Purple vs. Amerisleep Mattress Comparison

Comparing the Amerisleep Mattress & Purple Mattress

The Amerisleep AS3 mattress comes in two distinct versions. First up is an all-foam version with a medium-density foam comfort layer, a transitional polyfoam layer and a support layer of high-density polyfoam. The second option, the AS3 hybrid, features two layers of foam, as well as pocketed coils for added support and breathability. 

The Purple Original mattress is an all-foam mattress with a Hyper-Elastic Polymer grid in the top layer that promotes airflow and provides pressure relief. There’s also a transitional layer and a support layer of high-density polyfoam.

Key Differences

• The Purple’s top grid (used in all Purple models) relieves pressure points without allowing the sleeper to sink into the support foam, while the AS3 offers deep pressure relief and a responsive memory foam feel in the all-foam and hybrid versions. For other pressure relieving mattresses, see the best mattresses for side sleepers.
• Both companies claim that their mattresses sleep cool, but the Purple Grid promotes steadier airflow than the all-foam variety of the AS3. Even the hybrid AS3 has below-average breathability for a mattress with a coil support core.
• The Purple mattress offers an innovative design for a reasonable price point. The AS3 has a relatively traditional foam design, yet is more expensive.

Key Similarities

• Both beds isolate motion to a fair extent. They are virtually silent when pressure is applied.
• Both offer excellent spinal alignment and comfort for lightweight body types, regardless of whether you’re a side sleeper, back sleeper or stomach sleeper.
• Neither mattress will likely be supportive enough for heavyweight individuals. The AS3 hybrid may perform slightly better than the foam AS3 and the Purple Original for heavy sleepers, but sagging will occur on all three models. Check out some recommendations on the best mattress for heavy people for beds that won’t sacrifice comfort or support.

Who the Amerisleep Mattress is Best For 

• Lightweight and average-weight sleepers: The AS3 strikes a balance between support and comfort for these body types, cradling pressure points without too much sinkage.
• All sleep positions: The bed’s medium firmness is just soft enough for side sleepers and just firm enough for back and stomach sleepers. Its responsive surface will make it easy for combination sleepers to change positions. Read our list on the best mattress for combination sleepers for other versatile mattresses.
• People who want a traditional-feeling mattress: While traditional memory foam beds might feel overly-cushioning, the top foam layer of Bio-Pur foam in the Amerisleep is a more responsive memory foam, so you won’t feel stuck in the mattress.

Not Best For…

• Heavyweight sleepers: Neither the hybrid nor the all-foam version of the AS3 is supportive enough for heavyweight individuals and couples.
• People who want a traditional memory foam feel: If you enjoy the feel of memory foam mattress, which is slow to respond and sinks deeply underneath the body, you won’t find what you’re looking for in the AS3.
• People who sleep hot: The AS3 doesn’t offer adequate cooling features for super-hot sleepers. The top layer of Bio-Pur foam tends to absorb heat in both models, so the bed sleeps temperature neutral instead of cool.

Read our full Amerisleep mattress review to learn more.

Who the Purple Mattress is Best For 

• Side and back sleepers: The Purple distributes body weight evenly, making it one of the best mattresses for back sleepers. Side sleepers will also find great contouring at the hips and shoulders.
• Sleepers who enjoy a unique, floating feel: The top comfort layer of the Purple Original is a thick slab of Hyper-Elastic Polymer, which has a similar feel to the gel material used in shoe insoles. The result is a responsive bed that’s soft, yet firm, with a weightless, buoyant feel.
• People who sleep hot: The Purple Grid’s construction allows air to flow through the top layer, so it distributes body heat and sleeps much cooler than the average all-foam bed.

May Not be Best For…

• People looking for a traditional memory foam feel: Purple mattress models are unlike anything on the market, and shoppers who purchase this bed expecting the traditional softness, cradling and sinking of memory foam may not enjoy its unique feel.
• Stomach sleepers: Stomach sleepers find that the middle third of the Purple sags too much, moving the spine out of alignment and potentially causing lower back pain.
• Heavyweight sleepers: Heavyweight sleepers may experience sagging and pressure buildup with the Purple. Heavyweight shoppers who like the Purple’s floating feel should consider the Purple Hybrid Premier, which has a coil core to provide adequate support.

Read our full Purple mattress review to learn more.

Deciding Between Amerisleep & Purple

Firmness

Both mattresses have a mid-range firmness setting, but the Purple clocks in at a solid medium-firm (6.5/10), while the Amerisleep AS3 is a true medium (5.5/10). Though the beds are of similar firmness levels, how they feel varies drastically and will likely be the deciding point for most shoppers. The Purple has a firm, yet comfortable, floating feel, and the Amerisleep feels like a memory foam bed that responds faster to pressure.

Motion Isolation

All-foam beds tend to isolate motion better than other styles, and the Purple, AS3 hybrid and AS3 foam are all relatively motion-isolating and quiet. You may feel slightly more motion on the AS3 hybrid due to its springy, pocketed coil core. Couples need limited motion transfer to avoid disturbances from their partners as they sleep. If you sleep with a partner, see our suggestions for the best mattress for couples.

