The Best, Bubbliest Soda Makers for On-Demand Sparkling Water

Canned seltzer is convenient, but for some people, a carbonator makes more sense. The best soda makers deliver bubbly water on demand, and they can save you money in the long term. Plus, they’re more environmentally friendly (provided you exchange spent canisters and use your soda maker for years to come). 

But just as there are dozens of canned bubbly water brands, there are tons of soda makers on the market, too. Serious Eats first tested soda makers in 2017, and we’ve regularly updated our review with fresh insights. I recently re-tested our winning soda makers, along with some new contenders, to see which ones stood the test of time, and if any others deserved a top spot. While the very best soda maker reigns supreme, there were some unexpected favorites.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Soda Maker

SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker

$130 at Amazon View on Target $130 at Home Depot

We’ve recommended the SodaStream Art since 2022. It’s hard to unseat this as the best soda maker, considering it makes the fizziest, bubbliest water and is one of the cheapest we tested. Plus, its cage-style canister-loading system is simple to use: You don’t have to turn the soda maker upside down to load it.

Another Great Soda Maker

SMEG Sparkling Water Maker

View on Williams Sonoma View on Crate & Barrel $200 at Wayfair

The SMEG Sparkling Water Maker proves that sometimes function and form can be a successful match. This is one of the prettiest soda makers I tested—it certainly looks sharp on a countertop—and it was also one of the best. It produced the second-fizziest water in my test, and only lost one gram of carbonation after 24 hours in the fridge.

The Best Soda Maker with Glass Bottles

SodaStream AquaFizz Sparkling Water Maker

$154 at Amazon $143 $100 at Walmart

The Aqua Fizz is larger than my other favorite SodaStream carbonators. But it’s worth the space it takes up, and it makes impressively bubbly water. It was the third-bubbliest soda maker according to my tests, and I liked the fact that the glass bottle is encased by a cover as it carbonates. It feels easier and safer to use.

The Best Soda Maker for All Types of Beverages

Breville InFizz Fusion Sparkling Beverage Carbonator

$250 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma $250 at Sur La Table

The Breville InFizz Fusion is worth all the praise it’s racked up—including ours! It can carbonate water (duh), but also any other liquid you throw at it. Lemonade? Yes. Cocktails? Yup. It has a solid, sturdy feel, and it’s worth the splurge.

The Best Budget Soda Maker for All Types of Beverages

Drinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker

$133 at Amazon View on Walmart $130 at Target

Like the Breville, this soda maker can carbonate any kind of liquid. It costs about $100 less than the Breville and works almost as well. (It added just one less gram of carbonation.) 

Editor’s Pick

Aarke Carbonator III Premium Sparkling & Seltzer Water Maker

$250 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma View on Aarke.us

I loved the look of this sleek, slim carbonator. I have a small kitchen and was thrilled at the idea of a soda maker not taking up a ton of space on my counter. The push lever is fun to use, and it’s a “looks matter” upgrade from the SodaStream Art. The bubbles dissolved faster than others in my tests, but if you’re the type to drink an entire bottle of fizzy water in one sitting, that won’t matter.

The Best Option for Flavored Water

Ninja Thirsti Drink System

$150 at Amazon $150 at Target $150 at Ninjakitchen.com

The Ninja Thirsti is a little extra, but that’s what’s so fun about it. This one wasn’t part of my official tests, but we’ve reviewed it here. It deserves an honorable mention because not only does it carbonate, it also flavors water. You can even combine flavors to create your own unique beverage.

