Summary:
We all struggle to sleep from time to time, but if the feeling of waking up tired every morning is all too familiar, then it’s time you started using a sleep-tracking app. These apps allow you to gain valuable insights into your sleeping habits and better understand what happens once you’ve crossed that mysterious threshold into the land of Nod.
Sleep is essential to overall health, and consistently poor-quality sleep can have profoundly adverse effects on our cognitive function, emotional stability, and bodily processes. With 70 million Americans suffering from chronic sleep problems, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, taking proactive measures to address the underlying issues is a must.
But with so many sleep tracker apps on the market, finding the right one for you can quickly become an overwhelming feat. Fortunately, we’ve done the hard job by rounding up the best sleep-monitoring apps for your iPhone. Carry on reading to discover the top sleeping apps for your iOS device based on features such as ease of use and interpretation, actionable advice, and accuracy and precision.
Sleep tracker apps present an accurate picture of the quality and duration of your sleep by analyzing your sounds, movements and behaviors throughout the night.
By capturing data on noise, your heart rate and your sleep and wake time, sleep apps can determine the duration of various sleep stages, including Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, slow-wave sleep, as well as any disturbances during sleep.
When used for a prolonged period, such apps can gather sufficient data on your sleep cycle to provide sleep scores and recognize changes over time.
While even the best sleep analysis apps can’t get rid of your sleep issues per se, they can empower you with knowledge on the root cause of your sleepless nights and can help you address these issues to improve the overall quality of sleep in the long term.
Sleep Cycle tracks your sleep patterns graphically and overlays them with audio recordings of sounds made during the night, including snoring, talking, and coughing, to better interpret what happens during the various sleep stages.
Users need to start and stop the sleep timer manually, which can be an issue if you often forget, and sleep analyses aren’t as detailed as many other apps on the market. With that said, the app does identify both short-and long-term sleep trends in simple graphs, and it offers lulling and smart-alarm sounds to make the process of going to sleep and waking up a lot easier.
Sleep Cycle can be purchased at $9.99 a month or $39.99 a year, with a one-week trial version also available for free.
SleepScore is probably one of the most advanced sleep study apps on the market, making it a top choice for many users.
Using sonar technology to study measurables such as your breathing, light and noise levels, sleep stages and disturbances, the app provides a clear and comprehensive analysis of your sleep patterns and a simple-to-understand sleep score.
Using the gathered data, SleepScore provides detailed feedback and actionable advice to help you set relevant goals and create optimal conditions to improve your sleep quality.
The free version of the app offers many features, including sleep tracking, smart alarms, bedtime reminders and a seven-day sleep history. In contrast, the premium version (costing $7.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with a one-week free trial) includes unlimited sleep history, sleep coaching and a doctor’s report.
With its intuitive and detailed dashboard and comprehensive set-up instructions, SleepWatch offers a detailed analysis of stats such as sleep disruption, heart rate, sleep length and fatigue. You can also set sleep goals and track your progress over time to determine how successful you are in achieving them.
The app doesn’t track REM sleep, nor does it include a waking alarm. On the plus side, you don’t have to go through the lengthy process of inputting your data; it intuitively gathers information using AI technology and provides an in-depth analysis of your sleeping habits.
At $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year, SleepWatch is a more affordable option than other apps on the market. A one-week free trial is also included as standard.
Pillow boasts a whole bunch of additional features to improve your sleep, such as personalized insights and tips, audio recordings, heart rate analysis, a detailed sleep report when you wake up, and hypnoses to help you fall asleep faster.
But perhaps the app’s most stand-out feature is its vivid visualizations of sleeping trends in the form of color-coded, easy-to-read graphs that explain your sleep patterns and offer insights on improving your sleep.
Pillow provides richer insights than many other sleep tracker apps and is available at a subscription price of $4.99 a month, $12.99 for three months, and $39.99 for a year.
MotionX 24/7 offers a holistic approach to managing your sleep by not only offering all the standard features of a typical sleep tracker app, like monitoring your sleep and wake times and body motions but also detecting when your sleep quality lowers throughout the night.
