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Salt-free water softeners may not be as common a solution to hard water problems as traditional models, but these systems are often easier to install, cheaper to maintain, and better for producing healthier water. Since many homeowners aren’t familiar with them yet struggle with scaling and clogged water lines, we researched a range of popular salt-free systems and reached out to a plumbing expert to compile a list of five top options.

Based on our product research and expert’s insights, we chose the Yarna Capacitive Electronic Water Descaler System as our best overall pick for its compact construction, unlimited flow rate, and easy 15-minute installation. Read on to learn more about the models that made our list and see why these systems are such a smart option. By understanding how they work and which of the best salt-free water softeners we recommend, you can choose the right unit for your home.

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Before You Buy a Salt-Free Water Softener

According to Roy Barnes, master plumber and co-owner of Rockville, Maryland’s Service Force Plumbing, the term “softener” is a bit of a misnomer. “Water softeners actually eliminate the causes of hard water, mostly calcium and magnesium, and make it ‘un-hard’ (i.e., soft). Salt-free systems don’t actually remove [these minerals] but seek to mitigate their effects.”

Salt-based water softeners require the regular addition of salt in combination to draw out minerals, preventing them from causing scaling on plumbing while also making soap sudsier for bathing, washing dishes, and cleaning clothes.

As their name suggests, salt-free systems don’t use salt. Rather, they soften hard minerals so they don’t build up on faucets and showerheads. While salt-free water softeners are an excellent option for many homeowners, they may not be adequate for those with very hard water or serious issues like lead contamination. To help decide whether a salt-free water softener is right for you, consider your home’s water quality by looking for signs your home needs a water softener and performing a hard water test.

Best Salt-Free Water Softeners Comparison Chart

Our Top Picks

We narrowed down a range of popular products to this list of five top picks, each with its own pros and cons. Each of these salt-free water conditioners are effective and easy to install.

Best Overall Yarna CWD24 Capacitive Electronic Water Descaler Photo: Amazon See It What We Like Compact and efficient

Installs in about 15 minutes

Little to no maintenance is required What We Don’t Like Treated water will revert back in 2 to 7 days

10 inches of pipe space required for installation Specs Type: Electromagnetic

Size: 6 inches long by 2 inches in diameter

Flow rate: Unchanged, attaches to max 1-inch diameter pipes

The Yarna Capacitive electronic water descaler earned the best salt-free water softener system award for its effective design and easy installation process—no plumbing skills required. The innovative descaler uses copper bands wrapped around a section of your home’s main water lines. As water flows through that section, the system emits electrical impulses that convert hard particles into small crystals. These crystals don’t stick to one another, preventing scale buildup in pipes and appliances.

This simple hard water treatment system only takes 15 minutes to install, and no tools are necessary. Simply locate about 10 inches of pipe on your main water line (up to 1 inch in diameter) and a nearby outlet. Wrap the copper bands around the pipe, plug the unit in, and enjoy maintenance-free water softening.

Get the Yarna salt-free water softener at Amazon or Yarna.

Best Bang for the Buck iSpring ED2000 Whole-House Water Descaler Photo: Amazon See It What We Like Electromagnetic design reduces energy consumption

Works on a hardness of 10 to 19 grains per gallon

Easy DIY installation What We Don’t Like Water reverts back after traveling 50 feet Specs Type: Electromagnetic

Size: 3.5 inches high by 7 inches wide by 2 inches deep

Flow rate: Unchanged

With a simple, maintenance-free design, this affordable descaler is an attractive option for eliminating harmful scaling without a lot of effort. It works by applying electromagnetic impulses to water as it passes through a supply pipe, stopping it from forming deposits that can clog pipes, damage appliances, and affect skin and hair.

As with our top pick, installation requires no plumbing knowledge. Wrap the unit’s wires around a section of water line entering the home (to create a coil that serves as a conduit for the electromagnetic impulses), and plug it into a standard 115-volt outlet. This water softener for home use is suitable for water hardness levels between 10 and 19 grains per gallon, but water will revert back to its original state after moving through about 50 feet of pipe. Large homes may need to add another unit farther down the plumbing line to remedy this issue.

Get the iSpring salt-free water softener at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.

Upgrade Pick Aquasana Rhino Whole-House Salt-Free Water Filter Photo: Amazon See It What We Like Improves both water quality and hardness

Removes contaminants and minerals from water

Filters last over 3 months What We Don’t Like More expensive since it’s also a filtration system

Professional installation is recommended Specs Type: Whole-house filtration system

Size: 54 inches high by 46 inches wide by 9 inches deep

Flow rate: 7 gallons per minute

While this water softener is more of an investment than other options on this list, that’s because it doesn’t simply mitigate hardness—it also removes impurities to enhance purity and taste. The Rhino uses carbon and KDF filters to eliminate calcium, lime, iron, and other minerals as well as contaminants like mercury, chlorine, lead, herbicides, and pesticides. If you are looking for a water softener for well water, this is an excellent choice.

