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Costway 5 Gallon vs Frigidaire Stainless Steel Water Cooler Dispenser Side-by-Side Comparison

By , , and ·Updated

Costway 5 Gallon Water Cooler Dispenser

$99.99 from Amazon

Frigidaire Stainless Steel

$129.99 from Amazon(+2 more)
Costway 5 Gallon vs Frigidaire Stainless Steel Water Cooler Dispenser

Overall Verdict

Both the Costway 5-gallon and the Frigidaire EFWC519 are top-loading water cooler dispensers. Apart from that, there’s a mile of difference between the two. Which one is best for you depends on your needs and budget.

The Costway has an all-plastic body, but the Frigidaire has stainless steel sides and much better build quality—even for the plastic parts.

Both use old-style faucet designs for dispensing water. The Frigidaire manages a flow rate of 0.98 fl. oz. or 33 ml/sec—which is closely matched to the benchmark of 34 ml/sec. The flow rate on the Costway was well below par at 0.5 fl. oz. or 15 ml/sec.

Not only that, the Costway cold water capacity is only 91.3 fl. oz. (2.7 L) per hour, or enough for nine people. The Frigidaire dispenses cold water to the top topmost standard of 202 fl. oz. (6 L) per hour or enough for 20 people.

The Frigidaire is our top recommendation for an office water cooler dispenser. The Costway does not meet those standards—especially for the poor flow rate and low-quality drip tray that easily falls out.

The Costway is more suited as a personal water cooler dispenser, or a small office on a tight budget. Considering the poor quality of the drip tray, it is not a machine for a public area.

Ranking by
Showing: 2/2 Items

Pros & Cons

  • Hot water temperature
  • Detachable faucets
  • Light weight
  • Cold water efficiency
  • Stainless steel body
  • Light weight
  • Cool to run
  • Easy to clean
  • Slow flow rate
  • Loose drip tray
  • Shoddy drainage plug
  • Poor build quality
  • Cramped dispensing space
  • Awkward hot water lever
  • Old design

Key Specs

Dimensions
W11.3 x D11.3. x H33.5 inches
12.5 x 12.6 x 41.5 inches
Weight:
9.0 lbs (4.1 kg)
28.7 lbs (13.0 kg)
Loading Type
Top Loading
Top Loading
Dispensing Mechanisms
Faucet levers
Faucet levers
Cold Water Temperature
50‒54 ℉
50‒54 ℉
Cold Water Capacity
91.3 fl.oz. / Hr
202 fl.oz. / Hr

Where to Buy

Price at publication
$112.68
$152.32
$99.99 at Amazon
$129.99 at AmazonCheck Price on HomedepotCheck Price on Walmart

*You help support Shouldit's product testing and reviews by purchasing from our retail partners.

Analysis and Test Results

Performance

Overall Performance Scoring
5.9
9.3

Hot Water Test

7.2
8.2
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Water temperature being measured as hot water flows out the nozzle of a water cooler dispenser.
Single Draw Capacity
19 fl. oz.
14.5 fl.oz.
Heating Time
8.5 fl.oz. / 2 min 48 sec
8.5 fl.oz. / 3.22 min
Temperature
199 ℉
198 ℉
Flow Rate
0.5 fl.oz. or 15 ml /sec
0.98 fl.oz. or 33 ml /sec

Cold Water Test

5.0
10
A gloved hand dispensing old water from the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser
Two small paper cups barely fitting completely on the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser with a faucet design.
Serving Capacity
91.3 fl.oz. / Hr
202 fl.oz./6L per hour
Temperature
50-54 ℉
50-54 ℉

Design

Overall Design Scoring
5.1
8.4

In the Box

The Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser standing next to its box with the drip tray and included literature to one side
An unboxed Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser pictured next to the box, a detached drip tray, and bundled literature.

