Bidet Attachments vs Bidet Seats: Pros, Cons & Features

Last Updated on September 13, 2023 by toilethaven

If you are looking for a toilet paper alternative, you will most likely be torn between a bidet attachment and a bidet seat, although there are other types of bidets. So, which option is best for you, between a bidet attachment and a bidet seat?

A bidet seat is a toilet seat with a retractable nozzle (sometimes 2) at the back for posterior and front cleansing, while a bidet attachment is installed between the existing toilet seat and the bowl. Bidet attachments are non-electric, while there are electric and non-electric bidet seats.

Both bidet attachments and bidet seats have their advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of writing this blog post is to compare and contrast them so that you know the best one for you to buy.

Bidet attachments vs. Seats Comparison Table

If you would like to read more on 7 of the best bidet seats, check out this post. For the 5 best bidet attachments, check out this post.

The Pros and Cons of Bidet Attachments.

Bidet attachments’ design borrows heavily from that of bidet seats. Instead of coming as a complete toilet seat, bidet attachments only contain a thin plastic bracket that allows it to be installed between the existing seat and the bowl.

They have a control panel on the side with one or several knobs that helps you control its functions. A T-valve connected to the toilet’s water supply line allows water to flow to the tank as well as the bidet attachment.

So, what are the advantages of installing a bidet attachment over a bidet seat?

The Pros

The following are the reasons why you should consider installing a bidet attachment and not a bidet seat:

1. They are cheap

A decent bidet attachment is way cheaper compared to a decent bidet seat. Most bidet attachments will retail for under 50 dollars, although high-end ones will be slightly expensive. Decent bidet seats, on the other hand, cost hundreds of dollars.

For anyone not looking to spend a lot of money, then a bidet attachment is the obvious choice

2. Cheaper to run

Since bidet attachments are non-electric, they do not need power to run, unlike bidet seats; hence, your power bills will remain unchanged after installing one. It is also expensive to install a power outlet next to your toilet if it didn’t exist in the first place.

If you don’t mind cleaning yourself with cold water, a bidet attachment would be perfect.

3. Don’t need to change your seat

If you have a toilet seat, you do not want to replace yet. Then, a bidet attachment is the best option. This is especially the case if you have a wooden toilet seat you like and don’t want to replace it with a plastic one.

There are no wooden bidet seats, so if you have a rustic-themed bathroom with a wooden toilet seat, then you should perhaps get a bidet attachment to go with it.

The Cons

So, what are the things that make bidet attachments inferior or undesirable when compared to bidet seats? Here are some of them:

1. Cold water cleansing

Bidet attachments are non-electric and will clean you with cold water. This might be alright during summer, but on a freezing winter morning, cold water is the last thing you want to come into contact with any part of your body.

Having said that, I should add that bidet attachments like the Luxe Bidet Neo 320 offer cold and hot water cleaning options. Unlike another bidet seat, it comes with an extra hose that allows you to connect it to the bathroom sink’s hot water line.

2. No dryer

Unfortunately, bidet attachments do not have a warm air dryer like those found in electric bidet seats. You have to dry yourself using toilet paper or a towel.

For people trying to move away from toilet paper usage completely, bidet attachments are not a good option. Even if you have a dedicated towel for your own use, you can’t offer one to every guest who visits you. You will always be dependent on toilet paper.

3. Uncomfortable

The bidet attachment installs better the existing seat and the bowl. The problem with this design is that a small gap is left between the seat and the bowl at the front of the toilet.

When you sit to do your business, the seat feels and is sloping forward. Your weight also puts uneven force on the seat due to the slope and could even break. While shopping for a bidet attachment, try and look for the thinnest one.

Pros and Cons of Bidet Seats

If you want complete luxury and comfort, then you should choose a bidet seat over a bidet attachment. In this post, I will compare electric bidet seats with bidet attachments, as there are no major differences between a non-electric bidet seat and a bidet attachment.

The Pros

The following are the reasons why you should consider installing a bidet seat over a bidet attachment:

1. Hot water cleansing

Hot water cleansing is awesome, no matter the time of day. Even more interesting is that the water temperature can be easily adjusted to suit your preferred settings.

You can also adjust the pressure of the hot water so that the streams are neither too strong nor too soft. High-end bidet seats like the Brondell Swash 1400 even have user presets.

