Purple Original vs Purple Plus: Which One Should You Buy?

The Purple Mattress and the PurplePlus Mattress share the same signature feature: a 2 inch GelFlex Grid made of Hyper-Elastic Polymer sitting on top of comfort foam. The difference is what sits under that grid. The Purple Mattress uses a 3.5 inch comfort layer over a 4 inch base, for a 9.25 inch profile. The PurplePlus adds a second comfort layer, 2 inches plus 3 inches of polyurethane foam, over the same 4 inch base, for an 11 inch profile. Purple calls the original a medium-firm feel and the PurplePlus a medium feel, and both are designed to work for stomach, back, side and combination sleepers.

If you want the classic Purple experience at the lower profile, the Purple Mattress is the one to pick. If you want more cushioning under the shoulders and hips and a softer overall feel, the PurplePlus is the better match. Neither is a bad choice; the decision comes down to how much foam comfort you want under the GelFlex Grid.

A strong alternative

Saatva Classic for sleepers who want a coil mattress instead of a foam-and-grid build

• 365-night home trial
• Free white-glove delivery and old-mattress removal
• Lifetime warranty
• Three comfort levels: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm and Firm

Check today’s Saatva price →

Which Purple mattress should you buy?

You should buy the Purple Mattress if you want a medium-firm feel in a 9.25 inch profile with 2 inches of GelFlex Grid over a single 3.5 inch comfort layer. You should buy the PurplePlus if you prefer a medium feel with more cushioning, since it stacks two comfort layers totaling 5 inches under the same 2 inch grid, in an 11 inch profile. Both carry a 100 night trial and a 10 year warranty.

The two mattresses are close siblings, and the choice rarely comes down to which is better in the abstract. It comes down to how you sleep and how much give you want at the shoulders and hips. Side sleepers who want more cushioning usually lean toward the PurplePlus. Stomach sleepers who want a firmer, flatter surface usually prefer the original Purple Mattress. Combination sleepers who move between positions can be happy on either, and Purple positions both for that group.

Both mattresses are sold by Purple, and both ship rolled from a US warehouse. Neither is sold by Saatva, so the Saatva Classic appears on this page only as an alternative for readers who want a different construction altogether.

How do the two Purples differ in construction?

The Purple Mattress builds a 9.25 inch mattress from three layers: a 2 inch GelFlex Grid, a 3.5 inch polyurethane comfort foam, and a 4 inch polyurethane base foam. The PurplePlus builds an 11 inch mattress from four layers: the same 2 inch GelFlex Grid, a 2 inch comfort foam, a 3 inch comfort foam, and a 4 inch base foam. Both use a fiberglass-free fire sock that is not chemically treated.

The grid layer is identical in both models, so the instant-adaptive feel at the surface is the same. What changes is the foam stack below it. The PurplePlus adds a second comfort layer and describes it as an Ultra Comfort layer that dissipates heat and offers responsive comfort, plus edge support foam that increases support and mattress durability. The original Purple Mattress describes its comfort layer as adaptive foam that conforms to the body, and its base foam as the layer that stabilizes and supports the comfort layers.

Both mattresses use the same fabric: a top panel of polyester 98 percent and spandex 2 percent, and a non-slip bottom panel of polyester 74 percent and acrylic latex 26 percent. Both are spot cleaned with mild detergent such as upholstery cleaner.

Which one feels softer under the shoulders and hips?

The PurplePlus feels softer, because Purple rates it a medium feel and gives it two comfort foam layers under the grid, while the Purple Mattress is rated medium-firm with a single 3.5 inch comfort layer. Both mattresses use the same 2 inch GelFlex Grid at the surface, so the difference in cushioning comes from the foam stack below the grid. If you want more give at the shoulders and hips, the PurplePlus is the one built for that.

Purple describes both mattresses as providing shoulder and hip pressure relief, and both are listed for stomach, back, side and combination sleepers. If you have slept on a Purple mattress in a store, the original will feel familiar and the PurplePlus will feel like the same surface with more foam underneath.

For sleepers who want a firmer surface than either Purple offers, our best firm mattresses for 2026 covers firmer builds, including coil options.

Which Purple sleeps cooler?

Purple markets both mattresses around the GelFlex Grid, which the brand describes as dissipating heat and relieving pressure. The PurplePlus adds an Ultra Comfort foam layer that Purple also describes as dissipating heat. Both mattresses use the same breathable stretch top panel that flexes with the grid.

