Comparing ALEKO and Almost Heaven saunas requires careful consideration, especially if you’re about to invest thousands of dollars in a sauna you’ll use for years. Both brands make quality home saunas, but they serve different priorities.
Both ALEKO and Almost Heaven offer a range of traditional sauna designs, including barrel and cabin-style models, along with select infrared options. Traditional heating remains the primary focus for both brands, with most models powered by Harvia heaters to deliver an authentic sauna experience. While each brand includes some infrared offerings, the majority of their lineup centers around traditional saunas, where ALEKO provides a broader selection of styles, sizes, and wood types.
In this guide, you’ll learn which brand fits your available space, budget, and whether you plan to place your sauna indoors or outdoors.
Key Takeaways: ALEKO vs Almost Heaven Saunas
Before diving into the details, here’s a quick summary of how these two brands compare:
- ALEKO saunas offer a wide range of traditional barrel designs built from materials like cedar and pine, many paired with Finnish-made Harvia heaters. In addition to traditional models, ALEKO also offers infrared saunas and more contemporary styles, giving buyers greater flexibility in heating technology and design at competitive pricing.
- Almost Heaven saunas focus primarily on traditional sauna craftsmanship, with a lineup centered around Western Red Cedar barrel and cabin saunas designed for outdoor backyard installations.
- The deciding factors include your available space, total budget, preferred heating technology, and whether your sauna will live indoors or outdoors.
Overview of ALEKO Saunas
ALEKO operates as a home improvement and outdoor living brand rather than a sauna-only company. This broader focus allows them to offer competitive pricing and a wider range of sauna types.
Types of Saunas Offered by ALEKO
ALEKO carries a diverse lineup that spans multiple sauna categories:
This range gives buyers more heating options. ALEKO also offers sizes from compact 1-person units up to spacious multi-person saunas, with each purchase coming with a ETL-certified sauna heater.
Key Features of ALEKO Saunas
ALEKO offers a wide range of traditional and modern sauna designs, with barrel saunas representing the brand’s most popular models. Their indoor and outdoor saunas are designed to promote efficient heat circulation and create an authentic sauna experience when paired with Finnish-made Harvia heaters and sauna stones.
Construction materials often include cedar or white pine wood, both of which offer strong durability and natural resistance to moisture, with cedar providing added protection against decay and insects and pine delivering a clean appearance at a more accessible price point.
Who ALEKO Saunas Are Best For
ALEKO saunas are well suited for homeowners looking for traditional barrel or modern sauna designs at competitive pricing. With a variety of sizes available, ALEKO saunas can fit a range of spaces, from larger backyards to more compact indoor or outdoor areas.
Health-focused buyers who want to choose between infrared saunas and traditional heat will appreciate the options. DIY-minded customers also benefit from easier installation requirements and clear product specifications.
Overview of Almost Heaven Saunas
Almost Heaven manufactures saunas in the Greenbrier Valley of West Virginia and has done so for more than 40 years. The company now operates under Harvia, a Finnish brand with expertise in traditional sauna equipment.
Types of Saunas Offered by Almost Heaven
Almost Heaven specializes in traditional indoor saunas, outdoor saunas, barrel saunas, and cabin-style designs. Their saunas use Harvia electric sauna heaters, and some models support wood-burning stoves for a more authentic sauna experience. ALEKO also offers Harvia heaters in all of their sauna kits. In addition to traditional models, Almost Heaven also offers a limited selection of infrared saunas.
Key Features of Almost Heaven Saunas
Western Red Cedar serves as the primary building material for Almost Heaven saunas. Their barrel sauna models use ball-and-socket lumber joinery secured with stainless steel bands for structural integrity and durability.
Who Almost Heaven Saunas Are Best For
Almost Heaven saunas are well suited for buyers specifically looking for a premium barrel or cabin-style sauna built primarily from Western Red Cedar. Their lineup centers on traditional outdoor sauna designs with a strong focus on cabin-inspired aesthetics.
Homeowners who prioritize Western Red Cedar materials and are comfortable investing in a higher-priced sauna kit may find Almost Heaven to be a good fit.
ALEKO Saunas vs Almost Heaven Saunas: Key Differences
Design and Aesthetic Style
Both ALEKO and Almost Heaven offer traditional sauna designs, including barrel models that work well as backyard installations. These rounded barrel structures are designed to promote efficient heat circulation while creating a classic outdoor sauna aesthetic.
ALEKO saunas include both traditional barrel and contemporary designs that can serve as a prominent focal point in a backyard or integrate seamlessly into indoor spaces. In addition to outdoor models, ALEKO offers a wider selection of indoor saunas, giving homeowners more flexibility in placement and design.
Almost Heaven focuses primarily on barrel and cabin-style saunas designed to stand out as rustic outdoor centerpieces. The right style ultimately depends on your preferred aesthetic, available space, and whether you’re planning for an indoor or outdoor installation.
