Best Sleep Number Bed Alternatives

By Nicole Gleichmann

Sep 29th, 2023

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Sleep Number has long been a leader in the mattress industry. Thanks to advances in technology, the company is now a top provider of smartbeds equipped with features such as:

  • SleepIQ Technology, a system designed to analyze your biometrics and help the mattress adjust to your needs
  • Dual Air Adjustability, provided by air chambers on either side of the bed so couples can set their own firmness preference
  • Responsive Air Technology, which uses a sensor to detect movements and adjust the bed’s air level to keep you comfortable

However, Sleep Number isn’t the only mattress company that excels at using technology to enhance sleep. Many Sleep Number alternatives offer similar qualities in terms of comfort, cooling, and support. In some cases, the combination of a mattress plus an adjustable base could provide a comparable sleep experience below the total cost for what you’d pay for a Sleep Number smart bed.

Sleep Number is known for its high-quality products and exceptional customer service, but today there are many more options than there were just five or 10 years ago. Check out our selection of the best Sleep Number Bed alternatives that might better suit your needs.

Best Sleep Number Alternatives: Our Top Picks

Sleep Number Bed Best Sleep Number Alternative
Sleep Number c4 Helix Sunset Luxe + Adjustable Base
Sleep Number iLE Limited Edition Nolah Signature 12″ + Nolah Adjustable Base
Sleep Number m7 Titan Plus + Ascension Adjustable Base
Sleep Number pSE Bear Star Hybrid + Adjustable Base
Sleep Number p6 Saatva Solaire
Sleep Number i10 Puffy Royal Hybrid + Adjustable Base
Sleep Number i8 Brooklyn Aurora Luxe + Ascension Adjustable Base
Sleep Number p5  Purple Mattress + Ascent Adjustable Base
Sleep Number Climate360 Beautyrest Black Hybrid + Luxury Adjustable Base

If you compare the alternatives and still have your heart set on a Sleep Number mattress, you can check out our Sleep Number reviews for prices, sizes, and details on features.

How We Chose the Best Sleep Number Alternatives

Sleep Number beds combine a list of smart features you won’t find in traditional mattresses; however, as more smart beds and high-quality mattresses enter the market, some of those features can be approximated through the use of adjustable bases and other technology. To find the best alternative for each Sleep Number bed, we examined each model’s supportive and cooling features and its smart technology to find a comparable alternative. We’ve tested more than 100 mattresses at our Mattress Advisor lab in Austin, and scored each in 14 categories to produce an overall average. All the mattresses featured here performed well overall in our assessments, while also boasting some of the smart technology and support features that you’ll find in a Sleep Number bed.

We hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity in our product reviews and other content. Our results and recommendations are never influenced by the commission we may receive from brands, and products we receive are never guaranteed a positive review.


Sleep Number c4 Smart Bed vs Helix Sunset Luxe + Helix Adjustable Base

Feel

The biggest difference between the Sleep Number c4 Smart Bed and the Helix Sunset Luxe is customizable firmness. The c4 bed offers adjustable firmness on each side, controlled by your 1-100 Sleep Number setting. The Sunset Luxe has a 3/10 firmness level, making it one of the softer hybrid mattresses you can find.

The Sleep Number c4 has three zoned layers that help with pressure relief by targeting the neck, back, and hips. The Helix Sunset Luxe is a soft hybrid utilizing coils for support and foam for comfort.

The Sunset Luxe doesn’t have smart technology like Sleep Number’s SleepIQ score, but adding an adjustable base does provide some high-tech features such as three massage settings and Zero Gravity and Memory Settings.

Cooling

The Sunset Luxe probably sleeps a bit cooler. It has an 8/10 Mattress Advisor cooling score, whereas the Sleep Number c4 performs about average at retaining heat. With the Sunset Luxe, you can also get extra cooling by adding a GlacioTex Cooling Cover for an additional cost.

Price

  • Sleep Number c4 SmartBed (Queen): $1,899
  • Helix Sunset Luxe (Queen): $2,049
  • Helix Adjustable Base (Queen): $850

Trial Period & Warranty

Trial Period Warranty
Sleep Number 100-night trial period   15-year warranty
Helix 100-night trial period 15-year warranty
Helix Adjustable Base No trial period Up to 20 years

Sleep Number iLE Limited Edition Smart Bed vs Nolah Signature 12″ + Nolah Adjustable Base

Feel

The Sleep Number iLE Smart Bed and the Nolah Signature 12″ differ most in their firmness. Whereas the Sleep Number iLE automatically adjusts to your firmness needs with its smart technology, the Nolah mattress has a medium-soft feel (4.5/10).

