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If you’re a soda lover, or you’ve got one in the family, you’re probably buying a lot of pop from the grocery store, and maybe even satisfying a last-minute craving at a convenience store. Unfortunately, those beverages get expensive over time, and they’re packed with a ton of sugar and other things you might not want to be drinking long-term. Luckily, there’s a better way!
A soda maker can give you all of the deliciousness of sparkling beverages without the ongoing expense or negative health effects. They’re incredibly easy to use, require no electricity, and don’t even need very much space on your countertop. Some of them can even allow you to re-carbonate stale beverages or combine flavours. Yummy.
If a soda maker sounds like the perfect addition to your house, we’d love to help you find the right fit. Soda makers will vary in things like price, overall size, bottle capacity, and versatility. And to make sure you get the right one, you should think about every feature. It’s the only way!
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best soda makers in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Versatile Pick: Ninja Thirsti Drink System
Premium Pick: Breville InFizz Aqua Sparkling Water Maker
Budget Pick: SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker
Also Great: Philips Sparkling Water Maker/Soda Maker Machine
The Drinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker is a pretty great machine. It comes with two CO2 cylinders so you can get started right away, and you’ll be able to use this machine with any type of beverage, not just water. Talk about a win! Since it has a simple push button to carbonate and a fairly compact base, it’ll be easy to use and even easier to find a permanent home for.
There are a couple of things that we don’t love about this option. First, the bottle isn’t dishwasher safe, so you’ll have to wash it by hand each time you use it. And that isn’t the easiest process. Sorry. The other potential issue is the level of automation — it can’t add any flavours to the bottle by itself, so you will still have to perform that step yourself. Hopefully, that won’t be an issue.
All in all, the Drinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker is a pretty great option no matter what types of fizzy drinks bring you joy. It’s not the most versatile or automated soda maker out there, but it’ll be more than good enough for most purposes.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers are quite happy with the Drinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker. It’s very easy to set up and use right out of the box, and they really appreciate that they got two CO2 cylinders included at such a low price. They would prefer that the bottle was dishwasher-safe since it can be tricky to clean by hand, but it’s not a dealbreaker.
Buy If…
You want to be able to carbonate anything, not just water
You’d appreciate the inclusion of CO2 cylinders
Ease of use is a priority
A compact base would be nice
Don’t Buy If…
You’d like a fully automatic soda-making machine
Ease of cleaning is important to you
Dimensions: 8” x 5” x 16”
Weight: 8.9 lbs
Colour: Black
Bottle Capacity: 1 L
Dishwasher-Safe Bottle: No
Warranty: 2 years
The Ninja Thirsti Drink System is absolutely amazing. It could not be more versatile if it tried — you’re able to choose between four drink sizes (using your own cups instead of a brand-specific bottle!), two flavour intensities, more than 25 flavours (and combinations, it can mix two at once!), and four levels of carbonation including a still setting.
And it’s 100% automatic! Just hit the buttons and wait for your drink. It doesn’t get any easier than that, does it? A 6L tank means you can make a bunch of drinks in a row without refilling. We love the convenience, and we can guarantee that you will too.
Since this option is basically perfect, we don’t have any issues to mention in terms of performance or quality. We just want to warn you about two minor things. First, this machine has a lot going on, so if you’re just looking for simple carbonation, it’s probably more than you need. Also, you’ll need to keep the water tank in the fridge unless you’re using the machine since it needs cold water. Hopefully, you have the space for it.
All in all, if custom drinks are what you’re looking for, the Ninja Thirsti Drink System is the way to get them. With more versatility than we ever thought possible, this soda maker can do it all. As long as you have space in your fridge to keep the water tank cold, you’ll be perfectly happy with this machine.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers are incredibly impressed by the Ninja Thirsti Drink System. It’s unlike any other soda maker they’ve used in the past and they like it a lot more. Being able to choose different carbonation levels, volumes, flavours, and flavour intensities makes sure everyone in the family can have perfectly carbonated (or still!) tasty drinks. They have no complaints.
Buy If…
Versatility is your priority
You don’t want to perform any of the drink-making steps by hand
You’d love to use your own cups with the machine
You’ll be making drinks a lot
Don’t Buy If…
Simplicity is what you’re after
You have a full fridge all the time
Dimensions: 14” x 8.8” x 16”
Weight: 13.5 lbs
Colour: Black
Warranty: 1 year
The main advantage of choosing the Breville InFizz Aqua Sparkling Water Maker is its longevity. With a stainless steel design replacing the typical plastic housing, this machine is built to last. And it also looks wonderfully sleek on every countertop. A luxurious lever replaces the standard push-button, so even adding carbonation is a next-level experience. And a magnetic drip tray keeps things tidy.
The main problem we have with this machine is the price. It’s one of the more expensive soda makers (understandably so because of its more durable materials), but it doesn’t come with a CO2 cylinder. That means an extra purchase and a much higher upfront cost. It might not be worth it for everybody. Also, you’ll need to wash the bottle by hand since it isn’t dishwasher-safe. Not ideal, we know.
All in all, the Breville InFizz Aqua Sparkling Water Maker is one of the best soda makers out there, especially if quality is your priority. It looks great, it performs very well, and it’ll last for years in pristine condition.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have great things to say about the Breville InFizz Aqua Sparkling Water Maker. The stainless steel housing is extremely durable and looks great in every kitchen — they expect it to last a long time. The lever is also a nice change from the standard push-button operation they’re used to on other machines. The drip tray is a big hit, too. They would prefer it came with a CO2 cylinder considering the price, though.
