Looking for the best shower head on the market? After all, your showers should not only be sustainable but also luxurious — for this, you need shower heads that are innovative, multifunctional, and built to last. While scrolling through social media or shopping online, you might have seen advertisements for two well-known brands — StoneStream and ShowerEnvy. Is the former the original and the latter just a copycat? At a glance, you might think that they offer pretty much the same thing. But a closer look reveals that the shower heads of both brands are quite different.
To make things easier for you as you shop for a shower head, we will be comparing the StoneStream EcoPower Shower Head with the ShoweryEnvy 2.0 Ionic Shower Head. We'll put these two shower heads head-to-head in a comprehensive comparison and the focus will be on their similarities (if any) and differences in terms of origin, quality, price, water flow velocity, and more. By the end, you'll know exactly which shower head is the right choice for you, your wallet, your shower room, and the planet.
With that, it's time to find out which is better, StoneStream or ShowerEnvy.
History and Origin
StoneStream has been manufacturing shower heads since 2017, which is when the Original StoneStream® shower head was first introduced to the market. StoneStream is a registered trademark of a British company. According to the Intellectual Property Office (the official government body responsible for intellectual property rights in the UK), the brand was registered on 24 August 2018.
In the years 2019 and 2020, the StoneStream EcoPower shower head became quite popular among the masses on TikTok (particularly on #showertok) due to its ability to filter and soften water with mineral stones, conserve water, and provide the user with 3 different spray settings.
ShowerEnvy (a.ka. ShowerEnvy Technologies Inc.) seems to have been established in 2019, based on their Instagram page; however, no details regarding the brand's origin can be found on the website. The homepage claims that the brand name is a registered trademark, but provides no link to the registration. A quick Google search also reveals that the name "ShoweryEnvy" has not been trademarked. They mention on their website that they are "a US-based startup company who partnered with well-known dermatologists to come up with a new, innovative and inexpensive way to approach your hair and skin regimen, through a re-invented shower experience." However, they have not provided any information to back this statement.
The ShowerEnvy 2.0 Ionic Shower Head became popular in 2022 on Reels due to its mineral beads filtration and different spray settings. However, older posts on the Instagram page reveal that the previous brand name was Ecowater Spa. It is unclear whether or not this is the same company as ShowerEnvy, or if the name was simply changed. The name "Ecowater Spa" also shows up often in ShowerEnvy's advertisements.
Website
Although we are comparing the StoneStream EcoPower Shower Head and the ShowerEnvy 2.0 Ionic Shower Head in this article, it's worthwhile to take a look at the websites of both brands before we get further into the comparison.
StoneStream's website provides information about the company, their story, their vision and mission, and the brand's traceable global impact by means of charity to non-profit organizations. Plus, there is a dedicated video section demonstrating how to install and maintain the different StoneStream products as well as a frequently updated blog section where you can find articles about showering, bathroom decor, and sustainability. There's also a link provided to the company's Trustpilot rating, which shows 4 stars based on 1725 reviews.
ShowerEnvy's website is much less informative. There is no About Us section, no company story, and no mission statement — in short, there is very little information about the brand itself. The website does not have a dedicated blog section either. There is an FAQ section, though, as well as a Terms Of Service page and a Privacy Policy page. The brand claims to "donate 5% of sales" to villages in Uganda but does not mention which organization they are working with or how much money has been donated thus far. A Trustpilot score of 5 stars has been mentioned, but no link has been provided. A quick search reveals that ShowerEnvy's actual Trustpilot rating is 3.6, based on 174 reviews.
The biggest red flag, however, is the fact that the ShowerEnvy website has copied the StoneStream homepage to a T (from the layout to the images to the wording) and simply swapped out the branding. In fact, in one instance, the name "StoneStream" has been mistakenly left in by ShowerEnvy, as seen in the screenshot below.
This lack of originality on the part of ShowerEnvy is quite concerning, and it makes us question the quality of their products. Copying a competing brand's website and using their language and photos is not only unprofessional, but it's also plagiarism. Additionally, ShowerEnvy calls its main product the "ShowerEnvy EcoPower" on the homepage when the product page refers to it as the "ShowerEnvy 2.0 Ionic Shower Head." This makes it even more apparent that they have copied and pasted the StoneStream website without bothering to change the branding.
Given these concerns about the ShowerEnvy website, we would recommend that you proceed with caution if you're considering purchasing a shower head from this brand. While it is acceptable to use similar technology for the shower heads themselves (as it is not patented), it is not okay to completely copy another brand. We will continue to compare the two shower heads, but we will keep these concerns in mind as we do so.
Quality and Materials Used
The StoneStream EcoPower Shower Head is made from high-density ABS thermoplastic polymer and has an anodized aluminum shower plate. It also features 250 laser-cut spray holes that increase water flow velocity by 200%, ensuring that less water shoots out at a faster rate (whilst being gentle at the same time). The shower head is also equipped with a mineral beads filtration system (or a polypropylene mesh filtration system), a durable slider to switch between spray settings, and a sturdy water-saving on/off switch.
