Ninja Thirsti vs SodaStream: Which Should You Buy? (October 2026)

On this page (10 sections)

1. Ninja Thirsti vs SodaStream: which should you buy?
2. What are the main differences between Thirsti and SodaStream?
3. Which one is easiest to use each day?
4. Which machine suits a household with different drink preferences?
5. How should you compare CO₂ and refills?
6. Which one fits your counter?
7. What should you know about setup and care?
8. What does each machine include?
9. Who should buy each drink maker?
10. Final verdict: Ninja Thirsti vs SodaStream

Choose Ninja Thirsti for still or sparkling drinks with compatible flavor pods, SodaStream ART for sparkling water with manual fizz control, or Fountain for one-touch flavored drinks. In this Ninja Thirsti vs SodaStream comparison, start with the drink you make most often and how you want to flavor it.

Thirsti offers preset choices for still or sparkling drinks, 3 fizz levels and 2 serving sizes. The ART carbonates water with a lever, while the Fountain prepares flavored drinks with adjustable fizz, flavor intensity and serving size.

These are different routines, not just different machine shapes. Consider flavor compatibility, what comes in the box, counter space and how you expect to refill the CO₂ before choosing.

Ninja Thirsti vs SodaStream: which should you buy?

Choose Thirsti for still and sparkling drinks with compatible pods, the ART for sparkling water you flavor yourself, or Fountain for one-touch flavored drinks. Your regular drink and preferred flavor format make the choice clearer than brand loyalty.

Thirsti Ultimate includes a 60L CO₂ cylinder and a removable 48 oz water reservoir. Flavor pods are separate, so leave room in your setup and budget for them if you want flavored drinks.

The ART Value Bundle includes reusable bottles, bubly flavor drops and Quick Connect CO₂ cylinders. Its lever lets you build carbonation with presses, then flavor the water afterward.

The Fountain Starter Kit includes a 60L canister, a water tank, 2 flavor connectors and Pepsi Zero flavor. It lets you adjust carbonation, flavor intensity and drink size with one-touch preparation.

What are the main differences between Thirsti and SodaStream?

Thirsti dispenses still or sparkling drinks with compatible pods, while the ART carbonates water that you flavor afterward. Fountain is the SodaStream option for one-touch drink mixes and adjustable serving size.

Thirsti is the most flexible of the three for switching between still and sparkling drinks. Its 12 oz and 24 oz serving sizes make it easier to choose a smaller or larger pour, and its system works with more than 20 compatible flavors.

The ART keeps the steps simple: carbonate water, then add flavor if you want it. You control the fizz by pressing the lever, which suits people who want sparkling water to remain the main event.

Fountain offers more than 40 drink mix flavors, including Pepsi and Mountain Dew options. Its flavor connectors make it more focused on prepared drinks than the ART, but the connectors and mixes are a distinct system from Thirsti pods.

Ninja Thirsti vs SodaStream flavor systems

Choose Thirsti for Ninja pods, ART for flavor added after carbonation, or Fountain for SodaStream drink mixes. The formats are different, so check compatibility before buying flavor supplies.

Thirsti's pods are not included with the Ultimate system. You can still choose plain water, but flavored drinks require compatible pods.

The ART bundle includes bubly drops, and its carbonated water can also take Pepsi or Mountain Dew syrups or citrus. Add flavor after carbonating the water.

Fountain comes with 2 flavor connectors and Pepsi Zero flavor. The Fountain mix range includes more than 40 flavors, but its connectors are not the Thirsti pod system.

If you are choosing a pod flavor for Thirsti, see our Ninja Thirsti flavor guide. For a broader look at water-first machines, compare options in our best carbonated water makers guide.

Which one is easiest to use each day?

The ART is a direct fit for sparkling water, while Thirsti and Fountain give you more guided drink choices. Think about how many steps you want between filling the machine and taking a sip.

With the ART, place a reusable bottle and press the lever to build the fizz. One press makes a lighter fizz, and more presses make it stronger, so you can adjust each batch without a preset level.

