Two of the most well-known bed-in-a-box brands on the market that we consistently receive requests to compare are Nectar and Purple. On one hand, you have an affordable memory foam bed in a box, and on the other, you have Purple, who made one of the most unconventionally comfortable beds in the game. In this post, we’ll break it all down for you, including which bed is best for which types of sleepers.
As two of the most well-known bed-in-a-box brands on the market, we consistently receive requests to compare these two beds. On the one hand, you have an affordable memory foam bed in a box, and on the other, you have Purple, which offers several models that are quite different from the rest of its competitors. In this post, we’ll break it all down for you, including which bed is best for which types of sleepers.
For those of you who prefer the Cliff Notes version, the primary differences when comparing Nectar vs Purple can be boiled down to a few points:
- Feel — Nectar has a dense memory foam feel, while the Purple beds use a Hyper-Elastic Polymer material that has a gel-like feel. This decision really comes down to personal preference.
- Sleep Temperature — If you’re a hot sleeper, the Purple beds allow for much more airflow.
Purple Mattress has taken sleepers by storm with a one-of-a-kind mattress material and feel, while Nectar has a reputation for being one of the most popular memory foam mattresses online. Each of these beds offers something different for the consumer, and we think the choice ultimately comes down to the type of feel you’re looking for and how much money you plan on spending.
 | VS. |  |
|---|---|---|
| $898 – $1,598 | Price Range | $599 – $1,449 |
| $399 Of Free Accessories | Offer | Free Sheets Applied In Cart |
| Best For |
|
| 365 Nights | Trial Period | 100 Nights |
| Forever | Warranty | 10 Years |
| Free Shipping and Returns | Shipping Options | Free Shipping and Returns |
| Shop Now | Shop Now |
As you might imagine, there’s a lot more to the Purple vs. Nectar story than we can fit into a video or a few bullet points. So continue below to learn all about Nectar vs. Purple.
Nectar Basics
Most people familiar with the mattress in a box industry hear the name Nectar and automatically associate it with budget-level beds. And while Nectar is priced affordably, it’s also a solid mattress in almost all aspects.
Purple Basics
Purple is one of, if not the most, unique online mattress brands on the market. And that designation is primarily due to the patented Hyper-Elastic Polymer material they use for the top layer on each of their models.
Nectar vs Purple Design & Construction
Depending on what you’re looking for, Nectar mattress vs. Purple mattresses offer very different construction, which provides a slightly different sleeping experience. Nectar is completely foam, full stop, whereas Purple is a little more one-of-a-kind because of its unique Hyper-Elastic Polymer material.
The Nectar Mattress is a 12″ thick all-foam mattress.
- Base layer — A dense 7″ slab of polyurethane foam.
- Transition layer — This is a 2″ layer of the proprietary Adaptive Hi-Core Memory Foam.
- Comfort layer — At the top there are 3″ of gel memory foam
- Cover — To wrap it all, there’s a removable cooling cover that is machine-washable!
Nectar recently introduced the Nectar Premier and Nectar Premier Copper, thicker than the original at 13″ and 14″. The construction is similar, but the layers are taller and they incorporate cooling technology. The Copper model includes copper fibers in the cover, making it feel cool to the touch.
The original Purple mattress has a more traditional bed-in-a-box construction.
- Support layers — It has two layers of polyurethane foam at the bottom.
- Comfort layer — A 2″ slab of their signature Hyper-Elastic Polymer tops the bed.
The Purple Hybrid, Purple Hybrid Premier 3 and Purple Hybrid Premier 4 (formerly known as the New Purple 2/3/4), on the other hand, incorporate both coils and dense polyurethane foam for their support structure, as opposed to just dense polyurethane foam like the Original Purple. In addition to added support, the coils give these beds a little bounce.
Nectar vs Purple Feel & Firmness
Nectar and Purple mattresses are very similar in firmness, in between medium and medium-firm. The main differences are in how they feel due to the materials used by each brand. If the feel discussion were Nectar vs Casper vs Purple, we’ll say that the former is a traditional memory foam feel, Casper is soft foam and Purple feels like a Dr. Scholl’s insole.
Nectar has that typical memory foam feel where you sort of slowly sink in, and the bed starts to conform to your body’s shape. You will get a bit of that stuck-in-the-mud feel.
However, Nectar is different from a lot of memory foam beds out there in that it’s on the firmer side of the spectrum. We think it comes in around a medium-firm on the firmness scale. At the end of the day, we think it finds a pretty good balance between support and pressure relief.
The Nectar Premier and Premier Copper have a similar firmness and feel, but you get a slight cooling sensation when you lay on them.On the other hand, Purple is made with a proprietary material that sort of feels like a gel, but it’s not actually gel. It’s very responsive, stretchy, and soft, yet it’s oddly supportive, as well. Our team members rate the Purple Mattress as a medium, the Purple Hybrid is medium-firm, and Purple Hybrid Premier 3 and 4 are between medium and medium-firm.
