We have both a built in water feature and a stand alone water fountain.
This is our built in unit. Very simple with just a single 140 GPH fountain pump. This was with the house when we bought it but in serious disrepair. The bottom is shaped concrete about with max depth of 16". I painted it black with simple latex paint and it has held up for 3 years now. I removed all soil and plants that were around it which helps keep this pretty tidy. I add 1/4 cup of chlorine ~ 2 weeks apart and we run the pump in the PM when we are home. I have contemplated expanding the water fall feature up the block wall and add a stacked stone finish but that would be strictly for looks. The sounds now are perfect.
This stand alone fountain we purchased ~ 2 years ago. Also very low maintenance with a cap full of chlorine once in a while. I actually prefer it to get a bit green with moss and algae to look like the huge fountains at the Santa Barbara Mission.
I like both water features equally and there is no difference in maintenance. The built in unit does attract rodents and I set traps every couple weeks. The stand alone attracts birds in the early evening who come in for a bath and drink. Very pleasant to sit close by with a glass of wine at the end of the day.