The best budget soda maker in NZ is the SodaStream Terra, a manual lever-press carbonator with a quick-connect CO2 cylinder and a reusable, dishwasher-safe bottle. The cylinder is really what decides this, because a machine is only as convenient as the places you can swap its gas, and a widely stocked quick-connect format is far easier to keep running here than a niche one.
A soda maker lets you carbonate plain tap water into sparkling water at home, cutting down on buying bottled sparkling water or soft drinks while giving you full control over how fizzy you like it.
All 6 picks below span budget SodaStream models through to premium design-led carbonators, each with independently verified review data.
Soda Maker Comparison Table
| Soda Maker | Best For | Carbonation Type |
|---|---|---|
| SodaStream Terra | Best Budget | Manual lever |
| SodaStream Electric e-Terra | Best Push-Button | Electric, 3 settings |
| Philips GoZero Soda Maker Lite | Best Alternative Brand | Manual |
| Breville the InFizz Fusion | Best Premium Brand | Manual |
| DrinkMate OmniFizz | Best for Any Drink | Manual |
| aarke Carbonator III | Best Design / Luxury | Manual lever |
The Best Soda Makers in NZ
1. SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker — Best Budget
SodaStream’s Terra is a simple, manual lever-press carbonator – the most affordable way into home soda making from the market’s best-known brand, with a quick-connect CO2 cylinder that’s easy to swap.
It comes with a reusable, dishwasher-safe bottle, so you can cut down on buying single-use bottled soft drinks or sparkling water, and the CO2 cylinders are widely available for refill or exchange.
It’s a genuinely well-reviewed entry point: 4.5 stars from 140 verified Amazon ratings.
Pros
- Cheapest genuine soda maker on this list
- Reusable, dishwasher-safe bottle included
- Well-reviewed: 4.5★ from 140 ratings
Cons
- Manual lever press, not push-button like the Electric e-Terra below
Key specs:Manual lever carbonation | Quick-connect CO2 | Reusable dishwasher-safe bottle
2. SodaStream Electric e-Terra Sparkling Water Maker — Best Push-Button / Electric
The e-Terra upgrades to one-touch electric carbonation with 3 fizziness settings, so you don’t need to manually pump a lever to carbonate your water.
It includes a 60L gas cylinder to get started and uses the same quick-connect CO2 system and BPA-free bottles as the rest of the SodaStream range.
It’s the second-most reviewed product on this entire list: 4.7 stars from over 5,100 verified Amazon ratings, a genuinely large and consistent sample.
Pros
- One-touch electric carbonation, 3 fizziness settings
- Extremely well-reviewed: 4.7★ from 5,142 ratings
- Includes a 60L gas cylinder to start
Cons
- Pricier than the manual Terra above for the same core function
Key specs:Electric one-touch carbonation | 3 fizziness settings | Quick-connect CO2, includes 60L cylinder
3. Philips GoZero Soda Maker Lite — Best Alternative Major Brand
Philips brings its established appliance-making reputation to home carbonation with the GoZero Lite, a straightforward manual carbonator with a 1L water bottle and 60L-rated CO2 cylinder.
It’s a solid alternative if you’d rather buy from a broader appliance brand than a soda-specific one, with the same core reusable-bottle approach as SodaStream’s range.
It’s genuinely well-reviewed: 4.1 stars from 282 verified Amazon ratings.
Pros
- From an established major appliance brand
- Solid review base: 4.1★ from 282 ratings
- 1L bottle, 60L-rated CO2 cylinder included
Cons
- Longer dispatch/delivery window than the other picks on this list – check current lead times before buying if you need it quickly
Key specs:Model ADD4901BK/10 | Manual carbonation | 1L bottle | CO2 cylinder for 60L
4. Breville the InFizz Fusion Carbonator — Best Premium Appliance Brand
Breville’s InFizz Fusion brings the brand’s premium kitchen-appliance design language to home carbonation, in a brushed stainless steel finish that looks the part on a benchtop.
It carbonates both water and other drinks, giving more flexibility than a water-only carbonator, and is built with the same attention to design and materials Breville is known for across its coffee and kitchen appliance range.
It’s well-reviewed for a premium-tier product: 4.5 stars from 78 verified Amazon ratings.
Pros
- Premium stainless steel design from an established appliance brand
- Can carbonate more than just water
- Well-reviewed: 4.5★ from 78 ratings
Cons
- Significant step up in price from the SodaStream and Philips options above
Key specs:Model BCA800BSS | Brushed stainless steel | Carbonates water and other drinks
5. DrinkMate OmniFizz Sparkling Water and Soda Maker — Best for Carbonating Any Drink
DrinkMate’s OmniFizz has a genuine point of difference: unlike most soda makers, which are designed for still water only, it’s built to carbonate almost any drink – juice, wine, iced tea or flavoured beverages – without diluting it.
