Sometimes we just need a little help getting to sleep, so no surprise, there’s an app for that!

We took a look around and asked some of our team and checked reviews to find the best apps for your iPhone or Android phone that can give you a helping hand. You may need to try a few to find the right one, but experiment and hopefully, you’ll find the right one for you when and if you need it!
Pzizz: Okay, kind of a weird name, but it’s a pretty cool app. Great for restless minds that go off on tangents. It can help you with naps and focusing as well. Pzizz uses special algorithms to deliver different sounds, beats and rhythms each time you use it and learns your habits over time. They have a free trial period, then it’s a monthly or annual subscription. You can find it here.
Headspace: This is a well known app for meditation, but it also has the ability to help you sleep! In the free version it has 45-55 minute “sleepcasts” with a calm voice that is kinda like adult bedtime stories. You can find it here.
Whote Noise Lite: Some folks like a little background sound, known as white noise, to help them get to and stay asleep. This free app is just perfect with looped sounds like waves, thunder, a swaying boat. You can find it here.
Slumber: Ah, sweet, sweet slumber! This is a nice simple app that offers a mix of ways to get to sleep, from backgrounds noises to guided meditations and music. Easy to set up and they add new sessions every week. The first 10 episodes are free and it’s a subscription after that. You can find it here.
Sleep Cycle: This is a very clever app. It learns your sleep habits over time, including tracking your snoring patterns and when you’re in deep and light sleep. It helps you wake up gently so you feel more refreshed. This is great for those who want to know how they sleep. You can find it here.
These apps aren’t guaranteed to make you sleep, but they can help. A study of 35 sleep apps by the University of Illinois found that they can help you reach sleep goals, they won’t help with chronic sleep deprivation or apnea, which may need more medical attention. But there are some scientists working on sleep apnea apps, so maybe something will come to market soon.
In the meantime, sweet dreams!
You might also enjoy this article on the art of a good sleep.