For most households the best soda maker for sparkling water is a manual countertop carbonator with a 60L CO2 cylinder, a lever you control, and at least two reusable bottles. We narrowed eight machines down by how they handle plain water, how easy the cylinders are to refill, and whether they survive real kitchen life in 2026.
Most soda maker roundups treat every machine as interchangeable, which is why so many people buy one, fizz a few bottles, and end up disappointed. The keyword here is plain sparkling water, and that rules out a whole category of machines built mainly for syrups and flavor pods. It also makes the CO2 cylinder system matter more than the color of the housing.
We compared eight countertop soda makers across four things that actually change the result: carbonation control, the cylinder ecosystem, what else you can carbonate besides water, and how the bottles and seals hold up over time. The picks below cover a manual workhorse, an electric one-touch option, a stainless steel design object, a budget starter kit, and two premium Breville models. We also worked out what a cylinder really costs you per liter, because that number decides whether any of this was worth it.
One note before we start. These are countertop water carbonators, not whipped cream machines or blenders, and none of them are designed to take hot liquids. We tested on our own counters with cold water, which is also how you get the best results. If you are outfitting a kitchen that handles a lot of small appliances, our picks on the best sandwich makers for school mornings and the best hot chocolate makers for families cover the other end of the counter space question.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Picks for Sparkling Water in 2026
- Best Soda Makers for Sparkling Water at a Glance in 2026
- 1. SodaStream Terra Value Bundle – Best Overall Pick for Plain Sparkling Water
- 2. Aarke Carbonator 3 – Best for Design and Open Cylinder Refills
- 3. Drinkmate OmniFizz – Best for Carbonating More Than Water
- 4. SodaStream E-TERRA – Best for One-Touch Electric Carbonation
- 5. SodaStream Gaia – Best Budget Starter Kit
- 6. Breville InFizz Fusion – Best Premium Multi-Beverage Carbonator
- 7. Breville InFizz Aqua – Best Stainless Steel Water-Only Carbonator
- 8. Philips Sparkling Water Maker – Best for Standard Screw-In Cylinders on a Budget
- How to Choose a Soda Maker for Sparkling Water in 2026?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict: Which Sparkling Water Soda Maker Should You Buy in 2026
Top 3 Picks for Sparkling Water in 2026
The three machines below cover most readers. The Terra is the safe default, the Aarke is the one you leave out where people can see it, and the OmniFizz is the pick if you want to fizz more than water.
SodaStream Terra
- Manual lever with adjustable fizz
- 60L Quick Connect cylinders and three bottles included
- 7.9 inch wide body
Aarke Carbonator 3
- Stainless steel enclosure
- Damper-controlled lever pull
- 800 ml BPA-free bottle included
Drinkmate OmniFizz
- Carbonates juice and tea too
- Fizz Infuser adds a second bottle
- 5 inch wide footprint
Best Soda Makers for Sparkling Water at a Glance in 2026
Here is the shortlist in one place. Every machine below is a CO2 carbonator that works on plain cold water. The differences are in the cylinder standard, whether it can handle juice and cocktails, and whether it needs a power outlet.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| SodaStream Terra Value Bundle |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Aarke Carbonator 3 |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Drinkmate OmniFizz |
|
Check Latest Price |
 SodaStream E-TERRA |
|
Check Latest Price |
 SodaStream Gaia |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Breville InFizz Fusion |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Breville InFizz Aqua |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Philips Sparkling Water Maker |
|
Check Latest Price |
How we chose
We started with the machines that appear repeatedly across owner reviews, then filtered hard for plain-water performance. A machine that only produces flavored drinks or that needs a proprietary pod system lost points even if it looked good. We also weighted the cylinder system heavily, because a machine you cannot refill conveniently is a machine you stop using.
Every rating and review count below is copied straight from the product listing so you can see the real sample size. Two of the Breville models have review counts in the low hundreds, which means the ratings are promising but the sample is small, and we treat them accordingly.
What a cylinder actually costs you per liter
A 60L cylinder is the unit that matters. A SodaStream cylinder is rated to make up to 60 liters, or 16 gallons, of sparkling water, and the E-TERRA and Philips listings put the same figure at about 120 single-use plastic bottles per cylinder. Aarke states its cylinder produces up to 2,000 ounces, roughly 167 twelve-ounce cans.
