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
- Calm is the best sleep app for stories and sound, with 500+ Sleep Stories, soundscapes, and music narrated by familiar voices.
- RISE is the best sleep debt tracker, built on sleep debt and circadian rhythm science, and named one of Apple's Best Apps of 2026.
- SleepScore is the best no-wearable tracker, using patented sonar technology validated in 12-plus peer-reviewed studies.
- Hatch and Loftie are the best phone-free options, replacing the phone on the nightstand with a dedicated sleep clock.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Calm | Sleep stories and sound | See website | No |
 Headspace | Meditation and sleep | See website | No |
 Sleep Cycle | Smart alarm | See website | No |
 Hatch | Phone-free sleep clock | See website | No |
 RISE | Sleep debt tracking | See website | No |
 Loftie | Phone-free routine | See website | No |
 SleepScore | Sonar sleep tracking | See website | No |
 Aura | Personalized sleep content | See website | No |
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The best sleep apps
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Calm is the number one app for meditation and sleep, with over 2 million 5-star reviews and a library of more than 500 Sleep Stories, new stories added every week, narrated by names from Harry Styles and Michael Buble to Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey, plus kids stories featuring Peppa Pig, Minions and Winnie the Pooh. Its sleep sounds library covers nature sounds and white, brown, green and pink noise, and its Fall Asleep collection groups the most popular stories, soundscapes, music and meditations by goal: falling asleep, getting back to sleep, or unwinding before bed. A Sleep Check-In feature tracks nightly sleep quality and shows patterns for better habits. Pricing was not shown on the homepage, so check the site. For falling asleep to stories and sound, Calm is the best app.
What we like- Number one mental health app per vendor
- Over 2 million 5-star reviews
- 500+ Sleep Stories with new stories weekly
- Soundscapes and sleep music with white, brown, green and pink noise options
- 60-second Breathe Bubble for acute stress
- 7 Days of Calm and 21 Days of Calm intro programs
- Panic SOS
- Available on iOS, Android, web, Apple TV, Apple Watch, WearOS and Samsung Health
Watch out for- Pricing must be checked on the site
- Subscription model
- Sleep content sits inside a broader wellness app
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Headspace pairs sleep content with a full mental health toolkit: more than 1,000 expert-led exercises, relaxing wind-downs, soundscapes and fan-favorite sleepcasts, plus mental health coaching that can be added to a plan. The app is HSA and FSA eligible, rates 4.7 out of 5 from 1.28 million reviews, and is trusted by thousands of employers, health plans and partners. Subscriptions auto-renew monthly or annually and can be canceled anytime. Pricing was not shown on the homepage, so check the site. For sleep plus stress and anxiety support in one app, Headspace is the best pick.
What we like- Founded in 2010
- 1,000+ expert-led exercises
- Sleepcasts, soundscapes and wind-downs
- Mental health coaching, therapy and psychiatry available
- HSA and FSA eligible
- 4.7 out of 5 from 1.28M reviews
- Employer and health plan programs
Watch out for- Pricing must be checked on the site
- Subscription auto-renews
- Full features need a paid plan
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Sleep Cycle offers a smart alarm designed for easy mornings, a sleep journal, and an AI feature that answers questions about sleep, with a 30-day free trial on offer. The app has been featured by Fast Company, Forbes, The Washington Post, The Guardian and TechCrunch, and users praise finding a rhythm that actually works. Pricing beyond the trial must be checked on the site. For a smart alarm that wakes users at a lighter sleep phase, Sleep Cycle is a strong choice.
What we like- Smart alarm for easy mornings
- Sleep journal
- AI sleep questions answered in-app
- 30 days free trial
- Featured by Fast Company, Forbes, The Washington Post, The Guardian and TechCrunch
Watch out for- Homepage shows little detail beyond the trial offer
- Pricing must be checked on the site
- Phone-based tracking needs the phone nearby
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Hatch helps users let go of the day, calm the mind, and sleep more consistently through its Restore sleep clock, built around the power of a good bedtime routine rather than a perfect night's sleep. Its contactless sleep tracking works from the nightstand with no wristbands or rings and nothing to recharge, and the Hatch Sleep Clock learns sleep patterns and gives personalized recommendations for the next night. An original audio library of sound baths, meditations, audiobooks, sleep music and podcasts is built exclusively for sleep. Pricing was not shown, so check the site. For a phone-free bedroom with tracking included, Hatch is the best device.
What we like- Restore 3 sleep clock for the nightstand
- Contactless sleep tracking with no wristbands or rings and nothing to recharge
- Personalized recommendations from learned sleep patterns
- Original audio library of sound baths, meditations, audiobooks, sleep music and podcasts built for sleep
- Bedtime routine focus
Watch out for- Hardware purchase required
- Pricing must be checked on the site
- App features tie to the clock
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
RISE makes it easy to improve sleep and daily energy, built around the two laws of sleep science: sleep debt, the only sleep score that matters per RISE, and circadian rhythm, which predicts the daily energy schedule. The app tracks how much sleep users owe their bodies and helps pay it back, and predicts the best times for everything from the last coffee to winding down for bed. Vendor data says 80% of users feel benefits within 5 days, and RISE was named one of Apple's Best Apps of 2026 with a 4.7 rating from 75,829 ratings. Pricing was not shown, so check the site. For understanding why energy dips and fixing it, RISE is the best tracker.
