Zinus vs Siena Mattress: I’ve tried both and this is the cheap mattress to buy on Black Friday

The Zinus and Siena Memory Foam Mattresses are two of the best budget all-foam mattresses I've tried, and as a sleep writer, I've tried a lot of beds. If you need a new mattress in the Black Friday sale and don't want to break the bank, the Zinus and Siena are both enticing options — so which should you buy?

Sorry, but I'm not going to be quite as decisive as that. Finding the best mattress for you is never a once-size-fits-all solution, and while the Zinus is great for side sleepers, the superior support of the Siena has many advantages. Each will suit specific sleep needs, so we're comparing both on their performance over support, comfort, design, materials, temperature regulation and more.

The Black Friday mattress deals are an excellent opportunity to save on a mattress, and for budget-conscious shoppers, the Zinus and Siena are two of my top picks. Read on to find out which you should buy...

• Read more: 7 Black Friday mattress deals just right for back sleepers

Zinus Memory Foam vs Siena Memory Foam mattress: price & trial

• Both are budget-friendly mattresses with evergreen discounts
• A queen Siena is $399, a queen Zinus $499
• Siena has a 180-night trial, Zinus just 100 nights

You don't have to break the bank for either of these mattresses, as evergreen sales ensure they're always kind on the wallet. Whether you choose the Zinus or the Siena, you can buy a queen and still get change from $500.

The Siena is, overall, the cheaper of the two. A queen Siena will set you back $399, and it comes with superior benefits — a 180-night trial and 10-year warranty, and you can expect Siena mattress deals to run throughout the year.

At $499 for a queen (was $599), the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam is the pricier option (although we still consider it a budget mattress). The benefits are average with a 100-night trial and 10-year warranty, but we can't complain at this price.

However, if the Zinus has caught your eye and you're looking to save money, it's often worth checking out third-party sites. Home Depot, Amazon, and Walmart (among others) are often good places to find a bargain on the Zinus Memory Foam Mattress, but be aware that third-party retailers rarely offer a sleep trial.

• Read more: I'm a sleep writer — 3 reasons to buy a mattress online not in store on Black Friday

Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress: was from $399 $199 at Zinus
Zinus is always running a sale, and the standard cost for a queen is $499 (was $599). That's a good price for the comfort this mattress provides, but if you don't mind sacrificing the sleep trial, you can sometimes find this model for less on third-party sites.

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Siena Memory Foam Mattress: was from $529 $199 at Siena
With prices starting at $199 in the evergreen Siena sale, this budget mattress is excellent value for money. A queen is typically sold for $399 (was $769) and comes with a 10-year warranty and 180-night trial — surprisingly good benefits for the price.

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ZInus Memory Foam vs Siena Memory Foam mattress: materials & design

• Both are all foam mattress measuring 10 inches high
• Zinus has three internal layers, including a memory foam cushion layer
• Siena has two internal layers; a gel foam and a sturdy foundation foam

Budget mattresses often use simple builds, to keep costs down without having to sacrifice quality. Zinus and Siena have both stuck to this trend, with the all-foam mattresses taking a streamlined approach.

The Zinus features three internal foam layers: an upper layer of green tea infused memory foam, followed by a transition layer, and then a layer of durable base foam. It's finished with a breathable cover.

Siena uses just two layers to build its mattress, with a 1.75" layer of responsive gel memory foam sitting on top of a 8.25" layer of foundational foam. The breathable cover features a shift resistant lower cover, to help keep everything in place.

ZInus Memory Foam vs Siena Memory Foam mattress: support & comfort

• Zinus has a medium feel with ample sink
• Siena has good contouring but a firmer support
• Zinus suits side sleepers, Siena is better for back and front sleepers

I've had a chance to try both the Siena and Zinus mattress and despite some similarities in build (and in price tag) there are some noticeable differences between these beds.

The Zinus has a medium feel, with a surface you simply sink into. From just one touch I could feel the Zinus adapting to my shape, and this cushioning prevents pressure build up when side sleeping. You can thank the upper memory foam layer for this, although the transition layer also aids contouring. If you'd like a more in-depth report, read the Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam mattress review.

There is a decent amount of support to this mattress (I never felt like I was going to sink through the bed), but if you're a stomach sleeper you'll definitely need a firmer feel. And the lack of edge support is an issue — the bed collapses beneath you when you sit down on the sides.

The Siena is significantly firmer than the Zinus. There's definite contouring where you press against the mattress, but not the full-body hug you might expect from an all-foam model. For front and back sleepers, this ensures a stable support across the spine and lumbar region, with none of that dreaded sag.

The downside is that side sleepers are likely to find the Siena too firm, without the cushioning needed to relieve pressure. This does mean the edges are stronger, however, and you can sit comfortably on the side of the Siena without risking collapse. In our Siena mattress review, our lead tester noted that after a week the foams did soften and it became more comfortable for side sleeping.

There's one thing that both mattresses have in common — motion isolation. This refers to how well a mattress prevents movement from traveling across the bed, and the Zinus and Siena are excellent at it. If you share a bed with a restless sleeper, either model is a good choice.

ZInus Memory Foam vs Siena Memory Foam mattress: temperature control

• Neither bed features dedicated cooling materials
• Zinus has a green tea infusion for freshness but can sleep warm
• The firmer Siena is a better choice for warm sleepers

If you're a hot sleeper, neither the Zinus or the Siena can rival the best cooling mattresses. However, for temperature regulation, there's a clear winner: the Siena.

The dense foams of the Zinus hold onto heat, creating a warmer sleep surface. I'm not a particularly hot sleeper and I still woke up feeling stuffy some nights. Because the firmer Siena doesn't have the same sink-in softness of the Zinus, it's less prone to trapping heat, so you feel fresher.

ZInus Memory Foam vs Siena Memory Foam mattress: which should you buy?

Buy the Zinus Memory Foam Mattress if...

✅ You sleep on your side: The dense foams of the Zinus ease around the shoulders, hips, and knees to create cushioned comfort that's just right for side sleepers..

✅ You want a memory foam 'hug': Sleeping on the Zinus is a classic memory foam experience, as the foams embrace the body to hold you in a cozy 'hug'.

✅ You want plenty of pressure relief: The Zinus provides excellent relief at the touch points. I've talked a lot about how it suits side sleepers, but it can also appeal to back sleepers who prefer a softer bed.

Buy the Siena Memory Foam Mattress if...

✅ You sleep on your front: I'm a stomach sleeper and the Siena is my pick of these two budgets mattresses. The firm support holds my hips in place when lying on my front, to avoid aches and pains.

✅ You have back pains: The firmer support of the Siena keeps the lumbar region at a neutral angle overnight, allowing the muscles to relax for less back ache.

✅ You like to sit on the sides: Whether you sit on your bed to get ready or need to push against the mattress to get up in the morning, the firmer sides of the Siena should provide the supportive base you need.