Zinus vs. Casper Mattress Comparison

Comparing Casper Mattress & Zinus Green Tea Mattress

The Zinus Green Tea memory foam mattress is an all-foam bed with pressure-relieving qualities that comes in four heights: 6”, 8”, 10”, and 12”. The mattress is sold primarily on Amazon. The firmness level depends on the thickness, but all versions are medium-soft to plush. The Casper Original is a medium-firm, all-foam mattress that’s widely available online and in brick-and-mortar stores.

Both mattresses are budget-friendly, but the Zinus Green Tea’s ultra-low price makes it appealing to shoppers on a tight budget, like college students. The Green Tea has a traditional memory foam feel that people who like a noticeable sinking sensation will love. The Casper has a neutral, soft, balanced foam feel that’s better for folks who like foam but don’t want to feel stuck in their mattress. Either mattress can work well for lightweight sleepers, but average-weight sleepers who tend to change sleep positions will prefer the Casper because its slightly firmer feel makes it accommodating for all sleeping positions, including combination sleeping.

Differences

• Zoned Support System—One interesting feature of the Casper is its “Zoned Support” system, which is a layer that’s firmer under the torso and softer at the feet and shoulders. This encourages healthy spinal alignment in all sleeping positions.
• Versatility—The Casper can accommodate almost any sleeping position since its firmness level is a true “medium.” The Zinus Green Tea is a little too soft for people who spend any time on their stomachs, and it likely won’t work for average-weight sleepers who spend a significant portion of the night on their backs.
• Memory Foam Usage—Though both incorporate memory foam, the Casper layers polyfoam on top of memory foam in the comfort layer, making the memory foam hard to detect and giving the bed a more responsive feel overall. The Zinus Green Tea’s memory foam is right on top, so you’ll immediately get that viscous, plush feel when you lie down.
• Availability—The Casper is widely available at brick-and-mortar stores and at third-party online retailers. The Zinus Green Tea is primarily available at Zinus.com and Amazon.com.

Similarities

• Similar Policies—Both mattresses are backed by 10-year warranties, come with 100-night sleep trials, and ship free in the contiguous U.S.
• Neither Bed Sleeps Exceptionally Cool—Though the Casper may have a leg up on the Zinus Green Tea due to the minimal amount of memory foam in its construction, neither bed has exceptional breathability or airflow.
• Pressure Relief—Both mattresses offer exceptional pressure relief, contouring to the body with a nice mix of cushioning and support.

Who the Zinus Mattress is Best For 

Best For…

• People who like soft mattresses—The Green Tea’s medium-soft firmness level is great for petite body types, strict side sleepers, and combination sleepers who spend a significant portion of the night on their sides.
• Sleepers who like memory foam—The Green Tea has a noticeably plush memory foam feel; you’ll lie down on it and immediately notice a sinking, wrapped sensation from the memory foam layers.
• Shoppers who want to select their bed’s height—The Green Tea is available in 6”, 8”, 10” and 12” heights in most sizes. So, if you’re buying for a guest room, kid’s room, or RV, you can go with a thinner option. The thicker the mattress, the more expensive it is.
• Value shoppers—This is the main reason you’d get a Zinus Green Tea; it’s one of the most affordable mattresses available online. A Queen size can almost always be purchased for less than $300 after discounts are applied.

May Not be Best For…

• Sleepers who don’t want to feel “stuck” in their mattress—If you like to be mobile on your mattress or are a combination sleeper, the Zinus Green Tea’s traditional memory foam feel may be too viscous—or sink too much—for your preferences.
• Hot sleepers—The bed’s memory foam will absorb and trap body heat, which may make some sleepers feel warm. 

Read our full Zinus Green Tea Mattress Review to learn more! 

Who the Casper Mattress is Best For 

Best For…

• People who want a foam feel that doesn’t sink like memory foam—The Casper’s mix of polyfoam and memory foam gives it a soft, neutral foam feel. You’ll still get the comfort and the pressure relief of an all-foam bed but without the viscous, sinking memory foam feel.
• Shoppers who want the benefits of a zoned support system for spinal alignment—The Casper has a Zoned Support system in the transitional layer, which should help people with back pain maintain a healthy spinal alignment at night.
• Lightweight and average-weight sleepers—The Casper’s medium firmness level should provide just enough support and pressure relief for people who weigh less than 230 lbs.
• Any sleeping position—The bed’s mid-level firmness, combined with its Zoned Support layer, makes it accommodating to any sleeping position. If you’re a combination sleeper or switch between two positions, you should feel comfortable throughout the night.

May Not be Best For…

• Those who want a very soft or very firm mattress—The Casper’s medium firmness setting may not work for sleepers who want a very plush or very firm mattress.
• Strict side sleepers or strict stomach sleepers—Side sleepers may do better on a softer mattress that’s will give them more sinkage at the hips and shoulders, and strict stomach sleepers need a firmer mattress that will lift the hips to prevent lower back pain throughout the night. If you switch between one of these positions and your back, however, you should be fine on the Casper.

Read our full Casper Mattress Review to learn more! 

