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Best Sleep Tracking Apps of 2021
If the pandemic is wreaking havoc on your sleep schedule, a sleep tracking app can help. But which is the best deal? We tested 10 popular sleep tracking apps to find out.
Best Overall Sleep Tracker
A feature-rich sleep tracker that works great on both iOS and Android, Sleep Cycle was our favorite app for starting your journey towards more restful nights (and rested days).
Why we chose Sleep Cycle:
- Free app with a premium upgrade for $39.99 per year
- Smart alarm wakes you up at the optimum point in your sleep cycle, so you don’t feel groggy. (Almost all the apps offer this, but we found this one worked best)
- Helps you track factors that may be impacting your sleep — coffee, exercise, and more
- Extensive library of pre-sleep relaxation content includes music, relaxing sounds, and guided meditations
- Tracks sleep over time so you know where you stand
- Prominently displays metrics for the time in bed vs. time asleep -- a useful tool for insomniacs
Overall, Sleep Cycle is the best for people looking to change their sleeping habits and start waking up earlier.
Read Sleep Cycle's Full ReviewBest Sleep Tips
Data isn't that helpful if you don't know how to use it. SleepScore doesn't just track your sleep. It helps you understand and improve it.
Why we chose SleepScore:
- Free app with $7.99/ month premium upgrade.
- Measures sleep by using the phone’s microphone, so all you need to do is place it on your nightstand, set it, and forget it
- Helps you improve your sleep with tons of scientifically-based sleep tips
- Improve your sleep one step at a time by setting goals that address specific issues
- SleepScore recommends tested and verified products to help you sleep better — but not in an obtrusive way
- Premium upgrade allows you to track your progress over time to see how your sleep improves or detects problems. If needed, it can produce a report to share with your doctor
SleepScore is best for goal-setters and people who want more information about their sleeping habits.
Read SleepScore's Full ReviewBest Bedtime Content
Another solid sleep tracker with an expansive and navigable library of relaxing audio content to help you drift off to sleep.
Why we chose Sleepzy:
- Free app with premium upgrade for $39.99 per year
- Tracks sleep using microphone — just place your phone on your nightstand and sleep as usual
- Lots of bedtime content for relaxation, including “dream radio,” an AI-generated music streaming program. Also has breathing exercises and classical music
- Sleep debt tracker lets you know if you need to catch up on sleep
- Records sleep sounds so you know if you’re snoring or talking in your sleep
Best for people who want to create a habit of falling asleep fast.
Read Sleepzy's Full ReviewBest for Apple Watch
With its heart rate monitor, movement sensor, and ability to passively track sleep without the user turning anything on, the Apple Watch is positioned to provide great sleep tracking. Of the many Watch sleep tracking apps, we found AutoSleep to be the best value.
Why we chose AutoSleep:
- $3.99 for lifetime access, no subscription, (which is a steal!)
- Bright, friendly interface that uses standard Apple Watch motivational design — your goal is to “close the circle” by getting enough high-quality sleep
- Tracks heart rate, deep sleep, quality sleep, and total sleep
- Has smart alarm to wake you at the optimal time
- While no sleep tracker is completely accurate, the app was accurate as far as we could tell
- AutoSleep has as many or more features as other apps, at a lower price
Best for people looking for a simplistic app that provides effortless tracking.
Read AutoSleep's Full ReviewEverything We Recommend
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Our PickRelax, sleep better and wake up feeling rested with Sleep Cycle, the smart alarm clock. Track sleep from bedtime to morning, and get detailed analysis with the app that makes waking up in the morning just that bit easier.
Track sleep using your phone and start your day feeling energized with our intelligent alarm clock and sleep tracker. Its unique design only wakes you up while you’re in your light sleep phase. Plus, you’ll get detailed reports as Sleep Cycle monitors your sleep patterns, from bedtime until you're waking up. Track sleep and use the data to help you sleep better today!
⏰ Waking up made easy - 5 reasons you’ll love Sleep Cycle:
1. Sleep better with a gentle wake up call - Sleep Cycle’s alarm clock wakes you up while you’re in light sleep and is a natural way to start your day.
2. Relax at bedtime and track sleep easily - Learn about your sleep patterns with detailed analysis.
3. A sleep tracker with a difference - There’s no phone under your pillow, you can track sleep by placing your device on the nightstand or close by on the floor.
4. Your health comes first - Your sleep data and reports will help you feel great inside and out.
5. Sleep better - Relax and let Sleep Cycle analyse your light sleep, deep sleep and overall health.
Relax with a good night’s sleep that will do wonders for your health.
