Entertainment
Testing the Top 5 Mattresses Under $500 in Our Homes

Finding the best mattress can be a daunting task, especially when you’re on a budget. With so many options available, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why we took the time to research and test six different mattresses under $500 to help you find the perfect one for your needs.
Best for Back Pain: Allswell 10-Inch Hybrid Mattress
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If you struggle with back pain, the Allswell 10-Inch Hybrid Mattress is a great option. It offers a good balance of firmness and cushion, distributes body pressure evenly, and expands quickly when unboxed. Our tester, who has a history of back pain, found that their energy increased, and their discomfort decreased after using this mattress. While it may not have the best cooling technology, it’s still a worthy pick for those looking for comfort and support.
Firmness: Medium-firm | Filling Material: Gel-infused memory foam | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California king | Return Policy: Free 90-day returns
Best for Side Sleepers: Novilla Bliss Mattress
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Side sleepers need a mattress that offers a balance of plushness and support, and the Novilla Bliss Mattress does just that. The gel memory foam cradles your body while providing enough firmness to keep you supported. Our tester noticed less tossing and turning and felt more well-rested after using this mattress. While the cooling technology may not be as effective as advertised, the overall comfort and support make it a great choice for side sleepers.
Firmness: Medium-plush | Filling Material: Gel memory foam | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Return Policy: Free 100-day returns
Best Firm Mattress: Nod by Tuft & Needle 8” Mattress
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For those prioritizing support and spine alignment, the Nod by Tuft & Needle 8” Mattress is a fantastic choice. This mattress inflates quickly, feels cool to the touch, and provides excellent support throughout the night. While there may be a slight adjustment period for those transitioning from a softer mattress, the benefits of improved sleep quality and reduced pain make it worth it.
Firmness: Medium | Filling Material: Memory foam | Sizes: Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king | Return Policy: Free 100-day returns
Best Memory Foam Mattress: Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
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The Zinus Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress stands out for its high-quality memory foam and affordable price. It inflates quickly, provides even pressure distribution, and reduces back and hip pain. While it may feel slightly firm at first, the plush, cradling feeling it offers makes it a comfortable and supportive choice for a wide range of sleepers.
Firmness: Medium | Filling Material: Memory foam | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, split king, California king | Return Policy: Free 30-day returns
Best Value: FDW Gel Memory Foam Mattress
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If you’re looking for an affordable yet supportive option, the FDW Gel Memory Foam Mattress is a great value pick. It offers joint support, reduces tossing and turning, and provides a higher-quality sleep experience. While the cooling properties may not be as noticeable, the overall comfort, quality memory foam, and ease of setup make it a worthwhile purchase.
Firmness: Medium | Filling Material: Memory Foam | Sizes: Twin, full, queen, king, California King | Return Policy: Free 100-day returns
Other Mattresses Under $500 We Tried
- Linenspa 10-Inch Memory Foam and Spring Hybrid Mattress: While this mattress offers quick inflation and good motion isolation, some testers found it too firm for their liking.
What to Know About Mattresses Under $500
Firmness: Different firmness levels cater to different sleepers, from side sleepers to stomach sleepers.
Material: Consider the material of the mattress, especially for temperature regulation.
Break-In Period: Most mattresses require a break-in period, so be patient and give it a chance to adjust to your body.
Behind the Scenes
Our team of testers spent over 1,300 hours evaluating these mattresses based on unboxing experience, comfort, support, sleep quality, and value.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Our commerce contributor Olivia Avitt thoroughly researched and reviewed each mattress to deliver informative insights for your purchase decisions.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
The PEOPLE Tested seal of approval ensures that our recommendations are based on rigorous testing methods and unbiased evaluations.
Whether you’re dealing with back pain, looking for the perfect mattress for side sleeping, or seeking a budget-friendly option, these five mattresses under $500 offer a range of options to suit your needs. With comfort, support, and quality in mind, you can rest assured that you’ll find the perfect mattress for a good night’s sleep without breaking the bank.
