Eight Sleep and Sleep Number are two of the biggest names in the smart bed market. They've both integrated innovative technology into beds to help customers get the best quality, most comfortable sleep possible.
In fact, they're the makers of some of the best smart beds and mattresses you can buy online today. We rate the Eight Sleep Pod 4 smart mattress cover as the best smart bed overall and consider the Sleep Number i8 to be the best value option.
Each brand has its own specialty targeting different sleep needs. For example, Eight Sleep excels at temperature regulation while Sleep Number is the place to go for adjustable firmness. Plus, while the Eight Sleep Pod 4 is generally sold at MSRP, there's 25% off the i8 smart bed at Sleep Number, in the early Labor Day mattress sales.
Because of the advanced tech involved, not to mention price points well above most of the best mattresses, there's a lot to wrap your head around when deciding which smart bed is the right choice for you and your sleep needs. So, here we'll dive into how the Eight Sleep Pod 4 compares to the Sleep Number i8 in terms of smart functionality, design, support, comfort and price.
Eight Sleep vs Sleep Number Bed: specs
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Eight Sleep Pod 4 | Sleep Number i8 Smart Bed |
|---|---|---|
Type: | Smart cooling mattress cover | Smart adjustable firmness all-foam mattress |
Trial period: | 30 nights | 100 nights |
Warranty: | 2 years (Standard), 5 years (Enhanced) | 15 years |
Price: | From $2,449 (MSRP) | From $3,399 (MSRP) |
Eight Sleep vs Sleep Number Bed: price & trials
- Smart beds, so neither comes particularly cheap
- Eight Sleep Pod 4 also requires a monthly app subscription
- Sleep Number has the better benefits, including a 100-night trial and 15-year warranty
Both Eight Sleep and Sleep number are sleep tech innovators, so it shouldn't be any surprise that there prices are well above what you'll pay for most mattresses.
Comprising a smart mattress cover and bedside control hub packing the brand's "previous generation technology", the Pod 4 is now the entry-level model at Eight Sleep. That's not to say it isn't incredibly smart; it's just cheaper (and slightly less advanced) than the newly launched Pod 5 and Pod 5 Ultra.
At MSRP, where it currently sits as Eight Sleep mattress sales are not as persistent as other mattress sales, a queen size Pod 4 will set you back $2,649 and you'll have to budget for a monthly subscription fee to access all smart features the bed has to offer. Prices are tiered at $17/month for a standard plan, $25/month for an enhanced plan or $33/month for the elite plan. The main difference with the first two plans is warranty length (it extends from two year to five years with enhanced); you'll also get an advanced Health Check feature with the elite option. Note: each plan covers two users.
On the other hand, the Sleep Number i8 is a one-and-done purchase without any payment ties for nightly sleep tracking. A queen size is $3,999 at MSRP, but Sleep Number rotates discounts around its smart mattress range. Luckily, there's currently 25% off the i8 bringing a queen to $2,999.25, which is a great price for a bed that you can literally fine-tune to your ideal firmness feel while it tracks your sleep metrics. This isn't the lowest price we've seen on this smart bed (we saw 30% off during President's Day sales this year), but it's a cracking deal nonetheless.
But the $3,000 question is: are Sleep Number beds worth it? Compared to other smart bed systems, you can rest assured you're getting good value for money at Sleep Number considering you get a complete mattress with smart functionality. Plus the benefits you get (we're talking a 15-year warranty and 100-night trial) knock Eight Sleep out the park. That said, hot sleepers should note Sleep Number fall short in terms of climate control.
Eight Sleep vs Sleep Number Bed: design
- Eight Sleep Pod 4 is a smart cooling mattress cover with connected control hub
- Sleep Number i8 Smart Bed is a foam mattress with air chambers
- Both can be upgraded with an additional base
The Eight Sleep Pod 4 is a smart cooling mattress cover (not a mattress). The system consists of two parts: the mattress cover, designed to fit over your existing bed, and the control hub, which sits next to your bed.
The smart cooling mattress cover is fitted with a series of sensors. As well as helping the cover to cool or warm up your bed as needed, these sensors record health and sleep data, which can be accessed via the connected Eight Sleep Autopilot app.
The Sleep Number i8 Smart Bed is a 12-inch tall mattress consisting of multiple foam layers and air chambers. The air chambers are used to adjust the firmness of the mattress, while the layers of foam provide the comfortable cushioning.
Both Eight Sleep and Sleep Number are companies focused on innovation, so of course it's not quite that simple. There are plenty of additions you can make to the Eight Sleep Pod 4 and the Sleep Number i8 to make your bed smarter and, possibly, better.
The Eight Sleep Pod 4 can be upgraded to the Pod 4 Ultra. Featuring the temperature control smart mattress cover of the Pod 4, the Pod 4 Ultra adds a smart adjustable base that sits between your mattress and the bed frame. You can also add a foam mattress and an optional leg kit, to transform your Pod 4 into a full bed. Learn more with our guide to the Eight Sleep Pod 4 Ultra.
Sleep Number also gives you the option of adding an integrated base. You can keep things basic or you can upgrade to an adjustable base featuring head and foot elevation. And for the ultimate comfort, consider the adjustable bed base with integrated foot warmer.
Eight Sleep vs Sleep Number Bed: support & comfort
- Eight Sleep Pod 4 is a mattress cover that fits over your current mattress
- Sleep Number is an all-foam bed with adjustable firmness
- Eight Sleep Pod 4 makes minimal changes to the feel of your bed
The Sleep Number i8 looks like an obvious winner here, for the simple fact that it contains an actual mattress. Even better, it's a mattress with adjustable firmness, which means it can be altered to suit your needs (even if those needs change every night).
