Online Sound Machine
Short answer
This free online sound machine plays brown, pink, white and green noise, a box fan and ocean waves in your browser. Pick a sound, press play and set the sleep timer to 15 or 30 minutes. The sound fades out at the end. There is no signup and nothing to download.
The sound on this site plays for up to 30 minutes a day. Most phones stop the sound when the screen locks.
Want the sound with the screen off?
BRW is a sound machine app. It plays offline with the screen off, mixes sounds, and has a sleep timer. Brown noise is free all night.
Which Sound Should You Choose?
Choose the sound by what you want to cover. Not sure? Take the noise colour test.
| Sound | What it sounds like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Brown noise | A deep rumble, like a strong waterfall | Traffic, snoring and other deep sounds |
| Pink noise | Steady rain | A good first choice when you are not sure |
| White noise | A bright hiss, like a radio between stations | Voices and TV |
| Green noise | A soft middle sound, like a stream | Voices, if white noise is too bright |
| Box fan | A steady whoosh with a soft flutter | People who are used to sleeping with a fan |
| Ocean waves | A slow swell that rises and falls | Relaxing. It changes, so it covers other sounds less evenly |
How to Use the Sound Machine
1. Pick a sound. Tap a tile. You can change the sound while it plays.
2. Press play. The sound starts softly, so it does not make you jump.
3. Set the volume. Turn it up until the noise you want to cover stops standing out, and no more.
4. Set the sleep timer. Choose 15 or 30 minutes. The sound fades out slowly at the end, so the change does not wake you.
Why Use a Sleep Timer?
Many people only need a sound to fall asleep. After that, a timer lets the room go quiet, and the total time you listen stays short.
A slow fade-out matters. A sound that stops suddenly is itself a change, and changes are what wake people up.
How Loud Should a Sound Machine Be?
As quiet as it can be while it still does its job. Set it just above the noise you want to cover. If you keep turning it up, try a different sound instead: the right colour covers a noise at a lower volume.
Sounds at or below 70 decibels are unlikely to harm hearing, even after a long time [1]. A sound machine for sleep should be well below that. You can check the level in your room with the decibel meter.
Does a Sound Machine Help You Sleep?
It can help some people, mostly by covering sudden sounds like a car door or a neighbour. A review of many studies found that the evidence for noise as a sleep aid is mixed and of low quality [2]. So try it for a few nights and see if it helps you.
Online Sound Machine or Sound Machine App?
This page is free and needs nothing installed. But a browser is not built to play sound for hours: most phones stop the sound when the screen locks, and the sound on this site plays for up to 30 minutes a day.
The BRW app plays offline, with the screen off and while you use other apps. It mixes sounds, like brown noise with rain, and it has a sleep timer. Thinking of a machine you can hold? Read what to check before you buy one.
References
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), NIH. nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss
- Riedy SM, Smith MG, Rocha S, Basner M. Noise as a sleep aid: A systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2021;55:101385. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2020.101385 · PubMed 33007706
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free online sound machine?
Yes, this one. It plays brown, pink, white and green noise, a box fan and ocean waves in your browser, with a sleep timer. There is no signup and nothing to download.
Can I play the sound machine all night?
Not on this page. The sound on this site plays for up to 30 minutes a day, and most phones stop browser sound when the screen locks. For all night, use a sound machine app that plays with the screen off, such as BRW.
What is the best sound for sleep?
There is no single best sound. Brown noise is good for deep sounds like traffic and snoring, white or green noise for voices, and pink noise when you are not sure. The sound you find comfortable matters most.
Is the sound a recording?
No. Your browser makes the sound live as you listen, so there is no file and no loop that repeats.
How loud should a sound machine be?
Just loud enough that the noise you want to cover stops standing out. For sleep, keep it well below 70 decibels. You can check it with the free decibel meter on this site.