How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Brain.fm suits focused work, with functional music designed for focus, relaxation, and sleep, plus a free trial before paying.
- myNoise and Momental suit listeners who want control, with deep mixing of frequencies, noise, and nature sounds.
- Pzizz suits sleep and naps, with sessions built around falling asleep and waking gently.
- Endel suits adaptive background sound that changes with time of day and activity, rather than fixed frequency tracks.
- Insight Timer, Headspace, and Calm suit listeners who want binaural-style audio inside a wider meditation and sleep library.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Brain.fm | Focus and deep work | See website | Free trial |
 myNoise | Deep sound customization | See website | Yes |
 Endel | Adaptive generative sound | See website | Free trial |
 Pzizz | Sleep and nap sessions | See website | Yes |
 Momental | Free frequency mixing | See website | Yes |
 Insight Timer | Meditation plus binaural tracks | See website | Yes |
 Headspace | Guided meditation and sleep audio | See website | Free trial |
 Calm | Sleep stories and relaxation audio | See website | Free trial |
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The best binaural beats apps
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Brain.fm builds music around mental states rather than offering a simple frequency slider. You choose focus, relaxation, or sleep, pick a genre, and get a session designed to support that state, with a built-in timer for work sessions. Many users find it easier to stick with than a raw tone generator, because the audio sounds like music, not a test tone.
The honest note is that Brain.fm is not pure binaural beats in the traditional sense. It uses patterned, AI-generated functional music based on brainwave entrainment ideas, which is a broader approach. If you want exact frequency control, pair it with a mixer like myNoise. If you want to press play and work, Brain.fm is the most polished option here.
What we like- Functional music for focus, relaxation, and sleep
- Research-backed design approach
- Works on iOS, Android, and web
Watch out for- Subscription only after the trial
- Not a traditional pure binaural beats tool
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
myNoise is a playground for people who like control. Its noise generators let you shape individual frequency bands with sliders, mix binaural beats with rain, wind, or brown noise, and save custom presets for focus, sleep, or masking office sound. The core site is free, with donations and optional extras supporting development, which makes it the best no-cost starting point for experimentation.
Beginners may feel lost at first. There are many generators, and the interface rewards tinkering more than quick presets. Start with a single binaural generator, add one background sound, and save that mix before exploring further. For listeners who know what they like and want to fine-tune it, no other app here offers the same depth.
What we like- Extremely detailed sound mixing
- Free core use with optional donations
- Binaural and noise generators included
Watch out for- Interface feels technical for beginners
- Mobile experience is simpler than the web version
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Endel creates soundscapes in real time, adapting to time of day, activity, and other inputs, rather than playing fixed tracks. You choose a mode such as focus, relax, or sleep, and the app generates continuous audio that shifts gently as you listen. That makes it good background sound for long work sessions, since it does not repeat in an obvious loop.
Control is the trade-off. You cannot select a specific binaural frequency or fine-tune entrainment settings the way you can in myNoise. Endel decides the mix, and some listeners will love that hands-off approach while others will find it vague. If you want adaptive, pleasant background sound without managing settings, Endel is a strong pick.
What we like- Adaptive soundscapes that change with time and activity
- Clean, modern design
- Focus, relax, and sleep modes
Watch out for- Limited control over exact frequencies
- Subscription after the trial
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Pzizz is built for one job: helping you fall asleep and wake up at a set time. Its sleep sessions combine music, voice guidance, and sound effects into a sequence that fades as you drift off, and nap sessions use a similar structure for shorter rest. That guided structure helps people who lie awake with racing thoughts, since the session gives the mind something calm to follow.
It is not a frequency laboratory. Pzizz does not offer the same precise binaural controls as myNoise or Momental, and its strength is session design rather than raw tones. If sleep is your main goal, that structure is an advantage. If you want to experiment with delta, theta, or alpha frequencies directly, use a dedicated mixer alongside it.
What we like- Sleep and nap sessions with gentle fade and wake-up
- Mix of music, voice, and sound effects
- Free tier for basic use
Watch out for- Less suited to pure binaural frequency control
- Full features need a subscription
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Momental stands out because it is free to start, with no account and no paywall blocking the core mixer. You can stack binaural frequencies with noise colors and nature sounds in one session, which suits listeners who want a simple, focused tool without a subscription. Sleep timers and focus presets help keep sessions practical rather than experimental.
The library is narrower than Headspace or Calm, and Momental does not offer guided meditation programs or sleep stories at the same scale. That is fine if you already know you want frequency-based sound. For a free, no-friction way to test whether binaural beats help your focus or wind-down routine, Momental is the easiest place to start.
What we like- Free mixing of binaural and Solfeggio frequencies with noise and nature sounds
- No account needed to start
- Works on iOS and Android
Watch out for- Smaller library than larger meditation apps
- Newer app with less long-term track record
Starting priceSee website
Free planYes
Insight Timer is a large meditation app with a free library that includes many binaural beats tracks, alongside guided meditations, music, and talks. Its timer also supports unguided sessions, so you can use a binaural track as background for your own practice. The free tier is generous, which makes it easy to try several binaural styles before paying for anything.