However, the Eight Sleep Pod 4 does have its own comfort benefits. Ultra-thin and made using dynamic materials, the Pod 4 should hardly disrupt the feel of your bed. So if you place it on the best luxury mattress, you can still feel that premium bed beneath.
In addition, reviews indicate that the Sleep Number i8 lacks bounce, which might be an issue if you like to move around in the night. The Eight Sleep Pod 4, which can be used with the most responsive of the best hybrid mattresses, might be a better choice for combination sleepers.
But the Sleep Number i8 Smart Bed does have an ace up its sleeve in the form of its automatic firmness adjustment. This allows the mattress to respond to your needs, feeling softer or firmer depending on your mood, your sleep position that night, and any aches and pains you need to consider. And dual zoning allows you to alter the feel on each side of the bed – so you can call off that sleep divorce.
Eight Sleep vs Sleep Number Bed: temperature regulation
- Eight Sleep Pod 4 provides adjustable cooling and heating
- i8 Smart Bed has good temperature regulation, but no climate control
- Upgrade to the Sleep Number Climate360 for temperature control
Climate control is where the Eight Sleep Pod 4 excels. With the mattress cover you can pick the temperature you fall asleep at, whether you like things icy cold or comfortably cool. The bed adjusts between 55 and 110°F (13 and 43°C), which is why we rate it as one of the best cooling mattresses of the year.
Dual zones allow you to change the temperature on each side of the bed, while smart sensors detect heat fluctuations through the night to maintain optimal sleep temperature. The pod will heat up come morning to suppress melatonin production so you feel less groggy upon waking.
While there are layers of ceramic gel infused throughout the Sleep Number i8 which are meant to draw heat away during the night to keep you sleeping comfortably, our reviewer says the mattress has "poor breathability and heat retention". She found it stifling to sleep on during springtime in Texas, when the days fluctuated between cool and warm temperatures.
Temperature regulation is at the heart of the Eight Sleep system, but Sleep Number does have a comparable options in its range. The Sleep Number ClimateCool and Sleep Number Climate360 offer adjustable firmness and temperature control, so you can completely fine tune the feel of your bed. But they are expensive upgrades: queen sizes have MSRPs of $6,999 and $10,249 respectively.
Eight Sleep vs Sleep Number Bed: Sleep tracking
- Both have in-bed sensors that track your sleep habits and biometrics
- Eight Sleep's sleep tracking is more accurate
- You must pay a premium to access sleep tracking at Eight Sleep — Sleep Number's is included
Sleep tracking sensors line both the surface of these smart bed options, and connect to the beds' respective apps where you can access nightly sleep reports and scores.
Sleep Number sensors monitor when you get in and out of bed, how restless you are (or are not), and the time it takes for you to fall asleep and records your nightly biometrics – heart rate, breath rate, and heart rate variability. The app collates this data to give you a daily SleepIQ Score, reflecting how restorative your rest has been.
We found that it wasn't entirely reliable, however. Our i8 smart bed tester writes: "Over the course of a month, there were four times when I thought that the Sleep Number i8 glitched and did not record my full night of sleep, instead recording that I slept for only a handful of hours, even though I know I had seven to eight hours’ of sleep that night."
Eight Sleep sensors collect similar metrics including time in bed vs time asleep, time spent in each essential sleep stage, sleep latency, heart rate, HRV and breath rate. The Pod 4 also records how much you snore, though it can't mitigate it without the adjustable base add-on.
In the app, you can makes notes about your sleep hygiene habits too to keep track of how things like alcohol, caffeine, late meals and sickness affect your sleep quality. Our Eight Sleep Pod 4 reviewer found her Eight Sleep score mostly married up to scores on other trackers like the trusty Oura Ring 4 and how well rested she felt.
Evidently, both Eight Sleep and Sleep Number offer detailed sleep analysis through their respective apps. But, as per reviews online and judging by our own testing, Eight Sleep's sensors are generally considered more accurate and its app more feature-rich and user-friendly, but remember that they come at a price, in the form of a monthly subscription.
Eight Sleep vs Sleep Number Bed: which should you buy?
Buy the Eight Sleep Pod 4 if...
✅ You prioritize cooling: Incredible temperature regulation is the focus of the Eight Sleep Pod 4, with a water-based temperature regulation system giving you total control over the climate of the bed.
✅ You like the feel of your current mattress: The Eight Sleep Pod 4 promises to slip onto your current mattress, with a thin and dynamic build that means you hardly know it's there. Ideal if you like everything about your bed — apart from the temperature regulation.
✅ You want reliable sleep data: After testing, we believe the Eight Sleep Pod offers more accurate, thorough sleep tracking and didn't experience as many glitches with sleep data.
Buy the Sleep Number i8 Smart Bed if...
✅ Your support needs change regularly: A twinge in the elbow requires some softer cushioning? Or maybe an aching knee could benefit from a firmer support? We don't all have the same sleep needs night after night, and the dynamic firmness adjustment of the Sleep Number i8 reflects that.
✅ You and your partner have different sleep styles: If you lie on your stomach and your partner curls up on their side, it can be hard to find a bed that suits you both. The Sleep Number i8 uses dual zone adjustments to keep the firmness level just right for you and your fussy partner.
✅ You need a whole new bed: Unlike the Eight Sleep Pod 4, the Sleep Number i8 is an actual mattress. So if you want a brand new bed and you only want to make the one purchase, this is your best choice.
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