The Tests

• Carbonation Test: To measure how much CO2 each soda maker injected into its bottles, I filled each bottle to its max-fill line with water and weighed it on a kitchen scale. I then chilled it until it reached 34˚F. I injected the water with 10 quarter-second pumps and re-weighed the bottle to calculate the amount of CO2 added. I left the bottle unopened in the fridge for 24 hours, then weighed it again to calculate how much CO2 was lost.
• Taste Test: The quantity and quality of the bubbles matter, especially if you love seltzer. I refilled, chilled, and recharged each bottle using the same method outlined above. I then poured some into a drinking glass and tasted it. I made observations on the density and size of bubbles and the taste.
• Egg Cream Test: I used the best soda makers to make a classic egg cream. This helped me confirm I’d chosen the bubbliest ones, because an egg cream needs extra-bubbly seltzer.
• Lemonade Test: For carbonators compatible with non-water beverages, I filled them with lemonade and chilled them. I weighed the bottles, followed the instructions to carbonate the lemonade, weighed them again, and tasted the fizzy lemonade.
• Usability, Design, and Cleanup Tests: Bubbly water was great, but it didn’t mean anything if the soda maker was a pain to use. I rated each soda maker on its user-friendliness by inserting and removing the CO2 cartridges, using the carbonation levers or buttons, and cleaning them. My favorites made every step of the soda-making process simple.

What We Learned

Which Soda Maker Carbonated the Best?

Two factors determine the “best” carbonation: the amount of bubbles (CO2) added to the water, and the type of bubbles (big, dense, soft, etc.). At an additional 10 grams, the SodaStream Art delivered the most CO2 of any soda maker I tested. When sealed tightly, it retained almost all of it over a 24-hour period. The SMEG Sparkling Water Maker kept pace with nine extra grams of CO2. It also only lost one gram. All of the best soda makers in this review added at least seven grams of fizz to their water bottles. The Breville InFizz Fusion lost a stunning zero grams of carbonation when sealed with its special cap.

Now, about the quality of those bubbles. I was particularly impressed with the density of the SodaStream Art’s bubbles. They were long-lasting and powerful, which meant the Art performed very well in the egg cream test. While it wasn’t an official test, I noticed that the SodaStream’s bubbles lasted a long time when poured into a glass.

But SodaStream didn’t have a monopoly on the winners. In fact, some of its products produced terrible bubbles. The SodaStream Jet Sparkling Water Maker carbonated so poorly that the water was almost flat, even after 10 button pushes. The worst performers, like the AerFlow Aer1 System, added just four or five grams of CO2 to water. You may not notice this difference upon first sip, but the issue becomes clear if you carbonate in advance. These soda makers were flat or almost flat after a day in the fridge.

How Do You Make Extra Fizzy Seltzer?

Soda makers emit a warning sound once they’ve reached their “optimal” level of carbonation. In many, it sounds like a groan or a grunt. (And, okay, maybe a little like a fart.) My tests called for 10 injections of CO2, and this noise routinely started at the sixth or seventh pump. Adding a few extra bursts of carbonation into your bottle is safe, and results in the best, fizziest water—imagine a glass that dances with bubbles that pop and fizz on your nose as you sip. Make sure you follow the manufacturer’s depressurizing instructions as you unthread your bottle from the carbonation nozzle to ensure a smooth, safe removal. 

The Soda Makers’ Design Elements Were Crucial

Soda makers aren’t that different from one another. They all use a cartridge to inject bottles of water with carbon dioxide. So the subtle design elements really added up in my tests. Removing and adding new cartridges can be frustrating, so I gave points to the soda makers that made that process painless. The SodaStream Art’s cartridge lives in the back of the machine, and it snaps smoothly into place. It was mildly annoying to turn other models upside down. The Aarke Carbonator 3’s drip tray fell out every time I inverted it. This wasn’t a huge deal—I did name it a winner, after all—but if you often get irritated at inanimate objects, you should keep this in mind. Another pain point? Threading bottles into the carbonation system. Cradle-style designs, like that found in the SodaStream Aqua Fizz, were awesome because they do the hard work for you. But my top picks from SodaStream and Smeg have simpler designs that worked well because they were easy to connect.

Another place that soda makers differentiate themselves is with the injection method. Some, like the SodaStream Terra, have push buttons. I found levers and knobs to be better for controlling the level of fizz, because I could press down or turn them a little or a lot. (The Art and Aarke Carbonator have levers. The SMEG has a knob.)