Variety brings inconsistency. Tracks come from many teachers, so production quality and style differ, and finding a favorite may take some searching. Save tracks you like, and use the timer to keep sessions consistent. For listeners who want binaural audio inside a wider meditation habit, Insight Timer offers more choice than any single-purpose app here.
What we like- Large free library of meditations and music
- Many binaural beats tracks from independent teachers
- Timer for unguided sessions
Watch out for- Quality varies across contributor tracks
- Premium features need a subscription
#7Headspace
Best for: Guided meditation and sleep audio4.6/5 on
G2 (68 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit headspace.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Headspace suits beginners who want structure. Its courses teach meditation step by step, its sleepcasts combine stories with calming sound, and its focus music offers background audio for work. Binaural-style tracks appear inside that wider audio library, rather than as a dedicated frequency tool, so the app works best when meditation and sleep content matter as much as sound itself.
That breadth is also the limit for pure binaural fans. You cannot fine-tune frequencies, and the app is priced as a full meditation subscription, not a sound mixer. If you want guided practice plus relaxing audio in one place, Headspace is a polished, beginner-friendly choice. If you only want binaural beats, a free mixer will serve you better.
What we like- Structured meditation courses
- Sleepcasts and focus music
- Clear guidance for beginners
Watch out for- Binaural content is part of a wider library, not the core focus
- Subscription after the trial
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree trial
Calm is best known for sleep stories, guided meditations, and relaxing soundscapes, and many users build a bedtime routine around it. Its music and soundscape sections include calming audio that pairs well with a wind-down routine, and its sleep stories help listeners who struggle to switch off at night. The app is polished, simple, and widely available.
Pure binaural listeners should set expectations. Calm is not a frequency tool, and it does not offer the detailed binaural controls found in myNoise or Momental. Choose Calm when sleep stories, meditation, and relaxing audio matter together, and use a dedicated binaural app when exact frequency control is the priority.
What we like- Popular sleep stories and meditation library
- Relaxing music and soundscapes
- Easy for bedtime routines
Watch out for- Binaural beats are not the main focus
- Subscription after the trial
How we chose
We compared apps on binaural and related sound content, headphone use, session controls such as timers and offline play, pricing, free tiers, and platform availability, using vendor sites and app listings plus public reviews on app stores, G2, Capterra, and Reddit. We included both pure frequency tools and wider wellness apps, because searchers for binaural beats use both kinds, but we noted where an app offers binaural-style audio rather than traditional binaural beats. We did not claim hands-on testing, and we did not present sound apps as medical treatment. Prices are listed as "See website" where vendors do not publish a single stable starting price, to avoid presenting an outdated app-store price as current.
Getting the most from binaural audio
Headphones, volume, and routine matter more than the exact app. A few habits make sessions more useful and safer.
Use headphones and moderate volume
Binaural beats need separate audio in each ear, so use stereo headphones or earbuds, not a speaker. Keep volume comfortable and low enough that you can still hear your surroundings if needed. If sound causes discomfort, headaches, or dizziness, stop and try a different track or volume.
Match the session to the goal
For focus, choose beta or gamma-oriented tracks and a work timer. For rest, choose alpha or theta-oriented tracks with a fade-out timer. For sleep, choose delta-oriented tracks or a sleep session that ends on its own. Do not use stimulating tracks right before bed and expect to fall asleep quickly.
Test for a week before judging
Effects, if any, are subtle and personal. Use one app for several sessions in the same setting, such as the same work task or bedtime routine, before deciding it does or does not help. Avoid switching apps every day, since that makes comparison impossible.
Frequently asked questions
Do binaural beats actually work?
Evidence is mixed and modest. Some small studies report effects on attention, relaxation, or sleep, while others find little difference from placebo or plain relaxing sound. Treat binaural beats as background sound that may help you focus or relax, not as a proven treatment. Your routine, headphones, and volume matter as much as the track itself.
Do I need headphones for binaural beats?
Yes. Binaural beats depend on playing a slightly different tone in each ear, so stereo headphones or earbuds are required. Listening through a speaker will not produce the same perceived beat, though the music itself may still sound relaxing. Use comfortable headphones for longer sessions, especially at night.
Which binaural beats app is best for sleep?
Pzizz is the strongest sleep-first pick here, with sessions designed for falling asleep and waking gently. myNoise and Momental are good alternatives if you prefer to mix your own sleep sounds and frequencies. Whichever app you choose, use a fade-out timer so audio does not play all night at full volume.
Are binaural beats safe?
For most people, listening at moderate volume is safe, but sound apps are not medical treatment. Stop if you feel discomfort, headaches, or dizziness, and avoid using sound apps while driving or doing tasks that need full attention. If you have epilepsy, hearing issues, or persistent sleep or anxiety problems, talk to a clinician before regular use.
Can I use a binaural beats app for free?
Yes. myNoise and Momental offer free core use, Insight Timer has a large free library, and Pzizz offers a free tier. Brain.fm, Endel, Headspace, and Calm offer trials before a subscription. Start free, test whether binaural audio helps your routine, and only pay when you know which style you prefer.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.brain.fm
- https://www.mynoise.net
- https://www.endel.io
- https://www.pzizz.com
- https://www.momental.ai
- https://www.insighttimer.com
- https://www.headspace.com
- https://www.calm.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.