SodaStream is the safer buy for most households, because the cylinder swap network is in supermarkets, department stores and appliance chains across the country, and running out of gas on a Sunday is the one failure mode that makes these machines annoying. SodaKing is worth a look if you buy gas by the pair and do not mind ordering refills online, because its cylinder pricing is generally lower.
The machines themselves are close. Both carbonate tap water in a bottle in about fifteen seconds, both use a lever or a button, and neither needs power.
SodaStream Art
The metal-lever model: stainless steel trim, a one-litre BPA-free bottle, dishwasher-safe bottle, a two-year warranty and a 169mm width. Owners rate it 4.8 from more than 200 reviews at The Good Guys.
It takes the pink quick-connect cylinder rather than the older screw-in type, which is worth checking if you are replacing an older SodaStream and have cylinders on hand.
What We Like:
- Metal lever, stainless trim
- Rated 4.8 by owners
- Two-year warranty
What We Don't Like:
- Quick-connect cylinders only
SodaStream Terra and E Terra
The Terra at around $119 is the plastic-bodied volume model and the E Terra at around $149 adds one-touch electric carbonation with three fizz levels. Owners rate them 4.8 from more than 170 and 4.8 from nearly 80 reviews respectively.
Both are currently in-store only at The Good Guys rather than available to order online, so they need a trip to a shop or a different retailer.
SodaKing
SodaKing is an Australian brand selling sparkling water makers, cylinders and flavours directly from sodaking.com.au rather than through the big appliance chains. The Good Guys does not stock it.
Its argument is the gas. SodaKing sells cylinder refills and swaps by post and through its own network, and its per-cylinder pricing is generally below SodaStream's retail swap price, particularly when bought in multiples. Its machines take the standard screw-in cylinder, which also fits older SodaStream units and a range of third-party cylinders.
Because it sells direct rather than through retailers, there are no Australian retail reviews to read before buying.
Breville the InFizz Fusion
Worth knowing about if you want to carbonate more than water. The InFizz Fusion has a fusion cap system designed to carbonate juice, cold brew, wine and cocktails without the mess that usually causes, with a stainless body and die-cast lever, at around $249. Owners rate it 4.8 from a small pool at The Good Guys and 4.5 from 74 on Breville's own site.
It is the most expensive machine here and it uses the screw-in cylinder standard.
What We Like:
- Carbonates juice and other drinks, not just water
- Stainless body and metal lever
What We Don't Like:
- $249, the dearest here
Side by side
| SodaStream Art | SodaStream Terra | SodaStream E Terra | SodaKing | Breville InFizz Fusion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $150–200 | About $119 | About $149 | Sold direct | $200–250 |
| Body | Stainless trim, metal lever | Plastic | Plastic, electric | Varies by model | Stainless, die-cast lever |
| Carbonation | Manual lever | Manual | One touch, 3 levels | Manual | Manual lever |
| Cylinder type | Quick connect | Quick connect | Quick connect | Screw in | Screw in |
| Carbonates other drinks | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Where to buy | Chains and supermarkets | In store | In store | Direct online | Chains |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | Check at purchase | 2 years |
| Owner rating | 4.8 (203) | 4.8 (172) | 4.8 (77) | No retail pool | 4.8 (16) |
Owner ratings are from The Good Guys, with review counts in brackets.
What actually differs
Gas is the running cost. You buy the machine once and the cylinders for as long as you use it. A cylinder makes roughly 60 litres of sparkling water. SodaStream cylinders can be swapped at a supermarket on the way home, while SodaKing refills cost less but arrive by post, so the choice turns on whether convenience or price per refill matters more in your household.
Cylinder standard. SodaStream's current machines use a quick-connect cylinder that only SodaStream supplies. SodaKing and Breville use the older screw-in thread, which accepts cylinders from several suppliers. If being locked to one supplier bothers you, that points away from SodaStream.
Owner ratings. SodaStream's models carry hundreds of retail reviews between them. SodaKing sells direct, so there are none at the chains.
What you carbonate. Only the Breville is designed for juice, cold brew and alcohol. Every other machine here carbonates water, and putting anything else through them voids the warranty and makes a mess.
FAQs
How many litres does one cylinder make?
About 60 litres, varying with how fizzy you like it. Heavy carbonation uses noticeably more gas.
Can I use a SodaKing cylinder in a SodaStream?
In older screw-in SodaStream machines, yes. In current quick-connect models, no: the fitting is different and there is no adapter sold for it.
Is an electric model worth it?
The E Terra's one-touch carbonation removes the guesswork about how many pumps to give it. Owners rate it as highly as the manual models, so it is a convenience choice rather than a better result.
Does sparkling water damage the machine over time?
No, but syrup and juice do if used in a machine not designed for them. Rinse bottles after flavouring and keep the carbonating bottle out of the dishwasher unless the manual allows it.
