How we made this guide: picks and specs come from our catalog and fitment data, owner quotes come from verified reviews and the guide was drafted with AI help, then checked and edited by Trevor Hall.
Pick a soft tonneau cover for a lower price (under $750 in our range) and a cover you can lift off by hand. Pick a hard cover if you leave tools or luggage in the bed or want a load rating. The Extang Trifecta 2.0 soft folding cover starts at $469.99, while the BAKFlip MX4 hard folding cover starts at $1,199.99.
The gap is about security and structure, not weather. Brands rate both families as water resistant, not watertight, so rain is rarely the reason to pay more.
Quick answer
- Budget and light loads: soft roll-up or soft folding.
- Tools, luggage or parking in public: a hard cover with the tailgate locked, or a one-piece lid with its own key lock.
- Whole bed open with the cover on: a soft or hard roll-up, or a BAKFlip MX4 folded flat against the cab. A retractable's canister keeps the front of the bed.
- Carrying weight on top: check the load rating. The hard covers here list 400 to 600 lb.
Soft vs hard tonneau covers side by side
Hard and soft differ in more than price. This table covers the two families, and the next one compares one example of each type. For every style compared, see every tonneau style compared.
| Difference | Soft covers | Hard covers |
|---|---|---|
| Price in our range | Under $750 | From about $900 |
| Top material | Vinyl or canvas over a frame or bows | Aluminum panels or slats, or a molded polymer lid |
| Cut resistance | Fabric can be cut | Panels and slats a blade cannot open |
| Lock and tailgate | No lock of its own, so lock the tailgate | Most still lean on a locked tailgate. Only the one-piece UnderCover SE holds it shut |
| Load rating | None listed | 400 to 600 lb on the hard covers here |
| Sealing | Fins or seals at the rails, bulkhead and tailgate | EPDM or gasket seals, plus drain tubes on many |
| Bed access | Roll-ups open it all. Folders open about two thirds, or all of it with the cover lifted off | Folders fold to the cab. Retractables keep the front of the bed under the canister |
| Install | Under an hour | About 30 to 60 minutes |
| Lift off by hand | Trifecta lifts off without tools | Heavier. Plan on two people for a one-piece lid |
| Wind flap at speed | Some owners report flapping | Some Revolver X4s and RetraxPRO MX owners say they switched from a soft cover that flapped |
| Warranty | 5 years to limited lifetime | 3 years to limited lifetime |
The same comparison by type, using one cover from each:
| Type | Example | From price | Top | Security | Bed access with cover on | Load rating | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft roll-up | Access Original | $560.15 | Vinyl over aluminum | AutoLatch II side locking, lock the tailgate | Rolls to the bulkhead, whole bed open | None listed | 5 year limited |
| Soft folding | Extang Trifecta 2.0 | $469.99 | Vinyl over aluminum frame | No lock of its own, pair with a locking tailgate | About two thirds, full bed when removed | None listed | Limited lifetime |
| Hard folding | BAKFlip MX4 | $1,199.99 | Aluminum panels over a polymer core | Automatic latches, secure once the tailgate is locked | 100%, folds flush against the cab | 400 lb evenly distributed | 5 year limited |
| Hard roll-up | BAK Revolver X4s | $1,399.99 | Aluminum slats under vinyl | Rotational locking rails, release cord behind the tailgate | 100%, rolls onto a spool at the bulkhead | 400 lb evenly distributed | 5 year limited |
| Retractable | RetraxPRO MX | $2,149.99 | Double-wall aluminum slats | Key-lockable TraxLatch, lock the tailgate too | Retracts into a cab-end canister, holds at any position | 500 lb evenly distributed | Limited lifetime |
| One-piece | UnderCover SE | $1,349.99 | Single molded ABS polymer lid | Key lock on the lid, also holds the tailgate shut | Lid lifts on struts, comes off for tall loads | 400 lb evenly distributed | 3 year limited |
Soft covers in our range start under $400 and none tops $750. Hard folding covers start under $1,000 with the UnderCover Select at $899.99. Hard roll-ups start at $1,199.99 and one-piece lids at $1,299.99. Retractables start at $1,191.19 and pass $3,000 for powered models.
What soft and hard covers share
Every cover in the table clamps or bolts on without drilling the truck. Both families keep cargo out of sight. Both rely on seals at the rails, bulkhead and tailgate, and both need that tailgate seal to line up with your truck to keep the bed dry.
Factory bed systems change the part for both families. The Trifecta 2.0 and RetraxPRO MX list separate parts for RamBox, Utili-Track, deck rail and CarbonPro beds. A plastic drop-in liner may need trimming for the SE's brackets. Pick your truck in the selector before you compare prices.
Security: the biggest difference
A soft cover is a vinyl or canvas tarp on a frame. Extang says its Trifecta Signature 2.0 is not a lock: the fabric can be cut and the cover has no lock of its own, so the maker advises pairing it with a locking tailgate. The Access Original works the same way: its AutoLatch II holds both rails down and a locked tailgate traps the rear edge, so it stops a casual grab but is no strongbox. Keep anything valuable in a locking box.
