4 Best Air Up Alternatives in the UK (2024)

Air Up Alternatives

Last updated: 10.12.2023 Reading time: 11 Min.

Air Up has certainly caught attention with its distinctly flavoured water.

We love the fresh drinking experience it offers, but the price? Not so much.

With a price tag of around £35, it's a bit pricey. 💰

Wouldn't getting this unique experience without the high price tag be great?

We've searched the UK to bring you some of the best Air Up water bottle alternatives. 🇬🇧

Let's dive in and see how well they work.

Air Up alternatives

Find out more about our favorites now

Best alternative

Fienza Starter Set

The scent pods are calorie and sugar-free and make your plain water look like it has flavour.

The Fienza starter set costs less than half of Air Up and offers an affordable way to experience the innovative concept of flavoured water.

If you’re looking for something like Air Up but cheaper, the Fienza Water Bottle Starter Set might pique your interest.

It has many good reviews on Amazon and costs less than half the price of Air Up! 🤑

But is it just as good, or is it just a cheap copy? We tested this Air Up dupe to find out.

Testing the Fienza water bottle starter set
Image: © Smart Home Fox

Fienza works on the same concept as Air Up.

The smell of real fruit from the pods makes your brain think you’re drinking flavoured water, even though it’s just plain water. 🍓

The bottle is made of safe, BPA-free Tritan plastic and has a leak-proof cap to take it wherever you go.

But we did find a few things that could be improved.

This flask is good, but the pods look and feel cheap compared to Air Up.

Testing the quality of bottle and pods on the Fienza water bottle starter set
The Fienza water starter set's bottle and pod construction lacks durability. Image: © Smart Home Fox

After the first few sips, the scent of the pods faded, and the water became bland. 🍼

Also, you can't choose the flavour of the pod on Amazon.

So, does it work? Just a little bit. 😕

Is it a replica of Air Up? Yes.

But can it replace Air Up? Probably not. Over time, you can save money with Air Up because the flavour lasts longer.

The Fienza starter set is a good choice if you want to try this new way of drinking.

But we don't think it's a sustainable option.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Offers a unique drinking experience at a significantly lower price

Flask is made of high-quality, BPA-free Tritan plastic

Leak proof design allows easy portability for school or gym

Disadvantages

Flavour pods seem to be of lower quality

There's no option to choose your preferred flavour pod

The pod's scent faded after just a few sips

The package arrived with a damaged box, but the bottle inside was undamaged

Preservative and sugar free cubes

Waterdrop Starter Set

Experience the authentic taste of natural fruits and plants that enhance the taste of water.

The Waterdrop starter set is 100% sugar-free and captures the full flavour and fragrance of the fruit through a careful distillation process.

The Water Drop Starter Set is a must-try if you're looking for a real fruit taste in your water.

They only use fruits and vegetables from trusted farmers around the world. 👩🏼‍🌾

The fruits are then distilled, removed from the water, and dried on site.

This unique process ensures that the full aroma and flavour of the fruit are preserved.

In this way, the fruits are transformed into a clean, preservative-free powder and then processed into cubes. 🧊

To enjoy the flavour, you must dissolve one cube in about 500 ml of water.

Dissolving waterdrop cube in water.
To experience the taste, mix one Waterdrop cube in roughly 500 ml of water. 

Some people have found that their cubes taste much more intense than Air Up.

Like Air Up, Waterdrop offers a starter set with a glass or stainless steel bottle.

The original bottle is made of durable, odourless, tasteless borosilicate glass resistant to heat and scratches. 🔥

It also has a steel lid that makes it extremely durable.

You can wash the bottle in the dishwasher, but cleaning the cap by hand is better.

However, the price of the Waterdrop starter set is similar to that of Air Up, and three sets of cubes are only enough for about 11 litres.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Offers authentic flavours of natural fruits & plants

Utilises a unique process to preserve the full aroma and taste

Ingredients are exclusively sourced from trusted global farmers

The hydration cubes are preservative-free

Provides a starter set with a choice of a durable glass or steel flask

The bottle is durable, odourless, tasteless, and dishwasher safe

Disadvantages

Priced similarly to Air Up

The starter set only lasts for around 11 litres

The steel cap needs to be washed by hand

Infused with natural fruit flavours

Hydracy Infuser Bottle

Enjoy water infused with natural fruit flavours all day long.

With the Hydracy water bottle, you can enjoy water that is not only refreshing but also contains many vitamins and nutrients from fresh fruit.

If you are looking for an Air Up alternative, you can also give fruit-infused water a try.

The Hydracy water bottle has a full-length infusion basket to add chopped fruit. 🗑️

The flavour of the fruit will soak into the water over time, giving it a refreshing taste.

