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Are you struggling to sleep or concentrate due to unwanted background noise? White noise apps may be the answer. These apps offer a range of soothing sounds that can help you sleep, block out distractions, or relax. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of the five best white noise apps for Android and iOS.
From free options with a variety of white noise deep sleep sounds to apps specifically designed for parents of infants and young children, there’s something for everyone. They also serve as alternatives to white noise machines.
Get ready to find your perfect white noise match and say goodbye to distractions. Our top five picks offer many white noise sounds and customizable features to help you improve sleep, focus, or relax.
Apps on this list
How We Picked The Best White Noise Apps
1. Overall quality and popularity of the app, as indicated by user reviews
It’s a good idea to read reviews before you use the app and see what other users have to say about their experiences with the app. This can help you get a sense of the app’s overall quality and whether it is a good fit for your needs, and whether it can compete with a white noise machine.
2. Range of white noise sounds and additional features offered
We selected different white noise apps that are popular and well-reviewed and offer a wide range of white noise sounds and additional features, such as the ability to mix and match different sounds. Many white noise apps also include a sleep timer.
3. Whether the app is free or paid
We tried to include a variety of different types of apps, including both free white noise generator apps and paid options with a free trial.
4. Whether the app is designed for parents
When selecting the best white noise apps available, it’s important to consider your specific needs and preferences. For example, if you are a parent of an infant or young child, you may want to use other apps that offer noise sounds, ambient sounds, including white noise, specifically designed to soothe and help babies drift off to sleep. You can even find apps with sleep stories.
Do White Noise Apps Work?
White noise apps are a popular choice for those seeking the benefits of white noise, which is a blend of all frequencies of sound. Think of it as the audio equivalent of white light, which is a blend of all colors in the spectrum. People use white color noise for better sleep, to block out distractions, or to relax. But just how effective are white noise apps?
Research suggests white noise can be a helpful tool for sleep and concentration. One study published in Sleep Medicine found that white noise can shorten the time it takes to fall asleep, increase sleep quality, and reduce the number of times a person wakes up during the night.
5 Best White Noise Apps For iPhone And Android
1. ShutEye
ShutEye offers a wide variety of relaxing sounds and white noise, including rain sounds, ocean waves, thunderstorms, and fire ambiance. It also provides nature sounds like bird songs and forest soundscapes, as well as more practical sounds like office and cafe ambiance.
Plus, with the noise options to mix and match different sounds, you can create your own sounds. Whether you need to sleep, study, or just unwind, ShutEye has you covered.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Wide variety of white noise sounds and ambient noise, including the option to create your mix • Includes a selection of relaxing music to help you wind down after a long day. | Not specifically designed for use by parents of infants and young children. |
App Store rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Google Play rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Cost: Free version (contains in-app purchases: $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year).
Best for: Anyone looking for a wide variety of white noise sounds and ambient noise, as well as the option to create their own personal mix.
Available on: iOS or Android
2. White Noise Lite
White Noise Lite is a free app that offers a variety of white noise sounds, including the sound of rain, the ocean, and a fan. In addition to the traditional white noise sound, the app also offers pink noise, brown noise, and blue noise. The app allows you to mix and match different sounds to create your own unique mix, making it a versatile and customizable option.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Free app with a wide range of white noise sounds, including the traditional white noise sound, pink noise, brown noise, and blue noise • Allows you to mix and match different sounds to create your own unique mix. | Not specifically designed for use by parents of infants and young children. |
App Store rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars
Google Play rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Cost: Free
Best for: Anyone looking for a free app with a wide range of white noise sounds and the ability to mix and match different sounds.
Available on: iOS or Android
3. Noisli
Noisli offers a wide range of white noise sounds, including the sound of rain, thunder, and the ocean, as well as the traditional white noise sound. The app also includes a feature that allows you to create and save your own custom sound mixes, making it a highly customizable option. In addition, the app includes a timer function, allowing you to set the sound to turn off after a certain amount of time.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Wide range of white noise sounds, including the traditional white noise sound • Option to create and save your own custom sound mixes • Includes a sleep timer function. | Not specifically designed for use by parents of infants and young children. |
App Store rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Google Play rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Cost: Free (contains in-app purchases: $1.99).
Best for: Anyone looking for a wide range of white noise sounds and the ability to create and save their own custom sound mixes, as well as a timer function.
Available on: iOS or Android
4. White Noise Baby
White Noise Baby is specifically designed for use by parents of infants and young children. It offers a variety of white noise sounds that are designed to help soothe and calm babies, including the sound of a heartbeat, a lullaby, and a hair dryer. The app also includes a timer function, allowing you to set the sound to turn off after a certain amount of time.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Specifically designed for use by parents of infants and young children • Offers a variety of white noise sounds that are designed to help soothe and calm babies; • Includes a timer function. | • Limited white noise sounds |
App Store rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Google Play rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Cost: Free (contains in-app purchases: $7.99 per month or $45.99 per year).
Best for: Parents of infants and young children looking for white noise sounds specifically designed to soothe and calm their children.
Available on: iOS or Android
5. Simply Noise
Simply Noise offers a variety of high-quality white noise sounds, including pink noise, brown noise, and blue noise, in addition to the traditional white noise sound. The app includes a timer function and the ability to mix and match different sounds, making it a customizable and convenient option.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Wide variety of white noise sounds, including the sounds of rain, thunder, and the ocean; • Includes a timer function and the ability to mix and match different sounds. | Not specifically designed for use by parents of infants and young children. |
App Store rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Google Play rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Cost: Free (contains in-app purchases: $1.99).
Best for: Anyone looking for a wide variety of nature-themed white noise sounds, as well as the ability to mix and match different sounds and a timer function.
The Takeaway
Overall, white noise apps can be a convenient and effective way to access the benefits of white noise, whether you are looking to sleep better, block out distractions, or relax.
We hope our list of the five best white noise apps for Android and iOS has helped you find the perfect app for your needs.
