Artesian Spas vs Master Spas hot tubs
Best known for: DirectFlow, a pump per seat (Artesian Spas) and full foam, clamped manifold plumbing (Master Spas). Artesian Spas lists 41 hot tubs for 2 to 9 people, Master Spas 29 hot tubs for 3 to 8 people. Master Spas prices start at $7,295 (reported prices and list prices); Artesian Spas prices come from a dealer.
Artesian Spas
Shown: Dove Canyon
On the top tubs every massage seat gets its own pump and its own controls, all built in Las Vegas with full foam and a lifetime structure warranty, with a line for every budget below that.
Price on request
Get the price range
Master Spas
Shown: LSX 850
A big Indiana factory that builds all of its hot tubs in the USA, puts Michael Phelps's name on its flagship, and fits a mineral cartridge to every model.
From $7,295
Get the price rangeHow they differ
- DirectFlow: a pump per seat
- Full foam, lifetime structure
- US-built with standard parts
- Full foam, clamped manifold plumbing
- Built in its own Indiana plant
- Copper-zinc mineral filter standard
- Partly Self-supporting shell
- Partly Clamped plumbing
- Partly Manifold-fed jets
- Partly Standard parts
- Yes Self-supporting shell
- Yes Clamped plumbing
- Yes Manifold-fed jets
- Yes Standard parts
- Strong jets
- Standard, easy-to-source parts
- Strong sales and installation ratings
- Good local dealers earn praise
- Control panel and board failures
- Early pump failures
- Slow dealer-handled warranty repairs
- Control panel and pump failures
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.
- Garden Spas9 models · 2–6 seats
- Getaway Spas5 models · 3–5 seats · from $7,295
- LH Series5 models · 3–7 seats · from $9,695
- South Seas Spas19 models · 3–8 seats
- Clarity Spas7 models · 5–7 seats · from $11,999
- Artesian Elite5 models · 4–9 seats
- Michael Phelps Legend Series5 models · 5–8 seats · from $19,999
Which suits whom?
Artesian Spas, if you want
- DirectFlow: a pump per seat
- A tub that plugs into a regular outlet (10 models)
- A longer shell warranty (lifetime against 10 years)
Master Spas, if you want
- Full foam, clamped manifold plumbing
- A lounger (17 models against 8)
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 Artesian Spas model costs about $24 a month to keep hot and the middle Master Spas about $25 a month. In watts: 177 W (37 filings) and 191.5 W (28). Your bill also depends on your climate, how hot you keep it and how often the cover is off.
| Seats | Artesian Spas | Master Spas |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 158 W | 148 W |
| 4 | 165 W | 169.5 W |
| 5 | 189 W | 190.5 W |
| 6 | 181 W | 198 W |
| 7 | 206 W | 206.5 W |
| 8 | 253 W | 259 W |
Complaint records2
Artesian Spas. Not rated by the Better Business Bureau. No U.S. safety recall found.
Master Spas. Better Business Bureau grade A+, 20 complaints in three years. ConsumerAffairs 4.1 of 5 from 1,476 reviews. Latest U.S. recall: 2019.
Complaint counts grow with the number of tubs a company sells; how it answers them tells you more than the count.
Who owns them2
Artesian Spas belongs to Monomoy Capital Partners. Master Spas is privately held. Each company’s history: Artesian Spas and Master Spas.
Every figure side by side30
Model against model1
No manufacturer pays us. How we make money
Common questions
Is Artesian Spas better than Master Spas?
Neither is better for everyone. Artesian Spas suits you if you want a tub that plugs into a regular outlet (10 models) and a longer shell warranty (lifetime against 10 years). Master Spas suits you if you want a lounger (17 models against 8). Sit in both before you choose; dry is fine.
Which costs less, Artesian Spas or Master Spas?
Master Spas prices run $7,295 to $21,999 (reported prices and list prices). Artesian Spas 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 Artesian Spas and Master Spas made by the same company?
No. Artesian Spas belongs to Monomoy Capital Partners; Master Spas is privately held.
Where are Artesian Spas and Master Spas hot tubs made?
Artesian Spas builds in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Master Spas builds in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Sources
10
- California Energy Commission appliance database (spas)standby watts for Artesian Spas and Master Spas models
- Artesian Spas warrantyIsland Spas and Artesian Elite warranty terms
- Better Business Bureau: Artesian Spasrating and complaint count
- Ownership record: Artesian SpasMonomoy Capital Partners
- Master Spas warrantyMichael Phelps Legend Series and Twilight Series warranty terms
- Better Business Bureau: Master Spasrating and complaint count
- ConsumerAffairs: Master Spasowner rating
- CPSC recall, 2019 (Master Spas)recall notice
- Ownership record: Master SpasPrivately held
- CPSC recallsrecall search