Sleep Cycle Alternatives: The Best 7 Sleep & Insomnia Apps in 2026
By Soothfy Team ·
Paying for Sleep Cycle and still sleeping badly? Here are the best Sleep Cycle alternatives in 2026 for better sleep, not just better graphs.
It's 2 a.m. and you're checking Sleep Cycle again. The graph says you slept badly, which you already knew. The app wants Premium to show you more. And none of it helps you actually fall asleep tonight.
A sleep tracker tells you how you slept. The best Sleep Cycle alternatives also help with why: the stress, racing thoughts and habits behind bad nights. Others simply track better, cost less, or skip the subscription.
In this guide we compare the 7 best Sleep Cycle alternatives in 2026: what each one does well, where it falls short, what it costs, and who it's for.
Quick guide: the best Sleep Cycle alternatives in 2026
- 🥇 Soothfy: best if stress or racing thoughts ruin your nights. Sleep and mood tracking plus 2-minute CBT relief and an evening routine
- Pillow: best for Apple Watch tracking and a smart alarm
- RISE: best for sleep debt and daytime energy
- ShutEye: best for tracking plus sleep sounds
- SleepScore: best for tracking without wearing anything
- AutoSleep: best one-time price, no subscription
- CBT-i Coach: best free insomnia program
How We Chose These Sleep Cycle Alternatives
Soothfy is our app. Where another app is the better pick for a need, we say so.
- Clear best use: each app solves one Sleep Cycle problem better
- Science: for insomnia, we chose apps built on CBT for insomnia (CBT-I)
- Price: free plan and U.S. App Store prices, checked October 2026
- Platforms: iPhone and Android options
- Actively updated in 2026
What Are the Best Sleep Cycle Alternatives?
The best Sleep Cycle alternatives either track your sleep better, cost less, or help with what's actually keeping you up: stress, racing thoughts and long-term insomnia. Here's how they compare at a glance.
Sleep Cycle Alternatives Compared
| App | Best for | Price (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Soothfy | Sleep + mood tracking, CBT relief for racing thoughts, evening routine | Free download · 7-day trial · $49.99/yr |
| Pillow | Apple Watch tracking + smart alarm | Free · $49.99/yr |
| RISE | Sleep debt + daytime energy | $35.99–69.99/yr |
| ShutEye | Tracking + sleep sounds | Free · $59.99/yr |
| SleepScore | No-wearable sonar tracking | Free · $59.99/yr |
| AutoSleep | Apple Watch, no subscription | $8.99 once |
| CBT-i Coach | Free insomnia program | Free |
Prices: U.S. App Store listings, October 2026. They vary by country and offer.
The 7 Best Sleep Cycle Alternatives in 2026
1. Soothfy: Best Overall for Sleep Plus the Anxiety Behind It
Soothfy is a sleep, anxiety and ADHD app for people whose nights are shaped by a busy or anxious mind. It tracks your sleep next to your mood, calms racing thoughts with short CBT exercises, and builds an evening routine that makes good nights more likely.
Key features
- Sleep and mood tracker: weekly and monthly charts that show how sleep connects to stress, mood and focus, plus reports you can download for your doctor.
- Instant Relief: when your mind races, pick your exact symptom from 35 options and get 3 CBT exercises, each with a 2-minute timer. Soothfy learns which ones help you.
- Personalized 30-day plan: CBT exercises, behavioral activation and journaling, built around your condition, mood and energy.
- Evening Anchor Habit: a short wind-down activity attached to something you already do every night.
- Journal and sound therapy designed for anxiety, ADHD and insomnia.
Pros
- Sleep tracking plus tools for the anxiety and racing thoughts behind bad nights
- Sleep and mood reports to share with your doctor
- Builds an evening routine instead of just measuring the night
- Covers insomnia, stress, anxiety and ADHD in one subscription
Cons
- No smart alarm, so keep your phone's alarm or pair it with Pillow
Pricing
- Free to download with a 7-day free trial
- $49.99/year or $8.99/month (U.S.)
Suitable for
- People whose minds race at bedtime
- Anyone with stress, anxiety or ADHD that spills into the night
- People who want to show a doctor their sleep and mood patterns
How to start
- Download Soothfy free on iPhone or Android.
- Take the 2-minute assessment and set your evening Anchor Habit.
- Tonight, if your thoughts race in bed, open Instant Relief and pick your symptom.
What users say
"Soothfy feels like having a therapist and a friend in my pocket. It's comforting, easy to use, and actually effective!"
App Store review (Canada)
"I've been using it for my anxiety, and honestly, it's been super helpful. The breathing exercises are really calming."
App Store review (Canada)
Sleep better tonight with Soothfy
Track your sleep and mood, calm racing thoughts with Instant Relief, and wind down with an evening routine.
Free to download · 7-day free trial
2. Pillow: Best for Apple Watch Tracking and a Smart Alarm
Wear your Apple Watch to bed and Pillow analyses your sleep cycles automatically, wakes you in your lightest sleep stage, records snoring and sleep talking, and compares your sleep with Apple Health data.
Key features
- Automatic Apple Watch sleep tracking
- Smart alarm for light-sleep wake-ups
- Snoring and sleep-talk recordings
- Apple Health integration
Pros
- Very similar feature set to Sleep Cycle
- Strong Apple Watch and Apple Health support
Cons
- iPhone and Apple Watch only
- No help with stress or racing thoughts
Pricing
- Free
- Premium $49.99/year (U.S.)
