Purple is one of the most recognizable brands in the bedding world, but does that mean they are the best? I wanted to look into some of these claims and see how they held up against some of the competitors.
Why?
There is a lot of talk around who makes the best pillow for neck pain and side sleeping, and Purple and Dosaze are both in the running for the most popular. Before I settled on something that I was going to sleep on for the next few years, I wanted to do some serious research and learn what I could about both of them. Then, I went ahead and compared them to help anyone else who struggles with neck pain, headaches, and side sleeping discomfort, just like me.
I read hundreds of reviews of both pillows, ordered multiple units of each, and spent 3 months sleeping on them. Here’s what I discovered.
The Short Answer
If you want a short answer, the winner after months of testing was the Dosaze Contoured Orthopedic Pillow. I liked how, overall, it offered more value for what I got, and was better for various sleeping positions (back, side, and stomach)
Ultimately, the decision was made due to a few important factors:
- Functionality (reducing neck pain, etc.)
- Price
- Customer service
- Value
- Materials
Here’s an in-depth review of how they stacked up against one another in each category.
Functionality/Effectiveness – Clear Winner, Dosaze
Purple and Dosaze make similar claims, but after I tested them, I found that I prefer the Dosaze pillow, especially when it comes to relieving neck pain and tension headaches. There are actually some differences in the shapes of the pillow, and I thought that the orthopedic contour of the Dosaze pillow was more pronounced in a way that actually helped my pain.
I simply found that Dosaze did a better job at reducing our neck pain – it really works well. Here’s what we like about it:
- Innovative Shape – the innovative contour of this pillow is amazing. It does wonders to align your neck and back and keeps your neck in place throughout the night. This reduces neck pain, tension headaches, and even alleviates snoring and sleep apnea (because your airways won’t get blocked). Other pillows have tried to copy this shape, but I found this one to be the best, by far.
- Actually works for all sleepers – the shape of this pillow is ideal for two reasons: (1) it aligns your head and neck and keeps it in place, and (2) if you are a combination sleeper, it lets you alternate between positions easily.
I liked the Dosaze pillow and how it let me sleep whichever way I wanted.
The Purple was plenty comfortable, and I actually liked the bouncy latex that it is made with. My main issue was that, at the end of the day, there wasn’t anything particularly stabilizing about the Purple, and it didn’t keep my head in place like the Dosaze did. There weren’t any unique attributes or special features that addressed neck pain, tension, or other issues.
Price – Clear Winner, Dosaze
The Purple pillow is downright EXPENSIVE. On average and without any discounts, the standard pillow will run around $200 USD. The Dosaze is on the higher end, but even their largest size only costs $120.
Don’t get me wrong… I don’t mind paying for a quality pillow. In fact, I view it as an investment into my sleep, not a cost I have to pay. That being said, the Purple pillow is certainly the more expensive of the two and costs more than almost any pillow I’ve ever reviewed.
Customer Service – Slight Winner, Dosaze
While it’s impossible to please every customer, Dosaze goes out of its way to make everyone who purchases a pillow happy. You can see in the review on the site that customers really appreciate Dosaze’s customer service:
That being said, both companies are really great when it comes to support. Dosaze offers a 60-night sleep trial, while Purple offers 100 nights. Both companies seem to genuinely care about helping people get a good night’s sleep.
Materials – Tie
I like both of the materials used, although the latex can feel “bouncy” to some.
The Purple and Dosaze pillows have two different materials. Purple uses a latex core and a nylon cover, while Dosaze uses a memory foam core and a cooling bamboo cover.
Honestly, both brands are known for quality, and the materials they use show it.
Dosaze claims that if you were to make a mattress with the memory foam used for their pillows, it would cost $4,000, so that should say something (I can’t find a similar stat for Purple).
There is going to be a preference on which type you prefer, with most saying that Purple is bouncy (due to its rubber latex), while Dosaze is supportive. As far as adjustments go, you can can choose various sizes and thicknesses for each.
Value – Slight Winner, Dosaze
The Purple is great, but to be frank, it’s pretty expensive for just a latex pillow. Don’t get me wrong, I like it, but you are going to be paying premium prices for a pillow that many would describe as a “unique feeling.” The Dosaze pillow feels specifically designed for pain and, in my experience, keeps my neck more aligned.
Since the materials are of the same caliber, this category isn’t a total blowout. Still, the price really makes it hard for the Purple to come back
Overall Winner: Dosaze Contoured Orthopedic Pillow
Truth be told, I was a little shocked with the final result. Purple is a famous brand that I have had friends recommend to me. Unfortunately, they just didn’t provide me with the things I was looking for in a pillow, and if I wanted a traditional shape, I would just get a standard pillow for cheaper.
The Dosaze isn’t even more expensive, although I don’t mind spending money on a pillow (I view it as an investment in my sleep).
At the end of the day, I would recommend the Dosaze Contoured Orthopedic Pillow to most people, most of the time!
