Both brands are innovative and ready to go above and beyond to be the best brand on the mattress market. They try to offer as much customization as possible to fit the needs of all body types, preferred sleep positions, and firmness levels, at a reasonable price. In today’s comparison, we are going to review their constructions, features, prices, pros, and cons, but we will leave the final verdict up to you.
When it comes to online mattress brands, Helix and Purple are among the most famous representatives of a bed-in-a-box movement. If you have not been aware of such movement, you probably did not need to purchase a new mattress for years, which means that your previous choice was a good one and it served you well. However, time changes and new trends set the standards, that is why the mattress market moved its stores and products online, cutting the costs and becoming more available to the customers across the country.
Purple started selling mattresses in 2016. Two brothers founded the company and tried to implement their inventive ideas into mass products. The company now offers two models; their flagship mattress is a mix of foam and polymer, while their newer model is a hybrid with a pocketed coil support system in its core. The New Purple comes in three height levels with different firmness options.
Helix was also founded recently, in 2015., by three friends who were tired of the way the process of mattress shopping looked like. They believe that customization is the key of a right choice of mattress, that is why the highlight of Helix’s bed is a broad range of beds with small but crucial differences in their features, and a quiz which helps sleepers to determine which model will suit their needs the best.
Both brands are innovative and ready to go above and beyond to be the best brand on the mattress market. They try to offer as much customization as possible to fit the needs of all body types, preferred sleep positions, and firmness levels, at a reasonable price. In today’s comparison, we are going to review their constructions, features, prices, pros, and cons, but we will leave the final verdict up to you.
| Features: | Original Purple | Helix |
| Firmness | Medium 5.5
(New Purple 4.5, 5.5, 6.5 ) |
Varies, from 3 to 9 |
| Thickness | 9 ½ inches | 10 inches |
| Shipping | Free (Hawaii and Alaska pay additional fees) | Free |
| Available | Only online | Only online |
| White glove delivery | Not in offer | Not in offer |
| Warranty period | 10 years (nonprorated) | 10 years (nonprorated) |
| Sleep trial period | 100 nights | 100 nights |
| Mandatory trial period | 30 nights | None |
| Return Fees | None | None |
| Online customer chat | Yes | No |
Pros:
Cons:
Pros:
Cons:
Purple became widely known for their innovative design and concept of constructing bedding products with a collapsible grid which distinguished Purple as a brand from other online companies. The Original Purple Mattress has a supportive, 4 inches thick, base layer made of CertiPUR-US certified polyurethane foam, on top of it is a 3.5 inches thick transitional layer of soft, comfort foam which enhances the comfort and support of the grid above. As a final and top layer, Purple uses 2 inches thick surface of their signature polymer comfort grid.
Their patented grid technology was developed and tested for over 20 years before its inventors decided to implement it in bedding products.
The breathable cover is knitted and stretchy, so that it does not hinder flexing features of smart comfort grid, and it is made from a blend of materials such as viscose (27%), polyester (67%) and lycra (4%).
The difference between the Original Purple and New Purple lays in the thickness of the top grid layer, New Purple offers three different thickness levels, and can be 2, 3, or 4 inches, and it is placed atop of the responsive support coils.
The construction of a Helix model will depend upon results of their customization quiz. Helix takes into consideration sleepers’ age, height, gender, sleep position, pressure points, movements during sleep, and so on, they went into details and created a questionnaire with a precise algorithm to determine ideal bed features for each sleeper.
Technically speaking, Helix sells one customizable mattress, which is split into three categories of firmness. All beds have the same components in their construction, but their arrangement, thickness, and density vary. By doing this, Helix stepped up their game and offered enough options to attract and meet the needs of all types of sleepers.
The main elements of Helix are a durable and dense foam base, layer of hundreds of individual coils, transitional memory foam layer, and a top layer of comforting Dynamic foam. The company uses Helix Dynamic foam and Memory Plus Foam layers of different densities to provide pressure relief and body contouring. Helix designed their Dynamic foam to resemble the features of memory foam but without its usual downfalls, so the Dynamic foam is not heat-conductive, and sleepers cannot sink in as much as they would with memory foam, because their material is created to be highly reactive and breathable.
