Sterra's purchase prices ($599–$1,999) and five-year totals ($1,850–$2,915) are computed from published, unambiguous filter prices and intervals across all four current models. novita's charged purchase prices range from $298 (W38) to $1,798 (W1i); five-year totals compute to $1,789 (W62 Plus), $1,818 (W38), $2,658 (P9) and $3,398 (W1i). At today's charged prices, the cheapest complete five-year costs in this matchup are novita's W62 Plus at $1,789 and W38 at $1,818, with Sterra's Y Tabletop at $1,850 essentially tied. The caveat runs the other way for novita: the W38, P9 and W1i totals are built on undated sale prices with anchor figures 14–66% higher still displayed, so a quiet reversion would push them up — the W38's total would rise by $591 alone. Sterra's totals carry no such ambiguity.

novita's P9 is the only reverse-osmosis model in this comparison — its page names a 6-stage stack including an RO membrane. The W1i, W38 and W62 Plus are ultrafiltration, described on-site as "Ultra Filtration" using a hollow-fibre or nano-electrostatic membrane. Sterra's X and Y models likewise name ultrafiltration ("UF Membrane"); the Sterra 8 doesn't name its filtration technology. Neither brand publishes a scoped certification for any of these eight models; a novita marketing blog post once called a filter "NSF-certified," but no certificate or tested scope appears on the product page itself, so it isn't recorded as one.

Sterra's four models split into one tankless unit (the 8) and three tank-based units, all outputting hot, cold and ambient water. novita's range is more varied: the W1i is tankless hot/cold/ambient; the P9 is a manual-refill tank unit with hot and cold output plus a built-in ice maker, the only ice-maker model in this comparison; the W38 and W62 Plus are ambient-only, with no hot or cold function — the W38 is a mains-fed, electricity-free dispenser, and the W62 Plus is an undersink filtration system, a form factor Sterra doesn't offer.

novita's W38 is the smallest countertop unit on either side at 110×405×340mm and 3.0kg. The W62 Plus, at 239×113×480mm, is built for hidden undersink installation rather than countertop comparison. Sterra's smallest is the 8 at 150×370×392mm. On installation fees, Sterra states $0 for all four models; novita states a $120 standard installation fee for its three mains-fed models (W1i, W38, W62 Plus) and $0 for the manual-fill P9, which needs no plumbing.

novita's P9 carries the longest published warranty in this matchup — five years, stated in the product's own name — though its exact coverage isn't itemised beyond the duration. The W1i, W38 and W62 Plus each carry a one-year standard warranty with a paid extension available. Sterra's warranties run three years (Sterra 8) or one year plus an optional paid extension (X/Y models), each with explicit written exclusions for filters, hoses and wear and tear. Neither brand states whether its installation/service technicians are in-house staff or contracted.