• High-quality soda makers are easy to use, can quickly carbonate water to the level of fizziness you want.
  • This small countertop appliance doesn’t take up much space in a kitchen, and many don’t require power to operate.
  • The Drinkmate Beverage Carbonation Maker is our top pick because it features a pressure release to avoid messes, is backed by a two-year warranty, and, most impressively, it can inject just about any liquid with effervescent bubbles.

Thanks to the flavored sparkling water trend ignited by La Croix and Spindrift, it seems like new brands are popping up every day. But why buy sparkling or seltzer water when you can make it at home? There are several excellent countertop soda makers on the market that can produce affordable carbonated beverages in a matter of seconds.

Aside from saving money, homemade sparkling water and carbonated beverages can reduce the amount of packaging and energy waste versus store-bought. Also, lugging 12-packs, liter bottles, and cases from the store to your home can be a real pain.

Besides plain fizzy water, a benefit is the ability to customize flavors. There are countless recipes for making homemade soda syrups, and you can come pretty close to mimicking the flavor of your favorite fizzy beverage. Companies like SodaStream even sell packaged flavors you can add to the water, creating anything from colas to lemonades.

Some soda makers don’t use electricity or batteries, while some require a nearby outlet. You simply load the CO2 cartridge, fill the reusable bottle with cold water, attach it to the unit, and press a button to release the CO2 into the water.

The CO2 and syrup are your main long-term costs when purchasing a soda maker. Some brands have CO2 cartridge exchange programs, where you can bring in your used cartridge and get a filled one. This typically works out to about 25 cents per liter, which is much less than you would expect to spend for generic seltzer.

While researching the best soda makers, we examined hundreds of buyer and expert ratings and reviews of popular units. We also Our guide features models that have a track record of performance, durability, and ease of use.

Here are the best soda makers you can buy:

Updated on 3/25/2020 by Les Shu: Prices and links are current at time of update. We replaced our previous SodaStream recommendations with two newer models.

The best soda maker overall

If you'd like to add fizz to more than just water, consider the Drinkmate Beverage Carbonation Maker, which can carbonate everything from juice to wine.

The Drinkmate Beverage Carbonation Maker distinguishes itself from other soda makers on the market by "sparkling" just about every beverage in your fridge: cocktails, flat beer, lemonade, coffee, and so on. Heck, make your own spiked sparkling water (what White Claw shortage?). However, iDrink, the Drinkmate's manufacturer, warns against using juices with pulp since it may clog the pressure release valve.

The process for carbonating your beverages has a few more steps than other models, but you also get more control over the release of the CO2. The Drinkmate doesn't require any electricity or batteries to operate. The device is compatible with 3 oz. and 14.5 oz./60L CO2 cartridges, and iDrink operates an eco- and budget-friendly exchange program, where you can send in your empty cartridge to get a full one at a reduced price.

Several sites also recommend the Drinkmate Beverage Carbonation Maker. It is one of three soda makers The Wirecutter picked, which appreciated that this machine is able to carbonate liquids other than water. It tested a "mocktail," wine, and apple juice without any problems. However, as mentioned before, it noted that the Drinkmate is trickier to operate than the SodaStream.

Digital Trends suggests buying the Drinkmate if you like adding carbonation to all of your beverages. It tried turning white wine into a champagne-like alternative but came up short. However, it found it still made low-grade wine more palatable. Wired also rated the Drinkmate highly.

Some users even ran flat soda through the Drinkmate to reinvigorate it. Another popular feature is the ability to control the pressure so the beverage doesn't overflow.

Pros: Can carbonate liquids other than water, two-year warranty, pressure control valve decreases the chance of messes

Cons: Requires several steps to operate

The best handheld soda maker

Foto: Source: Innovee

The affordable Innovee Soda Siphon Ultimate Soda Maker stores easily in your refrigerator for cold, on-demand sparkling water.

If you've watched old-timey slapstick comedy, you are likely familiar with the soda siphon, or seltzer bottle. Though the design is similar, today's soda siphons, like the Innovee Soda Siphon Ultimate Soda Maker, are self-pressurized using an 8-gram CO2 cartridge.

