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If you’re looking for a smart bed with customizable settings, including firmness levels and temperature control, it’s hard to beat a Sleep Number bed. Sleep Number beds offer you and your partner the option to adjust the mattress firmness on each side, which tailors to both of your unique sleeping needs.
“Sleep Number beds are appealing because each person can have different pressures on both sides of the bed,” explains Robert Oexman, DC, sleep researcher, university instructor, and chief science officer at iSense. “They offer cooling and sleep tracking, which can be found with other products, [as well as] the ability to change pressures over time if needed.”
Sleep Number beds use an app called SleepIQ that you can install on your smartphone to set your personalized “Sleep Number.” While other beds don’t yet have the personalization of a Sleep Number, there are some good options out there. Since these beds can be out of your budget, you might be considering Sleep Number alternatives. And there are plenty of less expensive options similar to Sleep Number beds.
These mattresses are much lower in cost than Sleep Number beds, but still offer plenty of comfort, durability, and support, especially if you live with any sort of pain. Several of our picks in this article are also top performers in our review of the best mattresses for hip pain or the best mattresses for back pain. Continue on to learn more about the top Sleep Number alternatives tested and selected by the experts on our Reviews Team.
| Our rating (out of 10) | 9.7 | 9.3 | 9.1 | 9.3 | 9.3 |
| Mattress type | Hybrid | Hybrid | Memory foam | Memory foam | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Multiple firmness options | Medium | Medium-firm | Medium-firm | Medium |
| Cooling | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty (years) | Lifetime | 10 | Lifetime | Lifetime | 10 |
| Best for | Back, side, and combination sleepers | Stomach and combination sleepers | Back and side sleepers | Back, stomach, and combination sleepers | Back, stomach, side, and combination sleepers |
The Saatva Solaire is our best 360 Climate alternative because of its 50 firmness settings, which offer the widest range of firmness levels of Sleep Number bed alternatives we tested. This hybrid mattress is ideal for back, side, and combination sleepers who rotate sleep positions throughout the night. Based on our testing, we found that lighter-weight sleepers (less than 130 pounds) may be most comfortable in any position, except for stomach sleeping.
You can use the memory button on the Saatva Solaire to set your preferred firmness level by pressing and holding the button. This is similar to Sleep Number beds, and you can try out other firmness levels until you find the one that’s just right for you. Simply press (without holding) the memory button to return to your preferred firmness level.
We found at level 50, the mattress had a rating of seven out of 10 on our firmness scale, which was the highest level offered by the Solaire. As for reaching a softer mattress level, we couldn’t get the level to decrease any further than a six. But at level 10, we felt the mattress was a five out of 10 on our firmness scale, which is comparable to a soft firmness.
Our tester gently sank into the pillow top surface during testing, but still felt well-supported with good contouring in the lower back and shoulders. Overall, our tester said they felt “very cozy.” This contouring felt the best on the lower back when the firmness level was set lower than 30.
Side sleepers may also find the Solaire comfortable with plenty of support at the hip and shoulder. But we wouldn’t recommend the Solaire if you have severe shoulder or hip pain with a firmness level above 35, as this won’t give you enough support. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these areas can have a lot of pressure while side sleeping, especially if the mattress is more firm. Stomach sleepers may find the Solaire too soft, even at its highest firmness level. If you’re a side sleeper, we recommend the Saatva Classic, which is our pick for the best mattress for side sleepers.
And if you like to move around throughout the night, the Solaire allowed our testers to easily change positions, even if they felt the pillow top trapped them a bit. Still, with the comfort of the pillow top, we didn’t think that was a deal-breaker.
Unlike Sleep Number’s 360 Climate, the Saatva Solaire doesn’t include climate control. But it does offer breathable materials and latex, which is usually a cooler option than the foam materials found in Sleep Number. And while Sleep Number offers a heated feet feature, none of the alternatives offered a similar option. We thought the Solaire warmed up some, especially on the upper part of the body, so if you sleep hot, you might consider adding a cooling pillow to offset some of the heat.
