Sleep apps are mobile applications designed to help users track and improve the quality of their sleep. These apps use various sensors on smartphones, such as accelerometers, to monitor sleep patterns and provide users with insights about their sleep quality.
Sleep apps can help users identify patterns in their sleep behavior, such as how long it takes them to fall asleep, how often they wake up during the night, and how much deep sleep they get. This information can be used to adjust sleep habits and improve overall sleep quality.
Many sleep apps also offer features to help users improve their sleep habits, such as guided meditations, relaxing sounds, and bedtime stories. These features and these sleep apps can help users relax and fall asleep faster, improving the quality of their sleep.
Some sleep apps also offer advanced features such as sleep tracking with wearable devices, personalized sleep recommendations based on user data, and integration with other health apps. These advanced features can provide users with more comprehensive insights about their sleep patterns and help them make more informed decisions about their sleep habits.
All in all, sleep apps can be a useful tool for anyone looking to improve the quality of their sleep. By tracking sleep patterns and providing insights about sleep behavior, these sleep apps can help users identify areas for improvement and develop healthy sleep habits.
Let’s take a look at the very best sleep apps you can find for iOS.
1. BetterSleep
BetterSleep is a mobile app designed to help users improve the quality of their sleep. The app uses a combination of sleep tracking, curated content, and personalized coaching to help users develop healthy sleep habits and get a better night’s rest.
BetterSleep tracks sleep patterns by using the iPhone’s accelerometer and microphone to monitor movement and detect snoring. The app provides users with detailed reports on their sleep quality, including information on how long it takes to fall asleep, how many times they wake up during the night, and how long they spend in each stage of sleep.
In addition to sleep tracking, BetterSleep offers a variety of curated content to help users relax and fall asleep. The app features a library of sleep sounds, meditations, and bedtime stories to help users unwind before bed. BetterSleep also offers personalized coaching to help users develop healthy sleep habits and improve their sleep quality over time.
One of the unique features of BetterSleep is its use of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). CBT-I is a proven method for treating insomnia that helps users develop healthy sleep habits and change negative thought patterns associated with sleep.
BetterSleep can be a useful tool for anyone looking to improve the quality of their sleep. By tracking sleep patterns, offering curated content to help users relax, and providing personalized coaching and CBT-I, BetterSleep can help users develop healthy sleep habits and get a better night’s rest.
2. Sleep Cycle
Sleep Cycle is a mobile sleep app designed to track sleep patterns and provide insights about sleep quality. The app uses the iPhone’s accelerometer to monitor movement during sleep and provides a detailed report on sleep quality, including information on how long it takes to fall asleep, how many times the user wakes up during the night, and how much deep sleep they get.
The app’s use of intelligent alarm clocks that wake the user up during their lightest sleep phase is rather praiseworthy. This feature can help users feel more rested and alert throughout the day. The app also includes a variety of alarm sounds, including nature sounds, to help users wake up more gently.
Sleep Cycle’s sleep tracking accuracy depends on the phone’s accelerometer sensor. The app uses the accelerometer to track movement during sleep and determine which sleep stage the user is in. While the accelerometer is not as accurate as a medical-grade sleep tracker, Sleep Cycle’s sleep tracking has been shown to be reliable for most users.
Some factors that can affect the accuracy of Sleep Cycle’s sleep tracking include how the user positions their phone while sleeping, the quality of the phone’s accelerometer sensor, and whether the user shares their bed with another person or pet.
Despite these limitations, Sleep Cycle’s sleep tracking provides a useful estimate of sleep quality and can help users identify patterns in their sleep behavior. The app’s sleep tracking can be especially helpful for identifying factors that may be affecting sleep quality, such as caffeine intake or exercise habits.
Sleep Cycle can be a useful tool for anyone looking to improve the quality of their sleep. By tracking sleep patterns and providing insights about sleep quality, the app can help users develop healthy sleep habits and wake up feeling more rested and alert.
3. Pillow
Pillow is an iOS sleep tracking application that employs the iPhone’s accelerometer and microphone to monitor sleep patterns and deliver comprehensive insights into users’ sleep quality. The app records various sleep metrics, including total sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and time spent in different sleep stages such as deep sleep, light sleep, and REM sleep.
Pillow offers a range of sleep tracking modes, including automatic, manual, and power nap modes. In automatic mode, the app uses the iPhone’s accelerometer and microphone to detect and track sleep patterns without any user input. In manual mode, users can start and stop sleep tracking sessions manually, and in power nap mode, the app provides users with a 20-minute nap timer to help them boost their productivity.
Pillow’s sleep tracking data is presented in a user-friendly format, with easy-to-read graphs and charts that provide users with a clear overview of their sleep patterns over time. Users can view their sleep data by day, week, or month, and can also compare their sleep data to previous periods to track their progress.