The ShowerEnvy 2.0 Ionic Shower Head also mentions using the same materials on their homepage, since they have directly copied the infographic that StoneStream has on its website. Thus, we cannot be sure about what materials have actually been used to manufacture their shower heads and whether they are of good quality.
Manufacturing and Shipping
StoneStream manufactures and ships their shower heads from their local warehouses in the UK and the US and provides free shipping. A tracking link is also given with every order.
ShowerEnvy is based in California, US, and provides free shipping only for orders that are above $50. It is not known where their shower heads are manufactured.
Water Flow Velocity and Water Pressure
As demonstrated by lab tests performed by Intertek, the StoneStream EcoPower Shower Head increases water flow velocity and water pressure (i.e. the pressure with which the water hits you when you turn on the shower) by up to 212% when compared to ordinary shower heads. The doubly increased water flow velocity was evaluated using the criteria mentioned in the "Development of New Testing Protocols for Measuring the Performance of Shower Heads" (Report for the California Energy Commission). Thus, the EcoPower is useful for those who have been struggling with low water pressure in their shower. All of this information is available on StoneStream's website.
Note that water flow velocity is the speed with which water comes out of the shower head. When this speed is increased, the user also perceives the pressure of the water hitting the body to be greater. No shower head can increase the water pressure within the pipes, but a shower head like EcoPower can increase the speed of the water coming out by pushing it through numerous tiny holes. For example, the EcoPower Shower Head has 250 laser-cut holes which use less water but push it out at a greater speed when compared to regular shower heads. Think of how a garden hose sprays out water at a faster rate when you cover its opening with your thumb — the same concept is at work here, which is known as Bernoulli's Principle.
ShowerEnvy's product page for the 2.0 Ionic shower head mentions increasing water pressure (and not water flow velocity, which would be the right term) by does not explain how it does so and by how much. Additionally, their home page has copied information pertaining to lab tests and shower head performance criteria from StoneStream's homepage. Thus, we cannot be sure about the claims made by ShowerEnvy's 2.0 Ionic Shower Head regarding water flow velocity and water pressure.
Water Filtering Abilities
The StoneStream EcoPower Shower Head uses a mixture of Germanium stones (a.k.a mineral stones) to filter water, remove impurities such as chlorine, dirt, limescale, and bacteria, and reduce water hardness.
Indeed, StoneStream manufactured the original mineral beads shower head in 2017 (it is the basis of all the other "mineral stones" and "ionic" shower heads), which at the time only contained one type of germanium stone. The newest EcoPower model uses three types to purify water: anion stones, ceramic energy stones, and tourmaline stones. The negatively-charged anion stones trap the contaminants in water, the ceramic energy stones help maintain the pH of skin and hair, and the tourmaline stones allow your hair to be shinier by reducing its exposure to limescale. The mineral stones can filter up to 30,000 litres (or 8000 gallons) of water effectively and have to be replaced once in 6-8 months.
Apart from the mineral stones filer, StoneStream also gives customers the option to choose between a polypropylene mesh filter or a Vitamin C filter to go with their EcoPower and Matte Black models, respectively. The polypropylene mesh is a fine screen that physically traps and removes foreign particles from the water, reducing dirt, mineral build-up, and impurities. The Vitamin C filter too softens and purifies water, and has additional aromatherapy properties.
ShowerEnvy too uses mineral stones in its 2.0 Ionic Shower Head to filter water. The product page mentions that the shower head contains mineral balls that "remove the residual" such as "chlorine, heavy metals, impurities, and bacteria", anion balls that "enrich water" with "Vitamin C and Vitamin E", and energy balls that "adjust the pH" to give "silky hair" and "clear skin".
The ShowerEnvy product page for the 2.0 Ionic Shower Head also states that: "Developed by a group of renowned scientists and dermatologists using ceramic and negative ion activated Germanium stones, ShowerEnvy is a non-invasive technology that is proven to be the most effective way to cleanse the body of harmful chemicals and toxins that damage your skin and hair!" However, no proof has been provided to back up the claim about dermatologists. Additionally, this description mentions a different kind of mineral stones as opposed to the one seen earlier.
Plus, on the home page, ShowerEnvy has copied the description and images provided by StoneStream for their own mineral stones. Thus, we cannot be sure what ShowerEnvy's mineral stones are actually made of because of conflicting and plagiarised information provided all over their website.
Water Softening Abilities
The StoneStream EcoPower Shower Head provides customers the option of choosing between a mineral stones filter, a polypropylene mesh filter, or a Vitamin C filter (which comes with the Matte Black variant of the EcoPower), all of which can soften water and reduce hardness, preventing the buildup of limescale and minerals in your pipes, shower accessories, bathroom surfaces, skin, and hair. StoneStream also manufactures a Universal Shower Hard Water Filter that uses a 15-stage filtration process to further get rid of the impurities in shower water such as limescale, chlorine, dirt, rust, bacteria, sand, and heavy metals. This can be attached to any shower head, be it the EcoPower Shower Head or a traditional shower head.
