Nectar vs Purple vs Casper (2021): Which Mattress Should You Get?

Getting a good night’s sleep is often a luxury these days. That’s why Nectar, Purple, and Casper are taking innovative approaches to sleep. These brands boast mattresses constructed using cutting-edge technology while offering practical risk-free trials and free shipping to their customers. 

Nectar, for instance, is popular for its award-winning memory foam mattress with a forever warranty. On the other hand,  The Purple Mattress is highly-touted by customers for the exceptional body support its grid-like foam structure offers. Meanwhile, the Casper Original Mattress boasts a combination of zoned support and cooling. Given these cool features, which mattress will give you the best sleep?

Nectar vs Purple vs Casper Comparison Chart

Construction

Nectar, Purple, and Casper mattresses layer foams made of alternating materials to create a stable and comfortable cushion for sleepers.

Right off the bat, it’s good to know that Nectar, Purple, and Casper are all CertiPUR-US Certified. This means the materials used to make the mattresses are free from harmful chemicals. If there’s anything that should help you sleep well, it’s knowing you’ve invested on a non-toxic mattress. 

But above all, it’s important to pay attention to the construction of these products. A good memory foam mattress should be able to contour around your body and provide pressure relief. To do this, all three brands employ a layered construction, although there are key differences in the execution.

Nectar

Nectar, for instance, boasts an 11-inch original mattress with five levels. Firstly, the top layer consists of a quilted cover, with a memory foam sewn into it. This is followed by another 3-inch gel-infused memory foam that helps distribute weight and body heat around the mattress.

For support, an adaptive hi-core memory foam serves as a transition between the comfort layer and the supporting materials. A more premium model, the Nectar Lush, uses an Energex memory foam instead. Finally, to stabilize the mattress, Nectar uses a 5.35-inch breathable polyfoam wrapped around a bottom mattress cover. 

Purple

In contrast, the Purple mattress is furnished with a custom, soft-flex cover that’s designed to promote airflow and keep sleepers cool. Its main comfort layer, on the other hand, is a 2-inch high-density polymer that comes in the brand’s proprietary Purple Grid. In addition to its cooling properties, the grid is engineered to help eliminate pain points.

To stabilize this top layer, the Purple mattress also comes with a high-density foam just before a 4-inch support foam at the base. Moreover, the foams are naturally anti-microbial, so you’re protected against dust mites and allergens.

Casper

Meanwhile, Casper’s Original Mattress features three different levels. Its top layer uses a perforated breathable foam that the company calls Airscape. The foam uses tiny holds to help draw warm air and body heat away.

Underneath this cover, you get a layer of memory foam that offers zoned support: a softer foam for the upper and lower body, and a firmer center third to support your hips, waist, and lower back. Lastly, a high-density polyfoam support core stabilizes the Casper mattress to prevent sinking and sagging. 

Firmness

Casper and Purple mattresses are firmer, and thus, more ideal for back sleepers and people who weigh above 170 lbs. On the other hand, Nectar’s added comfort layers are better suited for side or combination sleepers, and lightweight individuals.

How hard or soft a mattress often depends on its thickness. In most cases, thicker memory foam mattresses are softer.

For example, the Nectar features several layers of comfort and support foams. While the high-density base and use of transition foams make for great spine support, the mattress is softer compared to those from Casper and Purple. Rated between 6 and 6.5 on the firmness scale, Nectar’s original mattress is best suited for lightweight, side, and stomach sleepers.

On the other hand, the Purple mattress has a firmness level of 6.5. Its patented use of the Purple Grid aims to eliminate pressure by being soft and supportive at the same time. However, heavy sleepers are more likely to benefit from this technology, as it will require a bit of weight—and pressure—to feel the grid adapting to your body. 

Similarly, Casper offers a firmness level of 6.5. There are instances, however, that the actual rating can be as high as 7, indicating a firmly supportive feel. Since it only uses three layers, you feel more carried by the mattress structure as opposed to being cradled by it. It’s definitely a mattress made for back sleepers.

Of course, Casper’s mid-layer ensures you get better support on your mid-section, and comfort for your head and shoulders. But if you’re a strict side-sleeper, you might find the Casper too firm. 

Motion Isolation

The mattresses from Nectar, Purple, and Casper all do a fairly decent job in motion isolation. 

