In-depth Purple Pillow review 2026: Purple Harmony and Purple GridCloud
We tested two of the brand's bestselling options to see how well they'd perform under pressure.
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Purple was founded in 2015 by brothers Tony and Terry Pearce, who used their backgrounds in polymer science to engineer a new kind of mattress made from a supportive yet squishy material they dubbed the GelFlex Grid. The Pearces leveraged what turned out to be a very successful Kickstarter campaign to get their company off the ground and have since expanded into bedding and pillows! — which is what brings us here today.
As a senior home writer at Yahoo, I spend a good amount of my waking — and sleeping — hours testing pillows , comforters and sheets (or "living the dream," so to speak). While I haven't personally reviewed Purple mattresses, I've heard good things from friends about their temperature regulation and adaptivity, so I was excited to review two of the brand's bestselling pillows, the Purple GridCloud Pillow and the Purple Harmony Pillow.
Both feature at least one layer of the GelFlex Grid that made Purple famous, but with different types of filling (among a few other nuances). After inspecting the pillows closely — and machine-washing the covers to test their durability — I slept on each pillow for several nights to gauge their supportiveness and cushiness. Both impressed me, but for different reasons.
Purple Harmony Pillow review
Material:Talalay latex with polyester knit cover (inner core); hyper-elastic polymer (outer core); 92% nylon, 8% spandex (outer cover) | Dimensions:26″W x 17″L x 6.5″H (standard size, medium height) | Heights:Low, medium, tall | Care instructions:Machine wash cold separately, air dry (cover only); spot clean only (core)
The basics:The Harmony Pillow is composed of a latex-filled cushion encased in a fabric cover, featuring a layer of the brand's GelFlex Grid on both sides. The outer cover is made of a moisture-wicking, stretch knit material. The pillow comes in two sizes and three heights for different body sizes and sleep styles. I tested the standard size of this pillow with a medium height, which Purple recommends for side or combination sleepers and considers medium firmness. The tall height is recommended for side/combination sleepers with large to extra-large frames and the low height for stomach and back sleepers with small to medium frames.
My experience:I couldn't get over how soft and cool the cover felt — and how plush and responsive the cushioning was. Measuring just under 7 inches tall, this pillow had more than enough padding; I felt supported, as if my head and neck were floating, regardless of the position I slept in. When I lifted my head, the pillow rebounded almost immediately — even after eight-plus hours of sleep — supporting Purple's "bouncy" claim and speaking to the materials' incredible adaptability.
Given this was my first experience with Purple's GelFlex Grid, I was somewhat nervous that the gel honeycombs, which felt like soft rubber and had a quarter-inch circumference, would dig into my skin at certain angles. But I found them to be incredibly nimble, flexing rather than nudging with every movement. I slept on this pillow for two nights with a percale pillowcase and one night without — in both instances, I remained cool and comfortable without aches, pains or noticeable sweating.
The outer cover of the Harmony Pillow is machine-washable, so I put it through a cycle in my washer and air-dried it as instructed. I re-examined the cover and didn't notice any signs of wear or shrinking. Of note: The measurements for the standard-size Purple Harmony Pillow are listed as 26"W x 17"L on Purple's website, but the finished size was listed as 24.9"W x 16.3"L on the pillow tag and confirmed by my own measurements. That said, it fit just fine in a standard cotton pillowcase.
Best for:People who like a slight firmness with a lot of bounciness and responsiveness
Not ideal for:Those who prefer a pillow they can really sink into or mold (such as down or memory foam).
- Optimal adaptivity
- Comes in two sizes and three heights
- Machine-washable cover
- Among Purple's pricier options
Underneath the pillow cover is a gel-like honeycomb in Purple's signature hue. (Kristin Granero/Yahoo)
Purple GridCloud Pillow review
Material:Down alternative, silicone-coated gel fibers with hyper-elastic polymer top layer (core); stretch knit (outer cover) | Dimensions:23.5"W x 15.5"L x 7"H | Heights:One only | Care instructions:Machine wash in cold water on gentle cycle, lay flat to dry (outer cover); spot clean only (GelFlex Grid top layer)
The basics:This pillow boasts the same moisture-wicking stretch-knit cover as the Purple Harmony, but with a different core. In this case, there's only one layer of GelFlex Grid, and this pillow comes in only one height and size.
My experience:I found that the GridCloud offered the same cooling and pressure relief as the Harmony Pillow, at least when I slept on the side of the pillow with the gel grid. But the GridCloud was firmer and less bouncy, which made my head and neck feel more cradled. It reminded me of sinking into soft sand — in a good way! — similar to my experiences with memory-foam pillows.
I also found the GridCloud to be much more responsive than any down or down alternative pillows I've owned, which typically require a good amount of fluffing and prodding to regain their plush, even shape. I'd say Purple's description of this pillow having a "balanced, always fluffy fill" is accurate. For me, it was the perfect mix of comfort, firmness, and stability — gaining a slight edge over the Harmony pillow for all sleeping positions, and especially for sleeping on my back.