Build Quality

4.9
9.0
A close up of the bottom of a small water cooler dispenser showing a plastic base and plastic stub feet.
A close up of the bottom of a small water cooler dispenser showing a plastic base and plastic stub feet.
A close up of a plastic stub foot on the bottom of a small freestanding water cooler dispenser.
The rear of a water cooler dispenser showing the quality of joining and workmanship.
Close up of the rear of a water cooler dispenser showing the quality of joining and workmanship.
Side view of the stainless steel body of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser.
Side view of the stainless steel body of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser.
Close up view of the water dispensing faucets and control panel of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser.
A plastic cover over top top of a rear metal grate of a water cooler dispenser.
Side Body
White plastic
stainless steel
Front Panel
White plastic
stainless steel and plastic
Cabinet Door
Yes
None
Base
Plastic
plastic
Extra Features
Storage cabinet
None

Dimensions

Costway Water Cooler Dispenser Dimensions
Illustrated dimensions of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser showing the height, depth, and width across in inches.
Depth
11.3" (28.7 cm)
12.6" (32.0 cm)
Width
11.3" (28.7 cm)
12.5" (31.8 cm)
Height
33.5" (85.1 cm)
41.5" (105.4 cm)
Weight
19.8 lbs (9.0 kg)
28.7 lbs (13.0 kg)

Panel & Indicators

6.0
8.5
A close up of the control panel of costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser.
A close up of the control panel of costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser.
The faucets and control panel of the Costway freestanding water cooler dispenser pictured together.
Close up view of the control panel of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser showing Cooling, Heating, and Power indicators.
Power Status
Middle
bottom
Hot Water Test
Top left
middle
Cold Water Test
Top right
top
Bottle Or Filter
No
None
Others
None
None

Water Inlet Controls

6.0
8.0
Close up of a water needle of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a water needle of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
The baffle removed from a cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser.
A finger pointing where to open the water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A finger pointing where to open the water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
The water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser being removed.
A top down view into the tank of a top loading water cooler dispenser showing the water baffle of the tank.
Mechanism
Water guard, water baffle
water guard and baffle
Materials
Plastic
plastic
Extra Features
None
slender bottle needle

Water Dispensers

A close up to two lever type dispensing faucets on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of hot and cold water cooler dispenser taps with faucet-type levers. The left tap is red and the right is blue.
Mechanism
2 faucets
Hot and Cold water lever taps
Outflow Points
2 tap nozzles
2 faucet nozzles
Material
Plastic
plastic
Extra Features
Nozzles detachable
Hot Water safety mechanism

Drip Tray

2.0
6.5
A top down view of a drip tray on a small water cooler dispenser.
A top down view of a drip tray on a small water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand showing how the cover on a water cooler dispenser drip tray can be removed.
Costway 5 Gallon Water Bottle Dispenser Drip Tray 2
A gloved hand removing a drip tray from a water cooler dispenser.
Close up front view of a drip tray positioned in a water cooler dispenser.
Close up front view of a drip tray positioned in a water cooler dispenser.
The cover to the drip tray of a water cooler dispenser being removed.
A bottom up view of two paper cups resting on the narrow drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
Material
Plastic
plastic
Color
White
black
Length
8.2" (20.8 cm)
10.5" (26.7 cm)
Width
2.6" (6.6 cm)
2.5" (6.4 cm)
Depth
1.3" (3.3 cm)
1.6" (4.1 cm)
Level Float
No
No

Rear Switches

Two color coded tank switches seen on the rear of a water cooler dispenser. The left one is green and the right is red.
Close up of two color-coded buttons at the rear of a water cooler dispenser with clear labeling for operation.
Close up of two color-coded buttons at the rear of a water cooler dispenser with clear labeling for operation.
Close up of the rear of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler showing a temperature adjustment button on the bottom right.
Hot Water Test
Yes
Yes
Cold Water Test
Yes
Yes
Others
None
None

