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Our Casper Original vs. Dreamfoam Essential Comparison for 2024

If you glanced only at the price tags of the Casper Original and the Dreamfoam Essential, you would likely think that there is no way that it would be a fair match up between the two. The Dreamfoam Essential offers an affordably priced mattress whereas the Casper Original tracks more to the luxurious side.

However, both of these all-foam mattresses offer elements that you may want to consider when purchasing a new bed. In this Casper Original vs. Dreamfoam Essential comparison, we break down both mattresses in detail so that you can see which one will suit your needs better.

Product
Firmness
Trial Period
Casper Mattress
Casper Original Mattress
Medium-firm: 6/10
100 nights
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress
Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress
Firm: 7.5/10
120 nights
Casper Mattress
Product
Casper Original Mattress
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress
Product
Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Trial Period
120 nights

Casper Original Mattress

Casper Mattress

With premium foam and multi-zoned support, Casper Original keeps your body in alignment, offering a good balance of support and gentle cradling.  Although it’s an all-foam mattress, this one is breathable thanks to thousands of perforations that allow continuous airflow.

Score 4.0/5
Read Casper Original Mattress Review
CHECK PRICE

Material

Foam

Trial Period

100 nights

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.4/5
Watch Our Video Review

Casper Original Mattress

Casper Mattress

With premium foam and multi-zoned support, Casper Original keeps your body in alignment, offering a good balance of support and gentle cradling.  Although it’s an all-foam mattress, this one is breathable thanks to thousands of perforations that allow continuous airflow.

Score 4.0/5
Read Casper Original Mattress Review

Material

Foam

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Trial Period

100 nights

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.4/5
Watch Our Video Review
Casper Mattress

Casper Original Mattress

With premium foam and multi-zoned support, Casper Original keeps your body in alignment, offering a good balance of support and gentle cradling.  Although it’s an all-foam mattress, this one is breathable thanks to thousands of perforations that allow continuous airflow.

Score 4.0/5
Read Casper Original Mattress Review

Material

Foam

Firmness

Medium-firm: 6/10

Trial Period

100 nights

Warranty

10-year limited warranty

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Couples
This bed has great motion isolation so you will not feel your partner tossing and turning at night.
Back Pain
This bed is perfect for anyone suffering from back pain.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.4/5
Watch Our Video Review

Who I’d Recommend the Casper Original For

  • Those who sleep hot – Although all-foam beds aren’t typically known for their cooling properties, thanks to Casper’s proprietary perforated AirScape™ foam this mattress is a big exception to that overheating issue.
  • Stomach sleepers – Folks who sleep on their front side usually need additional hip support so that they won’t sag into the mattress. By using firmer foam in the middle of the bed, the Casper keeps your hips elevated and spine aligned.
  • Those looking for “just right” firmness – For those who want a bed that isn’t too soft or too hard, the medium firmness of this mattress should be appealing.

Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress

Dreamfoam Essential Mattress

The Dreamfoam Essential is a versatile mattress that brings everything we love about all-foam models, making it a great option for value and comfort seekers.

Score 4.0/5
Read Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress Review
CHECK PRICE

Material

Foam

Trial Period

120 nights

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Firmness

Firm: 7.5/10

Warranty

10-year warranty

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review

Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress

Dreamfoam Essential Mattress

The Dreamfoam Essential is a versatile mattress that brings everything we love about all-foam models, making it a great option for value and comfort seekers.

Score 4.0/5
Read Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress Review

Material

Foam

Warranty

10-year warranty

Firmness

Firm: 7.5/10

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Trial Period

120 nights

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress

Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress

The Dreamfoam Essential is a versatile mattress that brings everything we love about all-foam models, making it a great option for value and comfort seekers.

Score 4.0/5
Read Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress Review

Material

Foam

Firmness

Firm: 7.5/10

Trial Period

120 nights

Warranty

10-year warranty

Shipping Method

Free shipping

Price Range

$$$$$

We recommend this mattress for the following sleeper types:

Back Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight back sleepers.
Side Sleeping
Ideal for lightweight and average weight side sleepers.

Financing Options

Financing options are available for this mattress.

Average Customer Rating
4.7/5
Watch Our Video Review

Who I’d Recommend the Dreamfoam Essential For

  • People who like having options – The Essential comes in 6″, 8″, 10″, 12″ and 14″ models. Each of the height options have a slightly different construction, though we’ll be focusing on the 6″-inch model in this review.

  • Shoppers on a budget – True to its namesake, the Essential has all the essential components of an all-foam mattress, but at a more affordable price point.

  • Sleepers who like a firm mattress – For those who enjoy a firmer mattress feel, the Dreamfoam Essential should work well. We rated it a 7.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, which should work particularly well for back and stomach sleepers in need of more sturdy support.

Comparing Casper Original vs Dreamfoam Essential: Top Similarities

  • Cooling capabilities – Both of these mattresses defy the memory foam stereotype of sleeping hot because they have implemented additional cooling features.
  • Good for back and stomach sleepers – The Dreamfoam and the Casper Original are good for back and stomach sleepers because they keep the hips supported and their spines aligned.
  • All-foam edge support – Supportive edges mean that the entire bed can be utilized which makes it good for couples. The Casper Original and the Dreamfoam Essential both have great edge support.

Comparing Casper Original vs Dreamfoam Essential: Key Differences

  • Price – The Casper Original is considerably more expensive than the budget-friendly Dreamfoam Essential.
  • Available sizes – The Dreamfoam Essential is offered in a large variety of sizes including shorts and beds made to fit RVs.
  • Firmness and feel – The Casper Original has a versatile medium firmness level that should be appealing to a lot of sleepers, whereas the Dreamfoam Essential is a firm mattress and should feel more sturdy.

