9 Best Sleep Hypnosis Apps For Insomnia
| App Name | Best For | Key Features | AC Rating | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life7 | Overall Mental Wellness & Sleep | Dream Wave Hypnosis, binaural beats, Solfeggio frequencies, sleep stories | 4.8/5 | Free trial, monthly/yearly subscriptions |
| Reveri | Science-Backed Self-Hypnosis | AI-guided sessions, Stanford research, interactive hypnotherapy | 4.5/5 | Subscription required |
| BetterSleep | Customizable Sleep Sounds | Sound mixing, 300+ sounds, sleep tracking, SleepTales | 4.6/5 | Free version, premium subscription |
| Calm | Celebrity Sleep Stories | 500+ sleep stories, breathing exercises, soundscapes | 4.4/5 | Free trial, yearly subscription |
| Headspace | Guided Meditation for Sleep | Sleepcasts, wind-down exercises, CBT techniques | 4.4/5 | Free trial, monthly/yearly options |
| Relax & Sleep Well | Professional Hypnotherapy | Glenn Harrold sessions, Solfeggio meditation, 140+ recordings | 4.5/5 | Free sessions, in-app purchases |
| HypnoBox | Customizable Hypnosis Sessions | 600+ audio suggestions, session builder, offline access | 4.3/5 | Free tier, subscription options |
| Aura Health | Personalized AI Recommendations | 15,000+ tracks, CBT, hypnosis, life coaching | 4.4/5 | Free trial, yearly subscription |
| Pzizz | Unique Dreamscapes | Patented audio mixing, 100B+ sequences, focus module | 4.3/5 | Free version, Pro subscription |
#1. Life7 – Best for Overall Mental Wellness & Sleep
Life7 stands out as an all-in-one mental wellness app that goes far beyond basic sleep help. I found this app to be incredibly complete. It combines sleep hypnosis with over a dozen other wellness tools all in one place.
The app offers Dream Wave Hypnosis sessions that are truly unique. These combine with delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma wave music to help your brain relax. You also get pure binaural beats, isochronic tones, and healing frequencies like 432 Hz and 528 Hz Solfeggio tones.
Key Features:
- Hypnotherapy sessions combined with breathing exercises and nervous system reset tools
- Green, white, brown, and pink noise with Backdrop Mode to mix soundscapes
- Daily sessions including meditation, music therapy, and wisdom content with progress tracking
What I like: Life7 truly delivers on its promise of being an all-in-one app. I love how it combines sleep stories for adults and kids with powerful affirmations and CBT techniques. The guided lucid dreaming sessions are something I haven’t seen anywhere else. The 8D sleep audio feels like it wraps around your head in the most soothing way. The gamified approach keeps me coming back with XP points and streak tracking. With 312 million meditation minutes and 1200+ editorial mentions, this app clearly works for many people.
What I don’t like: The free content is a bit limited. You’ll want to upgrade to premium pretty quickly to unlock all the good stuff. But they do offer a 7-day free trial and frequent special offers to make it easier.
Pricing: 7-day free trial available. Weekly, monthly, and yearly subscription plans with special offers.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#2. Reveri – Best for Science-Backed Self-Hypnosis
Reveri brings real clinical science to sleep hypnosis. Dr. David Spiegel, Associate Chair of Psychiatry at Stanford School of Medicine, created this app based on more than 45 years of clinical experience. That’s serious credentials!
The app uses AI-guided self-hypnosis that’s personalized to your brain style. Sessions are short but powerful. Most people see results in just 10 minutes.
Key Features:
- Interactive sessions that respond to your voice in real-time
- Sessions for sleep, stress, pain, focus, and habit change
- Every session is personalized to your goals
What I like: The results speak for themselves. Users report that 84% feel less stressed after one session and 93% feel more focused. I appreciate that this isn’t just another relaxation app. The app offers guided hypnosis sessions that leverage Dr. Spiegel’s hypnosis techniques and clinical research. The interactive mode feels like having a real hypnotherapist in the room with you.
What I don’t like: Some users find Dr. Spiegel’s voice style takes getting used to. A few reviewers mentioned the pace can feel off-putting at first. Also, you need a paid subscription for full access.
Pricing: Subscription required for full access. Free trial available.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#3. BetterSleep – Best for Customizable Sleep Sounds
BetterSleep has helped over 65 million people sleep better. That’s a massive number! The app focuses on giving you total control over your sleep soundscape.
One of BetterSleep’s more unique features is the ability to mix different sound types to create your perfect sleep soundscape. You can layer green noise over delta waves and add rain sounds. It’s like being your own sound engineer.
