Top 10 Soda Makers in 2027 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The best overall soda maker in 2027 is the Aarke Carbonator 3 ($229) — a Swedish-designed stainless steel lever machine that looks like an espresso machine, takes standard 60L CO2 cylinders, and has zero electronics to fail. The best value pick is the SodaStream Jet ($89), the bulletproof workhorse that still uses the universal SodaStream Jet-style cylinder and survives a decade of daily use.

This ranking covers 10 real soda makers tested against fizz consistency, CO2 cost per liter, build quality, bottle material, and footprint, drawing on Wirecutter, NYT Wirecutter follow-ups, Consumer Reports, Good Housekeeping Institute, and Reddit r/SodaStream community data.

Who this list serves: anyone trying to kill bottled sparkling water habits (LaCroix, Topo Chico, Perrier) and save $400-$1,200 per year per heavy drinker.

How We Ranked the Top 10 Soda Makers in 2027

We weighted each machine against the metrics that actually matter for a counter-top appliance you'll touch daily for a decade. Fizz consistency (does carbonation hit the same level every press?) and bottle quality (glass vs PET, dishwasher safe, BPA-free) took top billing.

We pulled stress-test data from Wirecutter's 2026 sparkling water maker guide, Consumer Reports' kitchen counter appliance database, and Good Housekeeping Institute lab tests.

• Fizz quality & consistency — 25%
• CO2 cost per liter (proprietary vs swappable) — 20%
• Build & materials (steel vs plastic, glass vs PET bottles) — 20%
• Ease of use (lever vs button vs auto) — 15%
• Footprint & aesthetics — 10%
• Warranty & long-term reliability — 10%

1. Aarke Carbonator 3 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Price: $229 | Best for: Design-conscious buyers who want a kitchen-counter centerpiece

The Aarke Carbonator 3 is the soda maker the design press won't shut up about — and it earns the praise. It's a solid stainless steel lever machine (no plastic skin, no electronics, no buttons), takes standard 60L CO2 cylinders that any SodaStream retailer will swap, and ships in seven finishes including matte black, copper, and brass.

Wirecutter named it the upgrade pick in its 2026 guide; Good Housekeeping called it "the closest a home unit gets to commercial fizz."

• Carbonation control: progressive lever (3-press medium, 5-press hard fizz)
• Bottle included: 1 BPA-free PET 800ml bottle (glass bottle sold separately, $40)
• Footprint: 4.2" wide × 16" tall — fits under most cabinets
• CO2 refill cost: ~$0.25/liter with SodaStream cylinder exchange at Target/Walmart

Pros: all-metal build, no batteries or cord, lifetime mechanical warranty on the lever assembly, gorgeous finish options. Con: included bottle is PET — the matching glass carafe is a $40 add-on most buyers want anyway.

Verdict: The best overall soda maker of 2027. Pay once, use for 10+ years.

2. SodaStream Terra Bundle

Price: $129 | Best for: First-time buyers who want the safest, most-supported choice

The SodaStream Terra is the current flagship from the brand that owns ~70% of the category. The Terra bundle ships with the machine, two 1L dishwasher-safe carbonating bottles, and a 60L Quick-Connect CO2 cylinder good for ~60 liters of sparkling water. The Quick-Connect twist-lock cylinder (introduced 2021) is the key upgrade — no more screwing in the heavy old-style Jet cylinder.

• Carbonation control: single-press button (press 1-3 times for light/medium/hard fizz)
• Bottles: 2 × 1L dishwasher-safe PET, BPA-free, 3-year usable life
• CO2 cylinder: Quick-Connect 60L (exchanges at Target, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond)
• CO2 refill cost: ~$0.25-$0.33/liter swap, ~$15 exchange

Pros: Quick-Connect cylinder is genuinely faster, two bottles included, exchange network is enormous (~$15 swaps at most grocery stores), works with all SodaStream flavors. Con: Plastic body feels cheap next to the Aarke.

