If you’re in the market for a new mattress, you may be considering popular options like the Novaform Comfort Grande from Costco or the Serafina mattress. Both offer contouring memory foam feels at budget-friendly prices, but there are some key differences between the two.
In this detailed mattress comparison, we’ll break down the construction, performance, pricing, policies, and more of the Novaform Comfort Grande and Serafina so you can decide which is the best choice for your sleep needs and preferences.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Novaform ComfortGrande | Serafina Pearl Gel |
| Type | All-foam | All-foam |
| Firmness | Medium, 5-6 | Medium-firm, 6-7 |
| Foam Layers | 3″ Novaform memory foam, 5.5″ polyfoam base | 2″ gel memory foam, 2″ polyfoam transition, 5″ polyfoam base |
| Feel | Deep contouring hug | Moderate contouring with more responsiveness |
| Motion Isolation | Excellent | Excellent |
| Temperature Regulation | May sleep somewhat warm | Better cooling from gel foam |
| Responsiveness | Minimal | Moderate |
| Edge Support | Fair | Fair |
| Durability | 5-7 years | 5-7 years |
| Sizes | Twin – Cal King | Twin – Cal King |
| Trial Period | 100% money-back guarantee via Costco | 100 days |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years |
| Price (Queen) | $699 | $1099 (discounts often available) |
Overview of Novaform and Serafina
First, let’s take a quick look at the brands behind each of these mattresses.
Novaform is a mattress brand sold exclusively at Costco stores and on Costco.com.
They offer a streamlined lineup of all-foam and hybrid mattresses at very affordable price points.
Novaform mattresses are designed to contour to the body while providing bounce and cooling.
Serafina is the mattress brand of Georgia-based company Malouf, which has been in the home furnishings business since 1979.
Serafina focuses on direct-to-consumer memory foam, latex, and hybrid mattresses that aim to provide both comfort and support at accessible prices.
Key Differences Between Novaform Comfort Grande And Serafina Mattresses
Both Novaform and Serafina provide low-cost mattress options targeted at the average sleeper looking for relief of aches and pains. Now let’s see how two of their most popular all-foam mattresses compare.
Mattress Type
The Novaform ComfortGrande and Serafina Pearl Gel are both all-foam mattresses, meaning they don’t contain any metal coils like innerspring or hybrid mattresses. However, there are some construction differences:
- The ComfortGrande has a 3” top comfort layer of Novaform branded memory foam followed by 5.5” of polyfoam base support.
- The Serafina Pearl Gel uses a 2″ gel-infused memory foam comfort layer on top of 5” of high-density polyfoam.
- An additional 2” transitional polyfoam layer sits between the comfort and base layers in the Serafina mattress.
So while both are foam beds, the Serafina has a slightly more complex comfort system with gel infusion intended to keep sleepers cool. The Novaform takes a simpler approach focused on deep contouring memory foam.
Firmness and Feel
Now let’s see how these construction differences translate into different firmness and comfort:
- The Novaform ComfortGrande is medium in firmness, rating around a 5-6 on the typical mattress firmness scale of 1-10. This creates a cushioning, deep hugging feel when you lie down, easing pressure points in areas like the shoulders and hips.
- The Serafina Pearl Gel rates as medium-firm, around a 6-7 on the firmness scale. Though still conforming, it won’t let you sink in quite as deeply and provides more pushback as you move on the mattress. This creates more of a “floating” feel rather than a “hug.”
So the Novaform ComfortGrande will be a better match for sleepers who like the feeling of their mattress molding completely around them. Side sleepers and those who weigh less than 130 pounds often prefer softer mattresses like this.
The Serafina Pearl Gel offers more balanced comfort with contouring yet enough support for most back and stomach sleepers, as well as couples who need surface responsiveness during intimate activity. The moderate firmness can accommodate larger bodies over 130 pounds as well.
Motion Isolation and Noise
A major advantage of all-foam mattresses like the Novaform ComfortGrande and Serafina Pearl Gel is excellent motion isolation.
This means that you’ll barely feel it when your partner tosses, turns, or gets in and out of bed.