If you’re an active sleeper, you might be worried about too much movement disturbing the surface of the mattress. This is especially true for those who share the bed with their partners. 

Interestingly, all three mattresses from Nectar, Purple, and Casper perform quite well in terms of motion isolation. Casper’s original mattress, for instance, does a fairly decent job at absorbing movement thanks to its two-layer comfort system and all-foam construction. Similarly, Nectar’s multiple layers of memory foam also bear weight quite well.  

However, between the three, the Purple mattress isolates motion the best. The unique construction of its patented polymer grid flexes under pressure, mimicking how hybrid or innerspring mattresses work. Plus, the Purple Grid excels in absorbing movement with minimal noise. 

Edge Support and Cooling

Although Nectar, Purple, and Casper are all-foam mattresses, they all deliver decent edge support. When it comes to cooling, however, the unique design of Purple and Casper give them a slight advantage over Nectar. 

For individuals who like to sleep on one side of the bed or for couples who share sleeping space, edge support is an important consideration. Since these mattresses follow an all-foam construction, the sides are not as stable compared to hybrid models. 

Among the three, Casper’s feels the most unstable. Although it’s sturdier than most all-foam mattresses, sitting on the edge gives a noticeable sinking feeling. On the other hand, Nectar’s use of a denser transition foam between the comfort and support layers lends a little more stability to the mattress. 

Meanwhile, the Purple Mattress does include a foam edge border for structural stability. Alongside the Purple Grid, this feature helps shore the edges of the mattress. Keep in mind, however, that like Casper and Nectar, foam mattresses like Purple’s will not have as edges as strong as hybrid variants. 

When it comes to cooling, Purple and Casper will be neck-and-neck. Although Nectar uses gel-infused memory foam to keep sleepers cool, the Purple and Casper mattresses offer features that better combat heat. For example, the Purple Grid’s open spaces help draw heat away from the body. Similarly, Casper’s perforated comfort layer and breathable tri-zoned support foam allow for better air circulation to keep sleepers at the right temperature when they rest. 

Pricing, Warranty, and Trials

Nectar has a more affordable price range plus better after-sales services compared to Purple and Casper.

Nectar offers free premium pillows while Purple includes bed sheets in its package. Like the two brands, the Casper original mattress fits right in a box.

Given the range of features these mattresses offer, expect to shell out a bit more if you plan to purchase one of their products. Among the three brands, however, Casper’s Original Mattress is the most affordable. A twin-sized model will cost you $595 whereas Nectar and Purple’s respective offerings start at $649. For couples, a queen mattress from Purple will set you back $1,149, and $1,095 if you buy from Casper. Nectar’s queen model is a little less expensive than both brands, starting at $949.

You do get freebies from Nectar and Purple. Nectar, for instance, includes two premium pillows for every mattress purchase, while Purple gifts customers with breathable Purple Sheets.

In terms of coverage, Nectar does have an advantage thanks to its Forever Warranty. This includes replacing your mattress with a brand new Nectar if it’s found to be defective in workmanship and materials during the first 10 years. After that, the company will repair and re-cover your Nectar—or even replace it—in case of manufacturing defects. Transportation costs are even waived. Purple and Casper, on the other hand, only offer a ten-year limited warranty. 

In any case, you can always try out the mattresses first. Again, Nectar does have an advantage here, with its 365-night risk-free trial. Both Purple and Casper’s policy provide for only a 100-night period. Nonetheless, all three brands allow free and easy returns, as well as refunds.  

Verdict

Casper has an excellent combination of support and cooling. On the other hand, Nectar is more affordable and offers better after-sales service while Purple is recommended for sleepers who put a premium on back support. 

Bed-in-a-box companies like Nectar, Purple, and Casper are certainly making a big impact in the sleep industry. Competition is tight, and the review shows these brands share many of same features. Execution, however, is where you can tell the difference. That being said, you’ll be hard-pressed to recommend just one of the three. The choice will still largely depend to your lifestyle and what kind of sleeper you are.

For instance, back sleepers and those with back pain will gravitate more towards the Purple Mattress, thanks to its innovative grid-molded foams that offer great support. On the other hand, Casper expertly balances support and cooling features, but may be too firm for side sleepers. But if you’re looking for a more affordable option, then Nectar mattresses are generally less expensive than Casper and Purple’s. Plus, because it is the more responsive mattress, lightweight and side sleepers will find Nectar a better match. 

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