With a flow rate of 7 to 8 gallons per minute, this water filtration system is best in households with four or fewer members. It uses two main filters that should each last about 3 months before requiring replacement. Since installation requires plumbing the system into your home’s main water line, you may want to seek the help of a professional if you don’t have much plumbing knowledge.

Get the Aquasana salt-free water softener at Amazon, Walmart, or Aquasana.

Best Whole-House AO Smith Whole-House Salt-Free Descaler Photo: Amazon See It What We Like Lasts over 600,000 gallons or up to 6 years

Lower home water filtration system cost than that of many units

Easy to add a sediment filter, central water filter, post-filter, and ultraviolet (UV) filter What We Don’t Like Requires plumbing into main water line Specs Type: Whole-house filtration system

Size: 26.5 inches tall by 8 inches in diameter

Flow rate: 7 gallons per minute

Replacing water filters every few months can be a pain, but this whole-house water softener offers a hassle-free solution. It installs directly into the main water supply line, requires no electricity or frequent filter changes, and effectively descales water to prevent buildup on faucets, sinks, showers, and appliances.

With a 600,000-gallon lifespan—roughly 6 years for a family of four—this descaler provides long-lasting, low-maintenance operation. You can use it on its own or pair it with AO Smith’s whole-home system, which includes a sediment filter, central water filter, post-filter, and UV filter for comprehensive water treatment.

Get the AO Smith salt-free water softener at Amazon or Lowe’s.

Best Electric Eddy Electronic No-Salt Whole-House Water Softener Photo: Amazon See It What We Like Consistently prevents scaling

Easy installation and maintenance

Longer cables available for pipers larger than 1 inch What We Don’t Like Requires access to an outlet Specs Type: Electromagnetic

Size: 3.5 inches high by 6.75 inches wide by 1.5 inches deep

Flow rate: 10 gallons per minute

With a low-maintenance yet effective design, the electronic water descaler from Eddy is a good solution for those dealing with deposits clogging faucets, pipes, and appliances. This descaler consists of two wires that wrap around the main supply line entering the home to create an electromagnetic field that prevents minerals from sticking to one another or surfaces and causing scaling.

Unlike other water-softener types, this descaler won’t affect the flow rate of water into your home. It can treat up to 10 gallons of water per minute, is easy to install with no plumbing required, and plugs into a standard 115-volt outlet.

Get the Eddy salt-free water softener at Amazon or Walmart.

How We Chose the Best Salt-Free Water Softeners

When gathering our top picks for water softeners, we included both salt-free water conditioners that are simple electromagnetic units as well as whole-house filtering systems that provide additional benefits. Electromagnetic units are typically small water softener systems that are relatively inexpensive, simple to install, and require little to no maintenance. Rather than removing minerals, they simply alter them to prevent them from causing scale buildup.

Whole-house filtration systems filter out common water contaminants in addition to softening water, providing a more comprehensive water treatment solution. While these larger salt-free water conditioners may require professional installation, they are worth the investment for those dealing with problems caused by hard water or looking for well water softener systems.

What to Consider When Choosing a Salt-Free Water Softener

Understanding how the best salt-free water softeners work and how much water they can treat each day is integral to purchasing the right soft water system for a home.

Type

There are several types of salt-free water softeners on the market, each with its pros and cons. These types include polyphosphates, electromagnetic and magnetic, and full filtration.

Polyphosphates

The use of phosphates to soften water is a practice that dates back nearly 200 years. Instead of removing impurities from the water, this process conditions the water so impurities cannot create scaling on plumbing or faucets using a filtration cartridge. This type of system is used primarily in restaurants and other commercial settings to protect appliances from scaling.

Electromagnetic and Magnet

Like all salt-free water softeners, electromagnetic softeners don’t remove hard water particles but instead condition them to prevent scaling. These softeners work by magnetizing mineral grains so they don’t adhere to surfaces, a process that doesn’t require plumbing but does require power from an electrical outlet.

Magnetic models perform the same task but without the use of electricity. However, they are not as powerful as electromagnetic models and are only suitable for very small homes.

Full Filtration

Whole-house water filter and softener systems soften water and remove other contaminants. They typically require installation into your home’s main plumbing line and work by crystallizing minerals so they don’t stick together and cause scaling. Since they also remove contaminants like herbicides, bacteria, viruses, pesticides, and chlorine, they are generally more expensive than basic salt-free systems. Their filters also require regular replacement.

Size and Water Usage

The best salt-free water softeners come in different sizes to meet each household’s water usage and hardness needs. Needing to treat harder water can increase a water softener system’s cost.