Download Sleep Cycle today - waking up in the morning has never been easier!
Free features
√ Sleep analysis with Sleep Cycle patented sound technology, or accelerometer
√ Detailed sleep statistics and daily sleep graphs
√ Carefully selected alarm melodies
√ Snooze by shaking or double tapping the phone lightly
√ Customizable wake-up window. From instant (regular alarm clock), up to 90 minutes
Premium features
√ Longterm sleep tracker trends
√ Compare your sleep data to world sleep statistics • Snore trends - view historical snore trends data
√ Sleep aid - helps you fall asleep easier
√ Sleep notes - see how events such as drinking coffee, stress, working out, or eating late affect your sleep quality
√ Wake up mood - see how Sleep Cycle affects your wake up mood
√ Online backup - lets you secure your sleep data online
√ Export sleep data to Excel for detailed analysis
REQUIREMENTS
Ability to charge your phone by the bed.
Ability to place your phone near the bed, such as on a nightstand table or on the floor.CostFreeFreeIn-App Purchases$0.99 - $64.99 per item$2.99 - $39.99 per item -
Runner UpThe Best Sleep-Tracking App – Wirecutter, A New York Times Company
Use your phone to monitor your sleep cycles, get advice and insights, and ultimately improve your sleep! FEATURED IN: The Washington Post, Wirecutter, The New York Times, Men’s Health, Dr. Oz Show, CNN, Forbes, Business Insider, and more!
Developed after studying millions of hours of sleep for over a decade, the SleepScore App provides personalized information about your sleep cycles so you can make manageable lifestyle changes to improve your sleep and be your best self!
Due to thousands of Android models in the market, we are constantly working on validating our sonar technology with every Android device. Our extensive validation process requires a considerable amount of time per phone model. But rest assured, we’ve developed a way to track your sleep no matter what Android model you have!
Features and functionality will vary based on Android models. Newer and sonar-supported Android models have additional features. Please check the compatibility section below.
For all Android models, you will receive:
* Non-contact sleep monitoring, using just your smartphone (no wearables or hardware required)
* Sleep graphs every morning to show you your unique sleep patterns
* Good night inspirational quotes to help you wind down
* Good morning motivational messages
* A smart alarm clock designed to gently wake you at the ideal time in your sleep cycle
* Pillow Talk Polls so you can see how others answer pop-culture and lifestyle questions
* Streak counter to keep you motivated
* Product recommendations hand-picked by our sleep experts
In a nutshell, you’ll be able to track your sleep, learn how your lifestyle choices impact sleep, & wake up feeling refreshed!
If you have these Android models, you can also experience these additional features using SleepScore:
Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8+, S9, S9+, Note 8, Note 9 and Google Pixel 2 XL.
On these smartphone models, SleepScore utilizes our patented sonar technology and the health monitoring capabilities of your phone to measure both the duration and quality of your sleep.
Using this technology, these are the kinds of features and data you’ll be able to access, in addition to all the features we listed above.
WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE
* Your daily SleepScore rated from 0 –100
* The 4 stages of your sleep, including light, deep, REM, and your awakenings
* Simple ways to improve each of the 4 stages
* Personalized, science-based advice informed by the world’s top sleep experts
* Personalized goal recommendations based on your sleep patterns
* A comprehensive sleep report to share with your doctor if you wishA nightly sleep comparison to an ideal night for people your age and gender
As we continue testing and validating additional Android models, we will update our members on the news, so you can take advantage of the Sonar Experience using our patented sonar technology. Stay tuned and sleep well tonight!
SUBSCRIPTION PRICING AND TERMS
SleepScore is free to download and use. To take advantage of advanced features (currently only available on Androids utilizing our sonar technology), including a complete history of sleep data, access to printable doctor’s report, and in-depth sleep improvement advice, SleepScore offers auto-renewing monthly and yearly subscription options.
$5.99 per month
$49.99 per year
* These prices are for United States customers.
* Payment will be charged to your Google Play account, and your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period
* Auto-renewal may be turned off at any time by going to your settings in the Google Play store after purchase
Compatibility
Only validated for sonar tracking on Samsung Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8+, S9, S9+, Note 8, Note 9 and Google Pixel 2 XL.
Privacy policy https://www.sleepscore.com/legal/privacy-policy
Terms of Service https://www.sleepscore.com/legal/sleepscore-terms-of-serviceCostFreeFreeIn-App Purchases$5.99 - $49.99 per item$7.99 - $49.99 per item -
Also GroovyHealthy sleep = Healthy life!
