Ghostbed vs Purple Mattress – The Choice Is Yours

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If you’re trying to decide between the GhostBed and Purple mattress, you might be at a loss. They are both high-quality beds that really have a lot to offer.

Our GhostBed vs Purple comparison will go into their similarities, differences, and who should choose one over the other. Which is right for you. Read on!

GhostBed vs. Purple

Compare the GhostBed and Purple mattresses below to see which may be best for you!
Product
Firmness
Score
GhostBed Classic Mattress
GhostBed Mattress
Firm: 8/10
4.1/5
Purple Mattress
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
4.1/5

GhostBed vs. Purple

Compare the GhostBed and Purple mattresses below to see which may be best for you!
GhostBed Classic Mattress
Product
GhostBed Mattress
Firmness
Firm: 8/10
Score
4.1/5
Product
Purple Mattress
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Score
4.1/5

GhostBed vs. Purple Overview

The GhostBed is an online mattress, made with a combination of aerated latex and foam that’s designed to keep you both cool and comfy. The latex is synthetic, which makes it more affordable than many other latex mattresses.

The Purple’s biggest claim to fame is its unique Comfort Grid, which uses a gel material that changes firmness levels depending on how much pressure you apply. We will go into more detail about this material, but there’s really nothing like it!

We have spent a lot of time on both mattresses, and they are on many of our “best of” lists. That being said, they are going to be a better match for certain types of people.

Who Should Get The GhostBed?

  • Those who prefer a firmer mattress
  • Those who like a balanced mattress feel
  • Stomach sleepers who need more support under their hips

GhostBed Mattress

GhostBed Classic Mattress

The GhostBed is a supportive bed-in-a-box mattress that is a great option for stomach sleepers, hot sleepers, and those looking for a value mattress.

Clarity Score 4.1/5

Material

Foam

Trial Period

101 nights

Shipping Method

Free shipping minus HI and AK

Firmness

Firm: 8/10

Warranty

20-year warranty

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review

GhostBed Mattress

GhostBed Classic Mattress

The GhostBed is a supportive bed-in-a-box mattress that is a great option for stomach sleepers, hot sleepers, and those looking for a value mattress.

Clarity Score 4.1/5

Material

Foam

Warranty

20-year warranty

Firmness

Firm: 8/10

Shipping Method

Free shipping minus HI and AK

Trial Period

101 nights

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review
GhostBed Classic Mattress

GhostBed Mattress

The GhostBed is a supportive bed-in-a-box mattress that is a great option for stomach sleepers, hot sleepers, and those looking for a value mattress.

Clarity Score 4.1/5

Material

Foam

Firmness

Firm: 8/10

Trial Period

101 nights

Warranty

20-year warranty

Shipping Method

Free shipping minus HI and AK

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight back sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review

Who Should Get The Purple?

  • Side sleepers who need more pressure relief
  • Combination sleepers who want a balance of comfort and support
  • Hot sleepers who need a more cooling mattress

Purple Mattress

Purple is an innovative mattress that is a great fit for all three sleeping positions and doesn’t sleep hot.

Clarity Score 4.1/5

Material

Hybrid

Trial Period

100 nights

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

Warranty

10-year warranty

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.6/5

Purple Mattress

Purple is an innovative mattress that is a great fit for all three sleeping positions and doesn’t sleep hot.

Clarity Score 4.1/5

Material

Hybrid

Warranty

10-year warranty

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Trial Period

100 nights

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.6/5

Purple Mattress

Purple is an innovative mattress that is a great fit for all three sleeping positions and doesn’t sleep hot.

Clarity Score 4.1/5

Material

Hybrid

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6.5/10

Trial Period

100 nights

Warranty

10-year warranty

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Hot Sleepers
If you often overheat while you sleep, this mattress should help you stay cool.
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.6/5

GhostBed vs. Purple Mattress Video Comparison

Want to get a direct look at what’s inside each mattress, and learn more about how these beds might align with your sleeping position and comfort preferences? Take a minute to watch our video review.

Similarities Between The GhostBed And Purple

GhostBed and Purple are two of the most popular bed-in-a-box mattress products… and that’s not where their similarities end:

  • They’re pretty similar in terms of price point.
  • Both mattresses feature a bottom layer of stable, supportive foam.
  • Both mattresses are highly responsive.

