Ranked on fizz per pound spent: cylinder ease, bottle quality, and whether the starter kit includes everything needed on day one.
The Best Budget Soda Makers (2026)
Budget soda makers that make good fizz without a premium body: the cheapest honest picks, led by the SodaStream Terra.
Our top picks at a glance
Best budget overall
SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, BlackMost buyers who want sparkling water on tap with the simplest machine and the easiest cylinder to swap.
Best budget in a light colour
SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Misty BlueBuyers who like the Terra but want a lighter colour, and gift buyers who want a soda maker that looks like a present.
Best budget bundle
SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Value Bundle, BlackHouseholds that drink sparkling water daily and want spare cylinders and bottles on hand.
The SodaStream Terra Starter Kit in Black is the budget pick: the simplest machine here, with a snap-in cylinder and a dishwasher-safe bottle. Buyers who want to carbonate more than water should stretch to the Drinkmate OmniFizz Starter Kit, which is the cheapest route to fizzing juice and cocktails.
The picks, ranked
| Pick | CO2 system | Bottle | Power | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best budget overallSodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black | QuickConnect 60L cylinder included | 1 L (32 fl oz) dishwasher-safe, BPA-free | None, no electricity or batteries | Check price |
| Best budget in a light colourSodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Misty Blue | QuickConnect 60L cylinder included | 1 L (32 fl oz) dishwasher-safe, BPA-free | None, no electricity or batteries | Check price |
| Best budget bundleSodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Value Bundle, Black | QuickConnect 60L cylinders included | - | None, no electricity or batteries | Check price |
 Best budget for any drinkDrinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker Starter Kit, Matte Black | Standard threaded 60L cylinder included | - | None, no electricity or batteries | Check price |
 Best budget designSodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black | QuickConnect 60L cylinder included | - | None, no electricity or batteries | Check price |
Best budget overall
SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black
The default pick: snap the bottle in, press the button, and get sparkling water in seconds, with no power and no fuss.
Strengths
- The QuickConnect cylinder snaps in without screwing, so swapping a cylinder takes seconds and needs no strength.
- It needs no electricity or batteries, so it works anywhere on the worktop and costs nothing to run.
- The 1-litre bottle is dishwasher safe and BPA-free, and the machine takes the standard SodaStream cylinder that shops exchange everywhere.
Limitations
- It carbonates water only, so flavours go in after the fizz, and juice or wine cannot go in the bottle.
- Fizz level is down to how many times you press the button, so the same fizz every time needs practice.
- The black plastic body looks plain next to the Aarke and the Art, and it is built to a budget.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- The snap-in cylinder swaps in seconds with no screwing or wrestling
- Sparkling water is ready in moments, which makes it easy to use every day
- The bottle goes in the dishwasher, so cleaning takes no extra effort.
Common complaints
- The fizz level varies from day to day unless the presses are counted carefully
- The black plastic body looks plain on a worktop where prettier machines stand out
- Only water can go in the bottle, so juice and cocktails are off the menu.
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| CO2 system | QuickConnect 60L cylinder included |
|---|---|
| Bottle | 1 L (32 fl oz) dishwasher-safe, BPA-free |
| Power | None, no electricity or batteries |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Included | Bubly flavour drop, 40 ml |
Best for: Most buyers who want sparkling water on tap with the simplest machine and the easiest cylinder to swap.
Skip if: You want to carbonate juice, wine, or cocktails, which the Terra cannot do, or you want automatic fizz levels.
Best budget in a light colour
SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Misty Blue
The same Terra starter kit in a pale blue that suits a light kitchen, with the same snap-in cylinder and dishwasher-safe bottle.
Strengths
- It is the same machine as the black Terra, so it shares the snap-in cylinder, the dishwasher-safe bottle, and the simple button.
- The pale blue finish suits light kitchens and open shelves where a black machine would stand out.
- The starter kit includes the cylinder, the bottle, and a flavour drop, so it works straight out of the box.
Limitations
- It carbonates water only, so juice, wine, and cocktails cannot go in the bottle.
- Fizz level depends on how many times you press the button, so repeatable fizz needs practice.
- The pale finish shows marks and drips more readily than the black model.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- The pale blue finish brightens a light kitchen and looks friendly on the shelf
- The starter kit has everything needed, so it works straight out of the box
- The snap-in cylinder is as quick to change as on the black model.
Common complaints
- The pale finish shows drips and marks more than the black version
- The fizz still depends on counting presses, so repeatable results take practice
- It only carbonates water, which limits what the household can make.
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| CO2 system | QuickConnect 60L cylinder included |
|---|---|
| Bottle | 1 L (32 fl oz) dishwasher-safe, BPA-free |
| Power | None, no electricity or batteries |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Included | Bubly flavour drop, 40 ml |
Best for: Buyers who like the Terra but want a lighter colour, and gift buyers who want a soda maker that looks like a present.
Skip if: You want to carbonate anything beyond water, or you want automatic fizz levels.
Best budget bundle
SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Value Bundle, Black
The Terra for a busy household: extra cylinders, three bottles, and flavour drops, so the fizz never runs out mid-week.
Strengths
- Three dishwasher-safe bottles mean one can chill in the fridge while another is in use, which suits a household that drinks a lot.