Delve deep into your sleep and improve its quality with our fresh sleep monitor app Sleepzy!
Sleepzy, the smart alarm clock and sleep tracker, finds the optimal time to wake you, delivers nightly sleep statistics, and detects whether you snore. These tools and more help you sleep well, monitor your sleep behavior and create healthy habits towards wellness. This sleep pattern tracker and alarm clock analyzes your sleep cycle and notifies you if you have a sleep debt. Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, this sleep app will help you sleep better and bring you quality rest just like your favorite pillow.
Sounds revolutionary, right?
Discover Sleepzy now - the next-level sleep cycle tracker and smart alarm clock which will help you:
- Wake up during the lightest sleep phase of your sleep to feel refreshed, rested and ready for the day
- Manage your sleep cycle and create healthy habits to stay on schedule
- Fall asleep to relaxing sounds and wake up to your favorite music
- Set your Sleep Goal and track Sleep Debt to stay motivated and sleep better
- Track Sleep Patterns to understand when you get your best quality sleep with the most captivating sleep tracker
- Bonus up your life with an advanced weekly Sleep Stats and Sleep Tracker
- Know your Sleep Quality and take the necessary steps to improve your sleep cycle
- Find out whether you snore or make any sounds while sleeping with the Snore Recorder
- Start your own Sleep Diary inside the app
- Get into the most bountiful and relaxed state before bed
Sleep Analysis:
This smart alarm clock delivers a thorough sleep analysis of the user's sleep, records your sleep cycle and makes recommendations on what you can do to sleep better. Simply place your device next to your bed and this sleep tracker will use the microphone to analyze your sleep cycle tendencies.
Sleep Diary:
Want to find out how your daily routine influences your sleep quality and eventually sleep better? Start your own journal with Sleepzy alarm clock to observe correlations between your sleep patterns and daily activities. Add notes with your activities during the day to see how they influenced your sleep. Whether it was a fancy dinner, a morning run or anything that may impact sleep cycles - put this note down in the 'Sleep notes’ section and keep it directly on the app.
Snore Recorder:
Did you make any specific sounds overnight? Hard to guess! This sleep app has a perfect solution - sleep monitor. It measures and tracks if you snore while you slumber and identifies factors that may be impeding your sleep. Snore recorder also helps identify things you can do to sleep well.
Start monitoring what affects your sleep cycle to get enough hours of rest tonight!
It’s time to sleep better and wake up refreshed and energized! Try Sleepzy - the innovative sleep cycle tracker and sleep talk recorder!
Note: movement and noise from a partner or pets while sleeping may impact results.
Go Premium for added features:
- Track sounds that you make while sleeping
- 100% Ad-free
By downloading this application, you agree to the Apalon Apps End User License Agreement and Privacy Policy.
You can choose from different subscription options.
* A subscription with a free trial will automatically renew to a paid subscription unless you cancel the subscription before the end of the free trial period.
* Cancel a free trial or subscription anytime through your account settings on the Google Play Store and continue to enjoy the premium content until the end of the free-trial period or paid subscription!
Privacy Policy: http://apalon.com/privacy_policy.html
California Privacy Notice: https://apalon.com/privacy_policy.html#h
EULA: http://www.apalon.com/terms_of_use.html
AdChoices: http://www.apalon.com/privacy_policy.html#4CostFreeFreeIn-App Purchases$0.99 - $39.99 per item$3.99 - $39.99 per itemAutomatically track your sleep from your Apple Watch*. No buttons to press. Even the Watch app is optional! Just sleep! Total Privacy. ------------- AutoSleep has no user analytics tracking. No advertising plugins. No 3rd party code. No data upload. Ask your "free" sleep app if they can say the same. Everything Included. -------------------- No extra In App Purchases. No subscriptions. About AutoSleep ----------------- Using Advanced Heuristics AutoSleep works out how long you've slept so you don't have to. If you DO wear your Watch to bed, you don't need to do a single thing. AutoSleep will track your sleep & quality and send you a notification in the morning. Even if you don't wear your Watch to bed, AutoSleep can track your time in bed. It's extremely simple. If you DON'T wear your Watch to bed, then simply take your Watch off before you go to sleep. As soon as you touch your iPhone or put your Watch back on in the morning then AutoSleep will know that you have finished sleeping. As everyone is a little bit different. AutoSleep provides a simple setup wizard and an option to tweak if you are a very restless sleeper. If you wear your Apple Watch to bed*, AutoSleep will also analyse your sleep quality. By using time asleep, restlessness, time awake and heart rate it can score the quality of your sleep and provide you with a comprehensive nightly analysis. *Note. If you do not wear your Watch to bed, AutoSleep simply captures the amount of time sleeping. AutoSleep also works with HeartWatch our premier heart & activity monitoring app and writes your Sleep information to Apple Health. *Requires Apple Watch running Watch OS 4 or higher. WatchOS 5 recommended. Best of 2018 https://apps.apple.com/story/id1438574124?ign-itscg=as10001&ign-itsct=BESTOF_SC18_PT122_US_SI1438574124 Best of 2019 https://apps.apple.com/story/id1484100916?ign-itsct=BestOfApps_SC09_PT006_WW%2F&ign-itscg=10000 Best of 2020 https://apps.apple.com/story/id1535572713/CostFree3.99In-App PurchasesNoNo
The 411 from our Appventurer
How we tested?