Our testers thought the Solaire had good bounce and very little motion isolation. This means you may feel your partner’s movements, but we felt it was minimal, possibly because of the separate air chambers. The bounce level makes the mattress quite responsive, and changing positions and pushing up to a seated position were easy.
Overall, our testers were impressed by the edge support, which means you can spread out all the way to the edge of the bed while still feeling supported. The highest firmness levels seemed to give the best edge support.
Our testers weren’t able to deflate the bed entirely after blowing up the mattress using the bed fill option, though. It seems the bed fill button is only used once when first setting up the bed. We liked the red light on either side of the remote indicating which side of the bed was currently adjusting.
Saatva offers in-home setup (also known as white-glove delivery) and will remove your old mattress for free. You also get a 365-night trial period and a lifetime warranty.
“I love the soft pillow top on the Helix Midnight Luxe. It’s so comfortable, even for me as a stomach sleeper. And I felt no pressure building up.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Saatva Solaire has a 4.7-star rating out of five with more than 143 reviews on its website. Many reviewers mention Saatva’s excellent customer service and ease of adjusting the firmness levels.
“The only surprise I experienced was the expected wait time but once I understood that the Solaires are built only as ordered and they are not ordered as often as the regular mattresses I was fine with it. I have had a Sleep Number bed since 2012 and it has performed very poorly over the last 4-5 years so I am very hopeful that the Saatva Solaire will serve me much better.”
— Hope R., verified buyer on 4/14/24
“My husband and I have different sleeping preferences. We’ve been sleeping on a split king Solaire adjustable mattress for three years now. Saatva has been a dream company to deal with.”
—Sherry C., verified buyer on 11/26/23
For more information, see our Saatva mattress review.
Known as the Sleep Number Classic series, the C series is the most basic in the Sleep Number line. The Helix Midnight is our pick for “Best C Series Alternative” because it’s a well-rounded mattress that can potentially fit most sleepers’ needs.
The Helix Midnight is thinner than other Sleep Number bed alternatives we tested. Still, for the price, we think it’s a solid choice as an alternative to the Sleep Number Classic series.
The Helix Midnight has a medium-firmness level. Lighter-weight (less than 130 pounds) and average-weight (130–250 pounds) sleepers may find this mattress most comfortable in any sleep position compared to higher-weight sleepers.
For back sleepers who want a firm mattress, the Helix Midnight can offer the right support to keep the spine aligned and the lower back from dipping into the mattress. Side sleepers who are average weight and higher weight will likely find the most support of the shoulders and hips, while lighter-weight sleepers might find this mattress lacking the necessary support.
Stomach sleepers of average and higher weights might feel more supported through the lower back and hips compared to lighter-weight sleepers.
Our testers felt some sinkage while lying on their backs, but felt there was good contouring in the lower back. In fact, one of our testers described the mattress as offering a “gentle cradle.”
We gave the mattress an average score for bounce for those of lighter and average weights, but higher-weight sleepers might need more of a mobility boost for ease of movement than the Helix Midnight can offer.
The Helix Midnight comes with a Breathe Knit cover, but for extra comfort, especially for those who sleep hot, the GlacioTex Pillow Top is available for an additional cost.
Those who don’t sleep alone may feel their partner’s movements more when changing positions. Our testers also noticed some slight sinkage around the edges when lying or sitting at the edge. While not concerned they would roll off the mattress at night, it can make you feel more unsteady when sitting on the edge to push up from the bed in the morning or bending down to tie your shoes.
Helix offers in-home setup for an additional fee and a 100-night trial period with a 10-year warranty.
“Foam layers are very responsive as far as foam goes, and I think this makes it a good mattress for combination sleepers.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Helix Midnight has a 4.5-star rating out of five with more than 6,900 reviews on its website. Many mention its lower price and comfort.
“Soft and just the right firmness for me.”
– Lynn A., verified buyer on 6/17/2024
“Good mattress. It is very comfortable for both me and my wife, who are both side sleepers. We are glad we bought it.”
– Peter S., verified buyer on 6/12/2024
On Google, the Helix Midnight mattress has a 4.3-star rating with 8,770 reviews. While most users gave the mattress a positive rating, some complained about the mattress losing support over time and being too soft.