Deciding Between Zinus & Casper

Firmness / Feel

When shopping for a foam bed, all of the descriptions and specifications can start to run together. At the end of the day, most shoppers just want to know: “How does the mattress feel?” Though both the Casper and Zinus are constructed with layers of foam and don’t contain coils or latex, they feel distinctly different.

The Casper has a mixed-foam feel and a medium firmness level. In other words, when you lie down, you’ll experience pressure relief as you sink gently into the bed’s comfort layers, but you won’t feel like you’re sinking in too deep. The top layer of polyfoam gives the mattress a higher level of responsiveness than competing all-foam beds, making it easy to move around upon and change positions. The Casper has a true medium firmness level, making it a great pick for almost any sleeping type, but especially lightweight and average-weight sleepers who switch between two or three sleeping positions throughout the night.

When lying down on the Zinus Green Tea, you’ll immediately know that you’re on a bed containing memory foam. Regardless of which mattress height you choose, the top layer will contain a layer of traditional memory foam that hugs the body with the sinking, viscous feel that memory foam is famous for. The Zinus is a little softer and plusher than the Casper, making it a better pick for lightweight sleepers, strict side sleepers, and average-weight sleepers who like a plush feel.

Zinus Performance By Sleeping Position:

Body Type:	BACK SLEEPERS	STOMACH SLEEPERS	SIDE SLEEPERS
Lightweight (< 130 lbs):	3	2	3
Average weight (130 – 230 lbs):	3	3	4
Heavyweight (> 230 lbs):	2	2	3

Casper Performance By Sleeping Position:

Body Type:	BACK SLEEPERS	STOMACH SLEEPERS	SIDE SLEEPERS
Lightweight (< 130 lbs):	5	3	4
Average weight (130 – 230 lbs):	5	3	5
Heavyweight (> 230 lbs):	4	2	4

1 = Very poor, 2 = Not good, 3 = Fair, 4 = Good, 5 = Excellent

Motion Isolation

A bed’s motion isolation is a key performance rating for couples and sensitive sleepers to consider. As with all-foam beds, the Casper and the Zinus Green Tea both distill motion much better than hybrid beds, innerspring mattresses, or latex mattresses with bounce. You shouldn’t notice much motion from a partner or co-sleeper with either mattress. But if this is the most important mattress quality for you, we recommend the Green Tea, which has a slight advantage over the Casper in this area due to the thickness of its memory foam top layer.

Edge Support

If you like to sit at the edges of your mattress to read, get dressed, or relax, or if you sleep with a partner and want to use the full width of the mattress, the Casper and the Zinus Green Tea may disappoint you in this performance category. Like most all-foam beds, neither has significant support around the perimeter. We think you’ll notice some sinkage when you sleep or sit near the edges.

Pressure Relief 

Both beds excel in pressure relief due to their materials and firmness levels, but the right choice for you will depend on your body type and the feel you prefer. The Zinus has a soft, body-conforming surface. You’ll immediately notice plenty of sinkage and a generous hugging sensation. On the Casper, you’ll notice that the bed has a soft feel, but its tension-alleviating properties are a little more subtle. Polyfoam is layered on top of memory foam in the comfort portion of the Casper mattress, so you won’t sink in as much as you would on the Zinus. But the memory foam is still working underneath the surface, contouring to pressure points throughout the body.

Spine Alignment 

Spinal alignment on any mattresses depends primarily on your body weight and sleeping position. The Zinus Green Tea’s medium-soft feel and body-contouring memory foam make it an excellent choice for lightweight and strict side sleepers looking to achieve healthy spinal alignment. The bed’s soft nature will allow sinkage at the hips and shoulders, and lightweight sleepers should be able to sink just deeply enough into the mattress to find the perfect mix of comfort and support.

On the Casper, lightweight combination sleepers and average-weight sleepers in almost any sleeping position should find a healthy spinal alignment. The Zoned Support system is designed to keep your spine in neutral alignment, and the bed’s mixed feel and medium firmness setting will provide the perfect balance of sinkage and support for most body types under 230 lbs.

Durability 

Unfortunately, the Green Tea’s price point and low-density foams are indicators that it may be susceptible to early wear and tear. We expect this mattress to perform four to five years before replacement is needed. The Casper’s durability is about average for an all-foam bed. Its combination of polyfoam and memory foam and its medium firmness setting should help it last six to eight years before needing to be replaced.

Temperature 

If you sleep hot, we recommend the Casper over the Zinus Green Tea. It’s not going to sleep as cool as a hybrid mattress or latex bed, but the above-average breathability of the top polyfoam comfort foam layer should help people who normally sleep hot on all-foam beds feel a bit cooler. The Zinus’ thick memory foam comfort layers will trap a fair amount of body heat, causing sleepers to feel warm at night.

Zinus Mattress Construction

The Zinus Green Tea 12” mattress is encased in a relatively standard polyester cover. It’s white, thin, soft to the touch, and helps a bit with breathability for the bed as a whole.

