Quick Answer: The BetterSleep app is a sleep wellness tool offering a large library of guided meditations, ambient sounds, sleep stories, and breathing exercises. Set up your profile, pick a sound mix, and enable Sleep Tracking to start seeing patterns within a week. It works best as one piece of a broader sleep routine, including a comfortable mattress and consistent bedtime.
In This Guide
Reading Time: 13 minutes
What Is the BetterSleep App?
BetterSleep (formerly known as Relax Melodies) is one of the most downloaded sleep apps in Canada and around the world. Available on both iOS and Android, it brings together ambient soundscapes, guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing exercises, and basic sleep tracking in one place.
The pitch is simple: use the app as part of your bedtime routine to calm your mind, fall asleep faster, and build better habits over time. Whether you are dealing with racing thoughts, a noisy neighbourhood, or plain old restlessness, BetterSleep offers tools to quiet things down.
At Mattress Miracle, we are not affiliated with BetterSleep in any way. But we talk to people about sleep every day, and apps like this come up constantly. Many customers in Brantford and the surrounding area ask whether they are worth using. This walkthrough gives you an honest look at how the app works and where it fits into a real sleep routine.
Setting Up BetterSleep
Getting started takes about five minutes. When you open the app for the first time, it walks you through a short questionnaire about your sleep goals. Options typically include things like falling asleep faster, reducing stress, improving sleep quality, or managing a sleep disorder. Your answers shape what the app recommends first.
Step-by-Step Setup
How to Set Up BetterSleep
Step 1: Download and Create an Account
Download from the App Store or Google Play. Creating a free account lets you save your custom mixes and access your sleep data across devices. You can also use it without an account, but you will lose saved settings if you reinstall.
Step 2: Complete the Onboarding Questionnaire
Answer questions about your biggest sleep challenges, your usual bedtime, and what kind of content you prefer (sounds, meditations, or stories). This takes two to three minutes. The app uses your answers to populate the home screen with relevant content.
Step 3: Enable Notifications (Optional)
BetterSleep can send a reminder at your chosen bedtime. This is genuinely useful for people who lose track of time in the evenings. Set it 30 minutes before you want to be asleep, not when you want to crawl into bed.
Step 4: Set Up Sleep Tracking
On iOS, BetterSleep can access HealthKit data to pull sleep information. On Android, it uses the microphone to detect movement and sound during the night. Grant the permissions the app requests to enable this feature. Tracking is optional but gives the app more to work with over time.
Step 5: Choose Your First Mix or Session
Browse the featured content or search by category. Start with something simple: a rain soundscape or a short body-scan meditation. You do not need to commit to a full sleep story on night one.
One thing to note: the free version shows the setup fully, but some content is gated behind a subscription. You will see the premium badge on certain sounds and sessions before you reach for your credit card.
Sound Library and Custom Mixes
The sound library is the heart of BetterSleep. The app offers well over 200 individual audio layers covering nature sounds, white and pink noise, binaural beats, ambient music, and more. The real draw is the mixer: you can layer up to nine different sounds simultaneously and adjust each one's volume independently.
Categories of Sounds Available
| Category | Examples | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Rain on leaves, ocean waves, thunderstorm, forest birds | General relaxation, masking outside noise |
| White/Pink/Brown Noise | Fan, static, brown noise, vacuum | Babies, light sleepers, tinnitus sufferers |
| Binaural Beats | Delta (0-4 Hz), Theta (4-8 Hz), Alpha (8-12 Hz) | Deep sleep, meditation, focus |
| Ambient Music | Piano, low-tempo strings, lo-fi beats | Winding down, light readers |
| Human/Household | Fireplace crackling, library ambiance, café murmur | People who find pure silence uncomfortable |
| ASMR | Typing, page turning, soft tapping | Stress relief, sensory sensitivity |
Custom mixes are saved to your profile. Many long-time users end up with three or four mixes: one for falling asleep, one for staying asleep through a noisy night, and one for napping. The app also has a growing collection of pre-built mixes curated by the BetterSleep team if you do not want to start from scratch.
Why Sound Affects Sleep Quality
Background noise at consistent volumes can mask disruptive sounds that cause micro-arousals during the night. Research published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology and subsequent clinical work has shown that steady-state noise (white or pink) reduces the contrast between ambient sound and sudden noises, making it less likely that a car horn or a dog barking will fully wake you. Binaural beats require headphones to work properly (each ear receives a slightly different frequency), and the evidence for their sleep benefits is promising but still early-stage. Think of them as a bonus feature rather than a guaranteed fix.
Timer and Fade-Out Settings
You can set a timer so sound stops after 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes, or at a custom duration. There is also a fade-out option so the audio winds down gradually rather than cutting off abruptly. Most people are asleep well before the timer runs out, which is the point. Leaving audio running all night is not necessary and may affect the accuracy of sleep tracking.