- Spare QuickConnect cylinders remove the weekly trip to exchange a cylinder, since a fresh one is already in the cupboard.
- Two flavour drops are included, so the household can try flavoured sparkling water without a separate purchase.
Limitations
- It is the same machine as the starter kit, so the extra money buys supplies, not a better machine.
- It carbonates water only, so juice, wine, and cocktails still cannot go in the bottle.
- The bundle takes more cupboard space than the starter kit, since the spare bottles and cylinders need storing.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Having spare cylinders in the cupboard means the fizz never runs out mid-week
- Three bottles make it easy to keep one chilled while another is in use
- The flavour drops in the box give the household something new to try at once.
Common complaints
- The bundle takes up more cupboard space than a starter kit
- The machine itself is unchanged, so the extra money only buys supplies
- The spare bottles and cylinders can sit unused in a household that drinks little.
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Bottles | Three 32 fl oz dishwasher-safe bottles |
|---|---|
| CO2 system | QuickConnect 60L cylinders included |
| Flavours | Two bubly flavour drops included |
| Power | None, no electricity or batteries |
| Machine | Terra sparkling water maker |
Best for: Households that drink sparkling water daily and want spare cylinders and bottles on hand.
Skip if: You drink sparkling water rarely, since the extra cylinders and bottles will sit unused.
Best budget for any drink
Drinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker Starter Kit, Matte Black
The versatile one: the only starter kit here that carbonates juice, wine, tea, and cocktails, not just water.
Strengths
- The Fizz Infuser lets any chilled drink go in the bottle, so juice, iced tea, wine, and cocktails can all be carbonated.
- The two-stage pressure release bleeds off foam slowly, which keeps fizzy juice from foaming over.
- It uses a standard threaded 60L cylinder, which is widely available and easy to exchange.
Limitations
- The bottle cap has more parts than a SodaStream bottle, so it needs careful cleaning and a good seal each time.
- The threaded cylinder screws in rather than snapping in, so swapping takes longer than a QuickConnect cylinder.
- It is bulkier than the Terra, and the matte black body shows fingerprints.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Sparkling juice and fizzy cocktails come out well, which no SodaStream can do
- The slow pressure release keeps foamy drinks from overflowing the bottle
- The threaded cylinder is easy to find and exchange in most shops.
Common complaints
- The bottle cap has several parts that need careful cleaning after each use
- Swapping the screw-in cylinder takes longer than snapping in a QuickConnect one
- The matte black body shows fingerprints after every use.
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Carbonates | Any chilled drink, including juice, wine, and cocktails |
|---|---|
| CO2 system | Standard threaded 60L cylinder included |
| Bottles | 1 L and 0.5 L BPA-free bottles |
| Infuser | Patented Fizz Infuser with two-stage pressure release |
| Power | None, no electricity or batteries |
Best for: Buyers who want sparkling juice, fizzy cocktails, or re-fizzed flat soda, as well as plain sparkling water.
Skip if: You only ever carbonate water, since the extra versatility adds cost and a fiddlier bottle cap.
Best budget design
SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black
The good-looking Terra: a lever instead of a button, chrome trim, and two bottle sizes in the box.
Strengths
- The lever gives finer control over the fizz than a button, since you can hold it for a longer or shorter burst.
- The starter kit includes a 1-litre bottle and a 0.5-litre bottle, so a small bottle is ready for a single glass.
- The chrome trim and upright shape look smarter on the worktop than the plain Terra body.
Limitations
- It carbonates water only, so juice, wine, and cocktails cannot go in the bottle.
- It costs more than the Terra starter kit for the same water, since the extra money buys the look and the lever.
- The lever needs a firm pull, which can be awkward if the machine sits in a tight corner.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- The lever gives fine control over the fizz with a satisfying pull
- The two bottle sizes cover both a jug and a single glass
- The chrome trim makes the machine look smart on the worktop.
Common complaints
- The lever needs a firm pull that can be awkward in a tight corner
- It costs more than the Terra for the same sparkling water
- Only water can be carbonated, so the lever cannot help with juice.
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Carbonation | Lever control |
|---|---|
| Bottles | 1 L and 0.5 L dishwasher-safe bottles |
| CO2 system | QuickConnect 60L cylinder included |
| Power | None, no electricity or batteries |
| Included | Bubly flavour drop |
Best for: Buyers who want the Terra experience with a smarter look and a lever that gives finer fizz control.
Skip if: You want to carbonate juice or cocktails, or you want the cheapest machine that works.
Questions, answered
Is a cheap soda maker worth it?
Yes, if it is a current model from a known brand. The Terra makes the same fizz as machines that cost three times as much; what the dearer machines add is a better body, a lever, or the ability to carbonate juice. Avoid no-name machines with cylinders that cannot be exchanged locally.
What hidden costs should I expect?
The cylinder is the running cost: a 60-litre cylinder needs exchanging when it runs out, and the exchange cost varies by shop. Spare bottles are the other cost, since one bottle is rarely enough for a household. The Breville InFizz Fusion is the exception to watch: its cylinder is not included, so it cannot be used until one is bought.
Should I buy a bundle or a starter kit?
Buy a bundle if the household drinks sparkling water daily, since spare cylinders and bottles save weekly trips. Buy a starter kit if you are trying a soda maker for the first time, since the bundle supplies are wasted if the machine ends up unused.