Kent and Aquaguard (Eureka Forbes) are India’s two purifier giants — and the right answer depends on your TDS, your city’s service, and your tolerance for annual costs. We compared them on what actually differentiates: purification stacks, mineral handling, service coverage, and 5-year running costs — then matched each brand to the buyer it serves best.
Quick picks (TL;DR)
| Question | Kent’s edge | Aquaguard’s edge |
|---|---|---|
| Water saving | Kent Supreme Star zero-waste tech | Aquasaver 60% recovery |
| Mineral handling | TDS controller (blend-based) | MTDS regulator + active copper |
| Service reach | Deepest pan-India network | Strong metros + expansion |
| Entry pricing | Grand series ₹14-16K | Marvel series ₹13-15K |
Where each brand wins
Kent wins on: water waste and range depth
Kent’s Supreme line pioneered near-zero-water-waste RO, and the Grand series remains the safest under-₹15K RO purchase with parts and service in every pin code. TDS-control valves retain minerals simply and serviceably.
Aquaguard wins on: copper innovation and metro service
Eureka Forbes’ Marvel and Delight lines bring active copper-zinc enrichment and MTDS regulators with the strongest metro service — plus the brand with 40 years of Indian direct-sales trust.
The 5-year cost comparison
Kent Grand+: ~₹14.5K + ₹2.5-3K/yr service = ~₹27-29K over 5 years. Aquaguard Marvel: ~₹13.5K + ₹2.8-3.2K/yr = ~₹28-30K. Effectively a tie — so the decision falls to your city’s service quality and feature preference (water-saving vs copper).
The head-to-head picks
1. Kent Grand+ 8L (Best Kent RO)
Check Price →≈ ₹14,500 · RO+UV+UF+TDS control · 8L storage
Best for: The safe Kent choice
The reference RO — full stack, TDS control, and Kent’s service everywhere. Our full purifier rankings agree.
- Proven reliability
- TDS mineral control
- Widest service
- Conventional water waste
- No copper tech
2. Aquaguard Marvel 7L (Best Aquaguard RO)
Check Price →≈ ₹13,500 · RO+UV+MTDS · active copper+zinc
Best for: The safe Aquaguard choice
Copper enrichment plus MTDS flexibility — Aquaguard’s most complete mid-market package.
- Copper+zinc boost
- MTDS all-water-type
- Metro service strength
- Copper cartridge is a consumable
- 7L storage
3. Kent Supreme Star (Kent flagship)
Check Price →≈ ₹18,500 · RO+UV+Alkaline+Copper+in-tank UV
Best for: Kent flagship
Everything Kent makes, stacked — including the water-saving tech that answers the brand’s biggest criticism.
- Zero-waste design
- Full mineral stack
- In-tank UV
- Price
- Feature overlap across Kent lines
4. Aquaguard Delight NXT Aquasaver
Check Price →≈ ₹13,000 · 9-stage RO+UV+UF · 60% recovery
Best for: Aquaguard water-saver
The Aquasaver answer to RO water waste — 60% recovery, the highest in Aquaguard’s range.
- 60% water recovery
- 9-stage purification
- Eureka Forbes trust
- Storage modest
- No copper at this tier
The decision tree
TDS above 500: both brands' RO lines work — choose by your city's service response (ask two neighbours). TDS 200-500: Aquaguard Marvel's MTDS shines. Want copper water: Aquaguard Marvel or Kent Supreme Star. Water-scarce city: Kent Supreme Star or the Delight Aquasaver. Under ₹15K hard floor: Kent Grand.
And the upstream question — what TDS even is, and why it decides everything — is answered in our RO vs UV vs Gravity guide and the full water purifier rankings.
FAQs
Is Kent better than Aquaguard?
Neither universally — Kent wins on water-saving tech and tier-2/3 service; Aquaguard wins on copper enrichment and metro responsiveness. Match to your TDS and city.
Which is cheaper to maintain?
Effectively equal (₹2.5-3.2K/year). Copper cartridges (Aquaguard) and Kent’s larger filter ecosystem are the line items to compare in your city.
Can I switch brands after buying?
Yes — service contracts are per-brand, but your plumbing/setup transfers fine. Most homes only switch at replacement time.