Product
Firmness
Score
Casper vs. Purple Mattress Comparison
The Casper is a mixed-foam mattress that combines soft, springy polyfoam with a pressure-relieving layer of memory foam. The original Purple mattress has the Purple Grid—a top layer made from a gel-like material that evenly distributes body weight so you feel like you’re floating. In this comparison, we’re taking a close look at the Purple and Casper mattresses to help you decide which is better for your needs.
We test all our mattresses in all categories from temperature regulation to motion isolation to find the best options for our readers. To learn more about our process, check out our testing methodology.
Purple vs. Casper Overview
The Purple and Casper mattresses both have dense foam base layers, but their top layers are different, which gives them different feels. The Purple is slightly firmer and cooler, while the Casper is more pressure-relieving.
| The Purple is best for… | The Casper is best for… |
| Back Sleepers < 230 lbs | Side Sleepers < 230 lbs |
| Combination Sleepers | Memory Foam Lovers |
| Hot Sleepers | Budget-Conscious Shoppers |
Who Should Choose the Purple Mattress?
- People interested in a “floating” feel: The Purple Grid is a unique gel material that flexes with the body and buckles at areas of high pressure. This proprietary material can give sleepers a “weightless” sensation.
- Hot sleepers: The Purple Grid material along the mattress surface stores less body heat than the foams used in the comfort layers of other mattresses. Over 1,800 air channels improve breathability and help keep the surface cool and dry.
- People with joint pain: The Purple’s surface evenly distributes weight, minimizing pressure and pain at sensitive joints.
Read our full Purple Mattress Review for more information.
Who Should Choose the Casper Mattress?
- Memory foam mattress fans: A layer of memory foam near the top of the mattress gives the Casper the body-cradling coziness that you expect from a high-quality foam mattress.
- Couples and those who co-sleep: Casper’s foam layers dampen motion, which supports deeper sleep for people who share the bed. Also, the edges are sturdy and comfortable so you can carve out your own space.
- Back and side sleepers: While Casper works well enough for lightweight and average-weight stomach sleepers, it really shines for back and side sleepers. The bed’s memory foam layer is firmer in the center third, which keeps the hips lifted in line with the rest of the spine.
Read our full Casper Mattress Review for more information.
Purple vs. Casper Video Comparison
In this video review, Mattress Nerds Becca and Loren walk you through the differences and similarities we discovered when testing out the Casper Original and Purple mattresses.
Purple vs. Casper: Top Similarities
- Pressure Relief: Both beds keep pressure off of your shoulders and hips, making them good mattresses for side sleepers.
- Spinal Alignment: The Purple Grid and Casper’s ergonomic memory foam layer both promote proper spine alignment (i.e. sleeping posture) for back and side sleepers. Both are great mattresses for back sleepers.
- Pricing: The Purple and Casper cost within $200 of each other in their various sizes, with Purple mattresses costing a little bit more.
Purple vs. Casper: Top Differences
- Comfort Layer: The Purple mattress features a gel-like Purple Grid comfort layer, while Casper’s comfort layers are a mix of polyfoam and memory foam.
- Sleep Position Suitability: Thanks to greater support along the body’s lumbar region, the Casper is the better mattress for stomach sleepers. Both beds work well for side and back sleepers.
- Feel: The Casper mattress has a gentle hugging foam mattress feel. The Purple delivers similar pressure relief without the cradling sensation, instead offering a weightless, floating feel.
- Temperature Neutrality: The Purple mattress has greater airflow along the surface, making it an overall cooler mattress than the Casper.
Purple vs. Casper: Firmness & Feel Differences
To help you choose between these mattresses, in this next section we’re covering mattress firmness and feel.
What’s the Firmness Of the Purple & Casper Mattresses?
Mattress firmness is measured on a 1–10 firmness scale, with 1 being extremely soft and 10 extremely firm. Both the Purple and Casper have middle-of-the-road firmness levels with 6.5/10 for the Purple and 6/10 for the Casper.
What Do the Purple & Casper Mattresses Feel Like?
The Purple Grid on top of the Purple mattress is squishy and easily compresses under pressure. You can feel the gridded pattern under the cover, so that could be an adjustment for some, but the hollow cube shapes collapse and squish together under your body. The Casper has a balance between the dense, contouring feel of memory foam and the springy, cushioning feel of polyfoam.
