In this hectic world, it's no surprise there's a range of sleep apps to help you catch some zzzs when sleepless nights hit - but which one is right for you? Our pick of the 13 best sleep apps will help you nod off and stay asleep all night.
The amount of sleep you have and the quality of that sleep can have a huge impact on your health and general wellbeing. But sometimes, it doesn't come easily and you might be struggling with how to fall asleep. Even with the perfect sleep environment and a lovely, fluffy pillow, perhaps you've found yourself lying in bed wondering 'why can't I sleep?'.
Ditching your smartphone in the evening in a bid to stop the blue light emitted by your devices from wreaking havoc with your sleep hormone production is a great idea. But, there could be an exception to this rule in the form of sleep apps.
The best sleep apps will help you track and monitor your sleep, allowing you to better understand your sleep cycle after you've rested your head on the best pillow. Some options also allow you to keep notes of how you're feeling the next day or record any common nightmares or dreams you may have. Meanwhile, others are designed to make dozing off easier than ever, from brown noise features to tricks to help you fall asleep in three minutes.
Best sleep apps
- Try Sleep Cycle on Apple App Store
- Try Sleep Cycle on Google Play
- Try Sleep Cycle on AppGallery
- Try Sleep School on Apple App Store
- Try Sleep School on Google Play
- Try SleepScore on Apple App Store
- Try SleepScore on Google Play
- Try AutoSleep on Apple App Store
- Try Sleepzy on Apple App Store
- Try Sleep as Android on Google Play
- Try Sleep Time on Apple App Store
- Try Sleep Time on Google Play
- Try Pillow on Apple App Store
- Try Sleep Diary on Apple App Store
- Try BetterSleep on Apple App Store
- Try BetterSleep on Google Play
How to choose the best sleep app for you
Since there are so many sleep apps to choose between, there are some things to look out for to ensure you are downloading one that effectively meets your own bedtime needs and guides you in how to fall asleep.
"Opt for one that is based on peer-reviewed evidence and offers clinically proven education and therapy," says sleep expert Dr Guy Meadows, who is co-founder and clinical lead at Sleep School. "Other things to look out for include good customer reviews, that it offers a trial period for you to test the content first and has been designed to help specific sleep issues - like insomnia and sleep anxiety - by providing tools for the long term."
Many sleep apps work by deep breathing or body scan meditations to distract your brain and help you to relax. "Listen out for a slow, calming voice that you like the sound of," notes sleep expert Dr Kat Lederle, the head of sleep health at Somnia. "You also want the colors on the app to be subdued, and it must be straightforward, easy to use and - of course - turn itself off once finished."
Talking of which, there are some potential pitfalls that can come with keeping your phone beside your bed. "The sound could actually wake you up again after you’ve fallen asleep – meaning that you drift in and out of a light sleep for longer at the start of the night, rather than simply falling asleep and staying asleep," warns Dr Lindsay Browning, psychologist, neuroscientist and sleep expert for And So To Bed. "There is also the potential temptation to start checking messages and emails which will both make sleep harder through light exposure and wake your mind up again."
So how to build a healthy relationship with your device in the bedroom in order to benefit from a sleep app? Some of the best time management apps could help. "Schedule the blue light filter for the evening, and delete any unwanted apps from the home screen to avoid unhelpful nighttime checking," suggests Dr Meadows. "Then, when using the app turn the screen brightness to low and put your phone on 'airplane' mode." Similarly, Dr Lederle adds: "If you use your phone as your alarm, set it before you open the app."
Once you've learned how to wind down at night and are nodding off in dreamy, record time then Dr Browning suggests it might be best to properly switch off. "In the short term, these features can be helpful when you are facing a new or infrequent sleeping problem," she explains. "However, you might find that once you've got to grips with the techniques, it's best to recreate them in your own mind rather than relying on an app every night.”
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