After finding a selection of the most popular sleep apps for mobile devices (with a few wearable options thrown in), we started testing. Using multiple phones and help from some Appsistants, we used each of the apps for several nights over a ten-day testing period. While this was not long enough to get all the benefits of tracking trends over time, it was enough to test the tracking functions, smart alarms, and relaxation content for falling asleep easily.
Since sleep is so individual and varies so much day-to-day, we didn't evaluate the apps on whether they improved sleep, but how easy they were to use, how extensive their relaxation content libraries were, how in-depth the data was and how clearly it was presented.
Many people download these apps looking for accurate data. However, no tracking app is as accurate as a medical sleep study. The apps don't measure sleep directly but look at behavioral proxies like breath, motion, or heart rate. Because of this, we didn't consider accuracy particularly, although we did note if we noticed an issue, like the app saying the person was asleep when they weren't.
Why get the app?
Most sleep trackers are mobile-first apps since they use data sources that are only available on the phone, like the microphone or movement sensing. It is also much more convenient to have a phone in your bedroom than a laptop.
Some apps have associated websites that may make it easier to view your data, but the data display on the app is more than adequate for most people, so you're unlikely to need anything except your phone.
If you have a wearable device and don't like to sleep with your phone in the bedroom (A+ sleep hygiene!), using the wearable to track your sleep and the associated app to look at your data more closely is another good way to use a sleep app.
More About Sleep Cycle: Our Pick
Sleep apps can help improve sleep at three points: before sleep, during sleep, and waking up. They can offer sleep tips and audio content to help you wind down and fall asleep, track sleep cycles and record snoring/talking during the night, and supply a smart alarm to wake you up refreshed. Sleep Cycle shines in all three of these areas. Behind its simple, easy-to-use interface, Sleep Cycle is packed with features.
Most sleep apps use your phone's microphone to determine whether you’re asleep and what sleep phase you’re in. Unique among the apps we tested, Sleep Cycle offers the choice to use the microphone or your phone’s accelerometer, which measures sleep by sensing motion. While I’m not sure why anyone would prefer to use this (it seems much more convenient to keep your phone by the bed), it’s nice to have the option.
While accuracy is tough to measure, trackers can still give you a useful glimpse into your sleep patterns. Sleep Cycle distinguishes between sleep phases, and there’s really no way to know if those are accurate except by comparing the data to a medical sleep study. But in terms of sleep vs. wake, it seemed pretty spot on. I have a hard time falling asleep and often spend a long time lying in bed. Some trackers I’ve used have thought I was asleep when I wasn't, but Sleep Cycle knew the difference between lying awake worrying and actual sleep. Along these lines, It also displays time in bed vs. time asleep prominently on the dashboard, which I found really helpful.
Sleep Cycle, like most sleep apps, has a smart alarm that wakes you up in a half-hour window at a time when you are in the lightest phase of sleep. Of these alarms, Sleep Cycle was the “smartest,” and I always woke up refreshed when I used it. I’m not completely sure why this was — if it is better at gauging the sleep phase or if it fades in the alarm sound more effectively or something entirely different, but that was what I found.
Sleep Cycle displays all that data it collects in a clear interface that provides the information you need in a way that is easy to understand. You get a graph of your night that shows what phase of sleep you were in at any given time. The app also points where you were snoring or talking.
Sleep Cycle's $39.99/year premium upgrade includes a secure backup of data, snore recording, the sleep aid audio library mentioned above, and more alarm sounds. It also allows you to note things in your day that may impact sleep (coffee, nap, exercise, etc.) and track your mood when you wake. I think the smart alarm and sleep analysis are the most useful features of the app, and they are free. However, the sleep aid library does have a ton of content, and if you’re trying to understand what influences your sleep, the notes feature would be valuable.
