Hybrid vs. Pillow Top

Hybrid

A hybrid mattress blends foam and pocket springs in one mattress. Usually this involves a more substantial foam layer than other mattresses that are marketed as innerspring.

A hybrid mattress offers a 'best of both worlds' type feel, where there is added support from the pocket coils and a comfortable, pressure point relieving surface.

Though there are latex and memory foam hybrids, the feel of them can be quite different because of the response of the latex vs the memory foam's slow response.

Pros: Best of both worlds with memory foam / latex and pocket coils provide ultimate comfort and support.

Cons: Beware of the foams being used as some hybrids still off-gas or sag because of lower quality materials.

Pillow Top

A pillow top is a surface layer of soft material that is stitched and packed into the cover. This provides a soft as a cloud feel to the surface of the mattress.

There are multiple types of pillow tops, though the most popular recently is a memory foam pillow top. A memory foam pillow top has a thin layer of soft memory foam that is stitched into the cover. Though memory foam is a popular material for pillow tops, you can also find them with latex, cotton, cashmere, wool, or goose down/feathers.

Pillow top mattresses generally have spring support systems in the middle of the mattress, though there could be a pillow top on a memory foam mattress as well (it is just not very common).

Pros: A plush feel on the top of the mattress that pillows the body on top of the support layers.

Cons: The pillow top alone will not make a good bed -- the materials used in the pillow top and the rest of the mattress can sag or have issues if they are lower quality.

Learn More About Hybrid

Learn More About Pillow Top

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Material Scores

Overall Score:
Hybrid: 9.8/10
Pillow Top: 8.9/10

Comfort:
Hybrid: 9.8/10
Pillow Top: 9/10

Softness:
Hybrid: 9.8/10
Pillow Top: 9.4/10

Cooling:
Hybrid: 9.2/10
Pillow Top: 8.2/10

Hypoallergenic:
Hybrid: 9/10
Pillow Top: 8.5/10

No Odor:
Hybrid: 9.1/10
Pillow Top: 8.8/10

General Support:
Hybrid: 9.8/10
Pillow Top: 8.3/10

Eco-Conscious:
Hybrid: 8.9/10
Pillow Top: 8.5/10

Price Value:
Hybrid: 8.4/10
Pillow Top: 8.3/10