Since the firmness is adjustable, the Sleep Number iLE can accommodate just about any sleeping position. The mattress is also good for couples, because each side of the bed can be adjusted separately. Because of its medium-soft feel, the Nolah Signature 12″ is best for side sleepers and combination sleepers of average or below-average weight. Adding Nolah’s top-level adjustable base means you get features including head and foot massage, Zero-G, and programmable positions.

Cooling

The Sleep Number iLE has a breathable comfort layer to help airflow to balance body temperature. The Nolah Signature 12″ does well in cooling for an all-foam mattress, with an 8/10 Mattress Advisor score. According to Nolah, its AirFoam dissipates heat 20% faster than memory foam (and offers four times the pressure relief).

Price

  • Sleep Number iLE Limited Edition (Queen): $5,299
  • Nolah Signature 12″ (Queen): $1,599
  • Nolah Adjustable Base w/massage (Queen): $1,099

Trial Period & Warranty

Trial Period Warranty
Sleep Number 100-night trial period   15-year warranty
Nolah Signature 12″ 120-night trial period Limited lifetime warranty
Nolah Adjustable Base No trial period 10-year warranty

Sleep Number m7 Smart Bed vs Titan Plus + Ascension Adjustable Base

Feel

The major difference between the Sleep Number m7 Smart Bed and Brooklyn Bedding’s Titan Plus is that the Titan mattress is designed specifically for heavier people (230 lbs and up). It’s also a hybrid mattress. While the all-foam Sleep Number m7 boasts a 4″ memory foam layer, the Titan Plus combines memory foam and polyfoam layers with a layer of pocket coils.

The Titan Plus offers exceptional spine alignment, with a 9.5/10 spine alignment score in Mattress Advisor testing. Purchasing the Ascension Ultra Adjustable Base allows sleepers to lift their heads and feet for maximum comfort.

The Sleep Number m7 has a softer feel as an all-foam mattress, but sleepers can adjust the firmness on each side. The Titan Plus is a solid 8/10 on the firmness scale. As a smart bed, the Sleep Number m7 has Sleep IQ technology that allows you to track your sleep patterns.

Cooling

The Titan Plus earns a very respectable 8.5/10 cooling score in our testing. The Sleep Number m7 boasts CoolFit memory foam technology, along with breathable rayon and polyester material.

Price

  • Sleep Number m7 Smart Bed (Queen): $3,899
  • Titan Plus (Queen): $1,249
  • Ascension Ultra Adjustable Base (Queen): $1,349

Trial Period & Warranty

Trial Period Warranty
Sleep Number 100-night trial period  15-year warranty
Titan Plus 120-night trial period 10-year warranty
Ascension Ultra Adjustable Base No trial period 10-year warranty

Sleep Number pSE Smart Bed vs Bear Star Hybrid + Adjustable Flex Bed

Feel

The Sleep Number pSE Special Edition Smart Bed and the Bear Star Hybrid provide thick layers of pressure-relieving foam above a solid support layer. With the pE, adjustable air pressure allows you to control this level of support, comfort, and firmness to align with your preferred settings. The Bear Star Hybrid has just one level of firmness (medium-firm) but it suits most body types and sleeping positions, with the exception of side sleepers.

The Bear Star Hybrid has a balanced feel with almost universal comfort, making it one of our top hybrid mattresses and top mattresses for back pain. It provides excellent spine alignment and a pressure relief level akin to the pSE’s body-cradling support. We also found the mattress delivers high-level responsiveness, making it easy to switch up your sleep position (even though the bed won’t automatically adjust firmness to meet your movements like the pSE would).

The Bear Star Hybrid is not a smart bed, but when paired with the Bear Adjustable Flex Bed it offers some of the same features, such as zero-gravity positions that allow you to raise your head and legs.

Cooling

The Bear Star Hybrid and the Sleep Number pSE are decent options for hot sleepers. The Bear Star hybrid has an innerspring system, a cooling cover, and copper-infused memory foam (it earns a 8/10 Mattress Advisor score for cooling), and the pSE is designed with temperature-balancing materials that absorb excess heat.

