Best Apps for Sleep
Struggling to sleep? You’re not alone, it’s estimated that over 50% of adults worldwide don’t get enough sleep and while there are many reasons for this, the stressors of modern day life and our exposure to technology that disturb our relationship with night and day, are leading causes.
While downloading an app may seem counter intuitive, there are actually many that have been designed and developed to help you both fall asleep and stay asleep.
But do they really work? And with so many to choose from, which ones are best?
Here are a few of our favourites:
Headspace
One of the leading apps for meditation and mindfulness, Headspace also focuses on sleep through its range of Sleepcasts (stories told in soothing voices), sleep music, guided meditations and breathing exercises, designed to prepare the mind for sleep.
Meditation, which is effectively the practice of clearing your mind, is the perfect antidote to stress and anxiety, and one of the best ways to prepare for sleep.
If you’ve never tried meditation or you want to make it part of your bedtime routine, we recommend downloading Headspace right away! With new content released every day, Headspace is a must-have.
12.99 USD / month
69.99 USD / year
Calm
Calm’s goal is improve your health and happiness through its guided mediation, music, stories, and guided stretching videos.
Much like Headspace, Calm also focuses on helping you enter dreamland through meditation but what separates these apps is Calms offering of sleep stories!
It’s not just for kids - there’s no better way to prepare for sleep with a bedtime story. Each one is narrated by a comforting and familiar voice, including Matthew McConaughey, Kate Winslet, Stephen Fry and Harry Styles.
69.99 USD / year
399.99 USD / lifetime access!
Noisli
Noisli is a slick and simple app that lets you mix and match different sounds in order to create the perfect aural environment. The team at Noisli believe that the constant of background and white noise is predictable and calming, and therefore a great way to start a familiar night time routine.
If mixing the sounds yourself doesn’t sound appealing, Noisli also offer their own combinations for you to check out.
Everyone can benefit from the soothing tones of Noisli, but we highly recommend it to anyone living in a particularly noisy and disruptive neighbourhood.
Free version available
Pro version: 10 USD / month
Sleep Cycle
For some, looking back at how well you slept each night may be an intimidating thought, but there is definitely a benefit in tracking your sleep patterns.
Sleep Cycle will not only rate the quality of your sleep, but it will also provide tips on how to optimise your sleep time! But its best feature is the non-conventional alarm clock that will wake you up during your lightest sleep phase so you feel energised and refreshed in the morning.
It’s worth noting that while this inexpensive technology is exciting and promising, it’s not 100% accurate. It’s always best to consult a sleep specialist when addressing consistent sleep issues before depending on mobile apps.
Free version available
Pro version: 39.99 USD / year
Ten Percent Happier
Dan Harris, ABC presenter and author of the best-selling book Ten Percent Happier, developed this meditation app for newcomers and skeptics alike. If you’re struggling to find a mediation or sleep app that really works for you, then give this one a try.
The guided meditations use a combination of humour and straight talk (a rare duo in the world of meditation) to help you focus, reduce stress, and sleep better.
Free version available
Pro version: 99 USD / year
Which sleep apps do you use? Let us know here.
