What is alkaline water good for?

It has long ago been proven that the best alkaline water is ionized water. Alkaline water is important in the balancing of pH in the body. Alkaline water helps to bond with acidic toxins and get rid of them. But, by itself, it’s not even a fraction as good as when its ionized. There isn't much comparison between the quality of ionized water vs alkaline water (which isn't ionized) in my experience. Drinking ionized water is far superior to consuming plain alkaline water without the hydrogen antioxidant benefits. I've experienced improved mental clarity, the elimination of allergies, reduced spider veins, the ability to lose weight and keep it off, and all kinds of benefits. You can read more about this on our  Benefits of Ionized Water page. 

There are hundreds of benefits of ionized water, and even with the earliest water ionizer brands and models people benefited in abundance. Whether you have the best alkaline water machine of 2020 or an earlier water ionizer, as long as it's well-made you should be able to experience terrific benefits. 

When I started drinking ionized water in 1995, the water ionizer was nowhere near as good as any of the water ionizers today. Yet the benefits of drinking ionized water for my family and I were life-changing. (See my  testimonial.)

How can you tell which is the best alkaline ionized water machine? ...and Why?

If you're looking to buy a new water ionizer, this post has important information you need. Here are some key points that make a water ionizer qualify as best.

• How well the water ionizer tests compared to other water ionizers. Some companies only rarely (if ever) test their water ionizers against others, and that is a bad sign no matter what the water ionizer company says about themselves. We have bought many water ionizers to test them (pH levels, ORP and H2 antioxidant-levels) for this reason. I've always felt it important to really know (for myself and for others) which water ionizer is best. It's like a duty; people are counting on me for this.
• The quality of the electrode plates and how well the platinum will adhere to them into the future despite the harsh abuse the water ionizer may experience over the years is important. Platinum is super-expensive, but if the surface is not prepared it won't stick. Companies which merely dip their plates in platinum do not use good enough techniques. If you buy the most expensive paint, but don't prepare, prime or paint the wall properly, the 25-year paint will peel in one year. 
• The toughness of the water cell (the heart of the water ionizer). Some water cells will hold up to pressure better than others and so can be installed under the sink.
• The water cell cleaning system. The only form of cleaning that qualifies as best is continuous-cleaning. Many water ionizer manufacturers do not have the technology for this and so those water ionizers are inferior because of this one very important point. The plates of the water ionizer need continuous-cleaning not only to keep the performance of the ionizer up, but also for the life of the water ionizer. 
• The quality of the filtration is important to the degree you want good filtration.

Note: If you’ve read other “Buyer’s Guides” to the best alkaline water machines , you can discard them as all other buyer's guides for best water ionizers come from several hidden sources. There is not one honest one in the bunch. See my  Water Ionizer Reviews page for more about these hidden sources of buyer’s guides. My website is the only water ionizer buyer’s guide that is not playing you with a hidden agenda.

Best Alkaline Water Ionizers of 2020 & 2019 

Here are the best and not-best water ionizers for 2019 and 2020:

Super-Sanitizer Water Ionizer 

In 2020 the Super-Sanitizer Water Ionizer was introduced, making the ranks of best water ionizer in several categories, such as filtration, H2 molecular hydrogen levels, wide pH range, plate construction and continuous-cleaning capability.

Why is it best?

• It gets highest levels of H2 (molecular hydrogen) upon testing.
• It is able to produce the widest range of pH for any water ionizer. 
• It can produce sanitizing water which contains hypochlorous acid (several gallons per day). 
• It has dual superior filtration (of chemicals and pathogens - including down to the smallest virus). 
• It has continuous-cleaning of the water cells, which will enable the water ionizer to maintain its high-levels of ionization for the life of the water ionizer. 
• It uses scientifically electroplated plates (so nearly impossible for the platinum to ever erode). 

Delphi H2 Water Ionizer 

The Delphi H2 water ionizer was introduced in 2016 and has been the best undersink water ionizer ever since.

Why is it best? 

• It is the only undersink water ionizer that is strong enough to hold up under the pressure of flowing upwards against gravity. 
• It gets highest levels of H2 (molecular hydrogen) upon testing. 
• It has UltraWater filtration for the best removal of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, hormones, etc. It has continuous-cleaning of the water cells, which will enable the water ionizer to maintain its high-levels of ionization for the life of the water ionizer. 
• It uses scientifically electroplated plates (so nearly impossible for the platinum to ever erode) 

Vesta H2 and Athena H2 Water Ionizers 

The H2 water ionizers were introduced in 2016 and can either be installed undersink or on the counter.

Why are they best? 

• Both of these water ionizers are strong enough to hold up under the pressure of flowing upwards against gravity, so you can install them undersink with a special faucet if you want. 
• They both get highest levels of H2 (molecular hydrogen) upon testing. 
• They both use UltraWater filtration for the best removal of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, hormones, etc. 
• They both have continuous-cleaning of the water cells, which will enable the water ionizer to maintain its high-levels of ionization for the life of the water ionizer. 
• They use scientifically electroplated plates (so nearly impossible for the platinum to ever erode) 

Smart 7P and Smart 9P Water Ionizers 

The Smart water ionizers were introduced in 2014 and both then and now test at the highest levels of molecular hydrogen possible.