Price

  • Sleep Number pSE Special Edition (Queen): $5,199
  • Bear Star Hybrid (Queen): $1,732
  • Bear Adjustable Flex Bed (Queen): $1,425

Trial Period & Warranty

Trial Period Warranty
Sleep Number 100-night trial period   15-year warranty
Bear Star Hybrid 120-night trial period Limited lifetime warranty
Bear Adjustable Base No trial period 10-year warranty

Sleep Number p6 Smart Bed vs Saatva Solaire

Feel

The Sleep Number p6 Smart Bed was designed for sleepers who love a cloud-like feel. With 5” of cooling pressure relief foam, it readily cradles curves for an enveloping feel.

The Saatva Solaire adjustable bed offers a more supportive plush feel, with the five-zoned Talalay latex providing incredible lumbar support. With an organic pillow top and gel-infused memory foam, the Solaire hugs the body and relieves pain points.

The Sleep Number p6 ranges from medium-soft to medium-firm, while the Saatva achieves a wider range of comfort levels thanks to its greater firmness control. For those looking for lavish comfort and ample give, the Sleep Number p6 is a good fit. But for those who need greater back support, the Solaire is the best mattress.

Cooling

When it comes to temperature, the Saatva Solaire (8.5/10 Mattress Advisor cooling score) achieves slightly greater performance than the Sleep Number p6 Smart Bed.

Price

  • Sleep Number p6 Smart Bed (Queen): $3,099
  • Saatva Solaire (Queen): $3,595

Trial Period & Warranty

Trial Period Warranty
Sleep Number 100-night trial period  15-year warranty
Saatva 365-night trial period Lifetime warranty

Sleep Number i10 Smart Bed vs Puffy Royal Hybrid + Adjustable Base

Feel

The Sleep Number i10 Smart Bed and the Puffy Royal Hybrid are good options for couples looking for a softer mattress. The Sleep Number i10 has two different types of foam, creating a plush feel, and its dual air chambers allow partners to adjust their own firmness level. With the purchase of an adjustable base, the Puffy Royal Hybrid also allows couples to adjust their own sides of the bed with wireless remotes.

Even with its overall plush feel, the Sleep Number i10 has sleep technology that senses movement and auto-adjusts the firmness level to the sleeper’s needs. The Puffy Royal Hybrid does not have this feature, and though it’s a durable mattress that’s good for pressure relief, it might feel too soft for sleepers who don’t want a bit of sinkage.

Cooling

With a 7″ foam layer designed for temperature regulation, the Sleep Number i10 cooling should impress hot sleepers. The Puffy Royal Hybrid, on the other hand, has average cooling abilities (7/10 Mattress Advisor cooling score).

Price

  • Sleep Number i10 Smart Bed (Queen): $5,299
  • Puffy Royal Hybrid (Queen): $3,149
  • Puffy Adjustable Base (Queen): $1,399

Trial Period & Warranty

Trial Period Warranty
Sleep Number 100-night trial period   15-year warranty
Puffy Royal Hybrid 101-night trial period Lifetime warranty
Puffy Adjustable Base 101-night trial period Lifetime warranty

Sleep Number i8 Smart Bed vs Brooklyn Aurora Luxe + Ascension Adjustable Base

Feel

The Brooklyn Aurora Luxe is a standard hybrid mattress as opposed to a smartbed like the Sleep Number i8. However, the Aurora Luxe is an excellent choice for hot sleepers and has a 4.7/5 customer satisfaction rating. It combines three foam layers (including Brooklyn Bedding’s hyper-elastic CopperFlex) with an 8″ layer of individually encased coils.

Unlike the i8, the Aurora Luxe won’t automatically respond to your movements and adjust firmness on each side of the bed. You can choose one of three firmness options (soft, medium, or firm) with your new mattress. It’s a highly responsive bed (9.25/10 responsiveness score in Mattress Advisor testing) that supports ease of movement.

Only when you add Brooklyn Bedding’s Ascension Ultra Adjustable Base does the Aurora Luxe begin to resemble some of the smart features found in the i8. The base offers features including wireless remote control, adjustable head and foot tilt, and TV viewing, zero gravity, and anti-snoring settings.

