A $1,800 mattress vs its $650 alternative? There's a clear winner for most sleepers

On the left, mattress testers Lauren Jeffries and Ruth Jones try out the DreamCloud Classic Hybrid Mattress. On the right, mattress testers Lauren and Ruth try out the Saatva Classic mattress — (Image credit: Future)

When I first got my hands on the Saatva Classic it was a real 'aah' moment. From the luxury build to the weightless sleep feel, straight away I understood why it's considered the best mattress you can buy online in 2026. And with $400 off in the Saatva sale, it's a luxury I think is worth the splurge.

But if you're shopping the Memorial Day mattress sales, there's a good chance you're looking to save. That's where the DreamCloud comes in. Our second-highest rated mattress, at $649 for a queen at DreamCloud it's exceptional value with impressive pressure relief.

So which is it: splurge or save? I've tested both mattresses so I'm here to give you a breakdown on whether you should buy the Saatva or DreamCloud this Memorial Day.

Why I love the Saatva Classic

After rigorous at-home and lab testing, we awarded full marks, 5 out of 5 stars, in our Saatva Classic mattress review — the only bed to achieve the feat so far.

I've been hands-on with the Saatva Classic and what stood out to me most was the weightless feel. The mattress features a dual-coil design paired with a thick Euro top, keeping the body lifted yet cushioned to prevent strain from building up.

It's also highly responsive without being disruptively bouncy. In other words, you can easily change position but good motion isolation ensures your movement won't bother any co-sleepers.

And it comes in three firmness levels, which means you can enjoy that 'weightless' feel tailored to your needs. We tested the Luxury Firm which I found comfortable all-round but as a stomach sleeper, I might opt for the Firm. It's a level of choice often only found in the best luxury mattresses.

Why the DreamCloud is a close second

The DreamCloud can't quite compare to the Saatva Classic but to be fair, that's a high bar. And as a member of our DreamCloud Classic Hybrid mattress review panel, I was impressed with many features of this mid-range mattress.

Excellent for side sleepers

The DreamCloud Classic Hybrid comes in a medium-firm feel, which is considered a good all-rounder. Personally, I was most comfortable sleeping on my side and it was a sentiment shared by the testing team, which is why we consider the DreamCloud one of the best mattresses for side sleepers.

When you lie on the DreamCloud you sink into a quilted cover and a layer of memory foam. This moves around the body to cradle the shoulders and hips, reducing pressure build-up. There's good support at the base (thanks to a layer of dense stabilizing foam and 8" of individually wrapped coils above that) to please most back sleepers but I will say that as a stomach sleeper, I needed a firmer feel.

Strong all-round

This is the point where I normally go on about a specific feature I love in a mattress but for the DreamCloud, what really stood out to me was its all-round performance.

This image shows our mattress tester Eve Davies using both hands to press into the surface of the DreamCloud Classic Hybrid Mattress on a bed frame in our Sleep Lab, to test the support and comfort — (Image credit: Future)

We conduct rigorous tests as part of our mattress review methodology and the DreamCloud earned good marks in them all. We gave it 3.5/5 for temperature control (how cool it stays overnight), 4/5 for edge support (if it's sturdy at the sides) and 3.5/5 for motion isolation (you'll feel some bounce when your partner moves but you'll probably sleep through it.)

That's even more impressive when you consider the price tag of the DreamCloud Classic Hybrid...

Incredible value for money

We rated the DreamCloud as the best mattress in a box you can buy online and that's partly because it's incredible value for money.

At $649 for a queen in the DreamCloud mattress sale, the Classic Hybrid sits in the mid-range price bracket. But take a look at those review scores again: the DreamCloud performs at a higher level than the price would suggest, particularly when you factor in the excellent pressure relief for side sleepers.

So which should you buy?

The Saatva Classic Mattress on a white bed frame in a blue room — (Image credit: Future)

If you have the money and you're willing to invest in your sleep comfort, the Saatva Classic is the better mattress. The handcrafted build not only lends it a luxury finish but increases its durability (for more return on your investment), while the three firmness levels ensure it suits all sleep styles.

But if you don't want to indulge in the Saatva, the DreamCloud is a highly-rated, more affordable alternative. Particularly if you're a side sleeper, as the pressure relief is a highlight of a mattress that shines all-round.

You won't get the versatility of the Saatva (nor the next-level edge support and cooler feel) but you will save over $1,000 and get a reliable, durable bed with a surprisingly impressive performance.

Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.