Quick Answer: Aquasana’s SimplySoft is a salt-based ion-exchange water softener — it genuinely removes calcium and magnesium rather than just conditioning them — sold direct through Aquasana in 40,000-grain ($849 sale, regular $1,698) and 60,000-grain ($1,149 sale, regular $2,298) sizes, both with a 5/10-year limited warranty and 90-day satisfaction guarantee. Per Aquasana’s own spec sheet it uses roughly 50% less salt and 28% less water than a conventional softener at the same capacity. The 40K size covers most homes up to 4 bathrooms; the 60K size is built for larger households. Well-water installs should pair it with a UV filter per Aquasana’s own recommendation, since softening alone doesn’t address bacteria.
Aquasana is a familiar name to anyone who’s shopped whole-house filters, and SimplySoft is the brand’s entry into full salt-based softening — a genuine ion-exchange system, not the conditioning add-on the name once referred to. This review covers what the current SimplySoft line actually does, what it costs, and where it fits against direct-to-consumer competitors like SpringWell and DIY Fleck builds.
Aquasana SimplySoft at a glance
| Spec | SimplySoft 40,000 Grain | SimplySoft 60,000 Grain |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Salt-based ion exchange | |
| Removes hardness minerals? | Yes | |
| Rated / peak flow | 11.02 GPM / 15.5 GPM | 11.1 GPM / 16.6 GPM |
| Salt storage | 230 lb | |
| Recommended for | Up to 5 people / 4 bathrooms | 5+ people / 4+ bathrooms |
| Warranty | 5/10-yr limited + 90-day guarantee | |
| Price | $849 sale (reg. $1,698) | $1,149 sale (reg. $2,298) |
What SimplySoft actually does
Aquasana SimplySoft Ion-Exchange Water Softener
- Removes calcium and magnesium through standard resin-and-brine ion exchange — a real softener, not a conditioner.
- LCD control panel with customizable, metered regeneration rather than a fixed timer schedule.
- Salt is sold separately from home improvement or grocery stores and isn't included at purchase.
Softener salt on time, every time — Amazon Prime ships it free in two days, and you can try it free for 30 days.
Unlike a conditioner, a hardness test taken after SimplySoft is installed reads meaningfully lower, not the same as before — that’s the practical difference between real ion-exchange softening and template-assisted crystallization. Aquasana’s own spec sheet claims the system uses roughly 50% less salt and 28% less water per regeneration cycle than a conventional softener of similar capacity, though as with any manufacturer efficiency claim, independent third-party verification of that specific figure wasn’t available at the time of writing.
Sizing: 40,000 vs. 60,000 grain
Aquasana positions the 40,000-grain model for households up to roughly 5 people and 4 bathrooms, and the 60,000-grain model for larger households above that line. Both share the same 230-pound salt tank, LCD control panel, and warranty terms — the difference is resin volume and flow capacity, with the 60K model rated for a higher 11.1 GPM (16.6 GPM peak) versus the 40K model’s 11.02 GPM (15.5 GPM peak). If you’re unsure which bracket your household falls into, our water softener sizing guide walks through the full people × usage × hardness calculation rather than relying on bathroom count alone.
Where SimplySoft fits against the competition
SimplySoft is sold direct through Aquasana and also shows up on Amazon and Home Depot, which puts it in a different lane than SpringWell’s SS series, sold exclusively direct-to-consumer with no retail or Amazon listing. Against a DIY Fleck 5600SXT build, SimplySoft trades a lower hardware cost and standardized replacement parts for a pre-assembled unit with Aquasana’s warranty already attached — the same trade-off as any pre-built cabinet brand versus a component build. See our SpringWell vs Aquasana comparison for a full head-to-head on price, warranty, and where to buy each.
The bottom line
Aquasana SimplySoft is a genuine salt-based softener now, not the conditioning add-on it’s sometimes still described as elsewhere — the 40,000-grain size covers most 1-4 bathroom homes at $849 on sale, and the 60,000-grain size handles larger households at $1,149. It’s a reasonable pick if you want a pre-assembled system available through Amazon or Home Depot rather than a direct-only purchase. Well-water households should add a UV filter per Aquasana’s own guidance and check our best water softener for well water guide for iron pretreatment, which SimplySoft doesn’t address on its own.
Last updated August 26, 2026 — corrected a significant factual error: SimplySoft was previously reviewed here as a salt-free conditioner add-on, but Aquasana’s current product line (verified directly against aquasana.com’s own 40K and 60K grain product pages) shows SimplySoft is now a full salt-based ion-exchange softener with real regeneration, a 230 lb salt tank, and no connection to the old conditioner positioning. Pricing, specs, and the entire review were rewritten to match.