The SweetNight CoolNest is my favorite budget cooling mattress but is this $350 alternative better for side sleepers? I put them to the test

I've tested the most luxurious mattresses on the market but I've slept on many budget beds, too — and some of the best cheap mattresses I've tried have instantly impressed me (sometimes more than the premium ones.) Two low-cost beds that left me snoozing happily are on sale this Labor Day: the SweetNight CoolNest and the EGOHOME Black 12" Foam mattresses.

These 12" memory foam mattresses have a lot in common, beyond their affordable price tags. But there are some key differences to consider. As we test all our mattresses rigorously to see if they deserve a place in our best mattresses guide, I'll be comparing the performances and designs of the SweetNight and the EGOHOME. Then you can decide which is right for you.

You can now save on SweetNight and EGOHOME beds in the ongoing Labor Day mattress sales. So if you’re looking for a queen mattress under $400 but can't decide which to buy, I've drawn on my first-hand testing experience to bring you this SweetNight CoolNest vs EGOHOME Black comparison guide.

SweetNight CoolNest vs EGOHOME Black mattress: Specs at a glance

SweetNight CoolNest vs EGOHOME Black mattress: Price & Trials

• With promo code, the EGOHOME is $58 cheaper than the SweetNight
• Both come with a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty
• There's 40% off the SweetNight plus $100 worth of free pillows

You'll find both the SweetNight CoolNest and EGOHOME Black Foam in this year's best cheap mattress guide, and that's because both offer incredible value for money at under $400 in a queen.

However, this Labor Day, EGOHOME has the edge in the price department thanks to a lower MSRP, a 17% discount, and Labor Day promo code LABOR10 for extra 10% off. This means a queen mattress has a sale price of $379 (was $559) which, coupled with the extra 10% off, can be brought down to $341.10. A twin, meanwhile, is $299.99 (was $359.99) — $269.10 with the Labor Day discount code.

Over at SweetNight, sale prices remain as they usually are. But that's still a good deal at 40% off. A queen is $399.99 (was $669.99), and we predict it won't get any lower as Labor Day edges closer. There's no promo code for extra money off, but the brand does throw in $100 worth of free cooling pillows.

While the EGOHOME is $50 cheaper than the SweetNight in a queen, the benefits of both brands are much the same: a 10-year warranty, a 100-night sleep trial, and free shipping and free returns.

Save 40%

SweetNight CoolNest 12" Memory Foam Mattress (queen): was $669.99 now $399.75 at Sweetnight (US)

SweetNight are pretty regular with their deals, meaning you'll almost always find a 40% off sale, free cooling pillows, and a queen CoolNest for just under $400. However, keep in mind that twin, twin XL, and king sizes are out of stock. Benefits include a 100-night sleep trial and a 10-year warranty.

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Save 39%

EGOHOME Black 12" Memory Foam Mattress (queen): was $559.99 now $341.10 at EGOHOME Mattress

At the beginning of the year, a queen EGOHOME Black 12" was $369.99 on sale and $333 with an extra 10% off. While a queen is now slightly higher at $379 (and $341.10 with promo code LABOR10), that isn't a huge difference. As always, you can enjoy a 10-year warranty and a 100-night sleep trial.

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SweetNight CoolNest vs EGOHOME Black mattress: Design & Materials

• Both beds are 12" tall and made from fiberglass-free all-foam layers
• The SweetNight uses specialist cooling materials such as PCM
• The EGOHOME uses copper gel and a graphene cover for basic cooling

On paper, the EGOHOME Black 12" and the SweetNight CoolNest look like the same mattress; both are 12" tall, fiberglass-free, are made from layers of foam, and are topped with grey, temperature-controlling covers. It's the kind of design you'll typically find in our best memory foam mattress guide. However, there are key differences.

The SweetNight has six layers of foam, with its most cooling layer sitting just beneath the surface. A PCM-infused foam (Phase Change Material) this heat-dissipating material and has been proven to lower skin temperature and improve human heat dissipation up to 25.6% (compared to conventional mattresses). On top is a nylon cooling cover that contains 20,000 air channels for increased breathability.