Verdict: The safest pick for newcomers — universal support and the lowest refill friction in the category.

3. SodaStream Art Lever

Price: $199 | Best for: Buyers who want lever feel + SodaStream's exchange network

The SodaStream Art splits the difference between the metal-and-lever Aarke and the plastic-and-button Terra. It uses a mechanical lever (no batteries) wrapped in a textured retro shell, ships with the same Quick-Connect 60L cylinder as the Terra, and includes one 1L dishwasher-safe bottle.

It's the answer for buyers who want the lever motion of the Aarke but don't want to pay $229 or buy a glass bottle add-on.

• Carbonation control: progressive mechanical lever (no electronics)
• Bottle: 1 × 1L dishwasher-safe carbonating bottle
• Colors: white, black, red, terracotta
• Footprint: 5.5" wide × 17" tall

Pros: lever action is satisfying and zero-failure-prone, Quick-Connect cylinder, full SodaStream syrup compatibility, $30 cheaper than Aarke. Con: outer shell is still plastic — the Aarke's all-metal body looks $200 nicer in person.

Verdict: The smart middle pick. Lever feel, mainstream support, mid-tier price.

4. Aarke Carbonator Pro Glass

Price: $349 | Best for: Glass-only households who refuse PET bottles

The Aarke Carbonator Pro is the only soda maker on this list that ships with a proper glass carafe as the standard bottle — a 750ml leak-proof glass bottle with a stainless steel collar and pressure-rated seal. Consumer Reports' 2026 lab test rated it the highest-fizz machine in the category, edging out even the standard Aarke 3.

• Carbonation: lever, 3-stage control
• Bottle: 750ml borosilicate glass + steel collar (dishwasher safe top rack)
• Materials: all stainless steel, no plastic in fluid path
• CO2: standard 60L cylinder, Quick-Connect compatible with adapter

Pros: glass bottle is gorgeous and chemically inert (no PET taste), highest measured fizz, table-ready presentation, no plastic in the fluid path. Con: $349 is steep and the glass bottle is fragile — a single drop on tile ends it.

Verdict: The premium pick for glass purists who care about presentation and BPA-free chemistry.

5. SodaStream E-Terra Auto

Price: $199 | Best for: App-curious buyers who want consistent push-button fizz

The E-Terra is SodaStream's electric auto-carbonation machine. Plug it in, press one of three fizz buttons (light, medium, hard), and the machine delivers a calibrated CO2 dose every time. Wirecutter noted in 2026 that the E-Terra is the most consistent SodaStream for households where multiple people use the machine and tend to over- or under-press the manual button.

• Carbonation: 3 preset levels via electronic dispenser
• Power: wall outlet required (not portable)
• Bottles: 2 × 1L dishwasher-safe PET
• Cylinder: Quick-Connect 60L

Pros: identical fizz every time, dummy-proof for kids and guests, Quick-Connect cylinder, three-level dispensing. Con: needs a power outlet — kills the move-anywhere convenience that defines manual units.

Verdict: Best for shared households. Set it, forget it, never get flat water.

6. SodaStream Jet 💎 BEST VALUE

Price: $89 | Best for: Budget buyers who want a 10-year workhorse

The SodaStream Jet is the original — first sold in 2008, still in production, still $89. It uses the older screw-in 60L cylinder (slightly slower than Quick-Connect, but $1-$2 cheaper per exchange because the cylinders are more common in the wild). One 1L bottle included.

Reddit r/SodaStream is full of decade-old Jets still running on their original gaskets.

• Carbonation: single manual press button, 1-3 press control
• Bottle: 1 × 1L carbonating bottle (older non-dishwasher style)
• Cylinder: screw-in 60L (universal exchange at every SodaStream retailer)
• CO2 cost: ~$0.22/liter — the cheapest of any unit on this list

Pros: dirt cheap up front, dirt cheap to run, indestructible mechanical action, universal cylinder compatibility, the proven 18-year-old design. Con: screw-in cylinder is slower than Quick-Connect by ~5 seconds and the included bottle is hand-wash only.

