The quick answer#

The Foam People make budget, made-to-order all-foam mattresses from around £109, with custom sizes. Simba is a premium bed-in-a-box best known for its spring-and-foam hybrids with a more responsive, supportive feel and a long home trial. Choose The Foam People to spend the least or get a custom size; choose Simba for a springier hybrid feel and a risk-free trial.

Price and value#

  • The Foam People: roughly £109–£198, the cheapest credible route to a supportive bed, and the only one here that makes non-standard sizes.
  • Simba: markedly higher prices, though frequently discounted. You pay for the hybrid engineering, branded comfort layers and a longer trial.

Feel and support#

The Foam People build 100% foam, close contouring, strong motion isolation, a medium feel that suits side sleepers and couples. Simba's hybrids pair pocket springs with foam, giving a more responsive surface that is easier to move on and supports heavier sleepers well. For most people a medium feel is the safest target, a systematic review of 39 studies found medium-firm best supports comfort, sleep quality and spinal alignment.1

Sleeping cool and foam smell#

All-foam mattresses can sleep warmer and have a faint initial odour. Independent testing of memory-foam emissions found volatile organic compounds well below health-based guidance values, decaying within weeks, so airing the mattress briefly is usually enough.2 Simba's spring layer aids airflow; if you sleep hot on foam, look at The Foam People's CoolMax options or see our cooling guide.

Durability#

Quality foams retain much of their firmness through extended use, though all foam softens over time.3 Simba's hybrid springs offer a different, often longer-lasting support profile, while the comfort layer softens first. Rotate either regularly.

Which should you choose?#

  • Choose The Foam People if: you want the lowest price, a custom size, or an all-foam contouring feel.
  • Choose Simba if: you want a responsive hybrid, better support for a heavier frame, and a long home trial.

Read our Foam People review and Simba review, or take our quiz to match a bed to your sleep style.

We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.

References#

  1. Caggiari G, Talesa GR, Toro G, Jannelli E, Monteleone G, Puddu L. What type of mattress should be chosen to avoid back pain and improve sleep quality? Review of the literature. Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 2021;22:51. doi:10.1186/s10195-021-00616-5
  2. Beckett EM, Cackovic K, Charles S, et al. Quantification of volatile organic compound emissions from memory foam mattresses and predicted inhalation exposures. Chemosphere. 2022;303:134945. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134945
  3. Vlaović Z, Klarić N, Domljan D. Investigating the Impact of Long-Term Use on Mattress Firmness and Sleep Quality: Preliminary Results. Applied Sciences. 2024;14(21):10016. doi:10.3390/app142110016