11 Best Sleep Apps for a Restful Night in 2025
Transform your evenings with tailored audio experiences that soothe both mind and body.
In today’s fast-paced, always-connected world, getting a good night’s sleep can feel like an elusive dream. From constant notifications to racing thoughts, falling — and staying — asleep is harder than ever for many people. Fortunately, a new generation of sleep apps offers powerful tools to help you wind down, track your sleep habits, and develop healthier nighttime routines. Whether you want meditation guidance, calming sounds, or detailed sleep analysis, there’s an option designed for your needs. Here are the best sleep apps of 2025, handpicked by wellness experts for every type of sleeper and lifestyle.
How Do Sleep Apps Help Improve Sleep?
Sleep apps offer a variety of features designed to support better sleep hygiene, including:
- Sleep tracking to monitor your cycles and help you understand your natural sleep patterns
- Guided meditations, breathing exercises, or sleep stories to help you relax and drift off more easily
- Calming background sounds (like white noise, rain, or ocean waves) that block out disruptive noises
- Expert programs and relaxation exercises to reduce stress, anxiety, or insomnia symptoms
- Smart alarms that gently wake you during light sleep phases for a smoother morning
Below are the 11 top-rated sleep apps, with details on their unique offerings, pricing, pros and cons to help you find your perfect bedtime companion.
Best Overall Sleep App: Sleep Cycle
Sleep Cycle combines sleep tracking and a smart alarm to provide optimal wake-up experiences. It analyzes your sleep patterns using sound analysis or an accelerometer to detect your lightest sleep phase, then wakes you with gentle alarms so you start your day refreshed. The app provides in-depth reports on your sleep quality and duration, helping you identify trends and improve habits over time.
- Cost: Free with limited features; premium version is $30/year
- Free trial period: 7 days
- Pros: Accurate sleep phase analysis; gentle smart alarm; comprehensive sleep tracking and reports
- Cons: Some advanced analytics and features require a paid subscription
Best Sleep Tracking App: Oura
Oura is renowned for its combination of a sleek wearable ring and a sophisticated app interface. It tracks a wealth of sleep metrics including stages, duration, heart rate, body temperature, and even blood oxygen levels. Oura provides highly personalized insights, helping you pinpoint factors that affect your sleep and overall health. The app’s intuitive dashboard breaks down complex data into actionable insights for optimizing your sleep hygiene.
What others are reading
- Cost: Requires Oura Ring purchase (typically $299+) and subscription; $6/month for advanced analytics
- Free trial period: 30 days with ring purchase
- Pros: Extensive biometric tracking; personalized daily scores; intuitive interface
- Cons: High upfront cost; subscription required for premium features
Best Sleep App for Meditation: Headspace
Headspace is popular for guided meditations, but it’s equally acclaimed for its sleep-enhancing features. Its innovative “sleepcasts” — 45–55 minute audio experiences reminiscent of adult bedtime stories — help you relax and visualize tranquil environments, such as a walk through a serene garden or a slow-moving train ride. Headspace adds new content regularly, offering both variety and novelty. Upgrading unlocks over 40 meditation courses, plus a plethora of sleepcasts and calming music.
- Cost: Free for limited content; $13/month or $70/year for full access
- Free trial period: 14 days with annual subscription
- Pros: User-friendly interface; wide range of guided sessions and meditations; lots of content tailored to sleep and relaxation
- Cons: Fewer sleep narratives than competitors like Calm
Best Sleep App for White Noise: Noisli
Noisli lets you customize your own soothing sleep soundtrack. Choose from a variety of environmental sounds (thunder, rain, wind, white or brown noise, coffee shop buzz) and mix or layer them to fit your preferences. Favorites can be saved for quick access. It’s an excellent solution for masking disruptive noises or creating a steady bedtime routine. The mobile app is paid, but Noisli offers free sounds on its website.
- Cost: $2 (one-time purchase for app); website sounds are free
- Pros: Broad range of relaxing sounds; allows custom mixes; helps drown out external disturbances
- Cons: Extended overnight use may drain your phone battery — plug in while you sleep
Best Sleep App for Falling Asleep Fast: Slumber
Slumber combines meditative journeys, immersive bedtime stories, and calming sounds (like rain or a jacuzzi), designed to quickly transition your brain to sleep mode. You can select stories, meditation sessions, or background noise to play for up to 10 hours after the main track. New content — including sleep stories, nature sounds, and meditations — is added every week. Free users can access 10+ episodes, but upgrading unlocks the full library.
- Cost: Free for basic content; $8/month or $60/year for full access
- Pros: Wide variety of bedtime stories and meditations; ongoing addition of new content; background noise extension after main track
- Cons: Lacks comprehensive sleep-tracking metrics
Best Sleep App for Bedtime Stories: Calm
Calm is beloved for its “Sleep Stories” — bedtime stories for both kids and adults, expertly narrated by celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey, Harry Styles, and Camila Cabello. The vast library of stories is continually updated, and the app includes meditation programs, breathing exercises, and soothing music. Calm also offers categories like ASMR and meditations targeting stress reduction.
