Casper and Purple are two brands that changed the way people shop for a mattress. Both conveniently shipped to your door in a box, these two mattresses have a lot in common, so deciphering their differences can be tricky. Let’s dive into what makes them unique, and decide which one is best for you!
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Casper vs. Purple Mattress Review
Comparing Casper & Purple Mattresses
Casper is a well-known online mattress brand that was established in 2014. It currently offers multiple all-foam and hybrid mattress models, but the Casper Original was the company’s first and remains their most popular. It’s a mixed-foam mattress that combines comfort layers of polyfoam and memory foam with a washable cover and a supportive base for a relatively cool, supportive night’s sleep.
Purple launched just one year later in 2015; they offer three mattresses. The Purple Original, which we’re reviewing in this article, was the company’s first product. Purple has drawn in customers with spunky advertising, reasonable price points and, most of all, its proprietary Purple Grid comfort technology.
In this article, we’re sharing the differences and similarities of Casper and Purple mattresses, as well as our recommendation for which might suit you best.
Related: Memory Foam vs Hybrid
Differences
- Comfort Layer—The Purple features a proprietary Purple Grid comfort layer, while Casper’s comfort layer is a mix of polyfoam and memory foam.
- Sleep Position Suitability—Side sleepers of all weight categories will feel comfortable on the Casper, whereas the Purple is better suited for all weight categories of back sleepers.
- Feel—Purple beds have a gel-like feel, whereas Casper beds feel like foam.
- Mattress Height—The Casper measures 12 inches thick and the Purple measures 9.5 inches thick.
Similarities
- Firmness Level—Both mattresses have similar firmness levels, at 6 and 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. They are medium-firm.
- Temperature Neutrality—The Purple and the Casper sleep cool, thanks to the temperature neutrality of the comfort grid and the breathability of the top comfort layer, respectively.
- Sleep Position Suitability—Both mattresses support lightweight sleepers well regardless of their sleeping position.
- Construction—Both mattresses feature a cover, comfort layers, a transitional layer, and support foam layers.
- Price—Both beds cost roughly the same in their various sizes, with Casper mattresses running just a bit more expensive.
Related: Best Affordable Mattresses
Casper Original
The Casper Mattress is great for sleepers in search of body-conforming pressure relief with a cool, supportive feel.
Score
4.8
/
5.0
Firmness
6
Trial period
100 nights
Reason to buy
Affordable mattress made for all sleepers
Who is the Casper Original Mattress Best For?
The Casper Is Best For…
- People wanting an all-foam mattress
- People searching for a balance of comfort and support
- Sleepers who like a close conforming mattress to alleviate pressure points
- Couples who are easily woken up by tossing and turning
See: Best Mattresses for Couples
The Casper May Not Be Best For…
- People who sleep very hot
- Heavyweight sleepers may find this mattress too soft for them
Read our full Casper Mattress Review to learn more!
Purple Mattress
The Purple mattress is perfect for value-seekers who prefer a temperature-neutral, all-foam mattress with a floating feel.
Score
4.8
/
5.0
Thickness
Varies
Trial period
100 nights
Reason to buy
Purple’s Smart Grid construction
Who is the Purple Original Mattress Best For?
The Purple Mattress is Best For…
- Sleepers who like a “floating” feel
- People interested in investing in proprietary new bedding technology (Purple Grid)
- People who like to feel more like they are sleeping “on” a mattress instead of sinking “into” one
- Hot sleepers
- Couples or people who sleep with pets
The Purple May Not Be Best For…
- Heavy Individuals, as it may not provide enough support
- People looking for a traditional memory foam mattress feel
Read our full Purple Mattress Review to learn more!
Deciding Between Casper & Purple
Firmness / Feel
Mattress firmness is based on how soft or firm the bed feels to individual sleepers. It’s directly tied to the comfort layers used in the top part of a mattress, which cushion the sleeper and act as a buffer between the body and the firmer, more dense layers of the mattress’ core. The firmness also indicates how closely a mattress will conform to a sleeper’s body. Mattresses range in firmness on a scale from 1-10, 1 being extremely soft and 10 being extremely firm.
