Helix vs Saatva Mattress Comparison

Helix and Saatva are two of the most well-known online mattress brands in the game. Though the two companies sell a ton of different mattresses, their most popular models are the Helix Midnight and Saatva Classic, respectively. And while both of these beds employ pocketed coils for bounce, support, and firmness, they have pretty distinct feels. So, which one is the best bed for you? Read on to find out.

In this Helix vs Saatva mattress comparison, I’m going to go over every inch of these beds with my expert magnifying glass. That means we’ll dive in deep to learn about how they feel, how they’re built, and how they compare to one another and their fellow competitors on the market.

Without further ado, let’s get into my full Helix vs Saatva mattress comparison. If you’re short on time, feel free to skip to the comparison summary to find out which bed will give you the best sleep.

Helix vs Saatva: Which is Better for You?

As I mentioned up top, both Helix and Saatva sell a number of different mattresses, but to keep this comparison focused, we’re going to throw most of the spotlight on the Helix Midnight and Saatva Classic models. The Helix Midnight is a bed-in-a-box hybrid mattress, which means it’s built with both foam and pocketed coils for a one-two punch of pressure relief and support. The Saatva features a coil construction that lends it the old-school feel of an innerspring mattress.

Figuring out which one of these is the best mattress for you will depend on a lot of different factors. Buying a new mattress means thinking about not only your sleeping position and other preferences, but your unique body type, size, shape, and weight. Not every bed is going to be right for every purpose, but I’m going to do my best to illuminate the unique qualities of these mattresses. For my full thoughts, feel free to take a peek at my Helix Midnight mattress review and Saatva mattress review.

Who Should Buy the Helix

• Back sleepers could really benefit from the hybrid design of the Helix Midnight. The comfort layer of memory foam should provide plenty of pressure relief to the hips and lower back while the pocketed coils in the base should lift the spine in a nice, neutral line.
• Combination sleepers might also find a lot to love in the springy nature of this bed. These folks need to move around and change positions in the night, so they could benefit from the Helix Midnight’s buoyant lift.
• I think couples would also be well-suited to the Helix Midnight. This bed has fantastic edge support, which means the sides are firm enough for bed mates to utilize the entire surface area of the mattress. The bed also isolated motion well, so you shouldn’t be too disturbed by your partner’s movements in the night.

Who Should Buy the Saatva

• If you like more of a traditional innerspring feel, the Saatva Classic could be the one for you. This bed features a coil construction that’s bouncy, supportive, and firm. It’s worth noting, too, that the Saatva Classic comes in three different firmness levels: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. For the purpose of this comparison, I’m looking solely at the Luxury Firm model, which has a medium-firm feel.
• Back sleepers who struggle with back pain may discover that this mattress is particularly efficient at alleviating tension across the spine. The firm lift of the bed should set your hips in a nice alignment with your shoulders.
• This bed could also be a good choice for folks after sound mobility. It’s easy to move around this firm mattress, marking it as a nice option for those who like to spring up and out of bed.

Helix vs Saatva: Similarities and Differences 

Before we get into the major feel and construction sections of this comparison, I just want to take a moment to quickly list out the main similarities and differences between these mattresses. This will help us to contextualize things as we learn more about the Helix and Saatva beds.

Main Similarities

• Perhaps the most important similarity is the fact that the Helix Midnight and Saatva Classic mattresses both utilize coils for bounce, support, and firmness. However, this doesn’t mean that these beds feel the same.
• Personally, I think that both of these beds would be pretty good choices for back sleepers. They’re firm and supportive, which means they’re able to lift the hips in line with the shoulders to establish a neutral spine alignment. This is super important for alleviating tension at pressure points across the body.

Main Differences

• The Helix Midnight uses way more foam than the Luxury Firm Saatva does, so has a softer, more pressure-relieving feel. If you’re a side sleeper or someone who struggles with aches and pains at the shoulders and hips, the Helix Midnight might be the better choice for you.
• On the other side of the coin, the Saatva is going to be a much firmer option than the Helix Midnight. If you like a strong, sturdy firm mattress, I’d recommend checking out the Saatva.
• If you’re looking to buy a bed-in-a-box mattress, you’ll need to go with the Helix Midnight as the Saatva does not arrive compressed in a box.
• The Helix is less expensive than the Saatva and could be a better option for budget-minded shoppers.
• Finally, I’d say that the Helix Midnight has better motion isolation than the Saatva. If you sleep with a restless partner, this could be a crucial difference for you to take note of.

