I bought it to soften an older mattress, and I believe it did a decent job, although it definitely doesn't feel like a new mattress. I can't imagine that I wouldn't achieve the same result if I put a comforter under the mattress, as long as I found a comforter in the right dimensions. And that's because this particular product is nothing more than a feather comforter with straps to secure it in the corners. Try softening your mattress first with a comforter (or two) and then decide.