The app’s smart alarm feature works by analyzing users’ sleep patterns and waking them up during their lightest sleep phase, which can help them feel more rested and alert throughout the day. The smart alarm feature can be customized to suit users’ preferences, with a range of alarm sounds and vibration settings available.
Pillow’s sleep aid feature includes a range of guided meditations and breathing exercises to help users relax and fall asleep faster. The app also includes a variety of sleep aid soundscapes, such as ocean waves, rain, and white noise, to help block out external noise and promote relaxation.
Pillow integrates with Apple Health, allowing users to view their sleep data alongside other health metrics, such as heart rate and step count. Users can also sync their sleep data with other health and fitness apps, such as MyFitnessPal and Runkeeper.
4. Calm
Calm is a mobile app that provides guided meditations, sleep stories, music, and other mindfulness exercises to help users reduce stress, improve sleep, and enhance their overall well-being. The app offers a variety of features designed to promote relaxation and mindfulness, including:
Guided meditations: Calm offers a range of guided meditations, which are designed to help users reduce stress, increase focus, and improve overall well-being. The app features meditations of varying lengths and styles, including mindfulness, loving-kindness, and body scan meditations.
Sleep stories: Calm’s sleep stories are designed to help users relax and fall asleep faster. The app features a range of stories read by soothing narrators, including bedtime stories for adults, nature sounds, and ASMR stories.
Music: Calm offers a variety of calming music tracks, including ambient sounds, nature sounds, and classical music. The app also features a music timer, which allows users to set a specific time period for the music to play.
Breathing exercises: Calm provides users with a range of breathing exercises designed to promote relaxation and reduce stress. The app features exercises of varying lengths, including a 7-day breathing program.
Daily calm: Calm offers a daily meditation called the “Daily Calm,” which is a 10-minute guided meditation that changes each day. The Daily Calm is designed to help users start their day with a sense of calm and focus.
Calm also offers a range of other features, including a gratitude journal, masterclasses, and a progress tracker to help users track their mindfulness journey.
5. Headspace
Headspace is a mobile app that offers guided meditations, mindfulness exercises, and other tools to help users reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance their overall well-being. The app offers a variety of features designed to promote mindfulness, including:
Guided meditations: Headspace provides users with a range of guided meditations designed to help reduce stress, improve sleep, and increase focus. The app features meditations of varying lengths and styles, including mindfulness, loving-kindness, and body scan meditations.
Mindfulness exercises: Headspace offers a variety of mindfulness exercises designed to help users stay present and focused throughout their day. The app features exercises such as mindful breathing, body scans, and visualizations.
Sleep sounds: Headspace provides users with a variety of sleep sounds and music tracks designed to help them fall asleep faster and improve the quality of their sleep.
Mini meditations: Headspace offers “mini meditations” that are designed to fit into users’ busy schedules. These meditations are typically 1-3 minutes long and can be done anywhere, anytime.
Headspace for Kids: Headspace offers a separate section for kids, which provides guided meditations and mindfulness exercises designed specifically for children. Headspace for Kids is a section of the Headspace app that provides guided meditations and mindfulness exercises designed specifically for children. The content is developed to meet the needs of children ages 5 to 12, helping them to develop healthy habits and coping skills to manage stress and anxiety.
Headspace for Kids is a valuable tool for parents and educators who want to help children develop healthy habits and coping skills. The app’s engaging and age-appropriate content can help children learn to manage stress, improve their focus, and enhance their overall well-being.
6. White Noise Lite
White Noise Lite is an iOS app that provides a collection of ambient sounds designed to help you relax, sleep, or concentrate. The app features a variety of high-quality, loopable sounds, including white noise, rain, ocean waves, and more.
The app is available for free on the App Store, but it also offers in-app purchases to access additional sounds and features. With the free version, you get access to 40 sounds, a basic alarm and timer, and the ability to mix and match sounds to create your own custom soundscapes.
In addition to the free version, the app also offers a premium version called White Noise Pro, which includes over 80 sounds, advanced alarm and timer features, and more customization options. The premium version is available as a one-time purchase or as a subscription.
Sound Library: White Noise Lite features a library of 40 different sounds, including white noise, fan, rain, thunderstorm, ocean waves, campfire, and more. The sounds are high quality and loop seamlessly, creating a soothing and immersive environment.
Customization: The app allows you to mix and match sounds to create your own personalized soundscapes. You can adjust the volume of each sound, save your favorite mixes, and even set a timer to turn off the sounds after a certain amount of time.
Alarm and Timer: The app includes a basic alarm and timer feature, which can be used to wake you up in the morning or remind you to take a break during work or study sessions. The alarm and timer can be set to play any of the sounds in the app’s library.