Hard covers swap the fabric for panels or slats a blade cannot open, but most still lean on the tailgate lock. BAK says a closed MX4 cannot be opened from outside once the tailgate is shut and locked, and the Revolver X4s release cord is reachable only with the tailgate down. The RetraxPRO MX adds a key lock on its handle, and Retrax still pairs it with a locking tailgate. The one-piece UnderCover SE is the exception: one key locks the lid, and the lid holds the tailgate shut.
“No leaks and I run it through the car wash weekly. With the locking tailgate on my 2026 Z71 Colorado, the stuff in the bed is secured!”
Extang Trifecta 2.0 owner · 5 out of 5 stars
That is the soft-cover setup: the locking tailgate does the securing, and the tarp hides what is behind it.
Soft folding
Extang Trifecta 2.0 Soft Folding Tonneau Cover
From $469.99 · Folds two thirds open or lifts off without tools. Skip it if you need a cover with its own lock.
Hard folding
BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Tonneau Cover
From $1,199.99 · Latched panels and 400 lb rating. Skip it if a little misting at the panel seams in a hard storm would bother you.
One-piece
UnderCover SE One-Piece Tonneau Cover
From $1,349.99 · A single molded lid with its own key lock. Skip it if you haul tall loads, because the lid has to come off.
Weather: both are water resistant, not watertight
Extang rates the Trifecta 2.0 as weather-resistant rather than watertight. BAK says the BAKFlip MX4 is water-resistant rather than fully waterproof, with a little misting possible at the seams in a hard storm or car wash. Access rates the Original as water resistant and says to expect a little moisture under a pressure washer.
BAK describes the Revolver X4s as the most leak-resistant style it builds because the top is one piece of vinyl with no seams, and adds that no tonneau is submersible. Owners of the hard roll-up and retractable covers in our reviews most often name the tailgate edge as the weak spot. For the most watertight options, see the most watertight covers compared.
“It snowed 2 inches on day two and all stayed dry as it melted.”
BAKFlip MX4 owner · 5 out of 5 stars
“Replaced hard tri-fold tonneau, and the Trifecta looks great and survived the test of an automatic car wash with only a few drops noticed at the tailgate.”
Extang Trifecta Signature 2.0 owner · 5 out of 5 stars
“Very little leakage even in hard rains. I'm very impressed and glad I spent the money on this instead of a fold up or soft top. My cargo is safe from theft and weather.”
BAK Revolver X4s owner · 5 out of 5 stars
Reviews cut both ways within each family, so treat sealing as a fit question. Some soft-cover owners of a newer truck report a cover that sits slightly short, which leaves less seal contact at the tailgate. Wind is a separate soft-cover complaint: a Trifecta 2.0 owner says it does flap going down the highway, and some Revolver X4s and RetraxPRO MX owners say they switched from a soft cover that flapped at highway speed. Keep anything that cannot get damp in a bag or bin, whichever type you pick.
Hard roll-up
BAK Revolver X4s Hard Roll-Up Tonneau Cover
From $1,399.99 · Full bed access with locking rails. Skip it if you want rack rails; that is the Revolver X4 TS.
Bed access
Folding covers open part of the bed fast. The Trifecta 2.0 opens about two thirds when you unclamp the rear and fold it forward, and gives the full bed when you lift it off without tools. The BAKFlip MX4 folds flush for 100% access without removal. A folded hard folder stands behind the cab. BAK says the MX4 keeps the third brake light visible, but one owner moved to a Revolver to keep the rear window clear.
Roll-ups open the whole bed with the cover on. The Access Original rolls forward to the bulkhead and cinches with buckle straps, and the Revolver X4s rolls onto a spool at the bulkhead and stores low so the rear window and cameras stay clear. The RetraxPRO MX retracts into a cab-end canister and holds at any position. Drive a soft cover fully closed or fully open and strapped, never part way. A retractable like the RetraxPRO MX locks at any point on its track.
Soft roll-up
Access Original Soft Roll-Up Tonneau Cover
From $560.15 · Whole bed opens with the cover on. Skip it if you keep valuables in the bed, because the tarp is a deterrent only.
Retractable
RetraxPRO MX Retractable Tonneau Cover
From $2,149.99 · Key-lockable and 500 lb rated. Skip it if your budget is under $2,000.
Profile and looks
The Access Original sits about 1.5 inches above the rails, and the Access Vanish sits half an inch above the bed caps. BAK calls the Revolver X4s its lowest-profile hard roll-up. The UnderCover SE sits over the bed caps and tailgate.
