Bear and Purple are both established brands in the online mattress space. However, the two brands differ quite a bit. In this post, we compare the flagship Bear mattress to the Original Purple mattress. We cover feel, firmness, temperature regulation, and much more.

Bear Mattress vs Purple

Bear Mattress mattress VS. Purple Original mattress
$748 – $1,248Price Range$799 – $1,699
25% Off + $250 In Free Accessories Code: SLEEPRV25Offer $125 Off Applied In Cart
  • Budget shoppers
  • People that like memory foam
Best For
  • If you’re looking for a unique mattress with a different type of feel
  • All types of sleepers, including side, back and stomach
365 NightsTrial Period100 Nights
LifetimeWarranty10 Years
Free Shipping and ReturnsShipping Options Free Shipping and Returns
Shop Now Shop Now

These companies emerged at about the same time. The technology for Purple mattresses was forged in 2013, but the unique polymer didn’t become a mattress until two years later. The company first used its polymer to make wheelchairs more comfortable before realizing the material also aids sleep. Bear mattresses took shape around the same time, in 2014, though the family had been in the mattress business much longer. 

The long and short of the mattresses’ differences are that Purple offers a proprietary material while Bear sticks to memory foam and Purple mattresses sleep cooler while Bear is more affordable.

Bear vs Purple Mattress Synopsis

Before we get into the details of the post, here are the primary differences between these two online mattresses:

  • Feel — The Bear Mattress has a memory foam feel, while the Original Purple has a unique gel-like feel thanks to its Hyper-Elastic Polymer top layer.
  • Bear vs Purple Price — The Bear Mattress is more affordable.
  • Sleeper type — We think the Bear Mattress is ideal for back, stomach and combo sleepers. The Purple mattress accommodates all sleeper types.
  • Temperature regulation — The Original Purple Mattress sleeps cooler than the Bear Mattress.
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Keep reading to learn more.

Bear Mattress
Bear Mattress
Why it’s Great
Bear Mattress is not only one of the most popular memory foam beds online, but also one of the most affordable at under $800 for the queen size.
Best for
Budget shoppers
People that like memory foam
Sleep Positions
Back, Side and Stomach
Product Details
Firmness
Medium
Type
Memory Foam
Temp
Neutral
Free Shipping
and returns
Trial Period
365 Nights
Warranty
Lifetime
Made in
USA

25%  use code:  SLEEPRV25  in cart

25% Off
SLEEPRV25

Bear Has A Memory Foam Feel

If you like the feel of memory foam, chances are you’ll like the Bear mattress. However, it’s important to note Bear made some minor changes to the bed last year. Previously, the Bear mattress had a soft memory foam feel. The new version is firmer and not as pressure relieving. It now feels somewhere between a bed like Lull and Nectar. In other words, it’s not an airy nor a dense memory foam feel.

bear mattress review stomach sleepers
You will end up laying more on top of the Bear mattress given its firmness level

As you lay down on the bed, you will sink into the top layers a little and feel the memory foam conform to your body’s shape. It’s not so much, however, that you’ll feel as though you’re sleeping in the bed versus on the bed. In other words, there is pressure relief, but most people will contend that Bear is on the firmer end.

Bear Mattress Has A Celliant cover

The big standout feature of the Bear mattress is its Celliant cover. Celliant is an FDA-recognized wellness material. It helps promote blood flow, faster recovery and increased energy. As such, the bed is marketed heavily towards people with active lifestyles. In fact, the Bear mattress even made our list of the Best Mattresses For Athletes.

bear mattress review celliant cover for athletes
Bear’s Celliant cover in all its glory

There are only a select few other beds with a Celliant cover. We don’t have any evidence ourselves that it works, but we do count it as a positive. You can read more about Celliant on Bear’s website.

The Bear Mattress Is More Affordable

The Bear mattress is cheaper than the Original Purple by a good amount. For example, if you go by the MSRPs, a queen-size Bear is about $300-400 less than a queen-size Purple.

Plus, Bear is more aggressive when it comes to coupon codes and promo codes. You can usually find the bed on sale. Check the Bear Mattress website to see what promotion the company is currently running.

Although Purple doesn’t often run sales, it will almost always throw in a free gift (such as a pillow, sheets or mattress protector) with each mattress purchase. Check Purple.com to see what gift it’s currently offering.

