Best sleep sound apps in 2026
The best-known sleep sound apps in 2026 are BetterSleep, Calm, White Noise by TMSOFT, Endel, SAMA Sound and myNoise. The main difference is how the sound is made: BetterSleep, Calm and White Noise play recorded sounds, many of them looped, while Endel and SAMA Sound (samahome.pro) generate sound in real time, so it never repeats.
Ratings and prices are from the US App Store or official websites, checked on 25 September 2026. SAMA Sound is our app; the others are not affiliated with us.
Sleep sound apps side by side
| App | What it plays | Price | App Store rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetterSleep | 300+ sounds to mix, 250+ meditations, 100+ sleep stories, sleep tracking and recording | Subscription tiers from $11.99 to $99.99 | 4.7 (391,000 ratings) |
| Calm | Sleep Stories, meditation, soundscapes such as rain and ocean, music | $14.99 a month or $69.99 a year | 4.8 (2 million ratings) |
| White Noise Lite (TMSOFT) | 50+ looped sounds, a mix editor, timer and alarm with fade | Free, with a paid upgrade | 4.8 (276,000 ratings) |
| Endel | Soundscapes generated in real time | Several tiers: $2.99–19.99 a month, $34.99–119.99 a year, lifetime $124.99 | 4.6 (34,000+ ratings) |
| SAMA Sound | Sound generated as it plays: sleep, deep night, calm and four kinds of steady noise; timer that fades out; gentle alarm | Free to download, five-minute sessions without a subscription; $6.99 a month or $44.99 a year | New, released 12 September 2026 |
| myNoise | Noise generators and soundscapes adjustable by frequency band | Free, funded by donations | Web |
Looped recordings or generated sound
Most sleep sound apps play recordings: a few minutes of rain or surf that repeat, often mixed with other layers. That works for many people, but some notice the loop point, especially when they wake in the night. Generated sound, used by Endel and SAMA Sound, is built while it plays, so there is no loop to notice. The trade-off is choice: recording libraries such as BetterSleep offer hundreds of named sounds, while generators offer a smaller set of scenarios.
Which sleep sound app fits which need
If you want everything in one app, including sleep tracking, stories and meditation, BetterSleep and Calm are the broadest. If you want a simple free noise machine with a timer, White Noise Lite and myNoise cover that. If you want sound that never repeats, choose between Endel, available on many platforms, and SAMA Sound, which is iPhone only but lets one phone run different sound in up to three other rooms, each stopping at the time you set.
Sources
- BetterSleep on the App Store, checked 25.09.2026: apps.apple.com/us/app/bettersleep-relax-and-sleep/id314498713
- Calm on the App Store, checked 25.09.2026: apps.apple.com/us/app/calm/id571800810
- White Noise Lite on the App Store, checked 25.09.2026: apps.apple.com/us/app/white-noise-lite/id292987597
- Endel on the App Store, checked 25.09.2026: apps.apple.com/us/app/endel-focus-sleep-sounds/id1346247457
- myNoise, checked 25.09.2026: mynoise.net
- SAMA Sound on the App Store: apps.apple.com/app/id6805510050
Download SAMA Sound on the App Store
Last updated 25 September 2026.