Comparing Firmness, Support & Feel

Firmness

We rate firmness on a scale from 1 to 10, with one being soft as a cloud. The Dreamfoam Essential is certainly on the firmer side. It comes in at 7.5 on the firmness scale, which means average-weight to heavyweight individuals should find it supportive while sleepers on the more petite side may find this mattress less forgiving in the comfort department. We rated the Casper a 6 out of 10, which should appeal to a wider audience as it will provide a more balanced feel.

Support

Both the Casper Original and the Dreamfoam Essential are supportive mattresses, although the Casper edges out the Dreamfoam in this category. The all-foam Casper has a zoning layer that gives extra support to its middle by providing extra support around heavier parts of the body such as the hips.

Feel

When you first touch the cover of the Casper Original, you’ll notice that it is soft and cool. As you settle into it, the foam layers you’ll notice how quickly they respond to your weight. As you settle in you’ll eventually feel a full-body hug. The Dreamfoam Essential doesn’t have a lot of cushioning so you will quickly notice the firmness and then the responsiveness of the foam layers, which should make it easier to reposition.

Comparing Sinkage and Bounce

The Casper Original is an all-foam mattress and it doesn’t provide a lot of bounce. However, it is responsive enough that you’ll never feel stuck in the layers. You won’t experience much sinkage at all with the Dreamfoam Essential, but the responsive foams should provide a good bit of bounce. Considering that one is better at offering a cradling sensation and the other gives more bounce, it will be up to your personal preference when it comes to these two characteristics.


Comparing Motion Transfer

The Essential doesn’t offer much in the way of motion isolation. Therefore, couples and other co-sleepers may feel their partner’s movements. On the other hand, the Casper Original provides excellent motion isolation. The foam layers of the Casper absorb motion so that sleep mates aren’t disturbed by the other. If you are a co-sleeper, the Casper Original should be a better choice for you.


Comparing Cooling

Julia Forbes testing temperature dissipation on a mattress
Julia Forbes, testing a mattress for heat retention and cooling.

Temperature regulation is important to a lot of sleepers and the Casper Original and the Dreamfoam Essential have implemented several features to keep you cool throughout the night.

Although foam is usually not the coolest material, Casper uses AirSpace® foam which promotes airflow through tiny holes poked in the material. The Dreamfoam Essential employs a variety of cooling features. The foam has an open-cell structure and is infused with gel in the first layer that helps pull away body heat.

Comparing Construction (Materials & Quality)

Casper Original Construction

At 11 inches tall, the Casper Original contains three distinct layers.

  • The first layer consists of AirScape™, aka Casper’s perforated proprietary cooling foam. This foam helps give the Casper Original some bounce and also keeps the mattress cool.
  • The second layer acts as the mattress’s support layer. It’s constructed with 2 inches of an innovative layer called Zoned Support™. It is made up of memory foam that is specifically positioned to offer different support in different areas of the body.
  • The base layer provides the foundation of the mattress, and adds durability and support because thanks to the denser, more sturdy foams used.

Dreamfoam Essential Construction

While the Dreamfoam Essential is offered in several heights, we are focusing on the 6-inch model that uses two layers.

  • Directly below the cover, lies 2 inches of gel swirl memory foam. This layer provides comfort and then contours around the body. In addition to that the gel in the foam helps dissipate body heat.
  • The base of the Dreamfoam Essential makes up the bulk of this bed’s height. Made from high-density foam, this foundation layer is firm. It provides increased durability for the overall structure of the bed.

If you are interested in the Dreamfoam Essential but don’t think that the low profile 6-inch provides enough layers, check out the 12-or 14-inch version which have additional layers for a smoother transition.


Comparing Company Policies & Price

  • Warranty – Both the Casper Original and the Dreamfoam Essential offer a 10-year warranty.
  • Shipping – With the Dreamfoam Essential, your mattress ships free within the United States. Casper offers free shipping in both the United States and Canada. They also offer professional set-up for an additional fee.
  • Trial Period – You can try out the Casper Original for 100 days to see if it is right for you, while Dreamfoam offers 120 days for you to test out the mattress.
  • Returns – The Casper Original and Dreamfoam Essential require that you try them for at least 30 nights, but after that you can return either of them for a full refund.
  • Price – The Dreamfoam Essential is positioned as an affordable mattress, and it is considerably less expensive than the Casper Original.
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Casper Original vs. Essential Compared Side-by-Side

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Final Thoughts

The Casper Original and Dreamfoam Essential are both solidly constructed all-foam mattresses. When it comes to affordability and durability, the Dreamfoam Essential is top-notch.

However, if you long for soft contouring, the Dreamfoam Essential may be too firm. The Casper, on the other hand, is supportive and provides a hug-like cradle. It has a more balanced, medium-firm feel that should work better for side and back sleepers, while Dreamfoam’s firm feel works best for stomach sleepers and heavyweight folks.

For more information on each mattress, check out our individual reviews!

Product
Firmness
Trial Period
Casper Mattress
Casper Original Mattress
Medium-firm: 6/10
100 nights
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress
Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress
Firm: 7.5/10
120 nights
Casper Mattress
Product
Casper Original Mattress
Firmness
Medium-firm: 6/10
Trial Period
100 nights
Dreamfoam Essential Mattress
Product
Dreamfoam Essential Memory Foam Mattress
Firmness
Firm: 7.5/10
Trial Period
120 nights

More Casper Comparisons:

Sosha Lewis

Sosha Lewis

Content Writer

About Author

Sosha Lewis is a staff writer for Sleep Advisor.  Lewis is happy that she is able to combine her love of sleep with her love of writing.

Combination Sleeper