For more information, see our Helix Midnight mattress review.
The Nectar Premier is our choice for an M series Sleep Number alternative because of the way the memory foam contours to your body. The construction, combined with the medium firmness, gives excellent pressure relief to lighter- and average-weight back and side sleepers. And if you live with lower back pain, medium-firm mattresses are backed by research to give you the support you need to keep aches away.
Nectar uses a layer of proprietary Active Lift HD foam to keep the mattress from sinking. This foam also helped our testers keep proper spinal alignment while supporting them in various sleep positions.
We gave the Premier a 4.5 out of five score for pressure relief, which makes this mattress truly supportive for side sleeping. But higher-weight sleepers may find the memory foam materials too soft for any other sleep position except side sleeping.
Moving around in bed took a little more effort for our testers compared to hybrid mattresses. “You need to be a little more intentional about your movements, but it’s not extremely difficult [to change positions],” said one tester. Still, combination sleepers, or those who like to change positions a lot, may not like this level of sinkage and resistance when changing positions.
Our testers didn’t mind this mattress for stomach sleeping, even though traditionally, memory foam is a bit too soft. According to the Mayo Clinic, when you sleep on your stomach, you put strain on the back and spine. Firm mattresses help keep the spine aligned and your back from dipping into the mattress.
One benefit of memory foam is it offers good motion isolation, and the Premier is no exception. One tester said if their partner was asleep, they wouldn’t even feel the movements.
But our testers thought the edge collapsed quite a bit under their weight, probably due to the looser top cover. We gave it a poor rating for edge support. Those with mobility and balance concerns may not feel as steady on the edge of the bed.
Nectar doesn’t currently offer free in-home delivery and setup—for these services, you will need to pay an additional $199. But it does offer a lifetime warranty and generous 365-night trial period.
“The Nectar Premier is ideal for back and side sleepers with a mixture of pressure relief and gentle support.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Nectar Premier has a 4.6-star rating out of five with more than 5,900 reviews on its website. Many reviewers mention the positive effects the mattress had on their back pain.
“The Premier is notably softer than the standard Nectar. If you prefer a firmer mattress, it may not be a good choice for you.”
— Stephen W., verified buyer on 7/2/2023
“Love our new Premier Nectar mattress.”
— Susan R., verified buyer on 1/11/2022
On Google, the Nectar Premier mattress has a 4.3-star rating with more than 11,000 reviews. While most users gave it a positive rating, some complained about the mattress sinking in too much over time.
For more information, see our Nectar mattress review.
The DreamCloud Memory Foam is our best pick for a Sleep Number P series alternative because of its: comparable medium-firmness level to the P series; contouring ability; and dense memory foam material. This firmness level is comfortable for a variety of sleepers because it holds its shape well.
Our average-weight testers loved the DreamCloud for back, stomach, and combination sleeping because of the memory foam material. But lighter-weight sleepers might feel the mattress is too firm. This can give less contour and support in any sleep position except for stomach sleeping. So lighter-weight sleepers who like to move around throughout the night may not find the DreamCloud Memory Foam comfortable enough.
While lying on their backs, our testers felt the bed contouring the lower back and their weight evenly distributed. While side-sleeping, our testers felt their hip and shoulder areas didn’t sink into the bed as much as other mattresses, but still felt it was comfortable. Stomach sleeping felt the most comfortable, and combination sleepers felt they could move around easily on the mattress.
During testing, we thought the mattress slept cooler than other memory foam mattresses. Our testers felt the bed didn’t noticeably warm up after several minutes of being on it, unlike some other mattresses tested.
People who sleep with a restless partner will likely appreciate the minimal motion transfer. Our testers could hardly feel movement from their partner while in bed.
But one tester noted the DreamCloud Memory Foam’s edge support was lacking. “I do have to work to make sure I don’t fall off. I don’t feel safe at the edge,” they said. The tester found as long as they were at least 4 inches from the edge, they felt as supported as they did while in the middle of the bed.
DreamCloud doesn’t currently offer free in-home setup—you’ll need to pay an extra $199—but the company does offer free shipping. You also get a generous 365-night trial and a lifetime warranty.