That is the whole cost argument in one line. Owners on r/Frugal track exactly this number, comparing the cost of a refill against a case of canned seltzer, and the gap is wide enough that a machine pays for itself on gas alone if you drink sparkling water most days. The variable people miss is how long a cylinder lasts in a two-person household versus a four-person one, and the honest answer is that a light-drinking household should expect a cylinder to sit around for months.
One Reddit calculation worth repeating: chill the water, chill the bottle, and use the number of pumps that suits the drink rather than maxing out every time. Home carbonation is very often described as good enough for fizzy drinking water, and the people who get closest to the aggressively bubbly reference bottles are the ones who start with fridge-cold water.
1. SodaStream Terra Value Bundle – Best Overall Pick for Plain Sparkling Water
SodaStream TERRA Sparkling Water Maker, Value Bundle, CQC CO2 System, Includes 2 Quick Connect 60L CO2 Cylinders, 3 Dishwasher Safe BPA Free Bottles, 2 bubly Flavor Drops, Make your own Pepsi, Black
60 liter capacity
Manual operation
Plastic body
10.8 pounds
7.9 inch wide
Pros
- Lever lets you stop at light fizz or push to aggressive bubbles
- Value bundle includes 60L cylinders plus three dishwasher-safe BPA-free bottles
- Slim body slides under most upper cabinets
- Quick Connect cylinder swaps with one push
- Works with bubly drops and Pepsi syrups as well as water
Cons
- Repeated lever presses needed for a strong fizz
- Plastic bottles are not insulated so carbonation fades within hours
- Body feels light compared with stainless alternatives
This is the machine most people end up with, and for plain sparkling water it earns the spot. The manual lever is the whole story: a short press gives you a gentle sparkle, and holding it down for longer bursts gives you the aggressive bubbles people chase. That range is why the Terra still beats machines with electric preset buttons when the goal is water alone.
It ranks first in Soda Makers on Amazon’s best sellers list and carries 4.5 stars across more than 5,600 owner reviews, which is the deepest sample in this group. Long-term owners on r/SodaStream consistently report that the machine itself keeps working for years, so the real decision you are making at purchase is about the cylinder system, not the hardware.
The bundle is unusually generous for a manual machine. It arrives with 60L Quick Connect cylinders, three dishwasher-safe BPA-free bottles, and bubly flavor drops, so there is nothing to buy before the first glass. At 3.07 inches deep by 7.9 inches wide and 16.9 inches tall, it is one of the slimmer bodies here and tucks under a standard upper cabinet.
Owners rate the quick cylinder swaps highly, since the cylinder pushes in and releases with one action rather than requiring a wrench or a screw thread. The trade is ecosystem lock-in: Quick Connect cylinders are proprietary, and refills run through the SodaStream exchange program rather than a walk-in third-party refill shop.
Carbonation quality is the other consideration. The consensus among r/SodaStream owners comparing this machine against the Drinkmate is that the Terra is efficient and hits high carbonation for water, while the OmniFizz pushes harder toward a soda-like level. For a plain sparkling water drinker, that difference matters far less than the reviews suggest.
Who it suits
Buy the Terra if plain sparkling water is your main use and you want to control the fizz level yourself. The lever is genuinely intuitive once you have done it twice, and the bottle thread is forgiving enough that a beginner will not flood the counter on the first try.
It is also the safest pick for a shared kitchen. Three bottles means one can live in the fridge while another is being carbonated, and the dishwasher-safe BPA-free bottles are the easiest of the set to keep clean on a busy weekday.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want to carbonate juice, wine, or cocktails on a regular basis. The carbonating bottles here are water-only by design, and while the syrup and flavor drop system is good for soda, it does not turn the machine into a general beverage carbonator.
Bottle insulation is the other soft spot. The plastic bottles lose carbonation within a few hours, so a bottle made in the morning can taste flat by lunch, and that is the most common long-term complaint in the reviews.
