How can our phones help rather than hinder circadian health? Here are some mobile apps that claim to track—and ultimately improve—their users’ sleep.
• Sleep Cycle: Called “the smart alarm clock,” this app is designed not only to gently wake up users during light sleep but also to track sleep from dusk to dawn. The app also supplies users daily with a thorough analysis of their sleep patterns, featuring relevant statistics and detailed graphs. Premium features include long-term sleep tracker trends, comparisons between personal sleep data and world sleep statistics, and the ability to back up user sleep information online or export it to a spreadsheet. Available on the Google Play Store for Android and the Apple App Store for iOS.
• SleepWatch by Bodymatter: SleepWatch uses artificial intelligence to aid users hoping to improve their sleep patterns and habits. The app automatically tracks sleep with the Apple Watch, although sleep times can also be entered manually. The app provides daily reports, automatically syncs sleep data to the Apple Health app, identifies healthy lifestyle choices, tracks sleep heart rate dips, records sleep disruptions, and pays attention to any sleep debt and surplus. Users with premium memberships can activate Advanced Tracking mode, which scores and compares sleep, gives bedtime reminders, offers free reports, and estimates how long it takes users to go to sleep. Available on the Apple App Store for iOS.
• Sleepzy: This app is programmed to rouse users during the lightest sleep phase, and the alarm clock can be synced with Apple Music to allow users to wake up to their preferred songs as alarms. The app also tracks and analyzes sleep patterns, alerting users of sleep debt and providing weekly statistics to help individuals attain higher quality sleep. Sleepzy also gives daily personalized sleep advice, weather forecasts, and contains Dream Radio, which comprises of AIgenerated music and visual imagery to help users unwind. Data can be synced with the Apple Health app, and the app itself can be used with the Apple Watch for more sleep-related insight. Premium customers can use Sleepzy to obtain advanced statistics, discover if they snore, access more relaxing sounds and classical music, learn effective breathing techniques, and eliminate ads. Available on the Google Play Store for Android and the Apple App Store for iOS.
• Pillow: Pillow can automatically analyze sleep cycles when synced with Apple Watch, but users without Apple Watches can also utilize the app by placing their device near their pillows at night. The app wakes up users during the light sleep phase; records audio to check for snoring, sleep apnea, and talking; and lets users peruse their own personal sleep trends and patterns along with personal sleep tips. Pillow also examines heart rate throughout the night, analyzes sleep cycles to find users’ optimal bedtimes, and updates the Apple Health app with the information it collects. Additionally, users can customize alarm sounds and presets, use the app for effective napping, and doze off with included sleep aid music, soundscapes, stories, and meditations, with more options and tools available in the premium version. Available on the Apple App Store for iOS.