Head to head
SodaStream Terra vs Art Starter Kit (2026)
SodaStream Terra vs Art starter kit compared: button against lever, cylinder, bottles, and which machine you should buy.
#1 in our rankings · Best overall
SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black
Best for: Most buyers who want sparkling water on tap with the simplest machine and the easiest cylinder to swap.
#5 in our rankings · Best design
SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black
Best for: Buyers who want the Terra experience with a smarter look and a lever that gives finer fizz control.
Our recommendation
Buy the Terra Starter Kit if you want the cheapest machine that makes good sparkling water, since it does the same job for less money. Buy the Art Starter Kit if you want a smarter-looking machine with a lever for finer fizz control and a small bottle for a single glass. Both carbonate water only, both use the same QuickConnect cylinder, and both need no power, so the choice is looks and lever against money.
Button against lever
The Terra uses a button: press it to add gas, press it again for more fizz. The Art uses a lever: pull it and hold it for a longer or shorter burst, which gives finer control over the fizz. The lever is the better control once you learn it, since a long pull makes a sharp fizz and a short pull makes a light one, while the button needs counting. For a first machine, the button is simpler; for a daily drinker, the lever is the better tool.
Bottles in the box
The Terra starter kit includes one 1-litre dishwasher-safe bottle. The Art starter kit includes a 1-litre bottle and a 0.5-litre bottle, so a small bottle is ready for a single glass or a lunchbox. Both bottles are dishwasher safe and BPA-free, and both machines take the same QuickConnect cylinder, so the running cost is identical.
Looks and cost
The Art has chrome trim and an upright shape that looks smarter on the worktop, while the Terra is a plain black plastic body that disappears into the kitchen. The Art costs more for the same water, since the extra money buys the lever, the trim, and the second bottle. Neither machine carbonates anything beyond water, so the design premium is the only difference that matters.
Choose SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black if…
- You want the cheapest machine that makes good sparkling water
- You prefer a simple button to a lever
- You only need one bottle
Choose SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black if…
- You want a smarter-looking machine on the worktop
- You want finer lever control over the fizz
- You want a small bottle for a single glass
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black | SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black |
|---|---|---|
| Price tier | Budget | Mid-range |
| CO2 system | QuickConnect 60L cylinder included | QuickConnect 60L cylinder included |
| Bottle | 1 L (32 fl oz) dishwasher-safe, BPA-free | - |
| Power | None, no electricity or batteries | None, no electricity or batteries |
| Warranty | 2 years | - |
| Included | Bubly flavour drop, 40 ml | Bubly flavour drop |
| Carbonation | - | Lever control |
| Bottles | - | 1 L and 0.5 L dishwasher-safe bottles |
| Best for | Most buyers who want sparkling water on tap with the simplest machine and the easiest cylinder to swap. | 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, wine, or cocktails, which the Terra cannot do, or you want automatic fizz levels. | You want to carbonate juice or cocktails, or you want the cheapest machine that works. |
Strengths and limitations
SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black
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.
SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black
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.
How they fit the wider field
- SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black: ranked #1 (Best overall) in The Best Soda Makers. Read the full SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black review.
- SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker Starter Kit, Black: ranked #5 (Best design) in The Best Soda Makers.
Neither one quite right? The full rankings cover 10 picks matched to different buyers.
Made your call?
Questions, answered
Do they make the same sparkling water?
Yes. Both carbonate water with the same QuickConnect cylinder, and the fizz is the same at the same gas level. The Art lever gives finer control over how much gas goes in, but the water itself is identical.
Can I use Art bottles on the Terra?
SodaStream bottles are shared across the Terra and Art machines, since both use the same neck and the same QuickConnect system. The 0.5-litre Art bottle fits the Terra, and the 1-litre Terra bottle fits the Art.
Which is better for a gift?
The Art, since the chrome trim and the two bottles make it look like a present, while the Terra looks like a plain appliance. The Terra in Misty Blue is the other gift pick, since the pale blue finish looks lighter and friendlier.