I tried out the Breville InFizz Fusion soda maker and immediately loved how easy it was to set up. While my previous experience using soda makers helped with the process, knowing how to screw in the CO2 cylinder, press the lever at the top to carbonate and then slowly releasing the locking system on top of the bottle was extremely straightforward. The locking system has a red panel that I could push to the side to release the excess pressure from inside the bottle before opening it.
Plus, the plastic bottle that it comes with is extremely durable, so I didn’t worry about it getting dented, scratched or warped over time. The brush also made it easy to wash by hand and get non-water residue out of the bottom and sides. My favorite part, though, was that I could carbonate juice in addition to water, so I loved making sparkling apple juice and could see many people (especially kids) getting creative with making their own soda.
Cylinder type: screw-in | Compatible with: water, juice, tea and wine | Dimensions: 6 x 10.25 x 17 in. | Dishwasher-safe bottle: no
I also tried out the Aarke Carbonator 3, which was one of the most well designed at-home soda makers on this list. This soda maker was incredibly easy to set up, since it only required screwing in the CO2 cylinder into the bottom of the base. I could also tell when the bottle was finished carbonating when the machine made a distinct sound. Similar to many of the other bottles on this list, the Aarke OEM bottle has a mark on the side telling you how much water to fill up, including a maximum and minimum amount.
Cylinder type: screw-in | Compatible with: water only | Dimensions: 6 x 10 x 16.34 in. | Dishwasher-safe bottle: no
NBC Select associate reporter Ashley Morris tested out the Sodastream Terra, which is one of the brand’s most affordable soda makers, after the SodaStream Gaia. The soda maker comes with a dishwasher-safe bottle and panel on top that you push to carbonate water once the bottle locks into place. The Sodastream Terra doesn’t have the locking system lid, which eliminates one step from releasing the pressure, similar to the Aarke Carbonator. However, the Sodastream Terra has a removable back so you can easily install the CO2 cylinder without having to push and screw it into the bottom, which can be a bit awkward manually. With that said, the Terra, like with many of Sodastream’s makers, is only compatible with the snap-in CO2 cylinder, meaning you can only use it with Sodastream’s cylinders.
Cylinder type: snap-in | Compatible with: water only | Dimensions: 5 x 8 x 17 in. | Dishwasher-safe bottle: yes
Jordan Bowman, a commerce editor at NBC Select, tried out the Sodastream Art Sparkling Water Maker, which is somewhat more expensive than the Terra. Similar to Aarke’s model, the Art soda maker has a lever on the side that you pull down rather than a button on the top that you press to carbonate water. Bowman was a fan of how easy it was to customize how bubbly you can make your water. “After quickly scanning the instruction booklet I added my canister and was immediately ready to make some seltzer,” he says. “You can quickly make about three or four glasses of seltzer water. I tend to use three pumps which creates a more gentle fizz but if you go as high as five it has a more dynamic bubbly effect.” The Art has a removable panel to install the snap-in cylinder and also doesn’t require a locking system on top of the bottle to more safely release the pressure, though this does make the process of carbonating slightly faster.
Cylinder type: snap-in | Compatible with: water only | Dimensions: 6.8 x 9.6 x 16.9 in. | Dishwasher-safe bottle: yes
NBC Select social commerce editor Sadhana Daruvuri tested out the Drinkmate OmniFizz and loved how easily it fit in the kitchen of her studio apartment. that the maker came with multiple bottles of different sizes. “The coolest thing about this soda maker is that it can carbonate drinks other than water,” she says. “I especially enjoyed using it on fruit juices and reviving flat soda.” Daruvuri also liked that the Omnifizz has a luxe look and didn’t feel the need to put it away when she wasn’t using it. On the other hand, she found that it took a little bit of time to fully understand how to use the machine, particularly the bottle which didn’t always screw in completely.
