Dreamfoam Essential vs Zinus Mattress Comparison

Ready for a new memory foam mattress but not looking to break the bank? The Dreamfoam Essential and the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress are two very affordable bed-in-a-box memory foam mattresses. In our Dreamfoam vs Zinus review, we’ll see how these mattresses compare and help you decide which all-foam mattress is right for you.

---

Dreamfoam Essential and Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam Mattress Overview

Dreamfoam Essential vs Zinus: Top Similarities

• Traditional Feel: Both the Dreamfoam Essential and Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam deliver a traditional memory foam mattress feel. This close cradling sensation feels like sleeping “in” the bed rather than “on” it.
• Great for Budget Shoppers: These are two of the least expensive memory foam mattresses we’ve reviewed and are both great options for budget shoppers.
• Below-Average Cooling: As with most cushy memory foam mattresses, cooling is not a prime feature of either of these beds.
• Good for Side Sleepers: The Dreamfoam Essential and the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam offer excellent pressure relief, which is an important feature for side sleepers. Both mattresses gently cushion and support your shoulders, hips, and glutes.
• Great for Back-Pain Sufferers: With great scores in our spine alignment test, both beds help support proper posture all night long and are good choices for people with back pain.
• Firmness Options: Both the Dreamfoam Essential and the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam offer various thicknesses that correspond to different comfort levels, varying from medium-soft for both, to medium-firm for the Zinus, and firm for the Dreamfoam.

Dreamfoam Essential vs Zinus: Top Differences

• Edge Support: The most glaring difference between these two mattresses is edge support, which is crucial for anyone who uses the edge of the bed for sitting, sleeping, or stability. Dreamfoam’s edges are much more supportive than Zinus’s.
• Various Sizes: If you’re looking for a non-standard bed size, Dreamfoam is the way to go. Zinus offers standard sizes, while Dreamfoam comes in many less common sizes, including various RV and short mattress options.
• Returns: While returns are not too tricky with either company, they’re easier with Dreamfoam, which takes care of the process of mattress pickup. Zinus requires you to find a charity for donation and provide them with the donation receipt.

Dreamfoam Essential vs Zinus Dimensions

The Dreamfoam Essential comes in various uncommon sizes, such as the short full, the short queen, and RV sizes. The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress is available in standard mattress sizes.

	Dreamfoam Essential Mattress	Zinus Cooling
Thickness	6”–14”	8”-14”
Twin	38” x 75”	39” x 75”
Twin XL	38” x 80”	N/A
RV Bunk	28” x 75” 30” x 75” 30” x 80” 32” x 74” 34” x 75”	N/A
Short Full	48” x 74”	N/A
Full	53” x 75”	54” x 75”
Full XL	53” x 80”	N/A
Short Queen	60” x 74”	N/A
Queen	60” x 80”	60” x 80”
Olympic Queen	66” x 80”	N/A
RV King	70” x 74” 70” x 80” 72” x 80”	N/A
Short King	72” x 75”	N/A
King	76” x 80”	76” x 80”
Split King	N/A	N/A
California King	72” x 84”	72” x 84”
Split California King	36″ x 84″ (X2)	N/A

(*The Zinus is only available in specific sizes for each comfort level. The 8” and 10” come in twin, full, queen, and king. The 12” and 14” versions are available in full, queen, king, and California king sizes.)

Learn more about mattress sizes.

---

Dreamfoam Essential vs Zinus Pricing

Both Zinus and Dreamfoam offer all-foam mattresses at affordable prices. Additionally, both companies provide various options for thickness at each size, and prices increase with increasing plushness.

Keep in mind these prices do not include any discounts, promotions, or exclusive Mattress Advisor deals. Visit our mattress deals page for further information on current promotions.

	Dreamfoam Essential Prices	Zinus Cooling Prices*
Twin	$274–$599	$369-$429
Twin XL	$349–$649	N/A
Full	$449–$749	$499-$539
Queen	$524–$949	$549-$609
King	$699–$1,149	$629-$739
California King	$699–$1,149	$619-$729

Compare the Inside of the Mattresses

The Dreamfoam Essential and the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam are both gel-infused memory foam mattresses, and they share quite a bit in common regarding their construction. Take a look at our layer-by-layer analysis of each bed below to discover their similarities and differences.

Compare Test Scores

We tested both of these beds in our Mattress Advisor lab across 14 categories, so you can make the most informed purchase possible. Check out our head-to-head comparison below. Please note that the following scores are for the 14” Dreamfoam Essential.

If you’re interested in finding out how we test mattresses and come up with their scores, read more about our review process here.

	Dreamfoam Essential	Zinus Cooling
Shipping	10	8
Trial Period	10	9
Return Policy	9	7.5
Warranty	9	9
Set-Up Test	9.5	8
Motion Transfer Test	8.5	8.75
Edge Support Test	7.5	3
Pressure Relief Test	8.75	8.75
Spine Alignment Test	9.5	8
Responsiveness Test	7.5	7
Cooling Evaluation	7.25	7
Durability Evaluation	8	7
Customer Service Score	9	8
Social Impact Score	3	2
Total Score	8.5/10	7.5/10

Pressure Relief

Pressure relief refers to how well a mattress compresses to gently cradle the curves of your body. This feature is especially important for side sleepers, who can wake up with achy shoulders and hips if the pressure relief is poor.

The Dreamfoam Essential and the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress did very well on this test, both scoring 8.75/10. That means both mattresses are solid choices for side sleepers and combination sleepers.

Edge Support

A mattress with excellent edge support doesn’t droop when you sit or lay near its edge. It’s important for couples who like to use the entire surface of the bed and anyone who sits on the bed’s edge when getting ready in the morning. In addition, older adults and people with limited mobility who rely on the edge of the bed for support when getting up and down should aim to purchase a mattress with good edge support.

The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam mattress underperformed significantly in this category, earning a score of 3/10. In fact, it is one of the lowest edge support scores we’ve ever given out. On the other hand, the Dreamfoam Essential scored 7.5/10, meaning that it provides adequate edge support. However, if this feature is especially important to you, neither of these beds is the best option.

Looking for excellent edge support? Consider the WinkBeds Luxury Firm Mattress, which earned a near-perfect score in our edge support test.

Cooling

Memory foam beds are not known for their cooling properties. By its nature, memory foam lets you sink into the bed, which traps heat around your body, so even the best memory foam beds tend to sleep a little hot.

Both Dreamfoam and Zinus use gel-swirl memory foam in an effort to deliver a cooler sleep experience. Still, neither performed exceptionally well on our cooling test. That said, neither performed poorly, either–so if heat isn’t your number-one concern, either bed is likely cool enough for you.

If you’re a super hot sleeper, check out our article on the Best Cooling Mattresses for Hot Sleepers.

Bottom Line: Which Is the Best Mattress?

Still wondering whether the Dreamfoam Essential or the Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam is right for you? Both beds are fantastic for side sleepers, people with back pain, and anyone who prefers a traditional memory foam feel.

We recommend the Dreamfoam Essential over the Zinus mattress for older adults, couples who use the entire bed’s surface, and people looking for unusual mattress sizes. The Zinus Cooling Gel Memory Foam is our choice for budget shoppers seeking a full-sized bed or larger, as it’s priced exceptionally low for queen, king, and California king mattress sizes.

More Zinus Comparisons

• Zinus vs Casper
• Zinus vs Linenspa
• Zinus vs Lucid
• Zinus vs Tuft & Needle

More Dreamfoam Comparisons

• Dreamfoam vs Casper
• Dreamfoam Hybrid vs Brooklyn Bedding
• Dreamfoam vs Lucid