To calculate water usage, multiply the number of people living in your home by the average use rate of 75 gallons per day. Using this equation, a family of three will use an average of 225 gallons of water per day.

To determine water hardness, which is measured in grains per gallon, you’ll need a water test kit. Water with 7 to 10.5 grains per gallon is moderately hard, while water with more than 10.5 grains per gallon is very hard.

To calculate which size softener you need, multiply water hardness by water usage. A home that uses 225 gallons of water per day with a water hardness of 10 grains per gallon requires a water softener with a capacity of 2,250 grains per day.

Flow Rate

A salt-free water-conditioning system sits between the main water line’s intake and outtakes, treating water as it flows into your home’s plumbing. Since electromagnetic water treatment systems aren’t plumbed into your home’s water system, they don’t affect flow rate.

However, salt-free systems that use filtration can affect water flow, potentially slowing it. Therefore, water softeners with filtration systems must have a flow rate that meets the demands of the household to prevent a drop in water pressure. Homes with one to three bathrooms need a filtration system with a flow rate between 8 and 12 gallons per minute. Larger households require around 15 gallons per minute.

Installation

Installing a water softener that’s salt free is generally relatively easy. While traditional salt softeners typically require professional installation, salt-free systems don’t require any plumbing knowledge and will likely only take about 15 minutes for the average DIYer to install. All you need to do is wrap the unit’s wires around your water supply pipe and plug it in.

Full filtration systems and whole-house systems are more involved. Unlike under-sink water filters, descaler and filtration combination systems generally need to be plumbed into the incoming water supply pipe. Still, these units are typically designed to be relatively quick and easy to install, meaning some DIYers may be up to the task.

The Advantages of Using a Salt-Free Water Softener

The benefits of a soft water system that’s salt free range from producing healthier water to being easier to maintain, install, and operate.

They’re healthier: Unlike traditional water softeners, salt-free water softeners do not use sodium chloride, meaning they don’t add salt to drinking water. This can be a significant benefit if members of the household must limit their salt intake due to high blood pressure or other health issues.

Unlike traditional water softeners, salt-free water softeners do not use sodium chloride, meaning they don’t add salt to drinking water. This can be a significant benefit if members of the household must limit their salt intake due to high blood pressure or other health issues. They’re low maintenance: Unlike traditional water softeners, which must be refilled with 40 pounds or more of salt each month and periodically cleaned, salt-free water softeners require very little maintenance. While some units have water filters that must be replaced every 3 to 6 months, electromagnetic models require little to no maintenance whatsoever.

Unlike traditional water softeners, which must be refilled with 40 pounds or more of salt each month and periodically cleaned, salt-free water softeners require very little maintenance. While some units have water filters that must be replaced every 3 to 6 months, electromagnetic models require little to no maintenance whatsoever. They have low operating costs: Since traditional water softeners require a steady stream of water softener salt and electricity to create the ionization process that softens water, they have higher operating costs. Salt-free systems do not salt, meaning they are less expensive to operate over time.

Since traditional water softeners require a steady stream of water softener salt and electricity to create the ionization process that softens water, they have higher operating costs. Salt-free systems do not salt, meaning they are less expensive to operate over time. They protect plumbing and appliances: As with salt-based water softeners, salt-free water softeners eliminate scaling that can clog pipes. This helps optimize the performance of washing machines, hot water heaters, and dishwashers.

FAQs

Though you likely aren’t still asking yourself, “What is a water softener?” you may still have questions about how salt-free water softeners work or if your new water softener is functioning properly. Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about these appliances.

Q. How does the water softener system work? Water softeners work by treating the water as it enters the home. Salt softeners eliminate minerals that cause hard water, whereas salt-free systems reshape minerals from water so they can’t accumulate and create scaling. Q. Do salt-free water softeners remove iron? Salt-free water softeners are not designed to remove anything from water, including iron. If you need to remove iron, it’s best to go with a traditional water softener or a full-filtration salt-free system. Q. How do I know my water softener is working? A water softener should prevent deposits from building up on faucets, sinks, and toilets. You should also notice it takes less soap and shampoo to create suds. For a more quantifiable indicator, measure water hardness with a water test kit before vs. after installation. Q. How do I clean my salt-free water softener? Most salt-free water softeners require no cleaning, though it’s a good idea to periodically wipe dust and dirt from the coils. If you have a full-filtration unit, you will also need to periodically replace your machine’s filters as recommended by the manufacturer. Q. How long will my salt-free water softener last? This depends on the type of salt-free water softener. An electromagnetic water softener can last up to 40 years or more, while an enclosed filter-based water softener may last up to 6 years before needing replacement. Q. What is the downside of a water softener? The main downsides of traditional water softeners are that they remove healthy minerals, increase sodium content in water, and have ongoing operational costs. Salt-free systems retain mineral content and have lower ongoing associated costs, but they may not be powerful enough for large homes. Q. Is soft water suitable for drinking? Yes, soft water is suitable for drinking, especially if it’s produced using a salt-free system. Salt-based softeners remove healthy minerals and add sodium, so it may be a less healthy option for some. Q. Are salt-free water softeners worth it? As relatively easy to install, low maintenance, and effective systems, salt-free water systems are worth it for many households. If you need to remove contaminants from your water, selecting a full-filtration system over an electromagnetic one is smart. If you have a larger home, you may need a traditional water softener to meet your needs. Q. How much does a salt-free water softener cost? Typical water softener system cost is about $1,500. The salt-free water softeners on our list cost between $100 and $1,750, averaging about $450.

