Home & Kitchen
The Best Soda Makers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared four popular home carbonation machines on fizz quality, cylinder ecosystems, and long-term running cost to find the sparkling-water maker worth owning.
The short version
The SodaStream Terra is the soda maker to buy for most people: strong, consistent carbonation, the easiest Quick Connect cylinder swaps, and the widest refill network, all at the lowest price. The Aarke Carbonator 3 is the premium runner-up, a gorgeous all-metal machine that uses flexible standard cylinders. The Drinkmate OmniFizz earns an it-depends: it's the only one that carbonates juice, tea, and cocktails, but sugary drinks mean more cleanup. Skip the Ninja Thirsti Drink System unless you specifically want its pod-based flavored sodas, because it locks you into both proprietary pods and a proprietary CO2 canister while carbonating more weakly. Before buying any of them, check which cylinder ecosystem you're committing to, since that is the real ongoing cost. Best for: anyone who wants great sparkling water at home without getting trapped in an expensive refill system.
Our picks at a glance
- SodaStream Terra - Buy. The no-drama default: fast Quick Connect cylinders, reliable fizz, and the easiest refills to find anywhere.
- Aarke Carbonator 3 - Buy. The design-forward, all-metal machine that also happens to use the flexible standard screw-in cylinders.
- Drinkmate OmniFizz - It depends. The only one here that carbonates anything - juice, tea, cocktails, even flat soda - if you accept the cleanup.
- Ninja Thirsti Drink System - Skip. A clever flavored-drink station, but it locks you into both proprietary pods and proprietary canisters.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Carbonation quality
- What it carbonates
- CO2 cylinder system
- Flavoring approach
- Build and design
- Ease of use and cleaning
A soda maker earns its counter space by turning tap water into sparkling water in seconds, cutting bottles and grocery trips. But the machine itself is only half the decision: every one locks you into a CO2 cylinder system, and some also lock you into proprietary flavor pods. Across independent testing and owner reports, four models keep coming up for very different reasons. Here is the honest breakdown of which fizz is worth it and which one to skip.
The no-drama default: fast Quick Connect cylinders, reliable fizz, and the easiest refills to find anywhere.
Best for: Most people who just want dependable sparkling water with the easiest possible cylinder refills.
- Quick Connect cylinder snaps in and out in seconds - no screwing required
- SodaStream's cylinder exchange and refill network is the most widely available, so you rarely get stranded
- Simple manual operation with consistent, repeatable carbonation
- Lowest entry cost of the machines here, so the payback versus store-bought sparkling water comes fast
- Carbonates plain water only - flavor is added afterward
- Mostly plastic body feels less premium than metal rivals
- Quick Connect cylinders are proprietary, so you refill within SodaStream's ecosystem
The design-forward, all-metal machine that also happens to use the flexible standard screw-in cylinders.
Best for: Buyers who want a durable, beautiful machine and value flexible standard cylinders over the lowest price.
- Full stainless-steel body that owners consistently call the best-looking machine on the counter
- Uses standard screw-in 60L cylinders, which opens up more refill and third-party options and eases ecosystem lock-in
- Solid lever action delivers steady carbonation that testers found consistent over time
- Built to last, with a metal shell that shrugs off years of daily use
- Premium price for what is functionally a water carbonator
- Carbonates water only, and the included bottle is not dishwasher-safe
- Screw-in cylinder swaps take longer than a quick-connect click
The only one here that carbonates anything - juice, tea, cocktails, even flat soda - if you accept the cleanup.
Best for: People who specifically want to carbonate more than water and don't mind extra cleanup for it.
- Fizz Infuser lets you carbonate any cold drink, not just water
- Uses standard screw-in 60L cylinders, so refills are flexible
- No electricity or batteries needed; simple manual operation
- A genuinely different capability for people who want fizzy juice or sparkling cocktails
- Carbonating sugary or pulpy drinks means more disassembly and cleaning after each use
- Owners note the fizz can fade faster in the glass than store-bought seltzer
- The release valve can spit a little liquid if you rush the venting step
A clever flavored-drink station, but it locks you into both proprietary pods and proprietary canisters.
