The 12 best apps for ambient noise on mobile

Struggling to focus or get a good night's sleep? Ambient noise apps can help! These apps offer a wide range of sounds, from gentle rain to crackling fireplaces, to create the perfect atmosphere for relaxation, concentration, or sleep. With so many options available, finding the right app can be tricky. That's why we've compiled a list of the 12 best apps for ambient noise on mobile, covering everything from soothing nature sounds to calming meditation music.

We've tested and compared a ton of apps, and our top picks include Calm, BetterSleep, and Sleep Sounds. These apps offer high-quality soundtracks, customizable timers, and even guided meditations and sleep stories to help you drift off to dreamland. Whether you're looking to unwind after a long day or just want to create a more peaceful work environment, these apps are sure to help you find your perfect sonic escape.

App Logo Available On Reviews Downloads Features
1. Calm Calm Icon Android, iOS 4.8/5 57M+ Guided meditation sessions, Sleep Stories for adults
2. BetterSleep BetterSleep Icon Android, iOS 4.8/5 20M+ Sleep tracking, Guided meditations, Premium sleep sounds
3. Sleep Sounds Sleep Sounds Icon Android, iOS 4.9/5 8M+ Eigene Mixe erstellen, Hintergrundwiedergabe, Schlaf-Timer planen
4. White Noise Lite White Noise Lite Icon Android, iOS 4.8/5 6M+ Blocks distractions, Relaxes and reduces stress, Soothes headaches and migraines
5. Atmosphere Atmosphere Icon Android, iOS 4.8/5 2M+ Soothing soundscapes, Binaural beats, Customizable mixes
6. Ambience Ambience Icon Android, iOS 4.6/5 2M+ Mix relaxing sounds, Upload your own sounds, Mask annoying sounds
7. White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds Icon Android, iOS 4.8/5 749K+ 250+ calming soundscapes, Customizable background noise
The 12 best apps for ambient noise on mobile

1. Calm

Calm Icon

Guided meditations for stress relief, Sleep stories for restful slumber

Cost:

Free (Free), Calm Premium ($14.99/month)


Download:

Android iOS

Application information

Category Health & Fitness
Downloads Over 57 million
Features Calm offers guided meditations, sleep stories, nature sounds, breathing exercises, and relaxing music to help users manage stress, improve sleep, and enhance their overall well-being.
Who It’s For Calm is an app for ambient noise and relaxation, ideal for anyone looking to reduce stress, improve sleep, or simply find moments of peace in their day.
Calm - Guided meditation sessions, Sleep Stories for adults
  • Tags:
  • Guided meditation
  • Sleep Stories
  • Stress relief

Calm is a popular app for ambient noise that offers a wide range of sounds and music to help users relax, fall asleep, and manage stress. While some users have reported encountering glitches, many praise the app for its ease of use and extensive library, allowing them to create personalized sound experiences. One user, particularly fond of the free "train ride track," highlighted the app's ability to play while their device is off, which is crucial for sleep-focused use. Whether you're battling insomnia, looking for mindful breathing prompts, or simply seeking a way to unwind, Calm provides a convenient and effective solution for incorporating ambient noise into your daily routine.

Pros & Cons

  • Lots of options and helpful reminders
  • Can run while device turned off
  • Helpful with insomnia and stress
  • Ambient sounds for sleep and relaxation
  • Recent update caused bugs and issues
  • Lack of communication about app issues
  • Favorites/recents not showing after update

Why we chose it?

Calm is my go-to app for ambient noise because it offers a huge library of soundscapes, from soothing nature scenes to peaceful instrumental music. The quality is top-notch and I love that they include sleep stories, which help me drift off to sleep quickly and easily.

