Ordering a mattress online might be one of the best gifts retail has given us in recent years, and if you’ve done any research you’ve likely come across Purple and Tuft & Needle.
Both brands make top-rated mattresses that are comfortable, long-lasting, and durable for a cloud-like sleeping experience. The only question left: Which one to choose?
We’re here to help. Thank us later, after a great night’s sleep.
| Purple | Tuft & Needle | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599–$5198 | $645–$1895 |
| Models | The Purple Mattress, Purple Hybrid, Purple Hybrid Premier, Kids Mattress |
T&N Original Mattress, Mint Mattress, Hybrid Mattress |
| Standout materials | signature elastic gel grid, comfort foam base | T&N Adaptive Foam, ceramic and graphite cooling gel |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years |
| Sleep trials | 100 nights | 100 nights |
Purple: Everything you need to know
Purple was created by two brothers: one is a rocket scientist, the other is a “comfort tech genius.” They originally created high-tech carbon fiber sporting goods and wheelchairs.
While working to make the cushioning on wheelchairs as comfortable as possible, the two eventually invented Hyper-Elastic Polymer, a material that they say relaxes under pressure points for support and comfort. Mattresses were the obvious next step, and here we are.
Models: What types of mattresses does Purple offer?
Purple manufactures three different mattresses for adults and one for kids.
All of its mattresses are made with its signature Purple Grid, which is designed to support broad surfaces (like your back and legs) while cradling your heavier body parts (like your booty). The Grid is supposed to reduce pressure points for the ideal amount of support.
The elastic gel in the grid is designed to flex to support your position but spring back into place when you move, so that there’s no “sinkhole” effect you might notice in some mattresses (*cough* memory foam *cough*).
The Grid is made of a temperature-neutral gel polymer that makes it super breathable and helps prevent any overheating.
All Purple mattresses are offered in sizes twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, and split king. Only the Purple Mattress is offered in a twin.
The Purple Mattress
The Purple Mattress is the company’s original and most affordable mattress option. It starts at $599 for a twin and goes up to $1,698 for a split king. So if you’re not looking to spend a lot, but you still want to enjoy the technology of a Purple Grid, this mattress is for you.
The top layer of the mattress is a 2-inch layer of the Purple Grid. Underneath it is a dual-layer comfort foam that is supposed to offer the perfect combo of a soft, cushioning layer and a firm, supportive layer. These high density foams are meant to be durable and long lasting.
The mattress is topped with a super soft, stretchy knit cover that’s hella breathable and designed to complement the grid’s 1,800 air channels, allowing you to feel the full cool support of this innovative mattress.
Purple Hybrid
The Purple Hybrid is, well, a hybrid mattress, so it offers even more support and better airflow. It also has a slightly firmer and more responsive feel than the original. It starts at $1,499 for a twin XL and goes up to $2,998 for a split king.
Just like The Purple Mattress, the Hybrid has a 2-inch layer of Purple Grid that’s designed to be supportive while reducing pressure points, so it’s ideal for basically any sleeping position.
Underneath the grid layer are individually wrapped coils that add even more support to the heavier parts of your body. They also add a little bit of bounce that people who switch sleeping positions tend to love.
The mattress is topped with a stretchy, breathable cover with side panels that optimize the cool support of the mattress.
Purple Hybrid Premier
The Purple Hybrid Premier is called the “ultimate no pressure mattress.” It has 50 percent more grid than the hybrid mattress to make it even more plush. It starts at $2,099 for a twin XL and goes up to $5,198 for a split king.
This is Purple’s most luxurious mattress. The biggest difference is that it has a thicker grid layer, which gives it a big boost in both comfort and support.
You can choose from a 3-inch or 4-inch Purple Grid layer. Purple says the 3-inch version is better for couples with different firmness preferences and the 4-inch version is better for people with higher body weight and side sleepers.