GhostBed Mattress Review

Key Differences Between The GhostBed And Purple

With that said, these mattresses also differ in several ways:

  • The Purple is a bit softer than the GhostBed.
  • Their comfort layers are made of very different materials.
  • They have slightly different feels.

Purple Original Mattress Review

Firmness And Feel Differences

We always like to start by looking at a mattress’s firmness and feel. This gives us a good initial idea of who each mattress will be a good fit for.

How Firm Are The GhostBed And Purple Mattresses?

In terms of overall firmness, we’d give the GhostBed about an 8 out of 10, which makes it firmer than the average mattress. The Purple is more like a 6.5, though it’s important to note that the Purple Grid may subtly alter its firmness depending on how much pressure is on it.

Sleeping On The GhostBed And Purple Mattresses

The GhostBed feels really good for most back sleepers, though we’ll offer one caution: If you’re lighter in weight, the mattress may feel a little too firm for you. For side sleepers, though, the GhostBed is probably going to be too firm, jamming your hip and shoulder into the bed without offering enough give. Side sleepers will most likely want to find a mattress with a thicker, more pressure-relieving comfort layer. Stomach sleepers should feel plenty of support on the GhostBed mattress, however.

GhostBed Mattress - Stomach Sleeping

The Purple is ideal for back sleepers. You’ll find yourself sinking just a bit at the butt and hips, with the rest of your body feeling well-supported. Average- and heavyweight side sleepers should activate the Grid enough to get plenty of pressure point relief, though lightweight side sleepers may find the Purple just a little too firm. The Purple is very supportive for stomach sleepers, too.

Purple Original Mattress - Side Sleeping

RELATED: Best Mattress For The Money

What Do The GhostBed And Purple Mattress Feel Like?

The GhostBed mattress exhibits a balanced foam feel – you get a bit of slow-moving pressure relief from the second layer, but the top layer of latex gives you plenty of bounce.

The Purple’s unique Grid is famous for a “squishy yet firm feel,” which is really pretty tough to describe! It’s very bouncy and responsive, making it great for sleepers who toss and turn in the night, but not as ideal for couples who share a bed.

Average Weight Sleepers – 130 lbs to 230 lbs

With regard to the GhostBed, sleepers who are closer to that 130 lbs mark might find the bed just a little too firm. That’s especially true for back sleepers. For those nearer to 230 lbs, however, the GhostBed offers a really nice balance of comfort and support. For side sleepers in this weight range, the GhostBed will likely be too firm. Average weight stomach sleepers, on the other hand, should find all the support they need for a good night’s sleep.

Most average-weight back sleepers will find the Purple to be really comfortable, with the exception of those who are toward the lighter end of the spectrum; for them, the Purple Grid may not activate enough to let their hips sink in. Similarly, side sleepers who are on the heavier end will find the Purple to work well, but those nearer to 130 lbs may find it too firm. As for average-weight stomach sleepers, there’s really no question that the Purple is a great, highly supportive mattress.

Heavyweight Sleepers – Over 230 lbs

Most heavyweight back sleepers will find the GhostBed to be a good fit, though if you exceed 300 lbs, you may want to look into something a little more supportive. For heavyweight side sleepers, the GhostBed will definitely be too firm. Stomach sleepers nearer 230 lbs should be fine, but those above 300 lbs may want to look into a more supportive bed.

As for the Purple, those who top 300 lbs may want to look into something with coils. However, most other heavyweight back sleepers will find the Purple to be a good, comfortable, supportive bed. Stomach sleepers, too, should be fine up until 280 lbs, at which point something more supportive is recommended. For most heavyweight side sleepers, body pressure will activate the Grid and allow for amazing pressure relief, making this a really good option. Also, take a look at the Purple Hybrid Premier if you are larger and want even better pressure relief.

Lightweight Sleepers – Under 130lbs

For lighter back sleepers, the GhostBed is going to feel too firm. The same is true for side sleepers in this weight category, who won’t get enough pressure relief for their shoulders or hips. For lightweight stomach sleepers, however, the GhostBed works extremely well.

Lightweight back and side sleepers will likely find the Purple to be a poor fit, as they won’t be able to apply enough pressure to activate the Grid. For lightweight stomach sleepers who prefer a firmer mattress, however, the Purple is one of the very best options around, and very highly recommended.

Mattress Construction Differences

Now, let’s unzip the covers of these mattresses and see exactly what is going on inside. We will look at each layer one by one and discuss how this affects mattress performance.

