Sundance vs Artesian Spas hot tubs

Best known for: Fluidix jets, no moving parts (Sundance) and DirectFlow, a pump per seat (Artesian Spas). Sundance lists 19 hot tubs for 3 to 8 people, Artesian Spas 41 hot tubs for 2 to 9 people.

Updated October 2026By the HotTubFinder research desk

Sundance

Shown: Claremont

Massage jets with no moving parts, big two-stage filters and UV-C water care on every model.

Price on request

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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

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How they differ

SundanceArtesian Spas

PricePrice on requestPrice on request

Lineup19 hot tubs in 4 series41 hot tubs in 4 series

Seats3 to 82 to 9

With a lounger11 of 19 models8 of 41 models

Plugs into a regular outlet3 models10 models

Known for

Fluidix jets, no moving parts
Two-stage MicroClean filtration
Steel frame, 10-year warranty

DirectFlow: a pump per seat
Full foam, lifetime structure
US-built with standard parts

Build checks

No Self-supporting shell
Partly Clamped plumbing
Yes Manifold-fed jets
Partly Standard parts

Partly Self-supporting shell
Partly Clamped plumbing
Partly Manifold-fed jets
Partly Standard parts

Shell warrantyUp to 10 yearsLifetime

Owners like

Massage and jet quality
Solid shell and mechanicals

Strong jets
Standard, easy-to-source parts

Owners complain about

Warranty claim disputes
Dealer service quality

Control panel and board failures
Early pump failures

Built inMexicoNorth Las Vegas, Nevada

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.

SundanceArtesian Spas

Value

680 Series5 models · 3–7 seats

Garden Spas9 models · 2–6 seats

Mid-range

780 Series5 models · 3–7 seats

South Seas Spas19 models · 3–8 seats

Premium

880 Series7 models · 3–8 seats

Island Spas8 models · 3–9 seats

Luxury

980 Series2 models · 6–7 seats

Artesian Elite5 models · 4–9 seats

Which suits whom?

Sundance, if you want

Fluidix jets, no moving parts

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)

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.

Sundance: get the price range Artesian Spas: get the price range

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 Sundance model costs about $21 a month to keep hot and the middle Artesian Spas about $24 a month. In watts: 157 W (19 filings) and 177 W (37). Your bill also depends on your climate, how hot you keep it and how often the cover is off.

Median standby watts by seat count
Seats	Sundance	Artesian Spas
3	123 W	158 W
5	136 W	189 W
6	160 W	181 W
7	164 W	206 W
8	193 W	253 W

Complaint records2

Sundance. Better Business Bureau grade D-, 5 complaints in three years. ConsumerAffairs 1.1 of 5 from 66 reviews. Latest U.S. recall: 2022.

Artesian Spas. Not rated by the Better Business Bureau. 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

Sundance belongs to Investindustrial. Artesian Spas belongs to Monomoy Capital Partners. Each company’s history: Sundance and Artesian Spas.

Every figure side by side29

Measure	Sundance	Artesian Spas
Lineup
Hot tub models	19	41
Seats	3 to 8	2 to 9
120V plug-in models	3 models	10 models
Build checks
Checks cleared	3 of 8	2 of 8
Self-supporting shell	NoA base pan and a separate frame hold it up.	PartlyFiberglass-backed shell, but a wood frame and foam share the load.
Clamped plumbing	PartlySome joints are clamped barbs, others are glued slip fittings.	PartlyGlued barb joints, no clamps on the main runs since 2019.
Manifold-fed jets	YesManifold-fed.	PartlyManifolds on Elite models; the maker doesn't say for the rest of the range.
Standard parts	PartlyPumps and filters are standard parts; jets and boards are not.	PartlyBalboa, Gecko and Waterway inside, but fitting your own voids coverage.
Compression-fitted jets	PartlyMany jet bodies bolt in with a nut; the main Fluidix body isn't documented.	PartlySome jet bodies come with a nut and gasket; most aren't documented.
Adjustable jets	YesTurn the outer dial on each jet.	YesEach Elite seat gets its own pump, air and flow control.
Service network	Yes359 authorized dealers, and they do the warranty repairs.	PartlyDealer-only service, and Artesian never publishes how many dealers exist.
American made?	PartlyBuilt in Mexico.	YesBuilt in North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Standby power
Models with a California filing	19 of 19	37 of 41
Median standby	157 WMedian of 19 filings	177 WMedian of 37 filings
Median standby, 6-seat models	160 WMedian of 8	181 WMedian of 11
Lowest standby model	108 WDover	135 WAzalea
Jets and pumps
Jets per model	21 to 66Most jets: Aspen	21 to 71Most jets: Pelican Bay
Jet pumps per model	1 to 3	1 to 5
Warranty
Shell structure, top series	10 years880 Series, 980 Series and 780 Series	LifetimeIsland Spas and Artesian Elite
Equipment, top series	5 years	5 years
Plumbing, top series	5 years	5 years
Shell structure, entry series	5 years680 Series	LifetimeGarden Spas
Company
Built in	Mexico	North Las Vegas, Nevada
Founded	1979Costa Mesa, California	1993Las Vegas, Nevada (early manufacturing in Victorville, California)
Owner	Investindustrial	Monomoy Capital Partners
Records
BBB rating	D-Not accredited	Not ratedNot accredited
BBB complaints, 3 years	5	Not published
ConsumerAffairs	1.1 of 566 reviews	No review page
U.S. safety recalls	1 recallLatest 2022	None foundCPSC recall search

Model against model1

Sundance Optima vs Chelsee

No manufacturer pays us. How we make money

Common questions

Is Sundance better than Artesian 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). Sit in both before you choose; dry is fine.

Which costs less, Sundance or Artesian Spas?

Neither brand posts prices we can publish, so a dealer quotes both. Compare like with like: each brand's entry line against the other's, and flagship against flagship, as the tier list on this page shows.

Are Sundance and Artesian Spas made by the same company?

No. Sundance belongs to Investindustrial; Artesian Spas belongs to Monomoy Capital Partners.

Where are Sundance and Artesian Spas hot tubs made?

Sundance builds in Mexico. Artesian Spas builds in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sources

California Energy Commission appliance database (spas) cacertappliances.energy.ca.govstandby watts for Sundance and Artesian Spas models
Sundance Spas warranty sundancespas.com880 Series, 980 Series and 780 Series warranty terms
Better Business Bureau: Sundance Spas bbb.org · checked September 2026rating and complaint count
ConsumerAffairs: Sundance Spas consumeraffairs.com · checked September 2026owner rating
CPSC recall, 2022 (Sundance) cpsc.govrecall notice
Ownership record: Sundance Spas prnewswire.comInvestindustrial
Artesian Spas warranty artesianspas.comIsland Spas and Artesian Elite warranty terms
Better Business Bureau: Artesian Spas bbb.org · checked September 2026rating and complaint count
Ownership record: Artesian Spas sparetailer.comMonomoy Capital Partners
CPSC recalls cpsc.govrecall search

Get the price range On a Sundance or an Artesian Spas