Best Tabletop Fountain: HoMedics Indoor 3-Tier Relaxation Tabletop Fountain

Let’s talk indoor water fountains!

These fountains have gained popularity in recent years, thanks to their soothing sound and utility (yes, some folks like to use them as birdbaths for parakeets).

After spending several hour researching the best bets, we came across some general tips that can make the difference between a happy and a not-so-happy fountain experience:

• Use distilled water. Regular tap water has impurities, which can cause your fountain to require more cleaning.

• Be sure to fill the fountain up to the top. Remember the pump must be under water to work correctly. If you don’t add enough water, the pump can be very noisy (a common complaint among some users).

• Clean the fountain every week or two. 

When recommending tabletop fountains, we like HoMedic’s 3-Tier fountain—it’s a best bet for most folks. Set-up is easy and we liked the bang for the buck here.

What We Liked

• Easy to assemble.

• Affordable.

• Includes lights and rocks.

• Add more rocks or plants to taste. Here is what one user did to enhance this fountain:

HoMedics Indoor 3-Tier Relaxation Tabletop Fountain enhanced

What Needs Work

• Lights are not replaceable. And can burn out too quickly.

• More rocks, please.

Best With Candles: Alpine Corporation WCT202 Tiered Column Tabletop Fountain w/ 3 Candles

Yes, this fountain comes with actual tea-light candles. You can replace them, if you wish, of course. We liked the overall look and function of this fountain.

What We Liked

• Easy to assemble.

• Affordable.

• Quiet.

• Includes candles.

What Needs Work

• No on/off switch.

Best Wall Fountain: Wall Mount Hanging Bubble Wall Aquarium 30” LED Lighting Indoor Panel 300WM Water Fall Fountain

Wow! This fountain is mesmerizing! We liked the changing color LED lights, which reflect off the bubbles in this fountain.

What We Liked

• Looks amazing.

• Bright colors.

• Nice accent for modern kitchen.

• Includes a filter.

What Needs Work

• Must be cleaned regularly or algae can grow. Hint: use an anti-algae tank cleaner to help.

• Large external pump is hard to hide.

Best Tall Fountain: Alpine Corporation MLT102 Waterfall Fountain with Stones and Light

For the best large indoor fountain that is a statement piece, we suggest the Alpine MLT102. Water trickles down a mirror in the back of this fountain and lands in a box with river rocks. Very impressive.

What We Liked

• Easy to put together.

• Soothing sounds.

• Looks gorgeous.

• Relaxing.

• Easy to keep clean.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

• Pump can be noisy.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living off of affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!