American Whirlpool vs Hot Spring hot tubs
Best known for: built in Arizona (American Whirlpool) and Moto-Massage jet travels your back (Hot Spring). American Whirlpool lists 22 hot tubs for 2 to 8 people, Hot Spring 24 hot tubs for 2 to 7 people. Hot Spring prices start at $5,499 (list 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
Hot Spring
Shown: Vanguard
The world's best-selling hot tub, built by its own maker since 1977: a massage jet that travels up and down your back, salt water that can go up to a year between drains, and filtration that runs around the clock.
From $5,499
Get the price rangeHow they differ
- Built in Arizona
- Small models run on 120V
- Physician-designed therapy seats
- Moto-Massage jet travels your back
- 24-hour, no-bypass filtration
- Built-in salt water system
- Partly Self-supporting shell
- Not published Clamped plumbing
- Not published Manifold-fed jets
- Yes Standard parts
- Partly Self-supporting shell
- Not published Clamped plumbing
- Not published Manifold-fed jets
- Partly Standard parts
- Price relative to premium competitors
- Dealer relationship and local service
- Long service life
- Seating, looks and setup
- Thin, mostly unfavorable owner discussion
- Parts availability and lead time on older units
- Slow, costly leak repairs
- Salt cartridges dying early
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
- Freeflow5 models · 2–5 seats · from $5,499
- 200 Series7 models · 2–7 seats
- Hot Spot6 models · 2–7 seats · from $9,999
- 400 Series8 models · 3–6 seats
- Limelight5 models · 4–7 seats · from $14,499
- 800 Series2 models · 5–6 seats
- 900 Series1 model · 8 seats
- Highlife8 models · 3–7 seats · from $17,499
Which suits whom?
American Whirlpool, if you want
- Built in Arizona
- A longer shell warranty (up to 10 years against 7 years)
- Room for 8
Hot Spring, if you want
- Moto-Massage jet travels your back
- A tub that plugs into a regular outlet (11 models)
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 Hot Spring about $23 a month. In watts: 238 W (22 filings) and 175.5 W (24). Your bill also depends on your climate, how hot you keep it and how often the cover is off.
| Seats | American Whirlpool | Hot Spring |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 156 W | 117 W |
| 3 | 173 W | 146 W |
| 4 | 191 W | 159 W |
| 5 | 249.5 W | 178 W |
| 6 | 242.5 W | 196 W |
| 7 | 262 W | 211 W |
Complaint records2
American Whirlpool. Better Business Bureau grade A+, 2 complaints in three years. Latest U.S. recall: 2018.
Hot Spring. Better Business Bureau grade C-, 18 complaints in three years. ConsumerAffairs 2.8 of 5 from 163 reviews. Latest U.S. recall: 2026.
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. Hot Spring belongs to Masco Corporation. Each company’s history: American Whirlpool and Hot Spring.
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: neither brand publishes 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 Hot Spring?
Neither is better for everyone. American Whirlpool suits you if you want a longer shell warranty (up to 10 years against 7 years) and room for 8. Hot Spring suits you if you want a tub that plugs into a regular outlet (11 models). Sit in both before you choose; dry is fine.
Which costs less, American Whirlpool or Hot Spring?
Hot Spring prices run $5,499 to $27,999 (list 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 Hot Spring made by the same company?
No. American Whirlpool belongs to Centerbridge Partners; Hot Spring belongs to Masco Corporation.
Where are American Whirlpool and Hot Spring hot tubs made?
American Whirlpool builds in Chandler, Arizona and Ottumwa, Iowa. Hot Spring builds in Vista, California and Tijuana, Mexico.
Sources
12
- California Energy Commission appliance database (spas)standby watts for American Whirlpool and Hot Spring 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
- Hot Spring warrantyHighlife and Limelight warranty terms
- Better Business Bureau: Hot Springrating and complaint count
- ConsumerAffairs: Hot Springowner rating
- CPSC recall, 2026 (Hot Spring)recall notice
- CPSC recall, 2012 (Hot Spring)recall notice
- Ownership record: Hot SpringMasco Corporation