Door and Cabinet

A gloved hand opening a small storage cabinet door of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand opening a small storage cabinet door of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A small storage cabinet on a water cooler dispenser with two paper cups and plastic jar demonstrating the size.
The storage cabinet of a small top loading water cooler dispenser with the door open.
Has Door
Yes
No
Internal WxDxH
5.6 x 5.4 x 6 in
N/A
Material
Plastic
N/A
Extra Features
Magnetic lock
N/A

Cord and Plug

A man holding the electric cord of the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser doubled over the horizontal length of the machine.
A man holding the electric cord of the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser doubled over the horizontal length of the machine.
A gloved hand showing the plug of the Costway freestanding water cooler dispenser with the panel faded into the background.
A three pronged plug of a water cooler dispenser held in front of the machine's display panel.
A three pronged plug of a water cooler dispenser held in front of the machine's display panel.
Man holding an electric cord double-folded across the horizontal rear view of the Frigidaire EFWC519 water cooler dispenser.
Length
6.2 ft (1.9 m)
70.0" (177.8 cm)
Position
Rear rt., 2.7 in from ground
Rear right, 4 in from ground
Plug Type
Type B - two flat pins, one grounding pin
Type B - two flat pins, one grounding pin

Usability

Overall Usability Scoring
6.0
7.5

Dispensing Water

5.0
8.0
A gloved hand dispensing cold water from the faucet of a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand dispensing cold water from the faucet of a water cooler dispenser.
A paper cup resting on a small drip tray of a water cooler dispenser.
A water bottle loaded onto the Costway 5-gallon water cooler dispenser.
Close up view of the two faucets on a water cooler dispenser, the left is red and the right is blue.
Mechanism
Tap lever
Hand operated lever
Water Type
Hot and cold water
Hot and cold water
Spout Type
Tap type
Tap type
Dispensing Height
5.7 in
8.0" (20.3 cm)

Hot Water Safety

5.5
6.0
A close up of a hot water faucet with a safety clip on a water cooler dispenser.
A close up of a hot water faucet with a safety clip on a water cooler dispenser.
A gloved hand lifting up the lever of a hot water faucet to demonstrate that water doesn’t flow.
Close up of a hot water dispensing lever and safety mechanism on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up of a hot water dispensing lever and safety mechanism on a water cooler dispenser.
Close up on the hot water faucet removed from a water cooler dispenser.
Mechanism
Clip faucet
Double push back lever

Bottle / Filter Changing

7.5
7.0
A bottle being loaded onto a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A bottle being loaded onto a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
The water needle and water guard of a top-loading water cooler dispenser seen from above.
Close-up of a water needle of a top-loading water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration on how to set up a bottle onto a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A demonstration on how to set up a bottle onto a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A water bottle set in place on a top loading water cooler dispenser.
Design
Top-loading
Top loading
Feature
Water needle, water baffle
Water guard and water needle

Cleaning

6.8
7.9
Drainage plug cover on the rear of a budget water cooler dispenser.
Drainage plug cover on the rear of a budget water cooler dispenser.
A plastic screw cap removed from a rear drainage port on a water cooler dispenser
A cold water faucet which has been unscrewed from its connection to a water cooler dispenser.
The disassembled hot water faucet of a water cooler dispenser resting on the drip tray below.
The empty cold water tank of a water cooler dispenser needing to be cleaned.
Cleaning the stainless steel front of a water cooler dispenser.
Cleaning the stainless steel front of a water cooler dispenser.
Cleaning the inside of a water faucet of a water cooler dispenser with a cotton Q-tip.
Plug at the rear of a water cooler dispenser for draining water out the hot and cold water tanks.
The water guard of a top loading water cooler dispenser being removed showing the tank with a baffle below.
Top down view of the inside of a cold water tank of a top loading water cooler dispenser.
A close up view of two detached water faucets on a water cooler dispenser.
Self Cleaning
No
No
Drainage Plug
Rear rt., 13.3 in from ground
Rear rt, 21 in from ground