If cooling is your main buying criterion and you want to see how other constructions approach it, our best cooling mattresses for 2026 looks at gel, coil and foam builds side by side.

What do the trial and warranty look like on both?

Both the Purple Mattress and the PurplePlus Mattress come with a 100 night trial and a 10 year warranty. Purple asks customers to spend at least 21 nights on the mattress before starting a return or exchange, so the body has time to adjust to the brand’s feel and support. The trial begins the day the mattress is delivered to the doorstep, and if the mattress is not a fit within the first 100 nights, Purple arranges pickup and issues a refund.

The 10 year warranty covers replacement if something is wrong with the mattress, starting from the date of original purchase. It applies only when the purchaser uses the product for personal consumer use, and it no longer applies after any resale, new or used. A warranty claim requires the original dated proof of purchase from the original purchaser, the official warranty document, and the law tags.

For comparison, the Saatva Classic carries a 365 night home trial and a lifetime warranty, which is a longer trial and a longer warranty than the 100 night trial and 10 year warranty Purple offers on both models.

How much do the Purple mattresses cost?

Purple lists both mattresses as available in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King and Split King, and both product pages show a struck-through list price next to a sale price that changes with current promotions. Because those numbers move with promotions, this page does not quote a dollar figure for either model. Check the current price on the Purple site for the size you need, and compare the two at the same size rather than across sizes.

The size range itself is identical between the two models, including Split King as a two pack. The weight is not identical: a Queen Purple Mattress weighs 88 lbs, while a Queen PurplePlus weighs 109 lbs, and the shipping weights are 98 lbs and 119 lbs respectively. If you plan to move the mattress yourself, the extra 21 lbs on the PurplePlus is worth factoring in.

Who should buy the Purple Mattress?

You should buy the Purple Mattress if you want the original Purple feel in a lower, lighter package. It is the right pick for stomach sleepers who prefer a medium-firm surface, for back sleepers who want support without a deep foam stack, and for anyone setting up a guest room who wants the GelFlex Grid experience without the taller profile. At 9.25 inches and 88 lbs in a Queen, it is the easier of the two to move and to fit under standard sheets.

The Purple Mattress is also the sensible choice if you are trying Purple for the first time and want to keep the commitment modest. The 100 night trial gives you time to adjust, and the 10 year warranty covers the mattress for a decade of normal use. Purple describes the mattress as balancing support and pressure relief, with adaptive foam that conforms to the body and base foam that stabilizes the comfort layers.

Combination sleepers who rotate between stomach, back and side positions will find the medium-firm feel stable across positions. Purple lists all four sleep styles for this mattress, and the grid surface adapts instantly as you move.

Who should buy the PurplePlus Mattress?

You should buy the PurplePlus if you want more cushioning than the original Purple provides. It is the better pick for side sleepers who want extra give at the shoulders and hips, for back sleepers who prefer a medium feel over a medium-firm one, and for anyone who found the original Purple a little too firm at the surface. The two comfort layers, 2 inches plus 3 inches of polyurethane foam, sit under the same 2 inch GelFlex Grid, and Purple describes the Ultra Comfort layer as adding cushioning, pressure relief and stability.

The PurplePlus is also the pick if edge support matters to you, since Purple lists an edge support foam layer that increases support and mattress durability. At 11 inches and 109 lbs in a Queen, it is a taller, heavier mattress than the original, so plan for help moving it and check that your sheets fit an 11 inch profile.

Both mattresses pair with an adjustable base, and Purple notes that not all frames provide proper structural support. If you are building a full sleep system around either mattress, our best adjustable bases for 2026 covers the base side of that decision.

What is the Saatva Classic alternative?

The Saatva Classic is a different construction from either Purple mattress. It is an innerspring with a dual-coil design made of triple-tempered recycled carbon steel, a 3 inch Euro pillow top, and patented Lumbar Zone technology in the center third. Saatva offers it in three comfort levels: Plush Soft at 3 out of 10 on Saatva’s own scale where 1 is softest and 10 is firmest, Luxury Firm at 5 to 7, and Firm at 8. The Luxury Firm level is designed to feel like a luxury hotel bed, and the Firm level gives a floating-on-top feel for stomach sleepers and heavier body types.

