Purple Vs. Saatva: Head-to head Comparison
TLDR;
Here, we’ll compare Purple and Saatva, highlighting each brand’s features and offerings.
The online mattress industry is booming – new companies are popping up all the time.
Although the wide selection of options enables you to select a mattress that’s perfect for you, the sheer number of mattresses can be overwhelming.
We’re here to make the choices easier. Our detailed mattress comparisons break down the most important factors so you feel confident in your final decision.
Today, we’re going to look at two well-regarded companies: Purple and Saatva.
Read on for more about both brands and their respective collections, or skip to the summary section, if you’re in a hurry.
Although both mattresses are well suited to all three sleeping positions, it’s essential to break down the small differences between the two.
- Purple offers a breathable, customizable mattress that eliminates pressure points.
- Saatva offers a luxurious, plush mattress with innovative lumbar support.
Here’s our detailed comparison of Purple and Saatva.
Who Is It For?
Both mattress brands are popular and have plenty of diehard supporters.
Similarities between Purple and Saatva include slightly firmer-than-normal firmness, superior breathability, and similar pricing.
But despite their similar firmness, each mattress feels quite different. The Purple is far “squishier” while the Saatva has a more traditional “firm” feel.
That said, both models are versatile. They work well with all three sleeping positions (back, side, and stomach). Both brands also offer their mattresses in a variety of firmness levels for increased customization.
Although there’s an option available for every sleeper’s preferences, both Purple and Saatva are best for those that want a mid-firmness at an affordable price (for their base level mattresses).
The Collection
Purple currently offers two mattress types, a throwback version and a new version.
The first is The Original Purple Mattress. It’s 9.5 inches thick. It has a multi-layered foam construction with a 2-inch gel top layer.
The next is The New Purple Mattress. It’s available in three firmness levels. Each of these corresponds to a different thickness.
The “Medium Firm” is 11 inches thick with a 2-inch gel top layer. The “Medium” is 12 inches thick with a 3-inch gel top layer. The “Medium Soft” is 13 inches thick with a 4-inch gel top layer.
Each of these mattress options from Purple has a different price.
Saatva, on the other hand, has a single option in their mattress collection, although there are three different firmness level (“Plush Soft,” “Luxury Firm,” and “Firm”) ranging in thickness from 11.5 inches to 14.5 inches.
Each firmness level from Saatva is the same price.
Size | “Original” Purple | Saatva |
Twin | n/a | $599 |
Twin XL | $699 | $749 |
Full | $899 | $999 |
Queen | $999 | $1,099 |
King | $1,299 | $1,499 |
California King | $1,299 | $1,499 |
Here are the prices for the various firmness levels for The New Purple Mattress.
Size | “New” Purple 12-Inch | “New” Purple 13-Inch | “New” Purple 14-Inch |
Twin | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Twin XL | $1,299 | $1,899 | $2,499 |
Full | $1,499 | $2,099 | $2,699 |
Queen | $1,599 | $2,199 | $2,799 |
King | $1,899 | $2,699 | $3,499 |
California | $1,899 | $2,699 | $3,499 |
Because of the major differences between The Original Purple Mattress and The New Purple Mattress, the bulk of this comparison will focus on the original model versus Saatva.
Construction of the Mattress
Although Purple and Saatva are both durable, breathable mattresses with similar firmness levels, they use remarkably different construction methods and materials.
Beneath the soft, thin top layer, The Original Purple Mattress uses the brand’s famous Smart Comfort Grid for comfort and breathability.
Designed from the ground up to promote responsiveness, the Smart Comfort Grid eliminates pressure points and secures ample air circulation for a comfortable night of sleep.
Under the 2-inch Smart Comfort Grid top layer is a 3.5-inch Plush Comfort Foam mid layer and a 4-inch foam base layer.
Saatva does things a little differently, shying away from an all-foam construction in favor of a mixture of foam and micro coils.
Their mattresses start with a quilted “Euro Top” cover on top of a thin layer of memory foam with cooling gel to increase overall breathability.
This top layer sits on top of individually-wrapped micro coils. Not only do these further promote air circulation, but they also greatly reduce motion transfer. If your sleeping partners moves at night, you won’t feel it.
The micro-coil design of the Saatva mattress has the additional benefit of making it just as comfortable for all sleeping positions, including back, side, and stomach sleeping.
The bottom layer is made of high-grade coils wrapped in a foam encasement.