Cover

The GhostBed comes with a stretchy, polyester mattress cover. The Purple is encased in a SoftFlex cover, which is made to be soft to the touch and also to help circulate air and remain cool during the night.

Comfort Layers

The GhostBed’s first main comfort layer is 1.5” of aerated latex foam; this is synthetic latex, ventilated to promote coolness. Below that you’ll find 2” of gel memory foam, which draws heat away from the body and is meant to add more pressure relief to the top of the mattress.

GhostBed Mattress - Construction And Foam Layers

The Purple’s top layer is its proprietary Grid, made with a hyper-elastic polymer material. It’s bouncy and feels softer when pressure is applied. There’s also an encasement made of thick foam, which enhances edge support. Then, a foam transition layer helps you avoid the feeling that you’re bottoming out on your mattress.

Purple Mattress - Construction And Layers

Support Layer

Both mattresses have high-density base foam at the bottom, helping them support sleepers through the night.

Mattress Height

The GhostBed is 11” tall, and the Purple is 9.5” tall.

GhostBed vs. Purple Mattress Size Options And Price

For up-to-date information about the available sizes of each mattress, as well as price range, check out our handy charts.

GhostBed 

Size Dimensions Price
Twin 38" x 75" $1295.00
Twin XL 38" x 80" $1395.00
Full 54" x 75" $1495.00
Queen 60" x 80" $1695.00
King 76" x 80" $2015.00
California King 72" x 84" $2025.00
Split King Two 38" x 80" pieces $2790.00

Purple

Size Dimensions Price
Twin 38" x 75" $799.00
Twin XL 38" x 80" $999.00
Full 54” x 75” $1199.00
Queen 60" x 80" $1399.00
King 76" x 80" $1799.00
California King 72" x 84" $1799.00
Split King 76" 80" $1998.00

Also, make sure to check out our GhostBed coupons and Purple coupons.

Product
Firmness
Score
GhostBed Classic Mattress
GhostBed Mattress
Firm: 8/10
4.1/5
Purple Mattress
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
4.1/5
GhostBed Classic Mattress
Product
GhostBed Mattress
Firmness
Firm: 8/10
Score
4.1/5
Product
Purple Mattress
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6.5/10
Score
4.1/5

GhostBed Vs. Purple Performance Differences

We ran the Ghostbed and Purple through a number of tests with regard to cooling, motion transfer, and edge support. To see how they compare to other mattresses check out our GhostBed mattress comparisons and Purple mattress comparisons and find comparisons like GhostBed vs Nectar and Purple vs Helix.

Sleeping Hot Or Cold

While both mattresses sleep pretty cool, the Purple is our top pick for hot sleepers. That’s due to the Grid, which allows a lot of air to pass through and temper any retained body heat. The GhostBed is cooling in its own right, but that breathable top layer in the Purple is hard to beat.

Motion Transfer

The bad news for couples who share a bed together is that neither the GhostBed nor the Purple is especially good with motion transfer. They’re both very bouncy, which means that any movement you make will be pretty disruptive to your partner. Take a look at our best mattresses for couples if you need something for you and your partner.

Edge Support

When it comes to edge support, it’s a tie. Both mattresses are quite supportive when we sit and lie down near the edge. We don’t feel like we are going to roll off either the GhostBed or Purple.

Purple Mattress - Edge Support

Durability

While both beds are made with highly durable materials, the Purple wins the category; again, thank the Grid, which is one of the most durable mattress materials on the market.

Off-Gassing

Some mattresses emit a mild chemical odor when you unbox them. We noticed this with the GhostBed, but the smell went away after just 48 hours. We didn’t detect any off-gassing with the Purple mattress.

Noise

We moved around on both mattresses and didn’t notice any noise. Both are very quiet mattresses, and you shouldn’t hear any squeaking and creaking when you change positions at night.

Sex

Both mattresses are good for sex; they are bouncy and responsive, which means you can comfortably change positions or move around on the bed.

Warranty Info

The GhostBed is backed by a 101-night trial and a 20-year warranty. The Purple comes with a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

Marten Carlson

Marten is the Lead Reviewer at Mattress Clarity. He is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and covers the mattress industry as well as sleep science news. He is specifically interested in the connection between sleep and overall health. Marten has written for media publications like Consequence of Sound and received a master’s degree in Film Studies from Emory University. He comes from Franklin, Indiana, and spends all the time he can writing, directing, and acting in films.