Their cover is also carefully designed out of two layers, the top cover layer is stretchy, soft, and it can be removed, and machine washed, while the lower cover is not removable and it is in charge of airflow and breathability. For sleepers who struggle with overheating during the night, Helix has a perfect option, they sell separately a special Ultra Cool Cover which is cold even to the touch, and it will work better than the regular cover for hot sleepers.
So far we have seen that these mattress companies are working hard to raise the bars on many fields in the mattress industry, but how do they perform when it comes to number one problem of all foam models, heat regulation?
Purple uses two out of their four layers to deal with heat regulation. Their smart grid layer is designed so that it is temperature neutral all the time and it has an open grid design which allows the air to move freely around the grid, and thus it sleeps cooler than most models. Their cover is the second element which fights the heat, it is very breathable and designed to promote airflow.
Helix designed their proprietary Dynamic foam to remain cool even when it is close to the skin, and place a layer or individually wrapped micro coils beneath it. Coils have enough space between them and are encased in a breathable material so that the mattress can breathe and have an airflow. Besides that, Helix went even further and enabled their customers the option to customize the level of control of temperature regulation in each mattress.
The firmness of Helix mattresses varies from 3 to 9, on a scale from 1 to 10. Their models are split into three categories of firmness: soft (Helix Moonlight and Helix Sunset), medium (Dusk and Midnight models), and firm (Dawn and Twilight). The feel and firmness differ from one model to another, but generally speaking, they all have that more traditional, soft foam feel, and it is not as overwhelming as memory foam. Helix also divided their beds considering different sleep positions, hence for side sleepers they recommend softer beds, for back sleepers firmer.
It is hard to describe how Purple’s gel-like grid feels, but it will flex under pressure to support sleeper’s shoulders and hips properly. Usually, it is described as medium firm, perhaps slightly more on the softer side, it is soft but supportive and firm at the same time. Motion transfer isolation is great, and the hyperelastic polymer quickly recovers its shape so it is very responsive and there will be no need to rotate this mattress.
When it comes to edge support, we finally have a clear winner. Helix’s reinforced edges and a 6 inches coil system keep the edges of this bed stable, there will be no differences in sleep surface if you sleep alone in the middle, or you share a bed and sleep closer to the edge. Even when sitting on the sides, the edges do not collapse significantly and can bear the weight. On the other hand, Purple somehow neglected their rims, since they are far more unstable. The flexible grid does provide breathability and comfort, but around the perimeter, it lacks stability.
Both beds come compressed in a box, and they will have some off-gassing once they are removed from the box, but Purple has a much stronger smell that stays around even for a few days.
Helix and Purple offer 10 years of warranty, which means that they believe that their products are durable since the average mattress will perform well for around 7 years, and after that, it should be replaced. However, both brands are not so long on the market, so we do not have reliable data which can confirm their durability.
A new mattress is always an investment, so it should be a good one. We already know that with the beds we talk about today, there is no space for a mistake, the only remaining question is which one falls under your budget?
Helix has a reasonable price for the value that they offer. Their mattresses have hybrid construction, custom firmness, and temperature control, and other standard features such as sleep trial period.
Purple is slightly more expensive, but they are in the same price range. They have probably the most innovative and scientific patent in the bedding industry and are constantly trending, and to be fair, they are not among the most expensive beds on the market. The Purple bed offers an entirely new feel and sleep experience, perfect for those sleepers who are tired of foam mattresses.
Here is the chart with the prices, but keep in mind that they are current and will probably vary over time.
| Size | Original Purple | Helix |
| Twin | Not available | 600$ |
| Twin XL | 700$ | 700$ |
| Full | 900$ | 860$ |
| Queen | 1000$ | 999$ |
| King | 1300$ | 1250$ |
| California King | 1300$ | 1250$ |
She would be a morning person if mornings started at noon. Art historian, taurus, coffee lover, traveler, F1 fan who hates to drive, and well experienced insomniac with one life goal, to sleep like a coala for up to 20 hours per day.
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