Master Spas vs Bullfrog hot tubs
Best known for: full foam, clamped manifold plumbing (Master Spas) and swappable JetPak massage seats (Bullfrog). Master Spas lists 29 hot tubs for 3 to 8 people, Bullfrog 25 hot tubs for 3 to 10 people. Published prices start at $7,295 for Master Spas and $8,395 for Bullfrog.
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 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
- Full foam, clamped manifold plumbing
- Built in its own Indiana plant
- Copper-zinc mineral filter standard
- Swappable JetPak massage seats
- Built in Utah
- Less plumbing, fewer leaks
- Yes Self-supporting shell
- Yes Clamped plumbing
- Yes Manifold-fed jets
- Yes Standard parts
- No Self-supporting shell
- Not published Clamped plumbing
- Partly Manifold-fed jets
- Partly Standard parts
- Strong sales and installation ratings
- Good local dealers earn praise
- Swappable JetPaks
- Owners praise the massage
- Slow dealer-handled warranty repairs
- Control panel and pump failures
- 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.
- Getaway Spas5 models · 3–5 seats · from $7,295
- LH Series5 models · 3–7 seats · from $9,695
- Calm3 models · 6–7 seats · from $8,395
- Clarity Spas7 models · 5–7 seats · from $11,999
- X Series7 models · 3–8 seats · from $8,895
- Twilight Series7 models · 3–7 seats · from $14,499
- A Series9 models · 3–9 seats · from $12,095
- STIL2 models · 4–6 seats · from $16,695
- Michael Phelps Legend Series5 models · 5–8 seats · from $19,999
- M Series4 models · 7–10 seats · from $24,695
Which suits whom?
Master Spas, if you want
- A lower starting price ($7,295 against $8,395)
- Full foam, clamped manifold plumbing
- A tub that plugs into a regular outlet (5 models)
Bullfrog, if you want
- Swappable JetPak massage seats
- 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 Master Spas model costs about $25 a month to keep hot and the middle Bullfrog about $27 a month. In watts: 191.5 W (28 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 | Master Spas | Bullfrog |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 148 W | 157.5 W |
| 4 | 169.5 W | 158 W |
| 5 | 190.5 W | 166 W |
| 6 | 198 W | 179.5 W |
| 7 | 206.5 W | 208.5 W |
| 8 | 259 W | 233 W |
Complaint records2
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.
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
Master Spas is privately held. Bullfrog is privately held. Each company’s history: Master Spas and Bullfrog.
What to ask in the showroom1
- Clamped plumbing: Bullfrog doesn't publish it. Ask: “Are the hoses on this model clamped at the barbs, or just glued?”
Every figure side by side30
No manufacturer pays us. How we make money
Common questions
Is Master Spas better than Bullfrog?
Neither is better for everyone. Master Spas suits you if you want a lower starting price ($7,295 against $8,395) and a tub that plugs into a regular outlet (5 models). Bullfrog suits you if you want room for 10. Sit in both before you choose; dry is fine.
Which costs less, Master Spas or Bullfrog?
Master Spas: $7,295 to $21,999 (reported prices and list prices). Bullfrog: $8,395 to $30,395 (series starting prices, MSRP). What you pay depends on the model, options, delivery and the dealer, so ask each for a written, itemized quote.
Are Master Spas and Bullfrog made by the same company?
No. Each is a separate, privately held company.
Where are Master Spas and Bullfrog hot tubs made?
Master Spas builds in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Bullfrog builds in Bluffdale, Utah and Herriman, Utah.
Sources
11
- California Energy Commission appliance database (spas)standby watts for Master Spas and Bullfrog models
- 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
- 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