Purple vs. Nectar Mattress Review

Purple vs. Nectar Mattress Review 

The Purple Original and Nectar Original mattresses are both all-foam mattress models from bed-in-a-box brands that have similar firmness levels. In this review, we’re diving into each mattress’ highlights as well as the mattresses’ similarities and differences. We also share guidance as to which mattress might be right for you.

The Nectar Mattress is made by Nectar Sleep, a U.S.-based mattress and bedding company headquartered in Palo Alto, California that was founded in 2016. As the brand’s flagship product, the Nectar Mattress contains memory foam layers and polyfoam, is 11 inches thick, and has a medium-firm feel.

The Purple Mattress is made by Purple, another U.S.-based mattress and bedding company. Founded in 2015, Purple released the Purple Mattress as its flagship model. It contains unique materials, including Purple’s proprietary elastic polymer grid and polyfoam. The Purple Mattress is also medium-firm on the firmness scale. 

In this Purple vs. Nectar mattress review, we break down the highlights of each mattress, their similarities and differences, and share pointers for how to decide which mattress could be right for you.

Mattress Highlights

Purple vs. Nectar

Key Differences 

• Materials—The Purple mattress features the company’s proprietary Smart Grid layer while the Nectar does not.
• Feel—The Nectar has a traditional cradling, sinking memory foam feel, whereas the Purple is more responsive.
• Temperature—The Purple’s breathable SmartGrid comfort layer helps it sleep cooler than the Nectar.
• Size Availability—The Nectar is available in sizes Twin through California King, but the Purple is not offered in Twin size.

Key Similarities

• Type—Both are mixed-foam beds.
• Firmness Level—The mattresses have medium-firm firmness levels and are roughly a 6.5/10 on the firmness scale.
• Motion Isolation—Both beds isolate motion and reduce noise fairly well.

Nectar vs. Purple Mattress Construction 

Purple Construction

The Purple Mattress, also known as the Original Purple, consists of a cover, comfort layer, transitional layer, and base layers that altogether measure 9.5 inches thick. It’s important to note that this height profile is slightly thinner than average, and the transitional and support layers make up much of the mattress. The bed has more supportive and firmer feel relative to other mixed-foam mattresses.

Nectar Construction

The Nectar Mattress, also known as the Nectar Original, consists of a cover, two comfort layers, a transitional layer, and support layers. Altogether, the layers measure 11 inches thick, which is slightly thicker than the average all-foam mattress. Nectar markets the Nectar Original as “plush but highly supportive,” which we think is an accurate description of this mattress.

Who the Purple Original Mattress is Best For 

Best For…

• Sleepers who enjoy firmer beds with moderate body-conforming
• Average weight and heavyweight sleepers
• Those who sleep hot
• Sleepers who awaken easily due to their partner or pet’s movement or noise
• You enjoy the feeling of sleeping “on” a mattress rather than “in” it

May Not be Best For…

• Those who want a traditional memory foam feel
• Heavyweight sleepers, as the mattress does not provide adequate support

Read our full Purple Mattress Review to learn more! 

Who the Nectar Original Mattress is Best For 

Best For…

• Sleepers who enjoy firmer beds with moderate body-conforming
• Sleepers who awaken easily due to their partner or pet’s movement or noise
• Those who want a traditional sinking, cradling memory foam feel
• Those who tend to sleep hot on all-foam mattresses
• You’re seeking pressure relief from back, hip, or neck pain
• You enjoy the feeling of sleeping “in” a mattress rather than sleeping “on” it

May Not be Best For…

• Lightweight sleepers, as the mattress may feel too firm
• Sleepers who want a responsive, hybrid feel or don’t enjoy the cradling feel of memory foam comfort layers

Read our full Nectar Mattress Review to learn more! 

Things to Consider When Picking A Mattress

Firmness / Feel

A bed’s firmness refers to how soft or firm it feels to individual sleepers. A scale of 1 to 10 (1 being very soft and 10 being very firm) is typically used in the mattress industry to label mattresses, but how a bed feels is very subjective. Both the Nectar and the Purple are medium-firm, or a 6.5/10 on the firmness scale. This means they sink very little in response to pressure yet conform to a moderate extent. While we’ve given the Nectar and the Purple the same firmness rating, it’s important to note that they feel rather different. The Purple has a responsive feel thanks to the SmartGrid in the top layer, whereas the Nectar offers the more traditional sink and cradle of a memory foam mattress. SEE: Firmness Scale 

Motion Isolation

Motion isolation, or motion transfer, is an important quality to consider if you sleep with a partner or co-sleep with a pet or child. If you wake easily to movement or noise throughout the night, a bed with great motion isolation will be essential to achieving a great night’s sleep. Both the Nectar and the Purple have minimal motion transfer and produce minimal noise, though we think the Nectar is slightly superior in this category due to the double-layer comfort portion of the mattress.

