Yes, sparkling water is the same as soda. Actually Soda water or seltzer water is another name of sparkling water. Both soda and sparkling water is made by carbonating water and adding minerals in it. soda is a common name for sparkling water. But it is not an other product as the main ingredient for both of them is water and just some added minerals. If there is any difference in sparkling water and soda it is the only the method of carbonation. Sparkling water is often naturally carbonated and collected from natural springs. On the other hand, soda water is artificially injected with carbon dioxide to make it fizzy. The fizz is the base of both drinks, that is why they are almost the same.