Casper vs. Purple
Casper Cooling Select Hybrid (Costco) vs. Purple Original, from our Living Review records
Updated · By SleepUnpacked Research Team
Casper vs. Purple: which should you buy?
Choose the Purple Original if you want the Grid feel and a 100-night trial: Sleep Foundation Test Lab rated it 8/10 for pressure relief, cooling, and motion isolation, with edge support (6.5/10) its weak spot. Pick the Casper Cooling Select Hybrid (a Costco-exclusive build) if you already have a Costco membership and want the lower price — $749.99 queen list versus $1,599 list for the Purple Original — in an 11.75-inch medium-firm hybrid that NapLab measured at an 87.8°F peak surface temperature, 6.39 m/s² of motion transfer, and 0.4-second recovery. The two labs use different scales, so neither mattress wins cooling, pressure relief, or motion isolation outright.
One caveat on sourcing: this page compares only the Casper Cooling Select Hybrid and the Purple Original (plus the Purple Restore Hybrid, whose current Medium build has no lab scores), each with its own Living Review. Casper’s other models and Purple’s other lines have no review record here, so they are not compared. Figures come from the linked reviews and the independent labs and official pages they cite, not from SleepUnpacked measurements.
Decision Guide: Casper vs. Purple
| Factor | Casper Cooling Select Hybrid (Costco) | Purple Original |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Costco members on a budget, hot sleepers and couples (per its NapLab results), and buyers who value Costco’s no-time-limit returns | Hot sleepers, side sleepers, couples, and anyone who wants Grid pressure relief without memory-foam sink |
| Avoid if | You weigh over 250 lb, are sensitive to off-gassing (the tested unit smelled strongly for 15 days), sleep right at the edge, or are not a Costco member | You are a stomach sleeper (5/10 fit result), need strong edge support (6.5/10), or want a tall bed (9.25 in) |
| Cooling | 87.8°F peak surface temperature, 1.8°F cooler than NapLab’s tested average (NapLab test) | 8/10 (Sleep Foundation Test Lab). Different lab and units, so no winner is declared. |
| Motion transfer | 6.39 m/s² acceleration, below NapLab’s 8.70 m/s² tested average (NapLab test) | 8/10 motion isolation (Sleep Foundation Test Lab). Not directly comparable. |
| Queen price | $749.99 queen (list); Costco membership required | Check current price — $1,599 queen, no sale shown |
| Trial & warranty | Costco satisfaction guarantee (no formal sleep trial); 10-year limited warranty | 100-night trial with a 21-night minimum; 10-year limited warranty |
| Full review | Casper review · specs | Purple review · specs |
The Casper column is the Costco-exclusive Cooling Select Hybrid only; Casper’s other models have no SleepUnpacked review. The Purple Restore Hybrid has its own review and specs, but its current Medium build has no lab scores.
I. Introduction
Overview: In the world of online mattresses, Casper and Purple are arguably the two most recognizable heavyweights. While they both rose to fame as "bed-in-a-box" pioneers, their approach to sleep science could not be more different.
The Core Difference: The fundamental divide lies in their materials. The reviewed Casper is a memory-foam hybrid: poly foam, memory foam, and zoned transition foam over pocketed coils. Purple, conversely, relies on its GelFlex Grid — a hyper-elastic polymer grid that looks like a giant waffle and behaves unlike foam. The reviewed Purple Original puts that Grid over an all-foam base.
Goal: This comparison looks past the marketing to the sourced figures in each Living Review: construction, price, trial, warranty, and the independent lab results behind cooling, motion isolation, and pressure relief. Casper sells several lines; only the Costco-exclusive Cooling Select Hybrid has a review record here.
II. At a Glance: Key Takeaways
Cooling
Both measured well
Purple Original: 8/10 (Sleep Foundation Test Lab). Casper Cooling Select Hybrid: 87.8°F peak surface temperature (NapLab), 1.8°F cooler than the tested average. Different labs and units, so they cannot be ranked against each other.
Familiar Hybrid Feel
Casper Cooling Select Hybrid
A medium-firm hybrid with a floating, minimal-sink feel (1.89 in sinkage) and 0.4-second recovery, so there is no stuck-in-foam sensation. NapLab’s core recommendation band is 150–250 lb; use caution above that.