Helix and Saatva Mattress Feel Comparison 

With those briefest of introductions sorted, let’s dig into how these mattresses feel. To assess each bed’s unique vibe, we’re going to chat about a variety of different feel factors from firmness to support, pressure relief, cooling, edge support, motion isolation, and more. By considering all of these different variables together, we should be able to paint a full picture of how the Helix Midnight and Saatva Classic mattresses sleep.

But before we do any of that, it’s important to acknowledge that feel is always going to be subjective and can change a lot depending on your body size, shape, and weight. So, how I feel the bed may very well differ from how you would feel it.

Helix 

The Helix Midnight got a 6 out of 10 rating on the firmness scale from me. When compared to the industry standard of 6.5 for medium firmness, it’s clear that this bed is right around medium-firm, if just a bit shy of it.

In my opinion, the Helix Midnight is a fantastic example of a hybrid mattress, which again means it uses both foam and pocketed coils to achieve a balance between pressure relief and support. As you stretch out on the Midnight, you’ll likely notice that you sink slightly into its top layer of memory foam. The material has a slow response to pressure, so will curve to the contours of your body to alleviate tension at the shoulders, hips, and lower back. However, before the sinkage becomes too dramatic, the pocketed coils react to lift you up and out of the structure. It’s a nice mix of lift and give that could work wonders for back sleepers and combination sleepers (but more on position specifics below).

I was also super impressed with this bed’s edge support. I mentioned it at the top of this comparison and will mention it again here — if you sleep with a partner or simply enjoy having the option to snooze all the way to the sides of your bed, you’ll likely enjoy the extra foam edge support you’ll find on this mattress. The buoyant nature of the bed also makes it super easy to roll around and change positions to your heart’s content.

I should also add that the Helix Midnight is one of six standard Helix hybrid mattresses sold by the brand. Helix Sleep calls the Midnight it’s “Medium Feel” option and also designates the Midnight as its most popular mattress. The great thing about the Standard Helix line of hybrid mattresses is that the six models range from the ultra soft Sunset to the sturdy and firm Dawn. So, folks along the firmness spectrum can find something that’s appropriate for their particular slumber needs. Later on, we’ll size up the Midnight against its Helix siblings.

Saatva 

After testing out the Saatva, I decided to give it a 7 out of 10 firmness rating. Again, when we size that up against the industry standard of 6.5 for medium firmness, it’s clear that this is a slightly firm mattress.

I wasn’t too surprised by this rating at all. The Saatva features a coil-on-coil construction that brings a ton of firmness, bounce, and support to the structure. After all, this is an innerspring mattress, which means it prioritizes bouncy support over gentle pressure relief. That’s not to say the bed isn’t comfortable; in fact, the quilted cover and pillow top layer do provide a nice dash of comfort as soon as you hop on the bed. However, the dominant vibe is definitely that of firm support.

When thinking about who might like this vibe most, my mind immediately goes to back and stomach sleepers. These folks will likely enjoy the fact that the sturdy steel coils lift the hips in alignment with the shoulders, establishing a neutral spine alignment all across the body. This support could also be a boon for pain sufferers, especially those who struggle with things like fibromyalgia or arthritis. It ensures that sleepers will always be positioned more “on top” of the bed than “in” it, which could be perfect for those who don’t want to feel too cuddled by their mattress.

The Saatva mattress also sleeps quite cool, thanks in large part to the spaces between the steel coils in the foundational layer. As you move around the bed, the pressure from your movements will actually encourage some airflow through this layer, which will then bring temperatures down. The organic cotton in the quilted cover is also very breathable, so helps to dissipate body heat throughout the night. I’m also a big fan of the fact that the steel coils in the core are wrapped in a layer of high-density poly foam edge support. This toughens up the sides so that sleepers can stretch out all the way to the edges of the bed. As we discussed with the Helix Midnight, this could be a great attribute for couples.