What’s It Like to Sleep On the Purple & Casper Mattresses?
The Purple mattress is known for having a feel akin to floating in water. Your body weight will be evenly suspended across the mattress surface. You can feel the individual gel cube-shaped pockets at first, but none of our testers were bothered by the sensation while lying down. The Purple Grid feels cool, thanks to airflow through the breathable cover and and the cooling effect of the gel.
The Casper feels a little firm at first, but your curves gradually sink into the top layers of foam. Despite having a memory foam layer, we found moving around on the mattress to be pretty easy. You may notice a little heat retention after a while on the Casper, since it’s an all-foam bed, but that probably won’t bother the average person.
The Purple & Casper Mattresses By Body Type
Purple Performance By Body Type & Sleeping Position:
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs): | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Average-weight (130–230 lbs): | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Heavyweight (> 230 lbs): | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Casper Performance By Body Type & Sleeping Position:
| Body Type: | BACK SLEEPERS | STOMACH SLEEPERS | SIDE SLEEPERS |
| Lightweight (< 130 lbs): | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Average-weight (130–230 lbs): | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Heavyweight (> 230 lbs): | 3 | 2 | 2 |
1 = Very poor, 2 = Not good, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent
Average-Weight Sleepers (130–230 lbs)
Both the Casper and Purple mattresses work really well for average-weight back sleepers and side sleepers. The Casper offers better pressure relief, so it’s the better choice for average-weight side sleepers, but either bed is a great fit for back sleepers in this weight range. Average-weight stomach sleepers will get decent support on these beds, but we don’t recommend it to those who spend the whole night on their stomach.
Heavyweight Sleepers (> 230 lbs)
Generally, the Purple and Casper aren’t the best mattresses for heavy people. Their medium-firmness, paired with a relatively low height, means that heavier sleepers are at risk of “bottoming out” against the firm base layers. The Purple could work for side sleepers over 230 lbs, but back and stomach sleepers will likely need a mattress with better support for bigger bodies.
Lightweight Sleepers (< 130 lbs)
We recommend the Casper and Purple equally to lightweight back sleepers and side sleepers. For stomach sleepers under 130 lbs, the Casper is a better fit, but the Purple could work for lightweight combination sleepers who spend part of the night on their stomach.
Differences In Mattress Construction
The Purple and Casper mattresses both have foam support layers, but the Casper has memory foam and polyfoam top layers, whereas the Purple is topped with the gel-like Purple Grid. The Casper is 11″ tall, and the Purple is 9.5″ tall.
| Casper Mattress Materials | Purple Mattress Materials |
| Polyester Fabric | SoftFlex Fabric |
| AirScape Foam (1.5″) | Hyper-Elastic Polymer Grid (2”) |
| Zoned Support Memory Foam (2″) | High-Density Polyfoam (3.5”) |
| High-Density Polyfoam (7.5″) | High-Density Polyfoam (4”) |
Cover
The Purple has a stretchy polyester, viscose, and Lycra blend cover that flexes along with the Purple Grid. The Casper has a removable, washable polyester cover made partially from recycled bottles.
Comfort Layers
Purple’s claim to fame is its proprietary Purple Grid, a Hyper-Elastic Polymer layer that conforms where the body exerts pressure but doesn’t compress anywhere else. As a result, every Purple mattress model has a “floating” effect that many love.
The Casper Original is a mixed-foam mattress made with 1.5” of plush polyfoam and 2” of memory foam. Together, these layers create body-contouring and a responsive feel. The zoned memory foam means the Casper is softer at the shoulders and firmer along the body’s heavier core, creating a balanced feel.
Support Layers
Beneath the Purple Grid, a transitional layer of high-density polyfoam acts as a buffer to prevent sinkage. A 4” support foam layer reinforces the Purple mattress. The base layer of the Casper is a 7” layer of high-density polyfoam, which stabilizes the bed and prevents the top two layers from sagging. This support layer also reinforces the edges to make it easier to get in and out of bed.
Purple vs. Casper Pricing
| Mattress Size | Casper Price | Purple Price |
| Twin |
$895.00 |
$999.00 |
| Twin XL |
$995.00 |
$1099.00 |
| Full |
$1195.00 |
$1399.00 |
| Queen |
$1295.00 |
$1499.00 |
| King |
$1695.00 |
$1999.00 |
| Split King |
N/A |
$2198.00 |
| Cal King |
$1695.00 |
$1999.00 |
For the best price on a new mattress, check out our Casper mattress coupons and Purple mattress coupons.