Both mattresses absorb motion very effectively before it can transfer across the surface.
You shouldn’t hear any squeaking noises either since no coils are present. This is ideal for couples and anyone who sleeps with a partner or pet and wants minimal nighttime disturbances.
Edge support, or how sturdy the perimeter of the mattress feels when sitting or sleeping near it, is about average for both models. This is typical for all-foam designs without reinforced edges. You’ll notice some sinkage and compression but likely nothing excessive or bothersome.
Temperature Regulation
Overheating is a common complaint with memory foam mattresses. Firmer polyfoam transitional layers like the one found in the Serafina Pearl Gel can help prevent this.
The gel-infused memory foam used in the Serafina’s comfort layer is also designed to pull heat away from the body and provide a cooler rest. While it likely won’t sleep as cool as the best cooling mattresses, it should maintain a relatively neutral temperature during the night.
The dense memory foam used in the Novaform ComfortGrande conforms very closely, which can trap heat. No special cooling features are incorporated into its materials. This makes the Novaform more prone to sleeping hot, especially for those who already tend to overheat at night.
Overall, the Serafina Pearl Gel is the better choice if sleeping cool is one of your top priorities. But the Novaform ComfortGrande isn’t necessarily dangerously hot either. Using breathable sheets and keeping your room at a comfortable temperature can help.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness, also called bounce, refers to how quickly a mattress regains its shape after pressure is removed. This is especially important for combination sleepers who change positions often and need to move around easily on the mattress surface.
As expected, the plush Novaform ComfortGrande contours closely and doesn’t regain its shape too quickly. This makes it best for dedicated side sleepers who don’t need a lot of surface bounce.
The Serafina Pearl Gel is moderately responsive, providing the gentle “floating” feel that makes changing positions easier without excessive sinkage. This makes it more suitable for combination back/side or back/stomach sleepers.
Durability
Durability and mattress lifespan are always big considerations since you don’t want to make a major purchase only to need a replacement in a few years.
As all-foam models, neither the Novaform ComfortGrande nor Serafina Pearl Gel is quite as durable as higher-quality innerspring or hybrid mattresses. With proper use, you can expect a usable lifespan of around 5-7 years for both before a replacement is needed.
Rotating your mattress head-to-foot every 6 months can help prevent uneven wear and extend its usable life. Using a supportive mattress foundation also keeps the mattress in good shape for longer.
Overall, both mattresses offer about average durability for the affordable foam mattress category. The $800-1000 price range just isn’t high enough for extremely long-lasting construction. But that’s an acceptable trade-off for the comfort and initial savings they provide.
Sizing and Weight Options
The Novaform ComfortGrande and Serafina Pearl Gel come in all six standard mattress sizes:
- Twin
- Twin XL
- Full
- Queen
- King
- California King
They have similar weight ranges as well. The Novaform ComfortGrande weighs from 44-96 pounds. The Serafina weighs from 50-100 pounds in each size.
Queen and King sizes may require two people for manageable rotation and setup. Otherwise, neither mattress should be excessively heavy or unwieldy for customers to move by themselves when needed.
The wide range of sizes ensures both mattresses can work for single sleepers, couples, children’s rooms, and any bedroom size.
Construction Quality
Both Novaform and Serafina construct their mattresses in the United States in dedicated factory facilities. This allows for consistent quality oversight compared to outsourced production.
The brands both use CertiPUR-US certified foams. This means the foams have been independently tested and certified to meet standards for content, performance, and durability while being free from harmful substances.
No significant owner complaints regarding premature sagging, damage, or defective materials have been reported for either mattress model. Overall construction quality appears solid for the price point of each bed.
High-density and high-quality foams are used even though costs are kept low through the direct-to-consumer online model and, in Novaform’s case, the bulk purchasing power of Costco.
Novaform ComfortGrande Mattress Prices
As a Costco-exclusive brand, the Novaform ComfortGrande is only available at Costco warehouse locations and on the Costco website.
