Our Picks
Making your own carbonated drinks at home isn't just easier on your wallet -- it saves you countless trips to the store and reduces plastic waste. After thoroughly researching popular brands like SodaStream, Ninja and others, we've narrowed down which machines make the best beverages. The market offers plenty of options: space-saving models for smaller kitchens, machines with extensive flavor options, and simple ones for those who just want sparkling water.
But when you're looking for a soda machine, it's important to make sure it's worthy of your precious kitchen counter space. The ideal soda maker should be compact enough to not waste any kitchen space, easy to use, and most importantly, capable of making perfectly carbonated drinks that can rival store-bought options.
To find the best, I put eight soda makers to the test, including three SodaStream models, Ninja's fancy new at-home Thirsti machine and Aarke's striking stainless steel carbonator. After countless bubbles and taste tests, here are the four best soda makers to buy for yourself or that special someone who's impossible to buy gifts for.
What's the best soda maker overall?
After extensive testing (and one persistent case of hiccups), we've marked the SodaStream Terra as the best soda maker for 2025. During our testing, we found it consistently makes sparkling water with its simple manual pump; it's cheaper to purchase, and it also offers an exchange program that makes getting carbonation canisters cheaper.
While there are more elegant options, the SodaStream Terra is probably the best soda water maker for most people.
Best soda makers to buy in 2025
Best soda maker overall
Pros
- Does what it's supposed to and makes sparkling water consistently
- You can tailor the fizz level to your liking
- New Quick Connect feature makes loading the CO2 canister even easier
Cons
- Plastic frame feels a bit flimsy
- SodaStreams often break after two years of steady use
- This and other models are a bit overpriced for what they are
The Terra is SodaStream's entry-level model, but it works well and lands at the top of our list as the best soda water maker for most people and comes with a durable feeling plastic bottle material. The Terra made consistently fizzy drinks with simple manual pumps. It's very easy to operate and doesn't take up much space on the counter.
The Terra model has one recent improvement over SodaStream's previous models, which is that you can click the carbon dioxide canister into the back rather than having to load it from the bottom. This saves a step each time you change the canister. Speaking of canisters, SodaStream has an easy exchange program where you can drop off empty cartridges in exchange for full ones at about half price ($17).
If I had one complaint about this and some other SodaStreams, it's that the plastic build is a tad flimsy. The Terra has the lowest price of any model on this list. The basic package is around $100 and includes a carbon dioxide cartridge and plastic carafe, The value bundle features three plastic bottles (1 liter), two carbon dioxide cartridges (60L) and two bottles of Bubly drops to flavor your water for $160.
Best for making more than just sparkling water
Pros
- Adds flavors and other enhancements to water
- Cheaper alternative to bottles and cans
- Allows full control over flavor strength and carbonation levels
- More versatility than a SodaStream
- Easy to use
Cons
- Some flavors pods had a chemical taste
- More expensive than most SodaStreams
- Wider body than other carbonators
If it's more than just sparkling water you covet, Ninja's souped-up Thirsti beverage system is the right pick. At its base price of $150, it's more expensive than a standard SodaStream, but that's because it does a whole lot more.
The Thirsti is the only electronic drink maker on this list. It adds carbon dioxide to your water with the best of them, but also has the option to impart flavors, caffeine, vitamins and other enhancements electronically in 6-,12-, 18- or 24-ounce servings.
Choose from more than 20 water drops to plug into the front of the drink maker -- as many as two at a time -- and the Thirsti will spit out fruity beverages, lemonade and flavored sparkling water in about 3 seconds. The beverages are all zero-calorie and some are sweetened with sucralose. If you don't like the taste of that sugar substitute, you'll want to stick to the "Splash" pods, which contain only essence.
The basic Thirsti package comes with the machine, a carbon dioxide canister and eight water drops to add some panache to your hydration routine.
Most stylish soda water maker
Pros
- The best-looking carbonator on the market
- Made almost completely from steel and available in six attractive finishes
- Makes sparkling water as promised
- Easy to set up and operate
- Works with SodaStream CO2 canisters for easy exchange
Cons
- The most expensive at-home carbonator
- The $219 price does not include a CO2 canister
- Somewhat inconsistent when emitting gas
If design and aesthetics are important to you, the Aarke is pretty clearly the best-looking soda water maker on the market. It's built from metal, while most others are constructed from cheaper plastics. Even the bottle that comes with has a chic look with a plastic and stainless steel bottle material. It also has something of a vintage malt shop appeal, and it's slim, so you can slide it onto the counter without forfeiting much real estate. The Aarke III works well, although it releases carbon dioxide a bit less consistently than a SodaStream.
This is also the most expensive soda maker on our list at over $200, and that price doesn't include a carbon dioxide canister. The good news is you can use SodaStream and Soda Sensei canisters with the Aarke and take advantage of their robust canister exchange programs.
Best soda water maker with glass carafes
Pros
- Glass bottles are classy and easy to clean
- Enclosed chamber dampens the noise
Cons
- Replacement bottles are expensive
- Bottles are smaller so you'll need to carbonate more often
If you're looking to transport yourself to an Italian piazza, a bottle of sparkling water poured from a shapely glass bottle could help. SodaStream's Aqua Fizz has all the functions of the other models but an elevated design. The carafe that accompanies the starter package is glass and the base that holds them while in use is metal. It's also quieter than other models since the bottles are encased completely while they're being pumped with gas.
I don't like the look of this model quite as much as the Aarke, but it's a more affordable premium model, and the glass carafes, although smaller than the plastic versions, are nice to set on the table for dinner parties.
How I test soda water makers
In testing to find the best soda water makers, it mostly came down to general performance, ease of use, and overall value. I made at least 10 full bottles of sparkling water using each, noting how proficiently and consistently a machine executed its most vital duty of imparting carbon dioxide into 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 across all liquids.
Some of the machines took more muscling and pumps of the lever to get carbon dioxide emitted into the bottles. Of the manual machines, the SodaStream models were the most consistent. With five unique settings, the Spärkel electric soda maker makes the most precise soda water.
The stylish Aarke III carbonator comes in five finishes and has a vintage malt shop look.
I also took note of the sturdiness and build of each soda water maker. The Aarke III is by far the most stylish soda water maker and is built solidly out of stainless steel, with five finishes to choose from. Aesthetics are nice, but it's also by far the priciest model, with an over $200 tag, which keeps it from being the best model for most people.
Other soda water makers I tried
DrinkMate OmniFizz: This $120 sparkling water maker did a fine job carbonating water, wine and juice. I don't have much negative to say about the machine other than that the hinge at the top that connects the bottle to the machine seems like it could loosen or break over time.
SodaStream Fizzi One Touch: The SodaStream Fizzi One Touch is an electronic sparkling water maker that typically retails for $130 but is currently on sale for $124. It works well and has three presets to get whatever level of carbonation you seek. This is another model I don't have any major issues with, but I just don't think it's worth the extra $54 over its manual counterpart, the Terra when it is not on sale.
Sparkel: This unique carbonation system uses powder packets instead of carbon dioxide canisters to add fizz to water. It works well, but the machine base is bulkier than most and isn't quite worth the $150 price.
Soda Sensei [Out of Stock]: This model looks nice, but it struggled a bit more than the SodaStream Terra to make consistently bubbly water.