What Brand of Bottled Water is the Best? Your Comprehensive 2025 Guide

December 9, 2025 •

4 min read

The bottled water market is driven by health-conscious consumers seeking healthier hydration options, contributing to steady market growth. For those wondering what brand of bottled water is the best, the answer often depends on personal priorities, from taste and purity to packaging and price.

Quick Summary

A comparison of bottled water brands covering taste profiles, sourcing methods, purification processes, and pH levels to help consumers make an informed choice. It evaluates popular options based on quality, mineral content, and environmental impact.

Key Points

Preference Matters: The "best" water is subjective and depends on your priority, whether it's taste, pH balance, or sustainability.
Source vs. Purified: Decide between natural sources like spring or artesian water (Mountain Valley, Fiji) and purified municipal water with added minerals (Essentia, Smartwater).
Sustainability is Key: Brands are focusing on eco-friendly packaging, with aluminum cans (Liquid Death) and recycled plastics becoming more common.
Alkaline Water for Wellness: If you seek a high pH for potential health benefits, brands like Essentia and Icelandic Glacial are popular choices.
Taste Varies by Minerals: The flavor profile of bottled water is heavily influenced by its mineral content and source, from crisp spring water to smooth, silky alkaline options.
Read Labels Carefully: Be aware that many affordable bottled waters are just filtered tap water with added minerals for flavor, not sourced from a spring.

Defining 'The Best' Bottled Water

Determining the single 'best' brand of bottled water is a highly subjective task, as it hinges on an individual's specific criteria. Some consumers prioritize taste and prefer the nuanced flavor of mineral or spring water, while others focus on health benefits like pH balance or added electrolytes. The source and purification method are also major deciding factors; is it drawn from a volcanic aquifer or simply purified municipal tap water? For many, the increasing concern for the environment has made packaging a crucial consideration, favoring sustainable materials like recycled plastic or aluminum. Price and accessibility also play a significant role, as premium, imported brands can cost many times more than widely available domestic options. This guide explores the different facets of what makes a bottled water great to help you pinpoint your ideal brand in 2025.

Types of Bottled Water

Understanding the different types of bottled water is the first step to finding your preference. Each type has a distinct source and processing method that affects its taste and mineral content.

Spring Water: Sourced from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface. Brands like Mountain Valley and Evian are well-known spring waters. Their mineral content is naturally occurring and can contribute to a unique taste.
Artesian Water: Collected from a well that taps an underground aquifer confined between layers of impermeable rock. The pressure from the aquifer pushes the water to the surface naturally. Fiji is a popular example of artesian water.
Purified Water: Comes from any source (including public tap water) but has undergone extensive treatment processes like reverse osmosis or distillation to remove dissolved solids and contaminants. Brands like Aquafina and Dasani are purified waters, and minerals are often added back for taste.
Mineral Water: Naturally contains at least 250 parts per million of total dissolved solids (TDS) and is sourced from a geologically protected underground water source. Acqua Panna is a mineral water known for its smooth profile.
Alkaline Water: Has a pH level higher than neutral (7.0), which proponents claim can offer health benefits. While some brands are naturally alkaline (like Icelandic Glacial), others, like Essentia, achieve a high pH through ionization and mineral addition.
Sparkling Water: Contains carbon dioxide gas, which can be naturally occurring at the source (like Perrier) or added during processing. This provides a bubbly, effervescent quality.

Top Contenders for 2025

Mountain Valley Spring Water

Sourced from the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas, Mountain Valley is a favorite for those who value classic, crisp spring water. It's celebrated for its fresh taste and its use of reusable glass bottles, which many feel best preserves the water's integrity. It's often found in high-end restaurants and is a long-standing favorite among aficionados.

Essentia Alkaline Water

Targeting the health-conscious consumer, Essentia is known for its high pH of 9.5 and smooth taste. It is created through a proprietary ionization process that purifies the water and adds electrolytes. This focus on enhanced hydration has made it a favorite among athletes and wellness enthusiasts.

Smartwater

Another brand owned by Coca-Cola, Smartwater is vapor-distilled, meaning it is purified to remove impurities, and then electrolytes are added for a clean, crisp taste. It's a highly accessible brand and has gained popularity for its straightforward, refreshing flavor and wide availability.

