Final Winner: 1 out of 10 (See Below for In Depth Review and Process)
In Depth Review And Process
For decades, I had been sleeping on whatever pillow I found at the department store. When moving residences, I would pick pillows that felt good at the store, but they didn’t perform when I had to sleep on them for eight hours a night. Finally, I decided to systematically go through a process of testing different pillows. I went through this process and ranked the pillows I found via the following method:
- Effectiveness at reducing neck pain
- Comfort
- Cover
- Return policy / warranty
- Value
Overall, the best pillow I slept on by far was the Dosaze Contoured Orthopedic Pillow. We enjoyed sleeping on the Dosaze Contoured Orthopedic pillow in all three sleep positions thanks to the innovative shape and design. The contour aligns your neck and back, which reduces pain, snoring, and gives you the best night of sleep ever. We also found it significantly cooler than the other pillows that we tested. I highly recommend this pillow as my top pick, especially for side-sleepers or people who sleep in a combination of positions.
Is It Worth It To Consider Pillows Under $50?
I personally do not think it is best to consider the options under $50. You will likely save money in the long run because the manufacturers of cheaper pillows tend to cut corners – these pillows also generally do not last as long. If you get the right pillow (even if it is more expensive), you’ll likely save money in the long run.
As an example, some memory foam pillows (especially those that are not CertiPUR certified) tend to use lower quality foam foam, which results in worse pillows. Down and down alternative pillows under $50 tend to use more quills than down clusters, which results in a pillow that will poke you. A lot of cheaper pillows also skimp out on the filling, which causes the pillows to provide less support and feel flat.
It is worth it to invest in a higher quality pillow – especially when you consider how much impact a better pillow can have on your sleep quality. The right pillow can help your sleep as much, if not more, than a new mattress (which is way more expensive).
The Dosaze™ Cooling Side Sleeper Pillow is cleverly designed to help side sleepers say goodbye to a poor night’s sleep once and for all. With this pillow, you get all the pressure-relieving benefits of memory foam, combined with a totally unique ergonomic design that’s intended to provide optimal comfort night after night.
There are four key things that make this pillow so great for side sleepers:
- 100% pure, fresh gel memory foam fill – unlike most other ‘memory foam’ pillows that are blends of micofiber (which isn’t supportive and falls flat), this pillow is 100% gel memory foam – and you can definitely tell the difference. This memory foam also isn’t “recycled” from other foam – it is made fresh for these pillows and infused with a cooling gel that is noticeable cooler to sleep on
- Unique cutout shape that relieves pressure on your shoulder – not only does this unique shape relieve pressure on your shoulder by allowing you to rest your head away from your shoulder, it’s also great if you are a combination sleeper (or if you sleep on both sides) because you can roll around from side to side. This is really the best feature of the pillow!
- Cooling cover – this cover feels luxe and cool to the touch. It’s honestly so soft that you don’t need to put a pillowcase on it (although most people do)
- Adjustable to your height and sleep preferences – a key for side sleepers is finding a pillow that fills the gap between their shoulder and head – and everyone is different. This is why it’s great to have a pillow you can adjust to fill your unique gap. This pillow does just that.
Pros:
- 3-year warranty
- 100% adjustable height
- 100% fresh gel memory foam fill (no microfiber, no recycled foam)
- Allergy-friendly
- Inhibits bacteria growth
- Cooling gel infusions prevent overheating
- Cool and luxe cover
Cons:
- only available online
You can see that this pillow is great for side and back sleepers. For back sleepers, it is perfect to sleep with your head in the center of the pillow. For side sleepers, it is great to sleep on the edges of the pillow – it fills your shoulder gap and relieves pressure from your shoulders. The shape of the crevice makes it great and super fun for “hugging” the pillow. If you are a combination sleeper, you can roll from on side to the middle and to the other side.
UPDATE (4 months later!): I’ve been sleeping on this pillow for 4 months now, and it is still the best one. I’m super satisfied with the overall quality and durability of this pillow. I usually toss this pillow in the dryer on low heat to give it a bit of a fluff. This has been the best investment for me in terms of improving my overall sleep quality!
