So you bought yourself an Apple Watch to keep track of your health, congratulations! Now, you just need to find the right app to record your sleeping patterns because as we all know, sleep is just important as your diet and exercise habits. Prior to the Apple Watch, there haven’t been very many convenient, easy to use devices on the market that track a person’s REM cycles or whether or not they slept soundly, or tossed and turned all night. Some apps provide an analysis of the evening for people who snore loudly.
Always start with a free tracker and avoid the ones that require purchases right off the bat. At the very least, use the trial period to decide if you like it first; you can figure out what you do and don’t want in your app before you end up wasting money on something that didn’t work out in the long run.
Best Sleep App for Apple Watch – Our Top Picks!
Auto Sleep Tracker for Apple Watch
Photo Credit: App Store
When looking for a sleep app, you’ll want something that gives you a variety of different information. The Auto Sleep Tracker is both inexpensive and detailed in just about every aspect of your sleep. It starts tracking your rest as soon as you go to bed, and if you don’t want to wear it while you sleep you can always set it to track on your nightstand as it charges. For those who want a more accurate reading, you’ll be pleased to know that this tracker records your restlessness, your resting heart rate, time slept, and a full report on your overall activity throughout the night. The Auto Sleep Tracker is an excellent tool for anyone who works nights or travels across country for their job and constantly find themselves in a different time zone.
Pros:
- Sleep tracking is automatic, no buttons needed
- Includes heart rate tracking
- Battery lasts for a full day without needed to be charged when using this app
Cons:
- Doesn’t provide alarms or wake up notifications
This app is available in English, German, Japanese, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Swedish, Turkish, Dutch, and Portugese. There aren’t very many cons for this app because the company frequently updates and corrects any problems or glitches that arise. You can use it long term and never have to spend another dime on sleep trackers or sleep watches ever again. Get a quality 8 hours with the Auto Sleep Tracker for Apple Watch, it’s perfect for anyone who is serious about setting goals for new sleep habits.
Sleep++ for Apple Watch
Photo Credit: App Store
If you want an app with simple, easy to read results, try the Sleep++ for a detailed outlook on how the entire night went. The simplistic design offers a series of blue meters that make it easy to view your sleep progress. There’s no complicated set of instructions to follow, just turn your Sleep++ tracker on before you hit the sheets and let the app do the rest for you. Some sleep apps seem to have quite a few issues regarding stop and start times of your sleep, however this one remains accurate and reliable no matter how much you toss and turn. While you do have to start this one up yourself, at least you’ll know for sure that the statistics on point.
Pros:
- Won’t disengage due to restless sleep patterns
- Accurate readings on sleep times
Cons:
- Small inconsistencies with restfulness levels
- Has to be started manually
You can easily sync the information from you app with your phone or laptop as well so that data from days to weeks to months before don’t get lost. If your sleeping patterns change at some point, you might wonder where you went wrong. Well, just have a look at older sleep logs and see if there is a specific time that change occurred; you just might be able to pinpoint the exact event that’s keeping you awake at night.
Pillow Sleep Tracker for Apple Watch
Photo Credit: Neybox
If you like side by side, comparable statistics, try downloading the Pillow sleep tracker and see what you think! This one provides you with Rapid Eye Movement cycles, how much time you actually spent awake while you were trying to sleep, and a special feature that picks up any sound or noise that disturbs your rest. One thing that you won’t see very often with other sleep apps is a feature for napping! We all start to get tired after a long day, if you’re waking up at 5am to exercise, get the kids to school, and get to work, you’re probably pretty exhausted when you get home. A 90 minute nap is equivalent to one sleep cycle, so set your timer on the Pillow sleep tracking app and give yourself a little break before it’s time to make dinner and check homework. You can select from any of the 3 different nap modes that this awesome and versatile app has to offer.
Pros:
- Tracks noise that may interrupt your normal sleep cycle
- Includes an alarm clock to wake you up on time
Cons:
- New update for automatic sleep mode isn’t working properly
- May not recognize all your movements through the night
Sleeping through the night is great, but taking naps is probably the highlight of a working adult’s day if you’re even able to take one. Doing so will help your body recover faster, improve your mental focus, and give you more stamina. Although there have been some kinks with the new automatic tracking feature, the company has been working toward improvements. The Sleep++ has improved with the accuracy of restlessness, initially it may have shown that you slept longer than you actually did. Now you’ll be able to see the exact times you woke up.
