Sleep as Android is the best fit here if you want sleep tracking and a configurable alarm. Choose BetterSleep for mixing background sounds, Calm for bedtime stories, Headspace for guided wind-down exercises, or Pzizz for timed sleep and nap audio. They solve different problems: playing a relaxing story is not the same as measuring sleep.
Hands-on use: Muhammad Abdullah personally tried and tested the apps covered in this guide. The five recommendations below explain who each one suits, its costs and its trade-offs. Runtastic Sleep Better is discussed separately for readers who remember that older app.
In this guide
Which Android sleep app should you choose?
| App | Best for | Cost model | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep as Android | Tracking and alarm control | Free download and limited free use; paid upgrade | More setup than a simple audio player |
| BetterSleep | Custom sound mixes | Trial offers; paid access for the full library | Not a broadly free sound library |
| Calm | Sleep Stories and bedtime listening | Free selection; Premium for the full catalog | Choose it for audio, not sleep-stage analysis |
| Headspace | Guided wind-down routines | Trial; subscription for continued full access | Poor value if you only want a basic noise loop |
| Pzizz | Timed sleep and nap soundscapes | Free Classic content; paid Pro | No sleep-stage tracking |
Start with one goal: winding down, listening to background sound, or keeping a record of your nights. A subscription is only useful if its extra content or features suit that goal. Trial length, prices and availability can differ by account and region, so check the offer shown before agreeing to renewal.
Treat consumer sleep scores as estimates, not a diagnosis. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises that consumer sleep technology should not replace a medical evaluation. If sleep problems persist or daytime sleepiness affects your daily life, speak with a healthcare professional rather than relying on a reassuring app score.
1. BetterSleep: best for custom sleep sounds
Relax Melodies is now BetterSleep. The illustration above shows its earlier branding.
Best for: People who prefer their own mix of rain, fan noise or other background audio to a spoken story.
Cost: Free-trial offers; paid access for the full library and premium features.
BetterSleep, previously called Relax Melodies, is the most flexible sound-mixing choice in this group. You can layer different sounds rather than accept one fixed recording, then save a mix and set a timer. That suits someone who likes rain with a quieter fan sound, for example, but finds a narrator distracting.
It also includes stories, meditations and sleep tracking. Those extras make sense if you want listening and a sleep record in one app; they are less compelling if all you need is a single background sound.
Pros
Customizable sound combinations; saved favorites and timers; several types of bedtime audio in one place.
Cons
The full experience requires payment. A large catalog can mean more browsing at bedtime, and tracking adds permissions and setup that simple playback does not need.
Choose it over Calm if mixing sounds matters more than narrated stories. BetterSleep’s subscription explanation says it moved to a premium model in 2025. Do not subscribe expecting the extensive free library remembered from Relax Melodies; only very limited content remains without paid access.
2. Sleep as Android: best for tracking and alarm control
Best for: Android users who want to follow sleep trends, customize wake-up behavior and connect compatible devices.
Cost: Free download with a premium trial, then limited free use or a paid upgrade.
Sleep as Android is the tracking-first option here. It combines sleep records with a configurable alarm and supports contactless sonar tracking, sound recognition and compatible wearables. Choose it when you want to examine bedtime consistency and wake-up patterns, rather than only play something relaxing.
Its flexibility is also the main complication. Tracking method, phone placement, wearable compatibility and Android background restrictions all matter. A phone alone does not supply every metric shown in the app: measurements such as oxygen saturation require compatible additional hardware.
Pros
Combines tracking and alarms; supports multiple tracking methods and compatible wearables; useful for comparing patterns across nights.
Cons
More setup and permissions than an audio-only app. Free use has limits, and sleep stages or scores should not be treated as clinical measurements.
Test your alarm and chosen tracking mode before depending on them overnight. The Google Play listing currently advertises seven days of premium access followed by freemium use or an upgrade. Check the in-app terms for your account. If you prefer wrist-based tracking, compare compatibility before buying from our Android smartwatch guide.
3. Calm: best for bedtime stories
Best for: Listeners who want narrated stories, music and meditation in the same app.
Cost: Free content is available; Premium supplies the full library.
Calm is the strongest choice here if listening to a story is more appealing than examining a sleep chart. Its Sleep Stories give you something to follow without choosing a lesson or adjusting a sound mixer. Music and guided meditations provide alternatives when you do not want narration.
Try a narrator and a story before subscribing. Voice preference matters more for this use than a large review count, and a familiar recording may be more useful than constantly searching for new content. Calm also supports downloading stories and meditations for offline listening.
Pros
A choice of stories, music and meditation; free sessions let you assess the style; downloads support offline listening.
Cons
The full story and music catalog is paid. Narration can be distracting if you prefer silence, and these listening features do not measure sleep stages.
Choose Calm for listening; choose Sleep as Android for tracking. Calm identifies its free content separately from Premium, with padlocks marking paid sessions. Start with an available free story rather than assuming a trial is required to hear anything.