Bear Mattress vs Purple Prices

SizeBearPurple
Twin$500$649
Full $700$949
Queen $800$1,099
King$900$1.399

Pros And Cons Of Bear 

Pros

  • Affordable for memory foam
  • Rare Celliant cover may help blood flow
  • Perfect for people who love memory foam

Cons

  • Memory foam can run a little hot
  • May be too firm for some sleepers
  • Not best for side sleepers

Other Bear Products

Purple Original
Purple Original
Why it’s Great
The Original Purple mattress is one of the most sought after beds online. It’s completely unique and is a great option for those that are interested in trying something new. It’s one of the only beds to feature Hyper-Elastic Polymer, a proprietary comfort material.
Best for
If you’re looking for a unique mattress with a different type of feel
All types of sleepers, including side, back and stomach
Sleep Positions
Back, Side and Stomach
Product Details
Firmness
Medium
Type
Unique
Temp
Breathable
Free Shipping
and returns
Trial Period
100 Nights
Warranty
10 Years
Made in
USA

$125 OFF APPLIED IN CART

$125 Off Applied In Cart

Purple Has A Unique Feel

All Purple mattresses use the company’s patented Hyper-Elastic Polymer, which is not a foam. It’s more of a gel or silicone-like material. It’s extremely soft, flexible and responsive.

Original Purple Mattress
You can see the grid format that allows for a lot of airflow

This top layer gives the Purple beds a unique, gel-like feel. When you lay down on the bed, you can feel the polymer material beneath you folding, compressing and conforming to your body’s shape. It’s a little weird at first, but we’ve found most people end up loving the feel of it after a few nights.

Purple Is Ideal For All Sleeper Types

While we think the Bear mattress is best primarily for back and stomach sleepers, we think the Original Purple is ideal for all types of sleepers. It doesn’t matter whether you consider yourself a back, stomach or side sleeper.

The special polymer top layer does a great job of conforming to your body’s shape. It cradles your hips and shoulders nicely when you’re on your side.

purple mattress review side sleeper
Great option for side sleepers

However, what makes the Hyper-Elastic Polymer truly special is that it’s supportive. It’s one of the few bedding materials out there that offers the best of both worlds (pressure relief and support). As such, back and stomach sleepers will also feel as if the areas under their lower back and trunk are being properly supported.

If you’re a heavier person (250+ lb), we’d recommend checking out one of Purple’s new hybrid mattresses. The Purple Hybrid and Premier mattresses we know and love have been discontinued. They are no longer being made. We expect to see the same quality and comfort from Purple’s newest releases.

Purple Mattress Has Great Airflow

We think the Original Purple has the edge over Bear when it comes to temperature regulation. The Original Purple gets the nod here for two primary reasons.

First, Hyper-Elastic Polymer is naturally a temperature neutral material. It doesn’t retain and radiate heat the way foam does.

purple mattress topper hyper-elastic polymer
Does not trap heat the way certain foams will

Second, the Hyper-Elastic Polymer top layer is laid out in a grid design. This creates columns and rows of tiny polymer squares, which allows air to flow freely near the top of the bed.

Given these two factors, we think the Original Purple is a great choice for people that tend to heat up at night. In fact, Purple even made our list of the Best Mattresses for Hot Sleepers.

Pros And Cons Of Purple

Pros

  • Unique feel
  • Perfect for all types of sleepers
  • Superior temperature regulation

Cons

  • May be too expensive for budget shoppers
  • Material takes some getting used to
  • Purple Original isn’t ideal for heavy sleepers

Other Purple Products

Which Mattress Should I Buy?

If you want a material that’s tried, true and familiar, stick with Bear memory foam. If you want to try something new and versatile, Purple may be the best bet. Both companies are trusted big names with generous trial periods.

Bear Mattress vs Purple Review Verdict

Purple and Bear have things that will likely make one over the other a better choice for you. If you’re still struggling with the decision between Purple and Bear, ask yourself a few questions.

First, how much are you willing to spend? If you’re on a tight budget, Bear is the clear winner. Not only do their beds have lower MSRPs, but the company is also much more aggressive with sales and discounts.

Next, are you a hot sleeper? If so, Purple wins. The Hyper-Elastic Polymer top layer allows for a lot of airflow near the top of the mattress.

Lastly, which type of feel do you prefer? If you like memory foam, Bear wins. If you don’t or you just want to try something different, Purple is the clear choice.

Review team

  • kenzie
    McKenzie Dillon

    Combo Sleeper

  • JD
    JD Christison

    Combo Sleeper

  • dillon lopez slumber yard
    Dillon Lopez

    Combo Sleeper

  • reynoso
    Jack Reynoso

    Combo Sleeper

Purple vs Bear Company Policies

Both Bear and Purple offer free shipping and returns. In addition, the brands offer a 100-night trial to decide if your new mattress is the right fit. Finally, you’ll enjoy a 10-year warranty with both brands.

What if I don’t like my mattress?

If you don’t like your Bear or Purple mattress, contact the company within 100 days to arrange a free return.

Can I purchase these beds at a physical location?

Bear has one showroom where you can try out their mattresses, located in Hoboken, NJ. Purple mattresses are available in a variety of stores across the country, including Purple brand stores and Macy’s.

How often do these beds go on sale?

Both brands offer a lot of discounts and coupons. Bear, in addition to having a lower regular price, is also more likely to be on sale.