Key Features:
- Over 300 sleep sounds and music tracks including nature, ASMR, and binaural beats
- Over 250 meditations and hypnosis sessions
- Sleep tracker, sleep recorder, and sleep science insights
What I like: The app includes guided meditations and longer sleep hypnosis tracks that really work. 91% of listeners say they slept better after using the app for just one week. I love the SleepTales feature. These are bedtime stories in different genres that help you drift off. The sleep recorder is cool too. You can hear if you snore or talk in your sleep!
What I don’t like: The app doesn’t keep a record of your night sleep for more than seven days. Also, a lot of sounds that were free are now premium. The free version feels limited compared to what it used to be.
Pricing: Free download with limited features. Monthly or yearly subscription for premium access.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#4. Calm – Best for Celebrity Sleep Stories
Calm is probably the most famous sleep app out there. Calm is the number one mental health app designed to help you manage stress, sleep better, and live a healthier life.
The sleep stories are the star attraction here. Famous voices like Matthew McConaughey, Harry Styles, and Jennifer Garner read you bedtime stories. It sounds silly, but it works!
Key Features:
- Over 500 Sleep Stories narrated by celebrities and storytellers
- More than 90 soundscape tracks including white noise and brown noise
- Breathing exercises and daily meditation programs
What I like: The production quality is amazing. App users say the sleep stories are one of the most helpful features. Many reviewers say they fall asleep before the story ends, usually within 5 to 10 minutes. The interface is beautiful and calming from the moment you open it. I also appreciate the mood check-in feature that helps you track how you’re feeling.
What I don’t like: The biggest downside to Calm is the pricing. The expensive subscription cost might be a barrier for some people. Some reviewers note there are many alternatives available at a lower price than Calm.
Pricing: Free trial available. Costs $16.99 monthly or $79.99 annually.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#5. Headspace – Best for Guided Meditation for Sleep
Headspace was founded in 2010 with the mission to revolutionize mental health for humanity. It’s one of the most trusted names in meditation and sleep.
While not purely a hypnosis app, Headspace uses many similar techniques. Their sleepcasts are especially good. These are long audio journeys that transport you to relaxing places.
Key Features:
- Over 1,000 guided meditations and expert-led exercises
- Sleepcasts that are 45 to 55 minutes featuring audio tours of fictional realms
- Sleep radio with over 8 hours of rain, ocean, or music sounds
What I like: Headspace is proven to increase happiness and reduce stress in just 10 days. The app is very structured and great for beginners. Just 2 weeks of Headspace reduces anxiety. I love the wind-down meditations and the SOS sessions for when you wake up at 3 AM. The kid’s content is also excellent if you have little ones who struggle with sleep.
What I don’t like: The monthly subscription is higher than other meditation apps. Some users report finding the app repetitive at times. It’s more focused on meditation than true hypnosis.
Pricing: $12.99 per month or $69.99 yearly subscription. Free 14-day trial available.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#6. Relax & Sleep Well – Best for Professional Hypnotherapy
Relax and Sleep Well by Glenn Harrold was placed first in Healthline’s list of the Best Insomnia Apps. Glenn Harrold is one of the world’s most successful hypnotherapists.
The app has helped well over 4 million people to meditate and sleep well every night. This is real hypnotherapy from a true professional.
Key Features:
- A full 29-minute hypnotherapy session for deep relaxation included free
- Over 140 in-app tracks covering sleep, anxiety, confidence, and more
- Solfeggio frequency meditations based on ancient healing scales
What I like: Glenn’s recordings have sold over 10 million copies and he has 20 years of hypnotherapy experience. You can really tell the difference with a professional. Every session is a professionally recorded studio production. The stereo-echoed affirmations that pan from ear to ear create a deeply hypnotic experience. The free content is actually useful, not just a teaser.
What I don’t like: The app has only one hypnotherapist to choose from. If Glenn’s voice doesn’t work for you, there’s no alternative. The interface looks a bit dated compared to newer apps.
Pricing: Several free sessions included. Individual sessions and subscriptions available as in-app purchases.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#7. HypnoBox – Best for Customizable Hypnosis Sessions
HypnoBox was voted Best Hypnosis App of 2023 by verywellmind.com. What makes it special is how much you can customize your experience.
HypnoBox has 600 unique audio suggestions to choose from and allows you to choose between a male or female voice. You can even build your own hypnosis sessions!
