However, while the iPhone’s Health app already features a tracker, third-party apps induce a bit of dedication. And they’re even more accessible and less complex than the built-in Health app. So, keep reading to explore the best sleep tracking apps.
1. Sleep Cycle: Sleep Tracker – Editor’s choice
How would you feel about knowing what you do while sleeping? Sleep Cycle brings the best features to satisfy your curiosity. And whether you’ve been dealing with insomnia or find it hard to follow a sleep routine, you can use its sleeping aid to hypnotize yourself. Further, its spectacular soundtracking feature uses a microphone component to record whatever you say in your sleep, including the sound around you. The dashboard also lets you set up a sleeping window, helping you stick to a sleeping routine rather than the random timeless seeping pattern. Sleep Cycle relies partly on users’ data to improve its accuracy, making it a health data collector. However, you can disallow it from collecting your health information. You can also connect Sleep Cycle with your Apple watch to make it handier. Many users also find its stats section helpful for monitoring how their sleep improves over time. However, you need to subscribe to a premium plan to use most features. Price: Free (Subscription starts at $4.99)
Set your sleeping window Monitor what you do while asleep Features expert-level hypnotic soundtracks Use the app on your Apple Watch
You have to pay to use the app
Download
2. ShutEye: Sleep Tracker – Check what your symptoms mean
Ranging from sleep stories to guided meditations and more, ShutEye gives you the best of them. The app features every sleep-tracking functionality typical of a sleep tracker. You can record the sounds you make while sleeping. However, you can choose which of these you want it to record while you’re asleep. Additionally, it lets you set a sleeping window. ShutEye stands out as it uses patterns mined from your sleeping habit to identify health risks. And if you want to know what your symptoms mean, the app features succinct health checklists for more insights. Although the app comes free, you might want to subscribe to enjoy its primary features. Price: Free (Subscription starts at $3.99)
Record only what you want to hear while sleeping Hypnotic sleep stories and guided meditations Define sleeping window
Primary features exclusive to the premium plan
Download
3. SleepWatch: Top Rated Tracker – Best hypnotic natural sounds
SleepWatch features AI-powered components to help improve your sleeping habit. If you love to hear the sound of rain dropping on your rooftop or the rolling sound of fan blades puts you to sleep, I bet SleepWatch is what you want to try. The app has many features, but above others, it boasts of its many hypnotic sounds and efficient sleep-recording functionality, which you’ll have to set up when choosing a sleeping goal. You can assess stats like sleep disruption, snoring, sleep rhythm, sleep efficiency, and fatigue on its detailed dashboard. If you allow it, its AI algorithm works by tapping health information contained in the Health app on your iPhone. You only need to give the app access to your health data by simply following the on-screen instructions when setting it up. Hence, you might not need to supply additional health details explicitly when using the app. Additionally, it allows you to set a sleeping goal, and it tracks this over time to give you insightful reports on your progress. However, you have to turn on the notification for the app to get this stat. An upvote I have for the app is its disclaimer policy, which says you shouldn’t rely on it or replace it with proper medical intervention. The app is free, but the premium plan comes with additional benefits. Price: Free (Subscription starts at $3.99)
Intuitive and detailed dashboard Syncs with the Health app on iPhone Set a sleeping goal and assess sleeping habits over time Comprehensive setup instructions Adaptive hypnotic sounds
You can’t set a waking alarm
Download
4. Pillow: Auto Sleep Tracker – Title your sleep schedules
Pillow is a detailed app that lets you set up your sleep schedule and give them appropriate titles. It’s not different from the typical sleep trackers I’ve mentioned earlier. Like SleepWatch, you can permit your health data on the Health app and record sounds while you sleep. So it uses that to determine some factors related to your sleeping health. It also uses patterns in your motion and fitness activities to assess your sleeping habits over time. You’ll get alerts on sleep reports after you wake up each day. Its sleeping aid section is also worth mentioning. This section provides hypnoses to help put you to sleep. But while some features are free, most come with a premium subscription. It also features a Snooze lab; you’ll get insightful coaching tips that can help you sleep better from here. Ultimately, Pillow syncs your data and reports across other devices like Apple Watch and iPad once you register on the app. You can check our full review of Pillow to learn more. Price: Free (Subscription starts at $6.99)
Ability to set sleep schedules Syncs with iPhone’s Health app Get wake up alerts based on your sleep schedules Comprehensive sleep reports
Advanced features like comprehensive stats are limited to the premium plan
Download
5. Sleepzy: Sleep Cycle Tracker – Sleep tracker with health articles
Sleepzy adapts to your natural sleeping time by waking you up at your light sleep hour. This one also records whatever is going on while you sleep and lets you set a sleeping plan with relaxing sounds to put you to sleep. And it doesn’t leave out the typical comprehensive stats either. Nonetheless, its unique attribute is it features various articles centered around getting healthy sleeping habits. The app also features what it calls bedtime rituals. These give you tips and recommend pre-bedtime exercises and hypnoses that help you sleep better. However, one problem with the app’s free version is its buggy ad pop-ups. You can remove these when you subscribe to a paid plan. Price: Free (Subscription starts at $3.99)
Read various tips and articles on healthy sleep Get sleeping stats over time Bedtime rituals to help you get better sleep Record sounds and snores while sleeping
