The best home sparkling water makers

For most homes, the best sparkling water maker is the SodaStream Terra: it is affordable, simple to use and the gas cylinders are easy to swap in many supermarkets. If you want a machine that looks good on the counter and is built from steel, the Aarke Carbonator 3 costs more and lasts. If you want to carbonate juice, cold tea or wine as well as water, the Drinkmate OmniFizz is designed for it.

A soda maker is one of the easiest ways to drink more water if plain water bores you, and to cut down on sugary fizzy drinks. Our page on sugar in common drinks shows how much a can of cola adds up to.

How a sparkling water maker works

You fill a bottle with cold water, screw it onto the machine and press a button or lever. Carbon dioxide from a pressurised cylinder is pushed into the water, and the more presses, the fizzier it gets. No electricity is needed for most models.

The machine itself is a one-off cost. The ongoing costs are gas refills and, every few years, new bottles. Most brands run an exchange scheme where you swap an empty cylinder for a full one at a lower price than buying new.

What to look for

• Cylinder type. Check which cylinder the machine takes and where you can exchange it near you. Newer SodaStream machines use a quick-connect cylinder that clicks in; older ones screw in.
• What you can carbonate. Most machines are for water only; you add flavour afterwards. A few, like the Drinkmate, can carbonate other drinks directly.
• Bottles. Plastic bottles have an expiry date and are usually not dishwasher safe. Glass bottles are available for some machines and some brands sell dishwasher-safe plastic ones.
• Build. Plastic machines are lighter and cheaper; steel machines are heavier and more stable.
• Space. All of them are tall. Measure the gap under your wall cupboards.

How we chose

We looked at price, cylinder availability, bottle options, build quality and the long-term reputation of each machine. We have not run our own tests. Prices change often, so check before you buy.

Best overall: SodaStream Terra

Around $100

The easiest place to start. You press the button a few times for the fizz you like and the bottle snaps in and out. Because SodaStream cylinders are so widely available, it is also the simplest to keep running.

What we like

• Affordable
• Quick-connect cylinder clicks in easily
• Cylinders widely exchanged
• Simple button to carbonate

Keep in mind

• Plastic build
• Water only
• Bottles need replacing every few years

Check price at Amazon

Best design: Aarke Carbonator 3

Around $250

For people who want a machine that will stay out on the counter for years. The lever gives a satisfying, controllable fizz, and the all-metal body has no electronics to fail.

What we like

• Stainless steel build, heavy and stable
• Simple lever action
• Looks good on an open counter
• Takes standard screw-in cylinders

Keep in mind

• Expensive
• Comes with a plastic bottle
• Water only

Check price at Amazon

Best for flavoured drinks: Drinkmate OmniFizz

Around $130

The pick if you want to make fizzy versions of your own drinks. Add gas, then release it slowly through the cap to stop the drink foaming out. It is a good fit for homemade lemonade or iced tea.

What we like

• Can carbonate juice, cold tea and other drinks, not only water
• Fizz Infuser cap releases pressure slowly to limit foaming
• Does not need electricity

Keep in mind

• More steps than a button machine
• Some drinks foam over if you rush
• Plastic build

Check price at Amazon

At a glance

Ideas for flavouring sparkling water

1. A squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt, as in our salted lime soda.
2. Cucumber slices and mint left in a jug in the fridge.
3. A splash of unsweetened fruit juice, about one part juice to four parts sparkling water.
4. Frozen berries instead of ice.

Questions people ask

Is sparkling water as hydrating as still water?

Yes, for most people. Plain sparkling water counts towards your daily fluid like still water does. Some people find it fills them up or causes wind, and for them still water is more comfortable. Our guide to how much water you need has more.

Is sparkling water bad for teeth?

Plain sparkling water is slightly more acidic than still water, but dental bodies generally consider it far less of a concern than sugary or acidic soft drinks. Added citrus and sugar make it more erosive. Drinking it with meals rather than sipping all day helps.

Does a soda maker save money?

If you buy bottled sparkling water often, a soda maker usually works out cheaper over a year once you count gas exchanges. It also cuts down on plastic bottles and the weight of carrying them home.

Photograph: AI-generated image

Filed under sparkling water, soda maker, drinks, kitchen.