4 Better or Cheaper SodaStream Alternatives for 2024: Comparison and Reviews

What are the best SodaStream alternative carbonation makers?

SodaStream is the most popular sparkling water maker brand on the market. SodaStream produces bubbles that are better for people - healthy, easy to make, light to carry - and better for the planet - replacing up to thousands of single-use plastic bottles with one reusable SodaStream bottle.

But SodaStream isn’t the only brand making waves on social platforms, there are a few other select alternatives:

• DrinkMate OmniFizz

• Philips GoZero soda maker

• Ninja Thirsti™ Sparkling & Still Drink System

• My Soda Woody Sparkling Water Maker

But how do I choose the sparkling water maker that’s right for me?

How to choose the best soda maker with the best reputation? How are they different?

	SodaStream Art	DrinkMate OmniFizz	Philips GoZero soda maker	Ninja Thirsti™ Sparkling & Still Drink System	MySoda Woody Sparkling Water Maker
	8.5	9.0
	$114.95 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back	$110.99 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back	$53.99 FROM Amazon	$139.99 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back & save $30	$69.99 FROM Amazon
	Amount of CO2 added: 6 grams Amount of CO2 left after 24 hours: 6 grams Height: 17 inches Bottle material: Plastic Bottle size: 840 milliliters Available in: 4 colors Comes with: 1 bottle and 1 CO2 cartridge	Amount of CO2 added: 7 grams Amount of CO2 left after 24 hours: 7 grams Height: 16 inches Bottle material: Plastic Bottle size: 850 milliliters Available in: 4 colors Comes with: 1 bottle; 1 CO2 cartridge; 1 "Fizz Infuser"	Amount of CO2 added: 7 grams Amount of CO2 left after 24 hours: 7 grams Height: 16 inches Bottle material: Plastic Bottle size: 850 milliliters Available in: 4 colors Comes with: 1 bottle; 1 CO2 cartridge; 1 "Fizz Infuser"	Amount of CO2 added: 7 grams Amount of CO2 left after 24 hours: 7 grams Height: 16 inches Bottle material: Plastic Bottle size: 850 milliliters Available in: 4 colors Comes with: 1 bottle; 1 CO2 cartridge; 1 "Fizz Infuser"	Amount of CO2 added: 7 grams Amount of CO2 left after 24 hours: 7 grams Height: 16 inches Bottle material: Plastic Bottle size: 850 milliliters Available in: 4 colors Comes with: 1 bottle; 1 CO2 cartridge; 1 "Fizz Infuser"
What We Like	A chic new Scandi-inspired look “Quick Connect CO2” technology for fast, “one-click” cylinder insertion Easy bottle installation Lasting carbonation Infinite bubble control Fine bubbles Dishwasher safe, BPA free, reusable bottles Cordless — manual operation Wide range of flavoured syrups	Can carbonate any beverage Customizable carbonation levels Can carbonate any volume of beverage; other machines require the bottles to be filled to capacity One charge produces excellent fizz Run quietly Affordable Slim and compact Compatible with any brand’s carbonation cartridges No batteries or electricity needed	This soda maker is slim, lightweight, and easy to use.	Push-button control Three levels of fizz Automatically dispenses one or two flavors Control over flavor intensity Dispenses still water as well	Made from sustainable materials Easy to set up and use Consistently great carbonation performance
What We Don't Like	A bit more expensive than the entry-level machines Can only carbonate water	Larger bubbles, not always suitable for everyone May overflow when carbonating liquids that aren't water Construction doesn’t feel as durable as other brands Bottles need to be hand washed and should be replaced more frequently	This soda maker does not come with an included CO2 cartridge.	Flavor pods aren’t refillable Third-party flavors don’t exist yet	Does not come with CO2 cylinder

Editor's review: DrinkMate vs. Philips vs. Ninja vs. MySoda: Which one is best?

My number one choice is DrinkMate OmniFizz!

This is a slim, lightweight, cordless soda maker, and I love being able to manually control the fizz of the water. This soda maker is very simple and easy to set up and I can use Drinkmate's OmniFizz to carbonate a variety of drinks including juice, wine. It's versatile and requires no plugging in.

The result is a sparkling water that is very refreshing, has just the right amount of carbonation, is strong but not aggressive, and has lots of tiny bubbles distributed throughout.

Comparisons and honest reviews of the best carbonators

#1. Drinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker

$110.99 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back

One of the biggest attractions of the DrinkMate OmniFizz is that it can be used to carbonate any liquid.

