Soft yet supportive fills that impressed our scientists and at-home sleep testers.
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When it comes to shopping for pillows, down alternative is a great option for a variety of sleep preferences and personal needs. A synthetic version of down (i.e., the clusters underneath the feathers on ducks and geese), down alternative is typically less expensive and easier to clean than other pillow types, yet still can be made to feel luxuriously soft and supportive. But with so many options to choose from, it's important to keep in mind that not all down alternative pillows are the same.
The fiber scientists in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab regularly evaluate all types of pillows to find the best options for every preference, sleep position and budget. In recent years we've tested more than 160 pillows and reviewed over 5,000 data points before recommending our top picks. We evaluate everything from durability and shape retention to washability and pillowcase fit. We also have at-home testers sleep on the pillows to share feedback on comfort, support, temperature regulation and more.
At the end of this article, you can read more about how we test pillows and what to keep in mind as you shop, but first, here's everything you need to know about our top-tested down alternative pillows. And while you're shopping for your bed, check out our reviews for the best down alternative comforters.
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This pillow proves that down alternative can be just as luxurious — if not more so — than pricier fill types. The stuffing feels lightweight yet surprisingly firm compared to other down alternative options, but what really sets it apart is how well it keeps its shape. In fact, it perfectly bounced back to shape after we applied pressure in our Lab tests.
On top of that, the pillow washed well in our laundering tests and fit great into a standard-size pillowcase. It's sold as part of a pair, so you get two pillows with each purchase.
Who it's best for: People who prefer pillows with loose stuffing rather than solid foam, yet don't want to sacrifice firmness and support. It's especially good for side sleepers and back sleepers because it's tall and substantial to keep your neck aligned with your body.
Tester notes: Our sleep testers unanimously gave it high scores for comfort, and some even highlighted how soft and smooth the cotton cover felt. They all noticed the shape retention as well, with one pointing out, "It kept its shape better than any other pillow I've ever used."
Despite costing much less than other styles — especially since the price is for a set of two — this pillow outperformed some expensive models and washed beautifully without shrinkage or signs of wear in our Lab's tests.
The set is available in two firmness levels: soft (which is ideal for stomach sleepers or people with smaller body frames) and medium (which is more suitable for side and back sleepers). Both options are entirely polyester, which helps keep the cost low, though it may not feel as luxurious as options with a cotton cover.
Who it's best for: Anyone looking for a low-cost pillow that won't sacrifice performance. The two firmness options make it suitable for all sleep positions. It's also great for people with allergies because it holds up to repeated washing.
Tester notes: At-home reviewers told us they woke up without feeling sore while sleeping on this pillow, and they especially liked how soft it felt. One commented, "I like how fluffy this pillow is and how well it maintains shape after continued use." Some noted they would have preferred if it were taller and denser but still gave it good scores overall.
Your bed can feel like a five-star hotel experience with this hotel-quality pillow that impressed us with its impeccable construction. For starters, its down alternative fill feels luxuriously plush yet still sturdy, and its cotton cover has a geometric design for an added touch. In fact, it was a winner of our 2023 Good Housekeeping Best Bedding Awards.
This pillow especially stood out in our Lab's durability tests because it showed no signs of wear after multiple washes when following its care label, which recommends using the gentle cycle. It also earned good scores for shape retention and pillowcase fit.
Who it's best for: The brand says it's specifically designed for side sleepers, though its medium firmness is suitable for back sleepers as well. Regardless of sleep position, it's great for people who want a hotel-quality pillow using a down alternative fill.
Tester notes: Users unanimously rated it as comfortable to sleep on, and several side sleepers specifically called out how well it worked for their sleep position. One side sleeper told us it was "the first pillow that has been supportive without causing any neck strain." Another liked that "it's not stiff" and said, "It's soft and comfortable for a side sleeper." The only downside is some noted it slept a bit warm, making it less suitable for hot sleepers.
