Best Sleep Number Alternatives (2025)

The m7 is the only bed from Sleep Number that offers the body contouring of memory foam and the ability to adjust the mattress to your preferred firmness. The m7 also has a ceramic-infused layer to release heat and help create a cooler sleep environment. This mattress provides exceptional support, cooling, and pressure relief, but it comes with a pretty hefty price tag of $3,999 for a queen before any discounts.

My favorite m7 alternative, the Nectar Premier, delivers all three at almost half the price. When I lay down on the Premier in the back sleeping position, I felt it fill my lower lumbar spine, which is ideal for relieving pressure in the lower back. On my side, I got some decent contouring around my hips and shoulders that helped take pressure off both.

Cooling is another strong point of the Nectar Premier, earning it a 4/5 in that category. When testing for cooling, my fellow mattress tester, Marten Carlson, started by measuring the mattress’s temperature with a thermal gun. From there, he got into bed for about five minutes and then tested the surface again. He found that it only increased by five degrees, which is impressive for an all-foam mattress, as they are prone to trapping body heat.

“I will say I was a little surprised,” said Marten. “The only cooling innovation in the Premier is that it has cooling fibers worked into the cover. With the cover doing all the cooling work here, I was impressed with this temperature difference.”

The air chambers in Sleep Number beds allow for adjustable firmness and awesome support, no matter how you sleep. While you’re locked into the industry standard of medium-firm (or 6.5 out of 10 on our firmness scale) with the Nectar, you should still get excellent support if you’re a light to average-weight sleeper. 

As an average-weight stomach sleeper, I often struggle to find a memory foam mattress that offers enough support around my hips to keep them elevated and in line with the rest of my body. On the Premier, I didn’t feel myself dip into the mattress like I normally do with all-foam beds.

That said, I don’t think it’s the best choice for heavy (230 pounds or more) sleepers. These sleepers might feel themselves sink too far into the mattress, causing spinal misalignment or discomfort.

For more details about the Nectar Premier and how it performed across our tests, read our full Nectar Premier mattress review. If you’re a heavier sleeper looking for something with stronger support to keep you lifted throughout the night, I recommend checking out the WinkBed Plus.

Sleep Number’s C (the c stands for classic) Series is the brand’s entry-level line. These beds are the most stripped-back models the luxury brand offers. The Sleep Number c4 is 9 inches tall and contains 3 inches of memory foam for added cushioning. If adjustable firmness from a Sleep Number is a must-have, this is as cheap as it gets at just $1,899 before any deals.

However, if you’re willing to pass on the Sleep Number and get an adjustable bed frame to compensate for some of the lost flexibility, you can get more for your money with my pick for the best c4 alternative, the Helix Dawn. At just $1,332 (and under $1,000 on sale) for a queen before discounts, the Helix Dawn is a hybrid mattress that scored well for its price point.

The Helix Dawn is a little on the firmer side at 7.5 out of 10, or a bit firmer than medium-firm, making it an excellent choice for back and stomach sleepers. One of my fellow mattress testers, Marten, praised the Helix Dawn for its firm, responsive, and supportive feel.

“I found the Helix Dawn to be an excellent match for stomach sleeping,” said Marten. “The firm, supportive nature of this mattress helped ensure that my hips stayed elevated and properly aligned with the spine.”

For reference, Marten is 6’7″ and 270 pounds, so his larger frame often requires extra support to maintain proper spinal alignment. This mattress’s ability to accommodate his size while providing firm, responsive support was enough for me to have faith in the Dawn’s support system, but its edge support really wowed: we awarded it a 4.6/5 for how strong its perimeter was.

This mattress is also extremely responsive, earning a perfect 5/5 in this category. If you switch positions during the night, you may have found a good match with the Dawn.

As for motion transfer, the foam layers and individually wrapped coils in the Helix Dawn handle motion transfer decently. That said, this is still a bouncy mattress, so it’s unlikely to minimize all movement transfer across the surface. I would keep this in mind if you have a partner who tosses and turns a lot in their sleep at night.

