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The Dreams Workshop vs iGel Mattress Reviews

Compare The Dreams Workshop and iGel mattresses side by side: owner satisfaction, support, durability and price, based on aggregated customer reviews.

Checked byBecky Reeve, Staff Writer, Mattress Expert
SourceCompiled from WantMattress review data

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Brand

The Dreams Workshop

Our pick
4.7/5Owners7,137 reviews
Price range£119 – £239
Brand

iGel

4.6/5Owners3,375 reviews
Price range£960 – £1,840

On aggregated owner reviews, The Dreams Workshop scores higher: 4.7 against 4.6 out of 5.

Becky’s take

By Becky Reeve

Checked against current models and prices in October 2026

iGel beats the Dreams Workshop because of what's inside it. iGel comes only from Bensons for Beds. Every one is medium, with a gel memory foam layer over pocket springs. The Dreams Workshop is Dreams' cheap own brand. Every model is open coil, and the two with a memory layer are still open coil underneath.

The differences are heat and movement. The gel mixed into the foam seems to carry some of the warmth off, and the pocket springs underneath keep your side of the bed to yourself. Most of the iGel range has a Plush Top, a soft layer sewn on that goes soft first and can't be flipped, so buy the NanoTech 2050i, which doesn't have one. The NanoTech 2050i is the iGel most people bought, though it still trails the Workshop on numbers. I usually say Dreams does its exclusives better than Bensons, so I don't say this lightly.

iGel costs a lot more. iGel makes no firm mattress, so if you want firm, buy the Workshop's Botfield, and do the same for a visitors' room. For your own bed every night, buy the NanoTech 2050i.

Head to head

The Dreams Workshop has 0 of its 8 mattresses sprung and 3 all memory foam; iGel has sprung throughout, with pocket springs or a hybrid build in every model. The Dreams Workshop runs from medium to firm, and every iGel mattress is medium. The Dreams Workshop covers more of the firmness scale, which helps if two sleepers need different feels. The Dreams Workshop is the budget choice of the two: iGel's cheapest mattress costs several times as much. At the top end iGel goes further still.

How they differ

The Dreams WorkshopiGel
Mattresses we list86
Price range£119 – £239£960 – £1,840
Owner rating
4.7/5Owners7,137 reviews
4.6/5Owners3,375 reviews

Mattresses only. Owner ratings are the review-weighted average across each brand’s mattresses on UK retailer sites. Prices read 28 October 2026.

The Dreams Workshop

The Dreams Workshop first cropped up a few years ago, being sold exclusively through the Dreams retail website, the brand was established to offer a range of in-house products that were built and designed from the ground up by the team at Dreams HQ. The brand has UK roots, with all mattresses being manufactured right here in England using the latest in technological advances to create both traditional and hybrid rolled mattresses. The value proposition of The Dreams Workshop is in its ability to cut out middleman costs thanks to its direct link with the retailer, allowing for a more premium product at a reduced price point for the consumer. Pay particular attention to the rolled series of mattresses now coming out in the range, where the consumer wins again with savings on logistics and shipping being able to be passed down in even better prices.

iGel

iGel mattresses are exclusive to Bensons for Beds and generally sit in the more executive and luxury lineup. Pricing may be higher than other products but the materials utilised within the mattresses more than makes up for this. Featuring support layers of pocket springs and comfort layers of gel, you get a cooling experience with full body contouring and fantastic longevity. iGel and Bensons for Beds have a history of providing good quality mattresses that last, and the reviews are mostly happy ones, though some owners say the gel did not keep them cool.

The Dreams Workshop owner satisfaction

Consumer Satisfaction is where this brand really thrives. Comfort and price turn up together in review after review, and one owner put it about as plainly as it gets: “This is a good, comfortable mattress at a reasonable price.” Another wrote simply “Really comfortable and great value, would recommend”. Not everyone is sold on the feel, and a minority found the firmer models harder than they wanted. One owner wrote: “We added a topper as it was a little too firm and for added comfort, now it's just right.” Price is a big part of why people buy one, and most owners seem happy with what they got for it.

The Dreams Workshop supportiveness

From the Simmonds through to the Botfield, there’s more than enough support on offer to ensure your back and neck is adequately supported. Most of the range is of the firm variety with a handful of medium firmness sprinkled throughout the lineup. Owners who mention the support often describe it the same way: firm without being harsh, and no sinking in. One wrote that it “supports your body without you sinking into the mattress”. A few found the opposite, and one review reads: “Not as firm as expected. Sinks if you sit in one position.”

