When it comes to bed-in-a-box, Casper and Purple are two of the biggest names. They were two of the first to enter the sub-industry, thus they pioneered a lot of the concepts around trial periods, warranty, and customer service expectations that most bed-in-a-box startups still follow. On top of all that they both make high quality mattresses that can compete with just about any on the market.

While the companies may be similar, their mattresses are quite different. Casper provides an all-foam mattress that provides a balanced feel and pressure relief. On the other hand, Purple has their own proprietary, hyper-elastic polymer grid for a unique mattress with solid bounce and cooling support. So, if the two mattresses are so different, which one is better?


How Casper Mattress is made:

The Casper is a mattress that is 12โ€ tall and made of all-foam. Casper only comes in a medium-firm comfort level that provides a good amount of pressure relief and comfort. Casper aims to provide a โ€œone size fits allโ€ mattress for the consumer.

Cover โ€“ Casper has a relatively thin cover that is made from a polyester blend. Even though it is thin, the cover still provides comfort with a soft feeling.

Comfort Layer โ€“ The top layer of this sections is made of poly foam material that has a latex like quality. This means it feels bouncy and responds well to pressure, this allows you to move easily on the mattress if you get a bit restless at night. Under the top layer, The Casper has a layer of memory foam. This is smart design because the mattress provides the comfort of memory foam but does not trap heat and have as much โ€œsinkageโ€ feeling because of the top layer of poly foam.

Foundation Layer โ€“ The bottom layer is one that is common in bed-in-a-box mattresses, it is a firm, HD poly foam base. This layer provides sturdiness and support to the mattress overall.


Go to Casper website


How Purple Mattress is made:

Purple provides a one of a kind mattress that comes in just under 10โ€ and has Purpleโ€™s own unique grid layer.

Cover โ€“ The cover layer of the mattress has a combination of polyester, viscose, and lycra materials. Lycra is often found in athletic gear because of its ability to wick away moisture. This addition allows you to stay cool while sleeping.

Comfort Layer โ€“ This layer is where Casperโ€™s unique, proprietary polymer grid comes in. The blend provides good pressure relief because the walls of the grid collapse where there is pressure, this allows you to feel the support of the mattress without being hugged by it. This layer is also temperature neutral because air can flow through it naturally without trapping the heat. Also, if you like a bouncy mattress that is something Purple provides in spades because of the comfort layer.

Transition Layer โ€“ This layer is made of HD poly foam, the same as Casperโ€™s foundation layer. It provides firmness in contrast to the comfort layer.

Foundation Layer โ€“ The foundation is also comprised of HD poly foam but is even more firm than the middle layer. This provides support for the entire mattress.


Go to Purple website


ย Casper vs. Purple: Key Differences in Design

When it comes down to design there are a few important differences between the two mattresses.


Casper vs. Purple: The Feel

The feel of a mattress comes down to the consumers personal preference. So, knowing the key differences between these two is important and they will be outlined below.

Will Casper Mattress Get Softer?

On a scale from 1-10 for mattress firmness, the Casper sits at about a 7. This is the typical medium firm feel that you will find in a lot of mattresses. Since the mattress is not too firm, you will still be able to move around easily and comfortably sleep in multiple positions throughout the night. This mattress typically does not soften much over time and will maintain its feel throughout its life span.

Back โ€“ While on your back, you will sink in a bit but still feel that nice support on your spine. Another plus is that your weight is distributed evenly when laying on the mattress.

Side โ€“ When lying on your side, the memory foam really shines. You will also feel the zonal support for your hips and shoulders. This is an important feature because if your shoulders sink to much it means more pressure at a problem area that a lot of people have. For side sleepers, this mattress provides good spinal alignment.

Stomach โ€“ The medium-firmness provides solid all-around support. However, stomach sleepers may prefer something a little more firm that will prevent sinkage while lying on the mattress.

Is Purple Mattress Soft?

This mattress still provides medium firmness but ranks more at a 6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, making it a bit softer than Casper. This bed does have a balance of pressure relief and support but still feels different than the Casper. Purple has a uniquely bouncy quality because of their grid. The grid also provides a contoured feeling throughout the mattress without feeling trapped like the feeling some get with memory foam.

Back โ€“ Back sleeping on this mattress provides a floating type of feeling on top of the bed as very good when on your back.

Side โ€“ Purpleโ€™s grid provides a different feeling for side sleepers compared to Casper. The grid will collapse around your body to provide that signature contouring effect. This mattress is effective for combo sleepers.

Stomach โ€“ The softness of this mattress may not be the best option for strictly stomach sleepers, as your hips may sink more than you prefer. As always though, it comes down to personal preference.


Bounce and Sinkage

The bounce of a mattress can be effectively tested by dropping a 10lb ball on each mattress. The Casper provides decent bounce and mobility that combo sleepers prefer, this is because of the latex-like polyfoam that Casper uses. Purpleโ€™s grid provides more bounce and mobility than Casper. This creates the feeling of floating while lying on the bed. While you should not worry about the bounce on the Casper, if it is something that is important to you, Purple provides more.

In addition to bounce, sinkage is an important factor when deciding which mattress is for you. Sinkage can be measured by placing balls of different weights (6lbs, 10lbs, 50lbs, 100lbs) on the mattress and measuring how far the sink into the surface. In this test the two brands performed remarkably similar. The only discernible difference is on the 10lb ball, it sank 0.5โ€ more on the Purple mattress. The extremely similar results mean that this should not factor into your decision when deciding between the two brands.


Purchasing Information

Both brands were trendsetters in the bed-in-a-box industry. Therefore, their details for warranties, trial periods, and shipping are similar and used almost industry wide.


Should I buy Casper?

After weighing all the differences Casper excels in a few areas that will make it preferable to some people. If you are a side or a combo sleeper the Casper Mattress is an excellent option because of their zoned support system. It is also a bit firmer than the Purple while still providing that medium firm feel that a lot of people are looking for.

Should I buy Purple?

If you are looking for a bouncy mattress, Purple may very well be the choice for you. Purple also provides that floating feeling while sleeping on your back thanks to their grid system in the mattress. It is a bit softer than the Casper but still comes in at medium firm, either way itโ€™s hard to go wrong.


ย Price and Sizes: Casper vs Purple

The price point for these mattresses is very similar overall, but if you are looking for a certain size and still undecided, you may be swayed in a certain direction.

Size


Purple


Casper


Twin$929$895
Twin XL$1,049$995
Full$1,349$1,095
Queen$1,499$1,295
King$1,899$1,495
California King$1,899$1,495