✨ Read more: app for chakra meditation

2. BetterSleep

BetterSleep Icon

Sleep tracking and analysis, Customizable ambient noise library

Cost:

Free (Free), BetterSleep Premium ($9.99/month)


Download:

Android iOS

Application information

Category Health & Fitness
Downloads Over 19 million downloads
Features BetterSleep offers sleep tracking, ambient sounds, guided meditations, and relaxing stories to help you fall asleep faster, sleep soundly, and wake up refreshed.
Who It’s For Anyone seeking to improve their sleep quality through ambient noise and guided relaxation.
BetterSleep - Sleep tracking, Guided meditations, Premium sleep sounds
  • Tags:
  • Sleep tracking
  • Premium sleep sounds
  • Guided Meditations

BetterSleep is a mobile app designed to help users achieve better sleep through the use of ambient noise. It boasts a wide selection of soothing sounds, including nature sounds, white noise, and guided meditations, allowing users to create personalized mixes that lull them to sleep. While the app offers a generous range of options and the ability to save favorite combinations, some users have expressed frustration with the lack of customization for playlists and the poor sound quality when recording sleep alongside audio playback. Despite these drawbacks, many find the app's ambient noise selection and sleep tracking features invaluable for combating insomnia and promoting restful sleep.

Pros & Cons

  • Wide range of sounds
  • Save favorite sound mixes
  • Helps with insomnia
  • Fair yearly subscription price
  • Poor sound quality with recording
  • Limited playlist customization
  • Sleep track misinterprets movement

Why we chose it?

I'm a big fan of BetterSleep for ambient noise! It's packed with high-quality soundscapes, guided meditations, and even sleep stories that really help me relax and drift off. Plus, the app's sleep tracker gives me valuable insights into my sleep patterns, which has been super helpful in improving my sleep quality. If you're looking for an app to create a calming atmosphere and get better sleep, BetterSleep is definitely worth checking out!

✨ Read more: app for bedtime stories

3. Sleep Sounds

Sleep Sounds Icon

Customizable sound mixes, Background play & timer, High quality soothing sounds

Cost:

Free (Free), Premium ($4.99/month)


Download:

Android iOS

Application information

Category Health & Fitness
Downloads Over 7.8 million downloads
Features This app for ambient noise offers a variety of sounds for sleep, relaxation, and meditation, including nature sounds, rain sounds, and white noise, with the ability to create custom mixes and set timers.
Who It’s For Individuals struggling with sleep, insomnia, tinnitus, anxiety, and stress.
Sleep Sounds - Eigene Mixe erstellen, Hintergrundwiedergabe, Schlaf-Timer planen
  • Tags:
  • Customizable soundscapes
  • Scheduled sleep timer
  • Offline Functionality

Sleep Sounds is a versatile app for ambient noise that offers a treasure trove of soothing sounds to help you relax and drift off to sleep. It's a free app that gives you access to a wide variety of sounds, from the gentle patter of rain to the calming roar of a waterfall, allowing you to create your own personalized soundscapes. Users love the ability to mix and match sounds, adjusting the volume for each one to create the perfect blend for their individual needs. The app even allows you to set a timer, so you can let the sounds lull you to sleep without worrying about them playing all night.

Pros & Cons

  • Free access to many sounds
  • Customizable rain shower creation
  • Mix different noises with volume control
  • Timer for continuous background playback
  • Noticeable loops in sounds
  • Lack of crossfade for smoother transitions
  • No sound speed adjustment option

Why we chose it?

I absolutely love Sleep Sounds! It's super easy to create custom mixes of ambient noise, which is perfect for finding the perfect soundscape for my mood. The high quality recordings and intuitive interface make it a breeze to use, and I always feel relaxed and ready for sleep after listening. If you're looking for a great app to help you wind down and get a good night's sleep, Sleep Sounds is definitely worth checking out!