Purple & Casper Mattress Performance Ratings & Differences
Temperature
The cube-shaped pockets in the Purple Grid allow airflow through the top layer, keeping sleepers cool and the absorption of body heat to a minimum.
Casper, on the other hand, maintains a comfortable sleep temperature, but we wouldn’t say it’s one of the best cooling mattresses. The solid-foam base doesn’t promote much airflow, and while the comfort layers do a good job of releasing body heat, they’re no competition for the Purple’s breathable, spacious Grid.
Motion Transfer
Motion transfer is an important factor for couples, who can experience disrupted sleep if they feel their partner switching positions or getting out of bed. The Purple minimizes motion transfer very well—as does the Casper—thanks to the naturally low motion transfer rate of foam and the Purple Grid.
For more mattresses with good motion transfer, check out our best mattresses for couples.
Edge Support
Edge support is important for people who have trouble getting in and out of bed and for those who snuggle up along the mattress’s perimeter. The Purple offers relatively good edge support when you lie along the edges, but is a bit less supportive when sitting on the edge or getting in and out of bed. The Casper’s level of edge support is similar, both when sleeping on the edges or sitting on them.
Pressure Relief
Pressure relief is particularly important for side sleepers whose hips and shoulders need extra cushioning. A bed’s rate of pressure relief is closely linked to the materials used in its comfort layer and how well it conforms to sleepers’ bodies.
The Purple mattress does an excellent job distributing weight throughout the Purple Grid, providing great pressure relief for lightweight and average-weight people. Heavier sleepers may come into contact with the core layers and experience added pressure. The Casper is similar, providing great pressure relief for average-weight and lightweight sleepers, with heavyweight sleepers running into some added pressure as well.
Pain Relief
In general, those with joint pain should experience sufficient cushioning and spinal alignment on the Purple. Heavyweight sleepers and stomach sleepers may not get enough lumbar support, which could cause lower back pain over time.
The Casper mattress provides excellent spinal alignment and pressure relief for lightweight and average-weight back and side sleepers. Heavyweight sleepers may experience pressure in their hips and shoulders (especially for side sleepers) or excess sinking under their hips, which could cause low back pain.
Durability
While gauging mattress durability isn’t an exact science, we’d say the Casper mattress has a lifespan of roughly six to eight years. The support foam, which is relatively thick when compared to other all-foam beds, helps it last a bit longer than average. The Purple mattress will last roughly seven to ten years before a replacement mattress is needed. With the Casper, frequent rotations are recommended to prevent sagging and body impressions.
For more information on how we score our mattresses, check out our review process.
Shipping, Returns, & Warranties
Purple Mattress
Purple mattresses ship for free to the continental U.S., with shipping available for a fee to Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada. The Purple trial period offers customers 100 nights from the day the new mattress arrives to decide whether or not it’s right for them.
If you decide to return the bed, you must wait until after a 21-day adjustment period. Purple then issues a full refund and sends someone to your home to pick up the mattress. The Purple bed comes with a 10-year warranty, which is a standard warranty length compared to the rest of the bed-in-a-box mattress industry. For our full breakdown, see the Purple mattress warranty.
Casper Mattress
Casper mattresses ship for free to the 48 contiguous U.S. and parts of Canada, with shipping to Alaska and Hawaii available for an additional fee.
The Casper return policy is very similar to Purple’s. Casper beds come with a risk-free 100-night sleep trial and a slightly longer 30-day waiting period. You may return your mattress during this time for a full refund. The Casper Original mattress also comes with an industry-standard 10-year warranty: the same warranty length that Purple offers.
Other Mattress Models Available
Purple Hybrid Mattress
The Purple Hybrid features the original Purple mattress’s comfort grid but adds responsive support coils at the core for improved airflow, responsiveness, and durability.
Product Details
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-firm: 7/10
Sleep Trial
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping
Free shipping
Price
$$$$$
Our Recommendation
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Stomach Sleepers
This mattress is ideal for stomach sleepers as its firm support promotes spinal alignment.
Hot Sleepers
This bed features extra cooling technology, making it great for hot sleepers.
