Last Updated on November 26, 2024
The concept of white noise has been around for many years. The term is commonly used in industries that deal with serious sound processing, such as acoustical engineering, telecommunications, physics, and statistical forecasting.
But if you’re interacting with this word for the first time or have encountered it before but didn’t exactly know what it means, this article is for you. Read below as we expound on what white noise is, with a special focus on the ten best white noise applications in the market.
Introducing White Noise
White noise refers to a low, humming heterogeneous mixture of sound waves that extend from many combined frequencies. The term is often compared with pink noise, which denotes a combination of sound waves characterized by an intensity that diminishes proportionally with frequency to produce approximately equal energy per octave.
As already pointed out, the concept of white noise can be applied in many industries. But it’s probably best used to improve sleep quality by reducing sleep latency (the duration it takes to fully transition from a complete state of wakefulness to deep sleep). The noise can help block distracting ambient sounds, thereby helping you fall asleep much faster.
Besides aiding sleep, white noise can also boost your mental focus while studying, meditating, working out, or undertaking any activity that requires heightened focus. Among the many distracting sounds you may want to block include tinnitus, animal noises, honking vehicles, incessant coughing or snoring, slamming doors, and loud neighbors.
The following are common examples of white noise:
• Ocean waves rhythmically crashing into the shore
• Rain pattering against the roof or window
• Wind blowing gently through trees and other semi-porous obstacles
• The sound of singing birds and croaking frogs
• The sound of a crackling fireplace
• The sound of a fan or air conditioner
• Instrumental lullaby
• Ticking metronome
• A large crowd of fans in a soccer match
The past few years have witnessed a surge in demand for white noise applications. These apps are especially beloved for being more affordable than standard white noise machines.
White noise apps are also more reliable in that you can bring them with you wherever you go. You only need to download and install them on your smartphone.
10 Best White Noise Apps
1. myNoise
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mynoise.mynoise&hl=en&gl=US/
Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mynoise-relax-sleep-work/id813099896/
myNoise is an application that leverages both natural white noise and calibrated noises to create incredible soothing effects. The app deploys a unique calibration process that produces sounds customized to your hearing levels. This increases its efficiency at masking sounds at quieter levels.
There are more than 200 background noises and other interactive soundscapes at your disposal. Notable ones include rain on a tent, distant thunder, crackling fireplace, natural waterfall, fan noise, and sleeping dragon.
myNoise also lets you modify the sounds to match your favorite noise colors. Available color options include white, gray, and pink.
The inclusion of a sleep timer helps you turn off the sound automatically so it doesn’t keep buzzing once you’ve drifted to sleep.
2. White Noise Lite
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tmsoft.whitenoise.lite&hl=en&gl=US/
Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/white-noise-lite/id292987597/
White Noise Lite is a free white noise application that boasts a massive database of over 50 pre-programmed sounds. The app provides a diverse range of effects, including the sounds of rain and water, animals and nature, fans and air conditioners, and transportation. It also includes other unique effects like a Tibetan singing bowl, heartbeat, and a crowded room.
Like myNoise, White Noise Lite lets you categorize the sounds into distinct colors. Options here range from white and gray to pink, brown, blue, and violet.
Another point of comparison between White Noise Lite and myNoise pertains to the integration of timers and alarms. You can set a timer to have the noise go off once you’ve dozed off and alarms to ensure the white noise doesn’t unduly prolong your sleep.
Note that White Noise Lite’s free version comes with banner ads. If you find the ads too intrusive, you can always upgrade to the paid plan, which currently starts from $0.99.
3. Atmosphere
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=5569003723018944144&hl=en_US&gl=US/
Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/atmosphere-relaxing-sounds/id1259186300/
Atmosphere by Peak Pocket Studios provides you with tons of nature-themed white noises to help you sleep, meditate, or simply relax. There are at least 70 different sounds to choose from, ranging from beach sounds to park and countryside sounds.
This free tool boasts immense customization features as well.
For instance, you can create unique playlists based on your individual needs. There are playlists for when you need to sleep, meditate, or do your morning yoga.
Another noteworthy feature is the use of binaural beats and isochronic tones. This combination can help stimulate your senses while reducing stress.
4. BetterSleep
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ipnossoft.rma.free&hl=en_US/
Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/relax-melodies-sleep-sounds/id314498713?correlationId=cdcf2e42-7513-4adf-bb0b-4ebe32be8b0c/
Formerly known as Relax Melodies, BetterSleep is another white noise application worth considering.