Many provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, one of the signature achievements of the first Donald Trump administration, are set to expire in the coming year, and Republicans are keen to use their trifecta of political control to determine what tax policy will look like in the second Trump administration and beyond.

But even though one party will control both houses of Congress and the White House, there is still plenty for lawmakers to argue about.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act changed what most American people and businesses owe the IRS every year. The law increased the standard deduction, so fewer people itemize on their tax returns, and it cut the tax rate for corporations and most private businesses.

But there was a catch. In order to lower the overall cost of the law, at least on paper, Congress used some accounting and legislative “gimmicks,” according to Owen Zidar, an economics professor at Princeton University.

“The way that the original 2017 bill got passed was they made some of the things expire, in particular, the things that they thought might be hard to have people stop, like tax cuts for a broad group of people,” Zidar said.

Most of the tax cuts for individuals and some of the provisions for businesses expire at the end of 2025. The new Congress that takes office in January will have to decide which tax changes to extend, whether to add new components to the law and how to pay for them.

“A lot of the tension will be about different groups within the Republican Party,” Zidar said. “Some of them care a lot more about economic growth. Some of them care about a range of other things.”

For example, what to do about the state and local tax deduction, or SALT cap, which was lowered to $10,000 in the 2017 law? Before that, people could deduct what they paid in state and local taxes from their federal income taxes.

“A number of Republicans, particularly those in higher-tax states like New Jersey, New York, California — the sort of the states that were most affected by the SALT cap — want to raise the SALT cap or lift it,” said Samantha Jacoby, deputy director of federal tax policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Either option would increase the cost of new tax legislation, in addition to the potential cost of tax-related changes Trump promised on the campaign trail.

“Exempting tipped income from income tax, exempting Social Security benefits, benefits from income tax, providing a special deduction for auto loan interest on your tax return that you pay. All of those, of course, are going to have revenue effects,” said Garrett Watson, a senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation.

The cost of all of these changes together would run into trillions of dollars over 10 years, the period of time by which most pieces of legislation are judged in terms of cost. Just renewing the expiring provisions of the 2017 law alone — most of which mostly benefited wealthier Americans — would cost an estimated $4 to $5 trillion over a decade.

To cover the final bill, whatever it turns out to be, Republicans in Congress are floating a variety of options.

“Republicans are starting to threaten big spending cuts to programs like Medicaid and food assistance to either pay or offset some of the tax cuts, or basically just to lower the size of government, because our tax revenues are not enough to keep up,” said Jacoby of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

“And of course, [Trump]’s also considering tariffs as one potential offset or revenue raiser for some of these other tax cuts. So, lots of moving parts here, a lot of uncertainty,” Watson said.

Although Watson, along with many other economists, question how — or if — tariffs funding tax cuts would even work, yet alone raise enough revenue to offset extending or adding to the tax cuts.

Which leads to one of the big-picture debates already percolating among Republicans in Congress: Just how much they are willing to add to the deficit to get all of this done?

“Some folks talk about fully offsetting the cost of extending these tax cuts,” said Watson. “So, in that case, the deficit impact might be zero, all the way to let’s fully finance this by increasing the deficit. And that number could be north of $5 trillion over 10 years. And so that’s the range we’re talking about.”

Complaining about the growing deficit was one thing when Republicans were in the minority or in divided government, but could be another thing entirely now that they have unified control of the White House and Congress. Especially as any tax policy creates winners and losers, with all of their affected constituencies and their lobbyists clamoring for their own special tax breaks.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has flipped his position on the SALT cap, which he signed into law when he was president. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

WASHINGTON—For a while, former Rep. Tom Reed says, he was effectively persona non grata in New York City, thanks to the 2017 deal he helped negotiate that placed a $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions.

That limit, known as the SALT cap, produced hundreds of billions of dollars to pay for tax rate cuts and, Reed says, it was fine for western New York and the House district that he represented as a Republican before leaving Congress in 2022. But it infuriated Reed’s downstate colleagues in New York and its suburbs, where wealthier constituents pay higher income and property taxes.