Are Soda Makers More Environmentally Friendly?

Eh… carbon dioxide isn’t produced for the sole purpose of fueling our love of seltzer. But using the term “environmentally friendly” might be a stretch. Most of the CO2 used in soda maker cartridges is captured from industrial sources as a byproduct of the production of fossil fuels, ethanol, and ammonia (for synthetic fertilizer). It’s captured, bottled, and sold to soda maker brands for use in their products. To keep things eco-friendly(ish), never throw away your empty CO2 cartridges. You can exchange them for new cartridges and pay less. SodaStream, for example, offers an exchange service in which you only pay for the refill, not new bottles.

What about the carbon footprint of shipping the cartridges to your house or supplier? (Target offers an exchange service, too.) There’s an undeniable impact, but as explained in this article from Grist, the impact is smaller than that of full, single-use bottles of water. Cartridges weigh less, and most can carbonate up to 60 liters of water before needing to be exchanged. 

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Soda Maker

The best soda makers add lots of dense bubbles to water and maintain a high level of carbonation, even after 24 hours in the refrigerator. Our favorite soda makers have simple solutions for connecting their cartridges, like cage or cradle systems or screw-in options that thread easily. A good soda maker won’t overflow or spray when carbonating and has a quick, easy way to customize your carbonation, like a lever or knob.

Our Favorite Soda Makers

The Best Soda Maker

SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker

$130 at Amazon View on Target $130 at Home Depot

What we liked: Simply put, the Aarke makes the bubbliest water. It smashed the competition, delivering the most bubbles—10 grams of CO2 with 10 pumps. It lost just one gram of carbonation after 24 hours; pretty impressive for an entry-level price point. The lever carbonator is fun to use, and the CO2 cartridges are easy to load because they’re inserted into the back with a flip-out cage-style design; you don’t have to flip the machine upside down to screw them in. The dense, intense bubbles tasted delightful in the egg cream, making this a solid option for basic seltzer and fun drinks.

What we didn’t like: This carbonator is made mostly from plastic. It has a cheaper feel than some of the others I tested, but it is also the least expensive on this list.

Key Specs

• Height: 17 inches
• Materials: Plastic
• Bottle capacity: 840 milliliters
• Also included: 1 bottle and 1 CO2 cartridge
  

Another Great Soda Maker

SMEG Sparkling Water Maker

View on Williams Sonoma View on Crate & Barrel $200 at Wayfair

What we liked: Like all of SMEG’s appliances, the SMEG Soda Maker is a looker. It has a retro-inspired design that stands out from the crowd. This was the second-best performer in the carbonation test; it added a lot of extra-fizzy bubbles (nine grams) and made fun-to-drink water with lots of little bubbles. SMEG devotees will appreciate that it matches the brand’s distinctive aesthetic. Its carbonation design is clever: Twist the knob on its front panel to fizz. A big twist will add lots of bubbles, and a small one carbonates moderately. The drip tray features a removable brushed stainless steel plate; underneath that is a QR code that offers tutorials, like best practices and recipes. The bottle is dishwasher-safe. This soda maker has a small footprint, too.

What we didn’t like: It’s more expensive than the SodaStream Art, but other than that, the competition was neck-and-neck. 

Key Specs

• Height: 16.5 inches
• Materials: Plastic, stainless steel
• Bottle capacity: 1 liter
• Also included: 1 bottle. CO2 cartridges must be purchased separately; they are compatible with SodaStream cartridges
  

The Best Soda Maker with Glass Bottles

SodaStream AquaFizz Sparkling Water Maker

$154 at Amazon $143 $100 at Walmart

What we liked: The obvious appeal here is the glass bottles—the Aqua Fizz comes with two. I loved their hefty feel and the option to reduce plastic in my kitchen. The bottles are dishwasher-safe—not something all soda makers can boast. But the Aqua Fizz has some other cool features. The carbonator works like a cradle, lowering and surrounding the bottle. This makes it a more hands-off experience. It felt safer, too, because I didn’t have to screw a glass bottle into an elevated holder. The cartridge pops in the back without needing to turn the machine on its head.