Load rating and snow
The Trifecta lifts off by hand without tools, and BAK calls the MX4 a one-person install. UnderCover asks for two people to lift the SE lid on. BAK rates the MX4 and Revolver X4s at 400 lb evenly distributed on the closed cover, and Retrax rates the RetraxPRO MX at 500 lb. Extang rates the Solid Fold ALX at up to 600 lb and UnderCover rates the SE at 400 lb. The soft covers above list no load rating, so treat them as a lid, not a shelf.
Clear snow before you open any cover. Extang adds that snow or ice left on a Trifecta when you fold it is your cost, not a warranty claim. The Original's tarp rides on aluminum crossbars so snow and standing water do not push it down, but sweep a heavy fall off before you roll it.
Durability, cold and care
Warranty does not favor hard: the Trifecta 2.0 carries a limited lifetime warranty, the MX4 and Revolver X4s five years, the RetraxPRO MX limited lifetime and the SE three years. Extang says silicone dressings such as Armor All crack the vinyl and void the warranty. The Original's vinyl stays flexible to forty below. Retrax tests the PRO MX from -40°F to 180°F and says not to lubricate its rails.
Install and price
Soft and hard clamp-on covers are both a driveway job. Extang lists the Trifecta 2.0 as a Level 1 install in under an hour. BAK lists the MX4 at about 30 minutes and the Revolver X4s at about an hour, and Retrax lists the RetraxPRO MX at under 60 minutes. BAK calls the MX4 a one-person job. UnderCover's sheet asks for a second person to lift the SE lid on, and RetraxPRO MX owners say the same for its canister.
Price is where soft wins. Soft roll-up and folding covers sit under $750 in our range, while hard folding starts under $1,000 and the rest of the hard family costs more. Spend the difference only if you will use the cut-resistant top or the load rating. Do not choose on fuel economy: published tests disagree on whether a bed cover saves any fuel, so it should not decide soft or hard.
Pick by use
| Your use | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget, light loads | Extang Trifecta 2.0 from $469.99 | Under $750 in our range, fabric hides the load |
| Tools in the bed | BAKFlip MX4 with the tailgate locked, from $1,199.99 | Latched panels a blade cannot open |
| Own key lock | UnderCover SE from $1,349.99 | One key locks the lid and the tailgate |
| Whole bed open often | BAK Revolver X4s from $1,399.99 | Rolls to the cab; a retractable's canister takes the front of the bed |
| Work truck | BAKFlip MX4 or RetraxPRO MX | 400 to 500 lb rating and a cut-resistant top |
| Family luggage | Revolver X4s or UnderCover SE | Hidden, with a lid that locks or rolls out of the way |
| Cold climate, snow load | Hard cover | Rigid top, listed load rating |
| Racks and gear on top | BAKFlip MX4 TS, Revolver X4 TS or RetraxPRO XR | T-slot rails built into the cover |
For more on how the folding and rolling styles differ, read tri-fold vs roll-up tonneau covers, or see the best retractable tonneau covers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go through a carwash with a soft tonneau cover?
Usually, yes. One Trifecta 2.0 owner washes weekly with no leaks, a Trifecta Signature 2.0 owner saw only a few drops at the tailgate, and a Lightning owner whose cover sat short had leaks. TruXedo's Lo Pro papers never clear automatic washes, so hand wash that one. Expect a little moisture under a pressure washer.
Are soft truck bed covers worth it?
Yes if you want a lower price (under $750 in our range) and a cover you can lift off by hand, and you do not leave valuables in the bed. They hide the load and slow a casual grab, but the makers say they are not a lock. If you carry tools or travel with luggage, a hard cover is the safer buy.
Can you drive with a soft tonneau cover partially open?
Only fully open and strapped, never part way. Extang wants a Trifecta either flat with all four clamps on or fully folded with both buckle straps done up, and warns against driving it part way open. TruXedo voids the Lo Pro warranty if you drive with it part way open. A soft roll-up is fine rolled to the cab with its straps cinched.
Do soft tonneau covers keep water out?
They shed rain, and seals at the rails, bulkhead and tailgate close the edges, but the brands call them water resistant, not watertight. Hard covers are rated the same way. Keep sensitive items in a bag or bin.
Can I use a tonneau cover with a fifth-wheel hitch?
Often, yes. BAK lists the Revolver X4s as compatible with most fifth-wheel setups. An MX4 owner folds it to the cab to hook up, and the RetraxPRO MX locks open at any point on its track.
How long does a soft tonneau cover last?
The warranty is the sourced guide: the Trifecta 2.0 carries a limited lifetime warranty and the Access Original five years. Keep silicone dressings off the vinyl, clear snow before you fold it and the cover should hold up to those terms.
Compare covers that fit your truck
Related guides
- Types of Truck Bed Covers: Every Tonneau Style Compared
- Tri-Fold vs Roll-Up Tonneau Covers: Which Is Better for Your Truck?
- Are Tonneau Covers Waterproof? The 6 Most Watertight Covers Compared
- Best Hard Folding Tonneau Covers: Picks for Security, Budget and Racks
- Best Roll-Up Tonneau Covers: Soft and Hard Picks for Every Budget