Ultimately, the design choice often comes down to preferred wood type, size options, and whether you want a brand with a broader range of sauna styles or one centered primarily on traditional cedar construction.
Sauna Types and Technology
Both brands offer traditional and infrared heating elements. Infrared saunas heat your body directly using light waves at lower air temperatures. Traditional saunas heat the surrounding air to higher temperatures, with optional steam created by pouring water over hot stones. The ETL Mark is proof of product compliance to North American safety standards, and ALEKO’s ETL-certified heaters provide this third-party safety verification.
Materials and Construction
Almost Heaven primarily uses Western Red Cedar for most of its sauna models. ALEKO constructs saunas from a range of wood types, including pine, cedar, and hemlock, with select models also available in Western Red Cedar.
For outdoor barrel sauna use in varying weather conditions, both brands offer cedar options known for their natural resistance to moisture, decay, and insects, as well as strong heat retention. ALEKO also offers outdoor pine saunas, providing a more accessible alternative while still delivering solid performance in outdoor settings. Hemlock is more commonly used in indoor or covered installations.
Space and Installation Considerations
ALEKO offers a small selection of compact indoor models with minimal setup requirements. Some units arrive fully assembled and need only a standard electrical outlet to operate.
Both brand’s barrel saunas are larger outdoor structures. Sauna kit assembly typically requires multiple people and may need a dedicated electrical circuit installed by a licensed electrician. Labor costs typically account for 30% to 50% of the total installation price.
ALEKO provides more flexibility for homeowners with space constraints or who prefer indoor placement.
Price and Value Comparison
| Factor | ALEKO | Almost Heaven |
| Price Range | Lower to mid-range | Mid to premium |
| Primary Wood | Cedar, Pine, Hemlock | Western Red Cedar |
| Sauna Types | Infrared and Traditional | Infrared and Traditional |
| Assembly | DIY sauna kit assembly | DIY sauna kit assembly |
Both Almost Heaven and ALEKO barrel saunas may require additional costs beyond the purchase price, including site preparation, electrical work, and assistance with assembly depending on the model. While most traditional saunas from both brands require proper electrical setup, ALEKO does offer select plug-and-play models that can simplify installation for certain indoor use cases. Overall installation needs will vary based on sauna size, heater type, and placement. Check current sauna deals for promotional pricing.
Warranty and Customer Support
Almost Heaven provides a limited lifetime warranty on sauna rooms and a 5-year warranty on heaters. This ranks among the stronger warranty offerings in the residential sauna market.
ALEKO supports customers through phone and web channels with detailed product specifications and installation guidance. ALEKO offers a 1-year limited warranty on sauna purchases.
Which Sauna Brand Is Right for Your Home?
Choose ALEKO Saunas If You Want:
Affordable pricing combined with simpler installation lowers the barrier to sauna ownership. ALEKO offers both rustic, traditional barrel saunas and more modern designs, along with a mix of indoor and outdoor models to fit a variety of home setups. ALEKO’s broader wellness ecosystem also includes hot tubs, cold plunges, and sauna heaters if you want to expand later.
Choose Almost Heaven Saunas If You Prefer:
Dedicated outdoor barrel sauna or cabin designs create a genuine backyard destination. Classic rustic aesthetics and the option for wood-burning heat on select models appeal to traditionalists. The brand’s strong structural warranty and decades of heritage in traditional sauna building provide peace of mind.
Why ALEKO Saunas Are a Smart Investment
Designed for At-Home Wellness
You can match each sauna session to your routine based on the heating type you choose. Quick weeknight sessions benefit from the faster warmup of infrared, while weekend relaxation pairs well with traditional steam.
ALEKO’s wellness product lineup extends beyond saunas to include hot tubs and cold plunges. This allows homeowners to build contrast therapy setups over time.
Quality Construction at an Accessible Price
ALEKO focuses on delivering value through well-built products and clear product information.
Variety of Options to Fit Different Homes
The product range spans from 1-person infrared cabins to multi-person barrel and traditional saunas. This variety means homeowners can find a model that fits their available space.
Browse the full lineup of ALEKO saunas to see the complete selection.
Frequently Asked Questions: ALEKO vs Almost Heaven
Is ALEKO a good sauna brand?
ALEKO produces well-built, value-focused saunas for residential use with both infrared and traditional options and ETL-certified heaters, making it a strong choice for homeowners seeking quality at competitive prices.
Are Almost Heaven saunas made in the USA?
Yes, Almost Heaven manufactures saunas in the Greenbrier Valley of West Virginia and has done so for more than 40 years.
Does ALEKO offer infrared saunas?
Yes, ALEKO carries infrared saunas alongside traditional models.
Which brand is better for indoor use?
ALEKO generally provides more indoor-friendly options, including compact infrared saunas that plug into standard outlets and arrive ready to use.
How long do home saunas typically last?
Quality home saunas from either brand last 10 years or more with proper care, depending on wood type, climate exposure, and regular maintenance.
