HOROW vs TOTO: Which Smart Toilet Is Actually Worth It in 2026?

If you're trying to decide between HOROW and TOTO, here's the short answer. TOTO is the premium, well established brand with decades of engineering behind every Washlet, while HOROW is the newer budget alternative that gets you most of the same smart features for a fraction of the price.

For most homeowners, HOROW is the smarter buy since a model like the HOROW T38 delivers real smart toilet features for under $1,000. If price isn't a concern and you want TOTO's most refined wash technology, a model like the TOTO Neorest RS is still worth the extra money.

Both brands make smart toilets with heated seats, warm water washing, and remote controls, so the real differences come down to build quality, brand reputation, and how much you're willing to pay for polish. We'll walk through the features, the price gap, specific models, and what actual owners are saying before you decide.

HOROW vs TOTO at a Glance

What Is HOROW?

HOROW is a direct to consumer bathroom brand that sells smart toilets, one piece toilets, and bidet seats mostly through Amazon and Home Depot. Its two most popular smart toilet models are the HOROW T38 and the HOROW T38P, which show up constantly in searches from people comparing smart toilets on a budget.

We've already covered brand reputation and build quality in detail in Is HOROW a Good Toilet Brand?, so we'll keep this section short and point you there if you want the full breakdown. The short version is that HOROW has earned a solid reputation for the price, even if it doesn't carry the name recognition TOTO does.

HOROW is also manufactured in China, which is a big part of how it keeps prices so much lower than TOTO's.

What Is TOTO?

TOTO explained simply: it's the Japanese toilet manufacturer that's been in business since 1917 and is widely credited with popularizing the modern bidet toilet seat. Its Washlet line is so well known that people often use "Washlet" the way they'd use "Kleenex," as a stand in for the whole product category.

TOTO's lineup runs from mid tier integrated models like the TOTO G5A Lite all the way up to flagship units like the Neorest RS, and that price tag comes with a reputation for reliability that's hard to match. If you've ever used a TOTO toilet in a hotel or a nice office building, there's a good chance you already know why people are willing to pay more for one.

HOROW vs TOTO: Feature by Feature Comparison

On paper, HOROW and TOTO smart toilets look a lot alike. Both offer heated seats, warm water bidet washing, remote controls, and night lights, so the differences show up more in execution than in the feature list itself.

Bidet and Wash Functions

TOTO's G5A, G5A Lite, and Neorest RS all use EWATER+, which sanitizes the wand with electrolyzed water before and after every use, plus PREMIST, which mists the bowl before each use so waste is less likely to stick. That's part of what you're paying for with a TOTO Washlet.

HOROW's T38 covers the basics with UV light anti-bacterial protection, while the T38P steps that up with UV sterilization and a detachable, self-cleaning nozzle that rinses itself before and after use.

Smart Features

The HOROW T38P adds a Foam Shield, a protective foam barrier that helps prevent splashing and keeps the bowl cleaner between cleanings, along with a kick open and close option for the seat and lid when your hands are full.

TOTO's G5A, G5A Lite, and Neorest RS all use TORNADO FLUSH, a 360 degree cleaning action built into a hole-free rim, and CEFIONTECT ceramic glaze, which keeps waste from sticking to the bowl in the first place.

Design and Bowl Height

The HOROW T38P and the TOTO G5A lineup both offer a taller, easier to use seating height, ADA Comfort Height on the T38P and Universal Height on the G5A and G5A Lite. The Neorest RS is Universal Height and ADA compliant as well, so accessibility isn't a reason to pick one brand over the other.

Where TOTO pulls ahead is bowl shape and finish options across its wider lineup, so it's worth checking which specific combination of height and shape matches your existing plumbing before you buy either brand.

TOTO vs HOROW: Model Matchup

If you're comparing specific models rather than just brands, here's how the two most relevant matchups line up.

• HOROW T38 vs TOTO G5A and G5A Lite: the T38 covers heated seat, bidet wash, and auto open and close lid for a fraction of the price, but both the TOTO G5A ($2,999) and the more affordable G5A Lite ($2,499) add EWATER+ sanitizing, PREMIST, and CEFIONTECT glaze that the T38 doesn't have.
  