Buy If…
A sleek appearance would be nice
You want to feel special while adding carbonation
You don’t like messes in the kitchen
You want a soda maker that will last
Don’t Buy If…
You’re shopping on a budget
Cleaning by hand doesn’t appeal to you
You don’t want to make extra purchases right away
Dimensions: 16.9” x 6” x 10.3”
Weight: 7.7 lbs
Colour: Silver
Bottle Capacity: 1 L
Dishwasher-Safe Bottle: No
Warranty: 2 years
If you’re just getting into soda-making at home, the SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker is a great machine to start with. It’s got one of the best prices around right now, and with a slim design and ergonomic button, it’s super easy to use, adjust the carbonation level, and even travel with if desired. It has one of the few dishwasher-safe bottles, too, so cleaning won’t have to be a chore or a challenge. We love that for you.
There are a few things that don’t quite meet our standards with this one. First, the carbonation can’t ever reach the level of store-bought beverages, so if that’s what you’re after, you’ll need to go with something more expensive. You’ll also need to add the flavours manually — its only function is to carbonate water, nothing else. It also doesn’t offer the best longevity out there, just so you’re aware.
All in all, the SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker is the best budget-friendly option around right now. It doesn’t offer the same quality of carbonation as more sophisticated machines, but it’s a great starter option.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
Reviewers have mostly good things to say about the SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker. It’s very easy to use and is great for customizing the level of carbonation. However, it can’t reach the extra-fizzy levels of store-bought sodas. They really like how lightweight it is, and the small footprint makes it easy to set up in every kitchen. The plastic housing isn’t super durable, though.
Buy If…
Cleaning by hand doesn’t appeal to you
You like being able to control your carbonation level
You’d like a soda maker that’s easy to travel with
You’re short on counter space
Don’t Buy If…
You want a fully automated machine
Longevity matters
You’re looking for store-bought levels of carbonation
Dimensions: 7.9” x 5” x 17”
Weight: 1 lb
Colour: Black
Bottle Capacity: 1 L
Dishwasher-Safe Bottle: Yes
Warranty: 2 years
The Philips Sparkling Water Maker/Soda Maker Machine is the best option if user-friendliness is what you’re after. Since it boasts a large, easy-to-press button for carbonating, a non-slip base, and universal compatibility with different CO2 cylinders, you won’t be presented with any challenges even on your first use. How refreshing is that? It’s offered at a really great price, too.
This option doesn’t quite meet our expectations in all areas, sadly. Its carbonation quality isn’t up to par with the more expensive soda makers out there, so your drinks won’t be as fizzy as store-bought ones. You’ll also need to wash the bottle by hand since it isn’t dishwasher-safe. Otherwise, the only potential deterrent is the fact that you’ll have to add your flavours manually. It isn’t fully automatic.
All in all, the Philips Sparkling Water Maker/Soda Maker Machine is our favourite when it comes to ease of use. With a large, easy-to-press button, an anti-slip base, and excellent cylinder compatibility, it’s got all of the user-friendly features you could ask for. And a great price to boot.
Performance: 4/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers have a pretty good opinion of the Philips Sparkling Water Maker/Soda Maker Machine. They appreciate the anti-slip base since it doesn’t slide around on the counter when they push the button or remove the bottle. The price was great, too, although they would prefer that a CO2 cylinder be included. The carbonation levels leave a bit to be desired, too.
Buy If…
Ease of use is a priority
You don’t want to be locked into a specific type of CO2 cylinder
An anti-slip base would be appreciated
You don’t want to spend a lot
Don’t Buy If…
You’d prefer an all-inclusive soda maker kit
You don’t want to clean by hand
You’re looking for store-bought levels of carbonation
Dimensions: 18.6” x 9.4” x 7.8”
Weight: 3.8 lbs
Colour: Black
Bottle Capacity: 1 L
Dishwasher-Safe Bottle: No
Warranty: 1 year
Some soda makers are priced at only $100; others can reach and even exceed $300. In general, more expensive soda makers will offer more versatility, higher levels of automation, and better durability overall. Typically, you can also expect more expensive options to come with at least one CO2 cylinder, if not two.
Most soda makers come with a 1-liter carbonating bottle by default, but machines that are fully automatic will typically offer multiple glass sizes ranging between 6 and 24 ounces. You can also find some soda maker brands that offer additional bottle sizes (such as 500-600 ml options) for smaller batches of carbonated water.
Most soda makers do not come with a dishwasher-safe bottle, but since they’re quite tricky to wash and dry by hand, it is something we recommend you look for if you want to optimize the convenience of your soda-making endeavours.
Soda makers are fairly uniform across the board when it comes to shape, but the exact size can vary by several inches in each dimension. Since they’ll likely be living on your countertop 24/7, you’ll want to pay attention to the footprint the base requires to make sure it won’t monopolize space that you’ll need for other activities.
The versatility of a soda maker can differ quite a bit depending on what models you’re comparing. The most basic machines can only carbonate water, but some will also be compatible with other types of liquids without voiding warranty. The most versatile machines will be the fully automatic ones that can offer a selection of drink sizes, carbonation levels, and even flavour intensities.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.