Have an interest in the Helix Dawn? Head over to our full Helix Dawn mattress review for more information. If you want something more plush, I would recommend the Helix Sunset instead.

The I in Sleep Number’s luxurious I-line stands for innovation (and not “incredibly expensive”), because these beds bring out the big guns in cooling, support, and comfort. The i8 in particular features a 6-inch foam comfort layer and temperature-balancing ceramic gel designed to help release body heat. The Sleep Number i8 is 12 inches thick and costs $3,999 for a queen before any discounts.

While hunting for a good alternative for the Sleep Number i8, I had to find a mattress that was just as cool, comfortable, and impressive. I think the Leesa Sapira Chill checks all those boxes at a fraction of the cost ($2,159 before any discounts). The Sapira Chill scored a 4/5 in cooling and a 4.5 in pressure relief, with an overall rating of 4.3/5. After seeing what my fellow mattress testers had to say about it, it’s easy to see why.

The Sapira Chill puts cooling at the forefront with a cool-to-the-touch cover and cooling-gel-infused memory foam comfort layer. If the “chill” in the name didn’t give it away, that’s a lot of cooling. My colleague Marten didn’t even break a sweat after napping on the Sapira Chill for two hours. Based on his test results and the bed’s impressive construction, I gave it a score of 4/5 for cooling.

“The Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid lived up to its name when I tested it,” Marten said. “First off, when I was lying down, I could feel the cooling cover doing its thing. Sleeping on the mattress, I did not overheat or wake up during the nap test. I live in a warmer area, but the mattress was up to the task.”

The Leesa Sapira Chill also did a great job of keeping our testers supported, earning it another 4.3/5 for its edge support. It has strong reinforced edges, meaning you can roll all the way to the perimeter of the mattress without falling off. The main support layer has pocketed coils that are supportive and promote airflow through the mattress. They are also zoned, meaning they are firmer in certain areas of the mattress to help keep your spine neutrally aligned. This design helps prevent back pain and other joint issues.

“The edge is reinforced on this mattress, so I felt very comfortable all the way at the side of the bed,” said Marten. “Whether I was sitting or lying down, I didn’t feel like I was going to pitch off the mattress.”

If I had to pick one area where the Sapira Chill falls short compared to the Sleep Number, I would say its motion isolation. While I still gave it a decent 3.8/5, it  might not be enough for sleepers who are easily disturbed by movement at night. These sleepers might prefer an all-foam mattress or a softer mattress that traps motion better.

Ready to cool things down with the Sapira Chill? Learn more about it in our full Leesa Sapira Chill mattress review. If a softer mattress with excellent cooling features is more your speed, I recommend checking out the Nectar Luxe.

The Sleep Number i10 is the top model in the brand’s “Innovation” Smart Bed Series, which also includes the i8 and iLE. The i10 stands out with the thickest comfort foam layer of any Sleep Number mattress, making it the softest and tallest option. With 7 inches of contouring foam and advanced temperature regulation, the bed is designed to deliver what Sleep Number describes as an “amazing, soothing, weightless” experience. All of these incredible features will set you back $5,499 before any discounts.

My pick for the best i10 alternative is the Saatva Solaire, which is another adjustable mattress. Similar to the Sleep Number mattresses, the Solaire has an adjustable air chamber that allows sleepers to find their ideal sleep nu- er, I mean, Saatva setting. The Saatva Solaire has 50 firmness settings to choose from on either side of the mattress. During testing, I gave this mattress high scores for support, edge support, and durability. The Saatva Solaire costs $4,599 before any discounts.

While testing the Saatva Solaire on my back and stomach, I set it between 40 and 50, as these sleepers typically need a firmer bed to keep them in alignment at night. As a stomach sleeper, I felt like the Solaire did a great job of keeping my hips elevated and lined up with the rest of my body. My fellow mattress tester, Marten, also enjoyed how the mattress felt on his back.