ShowerEnvy's 2.0 Ionic Shower Head doesn't explicitly state that it can reduce water hardness but it does mention on the product page that it can "reduce chlorine, calcium and magnesium in your shower." However, their homepage again uses plagiarised content from StoneStream's website to make claims about the shower head's water softening abilities — we will not be taking into consideration these copied claims as they are not reliable and thus unlikely to represent the truth.
Water Saving Abilities
The StoneStream EcoPower Shower Head reduces water usage by up to 35%, massively cutting down on your water and energy bills. For the average household of four, it can save approximately 45,990 litres (12150 gallons) of water in a year and £227 ($250) on your yearly water bill. An infographic on the homepage explains how the shower head and how much. The EcoPower saves water by pushing less water at a greater speed through the numerous holes of the shower plate. This same concept is what increases the water flow velocity as well.
The ShowerEnvy 2.0 Ionic Shower Head does not mention saving water anywhere on the product page. In fact, the only place where the shower head's water saving abilities are spoken about is on the homepage, where the content has been copied word-to-word from the StoneStream website. Thus, we do not know for sure if the 2.0 Ionic Shower Head saves water in the shower.
Spray Settings and Stop Button
The StoneStream EcoPower Shower Head is multi-function and has 3 different spray settings —rainfall, jetting, massage — and an Eco Stop button that can pause the flow of water and maintain the water temperature (because you won't have to adjust the valves again). For electric showers, the EcoPower is available without the Eco Stop button to ensure safety. The EcoPower Shower Head also has a single spray option (or single-function), for those who do not want different spray settings and prefer something more conventional.
ShowerEnvy's 2.0 Ionic Shower Head also comes with 3 spray settings of rainfall, jetting, and massage. It has a stop button as well to stop the flow of water. However, there is no variant without the stop button for electric showers and neither is there a variant with only a single spray option.
Handheld vs Wall-Mounted Variants
The StoneStream EcoPower has both handheld and wall-mounted variants, ensuring that those with different showering preferences can find one that suits their needs. The handheld variant is great for those who want the added convenience of being able to move the shower head around and not having to be in a fixed position, or for those with young children or pets who need help showering. The wall-mounted variant is sturdier and can be used by those who wish to have a fixed source of water at all times. For those who are interested in double showers, there's also the option to get the handheld + wall-mounted combo.
The ShowerEnvy 2.0 Ionic Shower Head only comes in the handheld variant. There is no wall-mounted option for those who aren't interested in a detachable shower head. There is no combo variant either.
Price
The starting point for StoneStream shower heads is £19.99 (or $29.90). The StoneStream EcoPower with 3 different spray settings and an Eco Stop button costs £25.85 (or $34.99).
The ShowerEnvy 2.0 Ionic Shower Head starts at $49.95. This is almost double the price of the StoneStream EcoPower and doesn't seem to be worth it considering that it is a dupe.
Final Verdict: Which is Better, StoneStream or ShowerEnvy?
After carefully considering all of the factors above, it is obvious that StoneStream is the better option. It's the Original mineral beads shower head which is more affordable and has more proof-backed features than the ShowerEnvy 2.0 Ionic Shower Head, which is clearly a dupe.
The StoneStream EcoPower also has different filters and variants to suit the needs of different people, whereas the ShowerEnvy 2.0 Ionic Shower Head only has one type of filtration system and comes in only one handheld variant. Additionally, ShowerEnvy's blatant plagiarism and lack of transparency regarding the company and its products are serious red flags that throw into question the credibility of the product. For all these reasons, we believe that StoneStream is the better option and recommend it over ShowerEnvy.
Enjoy Better Showers with the Original StoneStream EcoPower Shower Head!
With so many shower heads on the market, it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. If you're looking for an affordable, high-quality shower head, we recommend the StoneStream EcoPower Shower Head. Stay clear of the dupes like ShowerEnvy and Showery and go for the Original StoneStream to avoid disappointment!
StoneStream EcoPower ShowerHead
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The StoneStream EcoPower Shower Head is the original mineral beads shower head. It uses unique filtration systems that remove chlorine and other impurities from your water, leaving you with softer, cleaner water. The shower head also has 3 different spray settings — rainfall, jetting, and massage — and an Eco Stop button that can pause the flow of water and maintain the water temperature (because you won't have to keep readjusting the shower knob when you want to save water and keep the temperature steady!).
Here are the innovative features of the eco-friendly yet luxurious StoneStream EcoPower summed up:
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212% increase in water flow velocity
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35% reduction in water use
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Filters water and removes impurities such as chlorine, dirt, sand, bacteria, and limescale
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Softens water and makes it gentler on skin and hair
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Has 3 spray settings of rainfall, jetting, and massage
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Has an Eco Stop button to pause water flow and reduce water use
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Takes less than a minute to install
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Universally compatible — fits in any bathroom
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Comes with a 1-year warranty
You can also get matching shower accessories (such as shower hoses and non-slip shower mats) with your EcoPower Shower Head to ensure that your bathroom stays clean, safe, and luxurious all the time. Happy shopping and happy showering!