Cooling

The Brooklyn Aurora Luxe has one of the highest cooling scores (9.5/10) of any mattress we’ve reviewed, so it’s a great option for people prone to night sweats and overheating. The i8 has temperature-balancing technology to absorb and release nighttime heat. We believe hot sleepers should be comfortable on either model.

Price

  • Sleep Number i8 SmartBed (Queen): $3,999
  • Brooklyn Aurora Luxe (Queen): $2,265
  • Ascension Ultra Adjustable Base (Queen): $1,349

Trial Period & Warranty

Trial Period Warranty
Sleep Number 100-night trial period   15-year warranty
Brooklyn Aurora Luxe 120-night trial period 10-year warranty
Ascension Ultra Adjustable Base No trial period 10-year warranty

Sleep Number p5 Smart Bed vs Purple Mattress + Ascent Adjustable Base

Feel

The Purple mattress is not an adjustable smart mattress like the Sleep Number p5, but its unique technology deserves consideration. Purple’s mattress has a feel and design unlike any other mattress. Purple’s comfort grid technology performs exceptionally well in both spine alignment and pressure relief.

Purple offers the Ascent Adjustable Base that elevates the sleeping experience. With full-body massage and adjustable positions for the upper and lower body, the Purple mattress + Ascent Adjustable Base work together to promote a restful night’s sleep.

The Sleep Number p5 Smart Bed is softer than the Purple mattress. Its 4” of comfort layers with PlushFit foam and a pillow top dissipate pressure from the hips and shoulders. With a medium feel and plush comfort layer, the Sleep Number p5 is a great mattress for side sleepers of all weights.

Cooling

Despite an above-average 8/10 cooling score, the Purple mattress isn’t one of our best mattresses for hot sleepers. The Sleep Number p5 is one of the warmest Sleep Number beds.

Price

  • Sleep Number p5 (Queen): $2,599
  • Purple Mattress (Queen): $1,399
  • Purple Ascent Adjustable Base (Queen): $1,499

Trial Period & Warranty

Trial Period Warranty
Sleep Number 100-night trial period   15-year warranty
Purple Mattress 100-night trial period 10-year warranty
Purple Ascent Adjustable Base No trial period 10-year warranty

Sleep Number Climate360 Smart Bed vs Beautyrest Black Hybrid + Luxury Adjustable Base

Feel

While it doesn’t have the range of the adjustable Sleep Number Climate360, the Beautyrest Black Hybrid does let you choose one of three firmness options (plush, medium, and firm). The three options make it easy to match your firmness level with your sleeping position—plush or medium for side sleepers, medium for back sleepers, or firm for stomach sleepers.

In addition to the firmness options, you can get more pressure relief than the standard Beautyrest LX class by upgrading to CX or KX. In Mattress Advisor testing, the Beautyrest Black Hybrid lines up as a good choice for couples thanks to strong edge support and motion-isolation capabilities (9/10 scores in both categories).

To get a bit closer to the experience of a Sleep Number Climate360 (which includes a Smart Adjustable Base), you’ll need to add a Beautyrest Black Luxury Adjustable Base. You can integrate it with your smart home system and enjoy features including dual massage and head tilt.

Cooling

Our testers give the Beautyrest Black Hybrid an 8.5/10 cooling score, which makes it a pretty good mattress for hot sleepers. By comparison, Sleep Number designed the Climate360 to do more than provide basic breathability, including automatic heating and cooling, split temperature controls, and more.

Price

  • Sleep NumberClimate360 (Queen): $9,999
  • Beautyrest Black Hybrid (Queen): $3,199
  • Beautyrest Black Luxury Adjustable Base (Queen): $2,149

Trial Period & Warranty

Trial Period Warranty
Sleep Number 100-night trial 15-year warranty
Beautyrest Black Hybrid 100-night trial 10-year warranty
Luxury Adjustable Base 100-night trial 20-year warranty

What Is a Smart Bed?

Smart mattresses are any bed equipped with technology that tracks sleep or sensors that improve your sleep experience. Some potential smart bed capabilities include:

  • Automatic firmness adjustments. Air beds have come a long way. Rather than simply choosing your select comfort level and leaving it at that, smart air pumps monitor and adjust mattress firmness to encourage uninterrupted sleep.
  • Sleep tracking
  • Climate control
  • Connection to smart devices

Adjustable bases are smart bed frames. Most adjustable bases allow you to raise the head or foot of the bed. You can pair adjustable bed frames with smart mattresses or most traditional mattresses. If you’re interested in smart bases, check out our top picks for the best adjustable beds.