✨ Read more: app for mental health

4. White Noise Lite

White Noise Lite Icon

Sleep sounds for relaxation, Block distractions, improve sleep

Download:

Android iOS

Application information

Category Health & Fitness
Downloads Over 6 million downloads
Features This app features a variety of ambient sounds including rain, wind, ocean waves, and more to help you relax, sleep, focus, and block out distractions.
Who It’s For Anyone looking for an app for ambient noise to help them relax, sleep, focus, or block out distractions.
White Noise Lite - Blocks distractions, Relaxes and reduces stress, Soothes headaches and migraines
  • Tags:
  • Relaxing Ambient Sounds
  • Improved Sleep Quality
  • Baby Soother

"White Noise Lite" is a popular app for ambient noise, offering a wide range of sounds to help you relax, sleep better, or even mask tinnitus. Users praise its extensive library of sounds and the app's ability to run all night without draining your battery. While some users have noted quirks with background audio and potential interference with other phone functions, many find the app's simplicity and effectiveness to be a major draw. Whether you're looking to drown out distractions or create a soothing atmosphere, "White Noise Lite" provides a reliable and customizable solution for your ambient noise needs.

Pros & Cons

  • Many sound options
  • Low battery usage
  • Good sound quality
  • Simple and effective
  • Stops playing when switching apps
  • May affect alarm behavior
  • Runs in background even when quit

Why we chose it?

White Noise Lite is a fantastic app for ambient noise because it's packed with tons of sounds! It has everything from rain and wind to ocean waves and even cafe chatter - perfect for setting the mood or blocking out distractions. Plus, it's completely free and ad-free, so you can enjoy a peaceful experience without interruptions. I love that it's super simple to use, so I can quickly find the sound I want and drift off to sleep.

✨ Read more: app for cbt anxiety

5. Atmosphere

Atmosphere Icon

Mix and match sounds, Sleep timer for relaxation, Binaural beats for focus

Cost:

Free (Free), Atmosphere Pro ($2.99/month)


Download:

Android iOS

Application information

Category Health & Fitness
Downloads Over 2 Million
Features Atmosphere provides a vast library of ambient soundscapes, including rain, forest sounds, ocean waves, and more, allowing users to customize and create relaxing sound mixes for sleep, meditation, focus, and stress relief.
Who It’s For Anyone seeking a relaxing and calming app for ambient noise to improve sleep, meditation, focus, or simply unwind.
Atmosphere - Soothing soundscapes, Binaural beats, Customizable mixes
  • Tags:
  • Relaxing sounds
  • Binaural Beats
  • Sleep timer

If you're looking for an app for ambient noise that truly helps you relax and unwind, Atmosphere is a must-try. This app goes beyond just providing white noise, allowing you to customize your soundscape with multiple layers of different ambient sounds, from the gentle patter of rain to the calming sounds of nature. Users rave about its ability to help with insomnia, with many praising the lack of intrusive ads, which is a rare and welcome find in the app world. The app also lets you personalize your experience with features like a timer, adjustable sound levels, and the ability to save your favorite sound combinations.

Pros & Cons

  • No intrusive video ads
  • Adjustable sound levels
  • Multiple sound combinations
  • Free and no account needed
  • Sounds can be repetitive
  • Ads appear on timer click
  • Limited sound variations

Why we chose it?

I absolutely love Atmosphere! It's packed with tons of gorgeous soundscapes, from calming rain to soothing ocean waves. You can even mix and match different sounds to create your perfect ambiance. Plus, the timer function is a lifesaver for drifting off to sleep! If you're looking for an app that's both beautiful and effective, this is the one for you.

✨ Read more: app for background noise

6. Ambience

Ambience Icon

Mix various sounds for relaxation, Upload custom sounds for personalization

Cost:

Free (Free), Premium ($2.99/month)


Download:

Android iOS

Application information

Category Lifestyle
Downloads Over 2 million downloads
Features Ambience offers a mixer for nature sounds, ASMR sounds and music to create your perfect relaxing atmosphere, including the ability to upload your own sounds for customized ambient noise.
Who It’s For Anyone seeking relaxation, sleep, meditation, concentration, or to mask distracting noises.
Ambience - Mix relaxing sounds, Upload your own sounds, Mask annoying sounds
  • Tags:
  • Relaxing sound mixer
  • High quality nature sounds
  • ASMR and music included

Ambience is a fantastic app for ambient noise that offers a wide variety of high-quality sounds to create the perfect atmosphere for relaxation, sleep, or focus. Users rave about the extensive selection, which goes beyond typical nature sounds to include everything from train horns to ASMR. The app allows you to customize your experience by adjusting volume, mixing sounds, and even setting a timer for sleep. One user even mentioned that they use it to drown out the noise of their cats at night, highlighting its ability to create a peaceful oasis amidst everyday chaos.