“This mattress is made with dense foam material, so it’s a medium firmness but I feel like it holds its shape well. ”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The DreamCloud Memory Foam has a 4.6-star rating out of five with more than 8,900 reviews on its website. Many reviewers mention the positive effects the mattress had on their back pain.
“We love our memory foam DreamCloud!! It does take some getting used to though! We wish we would have looked into a topper as well!.”
— Madison R., verified buyer on 4/29/2024
“I’ve always been doubtful of foam mattresses and never wanted to try. However, my back has always had issues and I decided “what the heck” I’ll give it a try. I wish I wasn’t so stubborn before. My back feels better and I’m getting the best sleep I’ve ever gotten. Wish I’d done it sooner.”
— Alexander S., verified buyer on 5/6/2024
On Google, the DreamCloud mattress has a 4.2-star rating with more than 22,000 reviews. While most users gave the mattress a positive rating, some complained about the hassle of returns and the mattress leaving them with back pain, which contradicted the website reviewers who stated the mattress actually helped their back pain issues.
For more information, see our DreamCloud mattress review.
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe is our pick for “Best I Series Alternative” due to its exceptional cooling capabilities and pressure-relief features. The Sleep Number Innovation Series, including the i8 smart bed, is known for its cooling mattress due to integrated technology and design. We thought the Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe was the coolest mattress alternative we tested.
The hybrid medium-firm mattress has individually wrapped coils to provide extra breathability when sleeping. It also has a GlacioTex cover, Copperflex foam, and gel memory foam to keep hot sleepers cool. In fact, our testers rated it a perfect score of five out of five for its cooling ability.
Our testers felt most types of sleepers would find this mattress supportive, but higher-weight sleepers may find they need a firmer mattress.
The Sleep Number I series was designed to be highly supportive and pressure-relieving. We gave it a perfect five out of five score for pressure relief, making it a great choice for those who like to sleep on their side, or those who live with pain in the hips, back, or shoulders. Our testers found the Aurora Luxe to be comfortable in all sleep positions.
Our testers also felt changing positions was easy. The mattress had an average bounce, with a three out of five score. We also appreciated the higher height of the mattress, which can make it easier to get in and out of bed. The Aurora Luxe had average motion transfer during testing, which means you may be disturbed by your partner as they change positions throughout the night.
Brooklyn Bedding doesn’t currently offer free in-home setup (also known as white-glove delivery). But you do get a 120-night trial period and a 10-year warranty.
“Excellent, well-rounded mattress. [On the] firmer side, but I think it offers excellent pressure relief in back and side sleeping.”
Who may love it
Who may want to avoid it
The Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe has a 4.7-star rating out of five with more than 3,350 reviews on its website. Many reviewers mentioned how cool the mattress felt and were happy with the medium-firm feel.
“This is a really comfortable mattress that keeps me cooler than our last bed.”
— Gail M., verified buyer on 6/13/2024
“I love this bed. It’s the third bed I’ve tried. I feel like Goldilocks, haha. The first one was extremely comfortable but slept super hot. The second one was a step away from sleeping on a rock. But the Brooklyn Bedding mattress is extremely comfortable and sleeps cool. Third time’s a charm for me!”
— Kari G., verified buyer on 5/31/2024
For more information, see our Brooklyn Bedding mattress review.
Our Reviews Team researched hundreds of mattress models and tested more than 30 mattress brands in person and online. Here’s how we made our selections:
Based on those scores, we rate the mattresses in our scorecard and what makes for a good mattress alternative to a Sleep Number bed.
Firmness
We use a one to 10 scoring method when testing firmness. Sleep Number beds are made of memory foam and air chambers. Most memory foam mattresses are medium-firm, so we look specifically at medium-firm-to-firm mattresses to fit a variety of sleep preferences.
Support
We score support on a scale of one to five, with five being the most supportive. Sleep Number beds are known for their excellent support, so we really focus on this aspect of the mattress alternatives.
Pressure relief
We use a one to five scoring method when testing pressure relief. Sleep Number beds contour your body and provide even weight distribution to ease pressure points on the hips, shoulders, and lower back.