Key Features:
- Session builder with different induction, deepening, suggestion, and awakening options
- Import and record your own audio for ultimate flexibility
- Works offline so you can access sessions anywhere
What I like: The ability to customize your sessions empowers you to create scripts that work for you, which is tremendously important in all self-hypnosis. I love being able to pick different voice options and sound effects. Bernhard Tewes, the creator and male voice of HypnoBox, is a renowned hypnotherapist based in Berlin. The quality shows.
What I don’t like: The sheer number of options can feel overwhelming when you first start. It takes some time to learn how to build effective custom sessions. The interface could be more intuitive.
Pricing: Free tier with limited sessions. Subscription for full access.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#8. Aura Health – Best for Personalized AI Recommendations
Aura is an all-in-one app that offers daily meditations, CBT, hypnosis on subjects like better sleep, stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and more. The AI personalization sets it apart.
Aura has over 15,000 pieces of content with new recordings added weekly by over 300 of the world’s best hypnotherapists and coaches. That’s an incredible library!
Key Features:
- AI-powered personalization that learns what works best for you
- Thousands of meditations, sleep tracks, CBT sessions, life coaching, and hypnosis
- Content from hundreds of top coaches, therapists, and storytellers
What I like: The hypnosis tracks on Aura are amazing. There are dozens, maybe hundreds, to choose from. The personalization really works. With a community of 7 million users and a 98% user satisfaction rate, the app is clearly doing something right. I appreciate having so many different voices and styles to explore until you find what clicks for you.
What I don’t like: The cost is a downside for some users. The free trial only lasts for seven days and the free version is limited. Some users report frustrating experiences with billing and refunds.
Pricing: Free version available. Premium subscription around $59.99 per year.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#9. Pzizz – Best for Unique Dreamscapes
Pzizz has gained seriously high profile fans including celebrities, elite athletes, and even the late Steve Jobs. J.K. Rowling and NBA players use this app too!
Pzizz combines human composed, algorithmically remixed sounds to optimize getting you to sleep, keeping you asleep, and waking you up refreshed. The variety is incredible.
Key Features:
- Over 100 billion unique sound sequences so it’s never the same twice
- Sleep, Nap, and Focus modules for different needs
- Combines psychoacoustics, clinical sleep hypnosis, and personalization algorithms
What I like: The dreamscapes offered by Pzizz are astonishingly effective. Their immersive nature draws you in so you can’t help but start to feel more relaxed. I love that it creates a unique experience every time. This ensures your brain doesn’t get fatigued from hearing the same things over and over. The nap feature is perfect for power naps.
What I don’t like: The claim of being clinically proven to help you sleep may be overblown based on limited studies. Some users report occasional audio glitches. The science claims might be stronger than the evidence supports.
Pricing: Free version with classic features. Pro subscription at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
Platforms: iOS and Android
Do Sleep Hypnosis Apps Really Work for Insomnia?
Yes, sleep hypnosis apps can genuinely help with insomnia for many people. A review of 139 studies on the effects of hypnosis for better sleep found that the majority showed positive results with no side effects. The key is finding the right app and style that works for you.
Sleep hypnosis works by guiding your mind into a deeply relaxed state. This helps quiet racing thoughts that often keep insomniacs awake. The apps use techniques like progressive relaxation, guided imagery, and soothing voice cues.
However, results vary from person to person. More than half of reviewed research showed that patients had positive outcomes. A few had mixed results and less than one-third showed no benefits. Give any app at least a week of consistent use before deciding if it works for you.
Are Sleep Hypnosis Apps Safe to Use Every Night?
Sleep hypnosis apps are very safe for nightly use. Unlike sleep medications, there are no side effects or dependency risks. Self-hypnosis is very safe for most individuals as long as it’s done with the help of a licensed clinical hypnotherapist. Most apps are created by certified professionals.
You remain in control throughout the session. Despite what movies show, hypnosis is not mind control. Some individuals mistakenly believe that hypnosis is a loss of control. In reality, hypnosis is a means of increasing your control over your mind and body.
Using these apps nightly can actually help build better sleep habits over time. Your brain learns to associate the session with sleep. Many users report that falling asleep becomes easier the more consistently they use their app.
How Long Does It Take for Sleep Hypnosis to Start Working?
Most people notice some effect on their very first night. After just one Reveri session, users report significant improvements. However, the full benefits usually build over time with regular use.
For best results, try using your chosen app every night for at least one to two weeks. 91% of BetterSleep listeners say they slept better after using the app for just one week. Your brain gets better at responding to the hypnotic cues with practice.
Some people fall asleep before the session even ends on night one. Others need a few nights to get comfortable with the process. Don’t give up if the first session doesn’t knock you out. Stick with it and you’ll likely see improvement. The consistency matters more than any single session.