What we didn’t like: The bottles are small. They hold almost 200 milliliters less than the SodaStream Art’s bottles. 

Key Specs

• Height: 18 inches
• Materials: Plastic, glass
• Bottle capacity: 650 milliliters
• Included: 2 glass bottles and 1 CO2 cartridge

The Best Soda Maker for All Types of Beverages

Breville InFizz Fusion Sparkling Beverage Carbonator

$250 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma $250 at Sur La Table

What we liked: What makes the Breville InFizz special? An additional bottle lid called the FusionCap absorbs the extra pressure that builds up when liquids other than water are carbonated. (Three valves in the cap keep the seal tight.) That means you can use it to carbonate juice, lemonade, cocktails—you name it. The lemonade in my test was ebullient, with plenty of small, springy bubbles. The bottle is big, which makes it great for batch cocktails. Breville also makes smaller, 0.6-liter bottles that are compatible with the InFizz. This carbonator also earns an award for looks. It’s heavy but not bulky, which gives it a substantial look. It comes in fun colors, like Olive Tapenade and Damson Blue. It includes a cleaning brush as well as a sieve and funnel—handy for pouring liquids into the bottle.

What we didn’t like: If you carbonate ahead of time and store it in the fridge, it loses a lot of CO2. There’s a workaround, though: Store the bottle with the FusionCap on (instead of the regular bottle cap), and it will stay cheerfully fizzy.

Key Specs

• Height: 17 inches
• Materials: Stainless steel, plastic
• Bottle capacity: 1 liter
• Included: 1 bottle, FusionCap, cleaning brush, sieve, and funnel

The Best Budget Soda Maker for All Types of Beverages

Drinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker

$133 at Amazon View on Walmart $130 at Target

What we liked: The Drinkmate Omni Fizz works similarly to the Breville InFizz—the siphon is attached to a valved lid that can handle extra pressure. That means you can use it for more than just water. It’s a much cheaper option than the Breville (about $120 less). It carbonated almost as well as the Breville; it added one less gram of carbon dioxide and lost the same amount (just one gram) after 24 hours. 

What we didn’t like: After carbonating a drink, you have to wait 10 seconds to allow it to de-pressurize. That’s not a dealbreaker, but you don’t have to do this with the Breville InFizz, which has a pressure release switch. During my tests, it fizzed over a few times, even when I followed the depressurizing protocol.

Key Specs

• Height: 16 inches
• Materials: Plastic
• Bottle capacity: 850 milliliters
• Included: 2 bottles, Fizz Infuser cap, and 1 CO2 cartridge

Editor’s Pick

Aarke Carbonator III Premium Sparkling & Seltzer Water Maker

$250 at Amazon View on Williams Sonoma View on Aarke.us

What we liked: This is a premium, fancy-pants soda maker. All Aarke appliances have an elegant look, and the Aarke Carbonator understood the assignment. It’s a beautiful soda maker, and its simple, stainless steel design can blend in with just about any decor. That said, if stainless steel isn’t your bag, Aarke also offers powder-coated steel versions in some unique colors, like Burgundy. The lever-style carbonator is sturdier than the one on the Art, and the drip tray is spacious, although I never experienced an overflow during my tests. 

What we didn’t like: The Aarke Carbonator costs as much as the Breville InFizz Fusion, but can only carbonate water. If you get a stainless steel one, know that it easily collects smudges, but you can wipe them clean with a microfiber cloth, which is included with the carbonator. The bottle isn’t dishwasher-safe, and it lost four grams of carbonation after 24 hours.