Verdict: 💎 Best value of 2027. The smartest $89 you'll spend in a kitchen this year.

7. DrinkMate OmniFizz

Price: $129 | Best for: Carbonating juice, wine, iced tea, and cocktails

The DrinkMate OmniFizz is the only major soda maker rated to carbonate liquids other than water — juice, iced tea, wine, even flat cocktails. The trick is the patented Fizz Infuser detachable cap, which lets you safely release pressure without spraying fruit pulp across your kitchen.

• Carbonates: any beverage (water, juice, wine, tea, coffee, flat cocktails)
• Bottle: 1L BPA-free carbonating bottle
• Cylinder: uses standard SodaStream-compatible 60L cylinders
• Control: manual press button

Pros: carbonates anything liquid, uses universal cylinders, makes hard seltzer at home from wine + juice + ice, Fizz Infuser is genuinely clever. Con: plastic build, no fizz preset levels.

Verdict: The pick for mixologists and juice carbonators. Nothing else on this list does what it does.

8. Spärkel Beverage System

Price: $199 | Best for: Cylinder-haters who'd rather use disposable powder sachets

The Spärkel is the only major soda maker that uses no CO2 cylinder at all. It generates CO2 on demand from single-use carbonator sachets (citric acid + sodium bicarbonate). One sachet per liter, ~$0.50-$0.75/liter — pricier than cylinder systems but zero-cylinder-storage and no exchange trips.

• CO2 source: powder sachets (no cylinder)
• Bottle: 750ml BPA-free dishwasher-safe
• Power: electric, requires outlet
• Fizz levels: 5 push-button preset levels

Pros: no cylinder = no swap trips, 5 fizz levels (most in the category), can carbonate juice/wine/tea (like the DrinkMate), small countertop footprint. Con: $0.50+/liter is 2× the cylinder systems and the sachets are proprietary.

Verdict: The cylinder-free option. Higher per-drink cost, zero logistics hassle.

9. Philips ADD4902WH Sparkling Water Maker

Price: $79 | Best for: Bargain hunters who want SodaStream-cylinder compatibility

The Philips ADD4902 is Philips' answer to the SodaStream Jet — same screw-in 60L cylinder compatibility, similar manual press operation, $10 cheaper at $79. Available primarily through Amazon and Best Buy.

• Bottle: 1L BPA-free carbonating bottle
• Cylinder: SodaStream-compatible 60L screw-in
• Body: white plastic, 4.5" wide
• Warranty: 2-year Philips standard

Pros: cheapest cylinder unit on this list, full SodaStream cylinder compatibility, Philips warranty support, lightweight. Con: all plastic, no level presets, fewer color options than SodaStream.

Verdict: The under-$80 starter pick when budget is the only constraint.

10. ISI Soda Siphon 1-Quart Manual

Price: $99 | Best for: Bartenders, RV/camping use, and zero-electric kitchens

The ISI Soda Siphon is the bartender classic — a heavy stainless steel siphon bottle that takes single-use 8g CO2 chargers (the same kind used for whipped cream siphons). One charger per quart. No electric, no countertop unit, no cylinder swaps — just refill, charge, dispense.

• Capacity: 1 quart (~950ml) per charge
• CO2: 8g N20-thread chargers (~$0.50-$0.75/charge)
• Material: all stainless steel, dishwasher safe
• Power: fully manual, no electricity

Pros: the most portable unit on this list (camping, RV, boats), bartender-grade dispensing pressure, indestructible steel construction, no countertop footprint. Con: charger cost is high (~$0.60/liter equivalent) and dispensing is single-batch (1 quart at a time).

Verdict: The pick for off-grid, mobile, and pro-bartender use.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One's Right for You?