Using heart rate detection, it also uses a smart alarm to wake you up at the optimal time based on when you are completely rested. Moreover, the app also takes account of naps and power naps to provide a comprehensive analysis of your sleeping behavior.
One of the most distinguishing features of Sleep Bot is its AI-powered smart alarm, which helps to set it apart from other sleep analysis apps. Using sleep-tracking technology to detect your behavior, patterns and movements, the app detects your lightest sleep cycle and begins to play soft music around 30 minutes before your alarm to prime you to wake up in a pleasant way, and at the most optimal time.
Developed by experts in neuroscience, sleep, and music, Sleep Genius is arguably one of the best sleep analysis apps around. It is even endorsed by NASA-now that’s saying something.
Using advanced technology that helps astronauts get a good night’s sleep, the app tracks your sleeping patterns and uses science-backed methods to help your brain relax and achieve sound sleep.
With several built-in programs that can be customized to your sleep preferences and daily routines, including sleep patterns, cycle alarms, relaxation patterns and naps, Sleep Genius is undoubtedly one of the more advanced tracker apps to help enhance your sleep quality.
It may not have the most creative name of all the sleep-tracking apps, but where it lacks creativity, Sleep Tracker certainly makes up for in optimizing your sleeping patterns and entire lifestyle.
The app takes account of your daily habits, including your diet, productivity, mood, and physical activity, to draw insights into your sleeping patterns. It also rates your nightly sleep cycle based on a percentage, giving you a clear indication of how far you are in reaching your sleep goals.
With unique features such as a mood diary, and the ability to record calories, weight and to-do lists, Sleep Tracker takes a holistic approach to help you improve your sleep.
Although there is a free version of the app, the premium version unlocks an array of additional features, with price plans starting from $19.99.
If you’re in the market for a basic sleep-tracking app and the thought of confusing stats and complicated design puts you off, then Alarm Clock Xtreme may be the perfect choice for you.
What started as a smart alarm clock app soon evolved into an effective sleep-tracking app that can be adjusted according to your unique preferences. Better yet, it’s easy to navigate and is constantly being upgraded to more effectively meet the needs of its users.
The quirky alarm feature requires users to solve a math problem before being able to hit the snooze button as a way to wake up the brain-a feature especially beneficial for those who struggle to wake up on time.
Unlike many other sleep-tracking apps, Autosleep’s intuitive feature can detect when you’re going to sleep, rather than users having to manually input this information-a real bonus if you’re prone to forgetfulness.
While the app excels many others in providing in-depth data on your sleep cycle, the sheer quantity of information can overwhelm the average user. But Autosleep attempts to counteract this information overload by offering an Apple Watch application that provides a simplified version of your sleep data in an easy-to-digest format.
The app uses a series of rings to help you monitor your sleep statistics, such as sleep quality, sleep stages, and heart rate variability, among others. Autosleep produces relatively impressive results in determining sleep and wake cycles and even gives you a readiness score, which tells you how ready you are for the day based on the quality of your sleep.
Available as a one-time purchase of $4.99, the Autosleep has a lot to offer at an affordable price.
The key selling point of Sleep++is its simple, user-friendly interface, making it another perfect option for those searching for basic sleep tracking. The app performs all the necessary functions like recording daily and average sleep times, hours of restful sleep, and hours spent awake.
On the downside, it lacks additional features like a smart alarm and light and noise monitoring, although it recently has added a respiratory rate function. Furthermore, unless you own an Apple Watch, sleep and wake times must be entered manually, which can be tedious and sometimes produce inaccurate results.
But if you’re looking for a free sleep-tracking app that offers basic insight into the quality and duration of your sleep, this app may be the right fit.
In addition to tracking your sleep, HeartWatch pays particular attention to your heart rate data, recording your sleeping and waking heartbeat rate and then comparing them to your regular beat rate.
Developed by the same people who brought us AutoSleep, both apps can be used synergistically to provide a well-rounded analysis of heart health and sleeping patterns. This app is an ideal choice for anyone with a particular interest in the relationship between heart activity and sleep quality.
With just a one-time purchase of $2.99, HeartWatch can offer all the insight of its competitors at a fraction of the price.