The right firmness level for your body will be highly dependent on your weight and sleeping position. Sleepers who rest on their side for the majority of the night often prefer a softer mattress, which alleviates the pressure points in the shoulders and hips. Stomach, back, and combination sleepers fare better on medium-firm and firm mattresses, which offer flatter surfaces to encourage spinal alignment.
Your weight is also a factor in firmness preference. For example, consider two individuals who are both back sleepers: one weighs 120 pounds, the other weighs 300 pounds. To the lightweight individual, a soft mattress may feel too soft. To the heavyweight individual, even a medium-firm mattress may feel soft to their body. Both the Purple and Casper have middle-of-the-road firmness levels, at 6.5 and 6, respectively. As such, they can work well for sleepers of all sleeping positions, depending on their weight and size.
Motion Isolation
Motion isolation is an important factor for couples, who can experience disrupted sleep if they’re able to feel their partner switching positions or getting out of bed. The Purple isolates motion transfer very well and doesn’t make any noise, thanks to the silent polymer grid in the comfort layer. It’s on par with most all-foam beds in its price category. Casper also does an excellent job of isolating motion. It creates hardly any noise when bearing weight, making it a good choice for couples. If motion isolation is important to you, we think you’d find that quality in either of these mattresses.
Edge Support
Edge support, or a mattress’ proneness to sinking at its edges, is important for individuals who have trouble getting in and out of bed and for those who see durability as key consideration in their mattress purchase. The Purple seems to offer relatively good edge support from edge to edge when you get in and out quickly, but sinkage can be experienced if you sit at the edge of the bed for an extended period of time. The Casper’s sinkage is similar, as is relatively par for the course in all-foam beds, it’s thicker support core helps keep this to a minimum.
Pressure Relief
Pressure relief, which aids in the alleviation of aches and pains to encourage better sleep and overall wellness, is essential for all sleepers. Pressure relief is closely linked to the materials used in the comfort layer of a mattress, which determines how well (and where) it conforms to sleepers’ bodies.
The Purple mattress does an excellent job of distributing weight throughout the comfort grid. Heavier sleepers who may come into contact with the core layers could experience added pressure. The Casper is similar, providing great pressure relief for average weight and lightweight sleepers, with heavyweight sleepers running into some added pressure.
Related: Best Mattresses for Heavy Sleepers
Spine Alignment
As mentioned above, your ability to achieve spinal alignment on the Casper or the Purple will depend greatly upon your size, weight, and sleeping position. In general, side sleepers will find that the Purple offers cushioning for the hips and shoulders while keeping their spine aligned, and back sleepers and stomach sleepers won’t sink too much with the support of the transitional and base layers. Heavyweight sleepers (more than 230 pounds) may experience uncomfortable sinkage that leads to a misaligned spine.
Similar to the Purple mattress, the Casper mattress is capable of offering excellent spinal alignment for lightweight and average weight sleepers of all sleeping positions. Heavyweight sleepers may experience pressure in their hips and shoulders (side sleepers) or sink in their hips (back and stomach sleepers).
Durability
Available since the company was established in 2014, the Casper mattress has a lifespan of roughly five to seven years. The support core, which is relatively thick when compared to other all-foam beds, helps it last a bit longer than average. The Purple mattress will also last roughly seven years before a replacement mattress is needed. With the Purple and the Casper, frequent rotations (three to six months) are recommended to prevent sagging and impressions.
Temperature Neutrality
The open construction of Purple’s proprietary grid allows airflow through the layer, keeping sleepers cool and the absorption of body heat to a minimum, making it one of our best cooling mattresses. When compared to comfort layers made from open-cell foam and polyfoam, Purple wins the race to a cool sleep. Casper, on the other hand, maintains a comfortable sleep temperature, but we wouldn’t say it sleeps “cool.” The solid-foam base doesn’t promote much airflow, and while the comfort layers do a good job of releasing body heat, they’re no competition for the Purple’s breathable, spacious comfort grid.
