Purple vs. Nolah Mattress Comparison

The Nolah Original 10” mattress is a medium firmness bed made from three layers of proprietary foams. The original Purple mattress—along with all the Purple mattress models—uses a gel grid that creates a floating feel. 

The Nolah mattress is a good option for people who enjoy the contouring feel of foam mattresses. Thanks to the motion isolation properties of foam, the Nolah is terrific for couples. The Purple mattress is excellent for hot sleepers, lightweight sleepers, and side and back sleepers who weigh less than 230 pounds. The weightless sensation makes the Purple a good mattress for seniors and one of the best mattresses for hip pain or shoulder pain. 

Comparing Purple Mattress & Nolah Mattress

Purple and Nolah are two leading bed-in-a-box mattress companies. In this article, we’re going to compare the flagship Purple mattress with the Nolah Original mattress, covering their similarities and differences, construction, price point, company policies and who’s a good fit for each bed. 

Differences

• The Purple’s proprietary comfort grid creates a floating sensation, while Nolah’s all-foam construction has a deeper contouring feel and is the better mattress for side sleepers. 
• The Purple’s gel grid top layer supports greater airflow than Nolah’s foam comfort layer. As such, Purple is better than Nolah for hot sleepers.
• Nolah’s proprietary foams offer sturdier edge support and superior motion transfer over the Purple Grid.

Similarities

• Both Nolah and Purple balance pressure relief with responsive support that’s excellent for combination, side and back sleepers. However, the Nolah is better than the Purple for stomach sleepers who weigh more than 130 pounds. For other options, check out our picks for the best mattress for heavy stomach sleepers.
• Both mattresses properly support lightweight and average-weight people. Neither offers the level of cushion or support required by plus-size people.
• Both Nolah and Purple do an excellent job supporting healthy spinal alignment, especially for sleepers who weigh less than 230 pounds.

Who the Purple Mattress is Best For 

Best For…

• Hot Sleepers: People who find all-foam and memory foam mattresses too hot. The Purple’s grid-like top layer creates a temperature-neutral sleeping experience. 
• Back and Side Sleepers: Lightweight and average-weight people who sleep on their back, side or combination of the two. The collapsible Purple Grid minimizes pressure and provides support for side and back sleepers.
• Pain Sufferers: The weightless feel and spinal alignment may ease aches, especially for people with back pain.

May Not be Best For…

• Heavyweight Stomach Sleepers: Stomach sleepers who weigh more than 130 pounds. The Purple Comfort Grid may dip too low at the hips, pulling the spine out of alignment. 
• Heavy Sleepers: Heavier people who weigh 230 pounds or more. The top layer is not thick enough for bigger bodies, which may lead to pain at pressure points and poor spinal alignment. If you are looking for a more supportive mattress, see our picks for the best mattress for heavy people.
• People Who Love the All-Foam Bed Feel: While the Purple Comfort Grid provides similar pressure relief, the floating sensation is far different from the marshmallow-y feel of soft foam comfort layers.

Read our full Purple mattress review to learn more! 

Who the Nolah Mattress is Best For 

Best For…

• All Sleeping Positions: Side, back, and lighter stomach sleepers are all a good fit for the Nolah thanks to supportive and pressure-relieving foams. During testing we found comfort in each position but it takes some effort to change positions because of the cradling foams. 
• People Who Share the Bed: The three foam layers minimize motion transfer, and the edges are both sturdy and comfortable—an excellent combination for couples who like to spread out.
• Those with Back Pain: Lighter sleepers with back pain or body aches may find relief on the Nolah. Nolah’s proprietary foams performed well for side sleepers but caused heavier back sleepers’ hips to sink too deep into the foam.

May Not be Best For…

• Heavy-weight Sleepers: Plus-size people might not receive sufficient support or cushion. 
• Hot Sleepers: There is no ultra-breathable innerspring layer.
• Memory Foam Mattress Lovers: Nolah’s foams don’t hug the body as deeply as traditional memory foam. If you are looking for a hug from your mattress, see the best memory foam mattresses.

Read our full Nolah mattress review to learn more! 

Deciding Between Purple & Nolah

Firmness / Feel

The Purple mattress feels unlike any other bed on the market because of its proprietary gel grid top layer. Expect this layer to buckle at heavy body parts and gently support lighter areas, creating a floating sensation and medium-firm feel. While this firmness works for every sleeping position, we believe this bed is best for side and back sleepers who weigh less than 230 pounds. 

The Nolah Original’s medium-firmness is softer than the Purple. Because it’s made entirely from polyfoam, it has a balanced foam feel that hugs the body while supporting ease-of-movement. This balanced foam mattress achieves the correct pressure relief and support for average and lightweight sleepers of every sleeping position. For other mattresses that have a balanced feel and evenly distribute the body weight, see our picks for the best mattress for back sleepers.

Motion Isolation

People who share their mattress with a partner, child or furry family member tend to sleep best on a bed that dampens motion. Foam is the best material for motion isolation. Because Nolah is an all-foam mattress, it minimizes motion transfer better than the Purple mattress and is the better mattress for couples.

