Eight Sleep

Eight Sleep

Basic information
Founded	2014
Legal structure	Private
Industry	Smart Mattresses / Sleep Technology
Official website	https://eightsleep.com/

Eight Sleep is an American company that develops smart mattresses and mattress covers with temperature control, sleep tracking, and health monitoring capabilities. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in New York City, the company has raised over $260 million in venture funding and has generated over $500 million in cumulative Pod revenue to date.

Consumer impact summary

• Retroactive subscription requirement: Around 2023, Eight Sleep implemented a mandatory subscription model, placing previously free features behind a paywall ranging from $199 to $299 annually.
• Security vulnerabilities: Security researchers discovered SSH backdoors and exposed AWS keys in February 2025 that could allow unauthorized access to customers' home networks.
• False discount allegations: A class action lawsuit filed in 2025 alleges the company engaged in deceptive pricing practices.
• Consumer complaints: The Better Business Bureau profile shows numerous complaints filed against the company, with issues including product failures after warranty expiration and poor customer service.

Incidents

Mandatory subscription model implementation

Around 2023, Eight Sleep began requiring paid subscriptions to access features that were previously included with the purchase of their products. The company introduced three subscription tiers:

Subscription requirements

• Autopilot Standard ($199/year or $17/month): Required for first year of ownership for all new customers
• Autopilot Enhanced ($299/year or $25/month): Includes extended 5-year warranty
• Autopilot Elite ($399/year or $33/month): Premium features and support

Features moved behind paywall

According to user reports and product documentation, the following features that were previously free now require an active subscription:

• Autopilot (automatic temperature adjustments based on sleep patterns)
• Scheduled temperature changes
• Sleep stage tracking and metrics
• Heart rate and respiratory rate monitoring
• Health reports and sleep insights
• Vibration and thermal alarms
• Software updates and new features

Without a subscription, users can only manually adjust temperature through the mobile app.

Consumer response

The subscription requirement has generated significant criticism from consumers. Common complaints documented on Reddit and review sites include:

• Frustration that features advertised as included are now subscription-only
• The high cost of subscriptions on top of the initial purchase price ($2,000-$6,000)
• Inability to use basic features without maintaining internet connectivity
• Concerns about the product becoming unusable if the company discontinues service

Industry comparison

Eight Sleep's subscription model contrasts with competitors in the smart mattress market. Competitor Sleepme (makers of Chilipad and Dock Pro) explicitly markets their products as subscription-free alternatives.

Security vulnerabilities discovery

In February 2025, security researcher Dylan Ayrey of Truffle Security published findings revealing multiple security vulnerabilities in Eight Sleep smart beds.

Key findings

• SSH Backdoor: The firmware contains code allowing remote SSH access to customer devices through remote-connectivity-api.8slp.net, with public keys associated with [email protected], suggesting all engineering staff potentially have root access to customer devices.

• AWS Key Exposure: A valid Amazon Web Services key was discovered hardcoded in the firmware, accessible to anyone who downloaded it. While the key was revoked after disclosure, researchers noted it could have been used to access customer data or rack up significant AWS charges for the company.

• Network Security Risks: The vulnerabilities could allow attackers to use the bed as a gateway device for lateral network attacks, potentially accessing other devices on the customer's home network.

Technical implications

According to the security researchers, the SSH backdoor enables:

• Remote code execution on customer devices
• Monitoring of sleep patterns and bed occupancy
• Access to biometric data collected by the device
• Potential pivot point to access other networked devices

The researchers compared the access level to Uber's controversial "God Mode," noting that any Eight Sleep engineer could theoretically monitor when customers are sleeping, detect multiple occupants, or determine when beds are unoccupied.

Company response

Eight Sleep provided a statement to Hackster.io on February 24, 2025, claiming that the researcher's findings "do not reflect a legitimate security vulnerability but rather speculation without real-world implications." The company stated that "Eight Sleep devices are impenetrable to unauthorized individuals" but did not deny the presence of the SSH backdoor that would allow access by Eight Sleep's own engineers. The company added: "That said, we appreciate the work that security researchers do to ensure that companies continue to follow the best-in-class protocols for consumer safety."

The company did not indicate whether it planned to remove the SSH backdoor in future firmware updates, unlike competitor Sleep Number, which had removed similar backdoors after they were discovered in 2024.

False discount pricing lawsuit

In 2025, consumers Tushar Chopra and Brian Delshad filed a class action lawsuit against Eight Sleep Inc. in California federal court, alleging the company engaged in deceptive pricing practices.

Allegations

The lawsuit alleges that:

• Eight Sleep displays false reference prices on its website to create the illusion of discounts
• Products are listed with "continuous discounts" ranging from $50 to $200
• The reference prices used for comparison were never actual selling prices
• The scheme has affected hundreds of thousands of customers nationwide

The plaintiffs seek to represent a California class of consumers who purchased Eight Sleep products at represented discounts from inflated reference prices. They are suing for violations of California's unfair competition law, false advertising law, and consumer legal remedies act, as well as fraud.

Company profile

Funding and valuation

Eight Sleep has raised over $260 million across multiple funding rounds:

• Series D (August 2025): $100 million led by HSG
• Series C (August 2021): $86 million led by Valor Equity Partners
• Total funding: $260+ million
• Valuation: Approximately $1 billion (doubled since 2021)

Notable investors include Founders Fund, Y Combinator, SoftBank, Khosla Ventures, and athletes including Formula 1 drivers Charles Leclerc and McLaren CEO Zak Brown.

Product line and pricing

As of September 2025, Eight Sleep's main product is the Pod 5, launched in May 2025:

• Pod 5 Core (cover and hub): $2,849-$3,199
• Pod 5 Plus (adds blanket): $4,099-$4,599
• Pod 5 Ultra (adds adjustable base): $5,849-$6,099

All models require a first-year subscription starting at $199 annually.

Consumer complaints and reviews

Better Business Bureau

Eight Sleep has received numerous complaints through the Better Business Bureau as of September 2025. The company is not BBB accredited. Common complaint themes include:

• Products failing shortly after warranty expiration
• Difficulty obtaining warranty service
• Poor customer service response times
• Issues with subscription billing and cancellation

Product reliability concerns

Multiple consumer reports document recurring issues with product durability:

• Water leaks in the Pod cover system
• Hub failures after 2-3 years of use
• WiFi connectivity problems
• Temperature control malfunctions

The company's standard warranty is 2 years, which some consumers have criticized as insufficient for a product costing $2,000-$6,000. Extended warranties are available only through higher-tier subscriptions.

See also

• Retroactively amended purchase
• Subscription creep

External links

• Official website
• Truffle Security's security analysis
• Better Business Bureau profile