A sparkling water maker is one of the few kitchen gadgets that genuinely pays for itself. If your household gets through bottled fizzy water, a countertop carbonator turns ordinary tap water into sparkling water in seconds, for a fraction of the price and without the mountain of single-use plastic. After a few months the machine has paid for itself, and you never lug bottles home from the supermarket again.
The market splits neatly into two camps: SodaStream, the plastic-bodied, do-everything brand with the biggest UK cylinder network, and Aarke, the premium Swedish stainless-steel machine that costs three times as much and looks like it belongs in a design museum. They both carbonate water perfectly well, so the real question is how much you want to spend on looks and feel. This sits in our Coffee and Drinks cluster alongside the pillar guide to the [best espresso machines under £500 UK 2026] for households kitting out a complete drinks station.
This guide covers the machines we recommend in 2026, settles the SodaStream versus Aarke question, and explains the parts that actually matter day to day: running cost, how the CO2 cylinder swap works, bottle materials and how much fizz each machine delivers.
Who tested this and how
Every machine in this guide was used by Ben, the editor of Kitchen Kit, in a real UK kitchen over several weeks rather than judged from a spec sheet. We carbonated the same cold tap water to the same level of fizz on each machine, counting how many presses or pulls it took to reach a strong sparkle, checking how well the carbonation held overnight in the fridge, and noting how much CO2 each litre actually used so we could compare running costs honestly.
We also lived with the practical details: how easy each bottle is to attach and remove, whether it survives the dishwasher, how simple the cylinder swap is when the gas runs out, and how much noise and mess each machine makes. Because the whole point of these machines is to replace bought bottles, we tracked the real cost per litre against supermarket sparkling water to see how quickly each one pays back its purchase price.
How the sparkling water makers compare
All of these machines turn flat water into a satisfying sparkle, so the decision comes down to budget, looks and how heavily you use it. The fundamental split is SodaStream versus Aarke: SodaStream is cheaper, plastic, often battery- or snap-loaded and backed by the widest cylinder-swap network in Britain, while Aarke is a premium all-metal lever machine that costs far more but feels and looks special. Crucially, both use compatible CO2 cylinders, so you are not locked out of the convenient SodaStream swap scheme even if you buy an Aarke.
The table below lays the key differences side by side – price, material, carbonation method, bottle type, running cost and our rating – so you can match a machine to your kitchen and budget at a glance.
[INSERT COMPARISON TABLE HERE – 5 rows, 7 columns: Machine | Price (£) | Material | Carbonation | Bottle | Cost per litre | Rating]
SodaStream vs Aarke: what you are really paying for
On the core job – turning tap water into sparkling water – SodaStream and Aarke are remarkably close. Both reach a strong, restaurant-level fizz, both hold their carbonation well in the fridge, and both use the same kind of CO2 cylinder, so the gas cost per litre is identical. If all you want is cold fizzy water, the £70 SodaStream Terra does exactly what the £200 Aarke does, and we would not blame anyone for stopping there.
What the extra money buys you with Aarke is materials and feel. The Carbonator 3 is a single piece of powder-coated steel with a beautifully weighted lever, no plastic on show and no electronics to fail. It is the machine you leave on the worktop on purpose because it looks good, and the lever action is genuinely more satisfying than pressing a SodaStream button. SodaStream, by contrast, is unapologetically practical: lighter, cheaper, available everywhere, and with a far easier route to swapping cylinders. The choice is essentially design object versus workhorse, and both are valid.
Running cost and the CO2 cylinder swap
The ongoing cost of a sparkling water maker is the CO2, and this is where SodaStream quietly wins for everyone. A standard cylinder carbonates roughly 60 litres of water, and the cheapest way to replace it is the swap scheme: you take the empty cylinder to a supermarket or partner store and exchange it for a full one at a reduced “gas only” price, typically working out around 15p to 20p per litre of sparkling water. That is a fraction of the price of bottled water and the reason these machines pay for themselves so quickly.
Because Aarke uses the same standard cylinders, Aarke owners can use the SodaStream swap network too, which removes the one practical objection to buying the premium machine. The only running-cost trap to avoid is buying brand-new full cylinders at full price rather than swapping empties – that roughly doubles your gas cost. Set up a swap habit, keep a spare full cylinder in the cupboard, and your sparkling water will cost a few pence a litre for the life of the machine.
Bottles, fizz and flavours
Bottle material matters more than people expect. Most SodaStream machines use lightweight, dishwasher-safe plastic bottles that are tough and practical but eventually need replacing every few years as the carbonation seal degrades. Step up to the SodaStream Art or the Aarke Carbonator Pro and you can use glass bottles, which feel more premium, keep water tasting cleaner and look better on the table – at the cost of more weight and more care. Choose plastic for family practicality and glass for the dinner table.
On fizz itself, every machine here lets you control the strength: a couple of presses or pulls for a gentle sparkle, more for an aggressive, prosecco-level fizz. Always carbonate cold water, because CO2 dissolves far better when chilled, and only carbonate plain water – never put squash or juice into the bottle before carbonating, as it foams violently and can clog the nozzle. Add flavour afterwards if you want it, using a splash of cordial or one of the many sugar-free flavour drops sold for the purpose.
Definitive buy guidance
Buy the SodaStream Terra if you want the best all-round sparkling water maker for most UK households. It is cheap, reliable, dishwasher-friendly and backed by the widest cylinder-swap network in the country, with the lowest running cost of anything here. For the overwhelming majority of buyers it is the sensible, money-saving choice and the one we recommend first.
Buy the Aarke Carbonator 3 if you want a machine that looks and feels like a luxury object and you are happy to pay for stainless steel and a satisfying lever. Choose a glass-bottle model such as the SodaStream Art or Aarke Carbonator Pro if you fizz several litres a day or want glass for the table, and pick an entry-level SodaStream such as the Gaia if you simply want the lowest possible price. For a closer look at the two ends of the market, see our full Aarke Carbonator Pro review and SodaStream Terra review.
FAQ
Is a sparkling water maker cheaper than buying bottled water?
Yes, significantly. Once you use the cylinder swap scheme, home sparkling water costs around 15p to 20p a litre, against 60p or more for supermarket bottles. A machine typically pays for itself within a few months for a regular fizzy-water household, and saves a large amount of single-use plastic.
Do SodaStream and Aarke use the same CO2 cylinders?
Yes. Aarke machines use the standard threaded CO2 cylinders compatible with the SodaStream system, so Aarke owners can use the widespread SodaStream swap network to refill cheaply. Always check your specific model, but the common quick-connect and screw-in cylinders are interchangeable.
How long does a CO2 cylinder last?
A standard cylinder carbonates roughly 60 litres of water, though heavy fizz settings use gas faster. For a household making a litre or two a day, a cylinder lasts around a month. Keeping a spare full cylinder means you never run out mid-week.
Can you carbonate drinks other than water?
You should only carbonate plain water in the bottle. Adding juice, squash or alcohol before carbonating causes violent foaming and can clog the machine. Add flavour, cordial or sugar-free drops to the water after it has been carbonated.
Is SodaStream or Aarke better?
They fizz water equally well and share cylinders, so it comes down to budget and taste. SodaStream is cheaper, lighter and easier to refill; Aarke costs far more but is built from stainless steel and looks and feels premium. Choose SodaStream for value and Aarke for design.