“While sleeping on my back, I took the mattress down to about 40/50,” he explained. “My hips sank into the top comfort layer, but then I felt the support of the air chambers below that. With this firmness, it felt like a good mattress for back sleepers.”

Edge support is another category that many Saatva mattresses excel in, and the Solaire is no different. When the Solaire was on its firmest setting, I felt very secure while sitting down on the edge and didn’t feel like I was falling forward. I also did not feel like I was going to roll off the bed while lying on the perimeter. On the softest setting, I still felt secured on the edge of the bed, but not quite as comfortable. I gave the Saatva Solaire a 3.8/5 for edge support overall.

Unfortunately, the Sleep Number i10 has the Solaire beat in cooling—but not by much. While the Solaire’s cooling isn’t the worst (4/5 was its final score), I could feel myself warming up the longer I lay on it. The i10 has a 4.5/5 score, but I don’t think that half a point difference will amount to too much in the average sleeper’s experience.

Are you set on the Solaire? Check out our full Saatva Solaire mattress review to see how it performed on our other tests. If you’re in the market for a mattress with premium materials and better cooling, I recommend the Avocado Green.

The Sleep Number iLE (the LE stands for limited edition) features a 6-inch comfort layer and is 12 inches thick overall. Like its sister models in the Innovation line, it offers adjustable firmness and responsiveness to movement. It also helps regulate temperature by absorbing body heat and releasing cooling air. The iLE also incorporates ClimaTemp foam, which Sleep Number describes as “softer and more cooling.” The Sleep Number iLE costs $5,499 before any promotions or discounts.

I chose the Bear Elite Hybrid as the best alternative for the iLE because it beats the Sleep Number at its own game in a few different ways. At just $2,305 before discounts, the Bear Elite Hybrid is the brand’s most luxurious model, featuring advanced cooling technology and a five-zone support coil system. It also comes in three different firmness settings to suit a variety of different sleepers. 

During testing, it scored a 4/5 or higher in pressure relief, edge support, and motion isolation. Our mattress testers found the five-zone support system to provide excellent targeted support for different areas of the body, particularly the lower back and hips.

At roughly half the price of the Sleep Number iLE, the Bear Elite Hybrid performs on the same level, if not better, in many categories. However, if I had to critique it, I would say its cooling falls a little short by comparison. While the Bear Elite Hybrid does a decent job of keeping heat at bay, I wouldn’t recommend it to folks who overheat easily. For an extra $130, it comes with an optional innovative Celliant cover to further help with cooling (and, potentially, muscle recovery).

Want to get to know the Bear Elite Hybrid a little better? Check out our full Bear Elite Hybrid mattress review for the full scoop. If a memory foam mattress with better motion isolation is more your speed, check out the Nolah Evolution.

The Sleep Number p6 is part of the Performance Series, which offers a slightly plusher feel than the Classic Series. It’s the most popular mattress in this line, featuring 5 inches of foam cushioning, bringing its overall thickness to 11 inches. The p6 offers a balance of comfort and support but may feel a bit firm compared to the brand’s Innovation series. Like all of Sleep Number’s mattresses, the p6 is often praised for its cooling, support, and edge support.

My favorite Sleep Number p6 alternative is the original WinkBed. The WinkBed is a fraction of the cost of a Sleep Number bed at only $1,799 before discounts (compared to the Sleep Number p6’s $3,199 retail price tag) and comes in multiple firmness options to fit a variety of sleepers. This mattress is 13.5 inches tall and features zoned pocketed coils to deliver serious comfort and support.

“I rarely give out perfect scores, but for the WinkBed’s support rating, it was absolutely warranted,” Marten, one of my fellow mattress testers, explained. “I’m a bigger guy at 6’7” tall and 270 lbs, and when I rested on my back, I felt my spine relax into a neutral alignment. This is unusual for me—oftentimes, my back cranes out of alignment and causes joint pain.” 

Not surprisingly, the WinkBed also has excellent support around its perimeter, earning 4.4/5 for edge support. When Marten sat along the side of the bed, the edge only sagged 3 inches. For reference, many mattresses sink 4 to 5 inches when under similar weights. 