Pros & Cons

  • Good quality audio selection
  • Huge selection of sounds
  • Adjustable sound levels, stacking
  • Play timer for sleep assistance
  • Distant thunder needs enhancement
  • Loop points difficult to distinguish
  • No control over thunder frequency

Why we chose it?

I love Ambience for creating the perfect atmosphere! It's got a huge library of high-quality sounds, from gentle rain to calming ocean waves, and even ASMR for those who love those tingly sensations. I also really appreciate that I can mix and match sounds to create my own unique ambience, and even upload my own recordings! It's the ultimate app for helping me relax and unwind at any time.

7. White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds

White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds Icon

250+ calming soundscapes, Customizable background noise options

Cost:

Free (Free), Premium ($2.99/month)


Download:

Android iOS

Application information

Category Health & Fitness
Downloads Over 749,000 downloads
Features The app offers a vast library of soothing sounds including white, green, and grey noise, rain, wind, ocean sounds, and more, allowing users to customize their sound environment.
Who It’s For This app is ideal for anyone seeking to improve their sleep quality, focus, or relaxation by leveraging the power of ambient noise.
White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds - 250+ calming soundscapes, Customizable background noise
  • Tags:
  • Customizable background noises
  • Over 250 calming soundscapes
  • Tinnitus relief and sleep aid

White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds is a powerful mobile app for ambient noise that goes beyond the typical repetitive loops. Users rave about its realistic soundscapes, citing the "difference in the sounds of thunder as time goes by" and its ability to create a truly immersive experience. This app is a lifesaver for those seeking a peaceful respite from stressful environments, like hospital stays, or the annoyance of repetitive sounds. While some users wish for a more straightforward closing mechanism, the app's effectiveness in blocking out unwanted noise and promoting relaxation makes it a valuable tool for achieving a peaceful state of mind.

Pros & Cons

  • Helps drown out noise
  • Offers realistic sound variations
  • Provides relaxing and calming sounds
  • Effective for sleep and focus
  • Lack of volume control
  • Difficult to close the app
  • No option to save favorite sounds

Why we chose it?

I absolutely love White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds! It's got over 250 sounds, from white noise and rain to ocean waves and even wind chimes, so I can always find the perfect ambiance. The app is super easy to use and lets me customize the sounds to my liking. Plus, it's completely ad-free - no annoying interruptions to my relaxing time.

8. Sleep Sounds

Sleep Sounds Icon

Customizable sound mixes, Timer for sleep scheduling, High-quality ambient sounds

Cost:

Free (Free), Premium ($2.99/month)


Download:

Android

Application information

Category Health & Fitness
Downloads Over 600,000 downloads
Features This app offers a wide selection of ambient sounds, including rain, nature, animals, and white noise, with customizable timers, sound mixing, and sleep tracking.
Who It’s For This app is perfect for anyone looking for an app for ambient noise to help them relax, fall asleep faster, or block out distracting noises.
Sleep Sounds - Entspannung mit weißem Rauschen, Hilft beim Einschlafen
  • Tags:
  • Relaxing sounds
  • Sleep aid
  • Stress relief

"Sleep Sounds" is a fantastic app for ambient noise, offering a curated selection of nature sounds, white noise, and even some creative sound effects. Users rave about its ability to mix and match sounds, adjust individual volumes, and save custom combinations for easy access. One user even described using it to "drown out other people," highlighting its versatility beyond sleep. The app also allows you to control the fade-out time, creating a gentle transition from sound to silence. While some users have suggested additional features like importing custom sounds and controlling sound frequencies, the existing options are already highly praised and make "Sleep Sounds" a standout choice for finding the perfect soundscape for relaxation, sleep, or even focus.

