We Tested (and Rated!) Every Mattress at Purple

If you have back pain, then you already know that shopping for a mattress is hard work. No matter how much research you do before you shop, you can never be 100% sure that a mattress will work for you until you’ve slept on it for a few nights. There are a few brands that dependably offer advanced pressure relief and comfort, though, and should be at the top of your list. One such retailer is Purple, which touts a hyper-elastic polymer in its mattresses that the competition doesn’t have (more on that below).

Because Purple mattresses are a little different from typical foam or spring beds, it’s smart to test them out in person before you buy. That’s why we visited Purple as part of our Personal Shopper series, where we test out products in-store and give you our unfiltered opinions to help you shop smarter. In this edition, we spent time on every mattress in the brand’s Restore and Rejuvenate collections — a step up from Purple’s original Essentials collection. Read on for information on all seven mattresses, including our favorites for every sleeper type.

In a sea of direct-to-consumer (DTC) mattress brands, Purple genuinely stands out for its GelFlex Grid, which is the material used in all of its mattresses. It’s more adaptable, supportive, and breathable than foam, which makes it an ideal mattress material for those who are looking for added pressure relief. We’ve been writing about Purple mattresses and pillows for years, and many of our editors and writers are fans (including Editor-in-Chief Charli Penn, who sleeps on the RestorePremier). 

Purple has three mattress collections: Essential, Restore, and Rejuvenate. The Essential collection is the most affordable and pairs the GelFlex Grid with foam, while the Restore is a hybrid collection that offers more targeted pressure relief. The Rejuvenate collection is the most luxurious (and expensive), with an added pillow top layer for truly impressive comfort. In this article, we only covered the mattresses from the Restore and Rejuvenate collection, but you can read a review of the original Purple mattress here. 

We judged every Purple mattress based on the following criteria:

• Feel: Is the mattress firm, soft, or somewhere in between? Does it have extra cushioning? Is it comfortable no matter the sleep position?
• Support: Does the mattress effectively cradle pressure points? Does it feel comfortable to lie on?
• Materials: What is the mattress made from? Is it a hybrid mattress? Does it have cooling properties?
• Safety: Do the materials in the mattress have any certifications?

Every Purple mattress in this article was tested by Sofia Rivera and Cullen Ormond at the Purple store in Garden City, New York. Sofia is the lifestyle and special projects editor at Apartment Therapy, and covers money, wellness, small-space living, and lifestyle tips and products. She is a side and back sleeper who is prone to neck and back pain, and prefers a firmer mattress feel. Cullen is Apartment Therapy’s associate home editor, and primarily covers House Tours. She is a side and stomach sleeper who tends to sleep hot and likes a medium-firm mattress feel.

Cullen’s thoughts: This mattress is the entry-level offering for Purple’s Restore line, which offers greater pressure relief and airflow compared to the Essential line. It has the firmest feel of the Restore mattresses (it’s labeled as “medium” on the firmness scale), and I immediately felt supported while lying down on it. Compared to the other mattresses in the Restore line, this model doesn’t have the “advanced edge support system” — and while I still felt supported, I did notice that the sides felt a little bouncy.

This would be a good mattress for couples, as I experienced zero motion transfer when Sofia moved around on the other side of the bed. Purple says that it’s best for side and combination sleepers, but I actually think it might be a tad too firm for side sleepers. Because I wasn’t sinking into the mattress, I think it would actually be a good option for stomach sleepers who need support around the hips and shoulders.

Specifications: 

• Type: Hybrid
• Sizes: Twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
• Height: 11.5 inches
• Firmness: Medium

Sofia’s thoughts: This bed is definitely super comfy! I tend to curl up in the fetal position when I first go to sleep, and this one felt very much like a hug when I laid down on my side. While I think I would prefer something firmer for myself, I can see combination sleepers who like a softer feel being very happy with this mattress. Purple describes it as medium-soft, and it certainly fits the bill — the surface felt like a pillow, and all my joints felt cradled.

Compared to the original Restore mattress, the RestorePlus has an extra layer of Purple’s GelFlex Grid plus zoned coils for better support. It also has Purple’s advanced edge support system, although I didn’t think it was noticeably different from the original Restore’s. Purple says that it’s a good mattress for side and combination sleepers, and I agree — especially if you’re someone who deals with aches and pains and needs extra pressure relief. 

Specifications: 

• Type: Hybrid
• Sizes: Twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king
• Height: 13 inches
• Firmness: Medium-soft

Cullen’s thoughts: For ultimate pressure relief, the RestorePremier can’t be beat. It seemed to mold to my body, specifically around my shoulders and lower back, and I felt supported even though the overall feel was super soft. It has three inches of the GelFlex Grid for extra support (like the RestorePlus), plus foam-topped coils that move independently for precise pressure relief. In short, this mattress truly targets exactly where you need support.