The WinkBed is loaded with fancy cooling features like some of the Sleep Number lines, and it also has individually wrapped coils that help circulate air and a Tencel cover to help wick away moisture and keep the bed dry. Some of its memory foam is also infused with cooling gel designed for additional heat transfer.

When Marten measured the WinkBed’s temperature before and after lying down on it for 5 minutes, he saw that it only increased by 6.4 degrees. I’ve seen many mattresses increase in temperature by as much as 10 degrees, so these results are definitely above average. I gave the WinkBed a 4/5 for cooling based on its construction and these test results.

However, the WinkBed isn’t for all sleepers. I wouldn’t recommend this to folks who prefer a slow-moving memory foam feel. These sleepers might prefer a more plush, all-foam mattress to give them more cushioning and deeper contouring.

Want to find out more about the WinkBed? Check out our full WinkBed mattress review to see how it performed across each category. If you’re looking for a cooling mattress with that slow-moving memory foam feel, I recommend checking out the TEMPUR-ProBreeze.

The Sleep Number pSE is another bed in the brand’s Performance line, which is smack-dab in the middle of its entry-level Classic line and luxury Innovation line. Like the p5 mattress, the pSE is slightly softer than the brand’s Classic mattresses and has 4 inches of cushioning to give it a total height of 10 inches. Unlike the p5, the pSE has the brand’s proprietary ClimaTemp foam that’s found in its Innovation line beds. This memory foam is meant to make the mattress feel softer and cooler. The Sleep Number pSE is $2,999 for a queen before any discounts.

The Titan Plus is my favorite Sleep Number pSE alternative because it offers excellent support at a reasonable price. It’s also not quite as plush as the Sleep Number’s Innovation beds, putting it more in line with the p6 in terms of firmness (even though the p6’s is adjustable). Since the Titan Plus is designed with heavy sleepers (230 pounds or heavier) in mind, it’s firmer than most hybrid mattresses, but it still has plenty of features to keep all sleepers cool and comfortable.

“The Titan Plus does a decent job of staying cool (3/5) thanks to the gel infusion in its cover and the coils, which allow for plenty of airflow throughout the mattress,” Marten, one of our mattress testers, explained. “If you’re still worried about sleeping hot, you can purchase the optional cooling cover. This will make it a great mattress for hot sleepers.”

The Titan Plus also earned a 5/5 for its impressive support and edge support. Thanks to its sturdy support layer, made from 8 inches of industrial coils, the Titan Plus should last a long time without sagging. There’s also a base made from a quarter inch of high-density foam just beneath the coils for even more stability.

Stomach sleepers and back sleepers should feel most comfortable on this mattress, as they typically need more support around their hips to keep their spines in a healthy position. This should also give these sleepers more pressure relief around their lower backs.

“The Titan Plus felt very supportive whenever I rested on my back,” said Marten. “In fact, some sleepers might find that this mattress feels too supportive in this position. Because it’s very firm, my hips didn’t sink in much at all.”

Unfortunately, at 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale, the Titan Plus is way too firm for lightweight sleepers and some average-weight side sleepers. These sleepers need a mattress with more cushioning to get the deep contouring and pressure relief they need. But for heavy sleepers and average-weight stomach and back sleepers, I think this mattress could be a great fit.

Is it time to get your hands on the Titan Plus? Check out our full Titan Plus mattress review to learn more about it before pulling the trigger. If you’re a lightweight or average-weight sleeper who prefers a softer mattress, I recommend checking out the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid. Find more beds for heavy people here.

The Sleep Number p5 is the most basic mattress in the brand’s Performance Series. This mattress is a little bit softer than the Classic series, but doesn’t quite pack the same punch as the brand’s Innovation line. What sets this mattress apart from its Classic counterparts is 4 inches of cushioning. Before any discounts a Sleep Number p5 will cost you $3,499.