Although the Hydracy water bottle works differently from Air Up, it encourages increased water intake.

The water contains no additional preservatives, as real fruit is used for the infusion.

Plus, drinking fruit-infused water gives you some good vitamins and nutrients directly from the fruit.

The original Hydracy bottle is made of high-quality, 100% BPA-free Tritan plastic and holds 1 litre of water.

It even has a time marker to see how much water you drink. ⏰

The flask is carefully crafted to prevent leaks. It has a silicone O-ring on the infuser basket and a safety cap on the lid.

Quality of the Hydracy infuser bottle
The Hydracy infuser bottle is sturdily built to ensure no leakage.

The intensity of the fruit flavour depends on how much fruit you put in the infuser basket.

The more juicy fruit you add, the better the taste of your water will be. 😋

However, unlike Air Up, it contains some sugar and calories from the fruit.

If you find plain water boring and love the taste of fresh fruit, the Hydracy water bottle is a cheap and good alternative to Air Up.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Offers natural fruit-infused water

No preservatives due to real fruit infusion

Designed meticulously to prevent any leaks with a silicone O-ring and a security latch

Made with BPA free Tritan plastic, ensuring safety

Time marker to measure your water intake

More affordable compared to similar products like Air Up

Disadvantages

The flavour might depend on the quantity and type of fruit, leading to inconsistency in taste

Infusing may require extra preparation time

May contain minimal calories and sugar from the fruits

Liquid water enhancer

MiO Water Enhancer

Liquid enhancer to make your water flavourful without adding any calories.

Mio Water Enhancer has an intense taste that can imitate soft drinks.

Mio Water Enhancer is another option to add flavour to your regular water. 💦

This liquid enhancer is available in different flavours and has an intense taste.

The taste can mimic soft drinks, especially when mixed with sparkling water.
To flavour your water, all you need to do is add half a teaspoon of Mio Enhancer to 250 ml of water.

A single pack of Mio is enough for 24 glasses of water.

Mio is sweetened with artificial, zero-calorie sweeteners.

MHRA UK approves these sweeteners as safe for everyone, including children and pregnant women.

You can even mix different Mio flavours to create your special drink.🥤

While Mio can be a good alternative to Air Up, it contains artificial sweeteners and is not as healthy as Air Up.

Check Amazon*

Advantages

Multiple flavours to choose from

Easy to use and mix with water

Can create custom flavours by mixing different ones

Calorie-free sweetening option

Compact and portable packaging

Disadvantages

Contains artificial sweeteners

More expensive compared to Air Up

What is the Air Up water bottle?

Air Up is a German company founded by two students, Lena Jüngst and Tim Jäger. 🇩🇪

The company has changed how we experience flavours, using neuroscience to make drinking water a whole new experience.

This is made possible through a phenomenon known as retronasal smell.

You get an original bottle and 3 flavour pods when you buy the Air Up starter set.

Air Up bottle
© Smart Home Fox

Once the Air Up pods are attached to the bottle and activated, they release the scent into the water, and your brain thinks you're tasting something, even though it's just plain water.

There are over 30 different flavours, and because it's just a scent, there are no calories, sweeteners or preservatives.

Do you want to know more about Air Up? Read our in-depth Air up review.

What are Air Up dupes?

Air Up Dupes are products that reflect the innovative concept of Air Up.

They work on the same principle of flavour perception.

As Air Up is manufactured in China, a large number of similar products have appeared on the market. 🏪

But are they as good as Air Up? Not really.

Take the Fienza water starter set, for example. It tries to add flavour to the water through the smell, just like Air Up, but it doesn’t last as long.

There are also alternatives to Air Up that don’t necessarily work on the same principle but offer other methods of flavouring water.

A good example is Waterdrops, which changes the taste of the water without adding calories or sugar.

What makes flavoured water different from plain water?

Difference between flavoured and plain water

Air Up's flavoured water is essentially the same as regular water.

As we have discussed, Air Up releases its flavour to the water exclusively through the sense of smell.

However, the scenario changes when considering other alternatives, which usually use fruit extracts or infusions to infuse the water with flavour. 🤤

Unlike plain water, flavoured water can offer a variety of flavours, colours and sometimes additional nutrients from the fruits or extracts used.

This can lead to people drinking more water because it is not boring.

But plain water is just that: plain. It's good for you, but it has no taste.

Some flavoured waters that contain fruit may have a bit of calories from the fruit, but it's usually not much.

All the Air Up alternatives we reviewed in our test contain little to no calories, so the water is still good for you.

Who should buy flavoured water?

Have you ever wondered if flavoured water is for you? 🤔

Is it suitable for people who work out a lot, want to eat healthily, or perhaps on a special diet?

