Have you looked at Sparkel? Their carbonator uses citric acid and baking soda so you don't have to get CO2 refills.

It does take a little more time (about 4 min a bottle) to carbonate because you have the reaction and pump operating.

I didn’t like soda streams but I do like my ninja thirsti. I think it tastes better.

I just fizzed drinkmate with a few ice cubes. I like to live dangerously.

I have an Aarke carbonater pro which I really enjoy, but if I were to buy one again it would be the Drinkmate Omnifizz or Lux because they can carbonate juice and other liquids beyond just water. 

Soda stream plus it promotes peace in the Middle East

I have a drink mate and love it

We have the most basic soda stream that was on clearance at wal mart for about $50. It downs do any flavors, just carbonates water and it came with 2 nice glass bottles. For the price I have no complaints!

Look at a Drinkmate too. I like it better than the sodastream I had. Plus you can flavor your water before you carbonate instead of after unlike the sodastream.

My SodaStream failed by CO2 bottle 4.

I use this Aarke thing pretty much every day. We drink a lot of sparkling water at our house, both plain and lightly flavored with Torani raspberry syrup. Having used a SodaStream unit for years, I had long had issues with water leakage and, more annoyingly, with it running out of steam while ¼ of the CO2 bottle was still left. This is because that SodaStream model relies on gas pressure to maintain a seal, so as the gas cylinder's pressure drops, the unit will no longer seal properly.

The Aarke is expensive. No doubt. But its design and manufacture warrant this. First of all, it's made from metal, so it just looks and feels as if it is a much higher quality unit. It's something you won't mind having on your counter. The real game-changer, however, is the fact that the water bottles actually screw into the unit, which means you don't rely on cylinder pressure to maintain a seal. This means it does not leak and that you get much more gas from you cylinders than you would with a SodaStream. These two benefits make it worth it to me. But again, I'm what you might call a power user. If you're only using a SodaStream once a week or less, it may not be worth it for you.

One other benefit: the Aarke system is compatible with existing SodaStream bottles and gas cylinders, which means you can find them at many local retailers, including Bed, Bath & Beyond, Target, World Market, etc. And those stores do a deal where you can bring in a spent cylinder and get 50 percent off your purchase of your next one. This is both good for your wallet and the planet. And being good for the planet is one of the main reasons to make your own fizzy water rather than buying it in plastic bottles that inevitably end up in a landfill or in the ocean.

Hey, did you decide on a model? I'm considering this one from Breville but not sure if it's worth it.

In my honest opinion, the Fizzpod is the best one out there for the value. It’s a great option if you’re into sparkling water like Bubly and AHA as you say.

Wirecutter recommends sodastream source for $100. https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-soda-maker/

This might not be what you want but... You won't get more sustainable than this: https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/06/pros-cons-diy-carbonation-rig-how-to-carbonate-cocktails-at-home-equipment-how-to-build-cheaper-sodastream-replacement.html

I’ve had the same soda stream since 2002 or maybe 2003. No fancy lights or anything, but it’s lasted more than a decade. That’s pretty impressive.

Make your own home co2 setup! I'm still in the research phase myself buy plan on this being one of my winter projects. I want to make high balls, campari sodas, mojitos, and cut out the $5-10/week La Croix bill.

Was initially going to buy a sodastream but I don't like the idea of being locked into proprietary and expensive co2 tank refills. Also many people observe that you can get more highly concentrated and tasty bubbly with your own tank as compared to a retail countertop product.

I plan on following this guideline.

For the same cost as a Soda Stream Bundle, $150ish will get you a much more robust solution. Jeff Morgenthaler lays it out in this post. A tank of CO₂ should last you years.

Drinkmate has the added benefit of being able to carbonate liquids other than water.

All I can say is that this Aarke brand is the BEST. First off, it looks like a statement piece, like a high end appliance, with a finish like a kitchen aid mixer. I got the white color since it goes with everything. There really aren’t any plastic pieces everywhere like the other one’s entire body. To put the gas cylinder in, you just insert it in the hole in the bottom of the unit and screw it in. Super easy. You don’t have to angle it in or something else stupid. The only drawback at all I would say is that the unit isn’t well weighted, not even with the cylinder in. It stands just fine and functions perfectly without having to hold the machine but I just wish there was more of a weighted bottom to be extra sturdy. Finally, the bottle it very chique, not like the other ones at ALL, BUT the other brand of bottles DO FIT PERFECTLY! Pay attention to the expiration dates on the bottle since it could be dangerous otherwise. I would never buy the other one again, ever. The carbonation is even better. Get a few new gas cylinders from the store so you will never run out and you can just exchange the cylinders.