Pros & Cons

  • Mix and match sounds
  • Control individual sound volume
  • Save custom sound combinations
  • Fades sounds at end of timer
  • Fixed fade time of 1 minute
  • Limited sound options
  • No import/download for new sounds

Why we chose it?

I'm a big fan of Sleep Sounds! It's got a huge library of high-quality sounds – everything from gentle rain and crackling fire to ocean waves and even a bustling coffee shop! It also lets you mix and match sounds to create your perfect sleep or focus environment. Plus, the app is super easy to use, with a simple interface that makes finding the right sounds a breeze.

9. myNoise • Focus, Relax, Sleep

myNoise • Focus, Relax, Sleep Icon

300+ customizable soundscapes, Offline listening for convenience

Cost:

Free (Free), myNoise Premium ($12.99/year)


Download:

Android iOS

Application information

Category Health & Fitness
Downloads Over half a million downloads
Features myNoise provides customizable ambient soundscapes for relaxation, focus, and sleep, featuring over 300 high-quality sounds, offline listening, and 10 customizable sliders per soundscape.
Who It’s For Anyone seeking an app for ambient noise to relax, focus, or sleep
myNoise • Focus, Relax, Sleep - 300+ high-quality soundscapes, 10 customizable sliders
  • Tags:
  • 300+ High-Quality Soundscapes
  • Customizable soundscapes
  • Offline Listening

myNoise • Focus, Relax, Sleep is a game-changer in the world of ambient noise apps. Unlike others, it boasts a vast library of unique sounds, each meticulously customizable with simple sliders. This allows users to perfectly tailor their soundscapes, whether it's dialing down the thunder in a rainstorm or adjusting the tinny quality of white noise. The app's intuitive interface and endless customization options have earned it rave reviews from users who credit it with helping them achieve a more restful sleep and enhanced focus.

Pros & Cons

  • Highly customizable soundscapes
  • Unique sounds not found elsewhere
  • Simple and intuitive interface
  • Effective for sleep, focus, and relaxation
  • High battery consumption
  • Difficult to navigate for new users
  • Some features missing from previous version

Why we chose it?

I've been using myNoise for years, and it's my go-to for creating the perfect ambient soundscape. The sheer variety of sounds is incredible, from soothing rain and crackling fireplaces to binaural beats and even space sounds! And you can customize each one with 10 different sliders, so you get exactly the right mix to suit your mood. Plus, you can save your favorites for offline listening, so you can enjoy a relaxing soundscape anywhere, anytime.

10. White Noise

White Noise Icon

Sleep Sounds, Nature Sounds, Ambient Sounds, Customizable Timers, Sleep Schedules, Volume Control

Cost:

Free (Free), White Noise Premium ($2.99/month)


Download:

Android iOS

Application information

Category Health & Fitness
Downloads Over 332,000 downloads
Features This app offers a wide range of ambient sounds, including rain, ocean waves, wind, and more, to help you relax, sleep better, and improve your focus.
Who It’s For This app is for anyone who wants to use ambient noise to relax, sleep better, or focus.
Keyword app for ambient noise
White Noise - Blocks distractions, Relaxes and reduces stress, Pacifies crying babies
  • Tags:
  • Sleep aid
  • Stress reducer
  • Baby Soother

"White Noise" is a popular app for ambient noise, earning praise for its ability to create deeply personalized soundscapes. Users love the option to blend multiple sounds, like heavy rain, a fan, and a shower, for a truly unique and calming experience. The app's detailed mixing and balancing options are a standout feature, allowing users to fine-tune their soundscapes to perfection. The dimming feature, which lets users adjust the screen brightness with a simple finger swipe, is another welcome touch, ensuring a restful and comfortable experience. While some users have expressed a desire for casting functionality and a separate volume control, "White Noise" remains a top choice for those seeking a soothing and customizable ambient soundscape for sleep, relaxation, or focus.

