Mattress Reviews

What Makes Sleep On It Now Mattress Reviews Different?

Since starting this site in 2015, I have been able to conduct literally, hundreds of mattress reviews from online mattress start-ups to big-name retail brands like Tempurpedic and Serta. I have spent thousands of hours working full time testing and comparing just about every brand that has come to market over the past 7 years. I have an inside look at the mattress industry, warts and all. Mattress ratings vary all over the internet and none are truly objective because the best judge is you.  

This site started as a way for me to learn more about what makes a quality mattress and share my findings in hopes you will find the right mattress for your needs the first time. Whether that be the best mattress for your budget or just the best mattress money can buy, I have tried them all. 

But don’t just take my word for it. Over the years, I have worked with top-notch engineers to develop some proprietary tests and tools to give you even more information about how these mattresses work. But don’t take their word for it, either.

All of this feedback helps me make better recommendations for you. Instead of buying 20 mattresses that you think may work and returning 19, I want you to get it right the first time. An unwanted outcome of free trials that these companies offer is excessive returns that creates an environmental hazard. 

If a used mattress can’t find a home at a charity, it will usually go straight to a landfill. 

In addition to personally reviewing all these mattresses and getting to know the owners of each company, I have also opened showrooms where you can try out these mattresses in person and evaluate mattresses yourself. Despite all our technology, nothing beats how you actually feel while lying on the mattress yourself.

This is an overwhelming list. Although choice is a good thing, too much choice leads to decision fatigue,  paradox of choice, information overload or whatever you want to call it.

I am here to serve as your guide through the mattress-buying journey so you can feel confident you made a good choice and won’t second guess yourself. 

There are a few brands that really stand out in terms of quality, construction, and trial period. An example is  Brentwood Home. They make all their mattresses in their factory in California. Others have outstanding trial periods and warranties.  

Just about all of these mattresses are compatible with an adjustable bed. This means you can get the most out of your mattress.  Adjustable beds aren’t for old people anymore. With more people working from home, they are a great way to turn your bed into a makeshift lounger for working or watching TV.  Check out my Adjustable Bed reviews here.

And don’t buy the hype when a store throws in a free adjustable base with a mattress purchase. What you get is a cheap, flimsy base that will probably hold up for a year then break down. It also won’t articulate well and won’t be of much use. Treat your adjustable bed investment like you do your mattress because it matters and can be a game changer for comfort and actually change how your mattress feels.

And finally, don’t believe all these websites claiming to have unbiased reviews. Even this site is biased so take everything with a grain of salt and take advantage of those free trials. When possible, try it out yourself, and don’t believe the hype. So what’s the best mattress to buy? Follow my guide below and I will steer you in the right direction. 

How to choose a mattress

Shopping online for a mattress is inherently a challenge because you can’t actually feel it. So you have to rely on descriptions, videos and pictures. Every mattress company touts their mattress as the best mattress which leads to confusion. Short of actually trying it yourself before purchasing, these companies have trials ranging from 100 nights to 1 year. But before you get inundated with mattress ads, ask yourself which mattress likely will suit you best.

First, figure out your sleeping position. Are you a side sleeper, back sleeper or stomach sleeper? Chances are you are a combination of these or all of the above. And if you are all of the above, rotating like a rotisserie chicken, then you definitely need a new mattress.

Some people like a firmer mattress some like a softer mattress but no matter what you choose, don’t sacrifice support or pressure relief, you can have both. So what’s the best mattress to buy? It really depends on your specific needs and preferences. 

I break them into a few categories:

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory Foam Mattresses – Great for pressure relief and motion isolation. Made famous by Tempurpedic these were a game changer a few decades ago and since then the price on foam mattresses has dropped precipitously. Just about all of the foam mattresses available today include gel infused memory foam to help dissipate heat. 

Nothing beats foam right now for pressure relief. Latex, Purple polymer grid, wool, cashmere, horsehair, coils, you name it, foam is where its at when you have aches. 

The biggest complaint with a memory foam mattress is heat retention. This was especially true 20 years ago but now the foam has evolved to make it more breathable. It will still trap heat, there’s no way around that but buying a mattress is about making tradeoffs to find your optimal comfort. So if you sleep hot, get a fan or look at options like the Eight Pod Pro cover to keep you cool. 

The Nectar mattress is a perennial favorite, making our best-of list for the past 4 years and it’s always at the top of mattress ratings no matter what mattress review site you come across. Check out our roundup of best foam mattresses here. My favorite among the Nectar foam mattress line is the Nectar Premier. 

Best Memory FoamNectar Premier

The perfect blend of support and pressure relief. A phase change cover keeps you at an optimal temperature all night.

See price

Prices recorded when reviewing; check the brand for today’s price.

