Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Credit:
Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
All the bells and whistles you’d want in a foot spa: heat, massaging, easy cleaning, compact storage, and—of course—lots of bubbles. Read More
If you're looking to spend less, the Conair is your best option. For less than a third of the price of our overall pick, the Conair hits the high notes of a good foot spa, but with less nuance. Read More
We loved this foot spa because of the "seagrass" inserts, which provide a slightly tickling, but pleasing sensation while using it. Read More
A no-frills foot spa with decent pressure and the ability to produce lots of bubbles. Read More
From ice baths to warm soaks, this basin’s high capacity, portability, and collapsible design make this simple tub stand out from the rest. Read More
We put our feet through a lot. We jam them into ill-fitting shoes that cause blisters, walk in paper-thin sandals, and squish around wearing damp sneakers in the rain. They endure a lot, with little gratitude beyond the occasional sandal-season pedicure. Enter the foot spa.
Foot spas circulate warm water with vibration or jets to massage the feet, softening hardened dead skin in preparation for removal. Some have additional features like rolling massagers, vibrating massagers, or heaters to keep the water warmer for longer.
To find the best foot spas available, we spoke with a podiatrist about the benefits and potential issues before testing several top-rated models. Our top pick, the Ranjova Collapsible Foot Spa (available at Amazon) has all of these features and makes for a comfortable, relaxing experience.
If you just want to soak your feet in warm water (maybe with some soap or essential oils), you can do that without a motorized foot bath. But having one (especially the right one) makes the experience more pleasurable and spa-like.
The Conair Foot Spa/Pedicure Spa is our Best Budget winner because it hits the high notes of a good foot spa, but for a fraction of the price.
Easy to clean
Good budget buy
Heat function not very strong
Lacks frills such as massage rollers and bubble options
The HoMedics Bubble Spa Elite Footbath with Heat Boost wins a Best Feature spot because of its unique “seagrass” inserts.
Seagrass inserts that tickle your feet
Less expensive
Easy to clean
No digital thermostat
A single button controls heat and bubbles
Heaters worked well
Rollers irritate feet after a while
Rollers are obnoxiously squeaky
Hey there, I'm Jessica. As the former beauty editor here at Reviewed, I tackled all things beauty and health, and foot spas fall between the two. I spent years of my childhood tagging along to the nail salon with my mom, where she generously let me get my nails and toes done beside her.
Those trips to the nail salon taught me that feeling clean and polished (pun intended) is how I feel my best, and that pampering yourself is a good thing. In more recent years, I received a foot spa (the Conair) to use at home.
At Reviewed, I focused on products designed to pamper us, to bring us relief and joy in our everyday lives. I’m passionate about reviewing at-home spa-like products because I want you to treat yourself, too.
Foot spas are nifty devices that combine heated water, bubbles, and massagers to soak and relax your feet. You can add bath salts or essential oils for added ambiance and combine a foot bath with an exfoliating treatment using a brush or pumice stone to improve circulation and remove dead skin. Using a foot spa regularly has both short- and long-term benefits for your feet and overall stress.
Foot spas feel pleasant and soften skin, but they also promote circulation in the feet. This can relax muscles and reduce strain and swelling. “Our veins become progressively more tired as the day goes on because of the accumulative effect gravity has on fluid retention in our lower extremities,” says Cunha.
When we heat up our feet, like in a foot spa, the veins dilate. This increases blood flow to deliver more oxygen, nutrients, and growth factors (vitamins or hormones that stimulate growth in living cells).. In turn, that soothes achy muscles and tendons. To enhance the short-term experience, you can even add bath salts—also called Epsom salts—to reduce swelling and alleviate stress.
The benefits of a foot spa may appear temporary—soak your feet and get instant relief. But as Cunha says: “The long-term benefit is the stress relief...if a foot spa helps you reduce your stress levels, then the benefit of a regular foot spa is worth it in the long term."
The foot spas we test offer options ranging from “no heat at all” to “temperatures up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.”
Dr. Miguel Cunha, a podiatrist and the founder of Gotham Footcare in New York City, suggests keeping the bath between 92 and 100 degrees, especially if you have any ailments that make you sensitive to heat. “Anything above 100 degrees is considered unsafe for people with certain conditions, such as poor circulation, diabetes, and pregnancy,” he says.
Aside from your feet? Adding bath salts or essential oils to your foot spa can create an even more relaxing atmosphere while you soak. You can also add Epsom salts for their stress-relieving effects.
That being said, always check the manufacturer’s guide before adding anything extra to your spa. While many are designed to be used with bath salts, the salts and oils may clog some tubs, so err on the side of caution.
It may be tempting to pull out the bath bombs once your feet get soaking, but you’re probably better off using a small amount of bath salts instead. Bath bombs are designed for full-size tubs, so using them in a small foot spa will likely make the water too sudsy.
Investing in some mini bath bombs may do the trick, but if all you have are full-size fizzies, you may want to skip it.
There are many features to consider when purchasing a foot spa—features that we took into consideration when ranking our top picks. Some priorities may include range of temperature, any massage features, and how easy it is to clean.
While we ranked foot spas by quality of features overall, if you have one in mind that outranks the others—for example, if you want the hottest temperature available or the bubbliest of tubs—it can help you narrow down your search.
You should clean your foot spa after each use to maintain a sanitary tub. Start by removing any parts that you can, like filters or jet heads, and soak them in a disinfectant solution. You can then scrub the interior of your spa with a sponge or a brush and mild dish soap or other cleaning agent.
You can find disposable tub liners on Amazon should you want extra protection, say, if you share your foot spa and don’t have time to clean in between sessions. And if you’re ever in doubt, check the user manual for cleaning tips.
Jessica writes and edits beauty content as a member of Reviewed's commerce team and manages a beauty TikTok called Beautorial. She's spent four years testing makeup, skincare, hair care, and body care products, and she acts as Reviewed's beauty expert.
Jessica represented Reviewed's beauty section at CES in-person and virtually for four years, and she was nominated for and graduated from the Gannett Emerging Leaders 2021-2022 program.
Jessica holds a Bachelor's degree in journalism from Emerson College, and she's written for Scary Mommy, 7News, Boston.com, Citizine, and Boston Common Magazine.
Devin McQuillan
StackCommerce Copywriter
Devin McQuillan is a Copywriter at StackCommerce, specializing in digital marketing across email, paid social, and affiliate channels. With a strong background in publishing and a passion for storytelling, her work spans journalism, copywriting, and creative nonfiction.
When she’s not writing for Reviewed, she’s sharing her thoughts on other platforms, most often through impassioned book reviews on Goodreads.
Our team is here to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and experts obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
Shoot us an email
