How much does it cost to make sparkling water at home?

SodaStream CO2 refills cost $15–20 for 60L at retail — about $0.25–0.33 per liter. Buying a larger cylinder or refilling at a local CO2 supplier drops cost to $0.08–0.12/liter. Still cheaper than any store-bought option.

Can I carbonate flavored drinks or juice?

SodaStream recommends water only (pressure can cause over-carbonation and bottle failure with sugary liquids). DrinkMate is specifically designed for any beverage and uses a fizz infuser to prevent overflow.

How long does a CO2 cylinder last?

One standard 60L cylinder makes approximately 60 liters of sparkling water at medium carbonation. Heavy drinkers (2L/day) go through a cylinder every month. Light users get 2–3 months per cylinder.

Best Soda Makers in 2026: Sparkling Water On Demand

A soda maker pays for itself in 3–6 months for anyone who drinks more than 2 liters of sparkling water per week. The math is simple: store-bought sparkling water runs $0.50–1.00/liter; a soda maker produces sparkling water for $0.08–0.15/liter once you account for CO2 refill costs. The environmental case (no plastic bottles) is equally compelling.

Here are the best soda makers of 2026 — from SodaStream's established ecosystem to newer machines with larger CO2 cylinders and stronger carbonation — ranked by carbonation strength, CO2 cost per liter, and ease of use.

What to Look For

CO2 cylinder size: Standard SodaStream cylinders make 60L per fill. Larger cylinders (130L, 150L) cost the same to refill but last twice as long — far more convenient. Verify your machine is compatible before upgrading cylinder size.
Carbonation strength: Manual machines let you control carbonation by holding the button longer — more pushes = more bubbles. Automatic machines have presets (low/medium/high). Manual gives more control but requires practice to get consistent results.
CO2 refill ecosystem: SodaStream cylinders can be exchanged at major retailers (Target, Walmart, Amazon, Bed Bath Beyond). Third-party cylinders (DrinkMate, Aarke) often require mail-in refill or specific retailers. Weigh convenience before committing to an ecosystem.
Bottle material: BPA-free plastic bottles are standard — replace every 3 years per manufacturer. Glass bottles exist for some models (Aarke, SodaStream Art) and are better for keeping carbonation long-term.
Noise level: Manual carbonation produces a burping/release sound when you vent excess CO2 — normal and unavoidable. Automatic machines are quieter. Neither is loud enough to be disruptive.

Our Top Picks

#1 Best Overall

SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker

60L cylinder · Quick-connect cylinder · 1L BPA-free bottle included · 3 carbonation levels · Most compact SodaStream model · Best entry-level soda maker for casual use

~$90 View on Amazon →

#2 Best Value

SodaStream Art Sparkling Water Maker

60L cylinder · Glass bottle included · Premium metal design · Lever carbonation mechanism · Dishwasher-safe glass bottle · Best design-forward soda maker

~$120 View on Amazon →

#3 Best Carbonation

DrinkMate OmniFizz Sparkling Water Maker

Carbonates any beverage (juice wine cocktails) · Works with any CO2 cylinder · Fizz infuser attachment · 1L and 0.5L bottles included · Best for fizzing non-water drinks

~$80 View on Amazon →

#4 Best Premium

Aarke Carbonator Pro

Chrome finish · Stainless/glass construction · Works with SodaStream cylinders · Most premium build quality · Manual lever · Lifetime-quality construction · Best for design-conscious kitchens

~$200 View on Amazon →

Bottom Line

The SodaStream Terra is the right starting point — quick-connect cylinder setup, three carbonation levels, and it works with the widest retail refill network. If you also want to carbonate juice, kombucha, or cocktails (not just water), the DrinkMate OmniFizz is the only mainstream maker that handles any liquid safely.