If you’re the sort of person who thinks traditional is best, you’ll be most attracted to the Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow. This pillow is on hand to help you break the cycle of flipping and fluffing your pillow, offering unparalleled high-quality support and plushness.
Being medium-density and with a 3.5-inch gusset, the Parachute Down Side Sleeper Pillow gives is the right height for side sleepers. This pillow contains 750 fill power European white down for the most luxurious sleeping experience.
Keep in mind that this pillow is a more expensive option compared to some of the other pillows for side sleepers on this list, and some customers also found that the pillow required punching to keep it in shape overnight.
Pros:
- High enough for side sleepers
- Made from quality materials
- Offers great neck support
Cons:
- Quite expensive
- May require punching
- Not ideal for combination sleepers
- Not adjustable
Organic pillows only use materials that have been organically produced and contain no chemicals that could seriously harm your health. As the best organic pillow for side sleepers on this list, the Naturepedic Organic 2-in-1 pillow contains an organic shredded latex core, which you can adjust to suit your tastes and support your side sleeping position. Some people did find that it was difficult to get the right feel with the pillow, and would have preferred a non-adjustable option that was designed to be just right with no alterations needed.
Not only can you adjust the fill of this pillow, but you can also alter the outer encasement for optimum comfort. You can choose to sleep on the pillow’s smooth stretch-knit side or the quilted side, or swap between the two for the best of both worlds. The smooth stretch-knit side has a stretchier feel that will better conform to your head and neck position, while the quilted side has a fluffier feel. You can machine wash this case to keep it in peak condition throughout its lifespan.
Pros:
- Adjustable fill
- Contains no harsh chemicals
- Two encasement options
Cons:
- Doesn’t relieve pressure from your shoulder
- Only has one height, so it isn’t ideal for combination sleepers
You can see that the pillow doesn’t do much to align your neck and back – it is a high quality pillow, but I didn’t find it the most comfortable. I didn’t really enjoy the feel of the latex, which was a bit too “springy” for me.
The Coop Adjustable Pillow is a very good pillow for general use – it is adjustable and can suit the needs of many different kinds of people. Our primary issue with this pillow is that it doesn’t specifically help with neck pain.
In my experience, neck pain is mostly due to incorrect alignment between your neck and back. Your neck and back can become misaligned vertically and horizontally. This pillow helps with the vertical misalignment – i.e., you can adjust the pillow so that it is the correct height for your neck and back. However, it does not do much to align your neck horizontally – i.e., while you sleep your neck can tilt left or right and this will cause strain to build up and you to wake up with neck pain.
I again would recommend this pillow for a general audience (or maybe for your guest room, if you really like your guests!), but not for someone who is specifically dealing with neck pain.
Some other minor complaints I had with the pillow are the following:
- Over time, it becomes harder to fluff
- The pillow isn’t 100% memory foam fill and you can tell vs. other adjustable fill pillows – this fill doesn’t provide as much support as 100% memory foam pillows.
- The adjustable fill can get messy
Best known for their mattresses, the Swedish company also has a great array of foam pillow products. It is ergonomically-sound and made with memory foam in order to give you solid support when you’re on your side or back. Additionally, the pillow is contoured in order to curve naturally around your head, neck, and shoulders to prevent any unnecessary stress or pressure on pivotal joints. While the polyester outer layer can be removed and machine washed, it’s important to note that this product does have an odd time fitting into pillowcases.
This is a great pillow produced by a well-known company. You can tell by feeling the memory foam that it is high quality. This is a great pillow for side sleepers, but it isn’t as good for combination back and side sleepers. The primary reason for this is that the contour is merely a single “wave” – this wave doesn’t prevent your head from moving side to side as a back or combination sleeper, and so it doesn’t align your neck as well as other contoured memory foam pillows.
When I lay my head down on this pillow, it feels a bit too firm. While I feel supported, the foam kind of hurt my ears (especially when I slept on my side).
If you’re looking for a trusted name in the industry, this is a good option. However, we feel as though there are other, better designed pillows in the market. This company specializes in mattresses, and while their pillow offering is good, it isn’t the best available, especially for the price.