Hybrid Mattresses

Hybrid Mattresses – The most popular construction with spring and foam, all the most popular mattress brands have a hybrid mattress model. You get all the contouring and support benefits of coils with the pressure relief of foam on top. It is basically what we used to refer to as an innerspring mattress. An innerspring mattress back in the day had cotton or wool batting for a comfort layer instead of foam this was a classic mattress construction. 

Our Top Pick!Helix Midnight Luxe

The overall best hybrid mattress you can buy. Great for all sleep types and feels amazing!

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Natural & Organic Mattresses

First off, an organic mattress is a rare thing. The organic classification is one designated by the USDA for food products. So, if you can eat your mattress, then it’s organic. That means all natural materials and not steel or other unnatural fibers in the mattress. While its great to say a mattress is organic, it isn’t always the most comfortable and you will likely pay a steep premium. 

Instead, this category focuses on, “natural mattresses” which is a term that doesn’t really mean anything on its own but for this site it mattresses made primarily with springs, latex foam, wool and organic cotton. Yes, you can purchase an all latex mattress which are great but are also expensive and heavy. If you aren’t stuck on an organic mattress with organic materials, go with a memory foam mattress instead to save a considerable amount of cash. 

Latex mattresses are a great investment in that they will last longer than foam and of course are sustainable. If you were to buy an all latex mattress, you could just bury it in your back yard safe in the knowledge that it would soon biodegrate. If you are looking for an affordable mattress, your best bet would be an all foam mattress.

Check out our other top-rated natural mattresses.

Best Natural MattressHarvest Green Pillow Top

Prices recorded when reviewing; check the brand for today’s price.

Best mattress for your sleep position

Most people are side sleepers and if you find yourself sleeping on your stomach or back more often, the recommendations below will be helpful. Over the years I have found it hardest to find quality mattresses for stomach sleepers that strike the right balance between softness and support. Thankfully there is an adjustable bed from Rize called the Rize Aviada that can move into an inverted position so that you can sleep on your stomach with most mattresses regardless of softness without over extending your back. 

Best mattress for side sleepers

Most side sleepers do well on a medium or even a soft mattress. The key is to make sure that your body is aligned. You don’t want your hips protruding higher than your shoulders or to dip too low into the mattress that you are lacking support. 

As a general rule, I often recommend a soft mattress for side sleepers that are light, about 120 lbs or less. Heavy side sleepers will do better with a medium to medium firm mattress. 

Also keep in mind your frame. If you are a big person with broad shoulders, more contouring is needed and women tend to have wider hips than men so more contouring may be needed as well. 

Side sleepers’ biggest complaints are either hip or shoulder pain. To address shoulder pain, that’s usually more of a pillow issue where you aren’t getting enough support. Conversely, you may be getting too much support and you will feel that with a sore neck. 

If you have hip pain as a side sleeper, you need a softer mattress. These days, there’s no reason why a mattress cant be soft AND supportive at the same time, so don’t compromise on this. 

Best mattress for stomach sleepers

Stomach sleepers are very finicky and I try and recommend a firmer mattress that still has a decent amount of pressure relief at the top layer. The key to getting a good nights sleep as a stomach sleeper is the right pillow and good support for your lower back. 

Try going with a thin, soft, pillow. I absolutely love the Malouf Shoulder Cutout Pillow. While technically designed for side sleepers, this is my go to pillow every night and the only one that has helped with neck pain. It’s great for sleeping on my side and stomach as I rotate between the two. 

For your lower back, if you have a firm enough mattress, that should suffice but us softies like soft and so if you want your soft and support too, go with a zoned coil system where you have the firm support towards the middle of the mattress at your hips and softer coils at the top you help keep you straight. If you need to go softer, then it’s time to call in the heavy tech and go with the Rize Aviada that can actually allow the top of your mattress to sink down while keeping your waist supported. It will completely transform your sleep experience. 

Best Overall for Stomach SleepersMlily Fusion Ortho

The Mlily Ortho is a hybrid mattress with pocket coils and a layer of ventilated gel foam that has a very firm and supportive base that still offers great pressure relief. It's by far our top pick and if you buy through Sleep On It Now, it comes with a 100 night trial, free shipping and free returns!

Best Mattress for Back Sleepers

Best for Back SleepersPremier Hybrid Mattress | 365-Night Trial | Forever Warranty - DreamCloud

Great support for your lower back and hips yet soft enough where you don't wake up with a sore back. Perfect for back sleepers.

Back sleepers are usually the easiest to please and when I get a couple asking for help, if one of them is a back sleeper, they usually will defer the choice to the other partner. Back sleepers need good support as well but too much support will cause their hips to protrude too much making them uncomfortable. Also an extra firm mattress will cause upper back soreness. A good medium firm mattress is their best bet. 

 Back sleepers will do well with any type of construction and seem to adapt better to natural, latex and spring mattresses more than other types of sleepers. 

Best Cheap Mattress

Best Cheap MattressQueen Size Mattress,14 Inch Molblly

Doesn't get much cheaper than this especially for 14 inches thick and great Amazon reviews.