2. Aarke Carbonator 3 – Best for Design and Open Cylinder Refills
Aarke Carbonator 3 – Premium Sparkling Water Maker, Stainless Steel
800 ml bottle
Manual lever
Stainless steel body
1.72 kilograms
16.3 inch tall
Pros
- Seamless stainless steel body that looks like a design object on the counter
- Damper-controlled lever gives a deliberate consistent pull
- No electricity and a compact footprint
- Simple screw-in cylinder installation
- Includes an 800 ml BPA-free PET bottle
Cons
- CO2 cylinder has to be bought separately
- 800 ml bottle takes more counter space than slim models
- Water only
- so no juice tea or cocktails
The Carbonator 3 is bought with two questions in mind: does it look good on the counter, and can I refill its gas somewhere other than the brand. It answers both well. The stainless steel enclosure has no visible seams, and the cylinder screws in like any standard tank, which is exactly what r/AskUK owners ask for when they are trying to avoid a proprietary system.
At 4.4 stars across 6,706 reviews, this is the largest review base in the group, and reviewers describe it almost entirely in the language of ritual. The damper-controlled lever is the detail people mention most, because it produces a slower, more deliberate pull than a button and the carbonation comes out consistent rather than variable.
Operation is a single button for the machine and a screw-in thread for the cylinder, with no power cord anywhere. Owners also praise the fact that it needs no electricity, which means it can live on a counter in a room that has no outlet nearby. The included 800 ml BPA-free PET bottle fits inside a standard refrigerator door, which is where most people keep it.
Aarke states that each cylinder produces up to 2,000 ounces of sparkling water, about 167 twelve-ounce cans, so the gas-to-drink ratio is competitive with the manual SodaStream machines. The catch is that the cylinder is not in the box, and neither is a second bottle, so you are buying a machine that needs two more purchases before the first glass.
Users on r/AskUK who moved away from a proprietary system specifically call out the Carbonator as the alternative that still felt premium, and they mention favorable in-person exchange options at retailers. That is the strongest argument for it beyond appearance.
Who it suits
Buy the Carbonator 3 if the machine lives in the open rather than tucked away, and if you would rather refill your gas through a standard screw-in cylinder than a brand-locked program. It suits anyone who wants sparkling water and nothing more, and who will notice that the counter looks better afterwards.
It also suits households that do not want a cord, a power adapter, or anything that needs an outlet. Manual, damper-driven, and mechanically simple machines fail less often for exactly these reasons.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you plan to fizz anything other than water. The included bottle is a water carbonating bottle, and reviewers are clear that this machine is a water machine, which is fine for some people and a real limitation for others.
The 800 ml bottle is bulkier than the slim bottles on the manual SodaStream models, and at 16.3 inches tall the body is not the smallest thing on a counter. If counter space is tight, that footprint will be your daily annoyance rather than a one-time purchase detail.
3. Drinkmate OmniFizz – Best for Carbonating More Than Water
Drinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Water Maker & Soda Streaming Machine | Carbonates Any Drink | SPECIAL BUNDLE | Includes 60L CO2 Cartridge + Two BPA-Free Bottles (Classic White)
1 liter capacity
CO2 cartridge powered
Plastic body
5 inch wide
16 inch tall
Pros
- Carbonates water juice tea cocktails and more
- Fizz Infuser attachment runs a second bottle
- No electricity needed and carbonation is fast and consistent
- Bundle includes a 60L cylinder plus 1L and 0.5L BPA-free bottles
- Narrow 5 inch wide footprint suits small counters
Cons
- Plastic body feels less substantial than stainless models
- Relies on a cartridge exchange program rather than walk-in refills
- Residual carbonation in some drinks can run weaker than water-only machines
The OmniFizz is the pick for anyone whose sparkling water habit has already outgrown plain water. It carbonates juice, tea, cocktails, and even flat soda that has gone still, which makes it the most genuinely versatile machine here. That versatility is why it appears in so many roundups as the best in class option.
Reviewers on r/SodaStream comparing it head to head against the SodaStream report that the OmniFizz gets closer to canned soda in carbonation intensity than a water-only machine does. The counterpoint, from the same threads, is that the Terra is more efficient for water alone, so the two machines answer different questions.
The bundle is the part that tips this machine toward value. It includes a 60L CO2 bottle, two BPA-free carbonating bottles at one liter and half a liter, and the Fizz Infuser attachment, which lets you carbonate a second bottle while the first is settling. That combination gets you to a working setup without a second order.
