Best Mattresses with Free Trials (365 and 100 days)

The Puffy is my best overall mattress with a free trial (101 nights) due to its ability to regulate temperature, high sinkage, and motion-isolating properties. I tested Puffy for temperature regulation and was pleasantly surprised. The mattress was recorded at 74.9 degrees Fahrenheit, enough to keep you from feeling like you may overheat during the night. Compared to the Plank with cooling panel, Puffy is 20% more cooling. Puffy also has a high amount of sinkage, which I measured at about 2.5 inches (2 inches being the absolute minimum I like to see). This helped to re-distribute my weight and relieve tension. Puffy is also on my list for mattresses with a 100-day trial as its trial period is one day over the 100-day mark.

Another feature I measured regarding Puffy is its ability to isolate motion. From my compression tests, Puffy isolated most motion so a partner wouldn’t be disturbed by small or moderate movements. This can be helpful if you’re a light sleeper and get woken up easily at night.

What I Don't Like About This Mattress

One factor I don’t like about Puffy is that it may feel a bit too slow, and make moving in bed freely a little challenging.

Read our full Puffy mattress review for more information.

Best Extra-Firm Option — Plank Firm Mattress (120-Night Sleep Trial)

The Plank is my best extra-firm mattress with a free trial due to its Extra Firm side, durable foam core, and GlacioTex cover. I tested Plank and can confirm its Extra Firm side is quite good if you need reliable back support. It had a sinkage of about 1 inch, which is good for enhancing a neutral, tension-free spine. This contrasts with the Winkbed, where the Plank was 2.4 times more firming than the Winkbed. On top of this, the Plank’s high-density foam core can handle the extra weight, is highly durable, and can last longer due to the stronger materials used. The Plank also has a standard trial period, making it a good mattress with a 100-day trial, however, both Saatva and Nectar offer 3 times longer trials. 

Another point on the Plank that I was able to test was its optional GlacioTex cover. It’s made of Phase Change Material (PCM), which is more cooling than Saatva’s standard cotton cover. That means the Plank will feel cool to the touch every time you flip to a new area of the mattress.

What I Don't Like About This Mattress

One thing I dislike about the Plank is that it isn’t ideal for side sleepers. Side sleepers need cushioning for their shoulders and hips to feel comfortable; however, the Extra Firm side may be too firm to allow for enough give.

Read our full Plank mattress review for more information.

Our methodology - Why I Picked These Mattresses

The best mattresses with free trials almost always have longer trial periods between 100-300 days, thick memory foam top layers, and either a sturdy foam core, or a durable coil system. This ensures the mattress can last a long time, and be worth its free trial if you intend to keep the mattress.

When selecting mattresses, I only added the ones to my list that had 5 or more inches of bounce, a trial period of at least 100 days, and temperatures lower than 90 degrees. We also checked for other criteria when reviewing our mattresses, such as how motion isolating the mattress was, how much sinkage it had, and how quickly or slowly it would bounce back from compressions. Below, I’ll share more methodology tips on choosing the right mattress with the best free trial.

How to Choose the Best Mattresses with Free Trials: Factors to Consider

To choose the best mattress with a free trial, there are several factors to consider, such as:

• The comfort levels.
• The trial period.
• The return policy.
• The warranty.
• And the overall cost.

Comfort Levels of the Mattress

When it comes to getting a free mattress through a trial period, it’s important to consider the overall comfort of that mattress, as in how thick its comfort layers are, and if it’s made up of memory foam or not. Thick comfort layers of at least three inches provide enough sinkage for your body, even if you sleep on your side. Side sleepers need extra cushioning for their shoulders and hips, and if the memory foam is of high density, two to three inches is more than enough for adequate pressure relief.

The best mattresses with free trials should also be similar to mattresses that don’t sag, with durable cores made up of coils or high-density foam that can take extra weight. The more weight a mattress can handle, the longer the integrity of the mattress will last, which is good if you’re looking for something that’s high-quality. This is key, as a mattress without a supportive core can cause the spine to bed out of alignment. This can pose a risk factor for back pain and a lower quality of restful sleep, which studies have shown there is a defined link between lower back pain and sleep (1).

Trial Period of the Mattress

The trial period of the best mattress with free trials should aim to be anywhere between 100-300 days. The longer the trial period is, the more the mattress company has confidence in its product quality, which means there’s more time for you to try the mattress out. Typically, a trial period between 100-300 days is a good place to start, as this gives you enough time to try the mattress out before deciding if it’s right for you or not.

From this list and the online mattress market, the two longest trial periods would be Nectar and Saatva, as they are both mattresses with 365-day trial periods. 