Key Specs

• Height: 16.3 inches
• Materials: Stainless steel
• Bottle capacity: 800 milliliters
• Included: Bottle, microfiber cleaning cloth

The Best Option for Flavored Water

Ninja Thirsti Drink System

$150 at Amazon $150 at Target $150 at Ninjakitchen.com

What we liked: The Ninja Thirsti makes customization simple and fun: You can choose still, light, classic, or max bubbles when carbonating. But the real draw of the Thirsti is its flavor options. It holds up to two of Ninja’s proprietary water drops, so you can flavor your H2O with flavors like strawberry kiwi or coconut mango. The Ninja Thirsti has some truly thoughtful design elements, like an adjustable splash guard (you can change it based on your cup’s height) and an indicator that signals when the CO2 cartridge is getting low.

What we didn’t like: The Ninja Thirsti doesn’t use bottles. Instead, it has a water reservoir in the back and dispenses into a glass of your choosing—not ideal if you want to carbonate in advance or make a big batch. You can’t use any other brand’s flavor pods with it.

Key Specs

• Height: 16 inches
• Materials: Plastic
• Bottle capacity: N/A
• Included: CO2 cartridge and 8 flavor drops

The Competition

• SodaStream Fizzi One Touch Sparkling Water Maker: The Fizzi One Touch was almost crowned a winner in our previous review. But when I tried to order it for a re-test, I learned it had been discontinued.
• SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker: The Terra is a solid performer, but its bubbles weren’t as bountiful as the SodaStream Art’s or AquaFizz’s.
• SodaStream Jet Sparkling Water Maker: The Jet produced the least amount of carbonation in our previous tests. It has been discontinued.
• iSi Mesh Sodamaker: The iSi Mesh Sodamaker is a pretty vintage-inspired soda maker. But I can’t recommend a handheld soda siphon when there are so many better options that make fizzier water. 
• iSi Stainless Steel Soda Siphon: The trigger on this model was unreliable and scary. It frequently overpressurized and sprayed soda out of the glass mid-use.
• Aarke Carbonator Pro: This luxury soda maker has glass bottles and a cradle-style carbonation system. It’s a serious seltzer maker, but it’s big and bulky, and it costs $350, $100 more than my most expensive pick.
• DrinkMate Omni Fizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker: The DrinkMate can carbonate more than just water and was previously a winner in our soda makers review, but upon further testing, it failed to measure up. It routinely spritzed overflow water when carbonating, even when following the depressurizing instructions. It’s just not as good a buy as the Breville InFizz Fusion.
• AerFlow Aer1 System: The concept of the AerFlow is pretty cool: a mini cartridge in the bottle’s lid fizzes up your water wherever you go. But it’s heavy, awkward to drink from, and just doesn’t carbonate all that well.

FAQ

How do soda makers work?

Soda makers introduce pressurized carbon dioxide into a liquid (usually water, but in some cases, juice, cocktails, or other liquids) through a siphon.

Is the Aarke carbonator worth it?

Which Aarke carbonator are you talking about? The Aarke Carbonator 3 is one of the best soda makers in this review. It’s sleek, solid, and has a smooth lever carbonation design. The Aarke Carbonator Pro didn’t make the winners’ list because it’s bulky and expensive. But if you’re set on an Aarke carbonator and want glass bottles, you may want to take a second look at the Carbonator Pro.

How long do CO2 cartridges last?

Standard CO2 cartridges can carbonate 60 liters of water. Depending on how often you use your soda maker, that could be a couple of weeks or a few months! When your CO2 cartridge runs out, you can either return it for cash or a discount on your next order (some brands offer exchange services) or exchange it at a retailer like Target. Heads up: The water bottles used with carbonators don’t last forever. After about two years, they should be recycled—the pressure breaks them down over time.

Why We’re the Experts

• Rochelle Bilow is an editor at Serious Eats. She’s a culinary school graduate and former line cook. Previously, Rochelle worked at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines.
• For this review, Rochelle tested 13 soda makers. She evaluated their ability to carbonate water and other beverages by calculating how much CO2 was gained after carbonating and how much was lost after 24 hours in the refrigerator. She also looked at user-friendliness and design.