I have had different wax warmers but I like this one best because it has a nice solid base. I mention this because some of my others tipped over easily making a huge mess. It heats the wax great and I like the many heat options. Everything you need comes in this set. I have not used the microwaveable wax so can't comment on that. I would definitely buy this again if I needed another one. This is cheaper than one trip to the Spa so worth the money.