Like the other Restore mattresses, the RestorePremier has excellent motion transfer absorption. I noticed that it had much better edge support than the other two in the collection, with a little bit of a bouncy feel to make it easy to get in and out of bed. While it’s the most expensive of the three Restore mattresses, it’s definitely worth it if you struggle with back or joint pain.

Specifications: 

• Type: Hybrid
• Sizes: Twin XL, queen, king, California king, split king
• Height: 13 inches
• Firmness: Soft

Sofia’s thoughts: The Rejuvenate is the firmest Purple mattress we tested. Even with the DreamLayer (which is Purple’s version of a pillow top), there’s no sink-in feeling. While I definitely felt supported, I did not feel cradled and my natural spine curve wasn’t maintained when lying on my side, so I wouldn’t recommend this mattress for side sleepers. When I tried different sleep positions, lying on my stomach was the most comfortable.

I did appreciate that this mattress has some bounce to it, and there was really great edge support. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I noticed very little motion transfer. Cullen and I tested that in a very exaggerated way and only felt a little bit of motion transfer, but I definitely don’t think you would feel it if the other person was just moving or rolling over in the middle of the night.

While the Rejuvenate mattress is too firm for me personally, I can see it being a good choice for stomach sleepers or those with a heavier frame. I also thought it felt truly cooling to the touch, and I think hot sleepers would be super comfortable on this mattress too.

Specifications: 

• Type: Hybrid
• Sizes: Twin XL, queen, king, California king, split king
• Height: 15.5 inches
• Firmness: Firm

Sofia’s thoughts: The RejuvenatePlus feels cushier than the classic Rejuvenate. Purple describes it as having a medium feel, and I would say it’s on the firmer side than softer. I liked that there was more cushioning around my spine, although still perhaps not enough for a side sleeper. I felt instant pressure relief when lying down, but didn’t feel like I was sinking in. If you’re a back sleeper, I think you’ll find that the support is just right.

Like all of the Rejuvenate mattresses, the Plus has a cool-to-the-touch feel that is immediately noticeable, as well as zero motion transfer. I did think that the original Rejuvenate mattress had better edge support, which is probably due to the firmer feel — it didn’t sink in as much as the Plus did. Otherwise, the two are pretty similar aside from the firmness levels, which are different thanks to the extra inch of GelFlex Grid in the Plus.  

Specifications: 

• Type: Hybrid
• Sizes: Twin XL, queen, king, California king, split king
• Height: 16.5 inches
• Firmness: Medium

Sofia’s thoughts: I think this one’s my favorite! I felt that I was able to maintain perfect spinal alignment, thanks to the combination of support and pressure relief. Purple describes this as a soft mattress, but to me it felt more medium. I think of soft mattresses as being less supportive, but the RejuvenatePremier had a perfect balance of cushioning and support. It has an extra inch compared to the Rejuvenate and RejuvenatePlus, with a layered GelFlex Grid that offers deeper pressure relief, and that made a clear difference.

As someone who loves to be curled up on my side when I sleep, this mattress feels like it was made for me. Any position adjustments I made felt easy and instantly comfortable, and I noticed no motion transfer. If you’re a side or combination sleeper, this is basically your dream bed. I would absolutely buy it for myself, although the hefty price tag is definitely a barrier to entry.

Specifications: 

• Type: Hybrid
• Sizes: Twin XL, queen, king, California king, split king
• Height: 16.5 inches
• Firmness: Soft

Sofia’s thoughts: If you don’t want to settle for anything less than luxury, then the newly launched RejuvenateUltimate is for you. Purple’s most expensive mattress has what the brand describes as a “floating, weightless” feel, which does actually sum it up nicely. This mattress feels absolutely amazing to lie down on, and has a soft yet supportive feel that’s similar to the RejuvenatePremier. I think any sleep position would feel comfortable on this bed — even if you have back pain. 

The key feature is the extra inch of layered GelFlex Grid (compared to the RejuvenatePremier), which provides deep pressure relief and comfort. Unsurprisingly, the edge support and motion transfer are fantastic, and the cover feels cool to the touch for better temperature regulation. Lying on this mattress truly feels like floating, and I felt like I had been transported to a 5-star hotel. Of course, the price tag is incredibly high, but I actually can see (and feel) why.

Specifications: 

• Type: Hybrid
• Sizes: Twin XL, queen, king, California king, split king
• Height: 17.5 inches
• Firmness: “Weightless”