- Cost: Free for limited access; $70/year for full access
- Free trial period: 7 days
- Pros: Extensive and varied story library; content for all ages; additional relaxation features like breathing and stretching
- Cons: User interface can be overwhelming for beginners
Best Sleep App for Relaxation: Ten Percent Happier
Originating from journalist Dan Harris’s best-seller and podcast, Ten Percent Happier offers a broad spectrum of meditation courses, including many aimed at sleep and relaxation. Sessions range from three to forty-five minutes, remaining accessible for beginners and advanced practitioners. The app’s standout feature is the option to message a coach for personalized support.
- Cost: Free for basic use; $100/year for full content access
- Free trial period: 7 days
- Pros: Wide range of session lengths; access to meditation coaches; specific sleep-focused meditations
- Cons: Lacks a monthly subscription option
Other Noteworthy Sleep App Categories
Best for Personalized Sleep Coaching: Sleep Reset
Sleep Reset focuses on tailored support through a comprehensive sleep assessment, custom sleep improvement program, access to a dedicated coach, and in-depth lessons on sleep science. This holistic approach is backed by certified clinicians and provides regular insights on your progress.
- Cost: $75/month
- Free trial period: 7 days
- Pros: Expert-guided and highly personalized; ideal for anyone with persistent sleep challenges or insomnia
- Cons: More expensive than standard meditation or story apps
Best CBT-I Based Sleep App: Chorus Sleep
Chorus Sleep utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), the gold standard for treating chronic insomnia, within an accessible, easy-to-use platform. It includes soundscapes, meditation, breathing exercises, and a robust sleep tracker. Users can follow self-guided courses or work directly with a sleep coach for personalized help.
- Cost: $40/month or discounted multi-month plans
- Pros: Evidence-based techniques; comprehensive resources; tracks multiple sleep metrics
- Cons: No free trial offered
Comparison Table: Top Sleep Apps at a Glance
| App | Best For | Free Version | Annual Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep Cycle | Overall/Smart Alarm | Yes | $30 | Sleep tracking, smart alarm, reports |
| Oura | Advanced Tracking | No | $72 (plus ring) | Wearable data tracking, personalized metrics |
| Headspace | Meditation/Sleepcasts | Yes | $70 | Guided meditations, sleepcasts, courses |
| Noisli | White Noise/Mixing Sounds | No | One-time $2 | Customizable sound layering |
| Slumber | Falling Asleep Fast | Yes | $60 | Bedtime stories, meditations, sleep sounds |
| Calm | Bedtime Stories | Yes | $70 | Celebrity stories, relaxing music, meditation |
| Ten Percent Happier | Relaxation/Meditation Coaching | Yes | $100 | Meditation courses, access to live coaches |
Tips for Choosing the Best Sleep App
- Define your goal. Are you looking to track your sleep, fall asleep faster, reduce anxiety, or minimize noise? Choose an app whose features align with your top concern.
- Check compatibility. Ensure the app works with your operating system, and in some cases, with wearables you may already own.
- Review free vs premium content. Many apps allow you to try limited free versions before committing. Assess whether the premium features add enough value for your needs.
- Look for science-backed features. Apps using proven techniques, like CBT-I or guided sleep meditations, are more likely to deliver real results.
- Prioritize user experience. Simpler interfaces and easy navigation often make it easier to maintain a relaxing bedtime routine.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Sleep Apps
Q: Can sleep apps replace seeing a sleep specialist?
A: While sleep apps can help improve bedtime routines and relaxation, they aren’t a substitute for medical evaluation if you have chronic insomnia, frequent night wakings, or underlying conditions like sleep apnea. For persistent issues, consult a healthcare provider.
Q: Are sleep tracking apps accurate?
A: Sleep tracking apps (especially those using only the phone’s microphone or accelerometer) offer estimates of your sleep patterns, but may not match the precision of clinical sleep studies or medical devices. Wearable sleep trackers (like Oura) are generally more reliable for detailed insights.
Q: Is it safe to keep my phone on or near my bed for sleep apps?
A: Most sleep apps require your device to be nearby — sometimes even on the mattress — for accurate tracking or sound playback. To minimize disruptions, use airplane mode to block notifications. Always ensure your device is charging overnight to avoid battery drain.
Q: Can sleep apps help kids sleep better?
A: Several apps, including Calm and Slumber, offer sleep stories and soothing sounds suitable for children. Always preview content to ensure it’s age-appropriate, and consider using parental controls if available.
Q: What features should I look for in a meditation-based sleep app?
A: Seek out apps that offer a wide range of meditations (designed specifically for sleep), calming music, introductory series for beginners, and options to adjust the session length and topics (stress reduction, visualization, breathing exercises).
Final Thoughts
Consistent, restful sleep is the cornerstone of health and well-being. With so many innovative sleep apps now available, it’s easier than ever to experiment and find the right tool for your unique sleep needs. Whether you want to cultivate a meditative bedtime ritual, mask disruptive noises, or closely track your sleep quality, there’s an app designed to help you wake up refreshed and energized — night after night.
References
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/g26963663/best-sleep-apps/
- https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-sleep-apps
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/product-reviews/house-garden/a60885003/sleep-awards/
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sleep-apps/
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/sleeping-tips/
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ipnossoft.rma.free&hl=en_US
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