Don’t want to break the bank for a new mattress? Maybe your life is in flux and you don’t want to make a big commitment. Well, you’re in luck. Turns out you can get a mattress that is both comfortable and cheap. The Molblly is one of the best mattresses for those on a budget. This foam mattress has a medium firm feel and is great for any sleep position. The top layer of pressure relieving foam is what makes it stand out from others at this price point.

I don’t recommend innerspring mattresses at this price since the coil system won’t hold up.  Memory foam is easier to compress and cheaper to ship making the whole mattress less expensive. Plus foam mattresses are often easier to cater to combination sleepers

The Molblly is cheaper than a few weeks worth of groceries. An affordable mattress can be be comfortable too. Looking for other cheap mattresses? Check out our list here. 

Best Soft Mattress

If you suffer from arthritis, fibromayalgia, a herniated disk or have had surgeries, a soft matters is a game changer. But among the hundreds of soft mattresses I have tried, nothing comes close to what the Puffy Royal offers for pressure relief. 

Best Soft MattressPuffy Royal

Nothing beats the Puffy Royal for the true sleeping-on-a-cloud feeling. If you have any pain points, this mattress is sure to address them.

If you suffer from arthritis, fibromayalgia or other aches and pains, you will be especially sensitive to any type of pressure on your body. A foam mattress is the best choice for a soft mattress with pressure relief but the Puffy Royal is absolutely the best soft mattress online. They aim for that sleeping on a cloud feel and that’s exactly what you get. It has a premium coil system with an additional 6 layers of comfort with proprietary foam that feels like nothing else. 

Best Mattress for Kids

The Helix Kids Mattress is Medical Doctor endorsed and is made with safe, non-toxic materials. This kid’s mattress is naturally hypoallergenic and even has an odor-fighting microbe shield to keep the mattress fresh. Although it is stain and water-repellent, I still recommend a mattress protector. 

This earned our top pick as the best kid’s matress because it is designed to adapt as your child grows. This flippable mattress has one side that is firmer for ages 3-7 and a softer side for when your kids get older from 8-12. It also comes with a 100-night trial and a 10-year warranty from Helix. 

Best Mattress for KidsShop the Helix Kids | Mattress for Kids – Helix Sleep

What about the Saatva Mattress?

Saatva is a online mattress juggernaut. Once you search google for mattress reviews, you will start seeing mattress ads everywhere and one you will definitely see is Saatva. They also seem to be on every single list from mattress reviewers to legacy media like New York Times, Forbes and others.  Below is our Saatva Review and how it compares in rankings to other mattresses both online and in store.

Best Classic Mattress FeelInnerspring Mattress - Saatva Classic - Mattresses | Saatva

Traditional innerspring feel that you know and love

365 Night Trial

Free white glove delivery and mattress removal

Comes in 11.5 or 14.5 inch depth

Best Mattress for Hot Sleepers

Best for Hot SleepersEight Sleep Pod Pro 3

Forget cooling foam and phase change materials, yes that has its place but it doesn’t even come close to the cooling effects of the Eight Sleep Pod Pro 3. This mattress will change temperature throughout the night to adjust to your body temperature so you won’t wake up in the middle of the night a hot sweaty mess.

Added to that is the state of the art sleep tracking technology embedded into the cover that tracks breathing, movement and heart rate so that you know exactly what is causing sleep problems and correct them through suggestions in the Eight Sleep app. 

Sleep On It Now's Top Pick Overall

I’ve tried thousands of mattresses and my favorite and best mattress in the world is the Windsor 8000 from Millbrook Beds. 

It is made with springs, cotton, wool and a damask fabric cover. The crafstmanship is unrivaled and the feel is something that you will never get from an online box brand company. Although this mattress is more expensive than the popular online brands, you get what you pay for and this is a solid investment in your sleep. 

 Millbrook is also an extremely ethical company and I predict more and more celebrities will be buying a handmade English Millbrook Bed as they become more well known. 

The Millbook 8000 is actually under $10,000 for a king size and has the absolute best materials available. Paying more for a mattress is throwing away money and paying less means you don’t get the best. 

• • 8000 individually hand nested pocket springs 2,000 full size pocket springs arranged in two layers with 6,000 body contouring smaller comfort pocket springs
  • Featuring our unique zonal edge spring system
  • Traditional hand side stitching
  • Sumptuous viscose cotton cover
  • Layered with temperature regulating Fine English Cotton and cashgora
  • No chemicals are used on our luxurious viscose cotton cover or sumptuous natural fillings
  • Handmade in England

  MATTRESS SIZES

  • Queen 153x203cm
  • King 193x203cm

  Available tensions: soft, medium, firm and dual.

If you want to invest in your sleep and understand the importance of sleep, you owe it to yourself to try a Millbrook Bed.