You can directly add tasty fizz to water, juices, iced tea or iced coffee, energy drinks, wine, cocktails, and even flat soda or beer! 

Many soda makers recommend against carbonating any liquid other than water—and you could even void your warranty if you do. Some carbonation mechanisms can easily clog, reducing the efficiency of it or causing it to fail completely.

Unlike other soda makers, Drinkmate actually offers the highest concentration of carbonation.

The Fizz Infuser is the key part of the DrinkMate system. Instead of connecting the infusion nozzle to the machine, the Drinkmate connects the nozzle to a cap that you screw on. This makes it easier for the carbonation to be absorbed in a sealed environment, rather than being exposed to the open air immediately after the bottle is removed.

While screwing on the infusion cap may be an extra step, the cap itself slides easily into the machine, eliminating any doubt that the bottle is secure.

In testing, it was a very effective and efficient carbonator for both water and juice. Where other soda makers take two or three charges to get the soda fizzy like store-bought, the Drinkmate does it in just one.

So, it adds the most carbon per press - helpful if you're in a hurry.

It performed well in all the tests we ran. All beverages also had an even distribution of carbonation, fine bubbles and a great mouthfeel.

The machine's small countertop footprint makes it a great choice for small spaces, and it doesn't require electricity or batteries.

It's made almost entirely of matte plastic, which doesn't do much aesthetically, at least in black. However, there are three other color options—red, white, and arctic blue—that would make for a fun pop of color on a bar or kitchen counter.

Another benefit of the Drinkmate soda maker is that the bottles don't need to be filled to a certain level to increase carbonation. This can be useful if you want to carbonate something small, like a glass of wine.

Unlike other bottles that only have a maximum fill line, this included bottle has a clearly marked fill line, as well as low and high bubble levels, allowing you to easily see if more or less carbonation is needed.

The manual lists the number of seconds required for carbonation of different beverages.

The DrinkMate OmniFizz is one of the quietest models we've tested.

The Drinkmate can accept standard 60-liter carbonation cylinders from any brand. To help keep things cost-effective, the manufacturer has a trade-in program with which you'll score discounted CO2 cylinders when you send back your empties.

It's available directly from Drinkmate or Amazon, and you can get the OmniFizz with bottle and cylinder for just $142.99.

That makes it a more expensive option than SodaStream's base model, the Terra, but less expensive than most other models.

Drinkmate's carbonation manifests itself as relatively large bubbles that sometimes explode on our palate. This isn't always the most pleasant for some people.

#2. Philips GoZero soda maker

$53.99 FROM Amazon

The Philips GoZero soda machine offers the best balance of performance, looks and affordability.

First off, a soda machine can easily cost you over $100, but this model doesn't even come close, I've seen it on Amazon for as low as $56. I appreciate the sub-$60 price and think this machine feels high-end and solid.

It is worth noting that the Philips soda maker does not come with a CO2 canister, unlike other manufacturers on the market that almost always include a CO2 canister with purchase. Taking into account the overall cost, the Philips costs about the same as SodaStream's basic Terra soda maker.

However, I think the Philips machine is worth recommending because it looks better and still uses the standard CO2 cartridge design used by almost every other soda maker.

And SodaStream now uses its own proprietary CO2 cartridge called "Quick Connect Technology," which is only compatible with SodaStream models.

Cylinders cost around $30, or if you have an empty cylinder to trade in for a discount, the price is even cheaper, closer to $15.

Second, it injects a sustained amount of carbon dioxide at once, making the water fizz quickly.

You’re also able to customize your bubbles here: Press down on the overhead button once to get basic carbonation and two to three times for additional fizz.

The fizziness is sometimes not as impressive as that of pricier soda makers, but compromises are always possible when choosing a budget option.

Although the soda tasted good and the bubbles were lively, it faded faster than the soda from more expensive soda machines I've tried, downgrading from crackling to fizzing after about 8 minutes.

Third, it's easy to use, clean, and store, helping you enjoy water the way you like it every time. No electricity is required which is always convenient while you can fill up a one-liter bottle each time you use it.

All in all, the Philips GoZero sparkling water machine looks stylish and elegant, is attractively priced, produces sparkling water that works well, is easy to use and control the amount of bubbles, although the bubbles lack quality longevity.

#3. Ninja Thirsti™ Sparkling & Still Drink System

$139.99 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back & save $30

Some soda makers are picky about what they're used for. The Ninja Thirsti Beverage System offers a range of options to help you make any carbonated or non-carbonated beverage you can think of. 