Let’s find out.

Good for people who struggle with hydration

Some people find drinking enough water difficult because it tastes like nothing.

Flavoured water can help with this.

It makes the water taste interesting so that people want to drink more.

This is helpful for those who forget to consume water during the day. 🌞

Perfect for health-conscious people

People who care deeply about their health choose carefully what they drink.

Flavoured water can be a good choice for them because it is flavourful but does not contain sugar and does not have many calories.

Good for people who have dietary restrictions

People with diabetes need to be very careful what they drink. 💉

Flavoured water can be a good option for them.

This way, they can enjoy different flavours without worrying about sugar.

This is very important to keep their blood sugar levels stable.

Are the health benefits of flavoured water the same as plain water?

If flavoured water contains no sugar, calories or fake additives, it’s as good for you as regular water because it helps you stay hydrated.

Staying hydrated is essential. 💧

It helps you digest your food, absorb nutrients and keep your skin healthy.

The Hydracy water bottle and Waterdrop starter kit are a great choice because they contain no additives, sugar, or calories.

However, Mio may not be as healthy as regular water in the long run because it contains an artificial sweetener. 😕

So, reading the labels to ensure your flavoured water is additive-free is very important.

What’s the best cheap alternative to the Air Up drinking bottle?

If you're looking for a cheap Air Up dupe, the Fienza starter kit could be one of your best bets.

It costs less than half the price of Air Up, making it a good option for those on a budget.

However, it only contains one pod, and the scent doesn't last long. The initial smell isn't very strong either. 👃🏼

Another good and affordable Air Up alternative is the Hydracy water bottle.

It allows you to enjoy the freshness and nutrients of fruit without consuming extra sugar.

What to consider when buying an Air Up alternative?

If you're looking for something similar to Air Up, it's important to know what to look for so you can find the right one for you. 👀

It's not just about taste but also finding something healthy.

Here's what you need to know when looking for an Air Up alternative.

Should have minimal to zero calories

If you are looking for an Air Up alternative, it is essential to consider the calorie content.

You should choose options that contain few or no calories so you can enjoy your drink without worrying about extra intake.

This is especially important for those mindful of their calorie consumption or eating and drinking healthily. ⚖️

You can increase your water consumption and stay healthy by choosing flavoured water with no calories.

No added sugars or preservatives

If you switch to flavoured water, checking the label for added sugar or preservatives is crucial.

A flavoured water that is free of these substances means that you aren't adding unwanted chemicals or extra sugar to your body.

It's about enjoying the essence of taste without the unnecessary and often harmful extras that come with many drinks.🧋

Health conscious materials

You should always choose products made from materials that are kind to your body.

If it's a plastic bottle, it should be made of BPA-free and durable plastic so that it's safe and lasts for a long time. 🚫

If you choose a metal bottle, stainless steel is a good choice.

It's also good if the bottle doesn't leak, so you can put it in your bag and take it wherever you go without worrying about spills.

Good selection of flavours

When looking for something similar to Air Up, finding an alternative with many flavour choices is important.

Having many options means that every time you drink water, it's a good experience, and you don't get bored with just one flavour.

The idea is to find a product that encourages you to drink more water with a wide range of flavours.

It's also very important that these flavours taste good. 😋

The better the taste, the more water you drink.

Is it worth buying an Air Up alternative?

Consuming water is undoubtedly more fun with Air Up.

But if you're looking for something similar that's cheaper, there are other options. 💷

We tried the Fienza Starter Kit, but it didn't work well for us.

So we advise you not to waste money on this Air Up dupe.

On the other hand, Waterdrop and the Hydracy bottle are a good choice. 😍

They work on a different principle than Air Up but still make drinking water more enjoyable.

These Air Up alternatives would help you increase your water consumption.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is there an alternative to air up?


    If you're looking for something similar to Air Up, you will find some good options on the market. 🛍️

    Although they can't replicate Air Up's unique method, they will improve the taste of your water without adding calories or sugar.

    Two options to consider are the WaterDrop Starter Kit and the Hydracy Infuser Bottle.

  • Is the air up bottle worth it?


    It depends on what you're looking for.

    The Air Up bottle has made a noticeable difference in our daily water consumption. 💦

    However, we're still undecided whether it suits our daily routine.

    It's worth trying, but we think the price is too high.

Aeman

Aeman

After finishing my Masters in Journalism, I found a new interest in copywriting. That’s when I figured how smart home gadgets can make life easier. Now, I love to explore new tech for SmartHomeFox and share what I find with our readers. When I’m not working with gadgets, you’ll find me capturing fleeting moments in the mountains or experimenting with new recipes that may or may not be edible.

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