The decision
This is not a close call if you know your use case. SodaStream wins for simple sparkling water. Drinkmate wins for experimentation. The mistake is buying SodaStream for cocktails, or buying Drinkmate when you only wanted bubbly water with lemon.
Side by side
| Feature | Drinkmate OmniFizz | SodaStream ART |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Carbonating more than water | Simple sparkling water |
| Drink flexibility | Water, juice, tea, wine, cocktails, flat soda | Water only |
| Power | Manual | Manual |
| Cylinder story | Standard CO2 cylinder ecosystem | SodaStream Quick Connect ecosystem |
| Cleaning | More parts to rinse | Simpler |
| Best buyer | Home bar or experimenter | Daily sparkling water drinker |
Product picks
Drinkmate OmniFizz
The better pick if you want to carbonate juice, tea, wine, cocktails, or flat soda. The detachable Fizz Infuser is the whole reason to buy it over SodaStream.
Strengths
- Carbonates many cold drinks
- Manual, no plug required
- Best for home-bar experimentation
Tradeoffs
- More cleaning than SodaStream
- Bottle recall history means date-code checks matter
SodaStream ART
The safer mainstream buy if you mostly want sparkling water. The ART has a clean manual lever, broad retail support, and the easiest cylinder and flavor ecosystem.
Strengths
- Simpler ownership
- Broad cylinder and flavor availability
- Cleaner counter design than budget SodaStreams
Tradeoffs
- Water only
- Less flexible for cocktails and juice
Choose Drinkmate OmniFizz if…
You want a carbonation tool for drinks, not just water. Drinkmate is the one to buy if your brain immediately goes to sparkling lemonade, cold brew experiments, wine spritzes, cocktails, and reviving flat soda.
The only operational caution: if you buy used or old inventory, check the bottle date code. Certain Drinkmate 1 liter bottles sold from April 2023 through October 2024 were recalled, so bottle replacement matters.
Choose SodaStream ART if…
You drink a lot of sparkling water and want the easiest mainstream system. ART gives you the lever, the SodaStream flavor universe, and a retail cylinder exchange path that is easier to find than most rivals.
Related decisions
- Full rankings: best sparkling water makers.
- Inside SodaStream: SodaStream ART vs E-Terra.
- Beverage station companion: best nugget ice makers.
Frequently asked questions
Can Drinkmate really carbonate anything?
Drinkmate is designed for many cold drinks, including water, juice, tea, wine, cocktails, and flat soda. Use reasonable fill levels and follow the Fizz Infuser release instructions. Do not carbonate dairy or pulpy drinks.
Can SodaStream ART carbonate anything besides water?
No. SodaStream ART is for water. You add syrup, fruit, or flavor after carbonating.
Which one is easier to clean?
SodaStream ART. Drinkmate is more flexible, but the Fizz Infuser adds a part that has to be rinsed because it touches whatever drink you carbonate.