A patented fizz-infuser release mechanism lets you safely open the bottle after carbonating without losing all the fizz, which matters more when working with drinks beyond plain water.
It’s the single most reviewed product on this entire list: 4.4 stars from nearly 13,700 verified Amazon ratings, a genuinely enormous sample.
Pros
- Carbonates almost any drink, not just water
- Extremely well-reviewed: 4.4★ from 13,692 ratings
- Patented release mechanism preserves fizz when opening
Cons
- CO2 cylinder not included – budget for that as an extra cost
Key specs:Carbonates any drink | Patented fizz-infuser release | CO2 cylinder sold separately
6. aarke Carbonator III — Best Design / Luxury
Swedish design brand aarke’s Carbonator III is built almost entirely from stainless steel, standing out as the most design-forward soda maker on this list – genuinely something you’d want left out on the counter rather than tucked in a cupboard.
It uses standard CO2 cylinders (compatible with the same widely available refill/exchange network as SodaStream) and includes a PET bottle, so ongoing running costs stay in line with cheaper carbonators despite the premium price tag.
It’s well-reviewed: 4.5 stars from 78 verified Amazon ratings.
Pros
- Genuinely premium, minimalist stainless steel design
- Well-reviewed: 4.5★ from 78 ratings
- Uses widely available standard CO2 cylinders
Cons
- Priciest option on this list
Key specs:Stainless steel construction | Standard CO2 cylinder compatible | PET bottle included
How to Choose the Best Soda Maker for You
Manual vs electric carbonation
Manual carbonators use a lever you press to inject CO2 into the water – simple, reliable, and typically cheaper. Electric models (like the e-Terra) carbonate at the touch of a button and often offer multiple fizziness settings, at a modest price premium.
Does it work with drinks other than water?
Most soda makers are designed and warrantied for plain still water only – carbonating juice or flavoured drinks in a standard unit can void the warranty or gunk up the mechanism over time. If you want to carbonate other drinks, look for a model specifically designed for it, like the DrinkMate OmniFizz.
What about ongoing costs?
Beyond the upfront price, factor in CO2 cylinder refills – most brands use either their own proprietary cylinder system or the more widely available standard-thread cylinders (which SodaStream, aarke and others can use), so check refill availability and cost in NZ before committing to a particular brand’s ecosystem.
Read more: Best Water Filters in NZ
For the rest of your bench, the guides to induction cookware, kitchen scales and slushie machines are worth a look.
Verdict
For most people, the SodaStream Terra is the easiest starting point – it’s cheap, well-reviewed, and backed by the most recognisable name in home carbonation. If you’d rather skip the manual lever, the Electric e-Terra is genuinely one of the best-reviewed products on this entire list (4.7★ from 5,142 ratings).
If you want to carbonate more than just water, the DrinkMate OmniFizz is the clear pick – it’s also the single most reviewed soda maker here (13,692 ratings). And if design matters as much as function, the aarke Carbonator III is the standout premium choice, worth leaving out on the counter rather than tucked away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a soda maker worth it?
If you regularly buy bottled sparkling water or soft drinks, a soda maker typically pays for itself over time through cheaper CO2 refills versus buying bottles, while cutting down on single-use plastic.
Can I carbonate juice or other drinks in a soda maker?
Most standard soda makers are designed for plain still water only – carbonating other drinks can void the warranty or damage the mechanism. If you want to carbonate juice, wine or other drinks, choose a model specifically designed for it, like the DrinkMate OmniFizz.
How long does a CO2 cylinder last?
It depends on the cylinder size and how fizzy you like your drinks, but most standard cylinders carbonate around 60 litres of water before needing a refill or exchange.
Manual or electric soda maker – which is better?
Both carbonate effectively. Manual (lever-press) models are simpler and usually cheaper, while electric models offer one-touch operation and often multiple fizziness settings for a modest price premium.
Do all soda makers use the same CO2 cylinders?
No – some brands use their own proprietary cylinder system, while others (including SodaStream and aarke) use more widely available standard-thread cylinders. Check refill/exchange availability in NZ for your chosen brand before buying.
Do I need to refrigerate water before carbonating it?
Cold water holds carbonation better than room-temperature water, so chilling your water first will generally give fizzier, longer-lasting results, though it isn’t strictly required.
