1. Sleep Cycle
How It Works
Sleep Cycle is a multi-function app complete with sleep aids, an intelligent alarm clock and a tracker that maps your night using sound and accelerometer technology.
Why Users Like It
Sleep Cycle tracks sleep patterns from your smartphone with interactive graphing — feedback shows you ways to improve your sleep quality. Fall asleep to soothing sounds and wake to a gentle alarm during your lightest sleep phase for a naturally refreshed feel.
Sleep Cycle is available for IOS and Android devices.
2. Relax & Sleep Well
How It Works
Renowned hypnotherapist Glenn Harrold shepherds users to dreamland with studio-quality sound recordings designed to induce deep feelings of calm and relaxation.
Why Users Like It
Glenn Harrold’s guided meditation techniques resonate with users who call them “mesmerizing” and “magical.” The free version offers four recordings to try with over 110 topics from self-esteem and spiritual healing available for in-app purchase.
It’s among the most popular sleep apps for IOS and Android devices.
3. Pzizz — Sleep, Nap, Focus
How It Works
Pzizz’s patented psychoacoustic technology helps you fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up feeling energized with audio “dreamscapes” — blends of music, sound effects and voiceovers scientifically designed to lull users into a deep slumber.
Why Users Like It
Pzizz is both smart and customizable with personalized listening times and custom alarm settings. “Focus” recordings can be used offline to create a productive and distraction-free environment at work or at home.
Get the free version at the Google Play Store for Android or download it for IOS.
4. Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep
How It Works
Unwind to the sound of rolling thunder or pounding surf with the Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep app for Android.
Why Users Like It
Use this app day or night to listen to ten-minute nature recordings anytime you need a break — it’s simple enough to use anywhere for both relaxation or to create ambient noise.
Download it free for Android or IOS.
5. Sleep as Android
How It Works
Sleep as Android helps users correct insomnia by measuring the length, depth and efficiency of their sleep.
Why Users Like It
Gain valuable insights about your sleep quality with this free app for Android. Features include sleep cycle tracking, a snore recorder and an alarm that rouses you from your lightest sleep phase. Users call it the most refined and full-featured sleep tracking app available, plus it’s compatible with wearable devices including, Garmin, Pebble and Galaxy Gear. It’s perfect for travelers.
Sleep as Android is available for Android devices.
6. Sleepa
How It Works
Create a better ambiance anywhere with Sleepa’s white noise and relaxing sounds app for Android.
Why Users Like It
Soothing sound apps for sleep are popular, but few match the HD quality of Sleepa’s recordings. Choose from a curated selection of city, nature or mediation sounds or fall asleep to white, pink or brown noise. No internet connection is required.
Sleepa is available for Android devices.
7. Relax Melodies: Sleep Sounds
How It Works
Join 50 million people on a personalized journey to deeper sleep with customizable sound and body-mind exercises.
Why Users Like It
Sleep, focus or mediate to the beat of your own drum. Relax Melodies Composer feature lets you create custom playlists from their extensive library of nature sounds, white noise and meditation music.
It’s an Editor’s Choice on Google Play for Android and among the top-rated sleep apps for IOS.
8. Sleep Time
How It Works
Free for iPhone and Android, the Sleep Time app uses soundscapes and white noise to train users to fall asleep faster while analyzing sleep patterns and offering helpful tips for improvement.
Why Users Like It
Free sleep apps are not created equal. Among similar apps, Sleep Time’s tracking is rated among the most accurate and user-friendly. Top features include personalized alarm settings and an advanced alarm algorithm that optimizes sleep.
Download it free for Android and IOS.
9. Pillow Automatic Sleep Tracker
How It Works
Pillow monitors sleep discreetly from a nearby iPhone, iPad or Apple Smartwatch.
Why Users Like It
Pillow is like a personal sleep assistant — its advanced algorithm maps heart rate and sleep quality through all five stages of slumber. Complete with sleep sounds, and a smart alarm, it well-engineered and bug-free.
