7 Best Sound Machines to Lull You to a Deep Sleep
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
If sleepless nights are a constant, try swapping nightly doom-scroll sessions on TikTok with one of the best sound machines for relaxing, subtle soundscapes as you slumber. These ambient noise devices feature all the snooze-inducing background noise you need to fall and stay asleep—because who actually sleeps in a totally silent room?
On top of their comforting noises, these high-tech sleep sound machines also act as your night light and alarm clock. With their soothing sounds and features, these white noise machines are basically the audible equivalent to your weighted blanket—and practically guarantee a one-way ticket to restful deep sleep. With that in mind, scroll ahead for the seven picks we've tried and love.
Best Sound Machine Overall: Hatch Restore 2, $170
Best Fan-Based: Snooz Pro White Noise Machine, $120
Best White Noise Machine: Yogasleep Dohm Original, $50
Best for Travel: ErgoPouch Drift Away Portable White Noise Machine, $55
Best Sound Options: LectroFan High Fidelity White Noise Machine, $50
Best for Babies: Nanit Sound & Light Machine, $100
Best Budget: Homedics SoundSleep, $24
How can white noise improve my sleep routine?
What’s the difference between white, brown, and pink noise?
How we test and review products
Hatch
Why it's worth it: With the Hatch Restore 2’s built-in sunrise alarm clock, you’ll be rising and shining every morning. Even the fussiest sleeper will love this device’s ever-growing list of ambient noises and colored sounds, adjustable light shades, and alarm settings accessible through Hatch Sleep phone app. Through the app, you can also use the Restore 2 as a Bluetooth speaker. You can use the “Rest” and “Rise” buttons for phone-free use, but keep in mind that you can only access settings through the app.
Tester feedback: “I use the Hatch Rest for my baby, but I, an adult, swear by the Hatch Restore 2,” says interim shopping director Deanna Pai. “I now leave my phone out of my room during the night, and I’ve found that the light function makes mornings a little more bearable.”
Sound options: unlimited (via app) | Notable features: Bluetooth-accessible app settings, “Rest” and “Rise” buttons for phone-free use, sunrise alarm
Snooz
Why it's worth it: If the tranquil hum of a fan takes you straight to Sleep City, you’ll love sleeping by the Snooz Pro White Noise Machine. This portable sound machine has a real fan inside to coax you to sleep with the sounds of moving air, without having to turn on your chilly air conditioner. (It’s a total godsend in the winter for that reason alone, by the way.) Download the free Snooz app to control its sleep timer and night light mode.
Sound options: 1 | Notable features: real fan sound, programmable fade-in/fade-out timer, night light
Yogasleep
Why it's worth it: Whether you need to audibly muffle out loud sounds or prefer the sound of steady white noise, grab the original iteration of Yogasleep’s Dohm sleep sound machine. The brand has a proprietary fan-based design that creates Yogasleep’s signature Marpac sound, a soothing stream of white noise that doesn’t cut off in a startling loop.
Sound options: 2 | Notable features: non-looping sound, adjustable tone
ErgoPouch
Why it's worth it: Sure, a lot of the noise devices available happen to be compact, but ErgoPouch’s Drift Away Portable White Noise Machine has a nifty loop that hooks onto just about anything (like, say, a stroller to let your baby sleep as you run errands). The Drift Away emits a soft, loopless stream of white noise and features three light settings to act as a night light for your little one (or yourself).
Sound options: 1 | Notable features: wireless, rechargeable battery, 48-hour battery life, portable, 3 light settings
LectroFan
Why it's worth it: We all want our options, and LectroFan High Fidelity White Noise Machine’s sound catalog is almost as long as a Cheesecake Factory’s menu. It features 20 different types of sounds to choose from that won’t loop—and risk waking you up—in the middle of the night.
Sound options: 20 (10 fan sounds, 10 colored noises) | Notable features: clear sound quality, large sound catalog, non-looping, 60-minute timer
Nanit
Why it's worth it: Nanit’s Sound & Light Machine also happens to be a smart monitor, so it’s the perfect addition to your newborn or baby’s room. As a sound machine, Nanit’s device has 11 built-in sounds and a customizable night light to enhance your (or your children’s) bedroom. It’s not only one of the best white noise machines ever, but it’s also a smart baby monitor and features Cry Detection technology, which alerts parents of when their children need them. This smart device also tracks humidity to make sure your little one’s air isn’t too dry.
Sound options: 11 | Notable features: cry detection, humidity monitor, phone-free options, Google Home-connectable
Homedics
Why it's worth it: If you want a no-frills gadget, we recommend the Homedics SoundSleep white noise sound machine. This travel-friendly device features six different sounds, like classic white noise, crashing ocean waves, and calming summer night nature sounds, to lull you to sleep. Homedics’s device also features a twist knob for adjustable volume control and an alarm with three timer options (15. 30, and 60 minutes).
Sound options: 6 | Notable features: travel-friendly size, built-in timer, adjustable volume control
Ambient noise in general is known for its soothing, relaxing properties—hence its presence in the form of audio-led meditation apps, sound baths, and spa music, to name a few—but, according to the Sleep Foundation, white noise is popular for its combination of all sound frequencies at equal measure. This frequency combination creates a sound similar to a static TV or untuned radio. According to a 2017 study in Frontiers in Neurology, healthy subjects exposed to broadband sounds like white noise enjoyed a 38% reduction in sleep onset latency, or the time it took them to fall asleep. A sub-study also monitored subjects who reported trouble sleeping at home; in those cases, patients reported a subjective increase in sleep quality. The results are in: White or ambient noise can help you sleep.
“Colored” noise is a form of sound therapy that classifies the sound spectrum and contains low frequencies at various volume levels. "The balance of how much energy they have and what the frequency range is is really what changes between those descriptors of pink versus brown versus white," explains Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, Ph.D., a Cowan professor of auditory neuroscience and director at Neuroscience Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. "The differences might have real perceptual consequences but they all have this quality of being kind of boring to the brain and capable of blocking out other sounds."
If white noise sounds too “hissy” for you, pink or brown noise might suit you better. Named after Brownian motion (the random movement of particles in a fluid as they bounce off each other), brown noise is basically the muffled cousin of white noise. The former has a lower frequency and dampened higher frequencies to sound less metallic. Pink noise also has a lower frequency, and, therefore, less hissing, than white noise, but it is slightly louder—imagine the sound of rainfall with a very subtle static noise in the background.
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We are particularly discerning when writing about skin-care devices. This is because of the increased risks and, in many cases, the high price points, that accompany at-home dermatological tools and devices.
Each device undergoes extensive testing and must be approved by a senior member of our beauty team prior to appearing in Allure. Additionally, our editorial team consults board-certified medical professionals regarding the science behind product claims and independently reviews any studies cited by brands. Testers consider performance across four primary categories: efficacy, safety (including ease of use), research and the science behind specific claims, as well as product value. To learn more information on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Don't snooze on these sleep-enhancing finds:
Our Favorite Silk Pillowcases for Silky-Smooth Skin and Hair
The Best Cooling Sheets for Menopause (And Generally Sweaty People)
These Comfy Mattresses Are Oh-So Worth the Investment
Now, watch pop star Tyla get ready for her first-ever Met Gala:
Shop all of our latest obsessions in one place! And don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok—or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty.
……Fashion International
One-stop lifestyle app dedicated to making life in Singapore a breeze!
English
简体中文
Comments
Leave a comment in Nestia App