Thirsti gives you controls for still or sparkling drinks, 3 carbonation levels and 2 serving sizes. Its 48 oz reservoir means you refill a separate water container as needed rather than preparing each glass from a bottle.

Fountain offers one-touch preparation and lets you adjust carbonation, flavor intensity and drink size. Its flavor connectors are set up for quick swaps between compatible drink mixes.

If this is your first SodaStream, our starter kit guide explains what to compare in a bundle. For SodaStream model differences beyond the two machines here, see SodaStream models explained.

Which machine suits a household with different drink preferences?

Thirsti and Fountain suit households that want ready-made flavor options, while the ART lets each person flavor sparkling water after carbonation. Choose based on whether people want the same base drink or different drinks on demand.

Thirsti's more than 20 zero and low-calorie flavors include soda, iced tea and fruit options. The ability to combine 2 flavors suits people who like to vary their mixes, though the pods are a separate purchase.

Fountain offers more than 40 drink mix flavors and adjustable serving size. That can suit a household that wants to prepare individual flavored drinks and change the mix between servings.

The ART offers a flexible shared base. Keep sparkling water plain for one person, then add drops, syrup or citrus to another glass after pouring.

A household that mostly drinks plain fizzy water may not use Thirsti's flavor system enough to justify choosing it over the ART. A household with people who prefer still drinks may find the ART's water-first design too narrow.

How should you compare CO₂ and refills?

Each machine includes a 60L CO₂ cylinder or canister, but connections and replacement options matter. Confirm the right refill system for the exact model before buying extra cylinders.

The ART uses SodaStream Quick Connect cylinders. SodaStream says each 60L cylinder makes up to 60 liters of sparkling water, and its exchange program uses participating retailers.

Thirsti Ultimate includes a 60L cylinder, while Fountain includes a 60L canister. Check the replacement guidance for the exact machine instead of assuming all cylinders fit every model.

Our Quick Connect and cylinder guide explains why the connection type matters. SodaStream's CO₂ exchange information can help ART owners find the brand's current refill route.

A common buying mistake is to compare only the cylinder capacity. The fit and exchange route affect whether refills are convenient where you live.

Which one fits your counter?

Measure the height and depth of the space before choosing, especially for the Fountain. Leave room to use controls, remove bottles or reservoirs, and follow each machine's setup instructions.

Thirsti Ultimate measures 13.13 in deep, 8.14 in wide and 15.98 in high. Its compact design is intended for different kitchen sizes, but those dimensions still need to work with your counter and storage.

The ART measures 9.6 in deep, 6.8 in wide and 16.9 in high. SodaStream says it fits under most upper cabinets, but measure your own clearance before placing it there.

Fountain measures 14.92 in deep, 15.31 in wide and 20.39 in high. Its larger footprint can make it a poor fit for a crowded counter, so measure both the surface and overhead space.

The ART has a retro-inspired shape and a visible lever. Thirsti and Fountain have a more appliance-like look, so consider whether you want to leave the machine out or store it between uses.

What should you know about setup and care?

Set each machine up with the water container and CO₂ connection it was designed for, then follow its model instructions. A clear counter and a familiar refill routine make the first drinks easier.

For the ART, keep the reusable bottles ready and use the lever to reach your preferred fizz. Its BPA-free bottles are dishwasher safe, which helps if you make sparkling water often.

For Thirsti, fill the removable reservoir and choose still or sparkling along with a serving size. Flavor pods are separate, so have compatible pods ready if your first drink is meant to be flavored.

For Fountain, set up its water tank and flavor connectors before choosing a drink. The included Pepsi Zero flavor gives you a starting mix, and the machine lets you adjust flavor intensity and carbonation.

Don't assume that a flavor or cylinder made for one system works with another. Keep the Thirsti pods, Fountain connectors and ART's post-carbonation additions in their appropriate routines.

What does each machine include?

The biggest difference in the boxes is the flavor supply and water container. Check those details against the drinks you expect to make first.