Pillow Automatic Sleep Tracker is available for IOS.
10. Good Morning Alarm Clock
How It Works
The Good Morning Alarm Clock tracks your sleep cycles and wakes you the way Mother Nature intended — within a 30-minute window while you’re in the lightest phase of sleep.
Why Users Like It
Available for Android and iPhone, this app’s features are both polished and accurate. Choose from a selection of sounds to help you drift off or create custom playlists. See your nightly sleep record every morning — the app notifies you when you’re sleeping too little.
Download Good Morning Alarm Clock for Android and IOS devices.
11. Sleep Sounds
How It Works
Sleep Sounds for Android offers a dozen high-quality nature recordings that calm the worried mind and provide cover for snoring.
Why Users Like It
Like most things, the best sleep apps are streamlined and intuitive to use. Sleep Sounds has no complicated features — just an automatic timer and 12 customizable sounds from rainfall to the rain forest that work offline.
Download it free from the Google Play Store for Android devices.
12. Deep Sleep and Relax Hypnosis
How It Works
Designed exclusively for iPhone and iPad, the Deep Sleep and Relax Hypnosis app combines proven hypnosis techniques with a rainbow of sound and visuals to send you off gently to a peaceful night.
Why Users Like It
The Deep Sleep and Relax Hypnosis app promotes deeper and more energizing sleep. App creator Mindifi uses the same techniques to change behaviors with their weight loss and smoking cessation apps — and they work. Now, more than 4 million people say they’re helping them get a better night’s sleep.
Download it from the App Store for IOS devices.
13. Slumber: Fall Asleep, Insomnia
How It Works
Available only on IOS devices, Slumber: Fall Asleep, Insomnia is unique among the best sleep apps — not only does it offer the best in audio and visual sleep cues, it can tell you a bedtime story.
Why Users Like It
Music alone can’t induce sleep for everyone, but Slumber: Fall Asleep, Insomnia has something for everyone, offering a wide range of relaxing sensory experiences including instrumental tunes, guided mediation and time-honored storytelling. If you have a history of falling asleep in front of the TV, this app’s for you.
Slumber: Fall Asleep, Insomnia is available from the App Store for IOS devices.
14. Headspace
How It Works
More than a sleep app, Headspace is a journey to greater mindfulness. Use it day or night to unwind with mediation, sleep exercises and sounds — or use the Move Mode for an energizing workout.
Why Users Like It
Headspace treats insomnia holistically, using techniques that help quiet the echoes of stress at bedtime by managing it better throughout the day. Available for IOS and Android, it’s an integrated, whole-body approach to getting deeper and more restorative rest.
Headspace is available for IOS and Android devices.
15. Calm
How It Works
Recommended by sleep professionals, Calm encourages tranquility through open and guided mediation, stories and sound.
Why Users Like It
Calm takes meditation science to the next level, helping beginners graduate to intermediate and advanced levels through Masterclasses offered by top global experts. Topics from happiness to gratitude are covered in session lengths from three to 25 minutes.
Work at your own pace on your Android or IOS devices and watch sleep consistently improve.
16. Ten Percent Happier
How It Works
The Ten Percent Happier app is an extension of the book by the same name from ABC News anchor Dan Harris. It relies on audio and video meditations covering topics such as parenting and aging to relieve stress and promote more restful nights.
Why Users Like It
Unlike some apps, Ten Percent Happier doesn’t lock you into long sessions of meditation. You can choose from quick-reads and short stories to longer inspirational features to listen to on the go — new content is released weekly — or select from over 500 guided meditations for a smooth transition to bedtime.
Available for both Android and IOS devices, users call the app a guide to inner peace.
Final Thoughts
No best sleep tracking app is ideal for everyone, but there are plenty to choose from, and most offer a free version — find one that fits your lifestyle and try it tonight. They’re the ultimate in sophisticated but user-friendly sleep science.