Why are they best? 

• They both get highest levels of H2 (molecular hydrogen) upon testing. 
• They both use good filtration, such as the Biostone filter for city water or the Ultra Filter for well water.
• They both have continuous-cleaning of the water cells, which will enable the water ionizer to maintain its high-levels of ionization for the life of the water ionizer. 
• They use scientifically electroplated plates (so nearly impossible for the platinum to ever erode) 

The Non-Best Alkaline Water Ionizers of 2020 

Tyent Water Ionizers 

Why are they not the best? 

• They use dipped plates, which are inferior to scientifically electroplated. 
• They use acidic washes (periodically, which are not continuous and inferior to continuous-cleaning). 

Life Water Ionizers 

Why are they not the best? 

• They use dipped plates, which are inferior to scientifically electroplated. 
• They use acidic washes (periodically, which are not continuous and inferior to continuous-cleaning). 
• The only H2 molecular hydrogen tests done were erroneous. 
• The internal filters are inferior, so the company sends you customized external filters that have to be mounted or installed under your sink and maintained in addition to the internal filters yearly. 

Real-Spirit AirWaterLife Water Ionizers 

Why are they not the best? 

• They use dipped plates, which are inferior to scientifically electroplated. 
• They use acidic washes (periodically, which are not continuous and inferior to continuous-cleaning). 
• H2 molecular hydrogen tests have not been done. 
• They are made in China 

Chanson Water Ionizers 

Why are they not the best? 

• They use acidic washes (periodically, which are not continuous and inferior to continuous-cleaning). 
• H2 molecular hydrogen tests have shown only .56 ppm (which is good, but not close to best). 
• The internal filters are inferior, so the company encourages you to buy external filters that have to be mounted or installed under your sink and maintained in addition to the internal filters yearly. 

Enagic Water Ionizers 

Why are they not the best? 

• They use dipped plates, which are inferior to scientifically electroplated. 
• They use acidic washes (periodically, which are not continuous). 
• H2 molecular hydrogen tests have shown only .5 ppm for the Enagic SD501 machine. The Enagic K8 water ionizer can produce more, but because of no continuous-cleaning these levels are not likely to continue into the future.

History of Best Alkaline Water Machines: 

Best Water Ionizers of 2015-2019 

In 2015 the H2 Water Ionizers were introduced, taking the lead over the former leader “Jupiter Athena Water Ionizers” because of their strength, filtration and performance. These rank at the highest levels of water ionizers today.

Best Alkaline Water Machines of 2014-2015 

In 2014 the Smart Water Ionizers were introduced, making the ranks of “best water ionizers” due to their outstanding ability to ionize efficiently and with extremely high levels of H2 molecular hydrogen. These are still two of the best alkaline water machines today.

Best Water Alkalizers of 2009-2015 

In 2009 the Jupiter Athena Water Ionizer was introduced. Its ability to produce antioxidants (H2 Molecular Hydrogen) was far superior to all other water ionizers to date. It also had (from the start) superior filtration to the other water ionizers of the time. You can still buy the Classic Athena today. It is a tried-and-true superior choice of water ionizer.

Best Alkaline Water Ionizers of 2002-2009 

In 2002 Jupiter Water ionizers introduced several new water ionizers which made it to the ranks of best, such as the Melody water ionizer. The Jupiter Melody had the earliest form of continuous-cleaning ever invented. This continuous cleaning made it unnecessary to wait for ionized water and it eliminated the waste of water, while at the same time increased the life expectancy of the water ionizer’s ability to ionize. I still have many friends and customers who hold onto their Jupiter Melody water ionizers because they perform so well.

In 2008 the Enagic company was founded (from its roots as the Ange company). The new Enagic SD501 water ionizer had 7 plates and produced a wider range of pH than the older Ange water ionizers. It introduced a saline port to enable users to produce strong acidic water which contained hypochlorous acid. They coined the word “Kangen Water” as a way to differentiate from the other water ionizer brands of the time. From their inception sales impetus was generated from multi-level marketing. The Enagic SD501 never was able to ionize water better than its main competitor (the Jupiter water ionizers), however it was able to produce stronger acidic water when one used the saline port. It was the first hypochlorous acid maker of all the water ionizers for home use.

Best Alkaline Water Machines of 1995-2002 

The Japanese-made Ange water ionizer was introduced. It made it to the ranks of best water ionizer because it was the only one which could be hooked to your sink. Prior models of alkaline ionized water machines would make the alkaline water and acidic water in batches (taking 20 minutes or so to prepare 1 quart of ionized water).

Further Reading

The Water Ionizer Comparisons page is a comprehensive chart along with simple explanations of all things one should know before buying a water ionizer. I highly suggest reading the entire page.