Edge Support

Sturdy edges are something that most of us don’t miss until they’re gone. Solid edges mean you can sleep on the entire mattress surface, something that’s important for most couples who share a queen-size mattress or smaller. Furthermore, many people sit along the mattress perimeter while others use the edge for support when getting into bed.

For people who share the bed and those who like to use the edges for support, the Nolah mattress might be the better option. Its edges are impressively sturdy, while the Purple’s edges feel a touch more wobbly. If you are looking to maximize your mattress surface, see the best king size mattress.

Pressure Relief 

Side sleepers need a mattress that cradles the hips and shoulders to avoid aches and pains. Both the Nolah and Purple excel at cushioning pressure points for lightweight and average-weight sleepers. Neither has a thick enough top layer for heavyweight side sleepers. 

Spine Alignment 

Both the Nolah and Purple mattresses do a good job keeping the spine aligned when people sleep on their back or sides. Neither the Nolah nor the Purple Grid may provide the right level of spinal alignment for stomach sleepers.

Durability 

The Purple mattress is more durable than the Nolah. While both beds have high-density polyfoam base layers that boost longevity, the Purple Grid top layer is resistant to body indentations. The softer Nolah top layer is more prone to developing surface indentations over the mattress’s lifespan. 

Temperature 

Both mattresses are cooler than the average foam bed. However, Purple’s ultra-breathable gel grid creates a better sleeping environment for hot sleepers. See the best cooling mattresses for other beds that incorporate cooling technologies to wick away body heat.

Purple Mattress Construction

The original Purple is a three-layer mattress. The first layer is made from Purple’s revolutionary hyper-elastic polymer grid. This gel material provides the pressure relief of memory foam with the airflow of an innerspring mattress. 

The grid buckles at heavier areas and gently supports lighter body parts. The balance between give and support means excellent body alignment. To lie on this surface feels more like floating than being hugged by a traditional foam layer. The Purple grid creates a great mattress for combination sleepers, allowing them to easily change positions while delivering support under the pressure points.

Underneath the Purple Grid is a layer of 1.8 PCF polyfoam. This foam is high-density but does have a touch of softness to cushion heavy body parts. The final layer is a sturdy base foam that minimizes motion transfer. 

Nolah Mattress Construction

The Nolah Original 10” mattress is made from three layers of polyurethane foam. The first layer is AirFoam, a soft material that contributes a light hugging feel. This foam has more responsiveness than memory foam, so you won’t feel stuck when trying to change positions. The AirFoam contains microscopic air pockets that support airflow to keep sleepers cool and dry. 

Nolah’s second layer is made from their High-Resilience foam. This foam adapts instantaneously to movement, creating an almost bouncy feel. The final layer is a thick base foam that adds stability and longevity.

Sizing & Price Comparisons 

For the best price on a new mattress, check out our Purple Mattress Coupons. If you are shopping on a budget, see the Best Mattress Under $500.

Shipping and Returns for Purple & Nolah

Purple Mattress

Every Purple mattress comes with free shipping within the continental U.S. Purple ships to Hawaii and Alaska for a fee. You can expect your bed in six to 10 business days. Once you receive your new mattress, you have 100 nights to see if it’s the right fit. After 21 nights, you may return the mattress for a full refund during the sleep trial period.  

Your new Purple mattress has a 10-year warranty. Purple will replace or repair a mattress with defects in materials or workmanship during the first ten years. 

Nolah Mattress

Nolah ships its beds for free to the lower 48 states, with no options to ship to Alaska or Hawaii. Manufacturing and shipping time takes approximately five to 10 business days. Nolah’s generous 120-night sleep trial begins the day your mattress arrives on your doorstep. You must wait 30 nights before initiating a return. If you decide to return your new bed during the trial period, Nolah offers full refunds. 

A lifetime limited warranty backs every Nolah bed. This warranty covers defects, such as indentations of greater than 1”.

More Purple Mattresses

See our full Purple Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more. 

Read our full Purple Hybrid Premier mattress review for more information. 

More Nolah Mattresses

Check out our full Nolah Signature Mattress Review to learn more. 

See our full Nolah Evolution Mattress Review for more information. 

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

• Purple vs. Amerisleep
• Purple vs. Bear
• Purple vs. Casper
• Purple vs. GhostBed
• Purple vs. Helix
• Purple vs. Layla
• Purple vs. Leesa
• Purple vs. Lull
• Purple vs. Nectar
• Purple vs. Puffy
• Purple vs. Saatva
• Purple vs. Tempur-Pedic
• Purple vs. Tuft & Needle
• Purple vs. WinkBeds
• Nolah vs. Bear
• Nolah vs. Layla
• Nolah vs. Leesa
• Nolah vs. Nectar
• Purple Mattress Comparison
• Purple Alternatives

Our Final Take

The Nolah Original and Purple mattresses are best for lightweight and average-weight sleepers. Thanks to unique materials, these mattresses are best for different sleeper types and those with diverse sleep preferences.

The Nolah’s all-foam build has a softer feel that suits foam mattress lovers. It has sturdier edges and better minimizes motion transfer, so we recommend it over Purple for couples. The Purple Grid creates a cooler surface and a unique floating sensation that many people love. Both beds are suitable for side, back and combination sleepers. The Nolah’s surface is better for the average stomach sleeper.