Purple vs. Nectar: Which Online Mattress Should You Buy?

You know the saying, "too much of a good thing?" That's the case with having hundreds of great mattress options to choose from when you're in the market for a new bed. That's why I've put some of the most popular beds head-to-head so you can get a feel for what the real differences are between these mattresses. Today's contenders: Purple and Nectar. 

Nectar is one of the most popular memory foam mattress brands in the bed-in-a-box game, and Purple has made a splash on the airwaves with funny commercials featuring a Sasquatch family or a "human egg drop test." Each are quality bed-in-a-box mattress brands with different selling points and characteristics, and I've previously reviewed both beds. In this comparison, I'll give my thoughts on each mattress, their differences (there are quite a few) and the types of sleepers I think will find them worth the money. 

First up, here's a summary of the main similarities and differences between Nectar and Purple. After that, we'll dive into the specifics, from construction to feel. Note that this review is for the original Nectar and Purple mattresses, though both brands also have a range of premium options (more on that at the end).

Video: Purple vs. Nectar Mattress Review

Watch CNET video producer Owen Poole review the Purple mattress vs. the Nectar mattress. 

Firmness and feel comparisons 

Firmness

A bed's firmness level describes how soft or firm the mattress is. The main benefit of a firmer mattress is ample spinal support, while a soft mattress offers more pressure-relieving qualities. In Nectar's case, it's around a medium-firm or 6 to 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale. Purple's bed, however, falls around a medium. It's a little bit softer and will provide more pressure relief. 

Feel

Comparing the feel of the Nectar and Purple mattresses is like comparing apples to oranges. The Nectar has a dense, molding memory foam feel that will take a few seconds to start contouring around your body. Once it does, you nestle into a little you-shaped nook within the top layers of the bed -- it's like the mattress is giving you a hug. I compare it to the feel of a TempurPedic mattress, but Nectar's price tag is friendlier on your wallet. 

7.5

Nectar Mattress

Buy at Nectar

Like

• Affordable for people on a budget
• Fans of true memory foam will love the material
• Slightly firm and meant for a back or stomach sleeper

Don't like

• Not quite supportive enough for people over 230 pounds
• May cause resistance for a combination sleeper
• Not soft enough for side sleepers

Memory foam is one of the most popular bedding materials, so a good amount of people have probably felt the material before at one point or another. Purple, on the other hand, uses a unique material that offers a completely different experience. 

When you jump on the bed, it immediately gives underneath your body, as the gel-like squares shift to accommodate every curve. You can slightly feel them underneath the cover, but they provide a weightless and buoyant feeling that's supportive and pressure-relieving at the same time. As such, a lot of people get used to the feeling of the little squares. With that said, a Purple mattress can be a little too unique for some sleepers who are trying to stick to a standard foam feel. 

Sleeping positions 

Think back to your last several nights. What position do you sleep in most? This should help you decide which mattress is going to be most accommodating for you. Back and stomach sleepers generally benefit from medium to firm beds that keep the spine from sagging into the mattress. Side sleepers, on the other hand, usually like softer beds that give under the hips and shoulders for maximum pressure relief. 

With that said, the Purple is a fine mattress for back and stomach sleepers, but the Nectar might be slightly more supportive. Side sleepers, however, will probably like the plusher feel that Purple provides. 

7.5

Purple mattress

Score Breakdown

Performance 8.7Support 6Return Policy 6Pressure Relief 6Features 9

Read more on How we test mattresses

$1,339 at Purple

Like

• Extremely breathable because of Purple grid technology
• Soft enough to relieve pain around hips and shoulders, but firm enough for spine support
• Suitable for every sleeper type

Don't like

• Might feel too out of the norm for those who want a regular mattress
• Not quite supportive enough for heavy people
• Not ideal for people on a tight budget

Product details

• Type Hyper-Elastic Polymer mattress
• Firmness Medium or 5
• Trial 100 nights
• Warranty 10-year warranty

Body types

Foam mattresses like the Nectar and Purple will be most supportive and durable for people who weigh under 230 pounds. 

When you add steel coils into the equation, that's when a bed becomes more supportive and longer-lasting for heavier individuals who might need more reinforcement. Nectar doesn't offer any hybrid mattresses right now. Purple, on the other hand, has a few hybrid mattresses in the Premium and Luxe collections that I would recommend for sleepers above 230 pounds.  

