Transform your day for the better by turning on the perfect song or other soothing sounds. Here are some of the best ambient soundscape apps to help you relax, manage anxiety, and wind down for sleep.
Can Playing Ambient Music and Soundscapes Really Help You Relax?
Although the way music and sound affect a person's mood remains something of a mystery, many studies have looked into the stress-reducing benefits of music. In fact, music can lower stress by reducing cortisol levels, and it also decreases feelings of anxiety, worry, and nervousness, as explained in Health Psychology Review. Ambient music, designed to be interesting but unobtrusive, can fill this role well, serving as a chill background sound for almost any activity.
In addition, listening to natural soundscapes may decrease stress and general feelings of annoyance, according to The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. If you can't escape into nature at the moment, then enjoying recordings of natural background sounds may offer some calming benefits.
Download Soundscape Apps to Relax and Ease Stress
Keep calming sounds on hand at all times with these helpful ambient soundscape apps.
1. Endel
3 ImagesEndel is all about creating the ideal soundscape for your needs, using patented technology that can react to your location, time of day, and even heart rate. Whether you’re looking to focus hard or chill out, Endel has something for everyone.
Billed as the sound wellness revolution, Endel features Endless Soundscapes titled Wind Down, Relax, Focus, Move, and Sleep. Each soundscape suits a particular intention. In addition, Timed Scenarios, such as Self Care, Power Nap, and Workout, offer soundscapes generated for these specific tasks.
Select a soundscape, then watch the animated graphics as your curated collection of sound plays. Play around to see how the different soundscapes sit with you.
Available on the App Store, Google Play, Alexa, and a variety of music platforms, Endel is available to use across multiple devices throughout your day. It's perfect for anyone who appreciates personalization and having a particular soundtrack for different situations.
Download: Endel for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)
2. Wild Journey Nature Sounds
3 ImagesA full-service meditation and mindfulness app, Wild Journey Nature Sounds brings the natural world to you in the form of rich soundscapes.
The app's real magic is in its Landscapes, gently animated nature scenes set to soothing background music. Firefly Meadows, Olympic Summit, and the Gold Coast are only a few of the available landscapes.
In addition, a Sleepscapes section lets you mix your own soundscape. Find your favorite mix of crackling campfire sounds or moody rainfall, then set a timer to fall asleep.
3 ImagesLastly, the Experiences section lists a series of meditations focused on improving your sleep, connecting with nature, or even starting the day off positively. AFirst Steps meditation invites you to begin a multi-day meditation practice focused on the natural world. Overall, this app is a great choice for nature lovers who want to bring a little of that outdoor experience everywhere.
Download: Wild Journey Nature Sounds for iOS (Free, subscription available)
3. Portal - Immersive Escapes
3 ImagesExplore the world and enjoy nature sounds at any time, whether you’re falling asleep or waking up to start the day. The Portal app invites you to navigate to gorgeous locations, from Nepal to Switzerland, for an immersive audio and visual experience.
Accessing all the locations requires a subscription, but many portals (and their associated ambient sounds) are free to try. It's a wonderful app for anyone who is a traveler at heart.
If you enjoy this virtual exploration, then check the other ways to virtually experience nature around the world, including EarthCam and AirPano.
Download: Portal - Immersive Escapes for iOS (Free, subscription available)
4. Rain Rain Sleep Sounds
3 ImagesCombine a giant library of sounds you can mix and match to your liking. This vast app contains over 100 high-quality soundscapes, including a crackling fire, ocean waves, and even a purring cat. As the name suggests, the Rain Rain Sleep Sounds app includes an impressive selection of rainstorms and water sounds. But there's also plenty of white noise, some musical selections, and birdsong.
Blend sounds as you like and save mixes of your favorite combinations. For instance, you might blend a thunderstorm with the sound of waves to create a stormy beachside soundscape. You will need a subscription to access all the sounds, but many are free to try on the basic version of the app. It's a great app for anyone who likes having lots of choices.
Download: Rain Rain Sleep Sounds for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)
5. Naturespace: Relax Sleep Dream
3 ImagesExperience holographic sound with Naturespace’s high-quality recordings from natural environments. The app's library recreates the sounds of a lake in the early morning, a meandering river, and more environments. Pop in your headphones for a more immersive experience to hear every little insect trill and splash of water.
Click the Eye icon for each track to get more details about the sounds included, as well as ways to use it. For instance, Night at Lake Unknown, with a loon call and lapping waves, helps create a sense of nighttime (whatever time of day you're listening). Meanwhile, the First Light track invokes the feeling of a sunlit morning.
The app also includes a sleep and wake timer to help the tracks work with your sleep schedule. You can enhance your listening experience with some high-quality headphones that won't break the bank. Sometimes a slight jump in quality can make a huge difference in your enjoyment of audio content. Overall, the Naturespace app is ideal for anyone who wants a virtual escape.
Download: Naturespace: Relax Sleep Dream for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)
6. Dark Noise
3 ImagesHalf white noise, half ambient soundscapes, the Dark Noise app is its own unique creation.
In addition to white, pink, and gray noise mixes, the app also contains plenty of water and nature sounds. There's a selection of vehicle sounds as well, including a ship deck and spaceship engine. Perhaps the most interesting collection—urban sounds—includes a chatty coffee shop, construction noise, and even a lawn mower.
The ability to mix and match different sounds together is what makes the Dark Noise app so much fun. What happens if you mix the sounds of a washing machine with beach noises? Or how about a pouring fountain with a chorus of frogs? Perhaps an unexpected combination will become your new go-to mix.
This app is a great choice for creative types who want to experiment and find their own sound. Save your favorite mixes so you can call them up with a single tap.
Download: Dark Noise for iOS ($9.99)
Relax With Ambient Music and Natural Soundscapes Today
Whether you enjoy white noise, rainfall, or spacey ambient sounds, try these audio adventures. The best apps for ambient music and natural soundscapes are here to help you decrease stress, unwind, and even sleep better. Tune in to a calmer world.
