Written by Mike Price, OT
Sleep apnea affects millions of Americans. It disrupts sleep and poses serious health risks, such as heart disease, diabetes, and depression. CPAP masks are vital for those diagnosed with sleep apnea, ensuring they get the necessary treatment to prevent these complications. When shopping for a CPAP mask, consider features like comfort, fit, and ease of use to enhance compliance and improve health outcomes.
Continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP machines are the usual recommended treatment for sleep apnea, keeping users breathing regularly throughout the night. While there are many different CPAP machines to choose from, there are even more CPAP mask designs, ensuring that everyone finds just the right fit.
The success of CPAP therapy in treating sleep apnea is dependent upon the patient using the machine and wearing the mask every night, and the most common reason why people don’t wear their CPAP every night is that they don’t like their mask.
Although choosing the right CPAP machine is important, it is generally the fit of the mask that’s going to determine whether you comply with nightly CPAP therapy or not. If it’s uncomfortable or the wrong style, people typically stop using the whole machine, instead of trying to find a better design.
Generally covering the nose and mouth, full-face CPAP masks are well-suited for people who breathe through their mouths. Usually designed to seal around the nose and mouth, cushioned edges often form a triangle or oval shape, which is held in place by four-point headgear.
Ideal for people who have chronic allergies, sinus problems, or other issues affecting the ability to breathe through the nose, full face masks are also good for folks whose mouth drops open during sleep.
Sleeping positions that suit full face masks include:
Nasal CPAP masks sit on the bridge of the nose and cover either the bottom half or the whole nose. They are held in place with four-point headgear attached to the frame.
They can be configured as a nasal cradle, forming a triangular seal around the nose to the upper lip (leaving the mouth uncovered), or as a nasal prong that forms seals around both nostril openings.
Nasal CPAP masks are well-suited for people who breathe through their noses. They can be used for any sleeping position, side, back, or stomach, and patients who breathe through their noses have shown improved CPAP compliance by using a nasal mask.
Unlike other nasal CPAP masks, nasal pillow masks do not cover the whole nose. Similar to nasal prong masks, they use two seals around the nostril openings, but they’re held in place with cushioning pillows to add comfort and stability.
As the lightest in weight of all the CPAP masks, nasal pillow masks are also more compact, with minimal headgear. They’re a perfect choice for patients who breathe through the nose and find full-face and other nasal masks too bulky or confining.
They’re a good choice for any sleeping position, but they're especially suitable for stomach sleepers, as they stay in place better than other designs for this position.
 | Phillips Respironics DreamWear Mask, Headgear, and Cushions for Sleep Therapy Devices View Product |
Our number 5 choice, the Philips Respironics DreamWear Mask, Headgear, and Cushions for Sleep Therapy Devices is designed to provide exceptional comfort and flexibility for sleep apnea patients. Its unique design combines the best features of nasal and pillow masks, allowing users to sleep in any position without experiencing irritation or discomfort. The mask features a soft, flexible silicone frame and fabric wraps, making it safe for sensitive skin. Its low-coverage design promotes freedom of movement, ensuring patients feel as if they are not wearing a mask at all. With interchangeable cushions and top-of-the-head tubing, DreamWear offers a customized and comfortable sleep therapy experience.
 | CPAP ZZZ Full Face Mask with Headgear View Product |
CPAP ZZZ Full Face Mask with Headgear by Roscoe Medical is our number 4 choice for CPAP masks, designed to offer maximum comfort and effective oxygen delivery for users. This mask features a comfortable headgear and mask system, made from latex-free materials to prevent allergic reactions. The headgear is designed without a forehead strap, resembling the fit of a bike helmet with dual side straps, providing a non-claustrophobic and spacious fit. Available in small, medium, and large sizes, the mask ensures a proper fit for any adult. Additionally, the rotating connecting elbow allows for free movement during sleep, and the quick-release front clips enable easy removal without the need to readjust straps each time.
 | Wisp Nasal CPAP Mask View Product |
The Wisp Nasal CPAP Mask is our number 3 choice, offering a unique combination of the freedom of a pillow mask and the functionality of a standard nasal mask. This design sits low on the nose to reduce pressure on the face and maintain an open field of vision, allowing users to read, watch TV, and wear glasses comfortably. It features magnetic headgear clips and a quick-release elbow for easy attaching and detaching, even for those with limited dexterity. Users can choose between a clear plastic frame for a lower profile or a soft fabric frame that conforms to the face's contours for added comfort. The angled exhalation port diffuses sound and air away from both the user and their bed partner, promoting a quieter and more restful sleep.
 | WiZARD 320 Full Face CPAP Machine Nasal Mask by Apex Medical View Product |
The WiZARD 320 Full Face CPAP Machine Nasal Mask by Wellell is our number 2 choice, designed to provide ultimate comfort and efficiency for sleep apnea patients. This mask features a contour-fitting design and soft forehead support, ensuring optimal stability and comfort during use. Made from breathable and durable materials, it is suitable for both daytime and overnight wear. The advanced air-guiding vent effectively expels CO2, while the soft connection tubing allows for uninhibited movement during sleep. Additionally, the safety valve structure prevents asphyxia in case of CPAP machine failure, making it a reliable choice for users.
 | Drive Medical Full Face ComfortFit Deluxe CPAP Masks, Cushions, and Headgear View Product |
Formulated with soft silicone rubber, the ComfortFit CPAP mask by Drive Medical comes in a wide range of sizes and other variable options to enable a perfect fit for every user. Coming in at number 1 on our list, this mask is recommended for patients who breathe through the mouth, at least part of the time. These full-face masks ensure compliance with their comfortable frame stabilizer that redistributes pressure evenly for a secure seal that doesn’t feel like a vise.
Enabling visibility with its unique shape, the ComfortFit mask eliminates the need for a forehead pad, allowing wearers to watch TV, read, and engage in other activities while receiving their CPAP therapy. The clear design also enables easy viewing of the face, mouth, and nose within the mask.
Soft, lightweight, pliable, and comfortable, the ComfortFit is a deluxe mask that allows custom specifications for ordering the mask with or without headgear, the size of the mask, and the size of the cushions. It’s a good choice for back sleepers and some side sleepers.
CPAP therapy is an effective treatment that uses machines and masks to deliver oxygen, ensuring people living with sleep apnea keep breathing at night. We researched the top-rated CPAP masks and our review ranks the best, with some great choices for people who breathe through their nose and others better suited for users who breathe through their mouth, along with considerations about sleeping positions.
While many of these masks have great features, we chose the ComfortFit CPAP mask as our top choice for maximum comfort. It comes in various sizes to ensure a perfect fit for every user. This deluxe mask eliminates the need for a forehead pad, allowing users to watch TV, read, and engage in other activities while receiving CPAP therapy, making it ideal for back sleepers and some side sleepers.
If you found this review helpful and you're interested in learning more about CPAP, check out the rest of our great articles on Caregiver University!
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.