Its pricing is as follows:
- Twin – $499
- Twin XL – $599
- Full – $649
- Queen – $699
- King – $999
- Cal King – $999
This affordable pricing for an all-foam mattress is possible because of Costco’s buying power and consumer membership model.
Seasonal sales at Costco stores often take $100-150 off these prices as well. Overall, the ComfortGrande is a low-priced foam mattress relative to the quality you receive.
Serafina Pearl Gel Mattress Prices
The Serafina Pearl Gel retails at the following prices, but frequent discounts and promo codes can reduce costs:
- Twin – $599
- Twin XL – $699
- Full – $949
- Queen – $1099
- King – $1299
- Cal King – $1299
While not as budget-friendly as the Costco-backed Novaform, Serafina still offers affordable memory foam comfort. Sales often put the Pearl Gel close to the Novaform’s pricing.
Serafina also provides monthly payment options to make the mattress more affordable. Promotional discounts and bundle deals are regularly offered direct from the Serafina website.
Overall, price differences between the two mattresses are minimal, especially with Serafina’s frequent discounts.
Shipping, Returns, and Warranties
Novaform offers free shipping within the contiguous U.S. on ComfortGrande mattress orders from Costco.com.
Returned mattresses can be dropped off at any Costco warehouse location.
The Novaform ComfortGrande is backed by Costco’s 100% satisfaction return policy, allowing returns at any point during ownership for refund or exchange.
The mattress also comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
Coverage includes manufacturing and material defects such as sagging greater than 0.75″ and physical flaws that cause splitting or cracking foam. Damage from improper foundations or support are not covered.
For the Serafina Pearl Gel ordered direct from Serafina’s website, free shipping is provided to the lower 48 states. Mattresses must be returned within 100 days to receive refund, minus a required return/restocking fee around $100.
Serafina provides a 10-year limited warranty against qualifying defects. The expected loss of shape and softening over time is not covered. Only manufacturing flaws causing indentations greater than 1″ would qualify for repair or replacement.
The Novaform ComfortGrande has the better sleep trial and return policy. But both beds come with industry standard 10-year warranties.
Novaform ComfortGrande Or Serafina Pearl Gel: Which Should You Buy?
To quickly recap the main differences:
- The Novaform ComfortGrande has a 3″ deep memory foam comfort layer for closer contouring and a plusher feel. It isolates motion very well but may sleep warm and has less surface responsiveness.
- The Serafina Pearl Gel uses 2″ of gel-infused memory foam over a 2″ transition layer for a moderately conforming but still supportive feel. It has better temperature regulation and responsiveness.
The Novaform ComfortGrande is the way to go if you:
- Like slowly sinking into a mattress and feeling “hugged”
- Sleep predominantly on your side
- Weigh under 130 pounds
- Prioritize motion isolation with a sleeping partner
The Serafina Pearl Gel is better for you if you:
- Prefer some support and responsiveness along with contouring
- Change positions frequently
- Tend to sleep hot on memory foam
- Weigh over 130 pounds
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Yes, Novaform mattresses are a brand exclusive to Costco stores and the Costco website.
Like most all-foam mattresses, the average lifespan of a Novaform mattress is 5 to 7 years before a replacement is needed. Rotating the mattress can help extend its usable life.
The plush memory foam feel of Novaform mattresses like the ComfortGrande does help relieve pressure in areas like the shoulders, hips, and lower back by conforming closely. This can alleviate back pain for some sleepers, especially side sleepers.
However, the medium-firm feel of the Serafina Pearl Gel may provide better spinal alignment and lumbar support for certain back pain sufferers who need more cushioning and pushback.
Novaform mattresses for Costco like the ComfortGrande are made in the United States. Novaform operates a factory in Georgia for manufacturing their Costco mattress models.
Closing Remarks
Both provide quality pressure relieving memory foam feels at very affordable prices. The Novaform ComfortGrande is the cheaper option if you can find it on sale at Costco. But the Serafina Pearl Gel likely has a slight performance edge for those willing to pay a little more.
You really can’t go wrong with either if you’re looking for an everyday foam mattress on a budget. Take your preferences for firmness, hug vs. support, and price into account when deciding between the two.