Casper Wave vs Nectar: Which Should You Choose?

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Hey, friend! You made it all this way and narrowed your options down to these two mattresses. Unfortunately, the Casper Wave mattress is no longer available. But, keep calm! You can rest assured that the Nectar mattress would be a great option for you. Read on below to see what we had to say about it! If you were hoping to get the Casper Wave mattress, the Casper Wave Hybrid is the next best option. Check out our Casper Wave Hybrid vs Nectar comparison snapshot below!

Casper Wave vs. Nectar: Overview

Casper Wave and Nectar are both all-foam, bed-in-a-box options that you can order online. These two models are relatively soft and generally have a similar feel, but they differ in a few important ways. Casper Wave is a luxury model from veteran online mattress seller Casper, while Nectar is the flagship budget option from an increasingly well-known competitor. Keep reading for our full Casper Wave vs Nectar mattress comparison!

Key Similarities

  • Both are all-foam mattresses and also incorporate memory foam.
  • Both use materials of certified quality.
  • They are of similar thickness. (Nectar is 11″ thick; Casper Wave is 11.5″ thick.)
  • Both offer 100-day trials and offer free shipping.

Key Differences

  • Casper Wave is significantly more expensive ($1,095 to $2,395 for Casper Wave; $500 to $900 for Nectar).
  • Nectar is more of a budget option and perhaps a better overall value.
  • Nectar has more of a memory foam feel because of the thick memory foam comfort layer.
  • Nectar has simpler construction than the Wave does.
  • Casper’s foams are Certi-PUR certified, which means they are considered more eco-friendly than typical mattress materials.
  • Nectar’s cover fabric is OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, Class 1 certified. OEKO-TEX® is a respected, independent environmental testing and certification system that tests to ensure textiles do not use harmful substances.
  • Nectar offers a 365-day trial, while Casper’s trial is only 100 days.
Deals: You can get $125 off the Nectar plus two free pillows by clicking HERE. Man pressing down on foam layers in mattress

Casper Wave Construction

  • Casper Wave’s five layers are enveloped in a thick, soft, durable cover that doesn’t affect the overall feel of the mattress too much.
  • The first layer is 1″ of proprietary “Flo Foam.” This soft material is made to relieve pressure.
  • The second layer is 1.5″ of latex foam. This layer makes the Wave more supportive.
  • The third layer is 1.5″ of fast-responding, visco-elastic memory foam, which gives the Wave its springiness.
  • A 1.5″ transition layer comes next. It’s made of high-resiliency foam with a polymer network.
  • The base is 5.5″ of support foam that is pretty standard amongst all-foam online mattresses.
LayersNectarMattress

Nectar Construction

  • Nectar has a unique cover made with long-staple cotton and Tencel. This combination fabric is OEKO-TEX® certified, which means it does not contain harmful substances.
  • The first layer is quilted gel memory foam, which provides comfort and breathability.
  • The second layer is also gel memory foam. Nectar describes this foam as a “semi-open LUSH foam.” This foam is designed to absorb and redistribute heat and is typically manufactured for use in medical settings.
  • The bottom two layers are relatively thick. The second-to-last layer is 3″ of Hi Core Adaptive foam, which gives extra support. This foam gives the mattress a bouncy quality and contributes to contour support.
  • The 6″ base layer uses breathable foam designed to draw in fresh air through special channels. As breathable as this foam is, it is also dense and supportive.

Nectar Mattress

nectar classic update airtable

Nectar is a very comfortable memory foam mattress that happens to also be an amazing value.

Clarity Score 4.3/5
MC Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Foam

MC Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

365 nights

MC Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

MC Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 7/10

MC Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

MC Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$699 – $1798

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

MC sleeper type couples
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
MC sleeper type back pain
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
MC sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
MC sleeper type side sleepers
Side Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight side sleepers.
MC sleeper type stomach sleepers
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review

Nectar Mattress

nectar classic update airtable

Nectar is a very comfortable memory foam mattress that happens to also be an amazing value.

