Why water sounds work
Moving water is noise made by nature: countless small splashes blending into one steady sound. Surf and heavy rain spread their energy across the whole range like pink noise; a waterfall or a rushing river leans low like brown noise. Either way, the steady wash covers sudden sounds that would otherwise wake you.
Ocean, rain or waterfall?
Ocean Waves has a slow rhythm, swells that rise and fall slower than breathing. It's the most soothing to listen to and a little less even as a mask. Gentle Rain is the opposite: very even, with no rhythm at all. For heavy masking, Rain & Rolling Thunder is a full downpour.
Looking for waterfall or river sounds? We don't have a waterfall recording, and we'd rather say so. The closest thing is Brown Noise: its deep, rushing roar is what a waterfall sounds like from a little way off. Layer it under rain in the app and you're most of the way to a river at night.
Water sounds all night
On a phone, browser audio usually stops when the screen locks. The Sleepy Noise app plays water sounds all night with the screen off, works offline, and fades back in after calls and alarms. Ocean Waves, Gentle Rain and Brown Noise are free in the app; Soft Rainfall and the storm recordings come with Lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
What water sound is best for sleep?
Gentle rain is the most even and masks noise well. Ocean waves have a slower rhythm that many people find more relaxing. Try both for a few nights.
Do you have waterfall sounds?
Not a recording. Brown noise sounds very close to a distant waterfall, and layering it under rain in the app gets close to a river.
Are the ocean sounds real?
Yes. Ocean Waves is a five-minute recording of natural swells, crossfaded into a random point each pass so it never audibly loops.
