Best Sleep Apps

Calm is ideal if you enjoy listening to relaxing stories while you fall asleep. The app’s extensive library includes stories for adults and children. Some of the narrators may sound familiar — celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey and Stephen Fry are among the readers. Those who purchase a premium subscription gain access to new content each week. Each subscriber creates a profile to track their programs and receive recommendations for further listening.

You can also use Calm for meditation, mindfulness, stretching, and breathing exercises. The library includes soothing music to help you fall asleep, as well. Options for children include lullabies and bedtime stories. The app does not track sleep data, nor does the app include an alarm clock.

Calm is available for most Android and iOS devices. You’ll receive a free 7-day trial when you sign up for a subscription.

A personalized sleep app can be beneficial for anyone seeking customized help. Sleep Reset gives advice tailored to your specific needs. All new users begin with a comprehensive sleep assessment to help determine the root of their sleep problems. Once the assessment is complete, you’ll gain access to a sleep coach and video tutorials to guide you toward more restful nights.

The sleep improvement programs featured in this app are backed by certified sleep clinicians. You’ll also receive guided lessons about sleep science, mental and physical health, and sleep hygiene. Sleep Reset’s library includes guided meditation and breathing exercises to help you relax before bed. You can also track sleep data and patterns to optimize your nightly routine and bedroom environment.

Sleep Reset is compatible with most iOS and Android devices. New users receive one week of free content with their subscription, and you can cancel at any time during the trial period for no extra charge.

Meditation has been proven to alleviate stress and anxiety. Headspace is an app dedicated to guided meditation programs. Subscribers gain access to programs about daily mindfulness practices and meditations for sleep, stress, improving focus, and becoming more resilient.

We enjoyed Headspace due to its versatility of programming. “Move Mode” workouts are designed to keep you active throughout the day. You can also take part in “SOS” meditations for moments of acute stress or anxiety, as well as mini meditations that last 2 to 3 minutes. While these programs may promote sleep and restfulness, Headspace does not include sleep tracking data or any sort of alarm.

In all, the app contains more than 500 individual programs. You can download Headspace for most Android and iOS devices, and the app is fully compatible with Apple Health. First-time users qualify for a free 7-day trial if they opt for a monthly subscription, or a free 14-day trial if they choose an annual subscription.

Some of the best sleep apps available are companion apps for smart devices. Our team has been particularly impressed with the Hatch app used alongside the Hatch Restore smart lamp. Using the app, you can customize the Restore’s brightness and dimness settings to find your perfect bedside light level. The lamp also features sunset and sunrise alarms that mimic natural light patterns that sync with your circadian cycle. This can help you fall asleep quickly and wake up feeling refreshed.

The Hatch app also contains a library of music and ambient sounds intended to help you relax as you fall asleep. You can also access sleep stories and guided exercises. A Channels membership is needed to unlock the app’s various features. If you sign up for a month-to-month subscription, you’ll receive a 7-day trial. Opt for a full year of Channels and the trial period extends to 1 month.

While many smart sleep devices have companion apps, the Hatch goes above and beyond with its wide range of built-in programs. Subscriptions are relatively inexpensive, and your Hatch Restore lamp comes with free expedited shipping. You can test out the lamp for up to 60 days, and the device is backed by an additional year of warranty coverage if you decide to keep it.

If you routinely find yourself lying in bed with your eyes open and unable to drift off to sleep, Aura may be the app for you. This streaming service with a focus on mental health and wellness includes an extensive audio library. You can choose from relaxing music, ambient sounds, guided meditation, soothing sleep stories, and other programs designed to help you relax before bed. You can also listen to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions — a popular treatment route for people with insomnia — as well as standard sleep coaching and hypnosis.

Over time, Aura “learns” your preferences curates content based on what you’ve particularly liked in the past. The app’s free version comes with a daily three-minute session. You’ll need to obtain a monthly, annual, or lifetime subscription to access the entire library. If you want more personalized help, you can request one-on-one appointments with a sleep coach who has experience in your specific problem areas.