The Dreams Workshop durability

Durability is not typically a concern with any of The Dreams Workshop, though the reviews are not unanimous: a minority of owners say the springs could be felt or heard within weeks, and a few report an early dip. One owner wrote: “Had it 2 weeks, can already feel the springs poking through.” For those looking to get more lifespan from their product, consider a dual sided mattress from within the range as these models have twice the surface area to sleep on which improves settlement of springs and helps decrease wear on the fillings. One downside we have come across with the brand is around the guarantee which is limited to only 1 year, typically brands have started moving away from this minimum amount to the satisfaction of customers. At the same time, problems typically appear within that first year at a much higher rate than in the years that follow, and that first year is what the guarantee covers.

The Dreams Workshop best offers

We've managed to find the following top deals from across the web on The Dreams Workshop mattresses.

iGel owner satisfaction

Satisfaction is important to both Bensons for Beds and their iGel lineup. Being at the top of brands through the site, the manufacturer is held in high regard and is well reviewed, with most owners happy and comfort the first thing they mention. Owners are split on the comfort layer. Some bought it for the cooling and found it no cooler than their old mattress, but plenty say it keeps them cool at night. This is because gel breathes better and doesn’t cause heat buildup giving a better all-season mattress that performs well regardless of the weather.

I’ve personally trialled some of the iGel range in store and found some of the tensions to be on the firmer side, in-line with the designation the mattresses have been given. Regardless of which you choose, customers should be satisfied with the tension of the product.

iGel supportiveness

The support on iGel mattresses is not derived from the gel layer as this is the comfort layer at the top, instead the support is offered from the pocket springs beneath. Pocket springs are universally fantastic and are my personal favourite when it comes to support systems. The result of this layer is an extremely supportive mattress regardless of which tension you choose, offering full body contouring with an impressive lifespan and increased breathability.

iGel durability

Most mattresses have a traditional 1 year warranty and that is normally a fairly reasonable indicator as to how much trust the manufacturer has in their product. Naturally the better the components, the more durable they are and as such, manufacturers have more confidence in their lifespan and will guarantee them for longer. With iGel, not only are you getting high quality pocket springs combined with luxurious gel layers, but you are also getting a 10 year guarantee on all new mattresses coming out of the lineup. This goes a long way towards highlighting the durability of these mattresses and the lengths the manufacturer is going to in order to ensure long-standing satisfaction.

With a 10 year guarantee you will exceed the average lifecycle of 7 years, giving you better value and reducing the cost per night of sleep throughout its lifespan. As a result, while an iGel mattress may cost more initially, the need to replace later decreases real world costs.

iGel best offers

We've managed to find the following top deals from across the web on iGel mattresses.

Owner reviews of The Dreams Workshop mattresses

5 Verified customer

Oh dear, now thanks to the expert advice of a Dreams salesperson, I now have a guilty secret. Some three months ago I moved some distance from a place where I had lived for many years. A lot of my friends and family had said they would like to come down and spend a few days with me, when I had settled, nice but I would need to set up a guests bedroom. Stating the obvious, I would need a bed and all the accessories. Having already had a good experience when purchasing just a duvet at Dreams store in Havant, I returned to same on a mission. I explained that I needed a large double bed, it needed to have some storage, and as it would only be for occasional use, it should be at a budget price. Since then I have had a few people stay for a couple of nights, but all would comment on how comfortable they had been at night. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. I decided that the main bedroom needed decorating, so rather than move heavy furniture around, I would simply cover my super-king sized bed with a dust sheet, and use the new bed in the 'guests' bedroom. Now here is the thing, for months I have been suffering from major back pain, so much so I was sent to a local hospital where they conducted both X-ray and CT scans. It was concluded that the problem was due to wear in my lower spine, and all they could suggest was the use of strong pain killers. Even as I write this, I am very much aware that I am free from pain in my back, and I can only attribute this to the use of the new Dreams bed, and the applied knowledge of the sales assistant. To their credit, they respected my need to stay within a very tight budget, not only with the bed, but also the accessories. My guilty secret? Now when guests stay I find myself saying, "You have the super-king, I will be fine with the double.

