pureit
Pureit Classic 23 L Gravity-Based UF Water Purifier (No Electricity, Activated Carbon + Germ-Kill)
Check price on Amazon →Specs compared
| Spec | Livpure GLO PRO++ RO+UV+UF Water Purifier (7 L Storage, for Borewell/Tanker/Municipal Water) | Pureit Classic 23 L Gravity-Based UF Water Purifier (No Electricity, Activated Carbon + Germ-Kill) |
|---|---|---|
| Purification method | RO + UV + UF (7-stage) | UF gravity + activated carbon (multi-stage) |
| Removes dissolved TDS / heavy metals | Yes — RO membrane removes dissolved salts & metals✓ | No — leaves dissolved salts in place |
| Best for water type | High-TDS borewell, tanker or hard water | Low-TDS treated municipal water |
| Electricity needed | Yes | No (gravity)✓ |
| Running water / pressure needed | Yes (tap pressure) | No — pour-in top tank✓ |
| Water wastage | ~2–3 L reject per L purified | None✓ |
| Storage | 7 L | 23 L✓ |
| Filter / running cost | Higher (RO membrane + multi-stage filters) | Lower (cheap cartridge, no power bill)✓ |
Pros & cons
Livpure GLO PRO++ RO+UV+UF Water Purifier (7 L Storage, for Borewell/Tanker/Municipal Water)
Pros
- +Only technology here that removes dissolved TDS, hardness and heavy metals — essential for high-TDS borewell/tanker/hard water
- +Added UV + UF stages give a full germ-kill safety margin (7-stage)
- +Handles the widest range of source water; free installation + service plan
- +7 litres of purified water on tap
Cons
- −Needs electricity and tap pressure, and wastes ~2–3 litres per litre as reject
- −Higher purchase and filter-replacement cost; strips harmless minerals if your water is already low-TDS
Pureit Classic 23 L Gravity-Based UF Water Purifier (No Electricity, Activated Carbon + Germ-Kill)
Pros
- +No electricity and no running water needed — works in power cuts and low-pressure supply
- +Zero water wastage and much cheaper to buy and run
- +Large 23-litre gravity store; removes bacteria, cysts and particles for safe drinking water
- +Ideal when your municipal supply is already within the IS 10500 TDS limit
Cons
- −Does not remove dissolved TDS, hardness or heavy metals — unsafe for high-TDS borewell/tanker water
- −No RO/UV stage, so it can't fix chemically hard or salty water
Our verdict
The winner is set by your water's TDS, not by which unit is 'better'. The Livpure GLO PRO++ RO is essential for high-TDS borewell, tanker or hard water — it's the only one that removes dissolved salts and heavy metals (IS 10500 acceptable limit: 500 mg/L). The Pureit Classic gravity UF wins on everything else — a third of the price, no electricity, no water wastage, a big 23-litre store and power-cut resilience — but only when your water is already low-TDS municipal supply. Test your TDS first: high points to RO, low means UF is the cheaper, greener, and entirely sufficient choice.
Best for value
Pureit Classic 23 L Gravity-Based UF Water Purifier (No Electricity, Activated Carbon + Germ-Kill)
Best for features
Livpure GLO PRO++ RO+UV+UF Water Purifier (7 L Storage, for Borewell/Tanker/Municipal Water)
Prices and availability on Amazon.in change frequently — the price on the Amazon product page at the time of purchase is the one that applies. As an Amazon Associate, PakkaPick earns from qualifying purchases; your price is unaffected.
Editor's take
Buy the Livpure GLO PRO++ RO if your water is high-TDS — borewell, tanker, or hard municipal supply above ~500 mg/L — because only RO removes the dissolved salts and heavy metals that make such water unsafe or unpalatable, and its added UV/UF stages give a full safety margin. Buy the Pureit Classic gravity UF if your supply is already low-TDS treated municipal water: it makes it safe to drink for a third of the price, uses no electricity, wastes no water, keeps working in power cuts, and holds a big 23-litre store. The one thing you must not do is guess — spend ₹100 on a TDS meter or check your utility's report first. High TDS points to RO; low TDS means a UF gravity unit is not just enough, it's the smarter, cheaper, greener buy.
Editor's read
This decision is set entirely by your water's TDS, not by brand. The Livpure GLO PRO++ RO's case is completeness: it removes dissolved salts, hardness and heavy metals that UF simply cannot, which is essential for borewell, tanker or hard water above the IS 10500 acceptable TDS limit of 500 mg/L. The Pureit Classic UF's case is efficiency and resilience where RO isn't needed: on already-low-TDS municipal water it makes water microbiologically safe with no electricity, no water wastage, a large 23-litre gravity store that survives power cuts, and a fraction of the running cost. Buying RO for low-TDS water wastes water, electricity and money and needlessly strips harmless minerals; buying only UF for high-TDS water leaves it hard and salty. The honest answer is: measure first, then match.
