Home Soda Machines vs Store Bought Fizzy Drinks

Key takeaways

• For regular drinkers of sparkling water, a home soda maker can reduce your cost per litre compared with supermarket bottles once you have made back the upfront price of the machine.
• Most UK households that drink at least 1–2 litres of fizzy water a day will usually see a home machine become cheaper than bottled sparkling water over time, especially when using refill gas cylinders like those included with the SodaStream Terra.
• Home carbonation gives far more control over sugar and sweeteners than premixed soft drinks, and works particularly well if everyone in the household likes different levels of fizz or flavour.
• Switching most of your fizzy water to a soda maker can significantly cut single‑use plastic bottles, although gas cylinders still need to be exchanged or recycled properly.
• If you only drink fizzy drinks occasionally, or mainly like branded colas and lemonades, store bought cans and bottles can remain the simpler and cheaper choice.

Home soda vs store bought: cost comparison in the UK

Cost is usually the first question people ask when comparing a home soda machine with supermarket fizzy drinks. There are two parts to think about: the upfront price of the machine itself, and the ongoing cost of gas cylinders and any flavourings you use.

Typical supermarket prices per litre

UK prices vary by retailer and brand, but for a rough comparison:

• Own‑brand still water: often very cheap, but not fizzy.
• Own‑brand sparkling water (1.5–2L bottles): usually low cost per litre.
• Branded sparkling water or flavoured fizzy water: higher but still moderate.
• Branded soft drinks (colas, lemonades, tonics, etc.): per‑litre prices can climb quickly, especially for smaller bottles and cans.

If your household mainly drinks plain sparkling water, a home soda maker competes with the low end of that price range. If you mainly drink big‑brand soft drinks, home carbonation competes more with the middle to high end of the price range.

What home carbonation really costs

A home soda machine has three cost elements:

• The machine
• Gas cylinders
• Optional flavourings or syrups

Taking the SodaStream Terra sparkling water maker as a simple example, the machine includes a gas cylinder that is rated for up to 60 litres of water under typical use, plus a reusable bottle. Replacement cylinders are usually cheaper when you exchange an empty, and that exchange cost divided by the litres you actually get from a cylinder gives you your gas cost per litre.

In practice, people who like light fizz may get more than the rated litres per cylinder, while those who love very strong carbonation will get less. That means your personal cost per litre may be a little lower or higher than the headline estimates, but it is often competitive with supermarket sparkling water and can be significantly cheaper than branded soft drinks once the machine has paid for itself.

When does a soda maker become cheaper?

The break‑even point depends on how much fizzy water you drink and what you currently buy. As general scenarios:

• If you drink a couple of small bottles of branded fizzy drink per week, a soda maker may never properly pay for itself financially, though it could still be attractive for sugar control or plastic reduction.
• If your household drinks several litres of sparkling water every day, the machine price is usually absorbed quite quickly, and your ongoing cost per litre will tend to undercut bottled sparkling water.
• If you regularly buy mixers like tonic, soda water or lemonade for drinks, making your own carbonated water and then adding concentrated flavourings can often work out cheaper over time.

Where soda machines really shine is in households that love fizz, already spend meaningful money on sparkling water or soft drinks, and are happy to drink unbranded, homemade flavours. If you are still comparing models, you might like to look at our roundup of the best soda makers and sparkling water machines for home use for additional context.

Convenience and everyday use

Beyond cost, convenience is often the biggest day‑to‑day difference between home soda machines and shop‑bought bottles.

Home soda machine convenience

Home soda makers are designed to be simple. Models such as the SodaStream Art with its retro design or the compact FizzIt one‑touch soda maker usually require only that you fill the bottle with cold water, attach it to the machine and press a button or lever to carbonate.

Because carbonation is done on demand, you always have fresh fizz without needing to find fridge space for multiple bottles. If you live in a small flat or do not drive, not having to carry heavy multipacks home can be a noticeable benefit. Machines that need no mains power are particularly convenient for flexible placement in the kitchen or even on a home bar.

Store bought convenience

Supermarket bottles and cans have their own convenience advantages. There is no maintenance, no gas cylinders to exchange, and no learning curve. If you enjoy specific branded flavour profiles, buying them ready‑made is the easiest way to get exactly what you want every time with no experimenting.

For occasional fizzy drinkers or those with very limited counter space, a soda maker might feel like unnecessary clutter. In those cases, keeping a few bottles or cans in the cupboard or fridge can be the more straightforward solution.

If you struggle with clutter, think about where a soda maker, bottles and spare gas cylinders will live before you buy. If everything has a home, you are more likely to keep using it and reach the true cost savings.

Taste, fizz level and customisation

Taste is deeply personal, and there is no single answer to whether home‑carbonated water tastes better than bottled fizzy drinks. However, there are some clear differences worth understanding.

Control over fizz level

With a soda machine you control how much gas you inject into the water, so you can adjust the fizz level across the household. Some prefer gentle bubbles similar to lightly sparkling mineral water. Others like the sharp bite of strong carbonation found in some mixers and colas. Home machines allow you to find your own sweet spot instead of accepting whatever the bottler chose.

Machines designed for repeated consistent carbonation, like the quick‑connect Terra, make it easy to repeat your favourite level once you know how many presses or pulls you like.

Water quality and flavour

With home carbonation, the underlying taste of your tap or filtered water matters. If your local water has a strong mineral or chlorine taste, that will still be noticeable once carbonated unless you filter it first. Many people find that combining a basic water filter jug with a soda maker gives a clean, neutral fizz that compares well with many bottled waters.