Trial Period & Guarantee
Purple and Saatva offer reasonable trial periods and guarantees.
In line with the industry minimum, Purple offers a 100-night free trial. You get a full refund (they’ll even pick it up) if you’re unhappy in the first 100 days.
All Purple mattresses come with a 10-year warranty.
Saatva offers a slightly longer 120-night free trial. Although you get a full refund on the price of the mattress, you do have to pay a $99 shipping charge to return it.
If you’re simply unhappy with the comfort level, Saatva also allows you to swap out your mattress for another firmness level within the 120-night trial period. The $99 shipping charge still applies.
All Saatva mattresses come with a 15-year warranty.
Firmness Level
The firmness level of The Original Purple Mattress and Saatva are roughly the same.
The Purple mattress has a roughly medium-firm support. Thanks to the Smart Comfort Grid, it eliminates pressure points for a no-pressure feel.
For customized firmness, opt for The New Purple Mattress. It has three firmness levels to match a variety of sleep styles and preferences.
The Saatva mattress is also medium-firm. But it’s available in three firmness levels: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm.
The Luxury Firm options seemingly is the most popular. Saatva states that this is the same firmness that most luxury hotels use.
Comfort
Purple offers a range of mattress types to ensure you find one that’s comfortable.
The Original Purple Mattress is extremely versatile thanks to its no-pressure feel, making it a comfortable option for back, side, and stomach sleepers.
Saatva also offers a selection of firmness types, so you can customize your mattress to your personal preferences.
The Luxury Firm option from Saatva is the most versatile.
Both mattress companies use only the highest quality materials so that your mattress remains just as comfortable as day one for years on end.
Smell Effect
Neither of these mattresses gives off much smell.
Both Purple and Saatva use eco-friendly materials to eliminate off-gassing. They are both 100% nontoxic.
You might notice a slight odor (perhaps a “woodsy” scent) when the products are new.
Motion Isolation
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better motion-isolating mattress than those from Purple.
The brand is notable for their no-pressure Smart Comfort Grid which isolates movement and simultaneously contours to your body shape.
Saatva has slightly less motion isolation. Their mattresses are still comfortable for multiple users to use at once with minimal motion transfer. However, you won’t feel quite as “locked in,” even on the plusher models.
The Ordering Process
Both mattresses are available for sale online from their respective manufacturers.
Visit the Purple website, select your preferred size and model, select a firmness level (if applicable), and add the mattress to your cart.
For Saatva, visit their website, select your preferred size, select a firmness level, and add the mattress to your cart.
Delivery & Packaging
Purple ships their mattresses right to your door.
Although exact packaging depends on your mattress type and size, the majority are between 44 and 76 inches in length and 91 and 175 pounds in weight.
Set your mattress up yourself or select the free “white glove service” to have the Purple team set your mattress (and optional frame) up for you.
Saatva also ships straight to your door. A day before the mattress arrives, they’ll call to set up a 4-hour delivery window.
Like Purple, Saatva offers a complimentary “white glove service” to set up your mattress as well as any frames or foundations you purchased.
A notable difference between the two delivery services is that Saatva will remove your old mattress from your home (for free) if desired.
Conclusion
So what’s the right mattress for me?
In the mattress stakes, Purple vs Saatva is an interesting comparison. Both have their unique points and features, and both are quality brands with price points to match both a starter budget and a more picky mattress buyer.
Let’s start with Purple: the popular mattress brand has two models – Original Purple and New Purple. The Original has one firmness level, made of foam only, while New Purple has three firmness levels and includes coils together with foam construction for an overall firmer option. Both feature the Smart Comfort Grid open cell foam and gel tops, so you’ll get a mid-firm, cool and supportive mattress experience.
Saatva has a more traditional firm feeling than the Purple, with three firmness levels: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm and Firm. Saatva mattresses are a hybrid construction of memory foam and coils, with a quilted Euro top and a layer of cooling gel beneath. With its three firmness levels, Saatva offers more flexibility in terms of plushness. Plus, they claim that their Luxury Firm mattress is the same experience as you will get with hotel mattresses. And at affordable pricing across the board, even with the high end New Purple, you can’t go wrong with Purple or Saatva.
Lee Levy
Lee is an experienced reviewer and passionate about trying new products. She is a side sleeper and always looking to ways to avoid back pains in her sleep. Lee is a mom for two little princesses and a devoted wife, living in Brooklyn, NYC.