Written by Daniel Elderenbosch - Aquablu Hydration Expert | Last updated: March 2026
More companies across the Benelux are switching from traditional water coolers to smart water dispensers that serve flavored water, vitamins, and sparkling water in the workplace. Two systems lead that shift: Aquablu and Dripl.
Both connect to your mains water supply. Both filter and add natural flavors. That's about where the overlap ends. Filtration depth, vitamin content, flavor range, hot water, installation time: the gaps are wider than they first appear.
Multi-barrier filtration (3 layers: mechanical, chemical, biological)
Cold, sparkling and hot water (2 temperature levels (80 & 95 degrees)
8 flavors — all with vitamins
Sugar-free & sweetener-free options
60 liter/hour capacity
Installation in ~45 minutes
Red Dot Design Award '24
🇳🇱 Based in the Netherlands
Carbon filtration
Cold and sparkling water
No hot water
3 of 8 flavors with vitamins
8 flavors, 4 flavor slots
Touchscreen interface
Henry van de Velde Award
🇧🇪 Based in Belgium
We put the Aquablu REFILL+ Series 2 and the Dripl Refill Point next to each other on every metric that matters. We show where they match and where they differ,
letting the specs speak for themselves.
Real offices. Real numbers
Curious if Aquablu is a good fit for your team? We'll visit you free of charge with hydration van, so your team can sample all the flavors in their own workplace. No obligations, no long contracts upfront. Taste the difference and then decide.
Bas Drogtrop
Country Manager & Partner, Insider
On paper, Aquablu and Dripl look similar: flavored water from a tap water connection. But a closer look shows three differences stand out. Each one affects water quality, health,
or daily usability in your workplace.
Multi-barrier vs. carbon filtration
The Aquablu REFILL+ Series 2 uses multi-barrier filtration. Three layers that tackle mechanical, chemical, and biological contaminants in your tap water. Chlorine, microplastics, heavy metals, bacteria. All removed before the water reaches the glass.
Dripl uses carbon filtration. Carbon filters improve taste and strip out chlorine effectively, but they offer less protection against chemical contaminants and microorganisms. In buildings with older pipes or locations where water quality fluctuates, that's a gap worth knowing about. What your filter catches matters. This is the biggest technical gap between these two water dispensers.
Vitamin water in every GLASS
At Aquablu, every flavor contains vitamins. Whether your team chooses IMMUNITY (lemon), GLOW (mango guava), THRIVE (blackberry acai) or another. That turns the water dispenser into more than a bottled water replacement. It becomes part of your team's daily vitamin intake.
Dripl offers flavored water made with natural concentrates, but only two of the eight flavors contain vitamins. For HR managers and workplace experience leads leveraging hydration as a broader office wellness strategy, the difference in vitamin content and sugar composition is worth weighing.
Hot water. Zero Kettles.
The Aquablu REFILL+ Series 2 offers hot water at two temperature settings. A lower setting for green tea, a higher one for black or herbal tea. One system replaces your office water cooler, the soda machine, and the kettle in the pantry.
The Dripl Refill Point doesn't pour hot water. For offices looking to simplify the pantry and reduce the number of separate appliances, that means a separate hot water device still stays on the counter. The Aquablu REFILL+ consolidates everything into one system. Less maintenance, lower energy use, smaller footprint.
Aquablu runs on a Pay-Per-Drink model. No CAPEX investment. No hidden costs. Hardware, installation, CO₂ service, maintenance are all included. For a team of 100, that's around 4,000 drinks a month at €0.27 per serving. €1,080 a month.
For comparison, bottled water typically costs upwards of €0.60 per serving, and individual bottles of vitamin water can run over €3.00 per liter. This means an office water dispenser can be up to 50% cheaper than traditional water supplies.
Dripl operates on a rental model: a fixed monthly fee for the hardware plus variable costs for flavor consumption.
01
What is Dripl?
Dripl is a Belgian startup that makes beverage dispensers for offices. The Dripl Refill Point filters tap water using carbon filtration and blends it with natural flavor concentrates to create low-sugar drinks. The system offers still and sparkling water with four flavor slots and eight available flavors. Dripl as a water dispenser brand is not to be confused with the German hairstyling brand dripl.de.
02
Are Aquablu and Dripl the same?
No, Aquablu and Dripl are not the same. While both systems provide flavored water via a tap water connection, the technology is significantly different. Aquablu uses multi-barrier filtration with three layers of filtration, offers vitamins in all eight flavors, sugar-free options without sucralose, and hot water at two temperature levels. Dripl uses carbon filtration, offers vitamins in only two of the eight flavors, and does not provide hot water.
03
What is the difference between Aquablu and Dripl?
he biggest difference is the filtration technology. Aquablu's multi-barrier filtration combines mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration for maximum water purity—it removes not only chlorine, but also microplastics, heavy metals, and bacteria. Dripl uses standard carbon filtration, which is effective for improving taste but offers less protection against chemical contaminants.
04
Can I try Aquablu first before I decide?
Yes, Aquablu offers a free on-site demo with a mobile demo unit. Your team can sample all the flavors in their own workplace, without obligation or cost. 95% of companies that try Aquablu decide to keep the system—usually within two weeks.
05
What if I already have a contract with another supplier?
That's no problem. Schedule a free on-site demo now, so your team can experience the difference and you can make an informed decision about when your current contract expires. Aquablu is happy to help you plan the timing and ensure a smooth transition.
06
Which water dispenser is best for my office?
That depends on your needs. If you only want flavored water, both Aquablu and Dripl are good options. Do you also want warm water, multi-barrier filtration, vitaminwater in every flavor, and a higher filtration level? Then the Aquablu REFILL+ Series 2 offers a more complete system. Schedule a free demo to experience the difference for yourself.
07
How much does an Aquablu water dispenser cost?
Aquablu operates a transparent pay-per-drink model starting at €0.23 per serving. Hardware, installation, and service are included. For an office with an average of 2,500 drinks per month, the total cost comes to approximately €850 per month. Request a free quote for a customized calculation.
Want to know how Aquablu stacks up against other office water dispensers, water coolers, and office water taps?
Check out these comparisons:
Smart hydration alongside a hot water tap.
Smart hydration alongside a filtered water tap.
Smart hydration
for your office
Our mobile demo unit comes to your office. Try all the flavors, see how the system works, then decide.