Saatva vs. Helix: How The Brands Compare + Our Top Mattress Picks From Both

Offering a range of mattresses and sleep products for all sleep styles and preferences, Helix is the parent company of nontoxic mattress brand Birch, which we recently tested in our studio. While Birch boasts the most Earth-friendly certifications out of Helix's lineup (think Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Eco-INSTITUT, and GREENGUARD Gold), the brand's other mattresses are GREENGUARD Gold and CertiPUR-US certified. 

Saatva is a luxury nontoxic mattress company delivering eco-friendly designs with a laundry list of best-in-class safety certifications. Our team previously tested and reviewed a Saatva mattress and, to say the least, they were quite equally impressed by the brand's safety standards and its mattresses' luxurious comfort levels. 

Saatva is a member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, and all of Saatva's materials are GOLS-certified organic, GREENGUARD GOLD, eco-INSTITUT certified, and plant-based. The manufacturing processes earn a gold star for eco-friendliness as all facilities operate on solar power. Saatva's shipping and delivery are designed to cut down on the brand's carbon footprint, too. 

Helix uses two types of foam, depending on which mattress you choose: memory foam and latex foam. Of course, memory foam is not the most sustainable material—but it has a unique ability to contour and cushion the body. The brand's latex foam, on the other hand, is a more sustainable alternative to memory foam that's designed to provide cushion and reactive support. Every hybrid Helix mattress also contains individually wrapped coils made from tempered steel. The coils help provide motion isolation and superb edge support.

With plenty of firmness levels to choose from, Helix makes a mattress for everyone. The brand offers a Core collection, Luxe collection, and Elite collection. Each line has options for side, back, and stomach sleepers, with soft, medium, and firm designs. The soft mattresses are designed to provide that classic sink-in feeling, while the medium will feel slightly more supportive, still with a bit of give. The brand's firm mattresses do not have any give and are great for those who want to feel like they're sleeping on their mattress rather than in it.

To decide which Helix or Saatva mattress will best suit your sleep style and preferences, consider the below factors: 

Certifications: Saatva and Helix both have GREENGUARD Gold and Certi-PUR certifications, but Saatva is additionally certified organic and safe by GOLS and eco-INSTITUT. This signifies that more than 95% of the textiles and latex are certified organic. Mattresses with GOLS certifications also have a substantial list of banned substances and are made in a way that champions the environment. Helix and Saatva both design and manufacture their products in the United States—but Saatva goes above and beyond to transparently share how its mattresses are made. 

Firmness: Whether you love sinking into a plush pillow top or sleeping on a firm-as-a-board mattress, Saatva and Helix both have options to boot. Unsure which firmness level is best? Sleep experts generally recommend a medium-firm mattress around a 6 to 8 on a firmness scale of 10 (10 being the most firm). Medium-firm mattresses provide sufficient support for most back and stomach sleepers, but people who carry more weight or like a very firm mattress should opt for something a bit firmer.

Most Saatva mattresses come in three firmness options: Plush Soft, Luxury Firm, and Firm. Helix offers a "standard" and a "luxe" across their suite of models, giving options for every type of sleeper. 

Materials: Foam? Latex? A hybrid that delivers the best of both worlds? In your search for a mattress, you'll come across these three general types of mattresses—and each has its own set of pros and cons. Your desired firmness, whether you tend to sleep hot, and if you share a bed with a partner are all factors that can help you decide which design is best.