September 10, 2014
Disclosure: This site receives a payment from 1800 Mattress, US Mattress, or Sears, Macy’s, or Sam’s Club when you purchase a product using any links to those companies in this article.
(Update 4/3/2016: The Vantage lineup has also been discontinued, and Serta has named their newest iSeries lineup the “Appaluse II.” It is NOT the same mattress as the original Applause; a lot has changed in the 3 years between the model years. As a result, most of the links on this page are dead, and I’m not sure what to do with this article. The most comparable model to the Applause is the Applause 2, but you don’t really need me to tell you that).
A lot of my customers come in and ask specifically for the Serta Perfect Day iSeries Applause because it was recommended by Consumer Reports in Feburary of 2014. Unfortunately for those shoppers, Serta updated their lineup shortly after that, so the Applause no longer exists under that name. Additionally, some retailers use names other than the “official” Serta name, so even if you went shopping when the Applause still existed, you might not find it under that name.
So, I’ve compiled a list of the newest versions of the Applause at various retailers. It comes in a Firm, Plush, and Pillowtop. I recommend going into a showroom and trying out the mattresses, making sure you get proper contouring support and making sure the mattress doesn’t cause any pressure or discomfort. If you’ve already done that, buying it online can be very convenient.
The “official” Serta name is the Vantage for the firm and plush, and Merit for the pillowtop.
Serta iSeries Applause Comparison Chart
| Style | Sleepys/1800 Mattress | Sears | us-mattress.com | Macy's | Sam's Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firm | Geniality Firm | Vantage Firm | Vantage Firm | Island Retreat Firm | Vantage Firm |
| Plush | Geniality Plush | Vantage Plush | Vantage Plush | - | Vantage Plush |
| Pillowtop | Cachet Super Pillowtop | Merit Super Pillowtop | Merit Super Pillowtop | Alluring Retreat | Merit Super Pillowtop |
Note: Sleepy’s and 1800 Mattress use the same model numbers and are owned by the same company. 1800 Mattress generally has the lower of the two prices, so I linked to them.
Serta iSeries Prices
Serta iSeries has MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) pricing, which sets a limit on how low a retailer is allowed to sell merchandise at. This is the pricing strategy used by Apple and Bose. What this means to you is you’re likely to find the same price no matter where you shop, so I recommend buying the mattress from whatever retailer is most convenient to you. Since you won’t find a lower price between retailers, if you want a better deal, try to get them to throw in a mattress protector or some pillows. The following is a table with the MAP price on the Serta iSeries comparable models to the Applause. If you see a price higher than these, don’t buy it.
Serta iSeries prices, Firm and Plush
| Size | Mattress and Boxspring Set | Mattress Only |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | $1099 | $949 |
| Full | $1274 | $1074 |
| Queen | $1299 | $1074 |
| King | $1799 | $1499 |
Serta iSeries prices, Pillowtop
| Size | Mattress and Boxspring Set | Mattress Only |
|---|---|---|
| Twin | $1149 | $1299 |
| Full | $1474 | $1274 |
| Queen | $1499 | $1274 |
| King | $1999 | $1699 |
Since there is a minimum price, retailers will sometimes include a free item as a sale since they’re not allowed to reduce the price. That could be a gift card, a TV, or something along those lines. If you see something like that, it’s likely the best deal you’ll find. Sometimes, Serta offers a promotion like a discount on the mattress or a free boxspring promotion in which the mattress and boxspring set is priced the same as the mattress only. If this is the case, every retailer is likely offering the same discount or promotion, so keep an eye out for that.
I hope this has been of some use to you. If it has, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Disclosure: This site receives a payment from 1800 Mattress, US Mattress, or Sears, Macy’s, or Sam’s Club when you purchase a product using any links to those companies in this article.
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Calvin Says
August 20, 2017 at 5:58 pm
What is the comparison of the Serta mattresses Limited edition at Sam's and Advisor at sit and sleep
Marcia Says
July 17, 2017 at 3:39 pm
Help please. I bought a savant lll icomfort Plush which I don't like at all. Looking at the Applause ll still available. Is there a newer model of this under a different name?
Virginia Rose Says
March 24, 2017 at 6:16 pm
Can you email me re: what current iSeries or iComfort mattress set relates to the Honoree SPT which was made in 2014? I love this thing!!! But I am moving it to a guest room and buying myself a King-size. I have had many brands and models, none of them this comfortable, so I know that going to the stores and "testing" them is not as informative as sleeping on them for a year. THANKS.
MattressNerd Says
December 8, 2016 at 3:26 pm
Consumers reports habitually lists discontinued models on their site. Unfortunately, I don't know exactly which version they're referring to, but I suspect it's the firm one, they have previously recommended firm mattresses. They might be referring to either, though.
Trac Says
December 7, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Hi, Consumers reports rated the Serta icomfort Savant Everfeel but they don't have an Everfeel in their line on their website at this date. They have Savant III Plush and Cushion Firm. do you know which is comparable to the Everfeel? They also rate the Genius and Acumen of which I can't find the comparable to. Also the iSeries Vantage is no longer on the website but was rated by Consumers FEB 2016. This is driving me crazy.
Fermin Benedetti Says
October 13, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Your advice is appreciated. I shopped around for a good deal on a firm mattress. I was willing to spend around $1,250 for a Full. As you said, Serta prices are like Bose, pretty much the same price everywhere. I wound up purchasing from Raymour and Flanigan a Serta i Comfort Applause II Hybrid Firm mattress with a 9" i Comfort Full Box, a mattress pad + recycling fees and tax for about $1,110 delivered. Believe me, so far this has been the most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on.
