I’ve Tested Tons of Pillows for Neck Pain. These Are Actually Worth Buying.
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As someone with frequent neck pain , I would give up my cozy sheets , white noise machine , and sunrise alarm clock if it meant I wouldn't wake up with a stiff neck. (And that's coming from someone who invests a lot in their sleep.)
"I think that a pillow can make a big difference in people that have history of neck issues," says Leia Rispoli, MD, an interventional pain management specialist and physiatrist at DISC Sport & Spine Center , which explains why I tend to lug my favorite pillow around on weekend trips.
Best Pillows
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Best Overall: Purple Harmony Pillow
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Runner-Up: Casper Original Pillow
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Best Adjustable: Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow
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Best Latex: Saatva Latex Pillow
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Best Cooling: Slumber Cloud UltraCool Pillow
There isn't one pillow that works for everyone. Your best option depends on your sleep position, preferred firmness, body type, and whether you tend to overheat at night. To find the best pillows, our editors and testers slept on popular models from Purple, Casper, Coop, Saatva, and other leading sleep brands. We evaluated each one for comfort, support, temperature regulation, adjustability, ease of care, and value.
Purple Harmony Pillow
I love the Purple Harmony Pillow so much that I try to convert nearly everyone who mentions sleep within earshot of me. I even pack it for overnight trips. But it does feel unusual at first. Inside, a springy, ventilated latex core is wrapped in Purple's GelFlex Grid, a flexible, honeycomb-shaped layer that bends under the weight of your head and springs back when you move. Together, these materials make the pillow feel buoyant rather than sink-in like memory foam.
I tested the medium, 6.5-inch loft, meaning the pillow's height before it is compressed. It provided enough height to support my head and neck while I slept on my side without feeling rigid. The materials give slightly beneath heavier areas, which helped reduce uncomfortable pressure around my head and neck. As someone who frequently experiences neck and back pain, I consistently felt comfortable and supported while sleeping on it.
Purple recommends the low, 5.5-inch version for most stomach and back sleepers. The medium and tall versions are generally better suited to side and combination sleepers, who often need more height to fill the space between the head and mattress. Body size and personal preference will also affect which height feels most comfortable.
The Harmony was also one of the coolest pillows I tested. Air circulates through the ventilated latex and open honeycomb layer instead of becoming trapped inside a solid block of foam. Its stretchy outer cover is also designed to draw sweat away from the skin so it can evaporate. Even on warmer nights, I rarely felt the need to flip the pillow over in search of a cooler surface.
After nearly three years of regular use, my pillow has not developed noticeable lumps or gone flat. Its durable build helps justify the high price, but there are compromises. The pillow is unusually heavy, and some sleepers may notice the grid's texture through the cover. Purple's 30-night trial is also shorter than the trial periods offered by many competing brands.
Still, no other pillow I tested delivered the same combination of responsive support, cooling, and long-term shape retention. I would purchase it again without hesitation.
Read More: Best Mattresses
- Maintained its shape and support after nearly three years of use
- Breathable construction stays cool throughout the night
- Available in three heights for different sleep positions and body types
- Removable, machine-washable cover
- Heavier than a traditional pillow
- Unusual grid texture may take time to get used to
- Shorter trial period than many competitors
Casper Original
Women's Health Art Director Christine Giordano typically sleeps with two or three pillows, but the Casper Original gave her enough support to use fewer. "This pillow gave me the support I needed while still feeling light and airy," she says. "It was breathable and didn't clump, keeping me cool and comfortable at night."
The Casper uses a pillow-within-a-pillow design: A firmer inner cushion provides structure, while a softer outer layer adds cushioning. Both layers are filled with polyester microfiber, a synthetic material made to feel light and fluffy like down. The construction prevented Giordano's head from sinking too deeply while still giving the pillow a plush feel.
Giordano tries to sleep on her back but usually shifts onto her left side during the night. The pillow remained comfortable and supportive in both positions, making it a strong choice for combination sleepers who alternate between their backs and sides. However, stomach sleepers or people who prefer a flatter pillow may find its approximately 9-inch uncompressed height too lofty.
The breathable cotton cover and airy synthetic fill also prevented the pillow from feeling stuffy during testing. It's not as breathable as a dedicated cooling pillow, but Giordano did not notice heat buildup or need to flip it over for a cooler surface.
The entire pillow is machine-washable, which makes it easier to clean than models with foam or latex cores. Its soft filling may need occasional fluffing to maintain its shape, but Giordano did not notice clumping during testing.
At under $100, it is one of the more affordable pillows we tested. Giordano liked it enough that she replaced some of the other pillows in her home and purchase additional Casper ones for her family.