Ninja offers 20 different types of flavor pods, called "water drops," that you can use individually or mix. You can also decide how strong you want the flavor to be.

Beverages can be added with electrolytes for hydration, caffeine for energy, and even vitamins to fill nutritional gaps. All of this is accomplished by using the zero-calorie, zero-sugar, flavored drops that come with it.

You can even mix and match flavors since the machine holds two pods at once.

Additionally, there are three fizz levels and four drink sizes to choose from.

Unlike many other drink machine options, the Ninja Thirsti allows the user to determine drink size, flavor intensity and flavor combination, and fizz level.

Choose from four different size settings—6, 12, 18 and 24 ounces—that can be dispensed into any cup or bottle. 

Thirsti also offers 3 different carbonation options in case you want water with no bubbles, small bubbles, or large bubbles.

The carbonation feature works well and is on par with SodaStreams and many other soda machines. Choosing a specific carbonation level isn't a feature of all soda makers, but it's an option I appreciate.

If you want more than just sparkling water, Ninja’s Thirsti Beverage System is the right choice for you. At a base price of $179.99, it's a little more expensive than the standard SodaStream, but that's because it has so many more features and includes free flavored water drops. Even better, it's on sale right now for $149.99, the same price as our favorite SodaStream Art.

The kit comes with the device, along with a 48oz removable temperature-sensitive water tank, 60L CO2 cylinder and eight flavored water drops to get you started.

While the Ninja Thirsti can whip up a variety of drinks in minutes, it can only be used next to an electrical outlet. For those who prefer a device that is 100% portable, they would be better off relying on a wireless device like the Drinkmate Omnifizz.

Of course, if you want to enjoy your drink on the go, you can use a personal water bottle filled with Ninja Thirsti creations.

If you regularly drink flavored seltzer, the cost of owning a Ninja Thirsti can add up quickly. While there are a variety of flavor options, you have to order from Ninja, which costs $7 a bottle or $20 for three bottles. Each bottle of drops lasts up to 20 12-ounce drinks, so it's cheaper than buying cases and cases of LaCroix, but it's not exactly cheap.

This brand of CO2 canister is the only one designed for the Thirsti system, but is supplied by Soda Sense, the makers of Soda Sensei.

Ninja CO2 canisters cost $36 for one and $60 for two, but you’ll save 30% with a Refill Club membership, and $42 after that (including shipping).

That said, it's the same model as a dedicated SodaStream canister and can't be used with other brands of canisters.

Finally, like SodaStream, Thirsti can only carbonate water. No other liquids can be used in the system, so they will not carbonate juice or wine.

#4. My Soda Woody Sparkling Water Maker

$69.99 FROM Amazon

This attractive lightweight machine made of biopolymers (pine oil and wood fibers) has a speckled appearance and slim profile. 

This is probably why Woody won both the Red Dot Design Award and the iF Gold Design Award. It has a beautiful natural texture and sturdy weight compared to its plastic counterpart, and comes in five pastel colors.

I love the cute rounded top and bottom design. Its design is sturdy and easy to use, but it's larger than some others.

MySoda Woody consistently injects the same volume of carbon into the drink, allowing for great control over the bubbles of the water—any changes depend on how many times the button is pressed.

As for its functionality, the Woody is as intuitive to use as most other single-button soda machines, and I found that it produced carbonated water on par with the leading SodaStream models. Mysoda also makes the Toby and Ruby, two pricier models that look more stylish, but I like the Woody for its value for money.

Unlike Drinkmate, it only carbonates water. I enjoy the carbonation every time and find it very consistent. The end result is very refreshing - crispy with little bubbles, perfect for drinking right away.

However, much like the Philips Soda Maker, the fizz seemed to disappear when I drank the drink 10 minutes after making it.

This machine does not come with a CO2 cylinder, but it is compatible with all standard cylinder brands.

While this cordless soda maker is affordable, eco-friendly, looks pretty cute, and comes in a variety of colors, I found that its bubble retention isn’t perfect, and it’s not dishwasher safe.

Final conclusion

Drinkmate’s OmniFizz is a slim, lightweight, cordless soda maker, and I love being able to manually control the fizz of the water. This soda maker is very simple and easy to set up and I can use Drinkmate's OmniFizz to carbonate a variety of drinks including juice, wine. It's versatile and requires no plugging in.

The result is a sparkling water that is very refreshing, has just the right amount of carbonation, is strong but not aggressive, and has lots of tiny bubbles distributed throughout.

$110.99 FROM Drinkmate 

$110.99 FROM Walmart - Get Up To 3% Cash Back

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