What replacement filter does the AQ-5200 use and how often?

It uses the AQ-5200R two-cartridge set, rated for 500 gallons or about 6 months of typical use, whichever comes first.

Is it a reverse osmosis system?

No. It is a two-stage carbon and ion-exchange filter, so it targets specific contaminants but does not reduce total dissolved solids the way reverse osmosis does.

Water filter · under-sink

Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-Sink

Name: Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-Sink
Brand: Aquasana

Certified for lead and PFAS, cheap per gallon, marketing matches the certified scope.

7.2/ 10

Mixed

Composite (0-10), water-v1.0

Confidence: Verified

Bottom line

In our scoring the Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-Sink earns 7.2/10, a mixed result, and it stands out on certification independence (10.0/10). On the data, it holds WQA certification to reduce lead, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine. It works out to about $0.148 per gallon, a middling cost per gallon. Its weakest area in our scoring is total cost of ownership (2.5/10). Certification is not a substitute for a water test of your own supply.

Where to buy

Check the current price on Amazon

Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes a score - how we handle this.

Total cost of ownership

Checked 45 days ago

Cost / gallon: $0.148
~Annual filters: $163/yr

Which cartridge fits, and where to reorder it

Certifications

NSF/ANSI 42 (WQA certified)chlorine, chloramine
NSF/ANSI 53 (WQA certified)lead, PFOA, PFOS, VOCs, cysts, mercury, asbestos, MTBE, microplastics
NSF/ANSI 401 (WQA certified)pharmaceuticals

Filters only protect you on their swap schedule. Get an email reminder when this one is due - one note around swap time, nothing else.

Overview

The Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-Sink is a under sink water filter. It is third-party certified (WQA) to reduce lead, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, PFOA, PFOS, VOCs, mercury, asbestos, cysts, MTBE, microplastics, pharmaceuticals. Running cost works out to about $0.148 per gallon.

By the numbers

Certified to reduce: lead, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, PFOA, PFOS, VOCs, mercury, asbestos, cysts, MTBE, microplastics, pharmaceuticals
Format: under sink
Cartridge life: 500 gallons
Cost per gallon: $0.148
Annual filter cost (~1,100 gal): $163/yr
Flow rate: 0.5 gpm
Install: under-sink, DIY
Certifications: WQA NSF/ANSI 42 (WQA certified); WQA NSF/ANSI 53 (WQA certified); WQA NSF/ANSI 401 (WQA certified)

Strengths

+ Verified Contaminant Reduction: 9.0/10
+ Certification Independence: 10.0/10
+ Capacity & Flow Fit: 8.0/10

Watch-outs

- Total Cost of Ownership: 2.5/10

Who it is for

· Homes with lead service lines or older plumbing (certified for lead)
· Anyone targeting PFAS (certified for PFOA/PFOS)

What to know before buying

· The replacement cartridge set is part AQ-5200R (also sold as AQ-C2-R), rated for 500 gallons or roughly 6 months, whichever comes first.
· It is a two-stage carbon/ion-exchange system, not reverse osmosis, so it reduces specific contaminants but does not produce low-TDS or demineralized water.
· Note: FilterScored has flagged the exact certified scope of this model for manual confirmation; see the methodology and our notes on tested-to versus certified-to.

How it scored

Verified Contaminant Reduction

9.0/10 · 35%

Held NSF/WQA/IAPMO certifications for the contaminants that matter. A claim is not a certification.

+3NSF/ANSI 53 certified for lead ANSF/53 lead - Independently certified to reduce lead under NSF/ANSI 53.
+3Certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58) APFOA/PFOS certified - Independently certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS.
+1NSF/ANSI 42 certified for chlorine ANSF/42 chlorine - Certified to reduce chlorine taste and odor.
+2NSF/ANSI 401 emerging contaminants ANSF/401 - Certified for emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals.

Total Cost of Ownership

2.5/10 · 25%

Computed cost per gallon vs the format-class median. The number nobody surfaces.

+2.5Cost per gallon vs class median A$0.148/gal (near class median) - Computed cost per gallon scored against the format-class median.

Certification Independence

10.0/10 · 15%

Certified on the official database vs self-claimed 'tested to' marketing.

+5Certifications verifiable on official database A3 listings - Certifications are listed on the official NSF/WQA/IAPMO database, not just a logo.
+3Per-contaminant reduction disclosed Bperformance data sheet - Publishes percent reduction per contaminant at rated capacity.
+2Marketing matches certified scope Aclaims within certified scope - Hero claims are within what the certifications actually cover.

Capacity & Flow Fit

8.0/10 · 15%

Cartridge life and flow appropriate to the format.

+3Cartridge life fits the format B500 gal (norm 500) - Rated cartridge life is appropriate for this filter format.
+3Flow / storage disclosed and adequate B0.5 gpm - Flow rate or RO storage is disclosed and adequate for the format.
+2Honestly rated filter life Bgallon rating matches typical use - Months claim matches the gallon rating at typical use.

Practical Fit

7.0/10 · 10%

Install, footprint, and source-water readiness.

+5Install type disclosed Cunder-sink, DIY - Install method and difficulty are disclosed up front.
+2Predictable replacement schedule Chonest life rating - Replacement schedule is predictable from the honest gallon rating.

FAQ

Is the Aquasana AQ-5200 Under-Sink NSF certified, and does it remove lead or PFAS?: Per the public NSF/WQA/IAPMO databases it holds WQA certification to reduce lead, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, PFOA, and more. It is certified for lead. It is certified for PFAS (PFOA/PFOS).
What replacement filter does the AQ-5200 use and how often?: It uses the AQ-5200R two-cartridge set, rated for 500 gallons or about 6 months of typical use, whichever comes first.
Is it a reverse osmosis system?: No. It is a two-stage carbon and ion-exchange filter, so it targets specific contaminants but does not reduce total dissolved solids the way reverse osmosis does.

Compared head-to-head

Related guides

This score is our opinion under our published rubric, not a statement of objective fact or a lab test of this product. We score what third-party certifications prove; absence of a certification means we found no verification, not that a product fails to perform. Last reviewed 2026-06-06. Scored under water-v1.0. Prices were last checked 45 days ago; the freshness chip above the cost panel shows the current state. See the methodology for how each rule fires.