  Between the two G5A versions themselves, the standard G5A only adds a built-in night light and a silver accent strip over the Lite, so most buyers are better served by the Lite unless those two details matter to them.
  
  We break down every difference between the two in TOTO G5A vs G5A Lite: What's the Difference?
  
  
• HOROW T38P vs TOTO Neorest RS: the T38P brings Foam Shield, UV sterilization, and ADA Comfort Height into a much lower price range, while the Neorest RS is a fully integrated unit with TOTO's most refined flush and wash technology built in.

Neither matchup is a perfect one to one swap, since HOROW and TOTO don't mirror each other's lineups model for model. But if you're weighing a specific HOROW model against a specific TOTO one, these are the closest real comparisons in our own catalog.

Water Pressure and Installation

Every smart toilet in this comparison needs a nearby grounded electrical outlet, ideally GFCI protected, along with a standard water supply line. None of these models come pre wired into your bathroom, so budget for an electrician if you don't already have an outlet within reach of the toilet.

The HOROW T38 and T38P both use a built-in water tank, so flushing power isn't limited by your home's water pressure the way some tankless designs can be. The TOTO G5A, G5A Lite, and Neorest RS are engineered for standard household water pressure, which covers most homes but is worth confirming if your water pressure runs unusually low.

Price Comparison

The gap is significant no matter which pair you compare. The HOROW T38 runs $999 against the TOTO G5A Lite at $2,499 or the TOTO G5A at $2,999, a difference of $1,500 to $2,000 for TOTO's EWATER+, PREMIST, and CEFIONTECT technology.

Step up a tier and the gap widens further. The HOROW T38P runs $1,299 against the TOTO Neorest RS at $5,199, a difference of about $3,900 for a fully integrated unit with TOTO's most refined engineering.

That price difference isn't just markup. TOTO's manufacturing, materials, and decades of engineering all factor into the cost, and so does the brand's reputation for durability.

What Are People Saying? (Reviews and Reddit)

HOROW toilet reviews tend to be pretty consistent. Owners are generally happy with the value, especially first time smart toilet buyers who didn't want to spend TOTO money just to try the category out.

Discussions on Reddit, especially in bidet focused communities, echo that same sentiment. People are often surprised by how much smart toilet functionality HOROW packs into a lower price point, even if a few owners note the fit and finish doesn't quite match TOTO's.

Video reviews of specific models like the HOROW T38 tend to focus on the same things: easy installation, a straightforward remote, and genuinely warm water that doesn't feel like an afterthought. That's a big reason the model keeps showing up in comparison searches against TOTO.

So, Which One Should You Buy?

If you're looking for the best smart toilet without paying premium prices, HOROW is the practical choice. It covers the core features most people actually want, heated seat, bidet wash, remote control, at a price that makes trying a smart toilet feel low risk.

If you want the best smart toilet with bidet functionality money can buy, and price genuinely isn't a factor, TOTO is still the gold standard. It's one of the most trusted names among smart toilet brands for a reason, and that reputation shows up in the wash quality and long term reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HOROW a good toilet brand? Yes, for the price, as we cover in full detail earlier in this article.

Is TOTO really worth $3,900 more? The gap between the HOROW T38P and the TOTO Neorest RS comes down to EWATER+ wand sanitizing, PREMIST bowl misting, CEFIONTECT glaze, and TOTO's decades of engineering behind a fully integrated unit. If those features matter to you and budget allows, most owners say yes. If you mainly want the core smart toilet experience, heated seat, bidet wash, remote control, the T38P gets you there for a fraction of the cost.

Is HOROW a Chinese brand? Yes, HOROW toilets are manufactured in China, which is a big part of how the brand keeps its prices well below TOTO's.

Does Consumer Reports rate HOROW or TOTO? Consumer Reports has historically covered TOTO given its longer track record, but coverage of newer budget brands like HOROW is limited, so real owner reviews and Reddit discussions are currently the better source of feedback.