Guided Sessions and Sleep Stories
Beyond the sound mixer, BetterSleep includes a library of guided audio content. This is where the app differentiates itself from simple noise generators.
Guided Meditations
Sessions range from five minutes to 30 minutes. Most use a body scan or progressive muscle relaxation framework, starting with breath awareness and moving through muscle groups from the feet upward. The narrators speak slowly with long pauses, which is appropriate for sleep-focused content. A handful of sessions are geared toward specific concerns: anxiety, chronic pain, restless legs, and shift work.
Dorothy, our sleep specialist at Mattress Miracle, often suggests guided body scans to customers who lie awake with their thoughts running. "The body scan gives your brain something concrete to focus on," she explains. "It's harder to catastrophise about your to-do list when you're concentrating on relaxing your left calf."
Sleep Stories
Sleep stories are audio narratives read at a slow, deliberate pace. They are designed to hold just enough attention to pull you away from anxious thoughts without being engaging enough to keep you awake. Topics range from gentle nature walks to light travel narratives. Children's stories are available as well, which is useful for families.
The quality varies. Some stories are genuinely well-written and well-read. Others feel a bit thin. Premium subscribers get access to the full library; free users have a rotating selection of a dozen or so.
Breathing Exercises
BetterSleep includes a visual breathing guide that prompts inhale, hold, and exhale durations. The 4-7-8 technique (inhale four seconds, hold seven, exhale eight) is available, as is box breathing (four counts on each phase) and a simpler two-to-one exhale ratio for quick wind-downs. These are useful before bed and also useful at 2 a.m. when you are lying awake and anxious.
Sleep Tracking and Stats
Sleep tracking in BetterSleep is functional but not as sophisticated as a dedicated wearable. Here is what it actually does and what its limits are.
How It Tracks Sleep
On iOS, BetterSleep pulls data from Apple Health if you grant permission. It uses whatever sleep data your Apple Watch or other health device is already collecting. On Android devices without a wearable, the app uses your phone's microphone to listen for sounds during the night, and some devices also use the accelerometer to detect movement.
The app does not genuinely measure sleep stages (light, deep, REM) without a compatible wearable. What it presents as sleep stages on Android microphone-only mode is an estimate based on sound and movement patterns. That is worth knowing before you make decisions based on the graphs.
What the Stats Dashboard Shows
| Metric | What It Measures | Reliability |
|---|---|---|
| Total Sleep Time | Hours in bed with detected sleep signals | Moderate (wearable) / Low (mic only) |
| Sleep Score | Composite score based on duration, movement, and consistency | Useful for trends over weeks |
| Sleep Stages | Estimated light, deep, REM cycles | Low without wearable integration |
| Mood and Energy | Self-reported morning check-in | Only as accurate as you are honest |
| Consistency Score | How regular your sleep and wake times are | High (based on clock data) |
The most useful thing BetterSleep tracking actually does is show you trends over time. Looking at a month of data and noticing that your sleep score drops every Thursday (late meeting nights? A glass of wine?) gives you something concrete to act on. Single-night data is rarely meaningful.
Getting Accurate Data from BetterSleep
Place your phone face-down on your nightstand at roughly arm's length from your head, not under your pillow. The microphone needs clear airflow. Log your morning mood rating every day for at least two weeks before drawing conclusions. The sleep journal feature, where you record what you did the previous evening, is optional but genuinely useful for pattern-finding.
Free vs. Premium: What Do You Actually Get?
BetterSleep runs a freemium model. The free tier gives you access to a core set of sounds and a handful of guided sessions. Premium unlocks the full library, offline listening, and advanced tracking features.
| Feature | Free | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Sound library access | ~40 sounds | 200+ sounds |
| Custom mixes | Save up to 3 | Unlimited |
| Guided meditations | Rotating selection (~10-15) | Full library (100+) |
| Sleep stories | Limited | Full library |
| Sleep tracking | Basic | Advanced with trends |
| Offline listening | No | Yes |
| Sleep journal | Limited | Full history |
The free version is genuinely useful for people who mainly want a sound mixer and do not need guided content. If you find yourself wanting more guided sessions or you travel and need offline access, premium is worth considering. Pricing varies by region and promotion, but at the time of writing, an annual subscription works out to a few dollars a month.
Our honest take: try the free version for two weeks before paying. If you are using it every night and wishing you had more sounds or stories, then the subscription makes sense. If you are opening it twice a week and forgetting it exists, do not bother.
BetterSleep and Your Sleep Environment
Apps are tools. They work best when the rest of your sleep environment supports good rest. We see this all the time at Mattress Miracle: a customer downloads a sleep app and uses it faithfully, but still wakes up tired because their mattress is ten years past its prime, or their pillow is putting their neck at a bad angle all night.