Despite using down alternative, this pillow feels luxurious like real down. In fact, the brand says the fill consists of "uniquely engineered springy fibers," meaning it'll resist clumping or falling flat like some down alternative options. The cover is a luxe cotton fabric for an extra upscale feel.
One thing to note is that it didn't wash quite as well as other down alternative pillows, showing some signs of wear after repeated laundering. But it still had relatively good scores in our Lab tests.
Who it's best for: Sleepers that prefer down alternative over down but are worried about missing the fluffy and luxurious feel of real down clusters. Because this pillow is taller and more substantial, it's better suited for side and back sleepers; it may feel too high for smaller body frames and stomach sleepers.
Tester notes: Our panelists loved everything from the softness and support to the appearance and cooling feel. One even noted, "I don't have to continuously re-fluff my pillow," when comparing it to similar pillows she's used. Testers also found it to be versatile as a lounge pillow when sitting up in bed.
While most down alternative pillows contain only polyester fill, this popular model from Coop Home Goods uses a blend of polyester clusters and memory foam pieces to give you the benefit of both. As a result, it feels plush yet surprisingly supportive. The fill is also adjustable, so you can add or remove stuffing to achieve your preferred height.
It's been our top pick for the best pillow for years thanks to its standout performance both in the Lab and with consumer testers. Though the outer cover pilled over time, the fill held up to washing (which is a big feat for pillows containing foam). It also bounced back to shape immediately after our pressure tests. Not to mention, it's a bestseller on Amazon and costs less than other hybrid pillows on the market.
Who it's best for: Almost anyone; this pillow is one of the most crowd-pleasing options, especially since it's adjustable. It's also ideal for people who aren't sure which material they prefer or those that want more pressure relief and support than a typical down alternative pillow.
Tester notes: It's a tester favorite, with our panel of at-home users giving it high ratings across the board. They also unanimously said it performed better than any other pillow they had previously used and noted that it led to better sleep quality. Testers especially liked how versatile it was, with one noting she was "able to comfortably switch from side to back to stomach and still feel supported and comfortable."
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Here's Why The Coop Home Goods Pillow Is Good Housekeeping's Top-Tested Pick
Boll & Branch is known for its luxury organic bedding, and while polyester down alternative can never be truly "organic" because polyester is a synthetic fiber, this pillow follows more sustainable practices without sacrificing quality. Its outer cover is made with organic cotton and the fill is PrimaLoft, a winner of Good Housekeeping's 2023 Sustainable Innovation Awards for its corporate initiatives.
We loved how well this pillow washed, though it did take longer to bounce back to shape in our pressure tests. Still, it fits perfectly inside a pillowcase so it'll look great on the bed, and it earned good scores from real users.
Who it's best for: Sustainably-minded shoppers that prefer down alternative over latex pillows. Though it's pricier than other down alternative pillows, it's a good investment for the high-end materials and construction you're getting. It comes in three firmness levels, so there's something for every preference and sleep position.
Tester notes: Our panelists loved the comfort of this pillow, including the feel of the outer cover — and one said it "felt like it was cradling my head." They also gave it perfect scores for staying at a comfortable body temperature all night, meaning you shouldn't have to worry about overheating.
If you prefer down alternative and struggle with night sweats, this innovative pillow is your best bet. Its cover uses Outlast, a temperature-regulating technology that stores and releases your body heat to keep you at a comfortable temperature throughout the night. Though some pillows have materials that feel instantly cool to the touch, this one works all night to prevent overheating.
Beyond its cooling capabilities, this pillow also stood out in our Lab's performance and durability tests. It washed well, kept its shape after pressure was applied and looked great inside a pillowcase. The only thing to note is that it's not quite as firm or supportive as some other down alternative fills.
Who it's best for: Hot sleepers or anyone that's looking for temperature regulation throughout the night. It comes in two firmness levels, making it suitable for multiple sleep positions.