NapBot uses AI technology to track your sleep time and help you better understand sleep semantics.
The basic version records data on REM, light, and deep sleep stages, heart rate, and noise to create an accurate picture of sleep quality and any factors that can diminish it.
At $9.99, the premium version offers a broader, more comprehensive insight into your sleep history and patterns over time. It is also designed to enhance the user experience by presenting information in a comprehensible calendar form and allowing you to adjust your sleep goals based on changing preferences.
NapBot can also be customized to account for daytime naps and the latest feature tracks breathing patterns to determine sleep disturbances and overall sleep quality.
Developers at Sleepzy have elevated the traditional smart clock app by introducing a sleep-tracking feature and offering valuable information on achieving a healthy sleep routine in the form of articles.
The advanced smart clock feature analyzes your sleep activity and rhythms to establish the best time for you to wake up. The app also offers invaluable advice on various pre-bedtime rituals and hypnoses you can implement to achieve your best sleep.
The handy Sleep Diary feature also allows you to set sleep goals and assess your sleep debt over time.
Sleepzy is one of the few free sleep apps for iPhones; however, it does have a paid subscription option for those who would rather have an ad-free experience.
Using a range of clinically-tested techniques, Pzizz’s patented system plays a mix of sleep-optimized music, voiceovers, and sound effects-known as ‘dreamscapes’-to help users sleep better at night and take naps during the day.
These sound blends are designed to effectively quieten the mind, help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up the next morning feeling refreshed.
Pzizz’s premium version costs $7.99 and offers unlimited access to over 10 billion audio combinations. Not to mention, some of the most successful people in their prospective fields attest to the sleep-inducing benefits of Pzizz.
DigiPill features a series of guided meditation sessions and soundscapes intended to prime insomniacs and those with sleep issues to get a better night’s sleep. The app uses carefully-crafted audio-known as ‘pills’-to unlock your subconscious and change your perception.
The ‘Sleep Deeply’ pill comprises a soothing hypnotic lullaby designed to help rid your mind of tension and help you drift into a deep sleep.
The app itself is free but comes with in-app purchases to unlock additional features.
Sleepa focuses on using relaxing sounds and ambiences as background noise to help you fall asleep faster. It features a library of natural and ambient sleep sounds that can be mixed and matched to create the ideal soundscape from various categories, including Rain and Water, Nature and Forest, and pink and white noise, and binaural beats.
Sleep is available in a free, ad-supported version and also comes in the form of a $2.99 monthly subscription.
The idea behind Breathwrk is to engage in breathing exercises to shed stress and emotions and put you in the optimal mind frame for sleep. Using different exercises, visuals and breathing techniques backed by science, the app is a simple yet effective way to help you fall asleep.
While the app is free to download, opting for a $7.99 monthly subscription will unlock unlimited access to over 100 exercises, music sounds, and breathing coaches.
Loona makes it on our list of top sleeping apps owing to the clever way it helps you break free from life's daily stresses. Through various playlists and immersive stories-known as ‘storyscapes’-the award-winning app helps you enter a state of relaxation by interacting with calming activities, making it the perfect bedtime ritual to quieten racing thoughts and fall asleep faster.
The free version of Loona offers a single sleepscape consisting of three stories and playlists, while the paid subscription version of $12.99 will give you full access to its services.
Branded the number one app for sleep, Calm is another great download to help you reduce stress and anxiety through a series of guided meditation and mindfulness programs as well as over 100 Sleep Stories narrated by various celebrities to help you enter a relaxed state.
Sleep meditations can range from 2-minute exercises to 30 minutes or longer, designed to prepare the mind for bed. There is a free version of the app, while the $14.99 monthly subscription plan gives users unlimited access to premium content.
Headspace touts itself as the ‘everyday app for feeling better’ with guided lessons on mindfulness, sleep and breathing. It also features a dedicated sleeping aids section consisting of Sleepcasts-exercises paired with relaxing music created to put your mind to rest.
While the free version of the app gives users access to a limited number of guided meditations and Sleepcasts, the $12.99-a-month subscription will give you full access to its rich library.