Return Policy of the Mattress

The return policy of the mattress plays a key role in choosing the best mattress, as mattresses with free returns are some of the best policies available. Puffy, for example, provides a full refund for a successful return. Nectar also offers full refunds for the successful return of a bed. Even Purple doesn’t charge restocking fees for their mattresses.

It’s important to note that not all mattress companies offer mattresses with free returns, as some may charge a restocking fee. For example, Saatva doesn’t have a re-stocking fee, but they do charge a $99 processing fee for picking up your mattress. The Plank also has a re-stocking fee of 15% of the mattress’ price, but as Plank is the most cost-effective mattress on this list, the numbers don’t add up too much.

Most online retailers offer free returns to keep up with the competition and to give their customers peace of mind. 

Warranty of the Mattress

The warranty of the mattress is important to consider, as some of the best mattresses cover defects and have a reasonable length of coverage, are non-prorated and transferable, and use clear guidelines. A good length for a warranty is at least 10 years, the average being 10 to 20 years. Some warranties are for a much shorter period of time (such as 1 to 2 years), while others are lifetime warranties, the longest warranty a mattress can have.

A good warranty typically includes mattresses with lifetime warranties and non-prorated coverage (which means you’re not responsible for paying for any repairs or replacements within the warranty period). A good warranty is also usually transferable if you decide to sell the mattress to another owner, and uses clear guidelines that are easy to understand, so you know what you’re getting into.

On the other hand, a poor warranty may not be clear to read, includes prorated coverage, or may be non-transferable.

Cost of the Mattress

The cost of the mattress is also an important factor to consider when choosing the right mattress with a free trial, as you should know your budget and how much you should spend on a mattress before going ahead with the purchase.

This also factors into choosing the right mattress for a guest room, or best mattress for an Airbnb vacation rental, as the cost for additional beds or a business space should be heavily considered before committing to anything. Some companies, like Saatva, may offer a free trial, but have a more expensive price point of the mattress to compensate. Other mattress companies, like Cocoon by Sealy, may offer no-frills luxury mattresses, while others go the full nine miles to deliver a luxury experience to their mattresses. Knowing which is better suited to your budget is essential before going ahead with any one mattress, as you’ll be able to make a better decision on if you want a mattress that’s designed for luxury, or a mattress that’s designed to offer the essentials without the bells and whistles.

Things to Avoid When Choosing Mattresses with Free Trials

The top things to avoid when choosing mattresses with free trials include:

• Choosing a too-short trial period.
• Not understanding the break-in policy.
• Not understanding the return policy.

A too-short trial period (anything less than 100 days) may impact your ability to thoroughly test the mattress, decide if it's right for you, and if you want to keep it. Always lean towards longer trial periods, so you have enough time to decide if you like a mattress and want to keep it. The good news is that mattress returns are on the low end, accounting for only 7% of purchases, so the chances that you’ll like and keep what you choose are quite high (3).

Some mattress companies have break-in periods where they expect you to sleep on the mattress for a certain number of nights before you are eligible to return it. A 30-days break-in period is the most common on the market. It’s always good to review the free trial policy before committing so you know if the company uses a break-in policy, or how long its policy is for.

Some companies may also have convoluted return policies, such as charging for shipping, or requiring the mattress to be in ‘new’ condition. It’s always good to understand the return policy of your preferred company before going ahead with a purchase.

Places to Find High-Quality Mattresses with Free Trials

Some places to find mattresses with free trials include local mattress stores, online retailers, and comparison sites.

Many mattress stores will let you try the mattress in-person to get a better feel for how the mattress feels according to your preferences. Store attendants can also guide you on finding the best mattresses with edge support, or mattresses without fiberglass, which also includes a free trial. However, one disadvantage of shopping in person is that it requires your physical presence, which may not be possible if you have limited mobility or don’t have the time to compare mattresses in-store.

Online mattress retailers are a good option if you need a mattress quickly and don’t mind reading reviews to understand which mattress with free trials suits you best. Typically, shopping online also gives you access to more options, such as latex-free mattresses with a free trial period. Research has shown a growing interest in shopping online, with younger consumers between the ages of 18 and 35 jumping from buying online 47% of the time in 2020, to 71% in 2022 (2).

Another good place to find mattresses online would be comparison sites like SleepingOcean, where we’ve already done the research and can deliver unique insights on which mattresses work best for your individual needs.

However, it’s important to note that some free trials differ from others, and may apply different restrictions, such as a mandatory break-in period, or return fees. Typically, break-in periods range between 14 days (like with Puffy) and 30 days (like with WinkBed). Return fees aren’t terribly common with online retailers, with only Saatva and Plank having a processing fee of $99 and a re-stocking fee of 15%, respectively. Always read the return and trial period policy thoroughly before making a decision.