Alison Barretta

Alison Barretta

Freelance reviewer and writer

Based in Philadelphia, USA, freelance writer and editor Alison Barretta has been sharing buying advice and retail news for over 15 years. Since 2020 she's been helping Tom's Guide expand its robust library of sleep content by researching the latest trends, speaking with renowned experts, and going behind the scenes at Saatva, Casper, Sleep Number, Tempur-Pedic, and 3Z Brands. Alison has reviewed everything from budget memory foam mattresses and luxurious innerspring beds to immersive sound pods and $7,000 smart beds that automatically adjust to your every move. When she isn't reviewing mattresses or searching for great deals to save you money, Alison can be found practicing yoga and martial arts, experimenting with recipes, getting too invested in the Philadelphia Flyers, and snoozing with her cat / assistant mattress tester Alex.

Latest articles by Alison Barretta

A woman sits on the foot of the Saatva Classic mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom

The best luxury mattress 2025: Tested by sleep experts

By Alison Barretta last updated

Our team of experts have slept on and tested the best luxury mattresses on the market to bring you our guide to the top options for every budget and sleep need.

Mattresses
Image shows a white innerspring mattress on a grey box spring placed on a pink and blue ombre style background

Do mattresses need box springs?

By Alison Barretta published

What you need to know about using a box spring with a hybrid, memory foam, latex or innerspring mattress.

Mattresses
Image shows three clean white mattresses without fiberglass stacked on top of one another on a glossy white floor

Want to be sure you're buying a mattress without fiberglass? Here are the red flags to look for

By Alison Barretta published

Fiberglass is still widely used in many cheap mattresses — and manufacturers aren’t always upfront about it.

Mattresses
The DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom, between two night stands with lamps on top, two pillows balanced at the top end of the bed

DreamCloud Mattress review 2025

By Alison Barretta last updated

We tested the DreamCloud Mattress for three weeks to see if this affordable hybrid can deliver the luxury sleep it promises.

Mattresses
The Siena Memory Foam Mattress placed on a white bed frame in our blue testing bedroom

Siena Memory Foam Mattress review 2025

By Alison Barretta last updated

We retested the budget-friendly Siena Memory Foam Mattress to see if it's still one of our top picks for stomach sleepers in 2025

Mattresses
A couple on a DreamCloud mattress

What's the best mattress for couples in 2025? I'm a mattress tester — these are my top picks

By Alison Barretta last updated

Share a bed? These are the best mattresses for couples with great motion isolation and temperature control, chosen by sleep experts.

Mattresses
The best queen mattress of 2024 image shows The DreamCloud hybrid on a wooden bed frame in a white bedroom

What’s the best queen size mattress in 2025? I’m a mattress tester – these are my top picks

By Claire Davies last updated

Queen is the most popular mattress size in America and our sleep experts have found the six best queen size mattresses to shop today.

Mattresses
Mattress tester for Tom's Guide in the 3z factory feeling a new mattress surface

What are the different types of foams used inside mattresses?

By Alison Barretta published

Not all mattress foam is the same. This guide explains the different types and how they're used.

Mattresses
One of the best cheap mattress toppers, the Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress Topper on a bed

The best cheap mattress toppers under $50 in 2025

By Alison Barretta last updated

Find the best cheap mattress topper under $50 that will transform your bed and boost your comfort while on a tight budget

Mattress Toppers
Best pillow-top mattresses main image shows a blonde woman in a denim shirt reading a book while lying on top of the Stearns & Foster Estate Mattress

The best pillow-top mattress in 2025: our expert picks for hotel-style comfort at home

By Jo Plumridge last updated

We rate the best pillow-top mattresses for comfort, support and price, with full reviews from our certified sleep experts.

Mattresses
A medium-firm Saatva Classic photographed on a white wooden bedframe in a blue bedroom surrounded by tall green house plants and a bookcase shelving unit containing pillows, blankets and books

What's the best medium-firm mattress in 2025? I'm a sleep expert and these are my top picks

By Alison Barretta, Ruth Jones last updated

We've tried and tested all the latest medium-firm mattresses, and I've narrowed them down to the seven best ones to buy in 2025

Mattresses
Best mattress under $1,000: The image shows Tom's Guide's testers unpacking the Siena Memory Foam Mattress

The best mattress under $1,000 in 2025: Queen-size comfort for less

By Alison Barretta last updated

You may have a queen-size bed but you don't have to spend a royal fortune for a good mattress. These are the best mattresses under $1,000 according to our experts.