Fiji Natural Artesian Water

Sourced from a protected artesian aquifer in Fiji, this water is naturally filtered through volcanic rock, giving it a unique mineral profile and soft, smooth taste. Despite its premium positioning, some taste tests have noted a slight chemical aftertaste, though reviews are mixed. It is widely available and emphasizes sustainable sourcing.

Liquid Death Mountain Water

With aggressive, humorous marketing and a commitment to reducing plastic waste, Liquid Death offers Austrian mountain water in recyclable aluminum cans. The packaging is a major differentiator, appealing to a younger, eco-conscious demographic. Its taste is noted as smooth and crisp.

Comparison Table of Top Bottled Waters


Brand	Source	Key Feature	pH Level (Approx.)	Taste Profile	Best For...
Mountain Valley	Spring (Arkansas)	Glass bottles	~7.8	Crisp, clean, fresh	Taste, traditional spring water, glass
Essentia	Purified (Municipal)	Ionized, high pH	9.5	Silky, smooth, refreshing	Athletes, wellness, alkaline preference
Smartwater	Purified (Municipal)	Vapor-distilled, electrolytes	~7.0 (Mildly Alkaline)	Clean, neutral, crisp	Everyday hydration, electrolytes
Fiji	Artesian (Fiji)	Volcanic rock filtration	~7.7	Soft, smooth, mineral notes	Taste, artesian source, premium feel
Liquid Death	Mountain (Austria)	Aluminum cans	~8.0	Crisp, smooth, hint of mineral	Eco-conscious, brand image, canned water

Making Your Choice

Ultimately, the best brand is the one that best aligns with your personal values and preferences. For those seeking pure, natural flavor, a spring water like Mountain Valley or a premium artesian option like Fiji might be the ideal choice. If you prioritize the potential health benefits of high pH levels, Essentia is a strong contender. For everyday, reliable hydration with added electrolytes, Smartwater is a widely available option. If you are passionate about reducing plastic waste and enjoy a bit of punk-rock flair in your branding, Liquid Death offers a unique, sustainable alternative. Experiment with a few different types to conduct your own taste test and discover your perfect match.

For more detailed reviews and rankings based on taste tests, consider sources such as The Spruce Eats.

Conclusion: Finding Your Ideal Water

There is no single best brand of bottled water for everyone. The market offers a wide variety of options, each with distinct sourcing, purification methods, and taste profiles. Your personal preference, whether based on flavor, health benefits, packaging, or price, is the ultimate determining factor. By considering the different types of water and the unique characteristics of popular brands like Mountain Valley, Essentia, Smartwater, Fiji, and Liquid Death, you can make a more informed choice. Prioritizing factors like sustainability and value for money will lead you to the bottled water that best fits your lifestyle in 2025 and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

Spring water comes from an underground source where it flows naturally to the surface, retaining its natural mineral content. Purified water, conversely, can come from any source but has been treated (e.g., via reverse osmosis) to remove impurities and minerals, which are sometimes added back later.

Alkaline water has a higher pH level, which some people believe can help neutralize acid in the body and improve hydration. While some find it beneficial, particularly athletes, conclusive scientific evidence on its long-term health benefits is still limited.

Sustainability depends on packaging and sourcing. Brands like Path Water and Liquid Death, which use aluminum cans, are highly recyclable. Some brands like Waiakea focus on using recycled plastic and supporting clean water initiatives. Shipping from distant sources can increase a brand's carbon footprint regardless of packaging.

Yes, packaging can influence taste. Plastic bottles can sometimes impart a slight chemical flavor, particularly if exposed to heat, while water in glass or aluminum is generally considered to have a purer, more neutral taste.

The taste variation comes from the water's source and mineral content, known as Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Natural spring and mineral waters have distinct mineral profiles that create different flavor notes, from sweet to slightly metallic, while purified waters are often more neutral.

Many athletes prefer water with added electrolytes to aid in hydration. Brands like Smartwater and Essentia add a blend of electrolytes like potassium and magnesium, which can help replenish minerals lost through sweat.

Price is not always an indicator of quality or taste. Many budget-friendly brands are purified municipal tap water, and while safe, may not offer the same natural mineral profiles as higher-end spring or artesian waters. Taste is a personal preference, so a cheaper brand could be your favorite.