Best soda maker overall
SodaStream Terra
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Best suited for making more than just sparkling water
Ninja Thirsti Hydration System
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Most stylish soda water maker
Aarke III Carbonator
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Best soda water maker with glass carafes
SodaStream Aqua Fizz
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Yes, we should drink more water. However, there are just days when we want to indulge with a meal or cool off a bit on a hot summer day. However, if you don’t want to pay store prices or deal with extra cans and bottles, consider investing in a soda machine. With a good soda machine, you can replicate your favorite cola from a well-known brand or make your own drink. We’ve had our experts test the best soda machines you can buy for your fizzy drink needs.
Not only is a soda maker a great way to get creative, but it can also save you some money – something we can all be happy about. Soda makers work by adding carbonation to most drinks, allowing you to choose the flavor and ingredients. When you’re looking for a soda maker, it’s important that it’s worth your valuable kitchen counter space. That means it needs to be space-efficient, easy to use, and actually make delicious soda.
To find the best, I put a total of eight soda machines to the test, including three SodaStream models, Ninja’s snazzy new Thirsti machine for home use, and Aarke’s distinctive stainless steel cartridge generator.
Here are the four best soda makers to buy in 2024 based on my testing.
What is the best soda maker overall?
After extensive testing (and one persistent problem), we’ve named the SodaStream Terra the best sparkling water maker for 2024. During our testing, we found that it produces consistent sparkling water with its simple hand pump, is less expensive to purchase, and also offers an exchange program that makes purchasing sparkling water containers more affordable.
While there are more elegant options, for most people the SodaStream Terra is probably the best carbonator.
The Best Soda Machines to Buy in 2024
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The Terra is SodaStream’s entry-level model, but it works well and lands at the top of our list of the best soda water makers for most people. The Terra produces consistent sparkling water using simple hand pumps. It’s very easy to use and doesn’t take up much counter space.
The Terra model has one improvement over previous SodaStream models: you can click the carbon dioxide cartridge into the back instead of having to fill it from the bottom. This saves you a step each time you change the cartridge. Speaking of cartridges, SodaStream offers a hassle-free exchange program where you can exchange empty cartridges for full ones at half price ($17).
If I had one complaint about this and some other SodaStreams, it would be that the plastic construction is a little flimsy. The Terra has the lowest price of any model on this list. The basic package costs $100 and includes a carbon dioxide cartridge and plastic carafe, but is currently sold out. The available value pack includes three plastic bottles (1 liter), two carbon dioxide cartridges (60L), and two bottles of Bubly drops to flavor your water for $130. Read my full review of the SodaStream Terra.
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If you want more than just sparkling water, Ninja’s souped-up Thirsti beverage system is the way to go. With a base price of $180, it’s more expensive than a regular SodaStream, but that’s because it can do a lot more. It’s currently on sale for $150.
The only electronic drink maker on this list, the Thirsti adds carbon dioxide to your water like the best, but also offers the ability to electronically add flavors, caffeine, vitamins, and other additives in 6, 12, 18, or 24 ounce servings.
Choose from more than 20 water dispensers that you can connect to the front of the vending machine – up to two at a time – and the Thirsti will spit out fruity drinks, lemonade and flavored sparkling water in about 3 seconds. The drinks are all calorie-free and some are sweetened with sucralose. If you don’t like the taste of this sugar substitute, stick with the “Splash” capsules, which contain only essence.
The Thirsti basic package includes the machine, a carbon dioxide bottle, and eight water drops to give your hydration a little extra oomph. Read our Ninja Thirsti review.
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If design and aesthetics are important to you, the Aarke is easily the best looking soda water maker on the market. It’s made from metal, while most others are made from cheaper plastic. It also has a bit of a vintage malt shop charm and is slim, so you can put it on the counter without sacrificing much space. The Aarke III works well, although it releases carbon dioxide a little less evenly than a SodaStream.
At around $200, this is also the most expensive soda maker on our list, and that price doesn’t include a carbon dioxide tank. The good news is that you can use SodaStream and Soda Sensei tanks with the Aarke and take advantage of their extensive tank exchange programs. Read my full review of the Aarke here.
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If you want to transport yourself to an Italian piazza, a bottle of sparkling water from a shapely glass bottle might help. SodaStream’s Aqua Fizz has all the features of the other models, but an upscale design. The carafe included in the $160 starter pack is made of glass, and the base that holds it during use is metal. It’s also quieter than other models because the bottles are completely encased in bubbles while pumping up.
I don’t like the look of this model quite as much as the Aarke, but it is a cheaper premium model and the glass carafes, while smaller than the plastic versions, are fine for the table at dinner parties.
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In my testing to determine the best soda water makers, I looked at overall performance, ease of use and overall value. I made at least 10 full bottles of sparkling water with each machine, noting how well and reliably a machine performed its most important task of adding carbon dioxide to the water. I also carbonated other liquids – including fruit juice and wine – but found that there was no difference in performance based on the type of liquid being carbonated. If a machine carbonated water well, it did so well with all liquids.
Some machines required more effort and pumping of the lever to push carbon dioxide into the bottles. Of the manual machines, the SodaStream models were the most reliable. With five unique settings, the Spärkel electric sparkling water maker produces the most precise soda water.
The stylish Aarke III carbonator is available in five finishes and has a vintage malt shop look.
I also considered the robustness and construction of each soda water maker. Aarke III is by far the most stylish soda water maker and is solidly constructed from stainless steel, with five finishes to choose from. The aesthetics are nice, but it’s also by far the most expensive model, coming in at nearly $200, which keeps it from being the best model for most people.
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DrinkMate OmniFizz: This $120 sparkling water maker did a good job of carbonating water, wine, and juice. I don’t have much negative to say about the machine, except that the hinge on top that connects the bottle to the machine seems to loosen or break over time.
SodaStream Fizzi One Touch: The SodaStream Fizzi One Touch is an electronic sparkling water maker that normally costs $130 but is currently on sale for $124. It works well and has three presets that allow you to set the level of carbonation you want. Again, I don’t have any major issues with this model, but I just don’t think it’s worth the $54 more than its manual counterpart, the Terra, when it’s not on sale.
Sparkle: This unique carbonation system uses powder packets instead of carbon dioxide canisters to carbonate the water. It works well, but the machine base is bulkier than most and isn’t quite worth the $150 price tag.
Soda Sensei (Out of stock): This model looks good, but has a bit more trouble than the SodaStream Terra in producing consistently sparkling water.
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