American Whirlpool vs Bullfrog hot tubs
Best known for: built in Arizona (American Whirlpool) and swappable JetPak massage seats (Bullfrog). American Whirlpool lists 22 hot tubs for 2 to 8 people, Bullfrog 25 hot tubs for 3 to 10 people. Bullfrog prices start at $8,395 (series starting prices, MSRP); American Whirlpool prices come from a dealer.
American Whirlpool
Shown: 101
Therapy seats laid out by medical specialists, on a steel frame warranted for life, wrapped in patented insulation a technician can open up and service in your backyard, all built in Arizona.
Price on request
Get the price range
Bullfrog
Shown: M6
The hot tub you customize seat by seat: pick from up to 16 JetPak massage backs when you buy, move or upgrade them any time, all on a wood-free, Utah-built frame with a lifetime warranty.
From $8,395
Get the price rangeHow they differ
- Built in Arizona
- Small models run on 120V
- Physician-designed therapy seats
- Swappable JetPak massage seats
- Built in Utah
- Less plumbing, fewer leaks
- Partly Self-supporting shell
- Not published Clamped plumbing
- Not published Manifold-fed jets
- Yes Standard parts
- No Self-supporting shell
- Not published Clamped plumbing
- Partly Manifold-fed jets
- Partly Standard parts
- Price relative to premium competitors
- Dealer relationship and local service
- Swappable JetPaks
- Owners praise the massage
- Thin, mostly unfavorable owner discussion
- Parts availability and lead time on older units
- JetPak seals that leak or buzz
- Service hinges on the local dealer
Which lines compete? Tier by tier.
Each maker sorts its own series from entry to flagship; we group them the same way so you can price like against like.
- 100 Series4 models · 2–5 seats
- Calm3 models · 6–7 seats · from $8,395
- 200 Series7 models · 2–7 seats
- X Series7 models · 3–8 seats · from $8,895
- 400 Series8 models · 3–6 seats
- A Series9 models · 3–9 seats · from $12,095
- STIL2 models · 4–6 seats · from $16,695
- 800 Series2 models · 5–6 seats
- 900 Series1 model · 8 seats
- M Series4 models · 7–10 seats · from $24,695
Which suits whom?
American Whirlpool, if you want
- Built in Arizona
- A 2-seat tub for a small space
Bullfrog, if you want
- Swappable JetPak massage seats
- A tub that plugs into a regular outlet (4 models)
- Room for 10
Fit decides more than any figure here. Sit in both in the seat you would use most (dry is fine), feel the jets on a running display tub with the back of your hand, and read both warranty cards before you sign.
What’s a good deal on either?
Pick a brand. We send you the price range, then connect you with one dealer near you for it.
The details
Keeping it hot: standby power and cost2
Standby is what a tub draws to hold its heat with the cover on and nobody in it. California tests it for every spa sold in the state. At the US average 18.19¢ per kWh (January to July 2026), the middle American Whirlpool model costs about $32 a month to keep hot and the middle Bullfrog about $27 a month. In watts: 238 W (22 filings) and 207 W (23). Your bill also depends on your climate, how hot you keep it and how often the cover is off.
| Seats | American Whirlpool | Bullfrog |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 173 W | 157.5 W |
| 4 | 191 W | 158 W |
| 5 | 249.5 W | 166 W |
| 6 | 242.5 W | 179.5 W |
| 7 | 262 W | 208.5 W |
| 8 | 350 W | 233 W |
Complaint records2
American Whirlpool. Better Business Bureau grade A+, 2 complaints in three years. Latest U.S. recall: 2018.
Bullfrog. Better Business Bureau grade A, 31 complaints in three years. ConsumerAffairs 1.5 of 5 from 58 reviews. No U.S. safety recall found.
Complaint counts grow with the number of tubs a company sells; how it answers them tells you more than the count.
Who owns them2
American Whirlpool belongs to Centerbridge Partners. Bullfrog is privately held. Each company’s history: American Whirlpool and Bullfrog.
What to ask in the showroom2
- Clamped plumbing: neither brand publishes it. Ask: “Are the hoses on this model clamped at the barbs, or just glued?”
- Manifold-fed jets: American Whirlpool doesn't publish it. Ask: “Does each jet here get its own hose from a manifold, or are they chained?”
Every figure side by side30
No manufacturer pays us. How we make money
Common questions
Is American Whirlpool better than Bullfrog?
Neither is better for everyone. American Whirlpool suits you if you want a 2-seat tub for a small space. Bullfrog suits you if you want a tub that plugs into a regular outlet (4 models) and room for 10. Sit in both before you choose; dry is fine.
Which costs less, American Whirlpool or Bullfrog?
Bullfrog prices run $8,395 to $30,395 (series starting prices, MSRP). American Whirlpool doesn't post prices we can publish, so a dealer quotes them. Compare like with like: the lines that compete tier by tier are listed on this page.
Are American Whirlpool and Bullfrog made by the same company?
No. American Whirlpool belongs to Centerbridge Partners; Bullfrog is privately held.
Where are American Whirlpool and Bullfrog hot tubs made?
American Whirlpool builds in Chandler, Arizona and Ottumwa, Iowa. Bullfrog builds in Bluffdale, Utah and Herriman, Utah.
Sources
11
- California Energy Commission appliance database (spas)standby watts for American Whirlpool and Bullfrog models
- American Whirlpool warranty400 Series, 800 Series and 900 Series warranty terms
- Better Business Bureau: American Whirlpoolrating and complaint count
- CPSC recall, 2018 (American Whirlpool)recall notice
- CPSC recall, 2003 (American Whirlpool)recall notice
- Ownership record: American WhirlpoolCenterbridge Partners
- Bullfrog Spas warrantyA Series, M Series and STIL warranty terms
- Better Business Bureau: Bullfrog Spasrating and complaint count
- ConsumerAffairs: Bullfrog Spasowner rating
- Ownership record: Bullfrog SpasPrivately held
- CPSC recallsrecall search