Sleep Apps and the Brantford Climate
Brantford winters are cold and dry, and summers bring heat and humidity that can make sleeping uncomfortable. BetterSleep's sound library includes rain and fan sounds that many people find genuinely helpful for masking the sound of a window air conditioner or a radiator. That said, if heat is waking you up repeatedly, a breathable mattress cover or a cooling pillow will do more than any app. We stock both at our West Street showroom.
A few things to pair with BetterSleep for actual results:
- A supportive mattress: If you are waking with back or hip pain, that is a mattress issue, not a soundtrack problem. Our mattress collection includes options at multiple price points. Brad often says the best sleep app in the world cannot compensate for a mattress that has lost its support.
- A quality pillow: Neck position affects sleep quality significantly. See our pillow guide for help choosing by sleep position.
- A consistent bedtime: BetterSleep's reminder feature works best when your body actually has a consistent schedule to settle into. The app cannot manufacture a circadian rhythm; it can only help you wind down when one exists.
- A dark, cool room: The research on this is clear. Sleep quality improves in cooler environments, typically between 16 and 19 degrees Celsius. A breathable mattress protector and appropriate bedding help regulate sleeping temperature.
Brad, Owner, 40+ years of experience: "We had a customer come in last spring who had tried three different sleep apps and was still exhausted every morning. She'd also been sleeping on the same mattress for twelve years. We got her onto a Restonic ComfortCare Queen and within two weeks she wasn't bothering with the app because she didn't need it anymore. The app was fine. The mattress was the problem."
That said, for people who have a decent sleep environment and are dealing with stress, anxiety, or irregular schedules, BetterSleep adds real value. The guided sessions in particular are well-suited for people who have never tried any kind of relaxation practice. They lower the barrier to entry considerably.
For more on building a complete sleep environment, see our guides on how to sleep better and bedroom temperature and sleep quality.
Find Your Perfect Mattress at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. Come try mattresses in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BetterSleep app free to use?
BetterSleep has a free tier that includes access to roughly 40 sounds and a rotating selection of guided sessions. The premium subscription unlocks the full library of 200+ sounds, all guided meditations and sleep stories, offline listening, and advanced sleep tracking. Premium pricing varies but an annual plan generally costs a few dollars per month.
Does BetterSleep actually track sleep stages?
On its own, without a connected wearable, BetterSleep estimates sleep stages using your phone's microphone and accelerometer. These estimates are low in accuracy compared to a medical sleep study or even a dedicated wearable like an Apple Watch. The data is more useful as a general trend indicator than as precise sleep-stage measurement.
Can you use BetterSleep without Wi-Fi?
Premium subscribers can download content for offline use. Free users need an internet connection to stream sounds and guided sessions. If you travel frequently or sleep somewhere with unreliable Wi-Fi, offline access is a meaningful reason to consider the premium tier.
How is BetterSleep different from white noise apps?
Basic white noise apps play a single looping sound. BetterSleep layers up to nine sounds simultaneously with individual volume control, adds guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing exercises, and sleep tracking. It is considerably more full-featured, which also means it has more to learn and a larger library to navigate.
Can a sleep app replace a good mattress?
No. A sleep app helps you fall asleep and can support a relaxation routine, but it cannot address the physical causes of poor sleep like an unsupportive mattress, a bad pillow, or a partner who moves a lot at night. If you wake up in pain or feeling unrested despite getting enough hours in bed, the problem is usually environmental. Visit our Brantford showroom at 441½ West Street and our team can help you identify what is actually keeping you awake.
Sources
- Stanchina, M.L., et al. (2005). The influence of white noise on sleep in subjects exposed to ICU noise. Sleep Medicine, 6(5), 423-428. doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2004.12.004
- Okamoto-Mizuno, K., & Mizuno, K. (2012). Effects of thermal environment on sleep and circadian rhythm. Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 31(1), 14. doi.org/10.1186/1880-6805-31-14
- Chaieb, L., Wilpert, E.C., Reber, T.P., & Fell, J. (2015). Auditory beat stimulation and its effects on cognition and mood states. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 6, 70. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00070
- Morin, C.M., & Benca, R. (2012). Chronic insomnia. The Lancet, 379(9821), 1129-1141. doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60750-2
- Jacobson, B.H., et al. (2008). Grouped comparisons of sleep quality for new and personal bedding systems. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 7(3), 92-99. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcme.2008.04.002
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
We are located at 441½ West Street in downtown Brantford. Free parking available. Our team does not work on commission, so you get honest advice based on your needs.
Mattress Miracle, 441½ West Street, Brantford, ON, (519) 770-0001
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 10am–6pm, Thursday–Friday 10am–7pm, Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12pm–4pm.
If you are working on improving your sleep, we are happy to help with the physical side. Come in and tell us what is keeping you awake. Our team has been helping Brantford families sleep better since 1997.
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