Edge Support

Support around the perimeter of a mattress is key for sleepers who want to spread out on their bed. It’s also important for couples looking to use the entire surface of the mattress, or those who sit on the edge of the bed to get ready for the day, read a book or simply ruminate. Edge support is achieved by denser, thicker foams and tends to be better on innerspring and hybrid mattresses. Neither foam bed has noteworthy edge support, and even the AS3 hybrid sinks a bit at the perimeter, despite its inclusion of coils. For beds with strong edge support, see some of the best innerspring mattresses.

Pressure Relief

Pressure relief refers to how well a bed cradles pressure points like the hips and shoulders. The AS3 provides enough body contouring for all sleeping positions, but the Purple Original’s pressure-relieving ability varies by sleeping position. Stomach sleepers in particular will find that their torsos sag on this mattress, which can lead to neck and shoulder pain. The best mattresses for heavy stomach sleepers are especially sturdy and firm enough to keep the hips lifted without creating pressure buildup in the hips and shoulders.

Durability 

A mattress’s lifespan can usually be predicted by its style and the quality of its materials. Though it’s hard to tell exactly how long different mattresses will last, we predict the AS3 hybrid and foam beds will last about seven years. Purple has not been on the market long enough to determine the average lifespan of the Original mattress, but we’d expect about the same lifespan for the Purple. 

Temperature 

If we had to choose a winner, we’d say the Purple Original offers better temperature regulation than the AS3. The open construction of the Purple Grid allows air to flow through so that the bed sleeps cooler than average. The AS3’s top layer of memory foam can trap heat, despite its Celliant cover and the pocketed coil core in the hybrid version. To stop overheating at night, check out our list of the best cooling mattress.

Amerisleep Mattress Construction

The high-quality Amerisleep AS3 comes in two styles: all-foam and hybrid. The options are very similar, apart from the support core in each model. Both versions of the AS3 have a medium firmness setting, measure 12” tall and offer noticeable but responsive contouring from the top layer. The materials used in Amerisleep beds include the brand’s proprietary Bio-Pur foam, polyfoam in varying densities, pocketed coils, open-cell Bio-Pur memory foam, and a Celliant blend cover for active muscle recovery.

The support core of the Amerisleep AS3 mattress varies based on the model you choose: The foam AS3 features 7 inches of high-density polyfoam, and the hybrid AS3 features 7 inches of pocketed coils. The coils allow the hybrid version to offer more edge support, bounce and breathability for the sleeper. 

Purple Mattress Construction

The Purple is a unique, all-foam mattress with a Purple Grid comfort layer, a high-density polyfoam transitional layer, and an even higher-density polyfoam base layer. The Hyper-Elastic Polymer Grid on top is responsible for most of the bed’s feel; it conforms around pressure points for a “floating” sensation. Measuring 9.25” tall, the Purple has a medium to medium-firm setting made possible by the dense support layer and softer Purple Grid.

Sizing & Price Comparisons 

For great deals on Purple beds, see our Purple coupons page. For the latest Amerisleep specials, check out our Amerisleep coupons page.

Shipping and Returns

Amerisleep Mattress

All Amerisleep mattresses come with a 100-night sleep trial. During the trial, you can return the new mattress at any time for a full refund. Amerisleep mattresses purchased online and in-store come with the Amerisleep warranty of 20 years, which is partially prorated and protects against defects in workmanship. Amerisleep offers free shipping to the contiguous U.S., and mattresses are delivered within three to five business days of purchase through FedEx’s curbside delivery.

Purple Mattress

All Purple mattresses come with a 100-night sleep trial. A break-in period isn’t required, so you can return or exchange your new mattress at any point throughout the trial for a full refund. Purple also covers return shipping expenses. Exchanges for a more expensive model will incur a charge for the difference between the mattress prices.

See: Purple Mattress Return Policy

All Purple mattresses come with a 10-year warranty, which is entirely non-prorated and protects against defects. Purple offers free shipping to the contiguous U.S., and most mattresses arrive within five business days. The Original Purple ships as a bed-in-a-box, while Purple’s other mattresses come with free white glove delivery.

More Amerisleep Mattresses

See our full Amerisleep AS2 Mattress Review to learn more.

See our Amerisleep AS1 mattress review for more information.

More Purple Mattresses

See our full Purple Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more.

Read our full Purple Hybrid Premier Mattress Review to learn more. 

Haven’t made a decision yet? Check out these other comparisons:

• Amerisleep vs. Leesa
• Amerisleep vs. Casper
• Amerisleep vs. Tempur-Pedic
• Purple vs. Tuft & Needle
• Purple vs. Lull
• Purple vs. Saatva
• Purple vs. Casper
• Purple vs. Leesa
• Purple vs. Layla
• Purple vs. Helix
• Purple vs. Puffy
• Purple vs. Ghostbed
• Purple vs. Nectar
• Purple vs. Tempur-Pedic
• Purple vs. Bear

Our Final Take: Amerisleep vs. Purple

For those of you who could sleep healthfully on either bed, your decision comes down to three factors: feel, temperature and price. Purple is the clear choice for people who sleep hot. If you’re on a budget, the Purple is our recommendation as well; it’s the cheaper option, even when the AS3 is on sale. Finally, if you like a foam bed with a little bit of responsiveness, you’ll enjoy the Amerisleep. If you want a feel that’s unlike anything you’ve ever slept on before, you’ll enjoy the Purple.