5 Phil Burt

5 Star service! Our new bed was delivered on Christmas eve thanks to the very helpful Dreams staff member who served us. I have already left a review for the way he conducted himself and handled the sale. With only one week to go for Christmas eve, he pulled out ALL the stops to get us a bed in time! Very friendly, he answered ALL of our questions and gave us food for thought about ALL the things available. I never realized that there was so much to consider when buying a bed! LoL Unfortunately, after unpacking the bed we discovered that one of the draws was damaged. There's no way the driver could have known, due to the packaging. We contacted customer services and explained the problem, she was sorry to hear this and set about ordering a replacement draw. She explained that due to Christmas & New Year, there would be a slight delay, but we were given 15th Jan for delivery. Again, very friendly & helpful! Our replacement draw was just delivered, by the delivery driver & his mate, again very friendly and on time! After looking at our damaged draw, he checked to see that the replacement was the right colour and all ok... and if I had any other questions. Again... 5 Star service! We had waited until now before leaving this review, as we wanted to see how Dreams handled this. We appreciate that these things can happen, but it's how the company deals with it. We're pleased to say that they passed with glowing colours!!! A great bed and 5 Star service.... BUY WITH CONFIDENCE! P.S. I've slept like a baby this past four weeks! :)

5 Ashbash69

After blowing £79 on a rolled up so called mattress from a dodgy ebay company last year (huge mistake) it wasn't going to take an awful lot to impress me. I was very impressed with the measures in place in the Telford store due to covid 19 and instantly felt at ease. Covers, masks, sanitizer everywhere and plenty of social distancing. Having picked my mattress the checkout was quick, friendly and efficient and took no more than 5 minutes. 8 days later my new mattress arrived. The delivery men were big, strong, wearing masks and made short work of getting my new mattress into my bedroom. Literally less than 2 minutes. The missus went all out with new pillows and fresh bedding and dutifully set about creating our night time body shelf. After a tiring day, a wonderful sirloin, bottle of red and a shower we were ready to jump into our new slice of heaven. 3 words were muttered by us both in unison. Oh my lord. What slumberland sorcery is this. The perfect amount of firmness, the wonderful smell of the fresh bedding and the support of the memory foam pillows and we were out faster than Frank Bruno against Mike tyson. Absolute bliss. I can't recommend dreams or this mattress highly enough. Superb product, great service and fast delivery. Don't delay, buy one today!

1 Anon40

Unfortunately, I find this mattress far too hard. Two ago I started experiencing severe lower back pain and hip pain. I was hoping it would ease, but the opposite has happened and the pain has increasingly got worse, in particular, in the last few days. Only had the mattress since the end of September so I am going to speak to Dreams about the problems I am experiencing. Even though the mattress looks good quality, the firmness is too much (and won't suit anyone who moves at all in their sleep, I think most people do move). When I was in the store, I did ask for assistance in choosing a mattress, but with hindsight I do wish I had asked for two opinions from their customer service staff...I put all my faith in the advice from one customer service member of staff. I will update my rating, if I find that Dreams are obliging in finding an alternative solution for me, and I hope promptly. (Please note: I've never experienced any kind of back pain of any sort in my life prior to purchasing the mattress from Dreams).

1 Sreed

Dear Team, I am writing to express my disappointment with the Springfield mattress I recently purchased. Unfortunately, the mattress has not met my expectations in terms of comfort or quality. Ever since I started using it, I’ve been experiencing consistent back pain every day. Despite regularly rotating the mattress, there has been no improvement. The springs are clearly felt through the surface, making it extremely uncomfortable to sleep on. It feels as though there is little to no cushioning or foam layer, which raises concerns about the quality and construction of the mattress. I trusted Dreams for a good night's sleep, but this experience has been quite disappointing. It is clear that the mattress is faulty and not up to the mark.