The free version contains intruding ads
Download
6. SleepScore: Go beyond Tracking – Room check features
SleepScore is the best app to use if you want to know what might be preventing you from sleeping well. It features everything you need to assess your sleeping pattern and improve your sleep. But it doesn’t leave out unique details that make it stand out among others like it. A notable feature of SleepScore is its bedroom check. This allows the app to assess the conditions in your room, including the noise level, light level, and the surrounding temperature. It then uses what it curates to recommend actions that might help you sleep better. You can also record snoring sounds and get sleep stats as you go. Also, one of its features, called Sleep Screener, determines if you need an expert’s intervention based on your sleep reports. All these come with the premium plan, though. However, getting quick tips that can help you sleep better from its sleep library and tips section comes at no price. You can log your daily lifestyle impact assessment when you sync the app with your iPhone’s Health app. Price: Free (Subscription starts at $9.99)
The room checker tells what might be preventing you from sleeping well Helps determine when you need an expert’s intervention Get tips to sleep healthy from its list of articles and tips Record snoring sounds while asleep Comprehensive sleeping stats based on many conditions
The premium plan can be expensive
Download
7. Sleep++ – Simplest interface
Want a sleep tracker that you can pair with your Apple Watch? Sleep++ might be the app to try. This one has a simple interface to assess your sleep pattern based on data pulled from the Health app and your sleeping pattern. It pulls metrics, including blood oxygen level and respiratory rate, to provide comprehensive stats. The app isn’t as functional as the others. But you can use it as a diary to record your sleeping habit over time and get insights into how it affects your health. The app works in two ways; you can allow your Apple Watch to record your sleeping time automatically. Or you can record it yourself. I find the former option helpful, as it leads to less bias. Using the app is also easy. You’ll only need to put on your Apple Watch to assess your sleep. The app also contains ads, but you can remove these with a premium subscription. Unlike the other apps reviewed, this one doesn’t record sounds but depends on the Apple Watch to grab information from your sleep and the Health app to make decisions. Price: Free (Subscription starts at $1.99)
Get daily sleeping stats Syncs perfectly with the Health app Simple interface Most features are free
Only works well with Apple Watch Doesn’t record sounds during sleep
Download
8. SnoreLab: Record Your Snoring – Best for people with sleeping disorders
SnoreLab not only tracks your sleeping pattern but also uses its assessment algorithm to give you helpful tips to improve wherever needed. Like other apps, this one also syncs with the Health app to draw valuable insights. Additionally, there’s an alert to wake you based on your chosen sleep cycle. The app records your snoring sounds while sleeping and helps you curate monthly stats. Unfortunately, you might not get a full-night recording unless you upgrade to its premium plan. There’s also a section to check the factors that impact your sleep. I find this helpful since you’ll know what habits to avoid in the future to improve your sleep. While you might not depend heavily on its suggested remedies, a few trials may help. Price: Free (Subscription starts at $3.99)
Assess your sleeping stats based on sleeping patterns Determine the factors that might be responsible for your sleeping disorder Suggests remedies Alerts you based on your chosen sleep cycle
Full-night recording only available with the premium plan
Download
9. Sleep Tracker: Sleep Recorder – Rate your sleeping
Whether it’s a mild sleeping disorder or chronic insomnia, I can bet that combining Sleep Tracker with other remedies can help alleviate your symptoms. Notably, I love the wake-up button on this one, as you have to long-press it for about three seconds to stop the sleep tracker. This feature is helpful for those who usually wake before their chosen sleep cycle expires. Moreover, it ensures that you can keep your finger on the phone long enough to be sure you’re really awake. The app uses your sleeping time and activities it notices while you sleep to draw insights into your sleeping pattern. However, you have to give the app access to your iPhone’s mic to record activities. You can also set up notifications to get appropriate wake alerts. I find its array of natural hypnoses valuable for falling asleep swiftly. You can even mix hypnotic sounds if you like. For example, combining the sound of heavy rain with thunderstorms might do the trick. Like other apps reviewed earlier, this one also syncs with the Health app and provides timely sleeping stats. But the unique attribute of this feature is that it rates your sleeping pattern based on a percentage. So you’ll know if you’re at the cross-road to sleeping disorder or not. While you can use the Sleep Tracker for free, a few more features come with a premium plan! Price: Free (Subscription starts at $19.99)
Syncs well with the health app Natural hypnoses Record activities during sleep Mix hypnoses for better result Rate your sleeping pattern
The premium plan is expensive
Download That’s it! A healthy sleep comes with a tinge of self-fulfillment and improves your confidence. You might think you get quality sleep right now. But even if you feel your sleeping pattern is top-notch. How do you track it? You might not realize how bad you’ve been steaming your sleep life until you track it. Each of these above-listed sleep tracking apps for iPhone has unique attributes. And I’m sure you’ll find the one that works best for you. However, while most of them come at a price, remember that no amount can be expensive for your health. Sleep tight. But let me know if you’ve got any questions in the comments section below. Other related articles that you’d find helpful:
How to use Bedtime on iPhone and iPad to track your sleep Best sleep-inducing iPhone apps How to use background sounds on iPhone