BetterSleep’s official website claims that it can improve your well-being in as little as one week. And considering that the app has garnered over 55 million downloads and 4.6/5 stars from over 600,000 reviewers, we have no reason to doubt its efficiency.
The application has over 100 nature-themed and artificial sounds. These sounds are sorted into different environments, including beach, forest, park, city, underwater, etc.
BetterSleep comes with many adds-on to further boost your sleep quality, including sleep moves and bedtime stories. There are also breathing techniques to spice up your yoga sessions.
5. Noisli
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.noisli.noisli/
Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mynoise-id813099896https-itunes-apple-com-us-app-noisli/id862773459/
Noisli was designed primarily to enable its users to relieve stress, improve focus, and boost their overall productivity. And it’s accurate to report that this tool lives up to its objectives.
For starters, Noisli has one of the neatest and most intuitive dashboards. All important functions are easily identifiable.
The developers appeared to have been inspired by a desire to instill Zen energy in its users. That’s due to the use of simple icons set against a solid background which subtly changes color.
As you might expect, there’s a wide array of sounds to choose from, including unique ones like crickets and coffee shop. The app even lets you combine different sounds to bring more tranquility into your setting.
6. Calm
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calm.android&hl=en_US&gl=US/
Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calm/id571800810/
This should be your go-to white noise application if you wish to invite a sense of calm into your surroundings. You can use the tool to shorten your sleep latency, soothe racing thoughts, and improve your focus.
Calm maintains a database of over 100 sounds to calm down your troubled spirits. You can use individual sounds or combine them for optimal soothing effects.
There are breathing exercises and sleep stories too. And the best part is that the bedtime stories are read by real celebrities like Stephen Fry and Matthew McConaughey.
Calm’s other noteworthy features include an intuitive interface and the provision for a lifetime membership.
7. White Noise Generator
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.relaxio.relaxio&hl=en&gl=US/
Right off the bat, it’s important to mention that White Noise Generator is presently not available for iOS devices.
However, that drawback pales in comparison to the numerous features this application comes with.
White Noise Generator lets you choose from a wide range of sounds. You can pick from common effects like rainfall and wind or opt for unique ones like falling leaves and darkness.
It might also interest you to know that all the sounds in this application were selected based on their mixability. That means you can blend the different effects to create unique sounds depending on your needs.
8. Dark Noise
Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dark-noise/id1465439395/
Much like Maple Media’s White Noise Generator, Dark Noise is another white noise application on this list that’s somewhat limited in terms of device compatibility. The app’s current iterations are incompatible with android devices.
However, Dark Noise’s incompatibility with android devices will be the least of your worries when you realize that the app comes with over 40 different sounds and tons of customization options.
You can play the sounds individually or mix them to enhance their soothing effects.
Other customization options include changing the application’s theme, creating a personalized widget for faster playback, and selecting your own icons.
9. White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kitefaster.whitenoise&utm_source=deepsleepsounds&utm_campaign=web/
Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/app/deep-sleep-sounds-free-white/id1083248251?mt=8&pt=117264536&at=1000lc6i&ct=deepSleepHome/
White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds maintains over 25 fully customizable sound effects.
The app is primarily designed to lull babies to sleep. However, its serenading beats can soothe anyone regardless of age.
Some of the sound effects offered by White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds include rain sounds, distant thunder, roaring fire, and ocean waves. You can group the sounds into different colors, including white noise, brown noise, and pink noise.
Note that this application’s free version features ads and in-app purchases. The version also plays sounds for eight hours. You’ll need to upgrade to the premium version to unlock additional features.
10. Bedtime Fan
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ellisapps.bedtimefan/
Apple App Store Link: https://apps.apple.com/app/free-bed-time-fan-white-noise/id907295335/
Bedtime Fan is an aptly named white noise application geared toward helping you transition from wakefulness to sleep.
As the name implies, this app basically mimics the sound of a fan. But it obviously has an edge over regular fans in that you can travel with it wherever you go.
In addition to the sound of a fan, there are many other effects to experiment with. The sounds have been carefully selected depending on the activity at hand. There are effects specifically suitable for meditation, sleep, and relaxation.
A beautiful interface and compatibility with both android and iOS devices are other major selling points of Bedtime Fan.
Summary
Not all cases of insomnia ought to be addressed using sleep pills. Some can be resolved effectively using any of the above-listed white noise applications.