The body is plastic and measures 8 inches deep by 5 inches wide by 16 inches tall, so the width is the useful number and it is among the slimmest here. Operation is gas powered with no electricity, and carbonation is described as fast and consistent across reviews rather than dependent on how long you hold the button.
At 4.5 stars from 1,599 reviews, the sample is solid if not enormous. The recurring praise covers versatility, the included second bottle, and the fact that nothing needs plugging in. The recurring complaints are about build materials feeling basic and about the cartridge exchange program being less convenient than brands with walk-in retail refills.
Who it suits
Buy the OmniFizz if you make drinks, not just water. Carbonating cold brew, sparkling cider from cheap white wine, or a citrus juice for a party are the use cases that owners mention most, and the Fizz Infuser means you can do it for two bottles at once.
It also suits anyone who wants a full setup in one box. Cylinder, two bottle sizes, and the infuser attachment are all included, so the machine works the day it arrives.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your only goal is the best possible glass of plain water and you care about fine control over fizz strength. A dedicated water machine with a manual lever gives you more precise control, and the OmniFizz’s carbonation in mixed drinks is described by some owners as lighter than they expected.
The plastic body is the other objection. It does not feel like a premium appliance, and if the machine is going to sit in the open on a counter, the stainless models look markedly better for the same functional result.
4. SodaStream E-TERRA – Best for One-Touch Electric Carbonation
SodaStream – E-TERRA Soda Maker | VALUE BUNDLE | 3 Automatic Carbonation Levels | Includes 2x CO2 Cylinders, 3x 32 Fl Oz Dishwasher Safe Bottles, 2x Bubly Fruit Flavor Drops, 1x Power Adapter | Black
60 liter capacity
Electric operation
Three preset levels
5 inch wide
16.8 inch tall
Pros
- One-touch electric operation with no lever work
- Three selectable carbonation levels
- Blue illumination shows an active cycle
- 5 inch wide body suits small kitchens and apartments
- Bundle includes two cylinders plus three 32 oz dishwasher-safe bottles
Cons
- Needs a power outlet and the included adapter
- Plastic construction rather than stainless steel
- Preset levels cannot be fine-tuned the way a lever allows
The E-TERRA exists for people who do not want to press and hold a lever. Carbonation is one touch, and you pick one of three preset levels rather than dialing in a continuous range. For anyone with reduced hand strength, or anyone carbonating several bottles in a row, that is a real convenience rather than a gimmick.
Reviews number 1,038 at 4.5 stars, and the feature owners mention most is the blue illumination that lights up during the cycle. It is a small thing, but it removes the guesswork of wondering whether the machine is running, and reviewers mention it far more often than the three presets themselves.
The bundle is generous in the same way the Terra bundle is. You get two 60L CO2 cylinders, three 32 oz dishwasher-safe bottles, and two bubly fruit flavor drops, along with the AC power adapter. Each cylinder is rated to carbonate up to 16 gallons, roughly the same yield as the manual Terra.
Compatibility runs broader than the manual SodaStream models, since the listing names SodaStream, Pepsi, Bubly, Starry, and Mountain Dew flavors as working options. The tradeoff is that the machine still uses the proprietary Quick Connect cylinder, so the refill lock-in is identical to the Terra.
The physical footprint is 7.7 inches deep by 5 inches wide by 16.8 inches tall, and 5 inches of width makes this one of the narrower bodies in the group. It is the model to look at if your kitchen has no room to spare but does have an outlet near the counter.
Who it suits
Buy the E-TERRA if you carbonate several bottles a day and want the machine to do the work without a repeated press. The three levels also help households where different people want different strengths, since you can set a family default without coaching everyone.
It is a good second machine for a busy kitchen too, because it can run while a manual machine is being used, and the two share the same Quick Connect cylinder ecosystem and the same dishwasher-safe bottle standard.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your counter has no outlet, or if you rent and cannot place a machine that needs a power adapter near water. Most countertop machines are fine with a splash, but an electric one adds a cord and a plug to the risk profile.
Presets are the real limitation. If you are the kind of drinker who adds a splash of juice to half a bottle and wants a very specific level in the other half, the lever on a manual model gives you finer control and the E-TERRA does not.