Latex-foam is an increasingly popular pillow option for side sleepers, and the Avocado Molded-Latex Pillow is one of the best of its kind. This pillow has been designed for side sleepers, back sleepers, or anyone who simply wishes for a firmer pillow offering more support.
Not only does the Avocado Molded-Latex Pillow hold its shape, it also offers temperature regulation thanks to its charcoal-infused latex core. Some pillows can hold onto odors and moisture, but the Avocado pillow incorporated design features that prevent this. However, an issue brought up by numerous customers was that this pillow is too high for comfortable sleep.
The pillow comes with one removable, GOTS organic certified cotton cover, which is soft and light, as well as being super simple to clean.
Pros:
- Temperature regulating
- Helps to prevent moisture and odors
- Easy-wash cotton cover
Cons:
- Some customers found pillow was too high
You can see that the pillow doesn’t do much to align your neck and back – if you are looking for a solid generic pillow, this is a good option, but might not be the best if you struggle with neck pain.
Hybrid pillows are particularly popular for side sleepers, providing the best of both worlds. The Layla is stuffed with a combination of reactive memory foam fill and kapok fibers, which allow the pillow to mold nicely to your head, neck and shoulder and keep a firm shape throughout the night.
This pillow features a super soft cover made from a breathable polyester viscose blend with interwoven CuTec® performance copper fibers, ensuring you stay cool and sweat-three throughout the night. However, for people who sleep hot, this pillow might not be as cooling as you’d like.
Kapok may be a new material to you. This kind of material is ideal for using in pillowcases as it’s softer and airier than cotton or wool, offering a greater level of comfort during sleep.
Pros:
- Stays firm throughout the night
- Offers good head and neck contouring
- Uses kapok, a softer, airier material
Cons:
- May not provide enough cooling for hot sleepers
Hot sleepers, don’t panic – there are pillows out there that offer a high level of support and promote a cooling sleep, and the Purple Harmony Pillow is one of the best out there. This pillow features grid material, an innovative invention that you’ll only find in a Purple pillow, which helps to support your head, neck and shoulders while being cooling enough to keep you comfortable on even the hottest nights.
How is cooling promoted with the Purple Harmony? There are several features that promote a cooler sleep, including open air channels in the latex core, which prevents heat build-up. If you hate it when pillows collapse under your neck, you’ll be happy with the performance of the Purple Harmony, which bounces back after a weight has been applied. The only small customer complaint here was that the Purple Harmony isn’t quite high enough for some sleepers’ tastes. It’s also pretty expensive.
Pros:
- Offers a high level of support
- Promotes a cooling sleep
- Soft cover
Cons:
- Not high enough for some sleepers
- Expensive
The Pillow Cube is touted as a pillow designed specifically for side sleepers – while it is a good pillow for side sleepers, it isn’t the best.
The cube shape is marketed as ideal for filling your shoulder gap and promoting neutral alignment between your neck and back. While this is true and it works, I had a couple of big issues with this pillow.
The first is that I like to roll from side to side (and sometimes even sleep on my back). This pillow isn’t great for sleeping on your back — it’s simply too high.
The second is that, even when I sleep completely on one side, I found that the memory foam was a bit too firm and warm vs. other pillows I tried. Now, a firmer pillow might be nice for some people, but this one wasn’t adjustable and was just too firm for me. That being said, you might like it if you gave it a try.
This pillow was on the expensive side as well, especially for what it is. The cooling version comes in at $134.
As you can see, this pillow is a decent solution for exclusively side sleepers, but it does not work as well for combination sleepers. I think this pillow could be worth a test, but I definitely do not think that it is the best pillow available on the market today for side sleepers. You can probably do better.
Conclusions
For most sleepers (side, back, and combination) with neck pain, I highly recommend the Dosaze Contoured Orthopedic Pillow. The quality of the foam, the innovative shape, and the cover are all best in class. And if you don’t like it, you have 60 full days to return. That being said, you can try any of the pillows on this list and see for yourself, hopefully risk free (well except for a few!).