Pressure Relief
Separate scales
Purple Original: 8/10 (Sleep Foundation Test Lab), with the Grid buckling under hips and shoulders. Casper: 8.0/10 NapLab score and 1.89 in sinkage. The two 8s come from different scoring systems, so they are not a tie.
Price
Casper Cooling Select Hybrid
$749.99 queen list (Costco membership required, $599.99 with a manufacturer’s promotion on the checked date) versus $1,599 list for the Purple Original with no sale shown. Both move often, so check the current prices.
III. Performance Comparison
Cooling & Heat Retention
Purple Original
8/10 cooling (Sleep Foundation Test Lab). The Grid is mostly open air by volume, so heat moves away from the surface instead of being held against the body. The Purple Restore Hybrid has no current-build temperature test.
Casper Cooling Select Hybrid
87.8°F peak surface temperature, 1.8°F cooler than NapLab’s tested average; NapLab credits the thin knit cover and coil airflow. This is a different lab and unit from the Purple rating, so the two are not ranked.
Motion Transfer
- Casper:6.39 m/s² acceleration in NapLab’s test, well below the 8.70 m/s² tested average; movement settled to near zero within 0.71 seconds. A strong result for couples.
- Purple:The Purple Original scored 8/10 for motion isolation (Sleep Foundation Test Lab); each Grid column deforms largely on its own, so a partner’s movement stays local. The Restore Hybrid’s current Medium build has not been measured.
Edge Support
Casper: 3.50 in seated compression in NapLab’s test, better than average for sitting, but lying directly on the edge tested only fair and the slick cover encourages sliding.
Purple: The Original scored 6.5/10 for edge support (Sleep Foundation Test Lab), one of its two weak results. The Restore Hybrid adds a foam perimeter around the Grid over a full coil unit (Purple official), but no edge measurement exists for its current build.
Response Time & Movement
Purple: The Original scored 6.5/10 for ease of movement (Sleep Foundation Test Lab): the Grid springs back quickly, but the polyfoam beneath it does not, so repositioning is easier than on memory foam and harder than on a coil hybrid.
Casper: 0.4 seconds to full recovery in NapLab’s test, nearly the fastest it has measured, with a moderate 8.78-inch bounce. Seconds and a 10-point rating are different scales, so this is not ranked against the Purple score.
IV. Design & Materials
- Comfort Layer
4.5 inches of poly foam, memory foam, and zoned transition foam (NapLab teardown).
- Support Layer
5.75-inch pocketed coil unit over a foam base; 11.75 inches tall (listed as 12).
- Cover
Thin knit cover; the build is fiberglass-free and made in the USA.
- Comfort Layer
2 inches of GelFlex Grid (hyper-elastic polymer) on both the Original and the Restore Hybrid. The Original adds 3.5 inches of polyurethane comfort foam beneath it.
- Support Layer
Original: 4-inch polyfoam base with edge-support foam, 9.25 inches tall. Restore Hybrid: 8-inch Responsive Coil System, 11.5 inches tall.
- Cover
Purple lists a SoftFlex cover with an antimicrobial finish on the Restore Hybrid; the Original’s cover is not recorded in its review.
V. Firmness & Feel
The Casper Feel
"Medium-Firm" (single firmness)
The Costco listing and NapLab agree on the medium-firm label. In testing it sat on top of the bed with minimal sink (1.89 in) and a generalized contour, with near-instant recovery rather than a slow memory-foam hug.
The Purple Feel
Medium firm (6/10 measured) on the Original
The Grid feels soft where your body presses hardest and firm everywhere else, so first impressions vary widely. Purple requires 21 nights before a return is eligible, and the Grid feels unfamiliar at first. The Restore Hybrid’s Medium feel is Purple’s label and has not been independently measured.