Edge Support

If you have trouble getting in and out of bed or are concerned with a mattress’ durability, edge support is something to consider. Edge support refers to the degree to which the perimeter of a mattress supports body weight. Most mixed-foam mattresses tend to have more sinking than hybrid or innerspring models, and the Purple and Nectar are on par with that trend. They both show significant sinkage along the edges of the bed, especially for heavyweight sleepers. The Nectar performs slightly better.

RELATED: Best Mattresses For Couples

Pressure Relief

Pressure relief is important for every sleeper to consider, and whether a bed will provide adequate pressure relief for your sleeping position of choice depends on your weight, height, and any acute aches and pains you have. The Purple’s Comfort Grid provides pressure relief for most sleepers who are lightweight or average weight and sleep on their sides or backs. Stomach sleepers may find that the Purple sags too much in the hip area to provide pressure relief. As for the Nectar, pressure relief is one of its strengths. The two memory foam comfort layers absorb and cradle the body, conforming to different areas and distributing weight evenly. All in all, the Nectar outpaces Purple slightly in this area, but it will come down to preference. If you like the feeling of sleeping “in” a bed, you’ll prefer the Nectar. If you like the feeling of sleeping “on” a bed, you’ll prefer the Purple.

Spine Alignment

How well a bed is able to keep your spine in proper alignment is essential to achieving a great night’s sleep and improving or maintaining your overall health. When your spine is thrown out of alignment throughout the night, aches and pains increase during the day. The Purple provides spinal alignment for side, back, and combination sleepers, but we think the grid sinks too much to provide support for stomach sleepers. Alternatively, the Nectar provides nice support and spinal alignment for all sleeping positions if you’re average weight or heavyweight. Lightweight sleepers may find the mattress too firm and, therefore, not pressure-relieving enough.

Durability

A new mattress is an investment, so it’s key to ensure your purchase will last at least several years. Both Purple and Nectar Sleep are relatively young companies, but customer reviews and the quality of the mattresses’ construction indicates that they will last roughly seven to eight years, which is average in the mattress industry. As always, rotating all-foam mattresses every three to six months is recommended to prevent body impressions from forming. 

Temperature

If you sleep hot or live in a warm climate, a bed that’s breathable and able to help you achieve a cool night’s sleep is essential. As an all-foam mattress, the Nectar will trap some heat throughout the night, but it is slightly cooler than other memory foam mattresses. Alternatively, the Purple’s Comfort Grid helps it sleep much cooler than other all-foam models, promoting steady airflow to keep the surface temperature-neutral at worst and cool at best. See: Best Cooling Mattresses

Size & Price Comparisons 

Shipping and Returns 

Most online mattress companies offer generous shipping policies, and Nectar and Purple are no different. Both Nectar and Purple offer free shipping to the contiguous U.S. The Purple can ship anywhere in the U.S. and anywhere in Canada. The Nectar can ship anywhere in the U.S. and to Puerto Rico.

Nectar offers White Glove delivery for a flat fee, and old mattress removal is included with this. Purple does not currently offer White Glove delivery with any of its products.

With regard to returns, you’ll have 100 nights to decide that you want to return the mattress if you purchase the Purple and 365 nights (one year) to decide if you purchase the Nectar. Nectar has a mandatory 30-day break-in period before free returns are eligible, and Purple does not have a break-in period, although they recommend testing the mattress for 30 nights prior to making your decision.

If you decide to return your Purple Original, Purple will cover all shipping and handling expenses. If you decide to return your Nectar, Nectar Sleep will cover all shipping and handling expenses and coordinate mattress pickup on your behalf. 

See: Best Bed in a Box

Other Models Available

• Purple Hybrid—The Purple Hybrid is the company’s take on a hybrid mattress, featuring the signature Purple Comfort Grid with supportive pocketed coils. See our full Purple Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more! 
• Purple Hybrid Premier—One step up from the Purple Hybrid, the Purple Hybrid Premier is the brand’s luxury mattress with firmness setting options and high-quality materials. See our full Purple Hybrid Premier Review to learn more! 
• Nectar Lush—A pressure-relieving memory foam mattress, the Nectar Lush is Nectar Sleep’s softer, more expensive mattress and is targeted at side sleepers. 

Conclusion 

The Nectar Original and Purple Original are both excellent, moderately priced mixed-foam mattresses with unique advantages and different downsides. The beds vary relatively little in the price for all sizes, so the mattress that’s best for you will come down to your sleeping position, body weight, and overall feel preferences. If you enjoy the traditional, cradling feel of memory foam, we think you’ll love the Nectar. If you want a more responsive mattress and like the feel of sleeping “on” a mattress rather than sinking deeply “in” it, we recommend the Purple Original.