Prices shown are approximate. Verify current pricing before purchasing.
Purple and Casper are two of the best-known online mattress brands, and they could not be more different. Casper is conventional memory foam with showroom availability and decade-long brand recognition. Purple is the polymer-grid disruptor with a unique feel and polarizing reviews. Both target premium price tiers ($900-2,400), but the construction underneath is dramatically different.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Purple Original | Casper Original |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Polymer grid + foam base | All-foam memory |
| Price (queen) | ~$799-1,200 | ~$900-1,400 |
| Firmness | Medium-firm to firm | Medium |
| Feel | Unique grid (polarizing) | Conventional memory foam |
| Cooling | Excellent (open grid) | Mild (AirScape) |
| Pressure relief | Good (no sinking) | Good (sinking contour) |
| Showroom | Mattress Firm, Macy’s | Target, West Elm |
| Weight | Heavy (~110 lbs queen) | Standard (~80 lbs queen) |
Where Purple wins
Cooling: The polymer grid stays cool by design. Casper’s AirScape is mild cooling; Purple is dramatically cooler. Hot sleepers will notice the difference immediately.
Pressure relief without sinking: Purple’s grid cradles pressure points but does not let your body sink. Sleepers who hate the “stuck” feeling of memory foam consistently prefer Purple.
Edge support: Better than Casper’s all-foam construction.
Combination sleeper-friendly: The grid responds instantly when you change positions. Casper’s memory foam takes 2-3 seconds to recover.
Where Casper wins
Conventional feel: Casper feels like a normal premium mattress. If you have slept on memory foam before and liked it, Casper is the safer pick.
Lower polarization: Most sleepers find Casper “comfortable enough.” Purple is loved by some, disliked by others. Casper is more universally acceptable.
Motion isolation: Memory foam absorbs movement better than the grid construction. Couples with one restless sleeper benefit from Casper.
Side sleeper deep contouring: If you specifically want deep shoulder/hip cradling, Casper’s foam contours more than Purple’s grid.
Lighter weight: Easier to move and rotate.
The “feel” factor — the real decision
Purple feels different from anything else on the market. Some sleepers describe it as “buoyant” or “floating.” Others find it firm and unforgiving. The grid’s response to pressure is unlike memory foam, latex, or innerspring.
Use the trial period actively. If Purple is right for you, you will know in the first week. If it is not, return it and pick Casper or another conventional mattress.
Pick Purple if you
- Sleep hot and want maximum cooling
- Hate the “sinking” feel of memory foam
- Are a combination sleeper who changes positions often
- Have specific shoulder/hip pressure issues that memory foam has not solved
- Want something different from the standard mattress feel
Pick Casper if you
- Want the conventional premium memory foam feel
- Share the bed with a restless partner (motion isolation)
- Want to test in person at Target or West Elm before buying
- Are a side sleeper wanting deep pressure relief
- Prefer a “safer” purchase that most sleepers find acceptable
Verdict
Both are solid premium mattresses. Purple is the more interesting choice with stronger cooling and unique feel. Casper is the safer choice with conventional feel and broader acceptability.
If unsure: pick Casper. The trial period covers you, and Casper’s “average premium memory foam” feel is more universally good.
If you specifically want what Purple offers (cooling, no-sinking grid feel): pick Purple. The trial period covers you if the feel does not work.
Reminder: Confirm current pricing before purchase.