VI. Reviewed Models & Pricing
| Brand | Reviewed Model | Type & Height | Queen Price | Trial & Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casper | Cooling Select Hybrid (Costco-exclusive) | Memory-foam hybrid, 11.75 in | $749.99 (list); Costco membership required | Costco satisfaction guarantee, no formal trial; 10-year limited |
| Purple | The Purple Mattress (Purple Original) | Grid over all-foam base, 9.25 in | Check current price: $1,599, no sale shown | 100-night trial, 21-night minimum; 10-year limited |
| Purple | Restore Hybrid (Medium, 11.5 in) | Grid over pocketed coils, 11.5 in | Check current price: $2,699, no promotion shown | 100-night trial, 21-night minimum; 10-year limited, 1.0-inch indentation threshold |
*Note: Prices and terms are as recorded in each Living Review on its checked date. Casper’s other models and Purple’s other lines are not reviewed here. Cross-check our Purple Hybrid mattress review before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Casper or Purple better for hot sleepers?
Neither wins outright, because the two reviewed models were measured by different labs in different units. The Purple Original scored 8/10 for cooling in the Sleep Foundation Test Lab, and its Grid is mostly open air by volume. The Casper Cooling Select Hybrid (Costco) measured an 87.8°F peak surface temperature in NapLab’s test, 1.8°F cooler than NapLab’s tested average. The current Purple Restore Hybrid has no temperature test on its Medium build.
Which is better for couples, Casper or Purple?
Both reviewed models have a strong motion result, but the scales are not comparable. The Purple Original scored 8/10 for motion isolation (Sleep Foundation Test Lab). The Casper Cooling Select Hybrid measured 6.39 m/s² of motion transfer in NapLab’s test, well below NapLab’s 8.70 m/s² tested average. The Purple Restore Hybrid’s current Medium build has not been measured for motion isolation.
Which has better pressure relief?
The records do not support a winner. The Purple Original scored 8/10 for pressure relief (Sleep Foundation Test Lab); the Casper Cooling Select Hybrid measured 1.89 in of sinkage and an 8.0/10 NapLab score. Those two 8s come from separate scoring systems, so they are not a tie or a win. The Casper record notes that its foam limits deep pressure relief for heavier bodies.
Which Casper mattress does SleepUnpacked cover?
Only the Casper Cooling Select Hybrid, a Costco-exclusive build, has a Living Review record. Casper’s other models, such as the One, Dream, and Snow, have no record and are not compared here. SleepUnpacked does not run its own lab measurements: figures come from the linked reviews and the independent labs and official pages they cite.
Sources and Review Notes
- Where the figures come from — Figures come from the linked Living Review records for the Casper Cooling Select Hybrid (Costco, checked 2026-08-26), the Purple Original (checked 2026-08-26), and the Purple Restore Hybrid (checked 2026-09-25), and from the independent labs and official pages those reviews cite: NapLab for the Casper, Sleep Foundation Test Lab for the Purple Original, and Purple’s official page for the Restore Hybrid. SleepUnpacked did not run its own measurements for this comparison.
- Scales are not comparable — NapLab reports the Casper in physical units (m/s², inches, °F, seconds) plus its own 10-point score; Sleep Foundation Test Lab reports the Purple Original on 10-point ratings. A number from one lab is never converted or ranked against the other, so this page declares no numeric winner on cooling, motion isolation, pressure relief, edge support, or response.
- Models not covered — The reviewed Casper is the Costco-exclusive Cooling Select Hybrid, not the One, Dream, or Snow sold on casper.com. Other Purple models (the Plus, Premier, and Rejuvenate lines, and the retired Purple Hybrid) also have no record here. The Purple Restore Hybrid’s current Medium build has no lab scores; older lab results describe a withdrawn Firm option and are not carried over.
- Pricing & terms — Prices, trials, and warranties are the figures recorded on each review’s checked date; confirm current terms with Costco or Purple before buying.
Comparison Decision Paths
Intro:For first-pass context, review Purple Original living review metrics.
Methods:For methods and material assumptions, review best cooling mattress category results.
Risk:For risk thresholds and failure conditions, review WinkBed vs Purple alternative matchup.
Next Step:For your next decision step, review mattress firmness matching framework.
Methods:For methods and material assumptions, review Casper Cooling Select Hybrid mattress review.
Next Step:For your next decision step, review Casper Cooling Select specs, sizes & pricing.