Ranked on daily sparkling water alone: fizz repeatability, cylinder swapping, bottle quality, and how the machine looks on the worktop.
The Best Soda Makers for Sparkling Water (2026)
Soda makers for plain sparkling water: the best machines for daily fizzy water, compared on fizz control and cylinder ease.
Our top picks at a glance
Best for sparkling water
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 design for sparkling water
SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, BlackBuyers who want the Terra experience with a smarter look and a lever that gives finer fizz control.
Best premium for sparkling water
Aarke Carbonator III, BurgundyBuyers who leave the machine on the worktop and want it to look like a designed object, not an appliance.
For daily sparkling water, the SodaStream Terra Starter Kit in Black is the pick: the simplest machine, the easiest cylinder to swap, and a dishwasher-safe bottle. The SodaStream Art is the pick for a smarter look and finer lever control, and the E-Terra Value Bundle is the pick for the same fizz every time at the touch of a button.
The picks, ranked
| Pick | CO2 system | Bottle | Power | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for sparkling waterSodaStream 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 design for sparkling waterSodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black | QuickConnect 60L cylinder included | - | None, no electricity or batteries | Check price |
| Best premium for sparkling waterAarke Carbonator III, Burgundy | Standard threaded 60L cylinder | 1 L (34 fl oz) PET BPA-free bottle | None, no electricity or batteries | Check price |
 Best electric for sparkling waterSodaStream E-Terra Sparkling Water Maker Value Bundle | Two 60L QuickConnect cylinders included | - | Power adapter included, needs a wall socket | Check price |
 Best bundle for sparkling waterSodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Value Bundle, Black | QuickConnect 60L cylinders included | - | None, no electricity or batteries | Check price |
Best for sparkling water
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 design for sparkling water
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.
Best premium for sparkling water
Aarke Carbonator III, Burgundy
The showpiece: a slim stainless steel body in burgundy, a precision nozzle, and no plastic shell in sight.
Strengths
- The stainless steel body is solid and slim, and the burgundy finish stands out on a worktop without looking garish.
- The precision nozzle gives a smooth, controlled stream of gas, so the fizz builds evenly rather than in bursts.
- It needs no electricity, so it can sit anywhere, and the 1-litre bottle is BPA-free and reusable.
Limitations
- It costs far more than the Terra for the same water, since the extra money buys the body, not the fizz.
- It carbonates water only, so juice, wine, and cocktails cannot go in the bottle.
- It uses a standard threaded 60L cylinder, which screws in rather than snapping in like a QuickConnect cylinder.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- The steel body feels solid and looks striking on the worktop
- The lever gives a smooth, controlled fizz with no sudden bursts
- The slim shape takes up little space despite the premium build.
Common complaints
- The cost is high for a machine that only makes sparkling water
- The screw-in cylinder takes longer to change than a snap-in one
- The burgundy finish is bold, and it will not suit every kitchen.
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Body | Stainless steel |
|---|---|
| Bottle | 1 L (34 fl oz) PET BPA-free bottle |
| CO2 system | Standard threaded 60L cylinder |
| Nozzle | Precision stainless steel nozzle |
| Power | None, no electricity or batteries |
Best for: Buyers who leave the machine on the worktop and want it to look like a designed object, not an appliance.
Skip if: You want to carbonate juice or cocktails, or you want the cheapest machine that makes good fizz.
Best electric for sparkling water
SodaStream E-Terra Sparkling Water Maker Value Bundle
The only electric machine here: three preset fizz levels at the touch of a button, with spare cylinders and bottles in the box.
Strengths
- Three preset carbonation levels give the same fizz every time, so each person in the household gets their own setting.
- One-touch operation needs no counting of presses and no guesswork, which suits children and older users.
- The bundle includes spare cylinders, three dishwasher-safe bottles, and flavour drops, so the household is stocked for weeks.
Limitations
- It needs a wall socket and its power adapter, so it cannot move to a shelf or a cabin the way the manual machines can.
- It costs more than the manual Terra for the same water, since the extra money buys the electric controls.
- It carbonates water only, so juice, wine, and cocktails cannot go in the bottle.
What owners report
Commonly praised
- The preset levels give the same fizz every time with no counting or guesswork
- One touch is all it takes, which suits children and older users alike
- The bundle stocks the household with cylinders, bottles, and flavour drops for weeks.
Common complaints
- The machine must sit near a socket, so it cannot move to another shelf
- The electric controls add cost for the same water a manual machine makes
- It still only carbonates water, so juice and cocktails need another machine.
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
| Carbonation | 3 automatic levels |
|---|---|
| Power | Power adapter included, needs a wall socket |
| Bottles | Three 32 fl oz dishwasher-safe bottles |
| CO2 system | Two 60L QuickConnect cylinders included |
| Flavours | Two bubly flavour drops included |
Best for: Households where everyone likes a different fizz, and buyers who want the same result every time without counting presses.
Skip if: You have no spare socket near the worktop, or you want a machine that works without power.
Best bundle for sparkling water
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.
Questions, answered
How fizzy can a soda maker make water?
As fizzy as you like, within the machine limits. More presses or a longer lever hold means more gas and a sharper fizz. Cold water holds gas better than warm water, so chill the bottle first for the sharpest result.
QuickConnect or threaded cylinder?
QuickConnect cylinders snap in and out in seconds, which is why the SodaStream Terra and Art are the easiest machines to live with. Threaded cylinders screw in and take longer, but they are widely available and fit the Drinkmate, Aarke, and Breville machines. Check which system your local shops exchange before choosing.
Are the bottles dishwasher safe?
SodaStream bottles are dishwasher safe, including the 1-litre and 0.5-litre bottles in the Terra and Art kits. Drinkmate and Aarke bottles need hand washing, and the Breville bottle should be washed by hand with the brush provided. Never put a carbonating bottle in a hot dishwasher cycle if the maker says hand wash only.