5. SodaStream Gaia – Best Budget Starter Kit
SodaStream Gaia Sparkling Water Maker Kit, Black
60 liter capacity
Manual push button
Plastic body
6.1 pounds
5.4 inch wide
Pros
- Push button operation is simple enough for a first time buyer
- 5.4 inch width is among the slimmest bodies here
- No electricity or cord needed
- Starter kit includes a 60L cylinder and a dishwasher-safe bottle
- Works with all SodaStream flavors and bottles except the glass carafe
Cons
- Only one carbonating bottle included so you cannot keep two drinks on hand
- Plastic bottles lose carbonation within a few hours
- Quick Connect cylinder can leak at the seal if the bottle is not fully screwed in
The Gaia is the simplest way to find out whether home carbonation suits you. Push a button, the machine fires CO2 into the bottle, and you have sparkling water. There is no lever to learn and no power cord to plug in, which is why reviewers frequently recommend it to first-time buyers and to anyone who finds levers confusing.
At 4.2 stars from 838 reviews, this sits below the 4.5 average that most of the manual machines here carry, and the reviews are unusually useful on technique. The dominant negative thread is not the machine, it is the seal: owners who do not screw the bottle in until it clicks, or who hold the button too long, get spraying. That is a learning curve, but it is a real one.
Size is the quiet strength here. At 8.7 inches deep by 5.4 inches wide and 16.9 inches tall, and 6.1 pounds, it fits beside a fridge or a microwave, and it is the model we would put on a counter where space is the deciding factor rather than features.
The starter kit includes one 60L cylinder and one dishwasher-safe reusable carbonating bottle, and it works with all SodaStream flavors and carbonating bottles except the glass carafe. That ecosystem access is genuinely broad, because you can buy any SodaStream bottle later and it will fit.
Two limitations come up repeatedly. Only one bottle is included, so you cannot keep a plain bottle in the fridge while making a flavored one, and the plastic bottles lose carbonation within a few hours, which limits how often you can re-fizz a partly drunk bottle.
Who it suits
Buy the Gaia if this is your first soda maker, your counter is narrow, or you want a machine you can carry out to a patio or a garden table. It needs no power, and the whole body is light enough to move with one hand.
It also makes sense as a second machine in a house where the primary machine is already occupied, because one bottle at a time is the limit and having two machines solves exactly that problem.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want strong carbonation. Button operation on a light press gives a gentle sparkle, and getting to a hard, aggressive fizz means holding the button, which is more work and more leak risk than a lever pull on a larger machine.
Skip it if build feel matters to you. The plastic body is the lightest-touch option in the group, and at a 4.2 average with visible seal complaints in the reviews, this is not the machine we would expect to give you the fewest problems over the years.
6. Breville InFizz Fusion – Best Premium Multi-Beverage Carbonator
Breville InFizz Fusion Sparkling Drink Carbonator, Brushed Stainless Steel
1 liter capacity
Manual ring pull
Stainless steel body
3.57 kilograms
2 year warranty
Pros
- FusionCap carbonates juice tea cocktails wine and flat soda as well as water
- Stainless steel body and die-cast lever feel substantially built
- Twist-and-lock ring pull makes bottle changes fast and clean
- Magnetic stainless drip tray is removable
- Operates without power or batteries and carries a 2 year warranty
Cons
- CO2 canister is not included so starting costs more
- Tall body may not fit under standard cabinets
- Only one 1L bottle included and no dishwasher-safe or glass option
The InFizz Fusion is the machine to buy if you want one appliance for every drink in the house. The FusionCap setting is the differentiator, because it is designed to carbonate juice, tea, cocktails, and wine, and reviewers report turning inexpensive white wine into sparkling wine and re-fizzing flat soda. That is a capability the water-only machines in this roundup do not have.
Its 4.6 average is the highest in the group, though the 169-review sample is small and we would treat that number as encouraging rather than settled. What the reviews do support is build quality: a stainless steel body, a die-cast lever, and a magnetic removable drip tray that keeps the counter dry and wipes clean.
The bottle system is the twist-and-lock ring pull, which makes swapping a carbonated bottle for a fresh one faster and cleaner than a screw thread. Owners also comment on how well carbonation holds through the day when you are sipping a full one-liter bottle rather than a small one, which is a genuine advantage of the larger format.