Beneath the thin cover is a 3” layer of memory foam. The thickness of the memory foam comfort layer varies from 1” to 6”, depending on the height you choose. The memory foam layer has a very slow response to pressure, sinking quickly and contouring around the body for a deep hug. It’s infused with green tea and ActivCharcoal to help prevent some of the moisture and heat-trapping that occurs with memory foam. But unfortunately, the bed still sleeps relatively warm. These materials may also help neutralize the memory foam off-gassing odor.

The transition layer is 2” of polyfoam, which helps prevent sleepers from sinking directly into the firm support core beneath it. The base layer is made of high-density foam, giving sleepers some support and enhancing the bed’s durability as a whole.

Casper Mattress Construction

The Casper starts off with a knit polyester blend cover, which is soft and stretchy. Casper recommends spot cleaning this cover. The first foam layer is 1.5” of aerated polyfoam. Though this foam is comfortable, it doesn’t have as slow of a response to pressure as memory foam, which allows it to have a balanced feel that’s not too soft or too firm.

The second layer in the Casper, the transition layer, is a 2” layer of zoned memory foam. This means that the foam is slightly softer around the head, shoulders, and feet, and it’s firmer at the hips. The zoning areas help provide pressure relief in areas where the body typically needs it most, while keeping the hips lifted to encourage healthy spinal alignment.

The support foam of the Casper is a simple, dense layer of polyfoam. It’s thick ( 7” tall) providing shape and stability for the bed as a whole.

Sizing & Price Comparisons 

Mattress Size	Zinus Green Tea Price	Casper Original Price
Twin	$194 (8”)	$595
Twin XL	$207 (8”)	$695
Full	$239 (8”)	$995
Short Queen	$284 (8”)	N/A
Queen	$283 (8”)	$1,095
King	$337 (8”)	$1,295
Cal King	$395 (12”)	$1,295

 

Shipping and Returns for Zinus & Casper

Zinus Mattress

If you purchase the Green Tea directly from Zinus, it ships free within the contiguous U.S. The Zinus is also available for sale on Amazon.com and through a wide variety of brick-and-mortar retailers, including Target and Home Depot. We recommend checking the shipping, return, and warranty policies if you purchase anywhere other than Zinus.com. 

Zinus ships its mattresses via FedEx ground shipping, and you don’t need to be present when it arrives. In-home setup is currently not available through Zinus. Once your new mattress arrives, you’ll have a 100-night sleep trial. Mattress returns are accepted at any point during the trial.

If you decide to return it, Zinus will send a prepaid shipping label and provide instructions for coordinating FedEx pickup. If you decide to keep the Zinus, it’s protected by a 10-year warranty. The warranty protects against sagging and body impressions 1.5” or deeper. There are a variety of conditions and use cases that can void the Zinus warranty, so we recommend reviewing the policy in detail here.

Casper Mattress

The Casper Original mattress ships completely free if you live in the 48 contiguous states. Shipping is also free to most of Canada unless you live in the Yukon, Northwest, or Nunavut territories. All return shipping is free.

Your mattress should ship within one to two business days after your order. Casper ships via UPS, so you can track your mattress as the package makes its way to you. Casper also offers an In-Home Delivery and Setup option for an additional fee, which includes old mattress removal.

Like most bed-in-a-box mattress brands, Casper offers a sleep trial during which you can return your mattress risk-free if it isn’t the right fit for you. The 100-night sleep trial begins on the day your mattress is delivered; if you don’t like the bed, simply contact Casper to initiate a return for a full refund.

If you keep the Casper Original, it’s protected by a 10-year limited warranty. Casper will repair or replace your mattress if it has visible indentations greater than 1”, splits of cracks in the foam, or a defect in the cover’s zipper.

More Zinus Mattresses

More Casper Mattresses

Read our Casper Wave Hybrid Mattress Review to learn more.

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

• Casper vs. Purple Mattress Comparison
• Casper vs. Layla Mattress Comparison
• Casper vs. Tuft & Needle Mattress Comparison
• Casper vs Bear Mattress Comparison
• Casper vs Brooklyn Bedding Mattress Comparison
• Casper vs Loom & Leaf Mattress Comparison
• Casper vs. Puffy Mattress Comparison
• Casper vs. Ghostbed Mattress Comparison
• Casper vs. Nectar Mattress Comparison
• Casper vs. Saatva Mattress Comparison
• Casper vs. Casper Wave Hybrid 

Our Final Take

At first glance, there’s not a huge difference between the Casper Original and the Zinus Green Tea. When it comes time to make your decision, the most important factors will be price, your weight, and how you feel about memory foam. Both beds are affordable relative to other memory foam mattresses, but if you’re outfitting a dorm room, guest bedroom or simply want a value buy, get the Zinus Green Tea. Lightweight sleepers can do well on either bed, but most average-weight sleepers who aren’t strict side sleepers will prefer the Casper’s support, which can suit any sleeping position without sacrificing spinal alignment. If you love the viscous, sinking sand feel of memory foam, you’ll want the Zinus. If you like foam but want a comfortable, pressure-relieving bed that doesn’t sink deeply, the Casper will be the best mattress for you.