Tester notes: It earned high scores from all at-home testers for keeping them at a comfortable temperature as they slept. One tester said, "I was very skeptical about the cooling claims of the pillow and was so pleased to find them to be true! The pillow never became hot like my own pillows do." Our reviewers also gave it top marks for overall comfort and keeping its shape after use.
Most pillows use a cotton or polyester outer cover, but this one's made of Tencel lyocell, a super soft fiber that's also breathable and moisture-wicking. As a result, the cover feels incredibly soft compared to most pillows. It calls itself "eucalyptus" because the fiber uses eucalyptus wood pulp as the raw material, though it goes through chemical processing so that there isn't actually any eucalyptus in the finished fabric.
The fill is polyester, which is typical for down alternatives, but it still contributes to the overall soft feel of this pillow. Despite being plush, it kept its shape exceptionally well in both Lab and consumer tests.
Who it's best for: Sleepers that prefer the ultimate softness. It may not provide quite enough support for some side sleepers (especially those with larger body frames), but it's generally versatile for multiple sleep positions.
Tester notes: Our most recent sleep testers gave this pillow rave reviews and couldn't name anything they disliked. One said, "It feels like a hug!" while another told us, "It keeps its shape, and I don't wake up with a sore neck." In recent years, some testers have noted that it didn't feel quite as supportive as other pillows they've used, but still gave it overall good scores.
Each pillow we recommend has been tested in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab and in the homes of real consumer testers. We've evaluated more than 160 different pillows in recent years, and we analyze data from these tests before recommending the best pillows for every type of sleeper.
Our at-home sleep testers provide in-depth feedback on aspects like comfort, support, temperature regulation and more. They're assigned a pillow that matches their sleep preferences — meaning testers that prefer down alternative test down alternative pillows — then they sleep on it for weeks before filling out a survey with both scored and open-ended responses.
Here's how we test pillows in the Lab:
We check the care labels to make sure we're washing the pillows according to the recommended instructions. Most down alternative pillows are machine-wash safe, but we make note of whether any pillows are dry clean or spot clean only. We wash and dry each pillow five times to check whether they shrink or show signs of wear from laundering.
Since pillow shapes can vary, we check how well each one fits into a pillowcase. Our analysts even measure how much space is left over to see if it'll work with typical at-home bedding.
Lastly, analysts perform shape retention tests to check how supportive the pillows are against pressure. A weight that mimics your head is left on the pillow for an extended period, then we measure how quickly it bounces back to its original shape.
Although down alternative pillows options often have some similarities, there's actually a wide range of options to choose from. Here's what to keep in mind as you shop:
Down pillows are made from the down of ducks or geese; the down is the cluster that's located under the bird's protective feathers. These clusters are fluffy and insulating, and the loftiness is hard to mimic with synthetic down alternative fibers.
Down alternative, on the other hand, is typically animal-free and made with synthetic fibers, like polyester. It's also typically more affordable than real down and can be easier to clean since polyester holds up well to laundering. This makes down alternative great for allergy sufferers (regardless of whether or not you have a down allergy) because you can wash your bedding more regularly.
Emma Seymour is the senior textiles analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute and has managed pillow testing for more than four years. Emma has rigorously evaluated over 100 pillows in the Textiles Lab and she has coordinated pillow sleep testing with hundreds of at-home reviewers.
This article was most recently updated by executive textiles director Lexie Sachs. Lexie oversees testing to find the best bedding, including pillows, and has been analyzing pillow data since she joined Good Housekeeping over 10 years ago. Lexie reviewed hundreds of pillow test scores before making these recommendations.
Emma Seymour (she/her) is a senior product analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she researches, tests and reports on fabric-based products ranging from sheets, mattresses and towels to bras, fitness apparel and other clothing. She also evaluates luggage, rain gear, disposable paper goods and baby products. Lexie has more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Prior to joining GH in 2013, she worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
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