Cylinder compatibility is one of the reasons this machine ranks where it does. It runs on standard screw-type 60L CO2 canisters in 0.6 liter and 1 liter sizes, so you are not locked into a brand exchange program and most major retailers can fill one. It also needs no power and no batteries.
The negatives are consistent across reviews. The canister is not included, so it is a second purchase before the first use. The tall body can fail to clear a standard cabinet. And the bottle is plastic with an expiration date and no dishwasher-safe or glass variant in this kit, which disappoints people who expected a premium machine to include those.
Who it suits
Buy the Fusion if you entertain, if you make cocktails, or if sparkling wine and fizzy juices matter to you as much as plain water. It is the most capable machine here for drinks beyond water and it comes with a 2 year product warranty behind it.
It also suits anyone who wants standard screw-type canisters. Being able to refill at a retailer rather than shipping a proprietary cylinder back is a practical saving that compounds over years of use.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your only drink is water and you want the simplest possible setup. The FusionCap system and the extra bottle options are wasted capability in that case, and the FusionCap seal itself takes some practice before it attaches reliably every time.
Skip it if counter clearance is tight or if you want a dishwasher-safe bottle. The plastic bottle with an expiration date is the one part of this premium machine that reviewers consistently wish were better.
7. Breville InFizz Aqua – Best Stainless Steel Water-Only Carbonator
Breville InFizz Aqua Sparkling Water Maker, Brushed Stainless Steel
1 liter capacity
Manual ring pull
Stainless steel body
3.49 kilograms
2 year warranty
Pros
- Stainless steel body and die-cast lever give a premium look and feel
- Twist-and-lock ring pull makes bottle changes quick and clean
- Magnetic removable stainless drip tray keeps counters splash free
- Runs on standard screw-type 60L canisters without power or batteries
- Includes a 34 oz bottle with stainless cap and base plus a cleaning brush
Cons
- Water only
- so it cannot carbonate juice tea cocktails or wine
- CO2 canister is not included
- 16.93 inch tall body may not clear a standard cabinet
The Aqua is the water-only version of the Fusion, and that is exactly why it is worth considering separately. It keeps the stainless steel body, the die-cast lever, the twist-and-lock ring pull, and the magnetic drip tray, and drops the FusionCap multi-beverage system. Reviews are uniformly positive about how simple and good-looking it is.
At 4.5 stars from 111 reviews, this is the smallest review sample in the group, so treat the average as a good sign rather than a verdict. What those owners consistently describe is smooth carbonation, an attractive machine, and a one-liter bottle that stores conveniently in the fridge ready to drink.
Cylinder compatibility is the quiet headline. It works with standard screw-type 60L CO2 canisters, which means walk-in refills and third-party exchange services are both available rather than a brand-only mail-back program. That single feature can save a household real money over the life of the machine.
The included bottle is 34 oz with a stainless steel cap and base, and a cleaning brush comes in the box, which is a nice touch for a machine whose bottle sits in the fridge. Operation is manual, with no power and no batteries, and the machine carries a 2 year product warranty.
Measure it before you buy. At 10.31 inches deep by 6.02 inches wide and 16.93 inches tall and 3.49 kilograms, it is a tall body, and that is the complaint that appears most often in reviews. Buyers who want juice, tea, or cocktails are pointed toward the Fusion instead.
Who it suits
Buy the Aqua if you want a stainless steel machine that looks expensive and you only ever make water. The finish, the die-cast lever, and the removable magnetic drip tray are the details people notice every time they walk past the counter.
It is also a strong pick for anyone who plans to refill gas at a retailer rather than through the mail. Standard screw-type canisters remove that friction entirely, and the 2 year warranty reduces the risk of buying on appearance alone.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want to carbonate anything other than water. That is the entire difference between this model and the Fusion, and no amount of technique will add juice or wine capability to it.
Skip it if you have low cabinet clearance. A 16.93 inch tall body is the most common complaint in the reviews, and it is the kind of mistake you only make once.