Best for: Households set on Ninja's pod-based flavored sodas who don't mind paying for the closed ecosystem.
- Mixes still or sparkling drinks in several sizes and fizz levels at the touch of a button
- Proprietary flavor pods make it easy to build sweet or zero-calorie sodas without measuring syrup
- Double lock-in: proprietary flavor pods and a proprietary CO2 canister you must exchange through Ninja
- Owners report carbonation is weaker than dedicated water makers, even on the highest setting
- Ongoing pod cost adds up, and the small reservoir plus drink-it-now portions feel limiting
- It is really a flavored-drink machine, not the best route to plain sparkling water
| Criteria | SodaStream Terra Top pick | Aarke Carbonator 3 | Drinkmate OmniFizz | Ninja Thirsti Drink System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Most people who just want dependable sparkling water with the easiest possible cylinder refills. | Buyers who want a durable, beautiful machine and value flexible standard cylinders over the lowest price. | People who specifically want to carbonate more than water and don't mind extra cleanup for it. | Households set on Ninja's pod-based flavored sodas who don't mind paying for the closed ecosystem. |
| Price tier | $ · budget | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
| Carbonation quality | Strong and consistent | Strong and consistent | Good, but fades a bit faster | Weaker even on max |
| What it carbonates | Water only | Water only | Any cold drink | Water plus pod flavors |
| CO2 cylinder system | Proprietary Quick Connect (fast, easiest refills) | Standard screw-in (flexible, less lock-in) | Standard screw-in (flexible) | Proprietary canister (Ninja exchange only) |
| Flavoring approach | Add any syrup after carbonating | Add any syrup after carbonating | Carbonate juice or drink directly | Proprietary flavor pods |
| Build and design | Mostly plastic, compact | Premium stainless steel | Plastic, tall and slim | Plastic drink station |
| Ease of use and cleaning | Very easy | Easy (hand-wash bottle) | Extra cleanup for sugary drinks | Easy, but pods and reservoir to manage |
| Ecosystem lock-in | Cylinder only (network is huge) | Lowest - standard cylinders | Low - standard cylinders | Highest - pods and canister |
| Price tier | $ · budget | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
Which one is right for you?
- Most people who just want dependable sparkling water with the easiest possible cylinder refills. Buy it SodaStream Terra
- Buyers who want a durable, beautiful machine and value flexible standard cylinders over the lowest price. Buy it Aarke Carbonator 3
- People who specifically want to carbonate more than water and don't mind extra cleanup for it. It depends Drinkmate OmniFizz
- Households set on Ninja's pod-based flavored sodas who don't mind paying for the closed ecosystem. Skip it Ninja Thirsti Drink System
How we judged the field
A soda maker is really two purchases: the machine and the CO2 ecosystem you commit to for as long as you own it. We don’t run our own lab; we synthesize independent testing with owner reports, because the things that decide long-term happiness - how strong the fizz stays, how easy cylinders are to refill, and how much you keep spending on pods or syrups - only show up after months of daily use. Four criteria mattered most. First, carbonation quality: does it deliver strong, consistent bubbles. Second, the cylinder system and lock-in: standard screw-in cylinders give you flexible refills, while proprietary systems trade that for convenience or a lower sticker price. Third, versatility: water only, or can it carbonate juice and other drinks. Fourth, total running cost, including whether the machine pushes you toward proprietary flavor pods. Our pick is the SodaStream Terra, with the Aarke Carbonator 3 close behind.