Thirsti Ultimate includes the drink station, a removable 48 oz temperature-sensitive water reservoir and a 60L CO₂ cylinder. It does not include flavor pods.

The ART Value Bundle includes the sparkling water maker, reusable BPA-free bottles, bubly drops and Quick Connect CO₂ cylinders. The bundle specifies 3 cylinders, a dishwasher-safe bottle, a dishwasher-safe twin pack and 2 bubly drops.

Fountain Starter Kit includes a CO₂ canister, water tank, 2 flavor connectors and Pepsi Zero flavor. This makes it the most ready-to-go option for someone who wants to start with a flavored drink.

A common mistake is to compare starter kits by machine alone. Count the bottles, tank, connectors and flavors you will actually use, then check which extras you would need to buy separately.

Who should buy each drink maker?

Buy Thirsti for varied still and sparkling drinks, ART for manual control over sparkling water, and Fountain for quick flavored drinks. Skip a system when its flavor format or counter footprint doesn't suit your routine.

Ninja Thirsti Ultimate Drink System

Thirsti suits you if your household switches between still and sparkling drinks and wants to choose from compatible flavors. The 12 oz and 24 oz sizes also suit people who want more than one serving option.

Skip it if you prefer flavor drops or syrups added to sparkling water, or if you don't want to choose pods separately. Its flavor range is useful only if you expect to use that system.

SodaStream Art Value Bundle

ART suits you if sparkling water is the main goal and you want to control fizz by pressing a lever. The reusable, dishwasher-safe bottles and included bubly drops make the bundle a natural fit for frequent water carbonation.

Skip it if you want the machine to dispense still drinks or flavored drinks as part of a pod or connector system. The ART's routine is to carbonate water, then add flavor if desired.

SodaStream Fountain Starter Kit

Fountain suits you if you want one-touch flavored drinks with adjustable fizz, flavor intensity and serving size. Its included Pepsi Zero flavor and connectors give you a starting point for its drink-mix system.

Skip it if you have limited counter space or want a water-first machine with a simpler flavor routine. Its dimensions and distinct connectors make those details central to the decision.

Final verdict: Ninja Thirsti vs SodaStream

Pick Ninja Thirsti for still or sparkling drinks with compatible pods, SodaStream ART for sparkling water with manual fizz control, or Fountain for one-touch flavored drinks. Choose the system whose regular routine you can picture using every day.

For a deeper look at Thirsti, read our Ninja Thirsti review. If SodaStream is the likely choice, SodaStream models explained compares the options across its range.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ninja Thirsti better than SodaStream?

Ninja Thirsti is a better fit if you want still or sparkling drinks, 2 serving sizes and flavors from compatible pods. SodaStream ART is a better fit if you mainly want sparkling water and want to control fizz with a manual lever.

Choose according to your usual drink and how you want to add flavor.

Can Ninja Thirsti make plain sparkling water?

Yes. Ninja Thirsti offers still or sparkling drinks with 3 fizz levels.

Its compatible flavor pods add another option, but they are not included with the Ultimate Drink System.

Choose the ART if your routine is mainly sparkling water with flavor added afterward.

Do Ninja Thirsti and SodaStream use the same flavors?

No. Thirsti uses compatible Ninja flavor pods, while SodaStream ART can take flavor drops, Pepsi or Mountain Dew syrups, or citrus after you carbonate the water.

SodaStream Fountain uses its own flavor connectors and drink mixes.

Check compatibility before buying flavors for a machine.

Which SodaStream is most like Ninja Thirsti?

The SodaStream Fountain is closer to Thirsti if you want flavored drinks with adjustable serving size and fizz. The ART is more focused on sparkling water that you flavor after carbonation.

Their flavor systems differ, so the closest choice depends on whether one-touch flavored drinks matter to you.

Can you put syrup in a SodaStream?

For the ART, carbonate water first, then add flavor drops, Pepsi or Mountain Dew syrup, or citrus. The Fountain uses flavor connectors and compatible drink mixes.

Follow the instructions for your exact model and flavor system; our guide to adding juice to a SodaStream covers why carbonation order matters.