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Igloo Countertop vs Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison
Igloo countertop water cooler dispenser vs Costway 5-gallon. Two top-loading dispensers. Both budget-priced, but which is better?
Igloo Countertop Water Dispenser
Tested Using Methodology v1.0Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser
Tested Using Methodology v1.0
Overall Verdict
The Igloo and the Costway 5-gallon are both top-loading water cooler dispensers. The Igloo is a countertop machine while the Costway is a smaller-than-average freestanding water cooler dispenser. Both machines fit into the budget range.
The Igloo uses buttons and has additional ambient temperature water. The Costway uses two faucet-type levers for hot and cold water.
The Igloo buttons are somewhat stiff, noisy, and the hot water safety is not so comfortable to use. For the Costway, the hot water safety mechanism is sometimes difficult to operate smoothly.
Neither machine has a favorable flow rate. The Igloo is somewhat slow at 12 ml/sec, but the Costway is a little better at 15 ml/sec—compared to the benchmark standard of 34 ml/sec. This is the main drawback for both machines.
The Costway is slightly better in terms of cold water performance. It can produce an 8.5 fl. oz (300 ml) cup of perfectly chilled water every 7 minutes, but the Igloo is every 8 minutes. That’s 2.7 L per hour compared to 2.3 L.
Hot water performance is quite different between the two. The Igloo only heats water to only 185 ℉ (85 ℃), whereas the Costway heats it to 199 ℉. Understandably, at a lower temperature, the Igloo has a higher hot water capacity at 5 L per hour.
The Costway is a slightly better-performing machine. It’s relatively lightweight (9kg) and made mostly of plastic. It skimps on quality with the drip tray which falls out quite easily. The Igloo is heavy for its size (10kg) and difficult to pick up having no side handles.
Pros & Cons
- Heating time
- Simple panel design
- Adjustable feet
- Hot water temperature
- Detachable faucets
- Light weight
- Slow flow rate
- Hot water safety
- Water baffle
- Drip tray
- No pocket handles
- Slow flow rate
- Loose drip tray
- Shoddy drainage plug
- Poor build quality
Key Specs
Where to Buy
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Analysis and Test Results
Performance
Hot Water Test
Cold Water Test
Design
In the Box
Build Quality
Dimensions
Panel & Indicators
Water Inlet Controls
Water Dispensers
Drip Tray
Rear Switches
Door and Cabinet
Cord and Plug
Usability
Dispensing Water
Hot Water Safety
Bottle / Filter Changing
Cleaning
Behind the Comparison
Roger Shitaki is a writer, author, and editor. His niches are household appliances, health & wellness, and travel. He’s a freelance contributor to a Tokyo lifestyle website and a leading ophthalmology magazine in Asia.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
Nguyen Ntk is a graphic designer, photographer, and videographer whose philosophy centers around respecting and celebrating the beauty of reality. Through his lenses, Nguyen strives to capture the true essence of objects and events, showcasing and highlighting authentic features without distortion or exaggeration.