I put the outer cover through a cycle in the washer, leaving it to air-dry, and it turned out fine, still fitting the pillow perfectly. Of note: The GelFlex Grid is only on one side, so I needed to take extra care to ensure I was positioning the pillow GelFlex-side-up (although I found the non-gel side to be comfortable as well).
Best for:People who like the stability of memory foam but with a bit more cushiness
Not ideal for:Those who move around a lot, as this pillow will take slightly longer to adapt to movements. This pillow is also on the small side, and therefore may not be ideal for those with larger body types or larger beds
- Plush and fluffy, with gentle contouring
- Lightweight
- Machine-washable cover
- Only one size and height
- Fairly small
The Purple GridCloud Pillow, without the outer cover: The gel-like honeycombs measure about a quarter-inch in diameter and only appear on one side. (Kristin Granero/Yahoo)
What we like about Purple pillows
Both of the Purple pillows I reviewed arrived ready to use, sealed in plastic wrap with care instructions — with no need for decompression, reshaping or fluffing. They both have the same stretchy knit outer cover, which felt incredibly smooth and cooling to the touch and held up well to machine washing.
I found the GelFlex Grid honeycomb to be effective in providing cooling and pressure relief: I felt comfortable and supported throughout the night and didn't experience any strain or pain. When I lifted my head to get out of bed in the morning, both pillows quickly returned to their original plushness, and I didn't notice any changes in their shape or evenness of the fill.
While I liked both pillows, I'd say the Purple GridCloud was ultimately my favorite, offering the contouring and support of a memory foam pillow but with more cushiness and responsiveness. My head and neck sank in just enough to feel nestled, without feeling like I was stuck or sinking.
What we don't like about Purple pillows
I'll start with the pink (purple?) elephant in the room, which is that Purple pillows are pretty pricey. The Harmony retails for $209 for a standard-size pillow, regardless of the pillow height, or $376 for a set of two (a 10% discount). The GridCloud is $149, or $268 for a pair.
While I appreciate that I can machine-wash the covers of these pillows, it would be great if I could throw both the covers and the cushions in the washer for easy cleaning. I wish that the Harmony Pillow was a tad less airy and springy for a bit more firmness and stability. I would also prefer if the GridCloud came with a layer of GelFlex on both sides of the pillow, so I wouldn't have to take as much care to ensure it was gel-side-up when making my bed and changing my bedding.
All fluff? I slept like a baby on Purple's pillows. Here, I'm testing out the Harmony without the outer cover to see if I can really feel the GelFlex Grid. (Kristin Granero/Yahoo)
How we test pillows
Yahoo home editors put all pillows through a series of tests to see if they are worth a spot on your bed. Here's a rundown:
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First impressions:I assessed these pillows on their looks (including size and plushness) and feel (softness and coolness) upon arrival, noting other helpful design distinctions, as well as any imperfections.
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Sleep test:I slept on these pillows for three nights to gauge their comfort and supportiveness, using the same percale pillowcase as a control.
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Laundry test:We prioritize pillows that are machine-washable or come with covers that can go in the washer and dryer. Depending on the pillow's care label, we determine how easy maintenance will be. Both of the Purple pillows I tested have removable, machine-washable outer covers, so I put them through a cycle in the washer and hung them to dry, as per the care instructions, to see if they'd hold up.
Are Purple pillows worth buying?
The question of how much is too much for a pillow is a personal one, but I had a good experience (read: a good night's sleep) with both of these pillows. If you have the budget, I recommend them, particularly if you're trying to avoid too much pressure on your neck. The Purple Harmony is incredibly soft, cushy and springy, and the Purple GridCloud is plush, with medium firmness and gentle contouring.
Comfort is subjective, but I had several family members rest-test these pillows, and they found each to be comfortable based on early assessments. We plan to sleep-test these pillows over the next few months and report back with any updates.
A side-by-side of the two Purple pillows I tested, with their outer covers in place. You can see the standard size for the GridCloud (right) is smaller than the Harmony. (Kristin Granero/Yahoo)
Purple pillow FAQs
Is the Purple pillow good for side sleepers?
As a (sometimes) side sleeper, I found both the Purple Harmony Pillow and Purple GridCloud Pillow to be cool and comfortable, with the Harmony being bouncier and more adaptive, and therefore quicker to rebound. (When it comes to the Purple Harmony Pillow, the medium and tall heights are recommended for side sleepers specifically.)
Is the Purple pillow good for neck pain?
Each of the Purple pillows I tested offered adequate neck support, and the GridCloud especially. When sleeping on my back, I found the pillow offered the plushness of down, with the contour-like support of memory foam, but with quicker responsiveness.