Like the Hybrid, the Hybrid Premier has a layer of responsive individually-wrapped coils to add extra support. The mattress is topped with a super stretchy and soft cover that’s supposed to be extra cool with breathable side panels.
Reviews and ratings
Purple mattresses have an average rating of 4.4 stars out of 5.
A more in-depth look at the reviews left by customers finds that people love the temperature control, support, and comfort.
Reviewer Sean K. noted that the mattress is “super supportive, very comfortable.” He added, “I move around a lot when I sleep. Sleeping on all sides. With the Purple bed, I turn less, and am comfortable in every position. Extremely happy.”
Others point out how they stopped feeling overheated at night with a Purple mattress. Some negative reviewers note that the mattresses are more firm than they expected.
Pros
- The mattresses are very bouncy, for that floating-on-a-cloud feel you might be after.
- The Grid offers excellent temperature control and a lovely cool feeling, making these ideal for anyone who runs hot while sleeping.
Cons
- The mattresses are less firm, and offer less support for back or stomach sleepers.
- The prices are high compared to other brands.
Tuft & Needle: Everything you need to know
Tuft & Needle was created by two software engineers who were frustrated by the mattress-buying process and wanted to make it easier and more streamlined.
Like Purple, Tuft & Needle has its own signature material. It’s called T&N Adaptive Foam and is created with high quality materials at an affordable price point.
Models: What types of mattresses does Tuft & Needle offer?
Tuft & Needle offers three different mattresses for adults.
All of its mattresses are made with its T&N Adaptive Foam, a proprietary blend that the brand says was engineered based on customer feedback. The foam is supposed to provide pressure relief where you need it and has an open-cell structure that makes the foam breathable and flexible, so it keeps you cool and adjusts as you move during the night.
The foam is infused with graphite to help wick away heat: it literally pulls heat away from your body to prevent overheating. Some of the mattresses also have a cooling gel that traps heat away from the body to keep you extra cool.
All Tuft & Needle mattresses are offered in sizes twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, and Cal king.
T&N Original Mattress
The Original Mattress is the most basic and affordable option. It starts at $645 for a twin and goes up to $1,095 for a Cal king. It’s made for any kind of sleeper, and is ideal for anyone who isn’t looking for a ton of bells and whistles.
At 10 inches tall, this mattress offers two layers of foam for comfort and support. The first layer of foam is 3.5 inches thick and made with the company’s signature Adaptive Foam that’s designed to be breathable, flexible, and supportive. The second layer of foam is 6.5 inches thick and infused with graphite to help pull heat away from your bod.
Overall, the mattress has a medium feel and even edge support throughout (which basically means it has reinforced edges so you won’t feel like you’re going to fall off the edge of the bed).
The mattress cover is soft and breathable, with the option to add a layer of antimicrobial protection by HeiQ NPJ03 for an extra $50. This protects your mattress against harmful microbes that could potentially shorten its lifespan or make it start to smell yucky.
Mint Mattress
The Mint Mattress offers more features than the original. It starts at $745 for a twin and goes up to $1,395 for a Cal king.
It measures 12 inches tall and has three layers of foam. The extra layer makes it a little plusher than the T&N Original, so it’s a great option for side sleepers.
The difference in temperature control with the Mint is that it uses ceramic coated cooling gel beads, which help combat heat retention in a slightly more powerful way than the Original.
The cover is more luxurious and comes in dark gray instead of white. For the Mint, the antimicrobial protection is automatically built in. No germs here!
Hybrid Mattress
The Hybrid Mattress is Tuft & Needle’s most supportive and luxurious option. It starts at $995 for a twin and goes up to $1,895 for a Cal king.
The Hybrid is 12 inches tall, but has five layers of foam, plus spring coils. Like any mattress with spring coils, T&N’s hybrid mattress is bouncier and more supportive than its all-foam models.
