Bubbly drinks are a fun way to mix up your daily hydration needs, but constantly buying bottles or cans of sparkling water or soda can get expensive—and isn’t exactly environmentally friendly. That’s where a home soda maker comes in: These compact and convenient machines use carbon dioxide (CO2) cartridges to turn plain water into sparkling water in just a few seconds with the press of a button. In addition to bubbles you can add more fizz, flavors, or fruits, so you always have something interesting (and never flat) to drink. Talk about tickling your tastebuds…

How to choose a soda maker

Before you go buying any old soda maker, there’s a few key qualities to find your perfect fit. Of course, there’s price. Most brands make products in the $50-$100 range, while other, boutique brands can cost in the low triple digits. Your budget will largely point you in the direction of what soda maker to choose. From there, consider the following:

Size

Most of the soda makers on the market are designed to fit neatly on your counter or in tucked in a small cabinet. If you’re really short on space, however, consider a cordless maker or a soda siphon, which can be stashed in drawers and pantries when counter space is running low. These options are more road-friendly, too, so if you’re on the go, you can easily bring the bubbles with.

Materials

Most obviously, you’re going to need to like the look of your soda maker—especially if it sits out on your counter all day. But think about the other materials, too, specifically the carbonation cylinders and soda bottles themselves. Albeit more expensive, glass is a much more sustainable alternative to plastic, which many brands rely on to make the soda carafes—keep an eye on this when you’re shopping. Similarly, some brands offer exchange programs that take back CO2 cylinders or refill them for you, keeping them out of landfills. Do your research to find an eco-friendly option for you.

Flavor and creativity 

Perhaps you want to infuse your soda with fresh fruit or earthy, homegrown botanicals. Or, maybe you want to go beyond water to carbonate your favorite fruit juices or night-time aperitifs. Your flavor preferences and carbonation requirements will largely determine the soda route you shop.

On the flavor front, many brands sell additional flavorings you can squeeze into your soda water to give it a touch of taste. Others allow you to infuse your bubbles with fresh fruit, veggies, and herbs, giving you a natural, aromatic flavor with every pour.

When it comes to carbonation, there are some brands that only carbonate water, designed to transform it from flat to sparkling in mere seconds. But there are others that can be used with anything—juice, liquor and flat beer, even oils—giving you a much wider range of use cases to explore. If creativity is your passion, again, do your homework before you go and click “Add to Cart.”

Bring on the bubbles: These are the 9 best soda makers

Best Soda Makers

Sodastream, Fizzi Sparkling Water Maker — $90.00

With a slim, cordless design, the SodaSteam Fizzi will make sure you always have on-demand sparkling water without taking up too much counter space. A single CO2 cylinder can give you up to 60 liters of sparkling water, and the one-liter bottle is reusable to reduce waste. Simply put in the bottle, and press the button until you reach your preferred carbonation level, and then take the bottle to go.

Pros

• Affordable
• Cordless
• Doesn’t require electricity
• CO2 exchange program

Cons

• Bottle is not dishwasher safe
• Adjustable levels of fizz are manual

SodaStream, Fizzi One Touch Sparkling Water Maker

If you have a craving for sparkling water, this SodaStream can satisfy it in seconds. Similar to the regular Fizzi, it can make up to 60 liters of water. But this version makes it even easier to carbonate your water; you just have to press one of the three buttons on the top to provide your preferred levels of fizz.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Adjustable levels of fizz are automatic
• CO2 exchange program

Cons

• Bottle is not dishwasher safe

Spärkel, Beverage System — $120.00

Sparkel doesn’t require a CO2 cylinder; instead, it uses electricity to mix water with a CO2 carbonated to make your water fizzy. It has five different buttons for different fizz levels, and you can use it on everything from water to wine and cocktails.

Pros

• No CO2 cylinders to store
• Can be used with any beverage + fruits/veggies
• Adjustable levels of fizz are automatic with a press of a button
• Dishwasher safe carafe

Cons

• Only compatible with Sparkel carbonators
• Carbonators are expensive
• Bottle is smaller (750ml) than other machines

Aarke, Carbonator III Premium Carbonator — $219.00

A pick from Oprah’s Favorite Things 2021, the Aarke carbonator is sleek and comes in a variety of finishes (matte black, silver, gold, copper, sand) that you won’t mind leaving out in plain view on your countertop. It uses a stainless steel nozzle to create a a controlled stream of carbonation, and a pull handle on the side lets you add more fizz.

Pros

• Minimalist design
• Cordless
• Compatible with other C02 cylinders
• Dishwasher safe carafe

Cons

• Doesn’t come with a C02 cylinder
• Harder to use
• Expensive

DrinkMate, Sparkling Water and Soda Maker — $100.00

Compact and versatile, this DrinkMate soda maker can make any drink (water, juice, tea, and more) into a bubbly delight. It’s compatible with most C02 tanks, comes in four colors, and you can adjust your fizz levels by pressing the button on the top.

Pros

• Compatible with other C02 cylinders
• Can be used with any beverage
• Cordless

Cons

• Adjustable levels of fizz are manual

Fizzpod, Soda Maker — $179.00

If you like variety, or have multiple people in your home that do, this set includes three bottles and two CO2 bottles to keep your fridge stocked with several sparkling drinks at once. The machine is battery and cord-free, compatible with most CO2 tanks, and you can carbonate multiple types of drinks, even oils, mixes, concentrates, and more.

Pros

• Can be used with any beverage
• Cordless
• Bottles are slim
• Doesn’t require the bottle to be mounted to the carbonator

Cons

• Adjustable levels of fizz are manual
• Bottles are to tall to fit upright in most fridges

iSi, Stainless Steel Soda Siphon — $74.00

This handy soda siphon doesn’t require using additional bottles you have to keep track of—just fill the stainless steel bottle, attach the soda charger, and press the lever for fresh, sparkling water.

Pros

• Stainless steel bottle
• No additional bottles to attach
• Easy to store

Cons

• Hard to clean
• Learning curve to use
• Have to replace the CO2 cartridges often

SodaStream, Aqua Fizz Sparkling Water Maker — $201.00

For anyone who’s trying to cut back on plastic usage, the SodaStream Aqua Fizz uses glass bottles. It’s easy to put the bottle in and remove it, and with a press of the top button, you’ll have carbonated water in no time. The bundle comes with two CO2 cylinders, two glass bottles, and two bubbly flavor drops.

Pros

• Cordless
• Glass bottles
• Bottles are dishwasher safe

Cons

• Adjustable levels of fizz are manual
• Bottles have a small neck

Philips, Stainless Sparkling Water Maker — $70.00

This Philips sparkling water maker comes in black or white and has a stainless steel wrap. It doesn’t require electricity, is compatible with most CO2 tanks, and is easy to use—twist a bottle of water onto the machine and then press the button to add your desired level of carbonation.

Pros

• Slim design
• Affordable
• Easy to use

Cons

• Doesn’t include CO2 tank
• Not dishwasher-safe

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