Mattresses
Best king size mattresses: image shows the Saatva Classic hybrid mattress placed on a stylish dark wood bedframe placed in front of a log fire in a cabin

What's the best king size mattress in 2025? I’m a mattress tester — these are my top picks

By Alison Barretta last updated

Thinking of sizing up your bed from a queen to a king? These are the best king size mattresses of the year, according to our expert testing panel.

Mattresses
Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe navy and white mattress on wooden bed base in bedroom with grey wooden floor and Tom's Guide price drop badge

Hurry! One of our favorite cooling mattresses is up to $800 off in the after Christmas sales for a limited time

By Alison Barretta published

Brooklyn Bedding's after Christmas sale is a repeat of its Black Friday sale, cutting 30% off sitewide. That includes an all-time low for the Aurora Luxe Cooling Mattress.

Mattresses
The Purple Plus Mattress on a bed frame with pillows on top, in a bedroom. To the right is a Tom's Guide Price Drop deals graphic 'price drop' for the after Christmas mattress sales

Better than Black Friday! The Purple Plus Mattress is $400 off during Purple's after Christmas sale

By Alison Barretta published

A flat $400 off the Purple Plus in the after Christmas mattress sales yields better-than-Black Friday prices — but don't wait too long to buy.

Mattresses
Saatva Organic Quilted Mattress Topper on top of a Saatva mattress with a green sheet draped over it and a pillow on top; it's discounted in the after Christmas mattress sales

Saatva's after Christmas mattress sale offers a rare chance to save 15% on its organic bed topper

By Alison Barretta published

Saatva's after Christmas mattress sale shaves 15% off the Saatva Organic Quilted Mattress Topper in select sizes — but act fast, because this offer won't be around for long.

Mattresses
The Casper Wave Hybrid Snow in blue bedroom with Lowest Price tag in lower left corner, as it's at the lowest price we've ever tracked for it in the 2024 after Christmas mattress sales

Casper’s after Christmas sale delivers 50% off clearance mattresses and 30% off bundles

By Alison Barretta last updated

The Casper after Christmas sale cuts 30% off bundles — or shop its clearance section for 50% off discontinued mattresses.

Mattresses
Sleep tester Alison resting on her side on the Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt ProAdjust Pillow with her back toward the camera

Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt ProAdjust Pillow review 2025

By Alison Barretta published

Our tester slept on a Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt ProAdjust Pillow for two weeks. Here's how it helped her neck and shoulder pain...

Pillows & Bedding
The Eight Sleep Pod 4 Ultra cover and base on a bed in a bedroom, with a slight elevation at the head of the mattress

Don't let your FSA dollars expire! Buy a smart bed in the after Christmas mattress sales instead

By Alison Barretta published

With FSA funds, you have to use them before you lose them at the end of the year. Consider spending them on a new smart bed in the after Christmas sales.

Mattresses
The Tempur Cloud Mattress on a white bedroom in a white bedroom, with a price drop tag in the lower right corner for 2024 after Christmas mattress sales

Hurry! Get Tempur-Pedic's bed-in-a-box at 30% off in this year's after Christmas mattress sales before it's too late

By Alison Barretta published

No sweat if you missed Tempur-Pedic's Black Friday offer for its Tempur-Cloud bed-in-a-box. It's returned as an after Christmas mattress deal for a limited time.

Mattresses
The Bryte Balance smart mattress on a bed frame in a warmly lit room

This AI-powered smart bed is $500 off in the after Christmas sales — but this deal won't be around for long

By Alison Barretta last updated

Bryte is back with another discount, with $500 off its AI-powered smart bed during its after Christmas sale.

Mattresses
The dreamcloud mattress on a bed frame in a spacious bedroom

This DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress is one of the best deals in the after Christmas sales

By Jack Ridsdale published

DreamCloud's after Christmas sale is no different than what we normally see, but with prices for its luxury hybrid mattress starting at $419, it still sets a high bar for overall value.

Mattresses
Mattress cover being machine stitched in a factory

What are mattress covers made from? Everything you need to know

By Alison Barretta published

An easy guide to the different types of mattress covers and how they affect your sleep comfort.

Mattresses
The image shows the Saatva Classic mattress on the left and the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid on the right in a side by side comparison

Saatva Classic vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid: Which pillow top mattress should you buy

By Rachael Penn published

In our Saatva Classic vs Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid showdown, we compare these two popular mattresses to help you find the right fit for your needs and budget.

Mattresses
The image shows the Nectar Classic on the left hand side of the image and the Nectar Luxe Mattress on the right in a side by side comparison

Nectar Classic vs Nectar Luxe: Which mattress in a box should you buy for aches and pains?

By Alison Barretta published

Our Nectar Classic vs Nectar Luxe showdown compares the design and performance of these memory foam mattresses based on our hands-on testing.

Mattresses
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