I’ll remind you that we’ve been looking at the Luxury Firm Saatva here, but the bed also comes in two other firmness levels: Plush Soft and Firm, with Luxury Firm tucked in between them. I’d say the Plush Soft will give you a softer feel that could be good for back/side sleepers while the Firm option provides an ultra-supportive vibe that could be fantastic for stomach sleepers.

Comparing What it’s Like to Sleep on the Helix and the Saatva

To get a little more specific about my feel recommendations, let’s discuss how the Helix Midnight and Saatva Classic mattresses sleep in different positions. To do this, we’re going to go position by position, describing the pros and cons to each configuration. We’ll also chat about how body size, shape, and weight might affect how you experience your new mattress.

Helix 

Back — I think the Helix Midnight is fantastic for back sleeping. The comfort layer of memory foam filled in the space at my lumbar region for some nice relief at my lower back while the pocketed coils lifted my hips in line with my shoulders. If you sleep on your back (or simply deal with back pain), I’d recommend checking out this mattress.

Side — I felt quite comfortable on my side on the Helix. I found that my shoulders and hips sank in just enough to keep my spine in a nice straight line. If you’re a side sleeper looking for a plush feel that doesn’t sacrifice support, the Helix Midnight could be the bed for you.

Stomach — When I rolled onto my stomach, I felt as though the mattress was too soft to support me in this position. Strict stomach sleepers need a firm structure that actively lifts the hips in line with the shoulders to prevent bowing at the lower back. Again, I wasn’t uncomfortable in this position, but don’t think it would be suitable for long periods of time.

Body Weight — If you weigh under 130 pounds, you’ll likely feel this mattress as a touch firmer than other sleepers. If you weigh over 250 pounds, this mattress will likely feel softer for you than the average sleeper, and you likely won’t feel as supported. I’d steer heavier sleepers to either the Saatva or one of our best mattresses for heavy people.

Saatva

Back — I loved the Saatva on my back. As I mentioned above, this innerspring mattress is firm, supportive, and bouncy, so does a great job of lifting your hips in line with your shoulders and lower back. If you’re a back sleeper who enjoys an ultra-firm feel, then the Saatva could be a lovely pick for you.

Side — Rolling onto my side was a different story all together. Though it’s true that the cover and pillow top layer provide a touch of comfort to the shoulders and hips, the bed is just too firm for side sleepers. These folks need deep pressure relief at sensitive points across the body, which the Luxury Firm Saatva doesn’t really provide. I’d recommend side sleepers opt for the Plush Soft Saatva or one of our best memory foam mattresses.

Stomach — Though the Saatva Classic might be too firm for side sleepers, it’s just firm enough for stomach sleepers. As I mentioned in my analysis of the Helix Midnight, stomach sleepers need a sturdy structure that will lift their hips up and out of the bed to line them up with the shoulders to avoid bowing at the lower back. When I stretched out on my stomach here, I felt as though my spine was in a nice, even line. If you’re after an extra firm feel, I’d opt for the Firm version of this bed.

Body Weight — If you weigh under 130 pounds, you’ll likely feel this mattress as much, much firmer than the average sleeper. If you weigh over 250 pounds, you’ll still probably feel this mattress as pretty firm, but you might feel as just a touch softer than lighter sleepers. All in all, I think this could be a nice mattress pick for heavy people.

Comparing Helix and Saatva Prices

When it comes down to it, your decision between the Helix and Saatva mattresses might very well come down to price. As I mentioned earlier, the Helix is more affordable than the Saatva, though I’d still consider them both to be reasonably priced online mattress options. Make sure to visit our Helix coupon page and Saatva coupon page for the latest promotions.

Prices listed are before discount or offer for each size.