Snags but not drags:
While Sleep Cycle's interface is highly usable, it's also pretty utilitarian... which is to say, not very pretty. It doesn't need to be, of course, but particularly for an app that users will interact with at the beginning and end of their day, a soothing and attractive design would be nice.
The sleep aid library is expansive but also difficult to access. You can't browse it outside of the app's tracking feature, meaning you have to start "sleeping" before selecting a track. While you can stop the tracking if you want to plan your bedtime in the middle of the afternoon, it would be nice if the sleep aids had their own tab that you could access separately.
But these are small quibbles about an app that is feature-rich and works very well.
More About SleepScore: Runner Up
In the drive toward the quantified self, we (or our apps) sometimes focus on collecting ever-more data without considering why we want it. Do we care about how many hours we spend in Phase 3 sleep? No. We care about sleeping well so that we can be healthy, happy, and productive. (Please note that if you are struggling with disordered sleep, these fine details may, in fact, be important. But that is something to investigate with a doctor, not an app.)
The SleepScore app is full of helpful tips and educational content. It will teach you how to make your bedroom more conducive to sleep by looking at air quality, temperature, mattresses, and more. (It did say I shouldn’t sleep with my dogs, but I will not be taking that advice.) It helps you learn more about the impact of screen time, the importance of consistency, and more. It also offers challenges — short periods of guided habit change. I signed up for the Sleep Schedule challenge, which offered seven days of tips to set and keep healthy sleep habits.
As someone who often can’t sleep, my favorite feature was the "can't sleep" button that you can press if you've started sleep tracking but can't fall asleep. The button provides a sleep tip. The tips themselves are helpful, and I also appreciated how that button normalizes the experience of being unable to sleep.
If you want to improve your sleep even more (and are willing/able to spend money to do it), SleepScore offers several expert-verified products for sale. These include specialized lights, pillows, and sound machines. The products aren't pushed intrusively, so don’t worry about being advertised while you’re just trying to use the app.
The Premium upgrade offers a longer sleep history, reports to share with your doctor, special recommendations, and a weekly report of your sleep. These features are most useful for people dealing with prolonged sleep issues than people who just want to tweak their sleep a little. Most people can probably start with the free version and upgrade if they need more assistance/data.
SleepScore has much less bedtime content than some other apps, so if you’re looking for a wind-down program, this is probably not the app for you. One problem I had was that the tracker only works if your phone is charging. Most sleep apps recommend that you keep your phone charging, but they work without it. This won’t be a big deal for many people, but I am probably not the only person who doesn’t have an outlet near their bed.
More About Sleepzy: Also Groovy
Sleepzy’s interface is simple and lets you jump right into sleep tracking. It opens on the Sleep screen, where you can set your smart alarm to ring within a half-hour period. The app uses your phone’s microphone to determine your sleep phase and wake you up when you’re least groggy. The app displays your sleep goal and duration at the top of the screen (set during onboarding), assuming you fall asleep when you begin tracking and wake up at your alarm. This provides a simple way to make sure that you’re setting yourself up for success.
Sleep tracking was accurate, as far as I could tell. The app provides data on sleep quality, time asleep, sleep phases, and heart rate if you give it access to health data. The app also works with Apple Watch. Sleepzy also shows you your “sleep debt,” the amount of sleep you need to make up for a poor night’s sleep. While this is a helpful reminder of the necessity of consistent, high-quality sleep, it would be nice if the app provided more explanatory material about the concept and what to do if you have a large sleep debt.
The $39.99/year premium upgrade offers some high-quality features. It gives you more detailed sleep stats, allows you to keep sleep notes to understand the factors that might be impacting your sleep, and offers sleep recordings. Depending on your needs, this may be worth it. What bugs me about Sleepzy is the way ads are set up. You will definitely want to remove them — the ads on Sleepzy are annoying in a way that I find particularly off-putting in a sleep app, which should promote relaxation. That said, the ad-free version of Sleepzy is a great app and probably worth ~ $3.00 per month.
More About AutoSleep: Also Groovy
AutoSleep’s interface is bright and friendly, an enticing app to return to each day. It uses the same circle icon that Apple Watch’s activity tracker does to motivate you to improve your sleep. Just as you close the circle in the activity tracker by getting enough steps, etc., you close the circle in AutoSleep by getting enough sleep.
