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Shopping for a mattress in a brick-and-mortar store can be one of the most intimidating and confusing shopping experiences available. However, while online mattress shopping lacks the salesman, it can easily be just as confusing. There are several options to purchase a new mattress online.
The following comparison review pits four of the most popular and highly rated direct-to-consumer, online-only mattresses in a head-to-head battle royale.
What Do These Mattresses Feel Like?
Casper
The Original Casper mattress.
Medium to slightly firm feel. I would rate it at a 6-7 out of 10 on the firmness scale (where 10 is the most firm). It does have a slightly more pronounced “hug” around your body, which contributes a bit to the overall softness. The zoned support system means it’s softer at the shoulders and firmer at the hips which allows for side sleeping spinal alignment. Read our Casper mattress review to learn more..
Casper Original Mattress
The Casper Original is an all-foam mattress that is a great option for back sleepers who want a balance of support and pressure relief. Combination sleepers will appreciate this mattress’s responsiveness, which makes it easy to change positions throughout the night.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Pain
This bed is a good match for anyone struggling with back pain, as it cushions the lumbar region and has enough support to keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers, as it provides them support and easy mobility.
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
“From the delivery of the box to the magical unfolding of the king size mattress to the first time laying on the bed, all smiles here! I have traveled for work for years, often sleeping on different beds at different hotels night after night.”
The Leesa original in the Sleepoplis studio.
Medium firmness. I would rate it at a 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale. The Leesa has a balanced level of hug, sinkage, and body contour. Enough that it feels soft, but not so deep that you feel stuck. Provides a consistent feel for a wide range of sleepers. Check out our Leesa mattress review to go further in depth on this great mattress.
Leesa Original Mattress
Are you a fan of the feel of an all-foam mattress, but can’t seem to find one that’s bouncy enough? The Leesa original mattress might be right up your alley. This bed-in-a-box mattress provides gentle pressure relief as well as responsive support.
The Tuft & Needle Mattress
Medium to slightly firm feel. I would rate it at a 6-6.5 on the firmness scale. Slight level of sinkage. Tuft & Needle creates more of a floating feeling, especially if you are using a higher performance foundation. Heavier sleepers may find the Tuft & Needle slightly firmer. Learn more in our full Tuft & Needle mattress review.
Tuft & Needle Mattress
The Tuft & Needle is a surprisingly supportive all-foam mattress that back sleepers will enjoy. It’s pretty breathable, which helps it sleep cool, and comes in at an affordable price, making it ideal for budget shoppers.
The Saatva mattress in the Sleepopolis bedroom.
Saatva’s mattresses are fairly unique in this respect. They have 3 different tiers of mattress firmness. The Saatva Plush Soft is 3.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. The Saatva Luxury Firm is 6 out of 10 on the firmness scale. And the Saatva Firm is 8-8.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale. This is the only innerspring mattress on the list, so definitely has a bit more bounce and support than the other options, which are of the all-foam bed in a box variety, so probably the best option for heavier folks looking for a mattress online. I’d recommend reading our Saatva mattress review if you want to learn more about how the construction of this mattress affects the way it feels.
Saatva Mattress
The Saatva’s coil-on-coil construction provides a classic innerspring feel. It’s a good option for combo sleepers, who will want to feel free to switch positions and avoid feeling “stuck” in the mattress. It comes in three firmness levels, so you should be able to find one that suits your needs.
We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:
Back Sleepers
This bed’s strong support is ideal for back sleepers because it helps keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Stomach Sleepers
This mattress is ideal for stomach sleepers as its firm support promotes spinal alignment.
Hot Sleepers
This bed features extra cooling technology, making it great for hot sleepers.
Back Pain
This bed is a good match for anyone struggling with back pain, as it cushions the lumbar region and has enough support to keep the spine neutrally aligned.
Seniors
This bed is perfect for senior sleepers, as it provides them support and easy mobility.
Financing Options
Financing options are available for this mattress.
We were skeptical of buying a mattress on line but it could not have gone any smoother. Anthony answered all of our questions during our many phone conversations. Delivery was prompt and went without a hitch. Best of all the mattress is so comfortable! I haven’t had such a good night sleep in years. Highly recommend this.
Casper vs. Leesa vs. Tuft & Needle, vs Saatva Comparison Specs
Casper
Leesa
Tuft & Needle
Saatva
Layers
4 foam layers
3 foam layers
2 foam layers
2 spring layers, euro style pillow top
Construction
1" Perforated Airscape Foam, 2" Zoned Support Memory Foam, 8" Support Foam
2" Comfort Layer, 2" Memory Foam, 6" Support Foam
3" poly foam, 7" support foam
pillow top, 884 comfort coils, 416 support coils
Height
11"
10"
10"
11.5" and 14.5"
Cover
2-tone, white and grey, soft, stretchy
4 bar design, one seamless piece of fabric
ultra thin, all white, T&N logo embossed
traditional white / cream, euro-style pillow top
Firmness
6-7 out of 10
6 out of 10
6-6.5 out of 10
3 tiers of firmness, soft (3.5), neutral (6), and firm (8-8.5)
Support
Good
Very Good
Good
Very Good
Price
$595-$1,295
$799-$1,299
$350-$750
$849-$1,899
Warranty
10 years
10 years
10 years
15 years
Trial Period
100 days
100 days
100 days
120 days
Shipping
Free, 1-5 days
Free, 3-5 days
Free, 1-5 days
Free, 7-15 days, full service
Returns
Full money back, they come take mattress for free
Full money back, they come take mattress for free
Full money back, they come take mattress for free
Full money back except for $99 delivery fee, they come take mattress
FAQs
What kind of return policy do these mattresses offer?
All four of the mattresses compared here offer trial periods of anywhere from 100-120 days. They also offer a full refund on the purchase of the mattress should it not fit the needs of the consumer. Saatva does not refund their $99 delivery fee.
What is the major difference in layers between the Casper, Leesa, Tuft and Needle and Saatva mattresses?
Each mattress offers a different type of construction. The Casper offers 4 layers of foam, the Leesa has 3 layers of foam and the Tuft and Needle has only 2 layers of foam. The Saatva is 2 spring layers with a euro-style pillow top.
Is there a benefit to buying a mattress online vs buying one at a brick and mortar store?
This can really depend on consumer preference. Some consumers prefer to have a salesperson walk them through their purchase and make recommendations while others would prefer to remove the salesman from the equation and make their own choices without the extra guidance or prefer to do their own research.
Logan Block
Logan is the former content director of Sleepopolis. As content director, he reviewed new mattresses every week and curated the comparisons, best of pages, and video guides on the site. Logan perfected his method by personally testing over 200 different mattresses, so he’s not only able to discern the overall vibe of a specific bed, but to contextualize its feel within the bed-in-a-box market as a whole.