Clarity Score 4.3/5
MC Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Foam

MC Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

MC Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 7/10

MC Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

MC Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

365 nights

MC Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$699 – $1798

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

MC sleeper type couples
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
MC sleeper type back pain
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
MC sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
MC sleeper type side sleepers
Side Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight side sleepers.
MC sleeper type stomach sleepers
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review
nectar classic update airtable

Nectar Mattress

Nectar is a very comfortable memory foam mattress that happens to also be an amazing value.

Clarity Score 4.3/5
MC Brand Icon MattressMaterial

Material

Foam

MC Brand Icon PropertyFirmness

Firmness

Medium-firm: 7/10

MC Brand Icon PropertyTrialPeriod

Trial Period

365 nights

MC Brand Icon MattressWarranty

Warranty

Lifetime warranty

MC Brand Icon PropertyShipping

Shipping Method

Free shipping

MC Brand Icon PropertyPrice

Price Range

$699 – $1798

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

MC sleeper type couples
Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
MC sleeper type back pain
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.
MC sleeper type back sleepers
Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
MC sleeper type side sleepers
Side Sleeping
Ideal for heavyweight side sleepers.
MC sleeper type stomach sleepers
Stomach Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight stomach sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review

Construction Differences and Notes

  • Both are all-foam mattresses that also contain memory foam.
  • Nectar has more of a memory foam feel.
  • Casper Wave uses materials certified for being friendly to the environment.
  • Nectar uses a certified non-toxic cover material.  
  • Nectar’s quilted top gives it a different feel.
  • Casper Wave is a bit more supportive and more appropriate for heavier sleepers.
  • Casper Wave offers zoned support, meaning it may be a better fit for combination sleepers.
  • Both have relatively springy surfaces that provide some bounce.

Firmness and Feel Differences

These are both relatively soft options, though Casper Wave has more zoned support and is more supportive overall. Nectar has more of a memory foam feel. 

Motion Transfer Differences

Both models prevent motion transfer well. Each is a good option for couples. For more information, it may also be helpful to check out our other popular Casper Wave and Nectar mattress comparisons like Casper Wave vs Leesa and Allswell vs Nectar.

Pick Casper Wave If …

  • You need extra support- Casper Wave is a little thicker, and it offers zoned support. This may make it more appropriate for heavier-weight sleepers who need extra support.
  • You move around at night- Casper Wave’s zoned support is designed to support you no matter what position you find yourself in. 

Pick Nectar If …

  • You are on a budget- Nectar is a lot less expensive, so it gives you the opportunity to save some money with your purchase.
  • You like memory foam- Nectar has more of a traditional memory foam feel than the Casper Wave does. If you like the feeling of slowly “sinking” into your mattress, then the Nectar is probably the more appropriate choice.
RELATED: Best Memory Foam Mattresses Overall

Overall

These are two mattresses with a similar feel but some subtle differences that will really matter for some people. Hopefully this comparison helped you determine which one has the qualities that matter most to you. Please leave any specific questions about either model in the comments below!

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Marten Carlson

Marten Carlson

Lead Mattress Reviewer

About Author

Marten has been writing about mattresses and sleep health for six years. He is the lead reviewer at Mattress Clarity where he tests mattresses, bedding, and sleep accessories.

In his role here, Marten’s reviewed over 500 mattresses and 150 sleep accessories (so you can rest assured that if he recommends a product, it’s been put through the wringer in our Austin studio). In addition, he has written more than 400 articles reviewing the quality of sleep and sleep products as well as sleep health. He’s especially interested in the correlation between sleep and mental health.

Marten’s also got a personal stake in sleep health. After writing dozens of pieces on the dangers of sleep apnea, he decided to get tested for the condition. Realizing he did, in fact, suffer from sleep apnea, he immediately started using a CPAP machine. He knows all too well the importance of a healthy night’s sleep and is passionate about helping others get the healthy, restorative sleep they deserve.

He received his bachelor’s degree in Film Production from Denison University and his master’s degree in Film Studies from Emory University.

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