Sleep Watch by Bodymatter for Apple Watch
Photo Credit:App Store
With a colorful and meticulous display, the Sleep Watch app is a useful tool for anyone who likes to take in their data visually. Unlike the Sleep++ each feature has its own description and goal. New parents have an especially hard time getting any rest when they’ve got a newborn infant on their hands. Between feedings, diaper changes, and just plain crying for no reason (the baby cries sometimes too), there are definitely tough times ahead. At least with the Sleep Watch app you can keep your sanity by having a solid count of how many hours of sleep you got, versus what you still need. This app will help you take better care of yourself, thereby being a better parent to take care of your baby.
Pros:
- You can add notes to your times that explain what woke you up
- Doesn’t fail or crash throughout the night
Cons:
- Has had accuracy issues in the past, however the company has worked to fix the problem.
- Requires iOS 10.0 or later
This is an auto sleep tracking app, so depending on how much you move during the night you may need to adjust the sensitivity levels. Apps that have high sensitivity may turn off and on if you raise your arm in your sleep or move around a lot. One feature that makes this particular app unique are the follow up questions. While some sleep trackers allow you to take notes, this one might just ask some questions that you hadn’t thought of at first.
SnoreLab for Apple Watch
Photo Credit:App Store
The SnoreLab app is a whole different beast compared to the rest. Snoring can be a sign of bigger health issues, and it can affect the oxygen levels in your body, leaving your red blood cells gasping for air as a result. This app is supported and recommend by doctors for their patients as a tool to help measure the severity of the problem and treat it accordingly. The SnoreLab records your snoring and offers solutions to resolve it; you’ll be able to play back the recording as well and see where it ranks on a scale of quiet, light, loud, or epic. Another awesome feature this app provides is the ability to select a different solution each night, for example if you’re using a wedge pillow and a chin strap for the evening, just select those options. The SnoreLab will tell you whether or not the remedies you’ve chosen worked, and whether or not you should continue using them to address the issue.
Pros:
- Provides trending data, so you can see the progress of your snoring over days, weeks or months
- If you talk in your sleep, the SnoreLab app will be able to pick it up while recording
Cons:
- Free version doesn’t offer very many features, difficult to test it out without signing up for a trial
- Trial period is only 5 days
So the free version isn’t the best, but like anything else in the world you get what you pay for. The paid version offers so many things that will help you get snoring under control. If you have a spouse, I’ll bet your snoring disturbs them; use the SnoreLab to improve sleep for the both of you. That term “happy wife, happy life” works both ways, so ladies feel free to download it to your apple watch as well. Make sure that you initiate the updates whenever they appear, or the app could start to behave abnormally.
Sleep Cycle for Apple Watch
Photo Credit:9to5mac
With a built-in alarm clock and snore stopping wake up tools, you can’t go wrong with the Sleep Cycle app. Like the SnoreLab, this app is able to record and analyze the quality of your sleep just based off how much noise you make while you’re snoring! The “silent alarm” gives off a gentle vibration that doesn’t wake you up, but instead alerts your body of the need to change positions. So, if you snore loudly when you lie on your back, the sensation of your wrist watch vibrating will subconsciously cause you to turn over onto your side and eliminate the snoring until you roll over again.
Another great thing about Sleep Cycle is that it tracks your heart rate throughout the night as well, so you can compare your heartbeat to the extent of your snoring. The alarm that does wake you up, is set to decide when the best time would be to do so. In case you didn’t know, 90 minutes is equal to one full sleep cycle; so if you’re 60 minutes into a cycle and wake up in the middle of it, you might find that you don’t feel rested. Allowing your body to finish a full cycle will help to eliminate that onset of dragging and grogginess that is accompanied by waking up before your body is even ready.
Pros:
- Wake-up alarm analyzes your sleep cycle and wakes you up accordingly
- Heart rate monitor tracks through the night
- Silent snore alarm helps to reduce your snoring
Cons:
- Quickly drains battery on your Apple Watch
- Data can be affected by movement from your spouse or pets sleeping in the bed with you
While there are a few small drawbacks to the Sleep Cycle app, it works as it was designed to, and will most certainly help you reduce your snoring. In turn, this will help you and others in your home sleep better at night.
Rain Rain Sleep Sound for Apple Watch
Photo Credit:App Store
So, some of us need an extremely detailed report of everything that happened during the night as we slept. On the other hand, some of us just need help falling asleep in general. When you have insomnia, it’s easy to go days without sleeping, and this creates harmful effects in your body. Sleeping is not just “juice” for your internal batteries. It helps your brain and other organs repair and recuperate from the daily damage that your body endures throughout the day. The Rain Rain Sleep Sound app is just the thing for anyone who finds themselves tossing and turning until 4 in the morning, before they give up on sleeping altogether.
