Nectar vs Puffy: Which All-Foam Mattress Wins?

Nectar and Puffy are two of the most popular bed-in-a-box brands, and at first glance the flagship models look almost identical: both are all-foam beds, both land near medium-firm, and both lean on slow-moving memory foam up top. But the Nectar Classic and the Puffy Cloud sleep differently once you lie down. This comparison looks at how they feel, how they are built, what they cost, and which sleepers each one suits.

Nectar vs Puffy at a glance

Here is the quick version before we get into the details. Both are foam mattresses that sit close together on firmness, but they part ways on feel, thickness, price, and trial length.

Who should get each mattress

The two beds suit slightly different sleepers. Use these as a starting point, then check the firmness and body-type notes further down.

Get the Nectar if:

• You are a side sleeper, especially at a lightweight or average weight, since its memory foam comfort layer gives more pressure relief.
• You prefer a softer mattress with a slow-moving memory foam feel that lets you sink in.
• You share the bed and want strong motion isolation, which makes the Nectar a good pick for couples.

Get the Puffy Cloud if:

• You want a firmer mattress with less give and a balanced foam feel.
• You are a light or average-weight stomach sleeper who needs more support in that position.
• You like a bit of memory foam on top without the stuck-in feeling of traditional memory foam.

Where they are alike

Even though they come from different brands, the Nectar Classic and Puffy Cloud share a lot.

• Both are popular bed-in-a-box mattresses with slow-moving memory foam in their top layers.
• Both use a similar firm base foam in their support layers.
• Both come with strong customer service terms and free shipping.
• Both are all-foam beds, so they may trap some heat and use gel infusions to push back against it.
• Both work well for back and side sleepers who weigh less than 230 pounds.

Where they differ

The differences are what should drive your choice.

• The Nectar is thicker, at 11 inches versus the Puffy Cloud's 10 inches, which helps it deliver more pressure relief.
• The Nectar is the softer of the two, while the Puffy Cloud sits a touch firmer.
• The Puffy Cloud has a balanced foam feel that is easy to move on, while the Nectar has a slower-moving, classic memory foam feel.
• The two beds use different transition layers, which is part of why they feel so different.
• Puffy's foam layers run a touch cooler than the Nectar's, according to testers.

Firmness and feel

Firmness and feel decide whether a mattress matches your body and sleeping position, so this is where the two beds separate.

How firm are they?

Reviewers rank the Puffy Cloud around 7/10 on the firmness scale and the Nectar around 6.5/10. Since the industry standard for medium-firm is about 6.5/10, the Nectar lands right at medium-firm while the Puffy Cloud sits a touch firmer. Firmness is subjective, so your body weight can make either bed feel softer or firmer than those numbers suggest.

What they feel like

The Puffy Cloud has a balanced foam feel with just a little body-contouring memory foam on top, so it is easy to move around on. The Nectar feels like classic memory foam, contouring to the body with a slow response to pressure. Heavyweight sleepers over 230 pounds may notice a sinking, quicksand feeling on either bed that makes it harder to change positions.

How they sleep by body type

For average-weight back sleepers, both beds balance comfort and support, though the Puffy Cloud is a bit more supportive. Average-weight side sleepers tend to do better on the Nectar, since its memory foam comfort layer gives more pressure relief, while the Puffy Cloud can feel too firm in that position. Neither bed suits average-weight stomach sleepers well, as the Nectar is too soft and the Puffy is borderline.

Heavyweight sleepers near 230 pounds may find adequate support on the Puffy Cloud for back and stomach sleeping, but much heavier people will want a more supportive bed. The Nectar will not be supportive enough for most heavyweight sleepers, though those closer to 230 pounds may get enough pressure relief while side sleeping.

Lightweight sleepers under 130 pounds get a balance of support and pressure relief on either bed for back sleeping. Lightweight side sleepers do best on the Nectar thanks to its softer comfort layer, while the firmer Puffy Cloud suits lightweight stomach sleepers who need extra spinal support.

How they are built

Both are memory foam mattresses with a comfort layer, a transition layer, and a firm support base, but the materials differ layer by layer.

Cover

The Puffy Cloud uses a thin, stretchy, stain-resistant polyester cover. Its zip-and-wash cover is removable and washable. The Nectar uses a Tencel fabric cover that helps with cooling, but it is not removable.

Comfort and transition layers

The Puffy Cloud's main comfort layer is a gel-infused Cooling Cloud memory foam with a slow-moving feel, followed by a firmer, bouncier Climate Comfort transition layer that keeps you from feeling stuck. The Nectar leads with a slow-moving, gel-infused memory foam, then a firmer, higher-density hi-core memory foam transition layer that adds support so you do not sink too far.

Support base

The Puffy Cloud's base is a firm-set Firm Core Support foam the brand says is especially durable. The Nectar's base is a high-density support foam that gives the mattress its overall structure.

Height

The Puffy Cloud is 10 inches thick. The Nectar is a touch taller at 11 inches, and that extra thickness is part of why it offers more pressure relief.

Sizes and pricing

Mattress prices change often with sales, so check current deals, but these are the standard size-by-size figures from recent testing. The two beds are close on a couple of sizes but the Nectar is generally the more affordable pick.

Performance head to head

Beyond feel, day-to-day performance is where small differences add up. Here is how the two beds compare on the things couples and solo sleepers ask about most.

Temperature

Both are all-foam beds that can trap heat, and both use gel infusions in the top layer to counter it. Testers found the Puffy Cloud runs a touch cooler than the Nectar, but neither bed is a true cooling mattress for hot sleepers.

Motion transfer

The Nectar is the winner here. Its two memory foam layers absorb movement well, so you are less likely to feel a restless partner. The bouncier Puffy Cloud does not isolate motion quite as well.

Edge support

The Nectar edges out the Puffy Cloud again, feeling a touch more secure when you sit or lie near the side. The firmer Nectar suits heavier sleepers who need edge support, while the Puffy gives a little more at the edge for side sleepers.

Durability

This one is close to a tie. Both all-foam beds should last seven years or more and carry similar long warranties. Reviewers give the Nectar a slight edge for its firmer top layer and thick base foam, while the Puffy Cloud's removable, washable cover can help extend its life.

Sex and responsiveness

The Puffy Cloud is the better pick for couples who want to move easily, since it is bouncier and more responsive than the slower-moving Nectar.

Trials and warranties

The Nectar comes with a 365-night sleep trial and a Forever Warranty, with free shipping in the continental United States. The Puffy Cloud comes with a 101-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty, with free shipping across the country. Both let you test the bed at home for weeks before deciding, but the Nectar's full-year trial gives you far more time. If you want a closer look at the Puffy on its own, our full Puffy mattress review breaks down the Cloud and its hybrid siblings in more detail.