Casper vs Purple Construction
Casper |
Purple |
|
Materials |
Mixed-foam | Hyper-elastic polymer & Foam |
Cover |
Removable, washable polyester cover | Polyester, knit blend. Non-removable |
Comfort Layer |
Breathable, Open-Cell Foam | Supportive, 2″ Purple Grid |
Transitional Layer |
Zoned support polyfoam | Soft & Responsive comfort foam |
Support Layer |
Reinforcing, stabilizing polyfoam | Supportive, high-density dual-foam |
Mattress Thickness |
12″ | 9.5″ |
Casper Construction
The Casper Original, the brand’s flagship model, is a mixed-foam mattress made with comfort layers of polyfoam and memory foam. These layers, both breathable and pressure-relieving, consist of a 1.5-inch layer of standard memory foam and a 1.5-inch layer of 4 PCF memory foam which, together, creates a subtly bouncy and body-contouring feel. The transitional layer contains 1.5 inches of 2.5 PCF polyfoam, which helps prevent too much sinkage to the dense base layer. This layer is zoned, meaning it feels firmer beneath the shoulders than the back and legs.
In the support layers, you’ll find 7.5 inches of 1.8 PCF polyfoam, which stabilizes the bed and prevents the top two layers from sagging. This support layer also reinforces the edges to make it easier to get in and out of bed. In total, the mattress measures 12 inches thick, which is a relatively high profile for a mixed-foam mattress. In general, the combination of foam used provides strong support and ample softness and conforming. The layers are encased in a removable, washable polyester cover.
Related: Casper Mattress Complaints
Purple Construction
The Purple is a foam bed with a twist. On the outside of the mattress, you’ll find a cover made from a knit blend of polyester, viscose, and Lycra. It’s soft and stretchy, but it can’t be removed, which means you’ll be required to spot clean the cover. Inside the cover, on the top layer, is Purple’s claim to fame: The proprietary Purple Grid comfort layer, which is unique to Purple mattresses.
This is a hyperelastic polymer layer that conforms where the body exerts pressure but does not compress anywhere else, creating a “floating” effect that many love. The grid design of this layer also keeps the mattress very cool. Beneath the grid, a transitional layer of 3.5 inches 1.8 PCF high-density polyfoam acts as a buffer to prevent sinkage. A 4-inch support layer of 2.0 PCF high-density polyfoam follows this layer, which acts as a short, supportive core to reinforce the mattress. The Purple measures 9.5 inches thick, which contributes to the mattress’ medium-firm feel.
Shipping and Returns for Casper & Purple
Both the Purple and the Casper ship free in a box to the contiguous U.S., Canadians also receive free shipping from Casper. In both models, no break-in period is required for the sleep trial to start, so the mattresses can be returned at any time during the trial for a full refund, including shipping fees.
Other Casper Mattresses
Casper Wave Hybrid
The Casper Wave Hybrid strikes a balance with a middle-of-the-road firmness level and features that make it appropriate for sleepers of all shapes and sizes. It’s an excellent choice for sleepers who enjoy the Original Casper’s balance of conforming and support but want more bounce.
Read our full Casper Nova Hybrid mattress review to learn more.
Casper Hybrid
Striking the perfect balance between the contour of memory foam and the bounce of pocket-coils, the Casper Hybrid offers the best of both worlds when it comes to superior comfort and support.
Check out our full Casper Hybrid mattress review to learn more.
Purple Hybrid
The Purple Hybrid features the Original Purple mattress’ comfort grid but adds responsive support coils at the core for improved airflow, responsiveness, and durability.
Read our full Purple Hybrid mattress review to learn more.
Purple Hybrid Premier
The Purple Hybrid Premier, like the Purple Hybrid, features a transitional layer and a support core of pocketed coils that sit atop a thin polyfoam base layer. This mattress was previously marketed as the New Purple, which included what is now the Purple Hybrid (formerly the Purple 2) and the Purple Hybrid Premier (formerly the Purple 3 and Purple 4).
See our full Purple Hybrid Premier mattress review to learn more.
Our Casper vs. Purple Final Review
The differences between the Purple and the Casper are slight, from a helicopter view. In general, their similarities far outnumber their differences, but the differences will be the deciding factor for most shoppers. Both mattresses are two of our favorite beds in a box, so you will end up with a great mattress, either way, it just depends on your body type and sleeping preferences.
When it comes down to deciding between Casper vs. Purple mattress, here’s what we recommend. We think lightweight and average weight shoppers looking for an all-foam mattress, who tend to sleep hot, are easily disturbed by their partners, or like products with “new” and “trendy” technology will enjoy the Purple better. Lightweight and average weight sleepers who want a more traditional all-foam feel to their mattress will enjoy the Casper.
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