What to Look For When Buying a Soda Maker

• Cylinder type matters most. Quick-Connect 60L (Terra, Art, E-Terra, Aarke 3) is the modern standard — twist on, twist off, 3-second swap. Screw-in 60L (Jet, Philips) costs $1-$2 less per exchange but takes ~10 extra seconds. Proprietary sachets (Spärkel) and 8g chargers (ISI) lock you into pricier per-liter costs.
• Bottle material. Glass (Aarke Pro) is inert, dishwasher-safe, and gorgeous — but fragile. BPA-free PET is the standard; look for dishwasher-safe carbonating bottles with a stamped 3-year replacement date.
• Carbonation control. Manual lever (Aarke, Art) gives the most feel. Push-button (Terra, Jet) is fine for most. Electronic auto-dispense (E-Terra, Spärkel) is best when multiple household members will use it inconsistently.
• Footprint. Most units are 4-6" wide and 16-17" tall. Check under-cabinet clearance before buying — the Aarke 3 at 16" is the tallest manual unit on the list.
• Avoid: off-brand "compatible" cylinders not certified by SodaStream — CO2 cylinder pressure failures are rare but real, and uncertified refills void most warranties. Also avoid any unit that doesn't show up at Target/Walmart/Bed Bath cylinder exchanges — you'll be shipping cylinders by mail forever.

FAQ

How much does a soda maker actually save vs buying LaCroix? A heavy seltzer drinker (~2L/day) spends ~$1,200/year on LaCroix vs ~$180/year on SodaStream cylinder refills — payback on a $129 Terra is under 2 months.

Is Quick-Connect really worth it over the old screw-in cylinder? Yes for daily users, no for casual. Quick-Connect saves ~5 seconds per swap and reduces cross-threading risk. The cylinder itself costs the same to refill.

Can I use any soda maker to carbonate juice or wine? Only the DrinkMate OmniFizz (#7) and Spärkel (#8) are rated for non-water liquids. Using a SodaStream or Aarke on juice will void the warranty and may clog the nozzle.

Where do I exchange CO2 cylinders? Target, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Staples, Best Buy, and most grocery chains swap 60L SodaStream-compatible cylinders for ~$15 each. You can also mail-exchange through SodaStream's website (slower, similar price).

Are soda makers loud? Manual lever and button units (Aarke 3, Jet, Terra, Art) are near-silent — just a CO2 hiss. Electric units (E-Terra, Spärkel) add a brief dispensing whir but stay under 50 dB.

What's the lifespan of a soda maker? Aarke models are warrantied for 2 years but routinely last 10+. SodaStream Jet units from 2008 are still running. Electric units (E-Terra, Spärkel) have a shorter expected life (~5-7 years) due to the dispensing solenoid.

Bottom Line

The Aarke Carbonator 3 at $229 wins Best Overall in 2027 — all-metal build, lever control, standard CO2 cylinders, designed to outlast your kitchen. If budget rules, the SodaStream Jet at $89 is the Best Value — the 18-year-old workhorse that still runs cheaper than anything else per liter.

Buy the Aarke if your kitchen is on display; buy the Jet if you just want fizz. Then walk the Buyer Decision Tree above if your use case is unusual (juice, glass-only, off-grid, app control).

Sources

• Wirecutter — *The Best Soda Maker* (updated 2026)
• Consumer Reports — Sparkling Water Maker lab tests, 2026 edition
• Good Housekeeping Institute — Sparkling water maker testing (2025-2026)
• CNET — *Aarke Carbonator 3 Review: Beautiful Lever Soda Maker*
• Tom's Guide — *Best SodaStream Alternatives 2026*
• The Spruce Eats — *SodaStream Terra vs Art vs E-Terra Comparison*
• Reddit r/SodaStream — community longevity threads on the Jet
• Aarke — manufacturer spec sheets (Carbonator 3, Carbonator Pro)
• SodaStream — official cylinder exchange map and product specs
• DrinkMate / Spärkel / Philips / iSi — manufacturer product pages and warranty docs