User presets allow you to select and save your preferred water settings so that you don’t have to select them every other time. The water is infused with air bubbles in a process known as aeration to offer a gentle but thorough wash.  

2. Warm air drying

Bidet seats are the only worthwhile toilet paper alternatives. As soon as you are thoroughly cleaned, warm air from a dryer at the back of the seat starts to blow warm air all over your behind and front until you are completely dry.

The temperature of the warm air dryer can also be adjusted. Most bidet seats have about five temperature settings.

3. Adjustable nozzle positions

While using a bidet attachment, the nozzle protrudes downwards as soon as you start to clean and shoots water upwards. You must adjust your body position for the water to hit all the spots you want cleaned.

A bidet seat’s nozzle, on the other hand, protrudes forward. Even more interesting is that you can adjust the nozzle position forward or backward to target different areas.

A bidet seat is, therefore, more effective for both rear and posterior cleaning than a bidet attachment. It is also able to effectively clean people of different body sizes.

4. Oscillating wash

Apart from being adjustable, bidet seats’ nozzles also have an oscillating wash function. An oscillating wash is when the nozzle moves back and forth rapidly. This makes it easy to clean over a wide area.

5. Pulsating wash

A pulsating wash happens when the nozzle releases alternating streams of strong and soft water streams. This provides a relaxing massage sensation. In most bidet seats, you can run the pulsating and oscillating functions concurrently

6. Heated seat

Bidet seats are also heated. There are a lot of people who dread using the toilet when the weather is cold due to the discomfort involved. Thanks to bidet seats, you can use the bathroom anytime without fearing freezing on the toilet seat.

Heated toilet seats are, however, not always bidet seats. There are many non-bidet heated toilet seats where a bidet attachment can also be installed.

7. Nightlight

Nightlight is a feature that allows the seat to illuminate the bowl using a blue LED light. It, therefore, becomes very easy to navigate your way to the toilet at night without needing to turn on the bright bathroom lights.

Nightlight is also not exclusive to bidet seats. Other toilet seats can also have this feature where you can install a bidet attachment.

8. Deodorizer

Decent bidet seats come with a deodorizer. It automatically kicks in after you do your business to deal with any unwanted odor, leaving the bathroom smelling fresh.

9. Auto lid opening and closing

In this case, the lid automatically opens when you approach the toilet and closes as soon as you leave. This feature ensures that you don’t have to touch the toilet lid at any time.

The auto lid opening and closing feature is not available in all the bidet seats. Currently, it is only available in the Toto S550e washlet.

10. Enema wash

An enema wash is when a bidet seat’s nozzle releases a thin but strong water stream straight into your rear. It is meant to alleviate the discomfort associated with constipation.

This feature is also not available in many bidet seats. One decent bidet seat that comes with it is the Bio Bidet BB 2000.

11. Remote control

Some bidet seats have a control panel on the side, but the mid-range and the high-end ones come with a wireless remote control. The remote control makes it easy for you to input commands without having to turn to the side to read the controls there.

In case the remote is lost or the batteries run out, the bidet seat has auxiliary settings on the side, so you will always be able to use it. Remote controls come with a wall mount for easier and safer storage.

The Cons

So, what are the disadvantages of buying/installing a bidet seat? The following are the main ones:

1. They are pricey

A decent bidet seat will cost you a good amount of money. Hundreds of dollars, to be specific. They are also not very cheap to maintain.

Bidet seats are always plugged into a power source to keep the seat warm and to heat the water as and when needed. You will, therefore, see an increase in your monthly electricity bills after installing a bidet seat.

2. Cold water shocks

Most bidet seats that offer instant water heating do not always guarantee that the water in the first few seconds will be warm. A lot of people have, therefore, suffered cold water shocks, which is not an exciting experience.

The alternative to instant water heating is a bidet seat with a small hot water reservoir at the back. Although these ones do not shock you with cold water, the water hot water runs out after about 30 seconds.

Bio Bidet, however, came up with a hybrid heating system in their Bio Bidet BB 2000 seat, where the instant water heater kicks in after the water in the tank runs out.

Final Words

Bidet attachments are inexpensive and, therefore, a good option for someone who is on a budget. They, however, have limited functions and do not completely get rid of toilet paper dependence.

For people who can get a little bit more money, I would definitely recommend a bidet seat. They are way more comfortable than bidet attachments, and you will not have to rely on toilet paper again.