Verdict
White Noise has a loyal long-term following for its simple sound library and timer options, but a recurring thread of crash reports over the years suggests reliability hasn't been fully nailed down.
Best for
Someone who wants a straightforward sleep-sound app with timers and multiple options, and who's tolerant of occasionally reinstalling it if it acts up.
Dealbreaker
Some users report the app crashing or stopping playback mid-session, an issue that reviewers say has persisted for years despite reinstalls.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand.
Price
$0.99 once
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone, iPad
Rating
4.8★ (46,254)
Version
9.0
Last updated
Oct 23, 2026
Released
Jan 31, 2019
Attributes
Native appOne-time purchaseNo subscription
Category
Health & Fitness, Lifestyle
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Praised for
Ease of use and design8 reviews
Timer and session length2 reviews
Subscription pricing and paywalls2 reviews
Complained about
Crashes and stability6 reviews
Battery and performance2 reviews
Where this comes from
8 of 200 recent reviews raised: Ease of use and designApp Store reviews ›
6 of 200 recent reviews raised: Crashes and stabilityApp Store reviews ›
2 of 200 recent reviews raised: Timer and session lengthApp Store reviews ›
2 of 200 recent reviews raised: Battery and performanceApp Store reviews ›
Listed at $0.99 once on the App StoreApp Store listing ›
Where we recommend it
Sleep sound apps you buy once ›White noise and sleep sound apps that charge once, each with its catch.
Alternatives with the same rule.
Every app here is a single purchase. None of them can start charging you monthly for what you already bought. Also with a catch.
$3.99 once · 4.7★ (3,000) · Updated Feb 14, 2021
Verdict. A no-frills white noise app with a wide sound library and simple controls, praised for smooth looping and easy customization. A small number of reviewers report crashes or trouble opening it, which is worth noting given how few complaints exist overall.
Best for. Someone who wants to mix and layer ambient sounds for sleep without dealing with a subscription or a cluttered interface.
Dealbreaker. A handful of users report the app crashing or failing to open, so it's not flawless on stability.
$2.99 once · 4.7★ (1,968) · Updated Jan 26, 2021
Verdict. Reviewers praise the sound quality and simple interface, and a few note it's easy on battery life overnight. The review set is thin beyond that, so it's hard to say much about edge cases or long-term reliability.
Best for. Someone who wants a straightforward, no-frills sleep sounds app with a clean set of nature recordings and doesn't need alarm features.
Dealbreaker. At least one reviewer wanted to use these sounds as a morning alarm and couldn't, so this isn't built for that use case.
$59.99 once · 4.8★ (3,043) · Updated Oct 7, 2026
Verdict. Reviewers like the sound quality and describe it as easy to navigate, with several calling it worth the money — though some of those value comments reference a far lower price than what it charges now, which undercuts the value claims for a buyer today.
Best for. Someone who wants a large, high-fidelity library of ambient recordings for relaxation on an iPhone or iPad, rather than a handful of generic white-noise loops.
Dealbreaker. Several of the reviews praising it as good value cite a price much lower than what it currently costs, so the value case reviewers make doesn't hold at today's price.