To learn more about our testing and scoring methods, review our sleep methodology.
We continuously test new mattresses each month and make sure we give you the most up-to-date information possible. Our testers personally have tested more than 30 mattresses so you can get the information you need to choose the best Sleep Number alternative for you.
Different interpretations of firmness can depend on different body types. A person who weighs less than 130 pounds will perceive mattresses to be firmer than someone who weighs more than 250 pounds.
Sleep Number beds are made of air chambers and memory foam, which is traditionally considered a medium-firm level. We compared other similar firmness levels in additional brands to bring you the best Sleep Number alternatives.
Pressure relief means weight is distributed evenly across the mattress so pressure doesn’t build up in certain areas of the body while sleeping. If you’re on your side, this is the shoulder and hip. Back sleepers need pressure relief on their lower back by supporting the hips and lower back region.
The Sleep Number P series, for example, is known for its excellent pressure relief and contouring, so the mattress alternatives we chose had good pressure relief for this reason. For more information, see our review of the best mattress for back sleepers.
Research tells us sleeping in too warm of an environment makes it harder to get quality sleep. If you’re a hot sleeper, finding a mattress with cooling technology is likely an important feature in your search for a new mattress.
The Sleep Number Climate 360 uses active air technology to adjust the temperature on each side of the mattress. While there was no direct comparison, we looked for Sleep Number alternatives with cooling features to help you sleep more comfortably.
According to Sleep Number, a smart bed uses technology such as sensors to collect and use data on your sleeping patterns to give you a more comfortable night’s sleep. You can adjust settings such as firmness level and temperature control to personalize your sleep experience.
Smart beds can also provide features such as tracking your sleep quality and heart rate. If you sleep with a partner, both of you can customize your sleep preferences on each side of the bed. This can make one side of the mattress softer and the other side firmer, for instance.
Adjustable beds, on the other hand, are adjustable frames that you can control with a remote. You can raise and lower the head of the bed as well as your legs to your comfort. The best adjustable beds can make sitting up to watch TV or read easier, or ease leg and lower back discomfort. This type of bed isn’t nearly as customizable or as high-tech as a smart bed, but can give you additional comfort that traditional flat mattresses don’t offer.
Sleep Number beds come with a lot of high-tech comfort adjustments, but they have a high price tag compared to other brands. We compared the queen sizes and found Sleep Number mattresses range from $999–$3,999. The Sleep Number Climate360 smart bed comes in at $9,999.
| Sleep Number Alternative | Sleep Number Model | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Saatva Solaire | Climate 360 | $5,504 |
| Helix Midnight | c4 smart bed | $517 |
| Nectar Premier | m7 smart bed | $2,500 |
| DreamCloud Memory Foam | p5 smart bed | $1,167 |
| Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe | i8 smart bed | $1,734 |
When shopping for the best Sleep Number alternatives, weighing factors such as cost, firmness levels, edge support, motion transfer, and pressure relief are important. You’ll also want to know each brand’s trial period, warranty, delivery, and return policies.
While the Saatva Solaire is our top pick, followed by the Helix Midnight and Nectar Premier, which are great options for most sleepers, all the mattresses on this list have been tested by our Reviews Team to showcase expert alternatives. This gives you the information you need to choose the right mattress for you—with mattress savings ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars compared to Sleep Number beds.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct comparison to a Sleep Number bed. But there are mattresses such as the Saatva Solaire that can offer 50 firmness levels at the touch of a button. There is also the DreamCloud Memory Foam that can give pressure relief similar to the Sleep Number P series.
The Sleep Number mattress alternatives we reviewed all offer savings compared to purchasing a Sleep Number bed. For example, when comparing the prices of the Sleep Number Climate 360 to the comparable Saatva Solaire, the cost savings is more than $5,500 for a queen-size mattress.
Sleep Number beds offer several benefits, such as customized firmness levels, smart bed technology, and heated feet. The cost can be a deal-breaker for many people, though. If you want some of the features of a Sleep Number bed for a lower price, consider one of the alternatives outlined in this review.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