Entertainment
Lizzo Rocks Absurdly Tiny Cowboy Hat as She Gets Ready for Beyoncé Concert

- Lizzo topped off her Cowboy Carter Tour look with the tiniest cowboy hat
- The singer attended the concert in a monochromatic pastel blue ensemble featuring plenty of ruffles
- The star also recently celebrated her 37th birthday
Lizzo is getting in the Cowboy Carter spirit.
The singer, 37, got all dolled up to see Beyoncé‘s Cowboy Carter Tour and she shared her glam moment on Instagram.
“WHEN I SAY ‘YEE’ U SAY ‘HAW’ Bitch! 🤠” she captioned the post. In the series of snaps, the Grammy winner wears a baby blue minidress with a long sheer train in the back. The ensemble also features dramatic ruffles along the skirt and a matching feather boa.
Keeping with the monochromatic theme, Lizzo added cowboy boots and a teeny, tiny cowboy hat in the same pastel hue. The hat rested atop the singer’s voluminous curls. Her makeup also matched the look and featured bold blue eyeshadow as well as red lipstick.
Lizzo’s post didn’t explicitly state she was on her way to the Cowboy Carter Tour, but hairstylist JStayReady posted a photo alongside the singer on his Instagram Story. In a feed post sharing his own Western-inspired look, the stylist said they were off to the opening night of the tour, which took place in Los Angeles on Monday, April 28.
Lizzo/Tiktok
This isn’t Lizzo’s first brush with an an absurdly tiny accessory. In 2019, the “Truth Hurts” singer made a splash at the American Music Awards by pairing her ruffled, coral-colored dress with a miniature Valentino purse.
“There’s only three in the world,” Lizzo revealed, as cameras zoomed in on the accessory. “I got tampons in here, a flask of tequila, condoms.”
“@maisonvalentino bag big enough for my f—- to give. Big body bitch in a Valentin-HO custom look for @amas 🍑💦 ,” Lizzo captioned a red carpet snap on Instagram.
Rich Fury/Getty
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This month, the singer celebrated her 37th birthday in style. On Sunday, April 27, Lizzo shared a video of herself wearing a form-fitting leopard print dress, declaring in the caption: “ITS MY BDAYYYYYY!!! ♉️”
She also shared a couple of selfies to Instagram showing her birthday celebrations, giving a closer look at her sexy, see-through dress. The halter-neck dress had the illusion of a corset top that cinched at her waist. The star accessorized with long gloves that perfectly matched the leopard print.
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Lizzo/Instagram
In the caption of the post, the singer shared that she had “a lot of anxiety” ahead of the festivities.
“I’m a tough cookie. I tried my whole life not to cry and be seen as anything less than strong. I had a lot of anxiety leading up to my birthday and I could feel it clogging my emotions,” she began in the caption.
“Last night at dinner, while freaking out about not spending time with everyone equally and worrying if people were having a good time,” she continued. “I looked and saw my mommy brother & sister sitting in front of me, eating and smiling.. I looked to my right and my best friend Lexo was making a joke about eating avocados and I lost it.”
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However, she continued in the post, she is grateful for another year of life.
“I was SO HAPPY because regardless of yesterday and regardless of what was gonna happen next, in that very moment I had everything I needed,” she said, before adding, “In that moment everything was ok.”
“In this present moment I am sooo grateful for all of the birthday wishes and thoughts and prayers and love. am so full so happy and so deeply blessed by you all ♉️,” Lizzo concluded.
Entertainment
Blake Lively’s friendship with Gigi Hadid questioned

Blake Lively and Gigi Hadid’s friendship status was questioned after the actress skipped the model’s star-studded 30th birthday party last week.
“I think it’s weird that you don’t show up at one of your friends’ 30th birthday party,” former entertainment reporter Kjersti Flaa said on her “Flaawsome Talk” podcast Sunday.
“It’s not that you don’t want to be out and seen out in public because she did go to that event the day before,” she added of Lively’s appearance at the Time100 Gala last Thursday.
“I think maybe Gigi Hadid didn’t want [Lively] to show up because both her and [her boyfriend] Bradley Cooper [are] probably waiting to be subpoenaed,” Flaa said, referring to the “Gossip Girl” alum’s ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni.
Page Six has reached out to reps for both Lively and Hadid but did not immediately hear back.
Last Friday, the catwalker threw a birthday bash at Le Chalet in New York City.