Size	Helix	Saatva
Twin	$699	$887
Twin XL	$799	$1,087
Full	$849	$1,474
Queen	$1,099	$1,574
King	$1,449	$1,974
Cal King	$1,449	$2,174

Comparing Helix and Saatva Mattress Materials 

Now that we’ve gotten to know how these mattresses feel, let’s peel back the covers and take a look at the materials that make them feel the way they do. Though I’ll be giving a full overview of their respective constructions below, I encourage you to take a peek at my full Helix Midnight and Saatva reviews for even more information.

Helix

Cover — The Helix cover is made from a Soft Touch Design material, which is, surprise, surprise, soft to the touch. The fabric is very cozy and specially crafted to encourage airflow throughout the bed.

Comfort Layer — Underneath the cover, you’ll spy a thick layer of Memory Plus foam. This material has a slow response to pressure, providing plenty of space to sink in for pressure relief at the shoulders, hips, lower back, and other sensitive pressure points. As you sink into this layer, you should feel it contouring to the curves of your body, which brings a healthy dose of comfort to the overall structure.

Transition Layer — Beneath the soft layer of memory foam, you’ll land on a firmer section of high-grade poly foam. This material has a quicker response to pressure than the one above it, so works to curb some of memory foam’s natural sinkage. For this reason, its main function is to gradually ease the sleeper into the much firmer base below.

Support Layer— Here is where you’ll find the main coil layer support system of the mattress, which is made up of hundreds of pocketed coils. These individually wrapped springs are housed underneath the foam layers and work together to produce a sturdy, bouncy, and supportive vibe that brings an immense amount of lift and durability to the structure. Combo sleepers could find a lot to love in the buoyant nature of this system, which makes it easy to move around and change positions. And because they’re individually wrapped, they’re able to isolate motion super well, a slightly rare feat for such a bouncy mattress. This means that you shouldn’t be too disturbed by your bed mate’s movements in the night. When you add to this that the bed has fantastic edge support, it’s clear that this mattress was made for couples.

Base Layer – Last up is a layer of DuraDense foam which adds some stability and durability to the mattress.

Saatva

Cover – Made from 100% organic cotton, the Saatva cover is soft to the touch and super breathable. Therefore, it should provide you with some nice comfort as soon as you stretch out on the bed. I should also add that the cover is quilted with some foam, which takes the comfort level up a notch.

Pillow Top Layer – First up, you’ll land on a high-quality, Euro-style pillow top layer. This section is built with a thin layer of memory foam over a section of individually wrapped coils. As we discussed above with the Helix Midnight, memory foam has a slow response to pressure, which allows it to contour to sensitive pressure points like the shoulders, hips, and lower back. However, most of this contouring and sinkage is going to be curbed by the taller section of coils, which counteract memory foam’s gentle give with plenty of bounce and lift. Combination sleepers will likely enjoy this buoyancy, which immediately positions them on top of the mattress for easy range of motion.

Base Layer  – I’d categorize this next section as both a foundational and support layer. It’s built entirely of steel coils wrapped in foam edge support, which brings an immense amount of firmness, bounce, and durability to the Luxury Firm Saatva mattress. By placing these coils underneath the smaller individually wrapped ones, Saatva establishes a “coil-on-coil” construction that is most similar in feel to that of an innerspring mattresses, which are known for their firm support. If you grew up sleeping on innersprings and prefer a more traditional vibe to your mattress, you could find a lot to love in the Saatva. I’d also mention that the addition here of high-density poly foam edge support does a lot to maximize the usable surface area of the mattress, making it possible for couples to sleep all the way to the sides of the bed.

Helix vs Saatva: Best Qualities 

We’ve finally arrived at the end of this comparison. After going over these beds with a fine-tooth comb, it’s time to figure out which one is right for you. Below, I’m going to summarize the best qualities of each mattress and provide you with a few expert recommendations you can use to better understand these beds.

If you’re looking for a high-quality hybrid mattress, you really can’t go wrong with the Helix Midnight. This bed combines gentle memory foam with springy pocketed coils for a one-two punch of pressure relief and support that could work wonders for back sleepers and more generally for back pain. Combination sleepers will likely enjoy the tremendous bounce of this mattress, which makes it easy to move around and change positions in the night. I’d also say that couples should give the Helix Midnight a look. Not only does it transfer motion well (meaning there’s not a lot of movement discernible from one side of the bed to the other), but it has awesome edge support, making it possible to sleep all the way to the sides of the mattress.

