Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Bedtime Fan vs White Noise

Bedtime Fan 4.8★ · Free + IAP 70
Winner White Noise
White Noise 4.8★ · $0.99 85

For a simple, effective fan sound, Bedtime Fan is a strong choice, but White Noise offers a more robust and customizable experience for a one-time fee, making it the better overall option despite some reported bugs.

Full reviews: Bedtime Fan · White Noise

Bedtime Fan excels at providing realistic fan sounds, with many users praising its effectiveness for sleep, though it is heavily criticized for aggressive ads and subscription models. White Noise, a paid app, offers a vast array of customizable sounds, mixing capabilities, and a strong track record of long-term user satisfaction, despite some recent reports of bugs and an outdated interface.

Head to head

Features and Sound Variety edge: White NoiseR3R4R8R10
Bedtime Fan Bedtime Fan is highly praised for its realistic fan sounds, with users finding the 'box fan' and various fan types (low, medium, high) particularly effective for sleep and travel R8R10. While it offers other sounds like rain and white noise, these often require a paid subscription or involve watching ads R3R4.
White Noise White Noise offers a vast selection of sounds, including fan, rain, and white noise, with the ability to customize pitch, volume, and sound location R77. Users can create and save custom mixes, download additional sounds from a market, and even record their own sounds R75R77R85.
Ease of Use tieR12R13R27R36
Bedtime Fan Many users find Bedtime Fan straightforward for its primary function, the fan sound R12R36. However, some recent reviews criticize an unskippable survey at startup and forced subscription prompts before accessing the app R13R27.
White Noise White Noise is generally considered easy to use with a good design, allowing for simple creation of mixes and fine-tuning of settings R52. However, some users report issues with swiping speed between sounds, making it difficult to select the correct one .
Reliability and Performance tieR6R8R21R37
Bedtime Fan Bedtime Fan is generally reliable for playing fan sounds, with many users depending on it nightly R8R37. However, recent complaints mention the app randomly shutting off, which wakes users up R21, and one user noted a recent update caused the sound to fade too quickly . Some users also report the max volume is not loud enough R6.
White Noise White Noise has a long history of reliability, with many users reporting consistent use for years R93. However, recent updates have introduced bugs, including frequent crashes, sounds cutting out on the lock screen, and the app shutting down after a few seconds . Some users also note it can drain battery quickly and make the phone warm .
Price and Value edge: White NoiseR1R4R7R8
Bedtime Fan Bedtime Fan is a free app with in-app purchases and subscriptions. Many users appreciate the free fan sound R8R18R36R45. However, there are significant complaints about aggressive ads, even in paid versions R4R7R11R17, and a perceived scam where users are charged for subscriptions they didn't intend or after canceling R1.
White Noise White Noise is a paid app for $0.99, which many users consider a fair price and well worth it for the features and long-term use R52R82R86R93. Some users who initially used a free version were happy to upgrade R82. However, there are complaints about having to download a separate app for more sounds and one user reported paying for a "regular" version only to find a separate "pro" version . One review also mentioned popup ads in the paid version .
Support and Accessibility tieR62
Bedtime Fan Reviews do not provide specific feedback on Bedtime Fan's customer support. There are no mentions of accessibility features or issues.
White Noise There is no direct feedback on White Noise's customer support. However, one user reported that the app is completely inaccessible when trying to record sounds using VoiceOver, making it useless for blind users, despite having paid for the app R62.
Pick Bedtime Fan if

You primarily need a realistic fan sound for sleep and are willing to tolerate ads or pay for a subscription to remove them R8R36. You value portability and a simple, effective fan noise over extensive features R10.

Pick White Noise if

You want a wide variety of customizable sounds, the ability to create mixes, and features like pitch and volume editing R77. You are looking for a one-time purchase for a comprehensive white noise solution and plan to use it long-term for sleep, studying, or masking tinnitus R52R86.

Evidence note: Bedtime Fan's free-to-paid model introduces a significant asymmetry in review sentiment, with many negative reviews focused on ads and subscription pressure from non-paying users R1R4R7R11. White Noise, being a paid-only app, has reviews from users who have already committed financially, which may skew its lifetime ratings positively. However, recent reviews for White Noise do highlight increasing bugginess and an outdated interface .