What we like- Built on sleep debt and circadian rhythm, the two principles researchers agree affect how we feel and perform
- Predicts daily energy schedule
- 80% of users feel benefits within 5 days per vendor
- Named one of Apple's Best Apps of 2026
- 4.7 out of 5 from 75,829 ratings
Watch out for- Pricing must be checked on the site
- Science framing needs consistent use to pay off
- No hardware option
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Loftie helps users ditch the phone and rediscover great sleep, with a clock, lamp and app blocking living in one little spot on the nightstand. Wind-down routines, gentle sunrise waking, and kids' bedtime modes with night light cover the full evening, and kids' apps block themselves when near their clock. Verified buyers praise replacing the phone on the nightstand, building a bedtime routine with the clock, and waking without panic from harsh tones. Pricing was not shown clearly on the homepage, so check the site. For a phone-free wind-down routine, Loftie is the best clock.
What we like- Replaces the phone on the nightstand with clock, lamp and app blocking in one spot
- Gentle sunrise wake light
- Wind-down routines
- Kids' bedtime mode with night light
- App blocking for kids near their clock
- Verified buyer reviews praise calmer mornings without panic alarms
Watch out for- Hardware purchase required
- Pricing must be checked on the site
- Homepage shows product variants rather than clear prices
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
SleepScore proves sleep can improve without wearables, using patented sonar technology backed by more than 800 million hours of sleep data and validated in over 12 peer-reviewed studies. Nightly SleepScore gives in-depth analysis of sleep quality and quantity, with detailed breakdowns of sleep stages including duration, time to fall asleep, light, deep and REM sleep. A smart alarm wakes users at an ideal point in the sleep cycle, personalized science-backed advice comes from top sleep experts, and nightly scores compare against an ideal night for the user's age and gender. Pricing was not shown, so check the site. For accurate tracking without a wearable, SleepScore is the best app.
What we like- Patented sonar technology with no wearables required
- Backed by 800M+ hours of sleep data
- Validated in over 12 peer-reviewed studies
- Nightly analysis of sleep quality and quantity
- Detailed sleep stages including light, deep and REM
- Smart alarm for ideal wake time
- Personalized science-backed advice from top sleep experts
- Compares nightly sleep to an ideal night for age and gender
Watch out for- Pricing must be checked on the site
- Phone must sit near the bed for sonar
- Subscription model
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Aura is the world's most personalized app for mental wellness and sleep, with over 45,000 five-star reviews, combining expert-led resources and AI-driven personalization. Its catalog covers meditation, sleep, CBT and therapy in one place, with sleep tracks from thousands of options matched to the user, plus stories, hypnosis, soundscapes, breathwork, ASMR and live sessions with coaches and therapists. For users who want sleep content personalized to their mood and needs rather than a fixed library, Aura is the best app.
What we like- World's most personalized app for mental wellness and sleep per vendor
- Over 45,000 5-star reviews
- Meditation, sleep, CBT and therapy in one place
- AI-driven personalization finds the perfect sleep track from thousands of options
- Sleep stories, hypnosis, soundscapes, breathwork and ASMR
- Live sessions with coaches and therapists
Watch out for- Pricing must be checked on the site
- Breadth can overwhelm users who only want sleep tracking
- No dedicated hardware
How we chose
We picked tools covering the main approaches to better sleep: stories and sound, meditation, smart alarms, phone-free clocks, sleep debt science, sonar tracking and personalized content. Each homepage was opened to confirm the product exists and matches its description. Calm and Headspace were verified earlier in this batch, while Sleep Cycle, Hatch, RISE, Loftie, SleepScore and Aura were verified fresh. Sleep Cycle's homepage is flagged as thin, showing mainly a trial offer. Pricing is marked "See website" throughout, since vendor homepages did not show dollar figures, and hardware tools like Hatch and Loftie require a device purchase on top of any app costs.
A note on sleep and health
Sleep apps are wellness tools, not medical treatment. They can support better routines, relaxation and awareness of sleep patterns, but they do not diagnose or treat sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, restless leg syndrome or narcolepsy. If you snore loudly, stop breathing during sleep, feel excessively sleepy during the day despite a full night, or struggle with sleep for more than a few weeks, speak with a doctor or a sleep specialist. Good sleep hygiene still matters most: a consistent bedtime, a dark and cool room, less screen time before bed, and limited caffeine and alcohol in the evening.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sleep app overall?
Calm is best for stories and sound, RISE is best for sleep debt tracking, and SleepScore is best for wearable-free tracking. The right pick depends on whether you struggle to fall asleep, wake up tired, or want to understand your patterns.
Do sleep apps really work?
They can help with routines, relaxation and awareness, and RISE reports 80% of users feeling benefits within 5 days. They work best alongside consistent bedtimes and good sleep hygiene, not as a replacement for them.
What is the best sleep app without a wearable?
SleepScore uses sonar from the phone with no wearable required, and Hatch tracks contactlessly from the nightstand. Both avoid wristbands and rings entirely.
Should I keep my phone out of the bedroom?
Many sleep experts recommend it, and Hatch and Loftie are built for exactly that, replacing the phone with a dedicated clock, lamp and audio. If the phone stays, use a sleep app's wind-down mode and keep the screen dark.
What is sleep debt?
Sleep debt is the gap between the sleep your body needs and the sleep you actually get. RISE tracks it as the key sleep score, since accumulated debt drives daytime tiredness more than any single night's score.
When should I see a doctor about sleep?
See a doctor if you snore loudly, stop breathing during sleep, feel excessively sleepy during the day, or struggle with sleep for more than a few weeks. These can signal sleep apnea or another disorder that apps cannot treat.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.calm.com
- https://www.headspace.com
- https://sleepcycle.com
- https://www.hatch.co
- https://www.risescience.com
- https://byloftie.com
- https://sleepscore.com
- https://www.aurahealth.io
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.