Comparison

Spa Calc vs the Bestway (Lay-Z-Spa) Apps

Bestway makes two apps for its connected inflatable spas. Bestway Connect (SmartSpa) is for spas with a QR code on the pump panel, and Bestway Smart Hub covers the AirJet Plus spa and the Smart Touch Wi-Fi pump. Both are remotes: heater, filter, timers and bubbles. Neither describes water chemistry. Spa Calc does the chemistry, so for most Lay-Z-Spa owners this isn't a choice: you'd use both.

Prices, features and ratings checked on 28 October 2026.
App Store rating as shown on 28 October 2026: Bestway Connect (SmartSpa): 4.6 stars from 1K ratings; Bestway Smart Hub: 1.7 stars from 260 ratings (US App Store).

The short answer

The Bestway apps control the tub; Spa Calc looks after the water. If you have a Wi-Fi Lay-Z-Spa, keep Bestway's app for the heater and add Spa Calc for the soak check, the doses in teaspoons and the drain countdown. If your Lay-Z-Spa isn't Wi-Fi, Spa Calc works just the same.

At a glance

From each app's own App Store page and website, checked on 28 October 2026. "Not listed" means we found no mention of it there, not that the feature is missing.
Feature	Spa Calc	Bestway apps
Price	Free for one tub	Free
Turn the heater on and set timers	No	Yes
Filtration and massage bubbles	No	Yes
Needs compatible hardware	No, works with any tub	Yes, Wi-Fi Bestway spas and pumps
Wi-Fi pairing	None	Required
"Ready to soak?" check	Yes	Not listed
Chemical doses	Yes In teaspoons, tablespoons, grams or your own scoop	Not listed
Inflatable size presets	Yes Confirm at your fill line	Not applicable
Chlorine (dichlor, then bleach)	Yes With a tracker for stabilizer build-up	Not listed
Bromine	Yes	Not listed
Shock and wait timer	Yes Chlorine or MPS	Not listed
Drain and refill countdown	Yes From tub size and use	Not listed
Filter rinse reminders	Yes Shorter defaults for inflatables	Filter-change updates (Smart Hub)
Test log and charts	Yes	Not listed
Notifications	Yes Drain, filter and test reminders	New notification options (Connect version notes)
Account to sign up for	None	Not listed

Pricing

Our app

Spa Calc

Free$0Every feature for one tub, inflatables included.
Plus$1.99 a month, $14.99 a year or $39.99 onceUp to 10 tubs plus the host and pro tools. 1-week free trial on the yearly plan.
Pro$9.99 a month or $79.99 a yearUnlimited tubs plus the host and pro tools. 1-month free trial on the yearly plan.

Prices on the App Store at launch. Pricing is per person, not per tub.

Inflatable hot tub controller

Bestway apps

Bestway Connect (SmartSpa)FreeFor spas with a QR code on the pump's control panel: heating, filtration, timers and massage bubbles.
Bestway Smart HubFreeFor the AirJet Plus spa, Smart Touch Wi-Fi filter pump and Sleep Control airbed: heater, timer and massage on/off.

Both apps are free on the App Store with no in-app purchases listed. They work with compatible Bestway hardware.

Prices as listed on 28 October 2026. Source

All of them are free for one tub. Spa Calc charges only if you look after more than one: rental hosts on Plus (up to 10 tubs) and service techs on Pro.

The water, not the heater

Bestway's apps answer "is it warm yet?" Spa Calc answers "is it safe to get in?" Enter sanitizer and pH and the first screen says ready, what to add first, or how long to wait after a shock. The ranges come from CDC guidance and product labels: chlorine 3 to 5 ppm, bromine 4 to 6 ppm, pH 7.2 to 7.8.

Sized for an inflatable

Pick your inflatable from the size presets or type the volume, then confirm it at your fill line. Doses come in teaspoons down to an eighth, or grams, or your own scoop, because a small tub needs small, exact amounts.

Drain day, worked out

Spa Calc sets a drain date from the tub's size and how much it gets used, reminds you a week and a day before, and walks you through draining and refilling. If stabilizer or dissolved solids climb too high, it tells you to drain early.

What Bestway App Users Complain About

Paraphrased from public reviews. Each one links to where it was posted and gives the month it was written.

Setup and pairing trouble. A December 2025 Smart Hub reviewer said the spa works well but the app has confusing setup and frequent errors, with in-app instructions that don't match the hardware (App Store review, December 2025). Others report needing a 2.4 GHz network.

Spa Calc approach: nothing to pair. Spa Calc never talks to the tub, so it can't lose the connection.
No documentation or alerts. A 2024 Smart Hub reviewer said documentation was lacking and the interface confusing (App Store review, March 2024). A Bestway Connect reviewer whose spa kept slipping into standby after an update asked for push alerts for standby, power loss and temperature drops (App Store review, September 2026).

Spa Calc approach: Spa Calc can't watch the heater. It reminds you to test, rinse the filter and drain on dates you can see, and its help pages link to plain guides on this site.

When the Bestway apps are the better choice

You want to heat the tub before you get home, set filter and heater timers, or switch the bubbles from your phone. Spa Calc doesn't control hardware.
You own a compatible Wi-Fi Bestway spa or pump. Use the app Bestway names for your model.

Questions people ask

What app do I need for my Lay-Z-Spa?

Bestway's Smart Hub listing says to use the Bestway SmartSpa app (listed as Bestway Connect (SmartSpa)) if your pump has a QR code on its control panel, and Smart Hub for the AirJet Plus spa and Smart Touch Wi-Fi pump. Those apps control the heater, filter and bubbles. For the water chemistry, Spa Calc works with any inflatable.

Does the Lay-Z-Spa app tell me what chemicals to add?

Neither Bestway app's App Store description mentions water testing or chemical doses (checked 28 October 2026). Spa Calc does: enter your test and it tells you whether it's ready to soak and what to add, in teaspoons.

How much chlorine do I put in a Lay-Z-Spa?

It depends on your tub's volume, your current reading and the product's strength. Spa Calc has inflatable size presets (confirm the volume at your fill line) and works out the dose for the product on your shelf.

More comparisons

All comparisons

References

Bestway, Lay-Z-Spa, SaluSpa, AirJet and Bestway Connect are trademarks of their respective owners. Spa Calc is not affiliated with them. Information checked on 28 October 2026; prices and features change. Corrections: [email protected]