Sleeping aid apps

Sleep Time+ is one of the top apps in this category. Not only is it an alarm clock and sleep tracker, it also includes soundscapes. In the past, many users have had to use separate apps for their sleeping needs. Leave that behind and move forward. Begin by letting Sleep Time+ lull you to sleep with the choice of 4 included soundscapes. If you aren't a fan of what is included, you have the option of using your own playlists. This app works by using the accelerometer in your iPhone to detect any movement in the night. It then makes use of an advanced algorithm to determine your sleep phases so that you are never awakened while in a deep slumber. Choose to wake from any of their 20 built in alarms or one of your own songs from iTunes. With so many features, this is a must-have for anyone that wants the one sleep app that rules them all. If you aren't sure, try out the free version below!

Sleep by MotionX is another great sleeping app that entices you with a beautiful UI and incredible features. It monitors and analyzes your sleep cycles just by having your iPhone on your mattress or under your pillow. Included in this app is an intelligent alarm clock that wakes you during your lightest sleep within a thirty minute window from the time you set. But that's not all. It also includes a pedometer that counts your every step and calories burned throughout the day. Set up "Get Active" alerts that will notify you when you've been idle for too long. The timing on these alerts can be customized to what you prefer. Last, but certainly not least, you can use your iPhone's camera to detect your heart rate from your fingertip. This can be useful in finding the quality of your sleep.

PureSleep features 60 ambient tracks of different varieties. The app has everything from noise, sound, or music to entertainment tracks. The app also lets you create your own custom sleep tracks. The app has timers and a snooze feature for those that need it. The quality of audio in this app is fantastic. PureSleep is another great choice for those having trouble sleeping.

Darren Marks is a famous hypnotherapist in the UK. He offers an entire line of hypnotherapy apps; but since this one is free and universal, it's a good place to start. If it works for you, then you can try out his other, paid apps as well.

Not the fanciest app, this dead simple app just delivers good, solid white noise for those that need it to sleep. There are five different "colors" (actually, pitches) of white noise. That's it. Personally, there is only one I like of the five (I find the rest annoying, not soothing) but the one I like (the red one), I really like a lot. This app stands out from the white noise app crowd because, even after extensive testing, I cannot hear any looping/clicking sound that plagues so many other apps like this. I am very sensitive to that little loop/click; I have tried and deleted at least a dozen or more of these simple white noise apps because that sound drove me nuts. At any rate, White Noise Box is free and universal, so if you're simply looking for white noise, then this is the one to get.

Naturespace is a very nice app. The developers have traveled the world for over eight years to capture the amazing audio used for the app. The free, universal app comes with six tracks and additional ones can be purchased through in-app purchases. The audio tracks are very soothing and peaceful. The app is great for those that like to fall asleep to nature sounds.

If you're looking for an alarm and sleep tracker but don't want to spend any money, then Sleep On It is the app for you. Its creator, MedHelp, is one of the largest health communities online and currently offers this app free of charge. Among its many features you are able to track how long and how well you sleep whether it be nighttime sleep or a nap. It also allows you to log your mood upon waking so that you know just how much sleep you need to feel your best. The features don't end there. Sync and back up your data to MedHelp online and access it anywhere. This feature would be very useful for doctor's visits.

Sleep Machine gives you many ambient sounds, including music tracks and alarms. With clock and alarm features, plus the ability to mix and match your sounds to create a custom sleep experience, you can't go wrong with this full-featured app. Try a limited free version of the app (linked below) first, if you like.

Absalt EasyWakeup Pro is undoubtedly one of the best apps in its class. With a simple interface for easy navigation and an amazing sleep tracking algorithm, this app delivers on claims that it will help you wake up more easily. The way it works is not much different than the other apps listed here; first you set a wakeup time and the sound that you want played when you wake up. What will then happen is that Absalt will set a wakeup window between thirty minutes before the time you set and the time you set. Put your phone facedown on your bed before going to sleep; the screen will turn off to conserve battery while the app tracks your sleep pattern by movements. Once the wakeup window is reached, Absalt will wake you up at the time of your lightest sleep. From there you can view charts of your sleep pattern and even rate your mood upon waking up. The result should be a feeling of refresh, since you were woken when your body wanted to instead of your clock. Overall, this app works extremely well for what it does and is my alarm clock of choice. This app is essential to anyone who wants to wake up feeling like a million bucks every morning.

If you just want some soothing sounds to help you relax or block out distracting sounds, then Sleep is for you. Sleep features about 100 different sounds and music tracks. The app can also combine those tracks, ranging from nature sounds and white noise to peaceful music, lullabies, and binaural beats for a truly customized sleep mix. The app also features background audio, a clock, timers, snooze, fade in/out, and even lovely wallpapers for your iDevice. The app is simply packed with features.

Count Sheep HD is an app designed for the iPad. The app lets you count sheep on your iPad. The app also plays a background lullaby track. The app works great for those that like falling asleep to the TV. When using a TV to fall asleep many times you will wake up with a headache. The app provides a better sleeping experience than your TV set and can be a great option for many.

Sleep Cycle is a curious app that has most of Absalt EasyWakeup Pro’s feature, but has one serious problem. While some users claim that it works great for them, many have found that this app tracks sleep cycles even when on a flat surface with no movement. Therefore, it remains to be seen if this app is worth downloading, but for the time being I recommend looking at other options.

WakeApp Pro has many of the same features as some of the other apps in this guide. It analyzes your sleep cycles to wake you up at a time that would most benefit you. Along with providing you with a history of your sleep, it also records audio while you slumber. This seems to be useful in finding out what is bothering you in the night. It's also an efficient way to find out whether you sleep talk or snore. This app promises not to drain your battery and will warn you when your battery is low. Unfortunately, a few users have experienced crashing and failure to record anything.

HappyWakeUp and HappyNap (below) claims the same functionality as the other apps here. Unfortunately, it doesn't really work very well most of the time, and should probably be avoided until the issues are resolved.