Sleep Aid: White Noise Lite is designed to help you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. The app’s soothing sounds can help mask background noise and create a relaxing environment that promotes restful sleep.
Accessibility: The app is designed to be accessible and user-friendly. It includes features like VoiceOver support for visually impaired users, and it is available in multiple languages.
Additional features: The app also includes a variety of additional features, such as the ability to adjust the playback speed of sounds, a dark mode for nighttime use, and the option to play sounds in the background while using other apps.
Generally, White Noise Lite is a popular app among those looking for a simple and effective way to relax, sleep, or focus in a noisy environment. Its user-friendly interface and variety of sounds make it a great option for anyone looking to improve their sleep or concentration.
7. Sleepio
Sleepio is an iOS app designed to help people improve their sleep habits and overcome insomnia. It is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, which are a proven method for treating insomnia.
The app is developed by Big Health, a digital therapeutics company, and is available for download on the App Store. Here are some features of the Sleepio app:
Sleep Assessment: The app includes a comprehensive sleep assessment that helps users understand their sleep patterns and identify areas for improvement. The assessment asks a series of questions about sleep habits, lifestyle factors, and medical history to provide personalized recommendations.
Sleep Diary: The app includes a sleep diary that users can use to track their sleep patterns over time. The diary helps users identify patterns and triggers that may be affecting their sleep.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Techniques: The app uses CBT techniques to help users address the underlying causes of their sleep problems. The techniques include sleep restriction therapy, stimulus control therapy, and cognitive therapy.
Digital Sleep Coach: The app includes a digital sleep coach that provides personalized guidance and support. The coach checks in with users on a regular basis to monitor progress and provide feedback.
Relaxation Techniques: The app includes a variety of relaxation techniques, including breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation. These techniques can help users relax and fall asleep more easily.
Community Support: The app includes a community forum where users can connect with others who are also working to improve their sleep. The forum provides a supportive environment where users can share their experiences and get advice from others.
Sleepio is an effective tool for improving sleep habits and addressing insomnia. Its use of CBT techniques and personalized coaching make it a powerful tool for those struggling with sleep issues.
8. Doze
Doze is an iOS app designed to help users fall asleep quickly and wake up feeling refreshed. The app provides a collection of soothing sounds and guided meditations that are designed to help users relax and drift off to sleep.
User Interface: Doze has a simple and user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and customize. Users can quickly select sounds, adjust volume, and set timers with just a few taps.
Guided Meditations: The app includes a variety of guided meditations that are designed to help users relax and fall asleep. The meditations range in length from 5 to 30 minutes and include topics like body scan, deep breathing, and visualization.
Soothing Sounds: Doze features a library of high-quality sounds that are designed to promote relaxation and sleep. The sounds include white noise, rain, ocean waves, and more, and can be customized to create the perfect sleep environment.
Timer and Alarm: The app includes a sleep timer and wake-up alarm that can be customized to meet the user’s needs. The sleep timer can be set to turn off the sounds and meditations after a certain amount of time, while the wake-up alarm can be set to gradually increase in volume to wake the user up gently.
Health Integration: Doze can integrate with the Apple Health app to track sleep data and provide insights into sleep patterns. Users can view their sleep data and monitor their progress over time.
Accessibility: The app is designed to be accessible and user-friendly. It includes features like VoiceOver support for visually impaired users, and it is available in multiple languages.
Doze provides a variety of tips and suggestions for improving sleep habits. The app includes a “Sleep Better” section that provides users with information on how to establish healthy sleep habits and improve the quality of their sleep. Here are some examples of the tips and suggestions provided in the app:
Establish a Sleep Routine: The app suggests establishing a regular sleep routine by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. This can help regulate the body’s internal clock and improve the quality of sleep.
Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment: The app recommends creating a sleep-friendly environment by keeping the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet. This can help promote relaxation and reduce distractions that may interfere with sleep.
Limit Screen Time: The app suggests limiting screen time before bed, as exposure to the blue light emitted by electronic devices can interfere with sleep. The app recommends avoiding screens for at least an hour before bed.
Avoid Stimulants: The app recommends avoiding stimulants like caffeine and nicotine before bed, as they can interfere with sleep and make it harder to fall asleep.
Practice Relaxation Techniques: The app suggests practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation to help reduce stress and promote relaxation before bed.
Get Regular Exercise: The app recommends getting regular exercise, as it can help reduce stress and promote better sleep. However, the app suggests avoiding strenuous exercise close to bedtime, as it can interfere with sleep.
9. Digipill
Digipill is a mobile app for iOS and Android that provides a collection of audio-based “pills” designed to help users improve their mental and emotional wellbeing. The app uses a combination of hypnotherapy, meditation, and suggestion to help users achieve their desired outcomes.
