10 Best White Noise Apps to Turn Your iPhone Into a Sleep Machine

Use Your iPhone’s Own White Sounds

Before we get into third-party apps, there’s a quick free option many people miss: your iPhone has a built-in Background Sounds feature that turns it into a white noise machine. It gives you a handful of solid choices, like balanced noise, rain, ocean, and stream, that you can quickly and easily toggle from Control Center once you've set it up. Here’s how to do that:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap on Accessibility.
3. Go to Audio & Visual.
4. Tap on Background Sounds.
5. Turn Background Sounds on, then choose your sound and volume.

You can then customize this feature however you want. For instance, you can change it so it’s turned off once you lock your iPhone. You can also add it to Control Center, so you don’t have to repeat these steps all the time.

Like many of Apple's first-party apps, it's a great way to get started, but if you want better mixes, more variety, and features like deeper customization or offline libraries, the third-party apps are where it gets good.

Dark Noise

Dark Noise is the kind of app you recommend to someone who wants calm without having to think about it. You open it, pick a sound, and you let yourself relax. The interface is clean, the sound quality is strong, and it feels like it was designed by someone who actually uses white noise every day.

Dark Noise shines in its simplicity. It’s straightforward enough that you won’t get stuck tweaking settings for 20 minutes, but it still gives you the tools that matter for layering sounds into a mix. That means you can build something that feels more like an environmental sound than a loop. A little rain, a low fan hum, maybe distant thunder, and suddenly your room feels quieter even if it isn’t.

If you’re looking for an app that feels polished, works fast, and doesn’t overwhelm you with options, this is one of the easiest picks for your iPhone.

myNoise

If you’ve ever tried white noise apps but nothing seems to quite work, myNoise might be the best option for you. It’s less of a simple soundboard and more like a full-on noise lab that happens to be calming.

The big difference is that this app gives you a lot of control. myNoise gives you noise generators and soundscapes that you can shape however you want. You can adjust intensity, tone, and layers in a way that feels almost unfair compared to basic apps. This is especially useful if you’re sensitive to certain frequencies, or if typical white noise feels too sharp and you prefer brown noise, pink noise, or something more unique.

Another reason people love this is the variety it brings to the table. You can go from clean noise colors to more immersive environments, and it still feels high quality rather than gimmicky. It’s also a strong choice if you want offline playback, which matters more than you’d think, especially if you’re always on the go. 

White Noise Lite

White Noise Lite is a pretty straightforward, classic sound machine app. It doesn’t try to be a whole wellness and relaxation platform; it just gives you dependable sounds that do the job, especially when your main goal is sleep or blocking distractions.

This is the app you use when you want something that works the same way every time. No complicated onboarding or fancy mood tracking. Just pick your sound, set it, and start listening. If you’re someone who gets annoyed by apps that try too hard, White Noise Lite feels refreshingly straightforward.

It’s also a good entry point if you’re new to the whole idea of noise for sleep. Once you figure out what kind of sound works for you, you can always upgrade to something with deeper mixing. But honestly, a lot of people try a dozen apps and end up back here because simple is the whole point.

BetterSleep

BetterSleep (formerly known as Relax Melodies) is for people who want more than a single sound loop. It leans into the full bedtime routine idea, with a big library of sounds, mixes, and sleep-friendly extras that can help you wind down when you feel too stressed to sleep.

The mixing tools are where this app stands out. Instead of choosing one sound, you can create a layered soundscape that your brain will love. Some people need rain plus a low rumble. Others need ocean waves plus soft white noise underneath. BetterSleep makes that easy, and once you find a mix that works, you can save it and make it part of your nightly routine.

Of course, if you only want basic sounds, you can keep it simple and just use it as a sound machine. Once you’re more comfortable with the app, you can explore the broader sleep sounds.

Rain Rain

Some people try white noise, hate it, and then realize what they actually wanted was rain. If that’s you, Rain Rain is perfect for you. It’s built around rain and nature variations, which sounds basic, but it’s what some of us really want and need. Plus, there's a wide variety of options to choose from.

After all, light drizzle isn't the same as a heavy storm, and rain on a tent sounds different than rain against a window. Those tiny differences matter when you're trying to sleep. Rain Rain gives you enough variety to find the exact sound that makes your brain relax.

Additionally, you can create mixes that you’ll instantly love. You can build combinations that feel like real environments, which helps if you want calm without it sounding like a loop.

Tide

Tide is a great pick if you want to relax while also keeping track of your nights. It blends nature soundscapes with focus timers and sleep tools, which makes it easier to use when you’re trying to do more than just relax.

This is the kind of app that works well for a simple routine: set a timer, pick a sound, and let it run while you work or wind down. If your biggest issue is that you start a focus session and then reach for your phone five minutes later, having a timer paired with the sound can help you stay on track without feeling strict.

The nature sounds are the main draw, but the overall design makes it feel like a quiet companion instead of just a playlist.

Additionally, if you plan to use this app when you sleep, you can let the app keep track of how well you’re sleeping. You’ll get to see important information that will let you know if you’re improving your sleep quality with these sounds or not.

Atmosphere

Atmosphere is less about pure white noise and more about building an environment. If you prefer café ambience, forests, storms, city rain, or other scene-based audio, this app offers the sound that you need to relax.

This matters because some people don’t relax to static sounds; they relax to the sound of specific places, and the illusion that they’re somewhere else. Atmosphere is great for that, especially when you want something that feels immersive without being overly dramatic.

It also appeals to users who like experimenting. You can build mixes that feel personal, and when you find one that works, you can keep it as your go-to for sleep or focus.

Calm

Calm is one of the most popular apps when it comes to relaxation, and for a good reason: it gives you a lot of different ways to wind down. 

If white noise alone works for you, great. But if your mind needs a bit more, Calm’s mix of sounds, sleep stories, and guided relaxation makes it easier to find something that fits your mood.

This is one of those apps where you can start with relaxing ambient sounds and slowly expand into other tools as needed. Some nights you’ll want rain and nothing else. Other nights you’ll want something guided because your thoughts won’t stop. Calm is built for both.

It’s also a solid pick if you want more than just sounds, as the Calm app offers a ton of different articles and master classes that will teach you more about yourself and your mental well-being.

Of course, if you really are only looking for white noise or relaxing sounds, this app will feel like overkill, especially since you have to pay a monthly or yearly subscription to access all of its premium features.

Headspace

Headspace has a slightly different style than Calm. It’s still sleep-and-relaxation-friendly, but it tends to feel more structured and coaching-oriented, which can be helpful if stress is keeping you awake.

If your problem is a noisy mind more than a noisy room, Headspace can be a strong pick because it pairs sleep sounds with guided tools designed to slow things down. It’s not just about sound to cover distractions; it’s about sound plus guidance to settle your nervous system when you feel overstimulated.

Besides sleeping, you can also learn how to meditate. There’s a ton of content for you to learn, and the articles and classes you get are completely personalized.

Even if you aren't the meditating type, Headspace can work well as a bedtime helper because it meets you where you are and doesn’t require you to be good at relaxing.