Owner reviews of iGel mattresses

5 Dan K

TL;DR - amazing selection for testing at Northwich, 1st class staff and service, and the delivery team and experience was incredible. Amazing bed testing experience - my partner and I, with a 3yro and a 5yro spent at least 3 hours in the store testing everything and homing in on the mattress for us. The staff greeted us and asked what we were looking to do, and were totally fine with me asking for no help unless we found something (my previous experience at other companies meant I was not hopeful.). They understood, and this was the first place where they just said "Well, you can't test a bed without a pillow!" and gave us a Tempura pillow each for the afternoon! My approach to testing was risky - find a firmness we both liked to start with, and then test everything in that category and don't look at the price! Well, doing that kept me at the iGel 2050i, I nearly fell asleep in the store! This tech and construction was clearly for us the most comfortable in the store. The 3yro and 5yro thoroughly tested the bunk beds, and ran around everywhere, the store staff understood we needed to test and didn't mind the chaos the little ones were causing. Amazing experience at the Northwich store. The sales staff then appeared and checked in when it was clear we'd just stopped really testing and actually encouraged us to test exactly as we sleep, which was really nice to have that encouragement to be at ease lying down with your loved one in a shop! So I disappointed the staff and said I'd think about it. Honestly the mattress was nearly double what I'd put in mind, but the comfort was amazing in the shop. We got home and lay on the old mattress. It was a disappointment. I went back the following day before an offer ended and made the purchase, with delivery about 6 days later. Come the day before a delivery day, a text with a 2 hour time slot,. The day of the delivery, Ben in the van called and said they were 30mins away, which they were. You could also track their location online. Van arrived, the guys jumped out, I asked if they wanted any help, which they didn't and then they got the mattress through an impossibly small staircase within 15mins. I actually thought before delivery it wouldn't go and I'd have to take the handrail off, but there was no stopping the team - looked at the route, and just did it. Ben said when we got back down I'm actually proud of that one!". It was a tight fit, but the team didn't even think of not trying, just incredible. So here we are now, a few weeks after delivery, and I can honestly say the 2050i is an incredible mattress, the comfort and sleep we are getting now is seriously unimaginably better than before. Any regrets? That I didn't spend more time on the 3000i... by the time I got to that, I'd looked at the price of the 2050i and I think I'd probably tapped out on price. Next time...

5 Nick H

We decided to wait a short while before leaving a review so we can comment on both the service and the product, so we will start with the product. Pre sales: We walked into the branch in Congleton and Martin was the salesman who we met. Very professional, listened to us and made recommendations based on what answers we gave him. (always a great start) Once we were confident on our selection, we got a quote. Again we went through all the options, once we added on what we wanted, Martin went through some offers on the extras which were good value based on what we were buying anyway. (such as protectors) Once everything was priced and finalised, we got a formal quote and gave it an hour to 'wait'. Went back, paid and felt happy with the purchase based on the product we tested and the sales approach. From firmness rating to technical specification of the materials, it helped us make an informed decision based on no. of springs, gel layers etc. and focus on what was more of a priority for us. We met Darrell later once we paid and couldn't rate this store any better. It's clear both individuals have a very natirual and consultative selling style, selling based on matching a product to people. Should the product live up to its claims, we will be OK! Delivery: Received multiple emails and texts with our delivery date, reminders and time updates. It arrived in time. Our delivery team was Mark and Linv. These guys were amazing. Took the mattress where we wanted it with no problem, both courteous and respectful to our property, best heavy goods courriers we have had. Product: We purchase the igel 2050i and will address initially it was very firm, more than what we expected, but to be expected with a new unit. After a couple of weeks of use and turning the mattress as per the care guidelines, it loosened off a bit and is now more like what we tested in store. There was a smell to the mattress initially, but it dissipated after about 2-3 days. 4 weeks later and the mattress is excellent. Can offer nothing but thanks to the Congleton branch and the delivery team. It honestly was great to see a full complement of people having pride in their jobs. We walked into this store with the money ready to buy what we wanted, but was fully expecting to be let down... But we're glad to be proved wrong! Pre-sales - 10/10 Sales support - 10/10 Delivery - 10/10 Product - 10/10 Not sure if it's too early to comment on the mattress, but so far it's settled as expected and seems like excellent quality. From a after sales perspective, we feel confident if there is an issue, that the team will support us.

5 Peter B

an honest review, so to begin with, i wasnt even planning on buying a new mattress at the time, it was on a whim that i went into the shop as hadn't looked at new beds for a loooooong time, so thought why not, probably wont be very good, but the sales team were excellent and taking the time, which was well over an hour, going through a lot of bed options, and only going to this one as a "i do have one more to show but its a lot more money" option... but it was so comfortable the second i got on it in the shop compared to the others, which granted were half the price! from paperwork to delivery and the first nights sleep, its bliss! trying in the shop means you know what your buying before you even get it, and cant technically be disappointed. now for the details:- Its THICCCCCCK! this is a very deep and heavy mattress, 40+cm, so know your sheets are going to fit before buying you aint going to be rotating or moving it often as it is heavy, just move yourself around the bed for bedding in sleeping possitions to keep it fresh... you sink into it like a marshmellow, then stop when it thinks your possition is correct, and it is, your supported where you need it, free where your not the Igel cooling, i cant really comment on tooo much as its not been hot nights yet to test, but its certainly not like other memory foams iv had before where the heat bounces back and it feels sweaty what down sides can there be other than those that people make up due to not doing reaserch before they get it.... HEAVY, THICK, kinda pricy you spend half your life in bed, why not have it in the most comfort you can possibly get, its no different than people spending 1000s on sofas and tvs, they only do 1 job, as does this, but it does its job dam well! there really isnt much that can be said for this mattress, if you can afford it, get it! simple