Besides that spring coil base, the biggest difference between this one and its sister mattresses is the plush pillow top. It’s described as medium soft firmness, so it’s the best option for someone who isn’t looking for something super firm. Still, the firmer springs around the edge give this the most edge support of any of the company’s mattresses.
This is also the most cooling mattress. The springs give more airflow, and the combination of carbon fiber, graphite, and cooling gel beads will keep heat off your body.
Reviews and ratings
Tuft & Needle has an average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5.
Reading the reviews customers wrote shows that many of them find the mattresses extremely comfortable. A lot of customers say they bought a second Tuft & Needle mattress because they loved their first one so much.
Reviewer CDeymonaz wrote, “We love this mattress! It hugs your body perfectly for all-night comfort and is the perfect firmness for a good night’s rest.”
While customers seem to love the support and comfort, one negative review noted that it doesn’t have the longevity they expected.
Pros
- The mattresses are firmer and better for back sleepers, but there’s also a hybrid option that’s softer.
- These are more affordable at a lower price point (excluding the twin mattress, which is more expensive than Purple’s twin mattress)
Cons
- They’re not quite as cooling as the Purple mattresses.
- They aren’t offered in as many sizes.
Help! Which one should I pick?
Okay: it’s time to make a final decision. Both brands make reliable, comfortable, and supportive mattresses, so we’re not saying this is going to be easy!
Price
Tuft & Needle pricing is a bit cheaper compared to Purple. T&N’s top-of-the-line model is almost $1,700 for a queen while Purple’s luxury offering is wayyy pricier at nearly $2,400 (and $4,100 for the 4-inch grid!).
Size
Purple offers all the traditional mattress sizes including twin (but only on The Purple Mattress), twin XL, full, queen, king, Cal king, and split king. T&N offers pretty much the same deal, but no split king model.
Purple mattresses vary between 7 inches (for the kid-specific mattress) to 13 inches. With some models, you have the option of choosing between two different thicknesses. T&N’s start at 10 inches for the OG mattress, topping out at 12 inches for the hybrid and mint models.
Typically, the thicker the mattress, the more durable it is. A thicker mattress is ideal if you have a higher body weight. Think: Thick for thicc.
Extra layers also usually mean there’s more padding and support, which can help if you’re struggling with chronic pain.
Mattress type and materials
Both companies offer two types of mattresses: memory foam and hybrid.
Except, Purple mattresses all have a squishy grid, which is proprietary and has a slightly different feel than traditional memory foam. The company says the grid material is cooler, more durable, and more responsive than memory foam — and reviewers tend to agree.
Unique materials in T&N’s mattresses include ceramic beads and graphite, for cooling purposes. Some of the mattresses come with an anti-germ cover that’s also sold separately.
Both companies offer hybrid models with wrapped coils that offer lots of support, bounce, durability.
Durability
The mattresses are similar enough, at least height-wise, to assume that durability is probably pretty much the same.
How long your mattress lasts, though, will depend not just on its thickness and construction but also on how you sleep, how much you weigh, and whether you sleep solo or not.
Firmness options
Both companies offer medium and medium-firm mattresses, but the grid design of the Purple models has a unique feel that customers say is unlike anything else they’ve tried.
A 2015 study found that medium-firm mattresses tend to feel the most comfortable for the most people, so you should be covered with either brand. But ultimately, mattress firmness is your choice and depends on your own personal preferences.
Motion isolation
Both T&N and Purple offer memory foam and hybrid options. Unlike innerspring mattresses, both are better at isolating movement, meaning you won’t feel it as much if your partner wakes up in the middle of the night.
But in general, all-foam mattresses offer the best of the best (of the best, sir!) motion isolation of all mattress types. And because Purple mattresses don’t have traditional foam top layers, an all-foam T&N mattress is prob the best for on-point motion isolation.
Pressure relief
A mattress shouldn’t press up against your body, it should cradle it gently. Purple’s grid does an awesome job at minimizing pressure points. But T&N’s mint model ranks well in this category because of a soupped up layer of Adaptive Foam.