You fill the carafe with up to four cups of very cold water, put on the cap, insert the cartridge, and screw the charger holder in place, which releases the gas. The water is carbonated within 10 to 15 minutes.

The Innovee Soda Siphon doesn't come with CO2 canisters, but it does come with extra O-rings and a black fork key for removing the inner tube of the siphon. Innovee Home also offers a cocktail recipe e-book and a money-back guarantee.

Apartment Therapy found that the carbonation process takes longer than other models and disliked that it requires ice-cold water. But, it appreciated the unit's small size that allowed it to fit easily in the refrigerator

Owners like that the Soda Siphon gets water just as bubbly as a SodaStream, and people seem to like the fact that it works with a variety of different CO2 chargers. However, some note that they would like to be able to see how full the carafe is as they fill it.

Pros: Inexpensive, easily fits in the fridge, user-friendly

Cons: Slow, water must be ice cold, doesn't come with a CO2 cartridge

The best SodaStream soda maker

Foto: Source: Best Buy

If you are looking for an easy-to-use system made by the biggest name in the industry, consider the SodaStream Fizzi One Touch.

SodaStream has had a dizzying array of models, but (our previous picks, the Fountain Jet and Source, have been discontinued, although many can still be purchased online), but its lineup has narrowed down to three options that are easy to choose from. Our pick is the Fizzi One Touch, a SodaStream that carbonates water with the touch of a button.

All SodaStream models work similarly: You pop in the CO2 canister, then when you want carbonated water, just press one of three fizz-level buttons until you hear a buzz. The starter kit comes with a 60L carbonator and a reusable 1-liter bottle.

Les Shu, Insider Reviews' senior editor, has used the now-discontinued Power Source for years. In terms of operation and features, the One Touch and Power Source are similar except in design. He finds the touch-button operation simple and elegant. SodaStream does a good job of carbonating water, but he thinks you need to do at least two rounds of fizzing to get the right amount of carbonation. Although it's a matter of personal taste, he doesn't think the One Touch looks as nice as the Power Source.

The One Touch requires electricity, which can be a hassle if you don't an easily accessible outlet. Changing the CO2 canister is also more involved than we would like, especially if you have the unit tucked away. We also wish the bottles were easier to clean, and SodaStream does not recommend putting the plastic bottles into a dishwasher. Note: Make sure you trade-in empty CO2 canisters at participating stores, which lets you grab a new one at a discounted price.

Pros: Easy to use, three automated levels of carbonation, many excellent flavors available

Cons: Requires electricity, CO2 canister can be a pain to replace, bottles can be hard to clean

The best user-friendly soda maker

Foto: Source: Target

The SodaStream Fizzi Classic is as foolproof as it gets, but you can still count on it to make tasty carbonated water.

The SodaStream Fizzi Classic is true to its name. Despite sporting the latest design, it functions exactly like previous SodaStream models. You simply fill the supplied reusable bottle with cold water, lock it into place, and press the mechanism over the bottle until you reach your desired level of fizziness.

Think of the Fizzi Classic as the simplified, non-electric version of the Fizzi One Touch. Because it doesn't require electricity, you'll have to manually pump to create the carbonation. For most people, this is more than adequate and you can save yourself some money, too, if you don't care about gadgetry.

Like the Fizzi One Touch, this unit comes with a mail-in rebate for a 60L CO2 carbonator, the 1L reusable bottle, and a mini 9L CO2 carbonator. The 60L CO2 carbonators can be refilled at select Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, and Walmart locations, as well as other stores for about $15, which works out to about 25 cents of CO2 to carbonate a full 1L bottle of water. However, unlike the One Touch, you can get the Classic in a variety of colors.

Pros: Incredibly easy to use, easily accessible CO2 refills, comes in colors

Cons: CO2 canister can be a pain to replace, bottles can be hard to clean

Check out our other beverage guides

Foto: Source: Amazon

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