Frequently asked

Does Bedtime Fan have a free version?
Yes, Bedtime Fan has a free version that includes the fan sound, which many users find effective for sleep R8R18R36R45.
Are there ads in Bedtime Fan?
Yes, Bedtime Fan has ads in its free version, which many users find intrusive and explicit R4R11R17. Some users even reported seeing ads after paying for a sound R7.
How much does White Noise cost?
White Noise costs $0.99 for a one-time purchase, which many users consider a fair price for its features R52R82R86R93.
Can I mix sounds in White Noise?
Yes, White Noise allows users to create and save custom mixes of sounds, and even fade them in for gentle wake-ups R70R75R77R85.
Does White Noise work with Apple Watch?
According to one review, the White Noise Apple Watch app does not appear to work independently from a phone, with sounds playing through the phone instead of the watch R63.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 100 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. [R3] Bedtime Fan 3/5 · US Read before getting: Okay so this app is awesome helpful for sleep and all the stuff, but the one thing I don’t like about it is how many things you have to pay for, you can only play certain sounds like rain, everything else you need a membership for, there is a section for story’s and podcast.
  2. [R4] Bedtime Fan 2/5 · US Adds!!: The sound in this is like really nice, but like you have to watch an add for almost anything and it keeps popping up this one add to pay money so that you can listen to crickets and stuff.
  3. [R8] Bedtime Fan 5/5 · US Love it: It’s genuinely become a nighttime necessity for me. I don’t have the premium and all I use it for is the box fan, but it sounds so realistic a love it so much.
  4. [R10] Bedtime Fan 5/5 · US Bedtime fan: This bedtime fan app really helps me sleep when I don't have my fan handy! Also one time when my power went out I used it to sleep! 😆😁
  5. [R12] Bedtime Fan 5/5 · US Perfect white noise!: Timer, fan sound options, and works like a breeze!!!!
  6. [R13] Bedtime Fan 1/5 · US Doesn’t need to be a paid subscription: The app begins with an unskippable performative survey that “loads custom settings”. Just let me see the app first before forcing information out of me and then pretending to customize. Then the app mentions that it is a subscription based app and I can have a 7 day free trial. Please. This is a white noise app. If the app works for other people that’s great
  7. [R27] Bedtime Fan 1/5 · US Garbage: Makes you select a bunch of BS before getting to the noise, then says it's only free for 7 days. Absolute waste of time.
  8. [R36] Bedtime Fan 5/5 · US Literally the best ever: I have been using bedtime fan for 6 months now, and it has honestly changed my life. You don’t have to pay for premium if you don’t want to and still get the best feature: the fan. Low box fan has been my constant companion through life’s struggles. This app does what it says, which is honestly rare these days. I can’t recommend enough
  9. [R6] Bedtime Fan 3/5 · US Sound: Not very loud at max volume. I need to link to a speaker.
  10. [R21] Bedtime Fan 1/5 · US Used to use: Used this for a long time. Now ads get in the way and randomly shuts off which wakes me up.
  11. [R37] Bedtime Fan 5/5 · US Love it: I use it every night
  12. [R1] Bedtime Fan 1/5 · US Don’t waste your money on this: You’re already spending money on the app and then it tells you that you have to pay and upgrade it just so you can have ONE SOUND and you wont and don’t know if you’ll even like it! Waste of money. 💵🚽
  13. [R7] Bedtime Fan 1/5 · US Too many adds even when you pay: I paid for a sound and still get adds which is really annoying.
  14. [R62] White Noise 3/5 · GB App is completely inaccessible when trying to record a your own sound using VoiceOver.: The app is brilliant aside from one really annoying problem! When using VoiceOver to read the screen, you cannot record your own sounds as it is completely inaccessible so is therefore useless to a blind person. It’s even more infuriating being as I’ve bought the app. And if a user is paying for the premium fe
  15. [R18] Bedtime Fan 5/5 · US Amazing: I love how you don’t have to pay for a subscription I use this every night
  16. [R45] Bedtime Fan 5/5 · US Perfect sleep: This app just in its Basic form is the best sleep app I’ve found yet. I’ve been using sleep machines since they were first sold at Sharper Image for hundred’s of dollars. This app is free and offers better sleep than I’ve had in years! Keep up the Good work
  17. [R11] Bedtime Fan 1/5 · US App is great beware of X ads: I’m disappointed that the ads were explicit and inappropriate for the free version. The app fan is a great resource but I can’t believe the ads they had visible to anyone.
  18. [R17] Bedtime Fan 1/5 · US Naked women ads: Unfortunately this app has naked women ads at the bottom of the fan. I do not appreciate this. I downloaded a fan app to have fan noise, not see naked women.
  19. [R52] White Noise 5/5 · GB The best: I’ve tried a few apps in the ambient noise space and this is my go to. Loads of choice, a fair price, and good design
  20. [R82] White Noise 5/5 · GB Awesome App: I downloaded the free version which is fantastic ( it’s so good it shouldn’t be free!) it does exactly what it says on the tin. Was so impressed I paid 0.99 for the upgrade. Many thanks nice app
  21. [R86] White Noise 5/5 · GB Well worth £0.99: No subscription required. Great range of approx 30 noises for a solid sleep. Loving waking up to the sound of beach waves. Clock function means I can finally get rid of my prehistoric bedside clock
  22. [R93] White Noise 5/5 · GB Still using after 8 years - very good: I bought this years ago and it has been the best value app ever. Works great - thank you so much.
  23. [R70] White Noise 5/5 · GB Brilliant app, love the choices and only one my son responds to: Used it for my son and currently the mix I made for him has almost 2 years of playback!
  24. [R75] White Noise 5/5 · GB Perfect Mixes: Allowed me to create the exact mix of sounds I find the most relaxing for sleeping with a couple of easy downloads from the great selection on the Market. Being able to fade in a mix as a gentle wake up is a feature I didn’t know I needed but I’d now indispensable. Worth every penny.
  25. [R77] White Noise 5/5 · GB Fantastic white noise app: I love this app. So many sounds available, I can create endless mixes so easily, add my own sounds…what else can one ask for? Thank you 😊
  26. [R85] White Noise 5/5 · GB User uploads makes this the no1 best white noise app there is: Off the bat this app has a huge range of sounds, all of which you can already customise and mix. However with the addition of user uploads there are literally infinite sounds to play around with. I have about 20 fan sounds and 20 shower sounds each and no other white noise app could do that for me. Been using this app for over 5 years
  27. [R63] White Noise 1/5 · GB Apple Watch app: It does not appear to work independently from a phone, even with Bluetooth headphones connected to the watch. Any sounds played gets played through a phone. Spotify have got it right.

Synthesized from 100 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store