Temperature regulation
Memory foam. You either love it or hate it. If you love it, you probably think it feels like sleeping on a cloud. The bad news? Memory foam gets HAWT.
Purple mattresses are considered temperature-neutral. And while T&N’s line of mattresses includes fancy-schmancy materials like graphite and gel beds, the beds are more temperature-neutral than cooling.
TBH, most mattress companies are full of BS when it comes to cooling properties. Better to invest in an AC unit than a super-duper “cooling” mattress.
Off-gassing
Most foam mattresses put off a chemical odor when you first take them out of their packaging. The stinky fumes, called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are bad for your health and nose.
Both companies sell foam mattresses that are bound to cause a stink, but they’re also CertiPUR-US, Greenguard Gold, and Intertek Clean Air certified, so pungent chemical smells shouldn’t last longer than a few days.
Edge support
Edge support is key if your partner (or pet) tends to push you to the edge of your bed at night. Good edge support = not feeling like you’re going to slide off the bed when that happens. Based on customer feedback, Purple has the actual edge in this category.
Ease of movement
If you’re looking for a mattress that’ll accommodate your frequent tossing and turning, both companies offer mattress models that would work for combo sleepers. The Purple grid is hella responsive, making it ideal for indecisive sleepers and ~getting frisky~.
From T&N’s lineup, the hybrid is probably the right pick for ensuring ease of movement.
Company policies
Obvi, this is an important one.
Expect the same delivery and shipping experience from both companies. Both T&N and Purple offer a 100-day sleep trial and a 10-year limited warranty. One small difference is that you have to wait 21 days before starting a return with Purple.
Still have more Q’s? Check these FAQ’s
What is the difference between Tuft & Needle and Purple mattresses?
The main diff is that Purple mattresses have a unique grid-style design, so they feel a heck of a lot different than the traditional stuff used in T&N mattresses. Also, T&N mattresses have lower price points, so they’re a better option if you’re low on $$$$ (but again, The Purple Mattress twin size mattress is cheaper than The T&N Original’s twin).
Which mattress is more durable?
Customer reviews on this are pretty similar and construction-wise the mattresses are probably about the same in terms of how long they’ll last.
Which mattress sleeps cooler?
T&N claims that its mattresses are cooling, but they’re more along the lines of temperature-neutral. Purple mattresses are supposed to be really breathable, which also makes for a temp-neutral experience rather than a chilly one.
Which mattress is better for side sleepers? What about back and stomach sleepers?
Generally, back, tummy, and combo sleepers do well with firmer mattresses and side sleepers need something softer to stop the mattress from digging into their hips and shoulders (though this isn’t a hard and fast rule).
Purple’s hybrid and hybrid premier mattresses are great picks for back sleepers, stomach sleepers, and combo sleepers. Side sleepers might find the hybrid a bit too firm, though.
From the T&N line, the Mint is supposed to be soft and perf for side sleepers.
Which mattress is better for people with higher body weight?
If you have higher body weight (more than ~230 pounds), consider opting for a hybrid mattress that’s at least 12 inches thick for extra support. Both Purple and T&N have mattresses that are at least 12 inches and contain super supportive coils, so you should be good to go with either brand’s hybrid mattresses.
The bottom line
Both Purple and Tuft & Needle have a comfy AF lineup of mattresses, good reputations, solid company policies, and awesome reviews from customers.
In the end, you have a lot of options, which is a good problem to have. BUT if you’re not tryna drop your life savings on a new mattress, Tuft & Needle is probably the way to go — its mattresses are a lot cheaper than Purple’s. But if you’re going for a totally unique (and comfy!) feel you can’t find anywhere else, Purple might be for you.
Whatever you decide, remember that you have 100 days to test allll of these mattresses out — so if you don’t end up loving the one you choose, you can always spring for the other instead.
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