Back Pain
This bed is a good match for anyone struggling with back pain, as it cushions the lumbar region and has enough support to keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Read our full Purple Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more.
Purple Hybrid Premier Mattress
Product Details
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Multiple firmness options
Sleep Trial
100 nights
Warranty
10-year warranty
Shipping
Free shipping
Price
$$$$$
Our Recommendation
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Side Sleepers
This bed offers pressure relief at both the shoulders and hips, making it a great fit for side sleepers.
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Hot Sleepers
This bed features extra cooling technology, making it great for hot sleepers.
Hip Pain
This bed should be comfortable for anyone struggling with hip pain since it contours the hips and keeps them supported.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Read our full Purple Hybrid Premier Mattress Review to learn more.
More Casper Mattresses
Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress
Product Details
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-soft: 5/10
Sleep Trial
100 nights
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Shipping
Free shipping
Price
$$$$$
Our Recommendation
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Side Sleepers
This bed offers pressure relief at both the shoulders and hips, making it a great fit for side sleepers.
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Back Pain
This bed is a good match for anyone struggling with back pain, as it cushions the lumbar region and has enough support to keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers, as it provides them support and easy mobility.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Read our full Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more.
Casper Nova Hybrid Mattress
The Casper Nova Hybrid is Casper’s softest mattress. Softer foam at the shoulders delivers excellent pressure relief for side sleepers, while the pocketed coils keep the spine properly aligned. This is Casper’s best mattress for side sleepers who like a plush, cradling feel.
Product Details
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-soft: 4/10
Sleep Trial
100 nights
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Shipping
Free shipping
Price
$$$$$
Our Recommendation
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Stomach Sleepers
This mattress is ideal for stomach sleepers as its firm support promotes spinal alignment.
Back Pain
This bed is a good match for anyone struggling with back pain, as it cushions the lumbar region and has enough support to keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers, as it provides them support and easy mobility.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Check out our full Casper Nova Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more.
Casper Hybrid Mattress
Striking the perfect balance between the contour of memory foam and the bounce of pocket-coils, the Casper Hybrid offers the best of both worlds when it comes to superior comfort and support.
Product Details
Material
Hybrid
Firmness
Medium-soft: 5.5/10
Sleep Trial
100 nights
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Shipping
Free shipping
Price
$$$$$
Our Recommendation
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Hot Sleepers
This bed features extra cooling technology, making it great for hot sleepers.
Back Pain
This bed is a good match for anyone struggling with back pain, as it cushions the lumbar region and has enough support to keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers, as it provides them support and easy mobility.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Check out our full Casper Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more.
Casper Element Mattress
The Casper Element is not fancy. It features three memory foam layers, one each designed for comfort, support, and stability. Casper says all three are also breathable and able to release heat.
Product Details
Material
Foam
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Sleep Trial
100 nights
Warranty
10-year limited warranty
Shipping
Free shipping
Price
$$$$$
Our Recommendation
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Side Sleepers
This bed offers pressure relief at both the shoulders and hips, making it a great fit for side sleepers.
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers, as it provides them support and easy mobility.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
Check out our full Casper Element Mattress Review to learn more.
Haven’t made a decision yet? Check out these other comparisons and reviews:
Our Final Take
While the Casper and Purple are both popular bed-in-a-box mattresses, the Purple mattress is better for people who sleep hot and those with joint pain. The Casper mattress’s Zoned Support memory foam makes it a superior choice for stomach sleepers and people who like the hugging feel of an all-foam mattress. Both beds work for back sleepers and side sleepers under 230 lbs.
Purple & Casper FAQs
Is the Purple or Casper Mattress Better?
The Purple mattress is better for hot sleepers, combination sleepers, and those who are open to the unique floating feel of the Purple Grid. The Casper mattress is better for those who need pressure relief under their shoulders and hips. It’s also a little more motion-isolating than the Purple.
Does the Casper or Purple feel softer?
The Casper mattress is slightly softer than the Purple mattress. We also think it offers better pressure relief to side sleepers weighing less than 230 lbs. The Zoned Support memory foam layer in the Casper is softer under the shoulders, which allows them to sink deeper into the foam.
Are Casper and Purple worth the money?
The Casper and Purple mattresses have mid-range pricing, which is accessible for the average shopper, especially considering these mattresses should last you at least eight years. The Purple is more durable, so choose it if you like its feel and want the biggest bang for your buck.