Cylinder type: screw-in | Compatible with: water, juice and flat soda | Dimensions: 5 x 8 x 16 in. | Dishwasher-safe bottle: no
The Ninja Thirsti Drink System Soda Maker is the only automatic plug-in style soda maker on this list and it came with several flavored syrups for making your own unique carbonated drinks. NBC Select editorial operations associate Jem Alabi tested this soda maker and says that the directions and overall setup process was very easy to follow and that the flavors have a pleasant taste that are great for anyone who enjoys low- or no-calorie flavored sparkling beverages. What’s most unique about the Ninja Thirsti Drink System is that it has a compartment on the top that houses the flavored syrups which connect to where the water flows into the bottle, so you don’t have to squeeze them yourself. Plus, the machine lets you customize how fizzy your drink is and which size you want (6, 12, 18 or 24 ounces). Instead of a bottle, this machine uses a built-in water canister that dispenses into your own cup or bottle.
Cylinder type: screw-in | Compatible with: water and flavored syrup | Dimensions: 8.7 x 13.9 x 16 in. | Dishwasher-safe bottle: n/a
The Aerflo Aer System is different from all of the soda makers on this list because it is technically a water bottle with a lid that has a built-in CO2 compartment, allowing you to carbonate water wherever you are. I was skeptical at first and curious as to how exactly the carbonation process worked, but I quickly became pleasantly surprised after using it. The bottle comes with small blue exchangeable CO2 capsules that’s around the size of an Amazon Fire Stick. The cap has a compartment that I screwed the capsule into; then I placed the cap on the bottle and pressed the middle of it, which injects the carbonation into the water. I took it with me to work and kept it in the drink holder on my backpack and it didn’t spill at all. The only drawback is that I wish the capsules lasted longer, especially as someone who enjoys a really bubbly drink.
Cylinder type: capsule | Compatible with: water only | Capacity: 21 oz. | Dishwasher-safe bottle: n/a
Some aspects to consider before getting an at-home soda maker include your beverage preferences, kitchen space and more. Here’s what our experts recommend keeping in mind:
Consider your drink preferences
“Consumers should look for functionality that’s important to them,” says Turnau. “If you want to be able to carbonate drinks beyond water, for example, you will want to look at Drinkmate machines as other soda makers are only capable of carbonating water.” In other words, if you want to carbonate more than water, such as juice, wine or flat soda, make sure you choose a model that states that it’s compatible with these drinks, rather than trying it on one that says it’s for water only. This is important since if you do try to carbonate a non-compatible beverage with machines that are water-only, it can void your warranty if it breaks.
Take into account replacing CO2 cylinders
While an at-home soda maker helps reduce your consumption of single-use plastics or aluminum, they require you to constantly replace the CO2 tanks, which could be relatively often if you make sparkling water often. Depending on your situation, this can become costly, though brands allow you to return the empty cylinders to them and subscribe to receive refilled cylinders in exchange.
Maintain the bottles over time
Another important aspect to consider before getting a soda maker is that you’ll have to take care of the bottle, especially after multiple uses. Many of the bottles for the machines listed above are not dishwasher safe, so you’ll have to make sure you clean them thoroughly by hand and “avoid exposing it to scratches, extreme heat or freezing temperatures,” says Jonas Groth, the co-founder and chief-designer at Aarke.
Prioritize safety
While all of the at-home soda makers above are easy to use, especially with the help of directions, it’s possible to have a mishap or two when using the machine. This is why having a soda maker with some sort of safety system in place such as self-releasing pressure valves is important, according to Groth. All of the soda makers below have either a locking or self-releasing system to let you know when the water is sufficiently carbonated.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Any mention of Drinkmate, Aarke and Sodastream in this article was made independently of Turnau, Groth and Schilowitz, respectively. We did not ask them for product recommendations — we only asked them for guidance.
I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about home and kitchen appliances, including reviews and roundups. My colleagues and I all tested every soda maker on this list. I spoke with experts from soda maker brands for their guidance for this story.
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