— Bikram, editor
How we compared these
This head-to-head is researched from each product's published specifications, manufacturer documentation, expert reviews and the aggregate of genuine Indian buyer feedback — not hands-on lab testing. We weigh the specs that actually matter for Indian conditions (voltage variability, hard water, monsoon humidity, service-network reach) and tell you which contender suits which buyer, rather than claiming to have bench-tested either unit. We do not accept paid placements — our only commercial relationship is the Amazon affiliate link. See our full methodology.
What to look for
- 1Test your water's TDS before anything else — it decides the whole thing. IS 10500 sets 500 mg/L as the acceptable TDS limit for drinking water. If your supply is well within that (typical treated municipal water is often 100–300 mg/L), a UF purifier like the Pureit Classic makes it microbiologically safe without stripping anything you don't need to. If your TDS is high — common with borewell, tanker or hard water, often 500–2000+ mg/L — you need RO, because only RO removes dissolved salts and metals. A cheap TDS meter or your water utility's report gives you the number.
- 2Understand what each one actually removes. RO (reverse osmosis), as in the Livpure GLO PRO++, pushes water through a membrane fine enough to remove dissolved salts, hardness, heavy metals like arsenic and lead, plus germs — the fullest purification. UF (ultrafiltration), as in the Pureit Classic, filters out bacteria, cysts and suspended particles but its membrane is too coarse to remove dissolved solids, so TDS, hardness and dissolved metals pass straight through. UF cleans biologically dirty water; RO also fixes chemically hard/salty water.
- 3Factor electricity and water wastage, because RO costs more to run. The Livpure RO needs a power socket and tap-water pressure, and like all RO units it sends roughly 2–3 litres to drain as reject for every litre it purifies. The Pureit gravity UF needs neither electricity nor running water — you pour water in the top and it filters by gravity — and it wastes nothing. In a low-TDS home, running an RO would waste water and strip out harmless minerals for no benefit; the UF is the greener, cheaper runner there.
- 4Add up the real running cost, not just the sticker. The Livpure RO is ~₹8,499 upfront and its RO+UV+UF filter set and membrane typically cost more to replace over a year than a UF's cartridge. The Pureit Classic is ~₹2,999 with cheaper consumables and no electricity bill. Over a few years the gap widens well beyond the purchase-price difference — so paying for RO only makes sense when your TDS genuinely requires it.
- 5Match capacity and convenience to your household. The Pureit Classic holds a large 23-litre gravity store and keeps working during power cuts and low water pressure — handy where supply is erratic. The Livpure GLO PRO++ holds 7 litres of purified water on tap with a UV stage for an extra germ-kill safety margin, and comes with free installation and a service plan. If your water needs RO, the smaller electric store is fine; if it doesn't, the big non-electric tank is the more practical, resilient choice.
Also worth a look
RO+UV+UF combo (for uncertain/variable supply)
If your source switches between municipal and tanker/borewell, a combo unit with a TDS controller gives RO when needed while retaining some minerals — see our RO purifier guides.
UV-only purifier (municipal, no storage)
For consistently low-TDS municipal water where you only need germ-kill and have steady pressure, a UV purifier is another non-RO option — see RO vs UV.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an RO purifier or is a UF one enough in India?
It depends on your water's TDS. The BIS standard IS 10500 sets 500 mg/L as the acceptable TDS limit. If your supply is already below that — typical of treated municipal water, often 100–300 mg/L — a UF purifier like the Pureit Classic makes it safe without removing minerals, no electricity needed. If your TDS is high, as with borewell, tanker or hard water, you need RO like the Livpure GLO PRO++, because only RO removes dissolved salts and heavy metals. Test your TDS with a cheap meter before deciding.
What is the difference between RO and UF water purifiers?
RO (reverse osmosis) uses a fine membrane that removes dissolved salts, hardness, heavy metals and germs — the fullest purification, and the only one that lowers TDS. UF (ultrafiltration) uses a coarser membrane that removes bacteria, cysts and particles but leaves dissolved solids in place, so it doesn't reduce TDS or hardness. RO also needs electricity and wastes 2–3 litres per litre purified; a gravity UF like the Pureit Classic needs neither. Use RO for high-TDS water and UF for already-low-TDS supply.
Is RO water purifier better than UF?
Not automatically — it's only better if your water needs it. RO removes dissolved salts and metals that UF can't, so it's essential for high-TDS borewell, tanker or hard water. But on low-TDS municipal water, RO wastes 2–3 litres per litre, uses electricity, costs more in filters, and strips out harmless minerals for no benefit — there a UF gravity unit is the smarter choice. 'Better' depends entirely on your TDS relative to the IS 10500 limit of 500 mg/L.
Does a UF water purifier remove TDS?
No. A UF (ultrafiltration) purifier like the Pureit Classic removes bacteria, cysts and suspended particles, but its membrane is too coarse to remove dissolved solids, so TDS, hardness and dissolved metals pass through unchanged. Only RO reduces TDS. That's why UF is right for water that's already within the IS 10500 acceptable TDS limit of 500 mg/L, while high-TDS water needs RO.