Cooper, 50, and several other stars, including sister Bella Hadid, Zoë Kravitz, Anne Hathaway, Emily Ratajkowski and Will Arnett, were in attendance.
Page Six confirmed Tuesday that Taylor Swift also snuck into the festivities, where photos were not allowed inside.
The night after Gigi’s bash, Lively, 37, and Reynolds, 48, were pictured packing on the PDA while cheering on his Wrexham soccer team in Wales.
The couple then flew back to NYC to attend the red carpet premiere of her new film, “Another Simple Favor.”
Lively and Gigi have been friends for years and reportedly met through Swift.
Last summer, the “A Simple Favor” star and the runway model even rocked superhero-inspired latex looks at the red carpet premiere of Reynolds’ film “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
However, since Lively sued Baldoni, 41, for sexual harassment in December, Gigi and the mom of four have not been publicly seen together. (Baldoni denied sexually harassing Lively on the set of their 2024 movie, “It Ends With Us.”)
To make matters even worse, Swift, 35, got thrown into Lively’s legal drama and is reportedly being subpoenaed.
Baldoni claimed in his $400 million defamation countersuit against the “Age of Adaline” actress and Reynolds that she had weaponized her friendship with the pop star while trying to control their film’s production.
Lively and Baldoni’s trial is set to begin in March 2026.
Entertainment
Prince Harry Set to Attend Diana Award Conversation in Las Vegas

Prince Harry is paying tribute to his mother’s legacy by celebrating the changemakers of tomorrow.
The Duke of Sussex is set to travel to Las Vegas on May 6, where he’ll take part in a conversation hosted by Dr. Tessy Ojo, the CEO of the Diana Award, the only charity that bears the name of Princess Diana.
The event — part of the AI platform for business transformation ServiceNow’s Knowledge 2025 conference — will launch the Diana Award’s “Pledge to Invest” initiative, which celebrates future leaders and helps inspire forward-thinking businesses to support their missions.
THE DIANA AWARD
Dr. Ojo will chair the conversation with Prince Harry, President of Global Customer Operations at ServiceNow Paul Fipps and two young recipients of the organization’s Legacy Award: Sikander “Sonny” Khan and Christina Williams.
Khan works in artificial intelligence at Microsoft and also heads up the Paani Project, an organization that supports diverse humanitarian efforts in Pakistan, including the construction of over 20,000 wells.
Williams is an attorney and advocate from Jamaica who champions youth empowerment and marginalized groups’ equitable access to education, healthcare and technology.
THE DIANA AWARD
The conversation will focus on “youth leadership and how employers can proactively create pathways for young people to enter and thrive in the workplace.”
“Companies that invest in youth leadership today are cultivating the workforce, innovators, and consumers of tomorrow,” Dr. Ojo said in a statement. “The Diana Award is proud to launch ‘Pledge to Invest’ - an opportunity for forward-thinking businesses to make a strategic, measurable, and high-impact investment in the future of youth leadership. For over 25 years, The Diana Award has invested in young people, empowering them to tackle the pressing issues of our time.”
The Diana Award was established in 1999 by former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Current patrons include former prime minister David Cameron, Dame Julia Samuel, former Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell and Esther Rantzen.
THE DIANA AWARD
Harry and his brother, Prince William, are both supporters of the Diana Award — one of the only charitable causes they still publicly share. The organization, named in honor of their late mother, remains a rare point of connection in their philanthropic work. The organization’s mission, as stated on their website, is to “empower young people to lead that change through a range of initiatives which unlock their potential, inspire action and create opportunities, ensuring that no young person is left out or left behind.”
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During his visit to New York City with wife Meghan Markle last week, the Duke of Sussex made a surprise stop in Brooklyn to support the next generation of leaders at the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund (RTYPF) Convening.
“Thank God you guys exist, thank God you guys are here,” he told the group, which was made up of young leaders and funders working towards “a safer, more inclusive digital future.”
As the power of technology only continues to grow, Harry told the group that they all have a “responsibility” to prioritize safety over profits.
“You have the knowledge and the skillset and the confidence and the bravery and the courage to be able to stand up to these things,” he added.
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