Once you’ve decided you want a bidet, the next question is usually: what kind? For most people, that comes down to two categories: electric and non-electric. They both clean you with water. They both cut your toilet paper use dramatically. But the experience, the features, and the price are meaningfully different.
Here’s what each type actually offers, so you can figure out which one fits your bathroom and your priorities.
Non-Electric: Simple, Affordable, Effective
Non-electric bidets come in two main forms. The most common is an under-seat attachment that mounts between your toilet bowl and your existing seat. You keep your current seat, add the attachment underneath, connect it to your water supply with a T-valve, and control pressure with a dial or lever. No outlet, no wiring, no batteries. These typically run $30 to $100 and are the lowest-cost way to try a bidet.
The other option is a non-electric bidet seat, which replaces your existing toilet seat entirely. The bidet function is built into the seat itself, so it looks cleaner and more integrated than an attachment sitting underneath. You get the same water-pressure-powered wash, but in a form factor that feels like it belongs on your toilet. These seats generally run $100 to $200.
In both cases, the water comes directly from your supply line, so it’s cool or room temperature. Most people find this perfectly comfortable, though it can be a bit brisk in the middle of winter. The trade-off for that simplicity is no warm water, no heated seat, and no dryer. But if all you want is a cleaner alternative to dry paper, a non-electric bidet handles that well.
Z-Rinse Bidet (Non-Electric)Electric: Where Comfort Enters the Picture
An electric bidet seat also replaces your existing toilet seat, but it plugs into a GFCI electrical outlet near your toilet. That outlet is the key requirement. If you don’t have one within reach, an electrician can typically add one in under an hour, but it’s worth checking your bathroom layout before you buy.
What you get in return is a noticeably different experience. Warm water on demand, rather than cold from the supply line. A heated seat, which matters more than you’d think on a cold morning. And a warm air dryer, which means you can skip toilet paper entirely if you want to.
Mid-range electric seats typically run $300 to $600 and cover these core comforts. They’re the sweet spot for most households: a real upgrade in how your bathroom feels, day to day, without a complicated feature set or a steep price tag. Our ZenWash Bidet is a good example of what this tier looks like.
Premium Electric: The Full Experience
Above the mid-range, there’s a tier of electric seats designed for people who want everything a bidet can offer. These models add features like a remote control, oscillating and pulsating spray modes, a built-in deodorizer, and an auto open/close lid and seat. Some competing brands charge $1,500 to $2,000 for this level of functionality, though you can find premium seats that deliver the same experience for considerably less like our ZenWash PRO Bidet.
Is a premium seat necessary? No. The mid-range covers the essentials. But you use your toilet multiple times a day, every day, for the rest of your life. Making that experience genuinely enjoyable has a compounding effect on daily comfort that’s hard to appreciate until you’ve lived with it. People who go premium almost never go back.
So Which One Makes Sense for You?
It depends on what matters most. If budget is the priority and you want a cleaner alternative to toilet paper, a non-electric bidet will do that job. If comfort is important, or if anyone in your household has mobility challenges or sensitivity to cold water, an electric seat is worth the investment. And if you want the full feature set without overpaying for it, look at premium seats and compare what you’re actually getting for the price. The gap between brands can be significant. It's also worth buying from a company with a physical location and a real customer service team behind it — so if you ever need help, you're talking to a person, not a contact form.
Whichever direction you go, all three tiers get you significantly cleaner than toilet paper alone, all three save you money over time, and all three are straightforward enough that you can install them yourself.
We carry non-electric, mid-range, and premium bidet seats at Water Matrix, including our H&H lineup: the Z-Rinse (non-electric seat), the ZenWash (mid-range electric), and the ZenWash PRO (premium electric with remote, spray modes, deodorizer, and auto open/close lid and seat at roughly half the price of comparable models). All ship across Canada and US, and our team can help you figure out which one fits your bathroom. We’ve been doing this for over 35 years.
See our full bidet lineup or give us a call.
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Questions People Ask
Do non-electric bidets only spray cold water?
Most do. The water comes directly from your supply line, so it’s whatever temperature your pipes are running. In practice, it’s cool but not uncomfortable for most people.
What’s the difference between a mid-range and a premium electric bidet seat?
Mid-range seats cover the core comforts: warm water, heated seat, and an air dryer. Premium seats add features like a remote control, spray pattern options, a deodorizer, and an auto open/close lid and seat. Both are a major upgrade from toilet paper.
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