MattressNerd Says
September 3, 2016 at 7:57 am
It's a fine mattress, a step up from the Applause and its replacements. It's being phased out because Serta changes their lineup every ~18 months or so.
susan Says
September 3, 2016 at 7:51 am
Hello, Do you know what the equivalents are to the Serta Iseries Grigsby Plush? This is the name at Sleepys. What are your thoughts on this bed? Do you have any information on why this model is being phased out? Thanks.
Hailey Says
March 30, 2016 at 11:58 pm
Amazing info! So helpful. Thank you! Just FYI, I tried to use your link, but my item was purchased through Sears outlet, and showed out of tick at Sears.com. so I am assuming that would effect any commissions.
Barry G Says
November 18, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Just wanted to say this is the comparison website of my dreams, thanks for the effort. If you could do that same for pillows that would be amazing!
Staci Says
August 24, 2015 at 12:43 pm
Do you have any comparisons or information on the Serta Perfect Sleeper Firm line?
Jeff Nelson Says
July 28, 2015 at 5:01 pm
My wife and I would like to replace our current mattress with a Serta we recently slept on at a family vacation. Can you tell me what todays name and model this mattress is. This is the info on the tag, Salt Lake Mattress- Serta Model 240137-3060 Prototype M-1 Serta-FR Serta- FRC Legg-LPS-1 Fairmont NLET(ez)s 240137-3060 / 2109432
Links Says
June 7, 2015 at 10:00 pm
Thank you. This was very helpful, I got my mattress today!
MattressNerd Says
June 4, 2015 at 10:42 pm
You should spend some time on each in a store and see which one causes the least pain or discomfort.
steph owens Says
June 3, 2015 at 3:36 pm
I am a side sleeper and seem to have pressure points on hip, shoulder and neck, which mattress would you recommend...firm, plush or pillowtop?
emily Says
May 24, 2015 at 6:31 pm
thank you so much for giving the names of the same product across different retailers. i knew that happened -- why make it so hard on the consumer? -- but couldn't figure out the names of the one i wanted to buy. so thank you thank you thank you!
MattressNerd Says
April 10, 2015 at 8:32 am
Yup. Since they're not allowed to discount the price, retailers will often do things like this instead. 1800 Mattress sometimes does that too.
ed asner Says
April 10, 2015 at 8:05 am
Sam's Club was giving a $300 gift card with I series mattress purchase . Recently changed it to $200. Still a good deal.
MattressNerd Says
March 18, 2015 at 10:20 pm
They added a few more coils and have 25% more gel in the foam. Other than that, they're the same. It was never claimed that they were identical mattresses. I'm very skeptical of the precision of Consumer Reports' "tests," especially since the old one only performs a "notch" higher. Also, they are exactly the same price, 1074 for a queen mattress. Consumer Reports was comparing the sale price for the old mattress to the retail price of the new one.
Rafael Says
March 18, 2015 at 5:08 pm
Apparently they are not the same mattresses, according to Consumer Reports. Here is a link to an article that mention it all. (you need to be a member to consumer reports to read it I think) http://www.oldbedguy.com/2015/03/03/when-are-identical-mattresses-not-the-same-mattress-reviews-consumer-reports-2/
MattressNerd Says
March 9, 2015 at 12:11 pm
The plush version of this mattress is one of the firmest mattresses I've seen that's still called "plush." It's roughly the same firmness as some other brands "luxury firm" or "cushion firm" mattresses. I mean, it comes down to the individual, but I don't think the plush would be bad for most people. It'll probably feel a little better on your side.
Todd Says
March 9, 2015 at 11:14 am
Is there any recommendation for the firm vs the plush? I haven't found a plush in stores. I am a side/back sleeper mostly. but sometimes I also sleep on my stomach. The bed I have now is so uncomfortable and the firm felt a million times better than what I have today but I havent been able to try a plush.
MattressNerd Says
January 19, 2015 at 11:42 pm
Nice, though the manufacturer's warranty and exchange policy should be a little longer than that. Sears didn't take into consideration Serta's 120 day trial. Either that or Sears isn't offering it, which would be weird because it comes right from the manufacturer. The warranty period is 10 years, too. On the other hand, I don't think they were technically supposed to discount below the 1074 either, so maybe you just lucked out with a rep that doesn't know the policies.
Nell Says
January 19, 2015 at 10:36 pm
Thank you so much for the great shopping comparison charts - So helpful!!! I bought my Vantage Firm from Sears on a live customer service phone call. She applied an automatic 10% discount for the phone order, and another 5% off for being a rewards member. So my final cost for a queen mattress only was $999.63 Mattress $1074, -15%, ($161.10) =$912.90 + $86.73 tax = $999.63!!! *Includes FREE delivery and haul away. 1 yr manufacture warranty and 60 day comfort return policy Happy MLK Day to all and SWEET DREAMS!!!
MattressNerd Says
December 29, 2014 at 8:07 am
These are not the exact same mattress in the same way that a 2013 Ford Focus is not the same model as the 2014 Ford Focus, to use a car analogy. It's just last year's model. That's why US Mattress currently only has a Queen size available for the Applause, and I expect that'll be sold out quickly. If you can find any of the Applause in the size that you need, then you're in good shape.
joseph limandri Says
December 28, 2014 at 3:03 am
I noticed that us-mattress has both the vantage virm and the applause firm. The applause firm is cheaper and comes with a free box spring. I was under the impression these are both the same mattress. What am I missing?