In my opinion, comparing those two brands you must be looking at price point. They're not quite apples to apples. When I tested both, I would compare the Island Series to one of Hot Springs lower lines, like Tiger River. The comparable Artesian spas would be their Platinum line. Not that I didn't like the Island Series, but they definitely felt and looked to me like a notch down from the Hot Spring line. Just my opinion. Overall, I believe Hot Spring is one of the top made tubs (along with Jacuzzi, Sundance, D1, Marquis, and Caldera..maybe a couple more), but Artesian is decent too.