Where the Helix Midnight is a great, classic hybrid mattress, the Saatva is a great, classic innerspring mattress. As we’ve discussed throughout this comparison, this basically just means that the bulk of the structure is made up of springs, which imbue the bed with a ton of bounce, support, and firmness. Those after an “old-school” vibe will likely enjoy the Saatva’s innerspring construction. I’d also recommend this mattress for strict back and stomach sleepers, as the bed’s firmness could help with lifting the hips up and out of the structure. If you’re someone who enjoys being positioned squarely on top of your bed, the Saatva could be a great pick for you. Couples may also enjoy the reinforced edge support on this bed.

Helix Best Features

• I’m a big fan of the Helix Midnight’s classic hybrid design, which strikes a satisfying balance between pressure relief and support.
• If you’re someone who likes to move around a lot while you snooze, I think this could be a great mattress for you as the bouncy pocketed coils make it easy to flip and flop to your heart’s content.
• I’d also say that couples will likely find a lot to love in the strong edge support and lower motion transfer of the Helix Midnight mattress.

Saatva Best Features

• This is a very firm innerspring mattress, which marks it as a great option for those after an “old-school” feel.
• In terms of different sleep positions, I think this bed is going to work best for back and stomach sleepers who need a little extra support at the hips and lower back.
• Combination sleepers will appreciate the immense bounce of this mattress, which allows folks to hop in and out of bed with ease.

Comparing Company Policies

Helix Policies

• Trial Period – 100-night sleep trial
• Shipping – Ships free, arrives compressed in a box
• Mattress Warranty – 10-year warranty

Saatva Policies

• Trial Period – 365-night sleep trial
• Shipping – Ships free with free white glove delivery and free old mattress removal
• Mattress Warranty – Lifetime warranty

Comparing Helix and Saatva Customer Service 

At Sleepopolis, we rank a brand’s customer service based on our personal interactions with its customer service team. A brand can either be ranked as Stellar, Great, Satisfactory, or Poor. Check out how these mattress companies performed when we used their customer service functions.

Helix Sleepopolis Customer Service Rating

• Great: Helix has a very nice customer service chat feature on its website. You type in your question and a list of curated FAQs quickly pops up. If you can’t find the answer, you can easily live chat with an expert.

Saatva Sleepopolis Customer Service Rating 

• Satisfactory: There are a lot of options to get help, from immediate online chat to email and phone assistance. However, these functions are buried at the bottom of the site, so they’re not as immediately accessible as other brands. However, I found the people I spoke with to be personable and helpful, even though it did take them a little while to respond.

Comparing Other Models from Helix and Saatva

We’ve focused primarily on the Helix Midnight and Saatva Classic mattresses in this comparison, but both brands also sell other beds. So, let’s meet some of these models below.

Other Helix Models 

The Helix Midnight is one of Helix’s six standard mattresses. Below, I’ll walk you through the five other options, listing them from softest to firmest. But if you want to know even more about the Standard Helix line, I’d invite you to check out my comprehensive Helix mattress review.

Helix Sunset: The Sunset is by far the softest mattress in the Helix line. Why? Well, it kicks off with a thick top layer of memory foam for deep pressure relief at the shoulders, hips, and lower back. This plush mattress got a 5.5/10 firmness rating from me, which means it could be an awesome fit for side sleepers.

Helix Moonlight: Though the Moonlight also scored a 5.5/10 firmness rating from me, I’d say it’s actually slightly firmer than the Sunset, thanks to its top layer of “Dynamic Foam.” This material has a similar feel to latex in that it’s lively, bouncy, and mobile. I think this feel could be a real winner for back sleepers after a softer feel.

Helix Dusk: In my opinion, the Helix Dusk comes right after the Midnight in terms of firmness. As with the Moonlight, its top foam layers are built with the brand’s “Dynamic Foam,” which, again, brings a lot of bounce to the slumber party. As I said with the Midnight, I’d recommend the Dusk for back sleepers and combination sleepers.

