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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds vs BetterSleep

White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 4.8★ · Free + IAP 70
Winner Tie
BetterSleep 4.7★ · Free + IAP 68

White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds is slightly better for users primarily seeking basic, reliable white noise, while BetterSleep offers more advanced features like meditations and sleep stories, but both apps face significant user frustration over recent paywall changes.

Full reviews: White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds · BetterSleep

Both White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds and BetterSleep are highly-rated apps for sleep sounds, but recent updates have led to widespread user complaints about increased paywalls and removal of previously free features. White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds is generally simpler, focusing on sound variety, while BetterSleep offers a broader range of content including meditations and sleep tracking.

Head to head

Features and Sound Variety tieR2R4R8R10
White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds offers a wide variety of noises, including different color frequencies, common objects, and nature sounds, with users appreciating options like brown noise, green noise, theta waves, and airplane cabin sounds R2R8. Some users find the mix options valuable R18R10. However, free users report very few sounds available, with many locked behind a paywall R4. Some also note a lack of user-friendly features like favoriting sounds, despite the large selection .
BetterSleep BetterSleep boasts a large library of over 300 sleep sounds and music tracks, plus over 250 meditations and hypnosis sessions . Users appreciate the ability to mix their own sound blends R71. However, a significant number of recent reviews indicate that many previously free sounds and custom mixes are now behind a paywall, leaving only a few free options R66R67. Some users find the app has too much music and guided meditation, preferring simpler calming sounds .
Ease of Use and Reliability edge: White Noise Deep Sleep SoundsR3R6R17R19
White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds Many users find White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds simple and effective for daily use, with some logging thousands of hours . It's praised for consistent, quality sound without looping issues . However, some users report issues with the app turning off when other apps like Facebook or gaming are used R3. There are also complaints about sounds only lasting 8 hours in the free version, waking up babies R6R43, and recent updates causing crashes or sounds not downloading R17R19.
BetterSleep BetterSleep is described as user-friendly and updated . Users appreciate features like bedtime reminders and sleep tracking . However, the app is frequently reported as glitchy, with stories self-exiting, freezing constantly, and sleep recorders not working or showing incorrect data . Some users also find the app complicated with a steep learning curve .
Price and Value tieR1R4R7R11
White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds is a 'Free + IAP' app, but many users express significant frustration over its pricing model. Free users find very few sounds available and feel forced to pay R4. The subscription price is considered 'ridiculous' and 'greedy' by many, with annual costs around £35-£40 or $3 per month R1R7R13. There are also complaints about being charged after cancelling free trials R11 and the app becoming subscription-only after years of free or one-time purchase use R33.
BetterSleep BetterSleep is also 'Free + IAP', but recent changes have led to widespread accusations of 'greed' and 'scamming' . Many long-time users who previously had free access or purchased lifetime memberships for around $5-$80 now find those benefits revoked and are forced into new, expensive subscriptions, sometimes as high as $69.99 a year R67. Users feel that the app is now 'practically unusable' without paying .
Effectiveness for Sleep tieR3R6R16R28
White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds Many users report that White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds is highly effective for improving sleep, helping them fall asleep faster and stay asleep R16. It's particularly praised for blocking out external noises like snoring or hotel sounds and for helping babies sleep R3R6R28.
BetterSleep BetterSleep is also widely praised for its effectiveness in helping users get better sleep, reduce stress, and overcome insomnia . Users specifically mention sleep stories and personalized playlists as helpful . It's also noted for helping with tinnitus .
Pick White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds if

you primarily need a reliable source of white noise or other ambient sounds to block out distractions and aid sleep, and you are prepared to pay for a subscription for full access and continuous play R2.

Pick BetterSleep if

you are looking for a more comprehensive sleep aid that includes a wide variety of sounds, meditations, hypnosis, and sleep stories, and you are willing to pay a subscription fee for these features R71.

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of recent negative reviews regarding paywalls and changes to previously free content, which skews recent sentiment compared to their high lifetime ratings. The evidence for customer support is thin for both apps, with only one review mentioning non-existent support for BetterSleep .