8. Philips Sparkling Water Maker – Best for Standard Screw-In Cylinders on a Budget
Philips Sparkling Water Maker & Soda Streaming Machine, ADD4902WHOQ/37
1 liter capacity
No electricity required
Stainless steel look
2.4 pounds
18.6 inch tall
Pros
- Simple press operation with one press for gentle sparkle and two or three for bold fizz
- Electricity free so it works on a counter patio or outdoors
- Includes a BPA-free 1L carbonating bottle with an airtight lid
- Uses standard 60L screw-in CO2 cylinders exchanged at most major retailers
- Available in white black red blue and other colors
Cons
- CO2 cylinder is not included and must be ordered separately
- Bottle is proprietary so replacement bottles are harder to source
- Lowest average rating in the group at 4.0 stars
The Philips is included here for one specific reason: it takes standard 60L screw-in CO2 cylinders that most major retailers can exchange. That puts it in the open-ecosystem group with the Breville models rather than with the proprietary Quick Connect machines, which is a meaningful difference over years of refills.
Operation is a twist and a press. One press gives a gentle sparkle, two or three give a bold fizz, and there is no power requirement at all, so the machine works on a patio table or in a room with no outlet. The included BPA-free one-liter bottle has an airtight lid that owners credit with helping drinks stay fizzy longer.
Be aware that at 4.0 stars from 1,542 reviews, this is the most polarised machine in the group, with a 14 percent one-star share. The complaints cluster around the bottle seal not holding properly, fizz being weaker than expected, and doubts about long-term durability. Positive reviews focus on the press-button simplicity and the portability.
Fit and finish are the other weak point. The body is listed as stainless steel but reviewers describe it as a steel look rather than a true stainless machine, and the height is listed at 18.6 inches, which makes it one of the taller bodies despite compact marketing elsewhere in the listing.
Color choice is unusually good, with white, black, red, blue, pink, grey, and onyx options. The cylinder is not included, and the bottle is proprietary, compatible only with Quick Twist bottles in three specific part numbers, which is the frustration that recurs when one needs replacing.
Who it suits
Buy the Philips if you want standard screw-in cylinders and portability over polish. The electricity-free design makes it the easiest machine here to move between a kitchen counter, a patio, and a camping table, and the sealed lid helps a bottle survive a day out of the fridge.
It is a reasonable second machine for a household where the primary machine is busy, and the wide color range makes it the least utilitarian-looking option in the budget group.
Who should skip it
Skip it if build quality is your priority. The 4.0 average and the 14 percent one-star share mean more owners report seal and durability problems here than on any other machine we looked at, and the proprietary bottle ecosystem is a long-term inconvenience.
Skip it if you have low cabinet clearance, because the 18.6 inch listed height is taller than most other bodies in this roundup, even though the same listing also advertises a smaller footprint.
How to Choose a Soda Maker for Sparkling Water in 2026?
Six criteria decide this purchase, and the order you care about them in depends on how you drink. Here is how we would weigh them.
1. What you plan to carbonate. Water only narrows the field fast and makes the manual lever machines like the Terra and the Aarke the best fits. If juice, tea, coffee, wine, or cocktails are part of the plan, the Drinkmate OmniFizz and the Breville InFizz Fusion are the two that handle them, and nothing else in this roundup does.
2. The CO2 cylinder system. This is the decision that costs you the least attention on day one and the most over five years. SodaStream’s Terra, E-TERRA, and Gaia use the proprietary Quick Connect cylinder, refilled through the brand’s own exchange program. The Aarke Carbonator 3, the Philips Sparkling Water Maker, and both Breville models use standard screw-type 60L canisters that third-party refill services and most grocery and hardware retailers can exchange. Owners on r/Frugal and r/AskUK consistently point at refill flexibility as the reason to accept a non-proprietary machine.
3. Manual or electric. A manual lever gives continuous control from light fizz to aggressive bubbles, and it works without power. An electric one-touch machine like the E-TERRA gives three preset levels and needs an outlet. Manual wins for control and for anyone without a nearby socket, and electric wins for repeated use and for anyone who should not hold a button down.
4. Bottles, cleaning, and durability. Look for BPA-free reusable bottles, and check whether they are dishwasher safe. The Terra, E-TERRA, and Gaia all include dishwasher-safe bottles. The Breville bottles are plastic with expiration dates and no dishwasher-safe or glass option in the Fusion kit, and the Philips bottle is proprietary, which makes replacement harder. For a machine used daily, bottle seal failure and thread wear are the failure modes that end ownership, not the machine body.
