The 5 Best Soda Makers, According to Our Tests

Our Favorite Soda Maker

Investing in a soda maker is a no-brainer for folks who love sparkling beverages. The SodaStream E-Terra Sparkling Water Maker was the best soda maker in our tests. If you’re willing to splurge, we recommend the Aarke Carbonator III for its sleek design and ease of use. We also love the Ninja Thirsti for its easy, hands-off operation and customizability.

• What We Looked For

  Power Source

  There are two types of soda machines: manual and electric. We found that both kinds perform well, so it just depends on where you want to use yours. If you have countertop space and access to an electrical outlet, electric soda makers are a good choice. Plus, they might have special features, like adjustable carbonation levels, unlike their counterparts. For a no-fuss, no-frills portable pick, consider one that requires a simple press-down, like the Philips Soda Maker.

  Carbonation Type

  In order for soda makers to work, they primarily use carbon dioxide (CO2) cylinders to pressurize the flat liquid and produce the bubbles you normally see in carbonated beverages. Some machines result in large bubbles, while others finish with tiny, foamy ones. There are even a few that will let you adjust the carbonation levels.
  

  Versatility

  All soda makers can carbonate water, but not all have more options. Depending on your personal use, find one that fits your needs. Some of the best soda makers can carbonate juices, wine, and alcoholic beverages. You can use certain syrups to make a healthier copycat version of your favorite soda.

  Size

  Most soda makers aren’t too wide or lengthy, although one thing to keep in mind is height. They can be pretty tall, so it’s important to find one that can that would fit perfectly on your counter, tabletop, or even that small bar cart in your dining room. In addition to the machine, you’ll also want to make sure that the bottle’s height is suitable for your refrigerator.
  

• FAQ

  Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do you clean a soda maker?

    For the machine, simply wipe it down with mild dish soap and a damp cloth whenever you notice any dust or grime. As for the bottles, we suggest cleaning them after each use with dish soap, warm water, and a bottle brush.

  • Can I re-carbonate beverages with a soda maker?

    If you wanted to re-carbonate your flat soda, you technically can if the machine carbonates more than just water. It isn’t recommended to do so, so act at your own discretion as re-carbonation can be a bit messy. It likely won’t taste the same, but it still gives you some fizz either way.

  • Is it better to use filtered water in a soda maker?

    You can use filtered water or tap water, depending on your own preference. It’s best to use cold water in your soda machine, so if you’re already refrigerating your water, you might as well take the extra step to filter it too.

  • What should I do with empty CO2 cylinders?

    Some companies give you the chance to return your empty CO2 cylinders for money. For example, Sodastream gives back $1 for every empty CO2 cylinder you give them. These cylinders are also made of metal so they can be recycled or disposed of in the household trash.

• Other Soda Makers We Tested

  Strong Contenders

  Aarke Carbonator Pro with Glass Bottle ($349 at Amazon)

  We loved the sleek aesthetic of this soda maker, plus how easy it was to set up. We found that creating the right bubble size via manual pressure required quite a bit of trial and error. Additionally, we noticed some water pooling in the drip tray after several carbonation sessions. While it's a stunning soda maker, we wouldn't fully recommend this machine over the above Aarke Carbonator III Premium, since the slight improvements don't quite justify its $350 price tag.

  OTE Portable Sparkling Water Maker ($50 at Amazon)

  We found this affordable and compact sparkling water maker very easy to use. There were no spills during testing, and we found that it provides consistent bubbles. The only major drawback we found was that this soda maker requires compatible mini gas cartridges which must be ordered separately after the starter pack runs out. Though it's great for camping and gets points for portability, overall we found this soda maker to be limiting for everyday use at home.

  Twenty39 Qarbo Sparkling Water Maker ($119 at Amazon)

  We loved how the bubbles were very subtle and distributed evenly all around. However, the carbonation did not last long at all and fell flat after sitting out for a few minutes. The bottle is also too tall for storage in an average-sized refrigerator, so it didn't fit our criteria for the best soda makers. 

  iSi North America Soda Siphon Classic Mesh Sodamaker ($125 at Amazon)

  Unlike other models that work by attaching a bottle to the machine, a CO2 charger is inserted at the top near the bottle's spout. We loved how easy it was to pour the water out, making it ideal for serving cocktails at dinner parties. However, it isn't the most user-friendly device, as we didn't know how much we needed to shake it. It required some practice, but we eventually got the hang of it.

  MySoda Woody Sparkling Water Maker ($80 at Amazon)

  This affordable model features a lovely design that’s also environmentally friendly since it's made from 100% renewable-based biocomposite. During testing, we found the button to be a bit sensitive, making it difficult to produce consistently carbonated water. Although this soda maker is both affordable and eco-friendly, we didn't find it to be user-friendly and noted that it's hand-wash only.

  What Didn't Make the List

  SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker ($80 at Amazon)

  This Terra Sparkling Water Maker from SodaStream uses new Quick Connect technology that makes it super easy to change and replace its CO2 cylinder with just “one click.” Unfortunately, we found that the bubbles completely dissipated after removing the bottle from the machine, and we felt almost little to no bubbles when we tasted them. Upon retesting, we still weren't blown away by the consistency of carbonation and therefore wouldn't recommend it over other models.

  iSi Soda Siphon (Amazon)

  This one has a design and function very similar to its classic relative but with a look more like the regular soda makers. Users cannot see the liquid inside because of the aluminum casing, making it difficult to see how many bubbles are brewing inside. It produced decently sized bubbles but unfortunately, the longevity didn't match. Eventually, we learned that the key to long-lasting carbonation is shaking it at least 10 times.

  CO-Z Sparkling Water Maker (Amazon)

  Since this machine has a manual button to control bubble intensity, we found it difficult to control the consistency of the bubbles. We also found that installing and removing the CO2 tank is fairly awkward and requires removing the entire back panel. In our tests, we also made sure to fill the water to the fill line, but it still overflowed and over-carbonated during two tests. These findings, plus the loud sound this machine makes during the carbonation process, make this a low performer.

  Drinkpod Fizzpod ($109 at Amazon)

  We loved the idea of carbonating other beverages like fruit juice. However, this soda maker spilled a bit during our max fizz test with water, as well as with apple juice. Carbonating juice was extra sticky because of the spillage. The extra slim and tall bottles are not dishwasher-friendly and would be a pain to hand-wash. Ultimately, this machine did not consistently carbonate our apple juice, even though it produced a lot of foam.

  SodaStream Aqua Fizz Carbonated Water Maker ($160 at Amazon)

  We found that this soda maker is very bulky and was the tallest device out of all the options we tested, requiring more space. We were not a fan of the noise it made while carbonating, and it didn't provide any guidance on how carbonated the drink was getting. It barely retained its bubbles after 5 minutes, and it spilled out a lot of water from the back.

  Spärkel Beverage System ($150 at Amazon)

  Surprisingly, this was the only soda maker that didn't need a CO2 cylinder or cartridge to work. To obtain that fizz, the machine uses citric acid and baking soda. Despite the lack of CO2 gas, it's still tough to use due to the several steps you have to go through to have it operate correctly. Once testers got it going, it leaked every time and wasted water. It produced bubbles with a nice mouthfeel, but they didn't even last long enough to enjoy.
  

• Our Expertise

  • Lauren Musni is a New Jersey-based food writer with an associate degree in culinary arts from The Culinary Institute of America. She wrote this piece based on our test results, her personal experience working in restaurants, and her love for baking and cooking.
  • Danielle St. Pierre is a senior editor for Food & Wine. In addition to participating in this test of the best soda makers, she updated this review with testing insights and original lab photography.