SodaStream Terra - Buy
The SodaStream Terra is the straightforward, reliable choice: a compact manual carbonator with SodaStream’s Quick Connect system, which lets you drop a fresh cylinder in and click it out in seconds instead of screwing it in. Named strengths include that fast cylinder swap, consistent carbonation, and the lowest entry price of the machines here. What we liked more than rivals is the refill safety net, since SodaStream’s exchange and refill network is the most widely available, so you’re far less likely to get stranded with an empty cylinder and nowhere convenient to swap it. What we liked less is that the body is mostly plastic rather than metal, it carbonates plain water only, and its Quick Connect cylinders are proprietary, so your refills stay within SodaStream’s ecosystem. That ecosystem is so well supported that most owners never feel the constraint. It’s right for anyone who wants dependable sparkling water and painless refills without overthinking it, and wrong for someone chasing a premium metal machine or the freedom of standard cylinders.
Aarke Carbonator 3 - Buy
The Aarke Carbonator 3 is the design-and-durability pick, built around a full stainless-steel body that owners repeatedly call the best-looking machine on the counter. Named strengths include that premium metal construction, steady lever-driven carbonation that testers found consistent over time, and a meaningful practical advantage: it uses standard screw-in 60L cylinders. What we liked more is that standard-cylinder compatibility, because it opens up more refill and third-party options and eases the ecosystem lock-in that comes with proprietary systems. What we liked less is the premium price for what is, functionally, a water carbonator, plus the fact that it carbonates water only and its bottle isn’t dishwasher-safe, and screw-in swaps take a little longer than a quick-connect click. It’s right for buyers who want a machine that looks and feels built to last and value flexible cylinders over the lowest price, and wrong for anyone on a tight budget or who prizes the fastest possible cylinder change.
Drinkmate OmniFizz - It depends
The Drinkmate OmniFizz is the versatility specialist, and whether it’s right for you depends entirely on what you want to drink. Its Fizz Infuser has a pressure-release design that lets you carbonate any cold liquid - juice, iced tea, wine, cocktails, even flat soda - not just water, and it uses flexible standard screw-in cylinders and needs no electricity. Named strengths include that carbonate-anything ability and the standard-cylinder flexibility. What we liked more is simply that no other machine here can fizz a glass of juice or a cocktail, which is a genuinely different capability. What we liked less is the cleanup: carbonating sugary or pulpy drinks means more disassembly and washing after each use, owners note the bubbles can fade a little faster in the glass than store-bought seltzer, and the release valve can spit some liquid if you vent it too quickly. It’s right for people who specifically want to carbonate more than water and accept the extra fuss, and wrong for anyone who only wants plain sparkling water, where the simpler picks are easier to live with.
Ninja Thirsti Drink System - Skip
The Ninja Thirsti Drink System is tempting for obvious reasons: it makes still or sparkling drinks in several sizes and fizz levels at the touch of a button, and its flavor pods make building a sweet or zero-calorie soda effortless. So why skip it as a sparkling-water maker? The concrete issue is lock-in and fizz. It ties you to two proprietary ecosystems at once - flavor pods and a CO2 canister you can only exchange through Ninja - so both your flavor and your carbonation become brand-locked recurring costs. On top of that, owners report the carbonation is weaker than dedicated water makers even at the highest setting, the reservoir is small, and the pods add up over time. It still suits one buyer: a household that specifically wants Ninja’s pod-based flavored sodas and doesn’t mind paying to stay inside the closed system. But if your goal is great plain sparkling water with low, flexible running costs, this is the wrong tool, and the water-first machines above do that job better and cheaper.
SodaStream Terra vs Aarke Carbonator 3: which should you buy?
Both make excellent sparkling water, so the decision comes down to priorities and budget. The SodaStream Terra wins on convenience and cost: its Quick Connect cylinders are the fastest to swap, its refill network is the easiest to find, and it’s the most affordable machine here, which makes it the safe default for most kitchens. The Aarke Carbonator 3 wins on materials and flexibility: a stainless-steel body that looks and feels built to last, plus standard screw-in cylinders that free you from a single refill source. The trade-off is real - the Aarke costs noticeably more and swaps cylinders a little slower, while the Terra keeps you inside SodaStream’s (very well supported) cylinder ecosystem. Buy the Terra if you want the easiest, cheapest path to reliable fizz. Buy the Aarke if durability, design, and cylinder freedom are worth a premium. For most people the Terra’s ease and value edge it, which is why it’s our pick.