Frequently asked

Are these apps truly free?
No, both White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds and BetterSleep are 'Free + IAP' apps, meaning they offer very limited free content and require subscriptions or in-app purchases for full access to most sounds and features, with annual costs reported around £35-£40 or $69.99 R1R4R7R13.
Do these apps offer continuous playback?
White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds' free version limits playback to 8 hours, which users find insufficient for a full night's sleep, requiring a premium subscription for longer durations R6R33R43. BetterSleep's reviews don't specify free playback limits, but many sounds are now behind a paywall, implying continuous use of preferred sounds likely requires a subscription R67.
Can I mix sounds in these apps?
White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds offers 'Mix options' that users appreciate R18R10. BetterSleep explicitly allows users to mix their own sound blends and create personalized playlists R71, although many sounds required for these mixes are now premium R66.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 5/5 · US Brown noise: For years, I’ve used a white noise maker - even packing it in my suitcase for travel. I decided that I wanted something more portable and added this app. It recommended brown noise based on my goals. It really did seem to make a difference. I was able to increase the volume as well. The price point of about $3 per month was also more reasonable than other apps. It has a nice range of
  2. [R4] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 2/5 · US Very few sounds: There are only 5-6 mediocre sounds available to free users. Lots more sounds available if you pay. But the App is more money than it’s worth.
  3. [R8] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 5/5 · US Love the green noise and theta waves: This app is the best whether you’re on a noisy train or trying to get some Deep Sleep. It has sounds for every occasion.
  4. [R10] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 5/5 · US Very gut: I love listening to music when it rains, and being able to listen to music while using this app to have various sounds playing at once to make cozy background noises is amazing.
  5. [R3] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 3/5 · US Couple of issues: Use app to help put my 2 month old to bed. You're unable to use certain apps while playing sounds like Facebook or random gaming apps without it turning itself off and playing music from the apps even if you turn the sound off on the app itself. So it's hard to keep yourself awake while you're trying to put someone else to sleep.
  6. [R6] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 3/5 · GB Doesn’t last long enough: 8 hours isn’t long enough for a sleeping baby. When the 8 hours is up & it stops she wakes up! 👎🏼
  7. [R17] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 2/5 · GB Sound distorted?: Had found this really useful for helping my baby sleep but following the most recent iOS update all the sounds are distorted?
  8. [R19] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 1/5 · GB Apple TV 4 K: You need to update the tvOS app asap this has been on going for months it just crashes all the time then you have to delete it re download so you can use it for a day or so great app but was amazing on tvOS as well as iOS but very disappointing for tvOS the last 9 months
  9. [R1] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 1/5 · US 7 Day Trail: Pay to use this very basic white app. It complicates and monetizes what should be a straightforward service.
  10. [R7] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 1/5 · US Expensive: Why force people to download your app only to find out there is a charge?
  11. [R11] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 1/5 · US Charged me even though I cancelled within 7 days. Not cool.: I subscribed to a 7 day free trial and cancelled before the 7 days were up. It seemed like a great ap the few times I used it, but the company charged my credit card 39.99 even though I cancelled within the 7 day free trial time period. I am disappointed in this, have contacted apple and hope the owners of better sleep make this right.
  12. [R16] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 5/5 · US Sleep: I sleep amazing every night!!
  13. [R28] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 4/5 · US Great white nose app: Great white nose app for helping babies sleep, but it does not need to be a subscription! I would happily pay a reasonable one-time price, but ongoing payment is ridiculous. I don’t use any of the premium features anyway and don’t need new sounds, just the basics.
  14. [R13] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 2/5 · GB Good app BUT….: As the title says, it’s a good app and does what is supposed to but the price is extremely ridiculous and extremely greedy! I don’t get the justification to charge such a high price?! There’s no way I’d be upgrading to premium and the free version just isn’t worth bothering with so will probably be deleted - shame as otherwise it’s a good app.
  15. [R33] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 1/5 · GB Why?: I’ve been using the free version of this app for many months. The settings have now changed so that the sounds will not continuously play, unless I subscribe. As I can no longer effectively use it I will now have to delete. Very disappointing.
  16. [R43] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 4/5 · US White noise deep sleep sounds Airplane cabin: It’s a very nice app! But it only stays on for 8 hours and shuts off in the middle of the night so then I have to go on my phone and turn it back on. I know I can pay to get longer hours but I don’t have a card and why would they make me pay.?? There’s a lot of options but you have to pay to “unlock” them. Over all I really do like the app cause they
  17. [R67] BetterSleep 1/5 · US Boooooooooo: I’ve used this app for years. Now, in the middle of the night when I need it I realize they’ve updated and locked almost every sound behind a paywall. Wtf?!? AND it’s a subscription paywall at that. Yall the worst!
  18. [R18] White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds 5/5 · US Great App: Use every single night! Live the Mix options
  19. [R66] BetterSleep 3/5 · US Have to Pay For Almost All the Sounds: I’ve always loved this app- i’ve used sounds to mix together my perfect mix to sleep to. Now all of the four sounds i’ve mixed together are all premium, and I’ve been forced to switch to a new app after being loyal to this one for years. The other features are fine… I’m just upset that I can barely use things for free on this app now.
  20. [R71] BetterSleep 5/5 · US Excellent app: I found BetterSleep through a discounted offer from one of my counseling online platforms where I work. I will be back, but the current quarterly rate was just not something I could renew with for a while. I highly recommend it and could see myself letting go of several other ones to have this one, lots of variety, personalized mixing of components and will recommend to others, incl

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store