Helix and Saatva are two well-known, regularly recommended brands with collections of beds that appeal to side, back and stomach sleepers alike. The Helix Midnight Luxe, the brand’s best-selling mattress, is one of our editors’ favorites for plush, cushioned comfort, while the flagship Saatva Classic often takes the crown for people living with back pain and those needing boosted lumbar support. That said, each mattress appeals to sleepers across the board and has qualities that help combat pain, regulate temperature and/or cater to couples. In our Helix vs. Saatva review, we break down who each one is best suited for and reveal why you may like one over the other.
The mattress landscape may look vastly different from the last time you shopped for one, and sometimes the luxury of choice can be overwhelming with so many options to sift through. If you’ve narrowed down Helix and Saatva as your front-runners, restful nights are well within reach. Below, explore the highlights and possible drawbacks of each bestseller—plus what our testers had to say after sleeping on them for over 30 nights and comparing them to top-rated competitors.
Type: Hybrid | Helix’s firmness rating: Medium (6) | Height: 13.5 inches | Trial period: 100 nights | Warranty: Lifetime
Best for:
- Back and side sleepers
- Hot sleepers, thanks to multiple cooling features
- Couples who’d like good motion isolation
- Those wanting available add-ons for temperature and lumbar support
Skip if:
- You’re a heavyweight stomach sleeper who benefits from a firmer bed
- You don’t want a bed-in-a-box mattress (arrives compressed)
Type: Innerspring hybrid | Brand firmness rating: Plush (3), luxury firm (5 to 7) or firm (8) | Height: 11.5 or 14.5 inches | Trial period: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime
Best for:
- Those looking for a supportive, lifted feel
- Height and firmness customization
- Couples who’d like superior edge support
- You want free white glove delivery (includes setup and mattress removal)
Skip if:
- You prefer a bed with more sinkage
- You value motion isolation over edge support
The Helix Midnight Luxe is “cushiony and plush, with what I’d consider a medium firmness,” says Forbes Vetted managing editor Emmy Favilla. She adds that there’s “not a ton of sinkage, but it’s also not overly firm.” On the other hand, you can consider the Helix Sunset Luxe for a softer, more pressure-relieving profile that caters to side sleepers, while the Helix Dawn Luxe is a good pick for people that’d prefer a truly firm bed (like stomach and heavyweight sleepers). “This mattress feels firm yet has a nice thick pillow top to provide lifted cushioning,” says senior mattress and sleep editor Bridget Chapman after testing the Dawn Luxe model.
As for the Saatva Classic, sleepers have the option between plush, luxury firm and firm profiles. We found some of the models feel a touch different than advertised, with the plush model starting around a medium. “It’s not quite as soft as Saatva suggests,” says Chapman, adding that it’s “plush yet so buoyant.” Updates writer Alexandra Garrett echoes her thoughts, and says, “I think this mattress is much more firm than it’s rated.”
We also found that the luxury firm model falls closer to the firmer end of its 5 to 7 spectrum, as senior strategy editor Katie Simpson calls it “lifted and supportive, but cushiony and soft up top,” giving it a profile that feels like “a true medium-firm.” For even greater spinal support for stomach or back sleepers, opt for the firm choice, which our testers found to be a true firm.
Although the Helix Midnight Luxe and Saatva Classic are both finished with a pillowy topper, the Saatva Classic offers more spinal lift while the Helix Midnight Luxe has more contouring and pressure relief. “[There’s] no sinkage, but the plush pillow top helps balance out the density of the firm mattress beneath,“ says a tester about the luxury firm Saatva Classic.
Garrett adds, “[The Saatva] feels cushioned and bouncy. It’s firm but still padded at the same time.” Its feel is comparable to a traditional innerspring mattress with added cushion and modern upgrades. As for the plush model, we think it feels more padded, pillowy and “definitely softer than the other Saatva models,” says Chapman, but “it's still super supportive and comfortable” and “doesn't offer a lot of soft sinkage.”
After testing the Helix Midnight Luxe for over 20 months, Garrett says, “It feels supportive without being too firm, and plush without the ‘stuck’ feeling you get from an all-foam bed.” Senior reviews editor Anna Perling agrees, and compares sleeping on the Helix Midnight Luxe to “floating,” adding that “the cushioned top feels so luxe.” Rather than feeling lifted like you do on the Saatva Classic, your body is contoured and hugged by the bed’s comfort foams and pillowy topper.
The Saatva Classic is offered in three firmness profiles, catering to an array of sleeping positions. Side sleepers should opt for the plush model, while luxury firm is recommended most to back and stomach sleepers. The firm model should be reserved for those in need of enhanced lift and lumbar reinforcements, like strict stomach sleepers or heavyweight back sleepers.
The Helix Midnight Luxe, on the other hand, only comes in one firmness that mostly appeals to back and side sleepers. However, it has the same features and price as two other beds in Helix’s catalog that cater to stomach or dedicated side sleepers. Those looking for added cushion, sinkage and pressure relief, like side sleepers or lightweight individuals under 150 pounds, should try the Helix Sunset Luxe. Whereas prominent stomach sleepers and people over 250 pounds may prefer the Helix Dawn Luxe.
Both the Helix Midnight Luxe and the Saatva Classic accommodate different body types, whether you’re petite or plus-size, because of their plush feels and hybrid constructions (more detail on that below). If we had to name the most supportive mattress for larger body types between the two, we’d choose the Saatva Classic for its dual-coil design, which features two layers of steel coils and delivers a sturdy feel reminiscent of a traditional innerspring bed. For even greater support, see our editors’ picks for the best mattresses for heavy people.
Here’s a breakdown of each mattress and the layers that make them so comfortable and supportive.
Our team of editors tested the performance factors of the Helix Midnight Luxe and Saatva Classic that typically matter most in mattresses, like perimeter support, motion isolation, pressure relief and temperature regulation. Ratings reflect the scores of the plush Saatva Classic, Helix Midnight’s closest competitor, but you can look to our full Saatva Classic and Helix Midnight Luxe mattress reviews for a more detailed analysis of firmness levels.
Since sleepers don’t get the luxury of testing the Helix and Saatva mattresses back-to-back in a showroom, each brand has company policies to give you peace of mind on your purchase, whether you decide to keep the mattress or not.
Deciding between the Helix and Saatva mattresses comes down to a few primary performance factors—such as feel, motion isolation and edge support—as well as the appeal of certain upgrades and each company’s policies.
Since the Helix Luxe line offers an array of firmness profiles and the Saatva Classic comes in three firmness levels, we think both mattresses cater well to different sleep postures. If you prefer a lifted, more supportive feel—like sleeping on top of the mattress rather than sinking into it—you might be drawn to the Saatva Classic. In contrast, the Helix Midnight Luxe has more of a cushy profile, with a balanced measure of support and pressure relief.
In terms of performance, the Helix Midnight Luxe excels at motion isolation, making it a strong choice for couples who want to minimize sleep disturbances. On the other hand, the Saatva Classic provides superior edge support, especially in the luxury firm or firm model. This makes it a great option for those with back or joint pain who benefit from easier movement and consistent support across the mattress surface.
If you’re prone to sleeping hot, the Saatva Classic is a better option as-is, but the Helix Midnight Luxe comes with more impressive upgrades, including an optional cooling cover and/or an additional temperature-regulating layer that’s sandwiched inside. Lastly, Saatva offers more generous company policies, including free white glove delivery and old mattress removal, a service you have to pay for with the Helix Midnight Luxe. The Helix Midnight Luxe also arrives compressed in a box, while the Saatva Classic is never compressed.