10 Sleep Machines and Sleep Apps for a Better Night's Rest

Hatch Restore

Believe it or not, your sleep health starts in the morning—not in the evening. Getting up and laying your head down at the same time each day creates a beneficial ritual, gradually training your brain to wake up and fall asleep. That's where this highly-rated sound machine comes in. You can schedule the colors to change (some mimic the sunrise!), which signals that it's time to rise and shine; when you're ready to head to bed, their programmable sleep routines are accessible in the user-friendly app. Their wide variety of soundscapes sets them apart, too—we highly recommend meditative flute.

If the sound of birds chirping reminds you of waking up as a child in your suburban home, you can use that as your wake-up sound. And if waves crashing or rain falling helps you fall asleep, you can choose to play that at bedtime. When you purchase a Hatch Restore, you're given a free six-month trial to the app, with the full selection of sounds, meditations, and bedtime stories. After that period, if you want to continue using their full library, subscribe for $99 per year.

Price at time of publish: $130

LectroFan EVO

The LectroFan EVO emits a simple, high-quality sound that won't hurt your ears—and the fact that it blocks out any noises that ward off sleep make it a top contender. You have 10 white noise variations, 10 fan sounds (hello, box fan enthusiasts!), and two ocean options to choose from. All of these sounds are incredibly natural—which is the point. The company studied ambient noise and dynamic adaptive audio technologies to improve their products, resulting in many patents. After a while, you'll wonder how you ever slept without this.

The design is bare bones and straightforward. There are buttons for power, volume, and a timer; another allows you to cycle through the different sounds. For those traveling, it’s an inexpensive, lightweight investment that uses a traditional USB cable (so you can easily use it on the go).

Price at time of publish: $35

Yogasleep Dohm Classic Natural Sound Machine

If you're guilty of turning on a fan 365 days a year—even when it's freezing outside—simply for the soothing sound, we have a solution for you. This easy-to-use sound machine doesn't have the frills or sound settings of a more advanced option, but it's just as effective—and affordable. Flip a switch for a high or low volume setting to create the fan noise you've grown to love and trust. Then, turn the dial at the top to choose pink or brown noise. There are no cyclic loops—just an ongoing sound that's calming and straightforward.

Price at time of publish: $50

Dekala Arkenstone

This sunrise-simulating sleep machine is an affordable option that helps you wake up happy. It works double-duty to assist your sleep hygiene routine, giving you a built-in collection of 11 white noise options and five nature-inspired sounds. Depending on how disruptive the cars outside (or that running to-do list inside your mind) are, you can adjust the volume on a 1 to 15 scale.

Here's the cool part: This colorful sleep machine is also a sound-free alarm clock. Instead of beeping or buzzing, the face of the sleep machine mimics a sunrise, so you can wake up feeling like the sun is hitting your face. For those who are a fan of smart home devices—like Google Home or Amazon's Alexa—the Arkenstone easily connects and can be voice-activated. You'll never have to remove an arm from under the covers to snooze (though, you won't want to).

Price at time of publish: $60

Dreamegg D1 Sound Machine

Cute, compact, and highly-rated, this sound machine offers it all—without a steep price. You have 24 loop-less sounds to pick from, including white noise and fan sounds and other dynamic options, like crickets, a heartbeat, a babbling brook, and others. If you need a nightlight, turn on the optional ring at the top for guidance if you're prone to tip-toeing around at midnight.

For those who only need a sound machine to fall asleep, but don't need it to stay asleep, Dreamegg allows you to pick from 30, 60, or 90-minute intervals. While it's made of plastic, it looks high-quality and well-constructed, so it won't be an eyesore on your bedside table. Best of all, it's lightweight and portable, so it's a good companion on the road.

Price at time of publish: $32

Sleepwave

According to Nancy H. Rothstein, MBA, of The Sleep Ambassador, giving time and attention to how you wake up is just as important to creating proper bedtime rituals. So, when it comes to sleep apps for better rest, Rothstein recommends Sleepwave. "Sleepwave is a sleep tracking and smart alarm app that uses motion-sensing technology to help people understand their sleep so they can best engage in habits that support their sleep," she explains.

The alarm is linked to your body movements, and it senses the best time for you to wake up (so you won't be tempted to hit snooze). It begins your wake-up time based on your body's chemistry, which is why it can help combat sleep inertia and feelings of tiredness, says Rothstein.

Price at time of publish: from $5 per month

Sleep Sounds by Sleep Pillow

One night, pink noise helps you relax. The next? You'd prefer the soft sound of rain hitting your roof. This app is a smart investment if you crave variety. It offers 280 sounds—including 33 water inspired noises, 18 city beats, 37 positive affirmations, and much more. 

You can purchase specific packs to have forever for about $10 each or choose from a $1 to $6 monthly subscription tier. You can also pair together several sounds: Say you want to have pink noise, but also a horn beat or a wave crashing. You can become your own sleep DJ and create the best playlist for your needs. If you upgrade, you can also set an alarm clock—and go ad-free.

Price at time of publish: from $1 per month

Headspace

You may already be familiar with Headspace as one of the leading meditation apps with a robust library. But it can also serve as a sleep aid when you scroll over to the sleep category section. There, you'll find plenty of ways to get a solid night's rest—from ambient sounds, like white noise, to bedtime-oriented guided meditations and soothing music. Headspace calls these various categories soundscapes, and they’re fairly unique compared to other sleep apps' offerings.

You can choose traffic noises, a boat engine, a car driving, a wave crashing, and more. These soundscapes can last anywhere from 45 to 500 minutes long, so they're ideal for those who need assistance as they fall asleep and those who require a sleep app to stay asleep all night.

Another option is their sleepcasts, which are like bedtime movie scenes (that won't over-stimulate you). You can turn on or off narration and pick from sensory experiences, like "Dessert Campfire" or "Night Town." For those who need a distraction from their racing thoughts, this small piece of escapism might do the trick.

Price at time of publish: $13 per month or $70 per year

BetterSleep

If you forget your sleep machine when you travel, turn to this app for a good night's rest (you might recognize it by its former name, Relax Melodies). The relatively simple app has more than 200 sounds—and you can use the free version or get access to every last ASMR, white noise, and nature sound for $60 per year.

Like other sleep apps, you can layer sounds to create white, brown, pink, or green noise with comforting sounds on top, like a familiar melody, rainfall, and even animals like tree frogs. A bonus of this sleep app? You can download your go-to sound, so you don't need to use cellular data or have an internet connection to press play.

Price at time of publish: free or upgrade for $60 per year

White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds

As the name suggests, this app provides a simple collection of common sleep-inducing sounds. You can download the free version with a handful of options, like colored noises and nature, but you must subscribe weekly, monthly, or yearly for the complete collection. 

With a free account, you can pair two sounds together; if you would like to layer more, you’ll need to upgrade. The sounds often receive a high rating from reviewers, specifically for the high-quality omission of fire-inspired, animal-inspired, and thunder and rain mixes. There's even one that mimics the sound of the womb for a newborn-like slumber.

One of this app's best features? You can choose a setting where the sound gradually gets lower and lower until it fades out, allowing you to use the app to fall asleep, but not run all night long.

Price at time of publish: free or $40 per year for premium