This is an intuitive design, especially since Apple Watch users are already accustomed to it. However, some researchers have found that sleep trackers, in general, can increase anxiety around sleep, so if you find yourself worrying about having an open circle, remember that no app can perfectly measure sleep quality and that improving sleep is an ongoing process.
AutoSleep’s features are well-executed, and the app is a pleasure to use. However, it is pretty similar to other AppleWatch sleep trackers. What sets it apart is its price: a flat rate of $3.99. That’s a typical monthly subscription rate for a sleep app. For a product that you could potentially continue using indefinitely, that’s a major saving. And since the app doesn't skimp on features, you're not missing out on anything.
Other Apps Considered
Sleep as Android is a great and popular app for Android users. It’s well-designed, with trademark Android whimsy. Like most of these apps, it uses the microphone to measure sleep and provides graphs of different sleep phases through the night. One nice feature is that it has nap settings — good news for afternoon snoozers.
I tested most of the multi-platform devices on an iPhone, and some of them are known for offering a better experience on iOS, so some Android users might prefer this app to some that ranked higher on our list.
There is considerable overlap in these apps' features, and I almost included Sleep Monitor as an Also Groovy pick. It has an appealing interface, lets you log things in your day that might impact sleep, and has an extensive library of pre-sleep relaxation content. This is a good one to try.
Accuracy is both hard for apps to achieve and hard for users to measure, but Sleep Monitor did think I was sleeping when I was awake. Still, this is a solid and great-looking app.
One of the few apps that still uses an accelerometer (where you place your phone on your mattress). Since the two methods appear to be equally accurate, it seems like having your phone in bed with you is unnecessarily inconvenient. Other than that, the app works well and is easy to use. It has an Apple Watch integration, but we preferred Auto Sleep as a Watch app.
Sleep Booster’s greatest strength is its library of bedtime content. Like many of these apps, it has guided meditations, breathing exercises, soothing music, sounds, and sleep stories. But Sleep Booster lets you arrange these into a sequence to create a Sleep Ritual.
Sleep Booster offers snore and voice tracking and a smart alarm. However, it doesn’t use breathing to detect sleep and sleep phase, so it is less useful as a tracker than other apps. If you want some help falling asleep, however, this is a good choice.
SleepWatch is a sleep tracker for Apple Watch users. It tracks sleep rhythm, disruption, how long it takes to fall asleep, and how rested you feel in the morning. It measures heart rate, including how much your heart rate dips during sleep, which is known to be a health indicator. The app helps you improve your sleep and set sleep goals. Its features are similar to AutoSleep, but that app is a better value than Sleep Watch, which uses a subscription model.
While this article is not an exhaustive overview of wearables, this is the device that I use, so I thought I’d cover it. Garmin Connect tracks exercise (running, biking, workouts, etc.), steps, general energy level (a measure they call “body battery”), calories burned, food intake (if you pair with MyFitnessPal), and, of course, sleep.
The sleep tracker is passive, so you don’t have to tell it when you’re going to sleep. As far as I can tell, the sleep phase measurement is accurate — for instance, when I’ve woken up from a dream, the tracker has said I was in REM sleep. While passive tracking is a benefit because you don’t have to turn it on, I found the sleep ritual components of other apps on the list are really good for sleep hygiene. I also wish that the app integrated its features together. The body battery does this to an extent, but it would be helpful to have a pop-up that said something like, “you didn’t get much sleep last night. Take it easy on your workout today.”
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About the Appventurer
Caroline Rothnie
WriterHard as I try to keep a minimalist phone, I can't stop downloading more apps. In addition to my can't-live-without apps for organization, music and podcasts, fitness, and meditation, I'm constantly trying out new ones. So I love apps, but it's a complicated relationship -- some of my favorites are for keeping me off my phone/internet.
In second grade, I attempted to do a book report on a story I had written myself, so you could say I've always thought of myself as a writer. These days, I write a wide variety of web content with a focus on mental health and productivity. I also write personal essays. I live in Kansas with my husband and two dogs.
Introduction
Since good sleep is critical for physical and mental health, improving sleep is a priority for many of us. Sleep tracking apps have become a popular tool in the z-seeker’s arsenal. But how well do they work? And are they worth paying for?
We tested 10 popular apps to find out. We found that Sleep Cycle was a simple solution with a great smart alarm. SleepScore had the best sleep tips and programs. We also liked Sleepzy’s bedtime content and thought AutoSleep was the best value for Apple Watch users.