5. Counter space. Width matters more than depth on a real counter. The Terra is 7.9 inches wide, the E-TERRA and OmniFizz are 5 inches, the Gaia is 5.4 inches, and the Aqua and Philips are tall at 16.93 and 18.6 inches. Measure the height against your cabinet clearance before anything else, because that mistake is not reversible.
6. What arrives in the box. Cylinders and extra bottles are frequently sold separately. The Terra and E-TERRA bundles include cylinders, bottles, and flavor drops, and the OmniFizz bundle includes a cylinder, two bottle sizes, and the Fizz Infuser. The Aarke, both Brevilles, and the Philips ship without a cylinder, so plan a second purchase.
One last technique note that applies to every machine on this list. Chill the water, use a cold bottle, press or pull for the number of bursts that suits the drink rather than the maximum every time, and chill the finished bottle again before serving. Cold water holds carbonation noticeably longer, and the people comparing home carbonation to aggressively bubbly reference bottles usually start by chilling.
If your kitchen is also getting new small appliances this year, our best ice cream makers for families and best waffle makers for family breakfasts cover two of the biggest counter-space competitors people add alongside a soda maker.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best machine for making sparkling water?
For most homes the SodaStream Terra is the strongest all-round choice, because the manual lever lets you stop at a light sparkle or hold it for aggressive bubbles, and the value bundle arrives with 60L cylinders and three dishwasher-safe bottles. The Aarke Carbonator 3 wins on looks, the Drinkmate OmniFizz wins if you fizz juice and tea, and the Breville InFizz Fusion is the premium all-beverage option.
Is SodaStream worth it for sparkling water?
Yes, for plain sparkling water it is still the reference point most buyers start from. Across more than 5,000 owner reviews the Terra averages 4.5 stars and the lever gives the widest control over fizz strength in the manual category. The trade-off is cylinder lock-in, since Quick Connect cylinders are proprietary and are refilled through the SodaStream exchange program rather than a third-party refill service.
Is there a better option than SodaStream?
For design and cylinder freedom, yes. The Aarke Carbonator 3 uses a screw-in cylinder and a stainless steel body, and both Breville InFizz models run on standard screw-type 60L canisters that retailers and third-party exchange services can refill. The Philips Sparkling Water Maker also takes standard 60L screw-in cylinders, which makes it a practical alternative if avoiding the Quick Connect system matters to you.
Is Drinkmate better than SodaStream?
It depends on what you carbonate. The Drinkmate OmniFizz handles water, juice, tea, cocktails, and flat soda, and the Fizz Infuser attachment lets you run a second bottle at the same time. If plain sparkling water is the only goal, the Terra’s lever gives you finer control over fizz strength and its slimmer bottles are easier to handle than a full one-liter bottle.
Which carbonator is better, Aarke or SodaStream?
The Aarke Carbonator 3 for design and open cylinder refills, the SodaStream Terra for what arrives in the box. Both are manual and both produce crisp carbonation from cold water. Aarke’s 800 ml PET bottle and stainless body suit a kitchen where the machine stays on display, while the Terra bundle includes 60L cylinders, three bottles, and flavor drops so you can start immediately.
Do soda makers use standard CO2 cylinders?
It depends on the brand. SodaStream machines, including the Terra, E-TERRA, and Gaia, take the proprietary Quick Connect cylinder and are refilled through the SodaStream exchange program. The Aarke Carbonator 3, the Philips Sparkling Water Maker, and both Breville InFizz models use standard screw-type 60L canisters, which third-party refill services and most grocery and hardware retailers can exchange.
Final Verdict: Which Sparkling Water Soda Maker Should You Buy in 2026
For plain sparkling water, the SodaStream Terra is the pick, and it wins on the widest review base, the finest fizz control, and what you get in the box. Choose the Aarke Carbonator 3 if the counter is on display and you want standard screw-in cylinders, the Drinkmate OmniFizz if you plan to fizz more than water, and the SodaStream E-TERRA if you would rather press once than hold a lever.
Measure your cabinet clearance, decide how you refill your gas, and buy the bottle ecosystem you will want to live with for five years. That last decision matters more than any spec on the box.