What to look for
Decide on the cylinder ecosystem first. Standard screw-in cylinders (as on the Aarke and Drinkmate) give you the most refill options and the least lock-in; proprietary systems trade some of that freedom for convenience or a lower upfront price, so weigh how easy refills are where you live.
Match the machine to what you’ll actually drink. If you only want sparkling water, a simple water carbonator like the Terra or Aarke is easier to own; if you want fizzy juice, tea, or cocktails, only the Drinkmate OmniFizz is designed for it.
Watch the ongoing cost, not just the sticker price. Water-only machines keep recurring cost to CO2 alone, while pod- or syrup-based systems add a brand-locked expense that can quietly become the largest part of what you spend.
Buy a spare cylinder up front. The most common frustration owners report is running out of gas mid-week, and a backup cylinder removes that problem entirely regardless of which machine you choose.
Our final take
A soda maker is a long-term commitment to a fizz ecosystem, so the smart buy is the one that keeps your bubbles strong and your running costs low and flexible. The SodaStream Terra is the pick for most people: consistent carbonation, the fastest and most findable cylinder refills, and the lowest price. The Aarke Carbonator 3 is the premium runner-up, a durable, beautiful machine with the flexibility of standard cylinders. Choose the Drinkmate OmniFizz if you want to carbonate more than water and accept the extra cleanup. Skip the Ninja Thirsti Drink System unless its pod-based flavored sodas are exactly what you’re after, because its double lock-in and weaker fizz make it the wrong choice for great, affordable sparkling water.
Questions, answered
Are CO2 cylinders interchangeable between soda maker brands?
Not always, and this is the most important thing to check before buying. Machines split into two camps: those that use standard screw-in 60L cylinders (like the Aarke and Drinkmate here), which accept a wide range of refills and third-party options, and those with proprietary systems. SodaStream's Quick Connect cylinders are proprietary but backed by the largest exchange network, so refills are easy to find. The Ninja Thirsti uses its own canister you can only exchange through Ninja. Standard screw-in gives you the most freedom; proprietary systems trade some flexibility for convenience or lower upfront cost.
Can I carbonate juice, tea, or cocktails instead of just water?
Only with a machine built for it. Most soda makers, including the SodaStream Terra and Aarke Carbonator 3, are designed to carbonate plain water, and you add flavor afterward; putting juice or other liquids into them can cause overflow and mess. The Drinkmate OmniFizz is the exception here, using a pressure-release infuser specifically so you can carbonate juice, iced tea, wine, cocktails, and even flat soda. The trade-off is more thorough cleaning after anything sugary or pulpy.
How long does a CO2 cylinder actually last?
It varies a lot with how fizzy you like your water and how much you drink. A standard 60L cylinder is rated to make a large number of liters of sparkling water, but heavier carbonation and daily multi-glass use burn through it faster, while lighter fizz stretches it further. Owners of pod-and-canister systems that also power flavored drinks often report the canister emptying sooner than expected under heavy use. Buying a spare cylinder so you always have a backup is the single best way to avoid running dry mid-week.
Is a soda maker actually cheaper than buying sparkling water?
For regular drinkers, usually yes, once you account for the machine plus cylinder refills. The more sparkling water you go through, the faster a machine pays for itself versus buying bottles or cans, and you cut plastic waste in the process. The math is strongest for water-only machines because your only recurring cost is CO2. It weakens for systems that also rely on proprietary flavor pods or syrups, since those ongoing purchases can quietly become the largest part of your running cost.
Do I need the branded flavor pods or syrups?
No. With a water carbonator you can add any flavoring you like after carbonating, from a splash of juice to a squeeze of citrus to any brand of syrup, which keeps your running cost flexible. Pod-based systems like the Ninja Thirsti are designed around their own flavor pods, which is convenient but means an ongoing, brand-locked expense. If keeping long-term cost low and your options open matters to you, favor a machine that just makes sparkling water and let you flavor it however you want.
Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: SodaStream Terra vs Aarke Carbonator 3.
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