Pros & Cons

  • Combine multiple noise types
  • Dimming feature for screen
  • Excellent sound mixing options
  • Variety of tracks available
  • No Google Home casting
  • No separate volume control
  • Ignores screen rotate setting

Why we chose it?

I absolutely love White Noise! It’s my go-to for creating the perfect sleep environment. The app has a huge selection of sounds, from rain and ocean waves to wind chimes and even white noise, and they’re all super high-quality. Plus, I can set timers and customize sound mixes, so I can easily find the perfect combination to help me relax and drift off.

11. Noice

Noice Icon

Customizable sound combinations, Sleep-inducing ambient soundscapes

Download:

Android iOS

Application information

Category Health & Fitness
Downloads Over 140,000 downloads
Features Noice lets you mix and match a variety of ambient sounds to create calming and personalized atmospheres for focus, relaxation, sleep, and more.
Who It’s For Anyone who benefits from using ambient noise for focus, relaxation, sleep, or masking distracting sounds.
Noice - Personalized sound environments, Reduces stress and anxiety
  • Tags:
  • Personalized Soundscapes
  • Stress and anxiety reduction
  • Improved focus and productivity

Noice is a fantastic app for ambient noise, offering a wide range of sounds to create personalized calming environments. Users rave about its ease of use, allowing them to effortlessly mix and match sounds to achieve the perfect atmosphere for relaxation, focus, or sleep. The app features high-quality sounds that loop smoothly, and users appreciate the ability to adjust individual sound frequencies and volumes for a truly customized experience. While some users have expressed a desire for additional features like the ability to add personal sounds, Noice is a powerful tool for anyone looking to create their own unique and soothing sonic landscapes.

Pros & Cons

  • Easy to use
  • Great sound quality
  • Mix sounds together
  • Sleep timer feature
  • Looping nature of sounds
  • High-pitched tones in some sounds
  • No option to add own sounds

Why we chose it?

I absolutely love Noice! It's the best ambient noise app I've found because it allows me to create custom sound environments by mixing different sounds and adjusting their volume. I also appreciate that it offers a huge library of high-quality sounds, from nature to cityscapes and even ambient music. Plus, the intuitive interface makes it super easy to find and play the perfect soundscape to help me focus, relax, or sleep.

12. Noise Machine

Noise Machine Icon

Variety of ambient sounds, Customizable sound mixtures, Sleep and focus timers

Cost:

Free (Free), Premium ($4.99/month)


Download:

Android iOS

Application information

Category Health & Fitness
Downloads Over 56,000
Features Offers white, pink, brown, and green noise, along with additional variations like deep green and super deep brown noise, for sleep, focus, relaxation, and meditation.
Who It’s For People seeking an app for ambient noise to aid in sleep, focus, relaxation, or meditation.
Noise Machine - Multiple noise colors, Free forever, Sleep and focus aid
  • Tags:
  • High-quality sounds
  • Variety of noise colors
  • Sleep and focus modes

Noise Machine is a straightforward and effective app for ambient noise, offering a range of sounds from white noise to brown noise, perfect for sleep, focus, or simply relaxation. While the free version is limited, users praise the app's effectiveness, particularly its ability to produce a calming and immersive experience. The app's simplicity and focus on delivering high-quality sound without unnecessary features make it a favorite among those seeking a reliable tool for creating their own peaceful atmosphere.

Pros & Cons

  • Effective ambient noise generator
  • Various noise types available
  • Timer function for sleep
  • Low battery consumption
  • Limited free version usability
  • Missing customization options
  • Occasional crashing issues

Why we chose it?

I'm a big fan of Noise Machine! It's a really solid choice because it offers a great selection of classic and unique sounds, from the familiar white and pink noise to the deeper brown and green noise options. It's also super easy to use with a simple, straightforward interface, and I love that you can set timers and even create custom mixes for personalized soundscapes. If you're looking for a reliable app to help you sleep, focus, or just relax, Noise Machine is definitely worth checking out.