'The amount of hours you sleep at night is important, but also the quality of that sleep is significant too.'

'Sleep is essential to every bodily process and affects everything from our immunity and metabolism to chronic disease risk and mental health,' says Sassos. If you've ever had trouble shutting down your mind right before bed, a sleep app can be a useful tool to help you relax and fall asleep faster. Whether you want to drift off to the sweet sounds of nature, white noise or a bedtime story, download one of these apps that really work to help you get the slumber you so desperately need. To determine the best sleep apps to help you fall (and stay!) asleep, we sourced feedback from real consumers, spoke with medical professionals and had our own Media & Tech Lab experts share the most effective sleep-focused apps they've tested for iPhones and Androids. The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have been hands-on testing sleep essentials for decades, from the best pillows to top-performing alarm clocks.

Whether you enjoy guided meditation facilitated by experts or would rather say goodnight while listening to soothing sounds or stories, the best sleep apps will help calm your mind and ease any anxiety right before you put your phone down for the evening. 'Meditating and reading can be great tools for many, but some people may prefer utilizing a sleep app that assists with the process,' says wellness expert and Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab deputy director Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.S.O., C.D.N., NASM-CPT. Taking time to unwind with a relaxing bedtime routine is important for optimizing sleep quality, but quieting your mind at the end of the day is often easier said than done - and what works for one person may not work for another.

If you're feeling extra restless lately, you're not alone: More than five million Americans have issues getting to sleep each night, according to a study from Iowa State University. This story was updated in October 2022 to reflect the latest subscription pricing for our top picks, vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute.

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