Store bought fizzy water is often made with specific mineral content or added flavourings. If you love the unique taste of a particular natural mineral water, it can be hard to reproduce that exactly with a soda maker. However, you can create a wide range of flavours at home using small amounts of cordial, fresh citrus, herbs or sugar‑free syrups.

Soft drink flavour profiles

Re‑creating branded colas or lemonades at home is possible using concentrates, but the match is rarely perfect. Fans of a particular brand may still prefer to buy their favourites. Where home machines excel is in lighter, less sugary recipes, simple flavour infusions and sparkling versions of drinks you already enjoy, such as diluted fruit juice or squash.

Sugar, sweeteners and health considerations

One of the strongest arguments in favour of home soda makers is control over ingredients. With premixed soft drinks, the sugar or sweetener content is fixed. With a soda machine, you decide what goes into each glass.

Controlling sugar intake

Many families use soda makers to reduce overall sugar by switching a large portion of their fizzy drinks to plain sparkling water with light flavourings. Instead of drinking full‑sugar cola every day, you might move to fizzy water with a squeeze of lime, a splash of cordial, or a measured amount of syrup. Small changes in daily sugar intake can add up over time.

If you want to cut down gradually, you can also dilute syrups a little more each week, something you cannot do with pre‑bottled drinks. This flexibility is one of the main lifestyle advantages of home carbonation.

Sweeteners and additives

Some people prefer to avoid certain artificial sweeteners, while others are quite happy to use sugar‑free syrups to keep calories low. With a soda maker, you can choose exactly which sweeteners and flavourings you are comfortable with. That might mean using low‑sugar cordials, natural fruit concentrates, or simply enjoying unsweetened sparkling water.

Store bought fizzy drinks will always list their ingredients clearly, but you are limited to what each brand decides to use. Home carbonation gives you complete control rather than relying on someone else’s recipe.

Plastic waste and environmental impact

Cutting down on plastic bottles is a major motivation for many households considering a soda maker. While no solution is completely impact‑free, home carbonation can significantly reduce single‑use plastic, especially if you currently buy a lot of bottled sparkling water.

Bottled drinks versus reusable bottles

Most soda makers come with at least one reusable bottle designed to withstand repeated carbonation. For example, both the SodaStream Art and the FizzIt one‑touch soda maker include BPA‑free reusable bottles intended for long‑term use. Over time, a single bottle can replace dozens or even hundreds of disposable plastic bottles.

The exact impact depends on how much fizzy water you drink and how consistently you switch from store bought to homemade. If you only occasionally use your machine and still buy most fizzy drinks from the supermarket, the environmental benefits will obviously be limited.

Gas cylinders and recycling

Soda makers use pressurised CO₂ cylinders, which must be refilled or exchanged rather than thrown in the bin. Most brands operate a return and refill system so that cylinders are reused many times before they are eventually recycled. This does mean you need to keep track of exchanges, but it also reduces single‑use waste compared with constantly discarding bottles.

If you want to understand more about how bottles themselves fit into the picture, especially the trade‑offs between plastic and glass, you might find our dedicated guide on glass versus plastic bottles for home soda makers helpful.

Flavour variety and experimentation

Store bought fizzy drinks offer huge variety, especially if you include supermarket own‑brands and global soft drink names. However, you are limited to what the shop stocks on the day, and you usually have to buy an entire bottle or multipack to try anything new.

Home‑made flavours with soda makers

With a soda maker, every glass can be slightly different. You can mix small amounts of cordial, juice, herbs, spices or syrups directly in the glass until you find combinations you love. That might mean simple ideas like fizzy elderflower cordial or more creative drinks like sparkling cucumber and mint water.

For many households, this experimentation becomes part of the fun. Children and adults alike can create personalised drinks without needing to keep dozens of different bottles on hand. If you enjoy playing with recipes and trying new things, a soda maker is often more satisfying than relying only on pre‑made drinks.

What if you love branded favourites?

If you have a strong preference for specific branded colas, ginger beers or tonics, you may still want to buy those directly from the supermarket. Some people use their soda maker mainly for everyday sparkling water and simple flavours, but keep a few favourite cans or bottles for special occasions or when guests visit.

This hybrid approach lets you reduce plastic and cost for the drinks you consume most often, while still enjoying the exact branded taste you like when it matters. It does not need to be an all‑or‑nothing choice.

Who benefits most from a home soda machine?

Home soda machines are not for everyone. Thinking honestly about how you already drink fizzy beverages will help you decide whether the switch makes sense.

Great candidates for a soda maker

• Households that drink a lot of plain sparkling water every day.
• People who want to cut down on sugar but still enjoy satisfying fizzy drinks.
• Families who like customisation and are happy to experiment with flavours.
• Homes with limited storage space for bulk packs of bottles and cans.
• Anyone particularly motivated to reduce plastic waste from drinks packaging.

For these groups, a relatively simple machine like the SodaStream Terra or the one‑touch FizzIt soda maker can quickly become part of everyday life, replacing most bottled sparkling water purchases.

When store bought fizz still makes more sense

• If you only drink fizzy drinks occasionally or mainly when you are out.
• If you strongly prefer the taste of specific branded soft drinks and rarely drink plain sparkling water.
• If your kitchen counters are already very crowded and you have nowhere practical to place a machine.
• If you do not want to think about gas cylinder exchanges or basic equipment care.

In these situations, sticking with supermarket cans and bottles is often more straightforward, and the potential savings from a soda maker may never justify the upfront cost or the extra item in your kitchen.

Before buying, keep a simple tally of how many litres of fizzy water and soft drinks you actually go through in a typical week. That small bit of tracking can quickly reveal whether a soda maker would see regular use or just gather dust.