Purple vs Nectar Performance

Motion isolation

Memory foam, which is used in the Nectar, is notoriously good at absorbing motion. In fact, memory foam was used in the seats of NASA's space shuttles to absorb the shock during their bumpy rides and help make them more comfortable. 

Purple's grid material is super bouncy, and doesn't perform the best in this category. If the way a mattress deadens movement is valuable to you, you might like the Nectar a little better. 

Edge support

Both Purple and Nectar get passing marks in this category. It refers to the strength of the bed's edges, which is important if you're ever forced to the edge by a significant other or bed-hogging pet. Foam beds are usually average, while hybrid beds offer stronger edge support. 

Temperature 

Nectar says it uses a cold cover on the top of its mattress, but I wouldn't necessarily say it's cooling. Some covers physically feel cold when you touch them, but the Nectar cover is more breathable than cold. 

Purple takes the crown here for how cool it sleeps because of its GelFlex Grid. There are countless air pockets across the surface of the mattress thanks to the grid design of the top layer, and the hyper-elastic polymer doesn't retain heat in the slightest. 

Construction of Purple vs Nectar

The materials inside of a Nectar mattress are more traditional than Purple's and include slow-responding memory foam. Purple uses a blend of foam and its unique, squishy GelFlex Grid. 

Here's what's on the inside of a Nectar mattress:

• The first layer is 7 inches of a firm foam material, which helps keep you feeling properly supported.
• Next is what Nectar calls its "Dynamic Support Layer." It adds comfort and helps neutralize the feel of the dense foam in the first layer. 
• The primary comfort layer is three inches of gel memory foam. Gel memory foam is better at regulating temperature than the standard stuff, and it gives the Nectar its hugging, memory-foam feel. 

Here's what you can expect from the inside of a Purple mattress:

• First is a firm layer of dense poly foam to act as the bed's main support slab.
• The center of the mattress contains a softer, more plush foam to help soften up the feel of the foam below. 
• The comfort layer is made with what Purple calls its GelFlex Grid. It's a special hyper-elastic polymer material that's incredibly springy. The grid formation also allows for increased airflow (a plus for hot sleepers). 

Price and size options 

Nectar has a reputation for offering lower-cost beds. They're more affordable than the other bed-in-a-box big-wigs like Casper and Puffy, and the company usually offers a discount on its products. Unfortunately for Purple-lovers who also love to save money, Purple's discounts aren't nearly as enticing. So, if you're on a budget, here are the price differences between the different sizes for each mattress.

The prices listed above are the manufacturer-suggested retail price, but keep in mind that Nectar is much more generous with discounts. In other words, the price listed above isn't typically what you'll pay. A queen-size Nectar mattress, for example, usually goes for $800 or so. 

Shipping and trials

Most online mattress companies will automatically give you a risk-free trial, free shipping and warranty coverage to help make you more confident in your purchase. For a foam mattress, Nectar's policies are pretty impressive.

• Nectar offers a 365-night trial, significantly longer than Purple's 100 nights.
• Nectar offers a "forever warranty" while Purple's is 10 years.
• Each brand offers free shipping and free returns.

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Purple vs. Nectar mattress review verdict

Rather than declaring a clear winner, it's better to think about who'd be happiest with a Nectar and who should go for a Purple. After all, some people love memory foam, but others are turned off by how it can make you feel "stuck" inside the top layers of the bed. Similarly, Purple has some die-hard fans, but there are some people who think the feel is just too different. So, here's what it comes down to.

Reasons you might like Purple:

• You want a more responsive, bouncy bed.
• You sleep on your side or want a mattress with a middle-of-the-road firmness level.
• You're open to trying something new as far as mattress materials go.
• You're a hot sleeper who could benefit from Purple's cooling abilities.

Reasons you might like Nectar:

• You want a more supportive mattress (back and stomach sleepers).
• You are on a tighter budget.
• You love the hugging, contouring feel of memory foam. 
• You want a more traditional foam mattress. 

Purple Hybrid vs. Nectar Premier 

If you're interested in the more premium offerings from each brand, you can explore CNET's Nectar Premier and the recently discontinued Purple Hybrid mattress reviews. Hybrids mattresses from Purple offer the same signature Purple grid feel, but with a supportive pocketed coil base with foam reinforcements around the edges to offer better edge support. Steel coils also allow for better airflow than a foam base layer does.