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The EGOHOME has a much simpler design, with three internal foam layers. The top foam tier is infused with copper gel "to control moisture and reduce layers". The middle layer is infused with cooling gel to absorb and dissipate heat. The bottom foam layer has a higher density for support and durability. And to top it all off, the cover is graphene infused, for cooling

SweetNight CoolNest vs EGOHOME Black mattress: Comfort & Support

• Both are medium-firm, but the EGOHOME is firmer and has stronger edges
• The EGOHOME is suitable for most sleep positions
• The SweetNight is a top choice for side sleepers and most back sleepers

I've slept on both mattresses, and you can read about my sleep experience in my SweetNight CoolNest Mmeory Foam mattress review and my EGOHOME Black 12" Foam mattress review.

For the latter, I slept on the EGOHOME Black 12" Foam for almost a year and found it supportive throughout. I never woke up with aches or pains no matter what position I slept in (I'm a side and back sleeper, but I sometimes roll on to my stomach during warmer weather). It also proved to have sturdy sides, as I never felt unsupported, even when sleeping close to the edge.

Overall, its medium-firm feel will accommodate most sleepers. But look to the Siena Signature, another budget foam mattress, if you're a strict back or stomach sleeper who prefers a firm bed.

The SweetNight CoolNest, on the other hand, has a slightly softer (though still medium-firm) feel that's best suited for back and side sleepers.

My pressure relief tests found that it offers plenty of cushioning at the hips and shoulders (key pressure points in side sleepers) but it may not be suitable for stomach sleepers. In fact, when a front sleeper in my testing panel tried the CoolNest, she admitted her hips felt unsupported.

I found both mattresses to have stable edge support and good motion isolation, with both offering a balance of comfort and support to back and side sleepers.

SweetNight CoolNest vs EGOHOME Black mattress: Temperature Control

• The CoolNest is cool to the touch and offers specialist temperature control
• The EGOHOME can sleep warm, especially during hot weather
• An EGOHOME cooling cover upgrade is available at a fee

As the CoolNest is a dedicated cooling model (hence, the name), you may think pitting the EGOHOME Black 12" Mattress against it isn't a fair fight. However, there are plenty of non-cooling beds in our best cooling mattress guide (in which the CoolNest sits as our top budget pick for side sleepers), plus the EGOHOME does feature quite a bit of temperature regulation.

When I first unboxed the CoolNest, I was surprised at how cool to the touch it felt. Other testers at our sleep lab remarked on its coolness, too. As lead tester, I slept on the CoolNest throughout an array of summer heatwaves (in a bedroom without AC) and I have to say that I never woke up once in the middle of the night feeling stuffy or breaking out in night sweats.

Rewind to last summer, when I slept on the EGOHOME though heatwaves, and you've got yourself a different experience. While it didn't turn into a literal hotbed, I saw a stark difference between the EGOHOME's heat retention and the SweetNight's cooling properties.

You can spring for a cooling cover upgrade at EGOHOME, but it will take a queen to $419 (if you pick medium-firm). I've yet to try this "maximum cooling performance" upgrade, but it may be a worthwhile investment if you're a hot sleeper.

SweetNight CoolNest vs EGOHOME Black mattress: Which should you buy?

Buy the SweetNight CoolNest mattress if...

✅ You’re a hot sleeper: The SweetNight is a dedicated cooling model and is an excellent choice if you want dedicated temperature regulation at a budget price.

✅ You're a side sleeper: The SweetNight CoolNest provides great cushioning for the hips and shoulders.

✅ You want free bedding: Every SweetNight CoolNest purchase comes with $100 worth of cooling pillows.

Buy the EGOHOME Black 12" mattress if...

✅ You want firmer support: The EGOHOME Black 12" Foam accomodates most sleep positions thanks to its crowd-pleasing medium-firm support.

✅ You want the cheapest option this Labor Day: A lower MSRP, a Labor Day discount, plus an extra 10% discount code means that you can by the EGOHOME Black from just $269.10.

✅ You want a twin, twin XL, or Cal King size: The SweetNight is constantly unavailable in twin, twin XL, and Cal King, so look to the EGOHOME if you need a cheap dorm room bed.

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