I have one of those - it's good for the occasional use. Soda stream always seemed so junky in comparison.

You can also buy adapters to connect a large co2 tank to some soda stream machines or to refill sodastream bottles from the larger tank (my current solution)

Build your own. All of these machines have stupidly overpriced refills.

Soda stream crystal 2.0, with fancy Glas bottles and we have a adapter to refill co2 from a 10kg tank initial cost was about 200€ and we are drinking sparkling tab water since 2,5years now.

My name is Etzel_ and I'm a seltzer addict.

I have a drinkmate and it's the bee's knees. It's the rebranded iSoda and it's cheaper than the soda stream. I have two 20 oz paintball CO2 tanks and an adapter for $15 on Amazon.

Each tank lasts about a month and cost around $5 to refill. Definitely worth it. Here's the adapter:

Sellution CO2 Tank Paintball Canister Refill Adapter C02 Conversion - Polished Brass https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IAJZUIU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_aMFRCbK33Q1V3

Most sodastreams are essentially the same, so if you get one just look for the best price. To get cheap refills without buying extra equipment, use dry ice. You can open the canister and fill it with 14 oz of dry ice and it will perform just like a regular refill. The only outlay would be for a wrench to open the bottle if you don't already have one. Dry ice is a couple bucks a lb at many grocery stores.

Sodastream with an adaptor to use standard CO2 containers instead of their proprietary overpriced containers. I expect this comment to be downvoted to oblivion by the Sodastream shills who desperately want to prevent the use of adaptors.

If you plan on carbonating water a lot, or doing it for a long period of time, you should look into a DIY setup that includes a CO2 tank, regulator, hoses etc. I used to have a sodastream and it worked well, but the costs associated with the tanks are crazy. I purchased the items described above for a DIY setup and will have payed them off in one year as compared to the cost of soda stream refills. Bonus you can carbonate other liquids with this setup like cocktails, juices etc.

You can get sodastream cannisters refilled by a third party. I have done this. You can get adapters to convert a paintball CO2 cannister to sodastream also.

I have a drink mate I like, and I use indigo refills. Costs about 12$/refill.

Get the sodaatream then get the adapter to refill on a regular co2 tank from a home brewing store. The prefilled co2 bottles are a scam.

Yep. Have had the original one for three years now and love it. The one thing to note is you’re not supposed to carbonate any flavors in it, you mix after.

I’ve had my SodaStream for 13 years. At one point the o-ring went bad, and the company replaced it for free.

I would not purchase one again due to BDS, but I just wanted to clarify the idea that they only last 3 years. That is not my experience.

Wanna save money? If you live in a big city there could be dri ice suppliers that sell rice grain dri ice. I buy $10 bucks worth, and open the top of the co2 canister and pour in the dri ice pellets.

Once the cap is sealed the dri ice in the canister melts into gas and pressurizes the tank. Its much more complicated than this, and I own about 14 soda stream tanks (purchased cheap, off market place) that make the whole endeavor worthwhile. I make, in savings, about $150 per hour off refilling my own . Each bottle uses about $1 of dri ice

I think it's that the plastic bottles for the soda stream expire after a few years, if you get one of the higher end models with the glass bottles you will be good.

I've had mine maybe 10 years.

Beer keg, 10lb CO2 canister, CO2 regulator.

https://www.northernbrewer.com/products/draft-brewer-single-keg-system

SodaStream - have had mine for 6 yrs. BDS is a bunch of bs. We should be boycotting a ton of other countries if we are that concerned about human rights.

Modern Sodastream devices are relatively simple parts, mostly comprised of plastic injection-molded parts.

There really is only one part which commonly fails - the plunger pin assembly. There are 3D models online and easy to print a replacement part if necessary to rebuild.

I have a six year old Sodastream which I've been using almost daily ever since and it's still going strong.

Buy the ones that restaurants get from coke or Pepsi?

I have a super no frills drinkmate and love it. Nothing on it to break. Weve had it about four years now, never anything gone wrong.