5 Great Sound Machines That Will Transform Your Sleep (2024)

Of course, even the lowly sound machine has gone high-tech these days. Hatch’s aptly named Restore 2 Sound Machine is the most advanced sound machine we've tested, offering the same features as a traditional device but kicking it up a notch with a handful of other bells and whistles. The Restore 2 model starts with a pleasing design that looks great in any bedroom. It comes with an intuitive button design that makes setting your alarm, hitting snooze, and adjusting volume and brightness easy. Last, and perhaps the best part about the Restore 2, is its boatload of features that can be activated through the Hatch Sleep membership app. Some of those features include light and sound matchups, over 10 sunrise sounds, and over 20 deep sleep sounds.

The Restore 2 is much more expensive than other sound machines on our list, but it also operates in ways unlike your basic sound machine. For example, the Restore 2 uses a built-in ambient light to help take you through your entire sleep in different intensity levels, from bedtime to wake-up. You can use it to unwind with a “sunset” light setting while simultaneously falling asleep to a natural sound, followed by a transition to a white noise during sleep, and then ending with a wake-up light and morning sound. The result is an experience like no other.

Several of us in the office have found the Restore 2 to be a game changer in our sleep routines. Because we live in New York (you know, the city that never sleeps) the Restore 2 has been faced with some seriously tough challenges and has performed solid through it all. The Restore 2 can drown out most loud noise happening outside of an apartment. For those of us who live in areas of low light (light a 2nd floor apartment with a bedroom window that looks directly into the side of a building) we've found the sunrise light features to be helpful when waking up for work.

The Restore 2 comes with a small library of soundscapes, guided meditations, and sleep stories, but the Hatch Sleep membership essentially makes it so you get the full value of your investment. The membership costs $5 per month, which is a minor cost, but any additional membership fee can feel like a burden to some. However, if you're wanting to get serious about your sleep and implement the best sound and light assistance possible, then it's absolutely worth buying the Restore 2. Even now in 2024, there's still nothing like it on the market.

Read more: Best Sleep Trackers

Homedics has long been a favorite brand of ours for its affordable, niche home products, including everything from foot massagers to portable humidifiers. The key word being affordable. The SoundSleep White Noise Sound Machine is no exception, with a starting price under $20. It’s a basic, streamlined design without any bells and whistles. In fact, this sound machine offers only the essentials, including a volume knob, a timer, and just six built-in sounds (White Noise, Thunder, Ocean, Rain, Summer Night, and Brook). It’s incredibly lightweight and compact, making this a decent solution for travel, too. Plus, it runs on wall (AC) or battery power.

There’s not much to this sound machine (it’s the most basic in our roundup) but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If you’re looking for something simple and budget-friendly that gets the job done without an over-the-top design, then is your pick. The overall value you get for what you pay is well worth a look.

Read more: Best Smart Rings

If you’re anything like us, you appreciate simplicity. Adaptive Sound Technologies (AST) keeps it dead simple with the LectroFan Evo—a compact, hexagonal sound machine with a cool throwback to 80s technology. All of the features (power and volume) and the sound library (including fan sounds and white noises) are easily accessible through the buttons on the front. There's no quirky nature sound library here, just 22 total fan and white noises (10 fan sounds, 10 white, pink, and brown noises, and two ocean noises)—all non-looping, so there’s no jarring pause along the way.

If you just can’t sleep without some sort of white noise in your bedroom, but dislike the often quirky, tinny nature sounds of traditional sound machines, this might be the best option for you. We love the easy-to-use design, all accessible through dedicated buttons without having to fiddle with a Bluetooth connection and a finicky companion app. The design is “just right” and, at less than $60, so is the price.

There are cheaper LectroFan sound machines you can buy, but we gravitate towards the Evo mainly due to its better audio quality that produces richer and deeper sounds. The Evo also has: a more appealing physical design, an addition of ocean noises (which do not come with the lower models), and an ability to connect to headphones or speakers. If you're looking for simple, but you don't want to sacrifice on sound quality, then the Evo is your pick.

Read more: Best Sleep Gadgets

Sometimes the hardest place to find a good night’s sleep is on the road. If you’re a light sleeper who can’t sleep, even on vacation, or a road warrior who needs a little snooze assistance while traveling for business, having an ultra-portable sound machine can be a game-changer. Dreamegg’s portable sound machine offers all the standard features of a typical nightstand-style model. As the name implies, it offers 11 sounds, including several white noises (like a vacuum cleaner, shushing, and a generic “white noise”) and natural sounds like the ocean, a babbling brook, and crickets. This model boasts a “lullaby” sound, too, making it another solid option for children’s rooms. But, most importantly for travelers, it’s ultra-compact and lightweight at just 0.35 pounds.

This is easily one of the most versatile sound machines in our roundup. The night light and built-in child lock features make it a great choice for putting in kids’ rooms, while the portable design and USB-C charging mean that it’s perfect for travelers, too.

Read more: Best Travel Pillows

If you value the look of everything that goes into your bedroom just as much as how well it helps you sleep, the Snooz might be for you. The sleek, minimalist aesthetic blends seamlessly into any décor with a look that’s more like a compact Bluetooth speaker than a traditional sound machine. Inside, it’s filled with a working, built-in fan to provide real white noise, rather than a looped, recorded track. The Snooz features 10 levels of customization too, so you can dial in your preferred level of ambient whoosh. An optional companion app unlocks additional features, like a timer, a nightlight, and a remote control.

The Snooz is unlike anything else we tested, but one design note that could sway users away is its need to be plugged in for its power source. Another detail to point out is the Snooz is almost too barebones for some when you consider the $100 price point. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for more of a white noise machine and don’t mind paying a little extra for a stylish design, the Snooz is probably for you.

Discover More Great Sleep Products

Best Smart Home Devices | Best Mattresses in a Box | Best Mattresses for Sex | Best Futon Beds | Men's Health Sleep Awards | Best Pillows | Best Pillows for Neck Pain | Best Bedding | Best Sheets | Best Mattress Toppers for Back Pain