10 sleep apps to help you snooze better
With the stresses of daily life, it’s no wonder many of us struggle to get the quality sleep we need. Taking time to relax before bed is important for maximising sleep quality, but calming a racing mind at the end of the day is easier said than done. Whether your aim is to ease your anxiety or your battle with regular night time disruptions, a sleep app could help you achieve better quality sleep.
Whether it’s listening to the soothing sounds of nature or practicing meditation, one of these ten sleep apps are sure to help you to drift off into a peaceful slumber.
what is a sleep app?
A sleep app serves a range of purposes, from sleep tracking to curating playlists of relaxing music. Sleep apps can be used to help you wind down before bed and to fall and stay asleep. Most are compatible with Apple and Android devices, so they’re very accessible. Some can be used on your smartwatch too.
Most sleep apps are free to download, but you may need a subscription to access advanced features and new content. Take advantage of free trials to see if their content works for you before committing to a subscription.
how to choose a sleep app?
Apple and Android’s app stores are full of sleep apps, which can make it tricky to decide which one to use. You need to think about what you need to sleep better.
Do you find it difficult to fall or stay asleep? Is your mind constantly racing with thoughts as soon as you climb into bed? Working out what stops you from getting the quality sleep you need will point you in the right direction when choosing a sleep app.
Sleep apps have many standard features, so you’re sure to find one that best suits your needs – these include:
Relaxing music and soothing sounds
Sleep advice and coaching
Guided meditation and breathing
Sleep stories and soundscapes
Sleep tracking
Alarm clocks
Research the app’s functions and don’t forget to read the reviews too. These offer useful insights, making it easier for you to choose the right one.
what sleep app should I use?
There is no shortage of sleep apps available on the Apple and Android app stores, which can make it difficult to know where to start. Silentnight has done the research for you, narrowing the list down to the top 10 apps that are proven to help you achieve quality sleep every night.
Calm
Calm is the highest rated sleep app on Apple and Android. On this free sleep app, you will find guided meditations, sleep stories for both adults and children, breathing programs, stretching exercises and relaxing music. The app is ideal for meditation novices, but it also includes hundreds of programmes for intermediate and advanced users too. Subscribe for access to Calm’s complete library.
Sleep Cycle
Use Sleep Cycle if you want to learn more about how well you sleep. This sleep tracker provides tips on how to optimise your sleep time, the app also offers relaxing stories and guided meditation. There’s even a smart alarm clock function that will gently wake you up during the lightest stage of your sleep cycle.
Loona
The interactive calming activities on Loona are designed to prepare you for bed. Their ‘escapes’ feature an animated colouring scene, soothing music and a sleep story. With plenty of options available for adults and children, this app is a great choice if you struggle to clear your mind before bed.
Slumber
The Slumber app provides meditation sessions and soothing bedtime stories that are aimed to quiet the mind and help you quickly fall asleep. With this sleep app you can also choose from a range of background noises, like ocean waves, to play for up to 10 hours. New stories and meditations are added to the app each week.
SleepWatch
SleepWatch tracks and analyses the quality of your sleep. With this app you can record any snoring and breathing abnormalities, access personalised sleep insights and find your ideal bedtime and wake up time. There’s also a customisable white noise library that can be mixed to create a unique soundscape.
Moshi
A highly recommended sleep app for kids, Moshi offers digital bedtime stories to help your child fall asleep quickly and easily. Most of the stories feature animated illustrations and last between 15 to 20 minutes. The stories can also be downloaded which is ideal for travelling.
Noisli
Noisli is a great sleep app for white noise and is simple yet highly effective. With this app you can choose from a range of different sleep sounds, such as white noise and nature sounds, so you can create your perfect sleep soundtrack. Once you’ve found the right combination, save the track in the app for future use.
Headspace
Headspace is perfect for people who struggle to get enough sleep and for those who deal with stress and anxiety. This popular relaxation app offers guided meditation programmes for sleep, stress, focus and resilience. It has a dedicated sleeping aids section, with meditation ‘sleepscasts’. These audio experiences help you visualise calming experiences to help promote a better night’s rest.
Pzizz
Pzizz is a highly customisable sleep app that helps you quickly quiet your mind, fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up feeling refreshed. The app uses dreamscapes - a mix of music, voiceovers and sound effects - which are created using the latest clinical research to help you obtain better sleep at night. Adjust the volume levels of music, vocal tracks and sound effects to achieve your desired sound.
Sleepiest
With over 350 immersive bedtime stories, Sleepiest is designed for adults, children and even babies. Create a personalised soundscape with their ‘mixer’ tool then discover the quality of your sleep with their automatic sleep tracker. Enjoy a gentle wake up with its alarm setting and start the day feeling refreshed.
Sleep apps are the perfect tool to help you fall and stay asleep. Whether you use them as part of your night time wind down routine or listen to these stories and soundscapes all night to avoid any disturbances, sleep apps can make a real difference to the quality of your sleep and how you feel when you wake up in the morning.