Pros:
- Works for yoga and meditation as well
- Excellent tool for those who live in dry climates, but enjoy the sound of rain and thunder during the evening
Cons:
- Issues with updating to the full version after you’ve already paid
- Sound doesn’t play very long for people who have the free version, requires upgrade
While the Rain Rain Sleep Sound app doesn’t include detailed information like REM cycles and movement detection, it does help you get to sleep. This app has been a favorite for insomniacs for almost 6 years now, so of course it’s gone through some upgrades and changes in order to improve. If you decide to purchase the full version, and notice glitches or other strange issues, just contact the company through the app store. Like most app technologies, problems can be fixed as long as you communicate them to the makers. So, turn up the thunder and bring on the rain, because you need your rest in order to function at full capacity and take on the challenges of the day!
White Noise Lite for Apple Watch
Photo Credit:App Store
The White Noise Lite app isn’t just for adults, it can also be used for kids, adults and even to help soothe a crying infant. Some of us fall asleep a little bit more easily with certain sounds including music, the light sound of television, thunder and rain. Block out other distracting noises and choose from a catalog of 40 plus unique sounds including beach waves, the pur of a cat, wind blowing, and so many more. Other sleep sound apps only provide you with a few common options that you find on Youtube or other streaming sites. Use the White Noise Lite app for your Apple Watch
Pros:
- Includes a large variety of sounds rather than just one or two basic noises
- Excellent for children who have a hard time getting to sleep due to fear of the dark, etc.
Cons:
- Occasional glitch that causes sounds to get “stuck,” just restart the app to fix the problem
If you want a simple sleep app with great features, I would highly recommend this one!
Beddit for Apple Watch
Photo Credit:App Store
Another awesome, free app for sleeping is the Beddit! This works great for anyone who has an Apple Watch, but doesn’t want to wear it every single night. Some of us love the Apple Watch but don’t enjoy the restricting feeling of having something attached to your wrist all night. Instead, use the Sleep Monitor that comes with the Beddit App, you can easily place it underneath your sheets and fall right to sleep. After a specific time period, your app will automatically screenshot your progress so that you can accurately view changes in your sleeping pattern, without worrying about losing the information due to glitching or system updates.
Pros:
- Hands-free monitor conveniently won’t disturb you under the sheets
- Can be manually turned off and on or automatically
Cons:
- Could pick up motion from your pets or spouse
The Beddit has definitely had some bug issues in the past, but it has vastly improved since its original debut on the Apple Watch market.
Relax and Sleep Well for Apple Watch
Photo Credit:App Store
Last but not least, the Relax and Sleep Well App is another high quality options for insomniacs who are facing too many distractions when it comes to the task of falling asleep. Offering 4 free sessions, this app provides hypnotherapy so that you can focus on sleeping and sleeping alone. Instead of lying awake for hours and hours, thinking about random things that happened during the day or awkward situations you found yourself in during the 8th grade, use the Relax and Sleep Well app to focus solely on the hypnotherapy. I guarantee you’ll find yourself drifting off into a deep slumber, and wake up wondering when you passed out! Sometimes you just need someone to help guide you into a more relaxed state, audio-author Glenn Harrold can assist you on that journey.
Pros:
- Takes a different approach than other white noise apps
- Isn’t complicated or difficult to use, provides more simplicity than other apps
- Still provides quality sleep even though it’s a free app
Cons:
- Some consumers don’t enjoy the sound of Glenn’s voice, either found it disturbing and weird or couldn’t help but laugh
So, the narrator has somewhat of a “funky” sounding voice, which can be unpleasant for some people. However, you’ll see little to no complaints about being able to fall asleep with this app, it does exactly what it’s supposed to and lulls you into a deep slumber.
If you have a baby at home who doesn’t enjoy white noise, music, or nursery rhymes, try playing a hypnotherapy session instead. A baby won’t understand what’s being said, but the calming, relaxing tone that Glenn Harrold provides might just make your job as a parent a little bit easier. Of course, all you need to do is connect it to your Apple Watch if you’d like to use it for yourself!
Final Thoughts
The first app that you pick out might not work as well as you’d hoped, and that’s okay. Sometimes you have to try a few different ones before you settle on an app that provides everything you need when it comes to getting that 8 hours of sleep every night. If you’re still new to your Apple Watch and haven’t quite gotten the hang of it, I’d recommend starting with a free app that has simple features, like one of the white noise options.
Once you get used to it, move on to one of the more advanced options, I personally really like the SnoreLab because of the silent vibration that wakes you up if you start to snore too loud. If you want to look for a sleep app outside of these, make sure that it’s been around for a few years and has a good standing with consumer reviews. You can still try newer apps, just remember that there might be glitches and other issues that haven’t been worked out yet.