4. Headspace: best for a guided wind-down routine
Best for: People who want an exercise to follow before bed, alongside sleep audio and daytime meditation.
Cost: Free trial; a subscription is required for continued full-library access.
Headspace is a better fit than a plain noise player when you want someone to guide the transition from activity to rest. Its sleepcasts begin with a wind-down exercise, followed by a narrated setting and background sound. Other sleep content includes music and guided exercises.
That structure is the main reason to choose it over Calm. Calm is an easy starting point for story-led listening, while Headspace suits someone who wants to practice a routine as well. Listen to a sample first: the right voice and pacing are personal preferences.
Pros
Guided wind-downs; sleepcasts blend narration and sound; meditation content can be useful beyond bedtime.
Cons
Full access is subscription-based after the trial. Long narrated sessions will not suit everyone, and it is excessive if you only need a basic fan sound.
Headspace describes sleepcasts as 45- to 55-minute audio experiences. Its free-access guidance distinguishes the trial from ongoing membership. Check whether you will use enough of the library to justify renewing.
5. Pzizz: best for timed sleep and nap audio
Best for: People who want to start an audio session with minimal browsing, including daytime naps.
Cost: Free Classic content; Pro adds the full content and feature set.
Pzizz focuses on soundscapes that combine music, effects and optional narration. It is a good choice when you would rather start a timed session than build a sound mix or choose a bedtime story. Sleep, nap and focus modes serve different listening situations.
Use the voice and music controls to find a balance you like, and set a fade-out timer if you do not want audio playing throughout the session. There is no need to treat the publisher’s stronger sleep claims as a guarantee: this is an audio tool, not a clinical test or a sleep-stage tracker.
Pros
Free Classic option; timed sessions and fade-out controls; separate uses for sleep, naps and focus.
Cons
The full selection requires Pro. The music-and-voice style may not suit you, and it does not provide the overnight tracking analysis offered by Sleep as Android.
The Pzizz FAQ confirms that Classic remains free while Pro is paid. Start with Classic, then consider upgrading only if the additional soundscapes and controls add something you use.
What about Runtastic Sleep Better?
Runtastic Sleep Better is an older sleep-diary app, not one of the five current download recommendations above. A third-party APK archive is not an official Google Play listing, and availability there does not establish current support or compatibility with your phone.
If you already use it, keep a separate copy of any sleep notes you want to retain before changing phones. For a new installation, choose Sleep as Android for tracking or one of the listening apps above for bedtime audio. Do not confuse Runtastic Sleep Better with BetterSleep: they are different products.
Set up your sleep app without disrupting bedtime
Pick the feature you actually need. If you want less silence in the room, begin with sound playback. If you want a record, choose tracking and compare patterns over several nights. Paying for a larger audio catalog does not make tracking more accurate.
Check the alarm before relying on it. Run a short test with the screen locked and your usual Do Not Disturb settings. Confirm the volume and output device, especially if Bluetooth headphones are connected. Review the app’s setup instructions if Android stops playback or tracking in the background.
Keep charging equipment uncovered. Use a stable, ventilated surface and follow your phone manufacturer’s placement instructions. Google’s phone safety guidance warns against charging under bedding or sleeping on a connected device. An app’s tracking instructions should not override your phone’s safety requirements.
Review recording and backup settings. Microphone access is relevant to sound recording, not a requirement you should accept without understanding it. Check whether recordings stay on the phone, whether cloud backup is enabled and how deletion works. Do not assume every app processes all audio locally. Our Android battery-use guide can also help you investigate unusual overnight drain.
Choose content before getting into bed. Save a suitable session, set its timer and put the screen away. You can pair this with activity tools from our fitness-app guide, but an app subscription alone is not a treatment for a sleep disorder.
Frequently asked questions
Which sleep app is best for Android?
Choose Sleep as Android for sleep records and alarm customization. BetterSleep suits custom sound mixes, Calm suits stories, Headspace suits guided wind-downs, and Pzizz suits timed sleep or nap audio. The best choice depends on the feature you will use.
Which of these sleep apps are free?
Pzizz offers free Classic content, Calm has a free selection, and Sleep as Android continues with limited free use after its premium trial. BetterSleep and Headspace require paid access for their full libraries after applicable trials. A free download is not the same as unlimited free use.
Can these apps diagnose insomnia or sleep apnea?
No. Do not use these recommendations or their sleep scores to diagnose or rule out a sleep disorder. Persistent sleep problems or troublesome daytime sleepiness warrant a discussion with a healthcare professional.
Is a smartwatch more accurate than a phone sleep app?
Not automatically. Wearables and phone apps use different sensors and algorithms, and performance varies by product and measurement. Additional sensors do not establish that every sleep-stage estimate is accurate. Choose for convenience and useful trends, not a blanket promise of clinical accuracy.
Is BetterSleep the same app as Runtastic Sleep Better?
No. BetterSleep is the app previously called Relax Melodies. Runtastic Sleep Better is a separate older product and is not one of the current download recommendations in this guide.
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