Saatva offers the Classic in two heights, 11.5 inches and 14.5 inches, and in the same size range as the Purples, including Split King and Split Cal King. It carries a 365 night home trial and a lifetime warranty, both longer than the 100 night trial and 10 year warranty Purple offers. Delivery is free white glove service that includes in-room setup, and Saatva will take away your old mattress at no additional cost when you check the removal box at checkout.

The Classic is CertiPUR-US certified and GREENGUARD Gold certified, and it is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association. If you want a coil mattress with a pillow top rather than a grid-and-foam build, this is the alternative to look at. Our full Saatva Classic review goes deeper on the construction, and our best hybrid mattresses for 2026 places it alongside other coil-and-foam builds.

The verdict: the Purple Mattress wins for sleepers who want the original medium-firm Purple feel in a 9.25 inch profile, and the PurplePlus wins for sleepers who want more cushioning under the shoulders and hips in an 11 inch medium feel. Both share the same 2 inch GelFlex Grid, the same 100 night trial and the same 10 year warranty, so the decision is about foam stack and feel, not about policy. If you want a coil mattress instead, the Saatva Classic is the alternative, with a 365 night trial, a lifetime warranty and free white glove delivery.

A strong alternative

Saatva Classic a dual-coil innerspring with a 3 inch Euro pillow top and three comfort levels

• 365-night home trial, longer than the 100 nights Purple offers
• Lifetime warranty, longer than Purple’s 10 year warranty
• Free white-glove delivery with in-room setup and old mattress removal
• Plush Soft, Luxury Firm and Firm comfort levels

Check today’s Saatva price →

World Sleep Almanac score: 7.9/10

Our editorial score for the Purple Mattress and PurplePlus comparison reflects how the two models stack up on the criteria below. It is our own rating, not a test result, and each sub-score follows from the facts published on the official Purple pages.

• Materials and construction: 8.5/10. Both models use a 2 inch GelFlex Grid of Hyper-Elastic Polymer over polyurethane foam, with a fiberglass-free fire sock that is not chemically treated. The PurplePlus adds a second comfort layer for a total of 5 inches of comfort foam.
• Trial and returns: 7/10. Both models carry a 100 night trial, with Purple asking for at least 21 nights before a return or exchange.
• Warranty: 6.5/10. Both models carry a 10 year warranty, which is shorter than the lifetime warranty Saatva offers on the Classic.
• Size range and flexibility: 8.5/10. Both models are offered in Twin through Split King, and both pair with an adjustable base.
• Public ratings: 9/10. The Purple Mattress is rated 4.5/5 across 29,588 ratings, and the PurplePlus is rated 4.3/5 across 833 ratings on Purple’s product pages.

Average of the five criteria: 7.9 out of 10.

Frequently asked questions

Is the PurplePlus just a taller Purple Mattress?

Not exactly. The PurplePlus is 11 inches tall and the Purple Mattress is 9.25 inches tall, but the difference is not only height. The PurplePlus uses two comfort foam layers, 2 inches and 3 inches, while the Purple Mattress uses a single 3.5 inch comfort layer. Both sit under the same 2 inch GelFlex Grid and on the same 4 inch base foam.

Do both Purple mattresses sleep hot?

Purple describes the GelFlex Grid in both models as dissipating heat, and describes the Ultra Comfort foam in the PurplePlus in the same terms. Both use a breathable stretch top panel.

Can I put either Purple mattress on an adjustable base?

Yes. Purple lists both the Purple Mattress and the PurplePlus as pairing with an adjustable base. Purple also notes that not all bed frames provide proper structural support, so check your current frame before ordering. Slats should be less than 3.5 inches apart, or you can use a solid surface base or a traditional box spring.

What happens if I want to return a Purple mattress?

Both models come with a 100 night trial that starts on the delivery day. Purple asks you to spend at least 21 nights on the mattress before starting a return or exchange, so your body has time to adjust to the feel. Within the first 100 nights, Purple arranges pickup and issues a refund.

How long is the warranty on the Purple Mattress and PurplePlus?

Both carry a 10 year warranty that covers replacement if something is wrong with the mattress, starting from the date of original purchase. The warranty applies to personal consumer use only and ends after any resale. A claim needs the original dated proof of purchase, the official warranty document, and the law tags.

Reviewed by the World Sleep Almanac editorial team. Updated for 2026.