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Countertop or cordless? Pick by where you will use it
Updated
Most buyers choose cordless because it looks tidy. Then they find out the tank is small and the battery is one more thing that can fail. Choose by where you will stand when you floss.
Countertop
- Run time: the Waterpik Aquarius lists 90+ seconds from a 651 ml tank. That is more than three times the water of the 207 ml Cordless Advanced.
- Pressure control: 10 settings on the Aquarius, against 2 or 3 on the cordless picks. More steps make it easier to find a gentle level.
- No battery: it plugs into the wall, so there is no charge to run out.
- The cost: it needs an outlet near the sink and a spot about 4 by 5 inches on the counter. The Aquarius listing says 120VAC for North America only, so it is not a travel unit. Owners also call it somewhat loud.
Cordless
- Shower use: the Waterpik cordless listings say waterproof for shower use. The COSLUS C20 and Philips Power Flosser 3000 listings show IPX7. Flossing in the shower keeps the splash off your mirror.
- Travel: the Cordless Advanced lists global voltage and comes with a bag, tip case and water plug.
- The cost: small tanks, fewer pressure steps, and a battery. Charging complaints show up in the owner summaries for every cordless pick here.
- Chargers: the Philips includes a wall adapter. The Waterpik cordless models and the COSLUS come with a USB cable only.
A quick way to decide
- Outlet by the sink and you floss at home: countertop.
- No outlet, tiny counter, or you want to floss in the shower: cordless.
- You travel often: cordless, and check the charger type before you pack.
- Shared by a family: countertop. The Aquarius comes with 7 tips, so each person can have their own.
None of the listings we read gave a pressure range in PSI in the text we could see, so we do not quote one. Compare by the number of settings instead, and start on the lowest.