Here are some features of the Digipill app:
Audio-Based “Pills”: The app includes a collection of audio-based “pills” that are designed to help users achieve specific outcomes, such as reducing stress, improving sleep, boosting confidence, and more. Each pill is a guided audio session that includes a combination of hypnotherapy, meditation, and suggestion.
Customization: The app allows users to customize their experience by selecting the pill that best meets their needs. Users can choose from a variety of pills and can filter the list by category, such as “Sleep,” “Stress,” “Confidence,” and more.
Sleep Aid: The app includes a variety of pills designed to help users improve their sleep habits and achieve better sleep. The pills include guided meditations, relaxation exercises, and hypnotherapy sessions that are designed to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
Guided Meditation: The app includes a variety of guided meditation pills that are designed to help users reduce stress, improve focus, and achieve a sense of calm. The guided meditations are led by experienced meditation teachers and include techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, and body scan.
Hypnotherapy: The app includes a variety of hypnotherapy pills that are designed to help users overcome negative thought patterns and achieve their desired outcomes. The hypnotherapy sessions are led by experienced hypnotherapists and include suggestions and affirmations that are designed to promote positive change.
The length of audio sessions for each Digipill varies depending on the specific pill and its intended purpose. However, most of the pills are designed to be relatively short and can be completed within 10-20 minutes.
For example, some of the sleep-related Digipills may be shorter in length to help users fall asleep quickly. These pills may be around 10-15 minutes in length and are designed to promote relaxation and calmness to help users drift off to sleep.
On the other hand, some of the more complex or in-depth programs may be longer in length, up to 30-45 minutes. These programs may include guided meditation or hypnotherapy sessions that require more time to fully achieve the intended outcome.
The app allows users to preview the length of each pill before they start listening to it, so they can choose one that fits their available time frame. Additionally, users can also set a timer within the app to ensure that they stop listening to the pill after a certain amount of time, if needed.
In general, Digipill is a unique app that uses a combination of hypnotherapy, meditation, and suggestion to help users improve their mental and emotional wellbeing. Its customizable approach and wide range of pills make it a powerful tool for those looking to achieve specific outcomes, such as reducing stress, improving sleep, or boosting confidence.
10. Resonate-Visual Breathing
Resonate-Visual Breathing is a mobile app designed to help users reduce stress and improve their emotional well-being through a guided breathing technique called “resonant breathing.” The app uses a visual breathing guide to help users achieve a state of relaxation and calmness.
Here are some features of the Resonate-Visual Breathing app:
Resonant Breathing: The app uses a guided resonant breathing technique that involves taking five breaths per minute. This breathing technique is designed to stimulate the body’s relaxation response and reduce stress.
Visual Breathing Guide: The app uses a visual breathing guide to help users maintain the correct breathing rate. The guide includes a circle that expands and contracts to help users visualize their inhale and exhale.
Customization: The app allows users to customize their breathing experience by adjusting the length of each inhale and exhale. Users can also adjust the duration of the breathing session to fit their available time.
Progress Tracking: The app includes a progress tracker that allows users to monitor their breathing rate and track their progress over time. This can be useful for those looking to improve their breathing technique and reduce stress.
Reminders: The app includes a reminder feature that allows users to set reminders to practice breathing throughout the day. This can help users maintain a regular breathing practice and reduce stress throughout the day.
All in all, Resonate-Visual Breathing is a simple and effective app for reducing stress and promoting relaxation through resonant breathing. Its visual breathing guide and customization options make it a useful tool for those looking to improve their breathing technique and reduce stress in their daily lives.
Resonant breathing, also known as paced breathing or coherent breathing, is a breathing technique that involves breathing at a slow and regular rate of 5 breaths per minute. This technique has been found to have a positive impact on the body’s autonomic nervous system, which controls many of the body’s involuntary functions, such as heart rate and digestion.
Here’s how it works: When we breathe at a slow and regular rate, we activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “rest and digest” response. This response slows down the heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and promotes relaxation and calmness.
In conclusion
There are many great sleeping apps available on iOS that can help users improve their sleep habits and achieve better quality sleep. These apps use a variety of techniques, such as guided meditations, hypnotherapy, and breathing exercises, to help users relax and fall asleep more easily.
Some of the top sleep apps on iOS include Doze, Sleep Cycle, and Calm. Doze provides users with helpful tips and suggestions for improving sleep habits, while Sleep Cycle tracks sleep patterns and wakes users up at the optimal time in their sleep cycle. Calm offers a range of sleep-related content, including guided meditations, sleep stories, and soothing sounds.
Overall, these sleep apps can be a valuable tool for those looking to improve their sleep habits and achieve better quality sleep. Whether you’re struggling to fall asleep or simply looking to optimize your sleep routine, there’s a sleeping app out there that can help you achieve your goals.