Which Sodastream® Is Best? | 8 Great Soda Makers To Keep You Cool In The Australian Summer

Tap water has to be one of life’s greatest inventions, however, a machine that turns water into a (non-alcoholic) bubbly drink has to be up there! At least, that is the case in our household in summer! 

We absolutely love our SodaStream® and use it all the time.

Before buying our SodaStream®, I had no idea there were different models out there and it gets a bit confusing. To make things simple, in this article, I will break it all down for you.

SodaStream® vs Other Soda Making Models

SodaStream® is such a powerful brand and registered trademark that it has become synonymous with soda making machines. This is not a surprise considering it has been an industry leader for as long as I can remember–and I am no spring chicken! 

However, there are other alternatives such as SodaKING (check out our SodaKING review) and Qarbo! Below are our top picks, but there are more options.

But let’s start with SodaStream®!

What is the best SodaStream® model and how do they differ?

Our Top Pick — SodaStream® Spirit 

SodaStream® Spirit is also a basic no-fuss model–very similar in functionality to Jet. It has a slimmer, more ‘round’ design and a snap-lock mechanism rather than a screw lock one. 

Personally, I find the snap-lock mechanism to be a big design improvement. One of the biggest issues with carbonising your bottles is the risk of carbon ‘leaking’ into the air–not inside the bottle. The snap-lock dramatically reduces that risk and you can be sure the carbon is going straight into where it needs to go. 

This model uses the same 60L CO2 cylinder and same plastic bottles as other SodaStream® models. 

Budget Option — SodaStream® Jet

SodaStream® Jet is probably the most ‘basic’ no-fuss model, yet very efficient. It uses the same CO2 cylinder as other models, and it relies on your hands to do the work. Once you lock your flat water in, you press and hold down the top area to let the gas into the bottle. You keep pressing down until you reach the desired level of carbonation. My kids often laugh during this process as the carbonation makes ‘farty’ noises! 

SodaStream® Jet is a cordless model–no electricity is needed. The manual button requires you to press and hold, which should be easy for most adults unless you have severe pain or injury. 

Electricity Powered — SodaStream® Spirit One Touch

SodaStream® Spirit One Touch is, as the name suggests, just like SodaStream® Spirit–except that you can add gas to your water bottle by touching a button, instead of using your muscles. That also means this is powered by electricity. While a lot of people don’t mind using their muscle strength to gasify some water, this model is an excellent option for those who prefer or need something as easy as pressing a button. 

This model uses the same 60L CO2 cylinder and same plastic bottles as other SodaStream® models. 

With LED Indicators — SodaStream® Source

SodaStream® Source is very much similar to SodaStream® Jet–but it has one important point of difference. It has an LED gasification indicator that goes from 1 (slightly fizzy) to 3 (heavily carbonated – commercial cola levels). That means you still do the manual work of pressing and holding the button down, but instead of stopping when you believe it got to the right fizziness, your SodaStream® Source lights will indicate when to stop! 

This is also a cordless model–no electricity is required. However, there is a long-lasting battery inside the machine powering the LED lights. 

The manual button requires you to press and hold, which should be easy for most adults unless you have severe pain or injury. The design is more like a ‘boxy’ rectangular shape–similar to Jet. This model uses the same 60L CO2 cylinder and same plastic bottles as other SodaStream® models.

Best For Those With Hand Strength Issues — SodaStream® Power

SodaStream® Power is probably the most outstanding model as it has quite a few elements of differentiation. As the name suggests, SodaStream® Power requires power! While the need for electricity might put some people off, this model is the most ‘automated’ of the SodaStreams. Instead of manually pressing and holding down to get your gas in–which might be hard for some people who do not have enough strength, all you have to do is press one of the three small buttons, according to your desired level of gas.

SodaStream® Power also presents a slightly different design. Firstly, it is smaller and less bulky. A lot of the plastic components, present in other models, have been replaced by stainless steel ones–giving the Power a more modern look. 

Plastic Free Option — SodaStream® Crystal

SodaStream® Crystal is close to the ‘basic’ Jet model in terms of functionality, but with an important point of difference–the glass bottle instead of the hard plastic ones. This model will no doubt appeal to those who, for whatever reason, dislike plastic (even BPA-free ones like SodaStream®’s). Another advantage of the glass bottle is their dishwasher-safe status. 

As far as functionality goes, this soda making model works just like the SodaStream® Jet, after securing the bottle in place, you need to press and hold down the button until you achieve the desired level of carbonation. This machine is manually operated and does not require electricity. 

This model uses the same 60L CO2 cylinder as other SodaStream® models. 

What about other soda making models?

Best for Innovation and Versatility — Twenty39 Qarbo

This Australian designed soda making machine has become my personal favourite, after many years of SodaStream®. The biggest advantage of this soda maker is that you are not limited to using water only! While most soda makers available on the market only allow you to mix other flavoured additions (such as cordial) after the carbonation, Qarbo allows you to carbonate things like juices, alcoholic drinks and even pieces of fresh fruit mixed with water (or juice). 

Qarbo’s design is also slick and minimalist and looks great on the kitchen bench. It operates using the standard 60L gas cylinder (that means you can use SodaStream® cylinders). One small downside to the Qarbo is its bottle. It is a long and skinny bottle and not the best fit for a fridge door.

Another Budget Soda Making Machine — Soda King

Another popular soda maker brand is Soda King. Its popularity does not come as a surprise since this is a budget option and has a very appealing retro-inspired curved look! It uses the standard 60L gas cylinder (that means you can use SodaStream® cylinders) and is manually operated. 

For more information, check out our complete SodaKING review.

While the price is very competitive, a lot of reviewers seem to have trouble getting the carbonation right and need a bit of time and a few trials to get the machine to work properly. Soda King customer care is very helpful when problems arise. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use SodaStream® bottles?

Yes, SodaStream® machines are designed to be used with the designated SodaStream® bottle to ensure safety during the carbonisation process. 

Can I only carbonate water with SodaStream® machines?

Yes, you may only carbonate water, however, you can add flavours to your bubbly water afterwards.

Can you use tap water with SodaStream®?

Yes, you can use tap water in SodaStream® and other soda making machines. If tap water is not your thing, check out our guide to the best water filter. I also recommend using cold chilled water for a more refreshing outcome.

Does SodaStream® use electricity?

Only the models SodaStream® Spirit One Touch and SodaStream® Power require electricity. 

Do you recommend DrinkMate?

Not if you are based in Australia or New Zealand. Despite being another soda maker that allows you to carbonate drinks other than water, the required gas cylinder for DrinkMate is not compatible with Australian and New Zealand’s gas canister standards–that is why we are not currently recommending that soda maker.

Last update on 2026-06-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API