The Bear Star Hybrid earns my pick for the best Sleep Number p5 alternative. The Star Hybrid has a solid support system and balanced comfort that’ll make a lot of different sleepers happy. The best part? It’s only $1,998 before any discounts. While testing this bed for myself, I found that I felt fully supported in every sleeping position. It was also very responsive and easy for me to switch between different positions, making it a great option for combination sleepers.

My colleague Marten, was also pleased with the Bear Star Hybrid’s responsive, bouncy feel, saying, “The Bear Star Hybrid offers a well-balanced foam feel, particularly for a mattress with memory foam. The copper-infused memory foam contours to the body gently, while the edge coil system adds a slight bounce to the overall feel.”

Edge support is one of this mattress’s other strong points, earning a 4.2/5 rating. During my hands-on experience with this bed, I could easily lie and sit down on the edges and corners without feeling like I was going to fall off. At every turn I found myself impressed with how secure I felt around the bed’s perimeter.

The Bear Star Hybrid also earned a 4/5 for cooling. Thanks to the Celliant technology in the cover, this mattress helps create a more comfortable sleep environment by regulating body temperature and improving circulation. The top foam layer has a copper infusion that draws heat away from your body. While lying down on the Bear Star Hybrid, I didn’t feel any excess heat building up, even after a long period of time.

As strong as the Bear Star Hybrid’s performance was, there are a handful of sleepers I wouldn’t recommend this mattress to. I think lightweight sleepers may find this bed too firm and lacking in pressure relief. I also wouldn’t recommend this mattress to budget shoppers; even though it’s much cheaper than the Sleep Number p5, it’s still on the pricier side compared to some other beds on this list.

Can’t wait to jump into the Bear Star Hybrid? Read our full Bear Star Hybrid mattress review to learn more about it before buying. If you’re a heavier stomach sleeper looking for a bed that feels similar to the Bear Star Hybrid, I would check out the Titan Plus Elite.

The Sleep Number c2 mattress is the brand’s entry-level option within their Classic Series, priced at just $1,299 for a queen. The c2 is 8 inches thick and offers a basic, no-frills sleep experience. The c2 only contains 2 inches of foam, while the rest of the mattress is literally air, courtesy of its air chamber. This construction makes it one of the firmest beds out of the Sleep Number lineup. The c2 is ideal for those looking for a straightforward, budget-friendly option from Sleep Number.

Brooklyn Bedding’s Plank Firm mattress is my pick for the best Sleep Number c2 alternative because it’s firm, cheap (just $749 before discounts), and an overall better buy. It’s also somewhat adjustable–the Plank Firm has a firm and extra-firm side, depending on your preference. The firm and extra-firm sides landed at 8/10 and 9/10 on our firmness scale, respectively, so fans of slow-moving, plush mattresses should look elsewhere. However, folks who need strong, responsive support will find a lot to love about in this bed.

Based on our testers’ experience with the Plank Firm, I gave this bed a perfect 5/5 for response (on the firm side) and surprisingly good ratings for edge support (3.8/5 on the firm side, 4.8/5 on the extra-firm side). These scores mark the Plank Firm as a great bed for seniors and folks with mobility issues who need a strong surface to bear down on to get out of bed.

Our tester, Marten, found that both sides of the Plank Firm provided sturdy support while still offering some good bounce. “I didn’t sink too far into the mattress, so I had no trouble moving around or changing positions,” he explained. “I felt like I was sleeping on top of this bed instead of ‘in’ it. The Plank Firm is a good candidate for one of the best firm mattresses out there.”

Of course, a bed this firm isn’t for everyone. I wouldn’t recommend this mattress to lightweight sleepers or strict side sleepers. These folks will likely find the Plank too harsh on their hips, shoulders, and any other high-pressure areas. However, stomach sleepers and anyone who needs a more supportive mattress should give the Plank Firm serious consideration.

Planning on getting the Plank Firm? Check out our full Plank Firm mattress review for all the details before you buy. If you prefer something on the opposite side of the firmness spectrum, check out the Nolah Signature.