Helix Twilight: The Helix Twilight is built with foam layers of memory foam, high-density poly foam, and pocketed coils, so has a solidly firm feel. However, it’s also got some pretty fantastic pressure relief, thanks to the plush layer of memory foam. When thinking about things from a position perspective, I’d say the Twilight might be the best Helix option for stomach sleepers.

Helix Dawn: And finally, the Dawn, the firmest Standard Helix mattress. Here, you’ll find thick layers of “Dynamic Foam” atop layers of poly foam and pocketed coils, which establishes a bouncy, supportive, and firm vibe. The Dawn got a 7.5/10 firmness rating from me, so could be a good option for back sleepers and stomach sleepers.

Helix Luxe

• The Helix Luxe line takes the six mattresses we just discussed from the Standard Helix line and amps them up with extra foam layers for even more pressure relief and support. So, the Helix Twilight Luxe, for example, is built exactly like the Helix Twilight… except it has just an extra comfort boost.
• For that reason, I’d describe the Helix Luxe line as more luxurious than the Standard Helix Line. The Luxe mattresses are also great options for couples as they’re built to isolate motion better than their Standard siblings.
• The Helix Luxe mattresses also sleep cooler than the Standard Helix mattresses, which could be a nice bonus for hot sleepers.
• As you may have guessed, the Helix Luxe mattresses are more expensive than the Standard ones. Budget shoppers may find that the Luxe models are a little too, well… luxe for their needs.
• For more, check out my Helix Luxe mattresses.

Zenhaven

• The Zenhaven is an all-latex, all-foam option from Saatva. Latex foam is a super bouncy material that’s also naturally cooling. In general, I’d recommend a latex mattress for combination sleepers or those shopping with an eye toward the environment (yes, latex foam is eco-friendly).
• Something I really like about the Zenhaven mattress is that it’s flippable. This means you can switch between two totally different firmness levels. It’s worth noting, though, that latex can be quite heavy, so you may not be able to flip it all that often. But definitely a cool feature.
• If you’re shopping on a budget, you’ll want to know that the Zenhaven is the most expensive Saatva mattress.
• Take a peek at my Zenhaven mattress review.

Loom & Leaf

• The Loom & Leaf is the opposite of the bouncy Zenhaven in that it’s a memory foam mattress. Therefore, it’s soft, gentle, and able to provide deep body-contouring for pressure relief at the shoulders, hips, and lower back. If you’ve got sensitive pressure points, this could be an awesome pick for you.
• In terms of positions, I think the Loom & Leaf is going to work best for side sleepers. These folks need extra TLC at the shoulders, hips, and lower back, which this mattress more than provides.
• When it comes to cost, the Loom & Leaf is more expensive than the Saatva, but less expensive than the all-latex Zenhaven mattress.
• For more, check out my full Loom & Leaf review.

Saatva Solaire

• Looking for a less permanent slumber solution? Then you may want to check out the Saatva Solaire, an air mattress with over 50 different firmness options. In terms of adjustability, this is the most customizable mattress from Saatva. Could be used in a bedroom, outdoors, or in a camper.
• And for an air mattress, I’d say that this bed isolates motion really well, which means you shouldn’t be too disturbed by movement from one side of the mattress to the other. This could be a great thing for couples.
• However, as with any airbed, the Solaire is going to lose air overnight, which could be an issue for some sleepers.
• Check out my full Saatva Solaire review to learn more.

Other Common Helix and Saatva Comparisons 

Helix vs 

• Helix vs Tuft & Needle
• Helix vs Helix Luxe
• Helix vs Purple
• Helix vs Casper
• Helix vs Leesa

Saatva vs

• Saatva vs Casper
• Saatva vs Beautyrest
• Saatva vs WinkBeds
• Saatva vs DreamCloud Premier
• Saatva vs Loom & Leaf vs Zenhaven
• Casper vs Leesa vs Tuft & Needle vs Saatva

Zoe Ettinger

Zoë is the former editor at Sleepopolis and a Certified Sleep Science Coach.