Sleep Number Mattresses vs Alternative Mattresses

Sleep Number mattresses are a popular choice for shoppers looking for customized comfort. With firmness adjustability and 11 mattress models, there is a fit for every person and sleep position. But there are reasons that some consumers are looking elsewhere, such as:

Prices

Advanced Sleep Number models can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000. In some cases, you can get a mattress+adjustable frame combination from a competitor that delivers many comparable smartbed features at a lower price. If you have your heart set on Sleep Number, however, check out our Sleep Number Bed coupons to see how you can save money with exclusive deals and discounts.

Trial Period and Return Policy

Sleep Number offers a 100-night sleep trial, which meets the industry standard. The company’s Home Delivery return fee is $249, plus tax. By contrast, some Sleep Number competitors offer one-year trial periods and free returns.

Shipping and Delivery Costs

Only the Sleep Number s1 and s3 beds are eligible for free delivery or shipping. Many rival companies offer free shipping.

Costs for In-Home Set-Up

Sleep Number’s $249 Premium Delivery and Set Up service is required for Sleep Number 360 smartbeds, including integrated bases or FlexFit adjustable bases. A number of competitors offer similar white-glove delivery service, some for free (including Saatva and Beautyrest) or for less money.

Firmness

In terms of adjustable firmness, Sleep Number has the advantage over many alternative mattresses. Dialing in your preferred “Sleep Number” is a central part of the brand, after all. Exceptions include the Saatva Solaire and mattresses from SelectaBed and Personal Comfort, which also let you control firmness levels using adjustable air chambers.


Recap: Best Sleep Number Bed Alternatives

Once again, here’s our list of best alternatives to a Sleep Number Bed. You can check the price of each alternative by clicking the links below.

Sleep Number Bed Best Sleep Number Alternative
Sleep Number c4 Helix Sunset Luxe + Adjustable Base
Sleep Number iLE Limited Edition Nolah Signature 12″ + Nolah Adjustable Base
Sleep Number m7 Titan Plus + Ascension Adjustable Base
Sleep Number pSE Bear Star Hybrid + Adjustable Base
Sleep Number p6 Saatva Solaire
Sleep Number i10 Puffy Royal Hybrid + Adjustable Base
Sleep Number i8 Brooklyn Aurora Luxe + Ascension Adjustable Base
Sleep Number p5  Purple Mattress + Ascent Adjustable Base
Sleep Number Climate360 Beautyrest Black Hybrid + Luxury Adjustable Base

If you’d like more information before checking prices, you can use our Compare Mattresses tool to see how each Sleep Number Bed and its alternative stack up head-to-head.

Sleep Number Alternatives FAQs

The most comparable bed to Sleep Number is the Saatva Solaire. While other mattresses offer a similar feel or an adjustable base, the Saatva Solaire actually has adjustable air chambers. This makes the experience very similar to what you expect from a Sleep Number bed. Suppose you want to be able to adjust your firmness regularly or have different firmness levels on each side of the bed. In that case, the Saatva Solaire is the best alternative to a Sleep Number mattress.

The Saatva Solaire costs $3,595—right in the middle of Sleep Number’s price range. If you don’t want to spend quite that much but still want an adjustable bed, something less expensive like the Sleep Number c2 Smart Bed might be best for you. But if you’re in the market for a luxury adjustable mattress, Saatva Solaire is a fantastic alternative to Sleep Number.

Sleep Number beds can absolutely be worth it for the right customer. Sleep Number mattresses are known for their adjustability, and specific models are especially unique because their smart-bed technology operates throughout the night. So if you want a fully adjustable bed, or if you and your partner prefer different firmness levels, then Sleep Number could undoubtedly be worth it for you.

If you don’t care that much about being able to adjust firmness, however, a Sleep Number bed probably isn’t worth it. They’re great beds, but you’re paying for their air chamber technology. So if you don’t need that, it makes sense to put those same dollars toward other features offered by different mattresses.

A few of the main Sleep Number competitors include Saatva, Tempur-pedic, Helix, Puffy, and Beautyrest.