1 Stuart C

I've deliberately left it several months before leaving this review (product was delivered end of Feb 2026) as Benson's were emailing for a review before we'd even received the mattress! This product is so poor I'm now being referred to a musculoskeletal specialist due to the pain and discomfort I'm experiencing, specifically as a result of sleeping on this mattress. We know it's the mattress as I travel alot for work and whenever I sleep in any hotel the pain disappears within a day or two. Come home to my own bed and within 24hrs I'm in crippling pain and can struggle to stand or sit. We went to Benson's, assuming they would know what they were talking about. They had us lay on some fancy, hooked up to a computer, bed full of sensors that supposedly measures body weight, pressure points in different sleeping positions etc. etc. and then spits out the "right mattress for you". The Igel NanoTech 3000i medium mattress was what we were recommended. However.... I weigh 19 and a half stone. I'm 6ft 4inches tall and built like the side of the proverbial barn, so I'm very obviously a big solid chap. Benson's own website states on it's "Sleep Hub" about the right mattress for your weight...: Best mattresses for heavier sleepers (Over 16st / 101kg) If you're in this range, you'll need extra support to prevent sinking too deep into the mattress. Here's what works best: A firmer mattress (7-9 on the firmness scale) will keep your spine aligned. High-density foam or reinforced pocket springs help with durability. A thicker mattress (at least 25cm) is better for long-term comfort. Avoid: Soft mattresses-you'll sink in too much and lose support, leading to back pain. Best picks: Firm hybrid mattresses - Durable and supportive. Orthopaedic mattresses - Designed for extra lumbar support. The so called "Bed Specialist made no reference to my size, however delicately, making no effort to steer us towards a firmer/reinforced/orthopaedic mattress. She was purely interested in upselling Benson's own brand mattress and accessories. She was quite happy to sell us a medium mattress despite the fact their own website (and the rest of the internet if you do a little research) say's anything less than a firm mattress will cause back pain. She also failed to check what type of bed base we have. We have a pine slatted base. When we received our Igel mattress and read through the paperwork it stated quite explicitly that this mattress was not suitable for slatted bed bases and required a solid/divan base otherwise the mattress would sag through the gaps. Using it on the wrong bed base apparently voids the warranty. So Benson's have sold us £1,500 of product that is not only not suitable for my size, is causing me significant physical pain impacting my daily ability to function, but they've also not made us aware of the required bed base type meaning we've bought something where the warranty is now void and we're stuck with it. We've not even finished paying it off and we're now shopping for a better alternative. But I can promise you that shopping effort will absolutely not involve a trip to Bensons for Beds.

1 Poor Sleeper

Took delivery of the mattress a week today, June 29th. Waking up every morning with bad lower back pain ever since. No instructions were supplied with it, but I remembered that the staff at the shop told me it needed to be rotated ( not flipped) weekly. Just done that and found the instruction pamphlet underneath the mattress. I had been sleeping on it for a week. Read them and it clearly states that you need two people to rotate the mattress, lifting it from the underside as flat as possible, as bending the mattress will break glue bonds and dislodge internal fixings. I live alone. At no point was this explained to me before ordering the mattress. It is physically impossible for me ( or anyone else living alone) to rotate the mattress weekly without bending it. The pamphlet states that claims will be refused if there is evidence of bending the mattress. But it also says claims will be refused where lack of rotation is evident. So what am I supposed to do? I either rotate it by myself and bend it, or I don't rotate it….both of which will result in a claim refusal! I also clearly stated that I had a pine bed with a slatted base. Again, at no point was it explained to me that slatted bases would give a lower level of support. Hence maybe the reason I am waking up in pain every morning. Had I have been told about both these things, I would never have ordered this particular mattress. Feeling unhappy and misinformed.

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