Coop Home Goods Original Adjustable Pillow
Women's Health Executive Health and Fitness Director Jacqueline Andriakos , CPT, calls the Coop Original Adjustable the most comfortable pillow she has tried. "I've never been a pillow snob or had major issues with basic pillows from Amazon, but I noticed that this was far more comfortable than other, cheaper pillows I've used," she says.
The pillow is filled with a blend of shredded memory foam and microfiber. Memory foam molds around the head and neck, while the soft synthetic fibers keep the pillow from feeling like a dense, solid block of foam. Unlike a pillow with a fixed height, the Coop can be unzipped so you can remove filling for a flatter feel or add more for extra support. The process can get messy, but that adjustability makes it easier to tailor the pillow to your body and sleep position.
Coop offers the pillow in classic, crescent, and cut-out shapes. Andriakos tested the classic and cut-out versions while switching between side and stomach sleeping. She preferred the cut-out, which has a curved indentation that creates room for the shoulder and allows the pillow to sit closer to the neck.
"I liked that it could wrap around my neck and shoulders, and I could almost cuddle it like a body pillow with an arm threaded underneath," she says. Although the shape can look slightly awkward inside a standard pillowcase, it was super comfortable when she slept on her side.
The pillow felt plush, but Andriakos' head did not sink so deeply that her neck felt unsupported. She also found the outer cover breathable, although sleepers who regularly overheat may prefer a pillow specifically designed for cooling.
Because its height can be adjusted, the Coop can work for side, back, stomach, and combination sleepers. Side sleepers will generally need more filling to keep the head level with the spine, while stomach sleepers may prefer to remove enough filling to create a flatter surface. Finding the right amount may require a few nights of experimentation, but Coop's 100-night trial gives you time to make those adjustments.
- Filling can be added or removed to change the height and firmness
- Available in three shapes for different sleep positions
- Cut-out version supports the neck and creates room for the shoulders
- Soft and plush without letting the head sink too deeply
- Includes a 100-night trial when purchased directly from Coop
- Removing the loose filling can be messy
- Cut-out shape looks unusual inside a standard pillowcase
Saatva Latex Pillow
It would take an exceptional pillow for me to consider replacing my Purple Harmony, but the Saatva Latex Pillow gave it serious competition. Although both pillows contain latex, they feel noticeably different. Purple uses one solid, springy latex core, while Saatva uses shredded pieces of latex surrounded by a soft layer of fine synthetic fibers. This gives the Saatva a plusher, more traditional feel, but has enough structure to support the head and neck.
The pillow feels dense when you first pick it up, but my head settled gently into the soft outer layer without sinking too deeply. The shredded latex inside quickly returned to its original shape when I moved, so the pillow stayed supportive as I shifted positions. As a side sleeper who frequently experiences neck pain, I did not wake up with additional stiffness.
Saatva offers two heights. The standard version measures approximately four to five inches and is designed for back and stomach sleepers, who generally need a lower pillow. The high-loft version measures approximately six to seven inches and is better suited to side and combination sleepers who need more height between their heads and mattresses.
I also appreciated that the pillow remained breathable throughout the night. The small spaces between the pieces of shredded latex allow air to circulate, while the cotton cover feels cool. It does not create the immediately cold sensation of a cooling pillow, but I did not notice uncomfortable heat buildup.
The outer layer is filled with microdenier fibers, which are very fine synthetic strands designed to imitate the light, fluffy feel of down. You can machine-wash this outer layer and its cotton cover, but the inner latex core must be removed and kept out of the washing machine.
At $165 for a standard/queen size, this is one of the more expensive pillows we tested. Saatva also provides only 45 days for returns, which is shorter than the trial periods offered by several competitors. Still, its combination of plush cushioning, responsive support, and breathable materials makes it an excellent choice for sleepers who want a luxury-hotel feel that's still supportive.
- Plush, hotel-style feel with a supportive inner core
- Available in two heights for different sleep positions
- Breathable latex did not trap heat during testing
- Inner latex core cannot be machine-washed
- Not adjustable beyond choosing between two heights
Slumber Cloud UltraCool Pillow
For hot sleepers, a breathable pillow can be the difference between a good night's sleep and a night spent tossing and turning. The Slumber Cloud UltraCool stood out because its cooling effect was immediately noticeable during testing.
Women's Health Managing Editor Laura McLaughlin described the sensation as "a little sci-fi" because the surface felt immediately cool when she rested her head on it. The cover contains Outlast, a material designed to absorb excess body heat when you become warm and release it as your skin cools. This helps prevent heat from collecting around your head and face, although the effect may be less noticeable beneath a thick pillowcase.