Your free seven-day trial begins once the app has been downloaded on your preferred device and you’ve created an account. Keep in mind the trial is only available for those with a standard annual subscription, not monthly subscribers. You can close your account at any time, though some users report the cancellation process can be difficult.

Many sleep trackers sold today feature companion apps for viewing and recording data. The Muse S Headband Sleep Tracker has one of the most intuitive and detailed sleep apps our team has tested. Sensors embedded in the headband track your brain activity and determine how much time you spent in the light, deep, and REM stages of your sleep cycle. You can view minute-to-minute results broken into “active,” “calm,” and “neutral” brain activity to get a better understanding of how — and how well — you sleep.

The headband is composed of soft, stretchy fabric and shouldn’t be uncomfortable while you sleep — though as is often the case with wearable trackers, you may need a few nights to adjust to the Muse S. Other metrics tracked by the headband include heart rate, breathing, and nighttime movements. If you’re interested in meditating before bed, the Muse S app comes loaded with hundreds of guided meditation programs. Many people see positive sleep results through this practice. The library also includes relaxing music and ambient noise to help you prepare for bed.

The headband is somewhat expensive, even by sleep tracker standards, but you’ll receive one year of free access to the app’s full content. You can also pair the tracker audio books and music-playing devices. Muse permits returns within 30 days, for which the company covers associated shipping charges.

Some sleep apps cover a lot of bases in terms of tracking and improving your sleep. The Rise Science Sleep App focuses on sleep debt, or how lost sleep can accumulate over time and lead to more serious health problems like heart disease and hypertension. Each day, the app generates a sleep debt score based on when you go to bed and wake up. The app is very easy to use — simply tap your phone before falling asleep, then again when you get up in the morning.

Throughout the day and evening, the app informs you when your energy levels are at their highest and lowest. You’ll also receive reminders and suggestions about aspects of your daily life, such as when to finish your last cup of coffee or start winding down for bed. Although the app can be used as a standalone sleep tracker, you can also pair it with other wearable devices if you’re interested in receiving additional data.

The Rise Science Sleep App is free to use for the first 14 days. After two weeks, you’ll need to purchase an annual subscription. You can download the app free of charge from the Apple or Google Play stores, then choose your subscription directly through the Rise Science website.

Many sleep apps are suitable for adults and children in equal measure, but Stella Sleep is specifically designed with young kids in mind. The app’s vast library includes an assortment of narrated stories, many of which are intended to provide emotional and social support. A total of 50 stories are included with your subscription. Other programs include lullabies, relaxing music, and guided meditation, and ambient sounds — all presented in a kid-friendly format.

The app is free to download on your iOS and Android devices. After signing up for a subscription, you can add programs to customize your child’s listening library. Many of the stories involve the same characters, allowing your kiddo to follow their favorites on various adventures. Led by renowned psychologist and sleep expert Helena Kubicek Boye, the app’s creative team strives to produce content that’s engaging and conducive to healthy sleep. Your app will be free of ads after you subscribe.

All new customers receive a free 7-day trial with their download. After the trial period ends, you can choose between monthly or yearly subscriptions. Both payment plans are relatively low-priced, given the wide breadth of program options available to subscribers. You can opt out of your subscription at any time.

Sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea affect millions of adults in the U.S. With Sleep Easy, you’ll gain access to hundreds of academic and scientific articles about addressing, treating, and overcoming sleep problems. Your subscription also includes consultations with certified sleep experts to help you create an action plan tailored to your specific needs.

In addition to insomnia and sleep apnea, the app features resources covering other sleep disorders such as jet lag and restless legs syndrome. You’ll find information about healthy sleep hygiene practices, the neurophysiological factors that influence sleep, and strategies for getting enough rest without relying on medication. Anxiety, stress, weight gain, and other issues tangentially related to sleep are also covered, and the app includes a wide library of musical programs intended to help you relax before bedtime.

The Sleep Easy app can be used on most iOS and Android smartphones, tablets, and desktop and laptop computers. You can purchase a monthly or annual subscription, the latter of which saves you money in the long run. Sleep Easy also caters to companies and organizations with a corporate package for employers.