Sleeper Type Analysis
Body Type Analysis
Other Factors to Consider
Edge Support
When it comes to edge support in Purple vs Nectar, Purple Hybrid beds take the cake because of their reinforced foam and pocketed coil design.
The Nectar mattress provides pretty solid edge support for an all-foam bed. You really don’t get that roll-off sensation as you approach the edge. This comes into play for many couples where one person likes to hog the middle of the mattress and push the other person towards the edge.
What’s neat about Purple Hybrid beds is that they contain dense foam side rails to ensure sleepers feel supported around the edges. That’s good news for couples who like to have their own space and not cuddle throughout the night.
Motion Isolation
Nectar does a good job of limiting motion transfer, which is beneficial for couples with one partner who likes to toss and turn or get up a lot during the middle of the night. Purple’s Hyper-Elastic Polymer material also does a decent job of not transferring motion.
All in all, when it comes to motion isolation, both mattresses offer an ample amount. We think Nectar has the slight edge here, though, because of its dense foam construction.
Temperature
The original Nectar will be fine for most sleepers who sleep hot, but it isn’t a mattress that’ll help cool you down either. But the new Nectar Premier and Nectar Premier Copper have a phase change special material and copper-infused fibers to keep you cool while sleeping.
Even though the Purple beds are not cool to the touch, they actually sleep quite cool due to two primary reasons. First, Hyper-Elastic Polymer is just a naturally cooler material than foams since it doesn’t trap heat. Second, Purple lays out the Hyper-Elastic material in a grid formation, creating columns and rows that allow air to flow freely near the top of the bed.
Between the two original models, Purple is the clear winner for temperature regulation while sleeping. If you sleep hot, Purple is the mattress for you because Nectar won’t do anything to cool you down at night.
Nectar vs Purple Pricing
In comparing Nectar vs Purple, the suggested price is pretty similar, but you can always snag a Nectar mattress for a lot less after applying discounts and coupons. Plus, Nectar usually throws in two free pillows. If budget isn’t an issue, it might come down to whether you prefer the feel of memory foam or the polymer gel.
Check our Deals page or the brand’s website for up-to-date promotions.
Nectar vs Purple Review Verdict
Overall, we are big fans of Purple, and it offers a unique experience for consumers. We think the Nectar mattress is a great value for people that like the feel of memory foam. It’s been a staple on our Best Budget Beds list for years.
Now that we’ve broken down these two brands, it’s probably pretty clear how they differ. To us, if you’re trying to pick between Nectar or Purple, the decision really comes down to three questions.
First — Are you on a budget? If so, Nectar is the clear winner. The Nectar mattress is quite a bit cheaper after discounts than even the original Purple.
Second — Do you like or prefer the feel of memory foam? Some people do, which would make Nectar the clear choice. If your answer was no or maybe, then you might want to take a look at Purple. There’s a very good chance you’ll love the feel and benefits Purple beds provide.
Last— Do you sleep hot? If so, Purple is going to be the better option, given its superior airflow.
The main difference is the “feel” of the beds. Nectar has a dense/viscous memory foam feel, while Purple has a squishy/stretchy feel that’s super unique.
Nectar is a little firmer than Purple. Though, they’re both around a 5/10 in terms of firmness.
There’s no denying that Purple is the better bed for hot sleepers. It does an incredible job of circulating airflow.
Yes. Both brands offer completely free returns. Nectar has a 365-night trial period and Purple has a 100-night trial period.
They will indeed, but Nectar is a tad firmer than Purple.
Our reviewers liked it, and with a 100-night return policy, you have over three months to try it out. If you’re worried about durability, Consumer Reports says all Purple options have excellent durability.
The life of a mattress depends on many factors, but the Purple mattress comes with a 10-year warranty. Note that the warranty requires you to use the mattress on a firm, non-spring foundation, and it doesn’t cover damage from things like spills or jumping on the mattress.
Nectar has a Forever Warranty that promises to cover any failure from normal use for as long as you own it. Like Purple, Nectar has also received an excellent durability rating from Consumer Reports.
We are big advocates of buying a mattress online. Like Purple and Nectar, most brands offer great at-home trials coupled with free shipping and returns and generous warranty policies. You can also expect a good bang for your buck because, by cutting the middleman, online brands can lower the prices of high-quality beds.
If you’d still want to see the mattress in person before buying, Nectar is available at over 2,000 retailers nationwide. Purple is also available at retail partners around the country, such as Macy’s and Mattress Firm.
Why Trust Us
Get the kind of sleep you’ve only dreamed of with some help from our team of mattress experts. We personally test more than 175 of the best sleep solutions from over 60 leading brands on site, so you can be sure you’re getting unbiased reviews, fair comparisons and personalized recommendations.