McLaughlin also found the pillow easy to combine with others. "It's great for layering with other pillows to get just the right height," she says. "It's neither too dense nor too high to use in combination with others already in place." That makes it especially useful for sleepers who want additional height without placing a rigid pillow beneath their heads.
The interior is filled with polyester down alternative, a synthetic material designed to imitate the airy feel of down. It is available in soft/medium and medium/firm versions, allowing sleepers to choose how plush or structured they want the pillow to feel. The softer option will generally suit stomach sleepers or anyone who prefers more sink, while the firmer version may provide better support for back and side sleepers.
The entire pillow can be machine-washed, a convenient advantage over pillows with foam or latex cores. However, synthetic filling can begin to clump after repeated use and washing, so it may require regular fluffing to redistribute the material.
Although the UltraCool does not provide the customized support of an adjustable pillow, it delivered the most noticeable cooling sensation of any model we tested.
- Available in two firmness levels
- Light enough to layer with another pillow
- Entire pillow is machine-washable
- Available in standard and king sizes
- Synthetic filling may clump over time
- Loft is not adjustable
Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillow
The Brooklinen Down Alternative Pillow is built for sleepers who want the fluffy feel of down without actual feathers. It's filled with recycled poly microgel, a cluster of fine synthetic fibers that creates a light cushioning similar to down.
Unlike many pillows that come in only one firmness, this one is available in soft, medium, and firm versions. Brooklinen recommends the soft pillow for stomach sleepers, who generally need less height beneath the head; the medium for back sleepers; and the firm for side sleepers, who typically need more support to fill the space between the head and mattress.
Its cotton sateen shell feels smooth and has a subtle sheen. The pillow is also certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100, which means its materials have been tested for a list of regulated substances. That certification does not evaluate the pillow's comfort, durability, or environmental impact.
Brooklinen allows most products to be returned within 365 days, although it deducts a $9.95 return fee from the refund. That's one of the most generous return windows we've seen.
The pillow can be machine-washed in cold water and tumble-dried on low with wool dryer balls until completely dry. As with most pillows filled with loose synthetic fibers, it may require regular fluffing to redistribute the fill and preserve its shape.
- Available in three firmness levels for different sleep positions
- Soft synthetic filling mimics the plush feel of down
- Synthetic filling may flatten or clump over time
Meet the Expert
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Leia Rispoli, MD , is an interventional pain management specialist and physiatrist at DISC Sport & Spine Center.
What to Consider
What Pillow Height Is Best for Your Sleep Position?
A pillow's height, or loft, should keep your head and neck aligned with your spine. Side sleepers generally need a taller pillow, back sleepers a medium-height pillow, and stomach sleepers a low pillow. Your mattress matters, too: The more deeply your shoulders sink into it, the less pillow height you may need. Most of the pillows we tested fell in the 5- to 9-inch range, offering different levels of support depending on their material and sleeping position.
What Pillow Firmness Should You Choose?
Side sleepers often benefit from a medium-firm or firm pillow that maintains its height. Back sleepers generally need medium support, while stomach sleepers may prefer something softer that compresses easily. Because firmness labels vary by brand, consider the pillow's material and height as well.
What Type of Pillow Is Best for Neck Pain?
"There isn't one brand that's the magical brand for everyone," says Leia Rispoli, MD, an interventional pain management specialist and physiatrist. Look for a pillow that supports your head without tilting your neck sharply upward or downward. Adjustable pillows can help you fine-tune the height. Consult a health care professional if your pain is persistent, severe, or accompanied by numbness or weakness.
Which Pillow Material Is Best?
Memory foam molds around the head but may retain heat. Latex feels springy, breathable, and durable. Down is soft and airy but may lack structure, while synthetic down alternative is usually easier to wash but may flatten over time. Hybrid pillows combine materials to balance cushioning and support.
What Type of Pillow Is Best for Hot Sleepers?
Look for ventilated latex, shredded filling, or another construction that allows air to circulate. Some covers also absorb excess body heat or feel cool, although a thick pillowcase may reduce the effect. People who sleep cold may prefer denser foam or plush down filling that holds slightly more warmth.
How We Selected
As a sleep writer, I've tested all kinds of sleep accessories, from mattresses to eye masks, but pillows are probably my most-tested product category. (Unfortunately, I once tested so many pillows at the same time that I injured my neck, but I've learned my lesson.) To find the best pillows available online, I selected popular picks from leading sleep brands, like Purple, Casper, Saatva, Pluto, and more, for testing. Some helpful testers and I have slept on these pillows for dozens of nights to determine whether they're worth the money, and our top pick has been my favorite pillow to sleep on for nearly three years. From flat pillow lovers to hot sleepers, we tried out eight pillows of various styles, materials, and price points.
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