Suitable for
- Apple Watch owners who want a straight tracker swap
How to start
- Download Pillow and wear your Apple Watch to bed.
What users say
"I use to track what works to help me get deep sleep. I've been using it years and things are getting better."
App Store review (U.S.)
3. RISE: Best for Sleep Debt and Daytime Energy
RISE tracks your sleep debt and predicts your energy peaks and dips through the day, using data from Apple Health, Apple Watch, Fitbit, Oura and other apps. It focuses less on sleep stages and more on how rested you'll feel.
Key features
- Sleep debt tracking
- Daily energy forecast
- Habit reminders timed to your body clock
Pros
- Practical guidance for your day
- Works with the tracker you already have
Cons
- A subscription is required after the 7-day trial
- One of the pricier options
Pricing
- 7-day free trial
- $35.99–69.99/year (U.S.)
Suitable for
- People who sleep "enough" but still feel drained
How to start
- Download RISE and connect Apple Health or your wearable.
What users say
"I have had smart devices track my sleep but they have never shown me information like this before"
App Store review (U.K.)
4. ShutEye: Best for Tracking Plus Sleep Sounds
ShutEye combines sleep sounds, white noise, bedtime stories, a smart alarm and a sleep and snoring tracker in one app. If you used Sleep Cycle mainly for its sounds and graphs together, it's a close swap.
Key features
- Large library of sleep sounds and white noise
- Bedtime stories
- Sleep and snoring tracker
- Smart alarm
Pros
- All-in-one sounds and tracking
- Works on iPhone and Android
Cons
- Many features are Premium
- Several special-offer prices to navigate
Pricing
- Free
- Premium $59.99/year or $9.99/month (U.S.)
Suitable for
- People who use sound to fall asleep and also want tracking
How to start
- Download ShutEye and pick a sound mix for tonight.
What users say
"Some people may think that sleeping apps are useless but there actually really useful they help me and record sounds around you"
App Store review (U.K.)
5. SleepScore: Best for Tracking Without Wearing Anything
SleepScore uses non-contact sonar from your nightstand to measure breathing and movement, so there's nothing on your wrist. Its listing says the technology is backed by 14 published papers comparing it with lab sleep studies.
Key features
- Contactless sonar sleep tracking
- Personalised sleep advice
- Sleep sounds and smart alarm
Pros
- Nothing to wear
- Detailed breakdown of deep, light and REM sleep
Cons
- Phone must stay on the nightstand
- Advanced features need Premium
Pricing
- Free
- Premium $59.99/year or $9.99/month (U.S.)
Suitable for
- People who hate sleeping with a wearable
How to start
- Download SleepScore and place your phone on the nightstand facing you.
What users say
"This app seems to be very accurate and breaks down deep , light and rem sleep. When I see my score I pretty much know how I will feel during the day."
App Store review (Canada)
6. AutoSleep: Best One-Time Price (No Subscription)
AutoSleep tracks your sleep automatically from your Apple Watch, with sleep ratings, heart rate and a sleep bank. Its listing says there are no subscriptions, no ads and no data upload.
Key features
- Automatic Apple Watch tracking
- Sleep bank and readiness view
- Smart alarm on the Watch
Pros
- Pay once
- Strong privacy stance
Cons
- Needs an Apple Watch
- Data-heavy screens
Pricing
- $8.99 one-time (U.S.)
Suitable for
- Apple Watch owners who are tired of subscriptions
How to start
- Buy AutoSleep and wear your Watch to bed.
What users say
"This helps me manage my overall sleep and shows how great or poor my sleep was. Keeps me in tune with what I have to work towards."
App Store review (Canada)
7. CBT-i Coach: Best Free Insomnia Program
Built by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with Stanford School of Medicine, CBT-i Coach guides you through cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia: a sleep diary, sleep routines and your sleep environment. Paid programs such as Sleep Reset add a human coach.
Key features
- Structured CBT-I program
- Sleep diary
- Relaxation and wind-down tools
Pros
- Completely free with no ads
- Based on the first-line treatment for insomnia
Cons
- Plain design
- Works best alongside a clinician
Pricing
- Free
Suitable for
- People who've struggled to sleep for months (also talk to a doctor)
How to start
- Download CBT-i Coach and start the sleep diary tonight.
What users say
"I love this app! The first night I used it, after I turned it off I was asleep in five minutes."
App Store review (U.S.)
Final Thoughts
Sleep Cycle measures your nights, but if you're paying for graphs and still lying awake, you need more than a tracker. Soothfy is our top pick: it tracks your sleep and mood, calms racing thoughts with Instant Relief, and builds an evening routine that makes better nights more likely. If you only want a tracker, Pillow or AutoSleep are good swaps. If you've had insomnia for months, start CBT-I with CBT-i Coach and talk to a doctor.
More guides: ADHD Sleep Problems: Strategies That Help, Night Routine for Insomnia, ADHD and Sleep Statistics, Wysa Alternatives and Daylio Alternatives.
Try Soothfy free for 7 days
The Sleep Cycle alternative that helps you sleep, not just measure it.
Free to download · 7-day free trial
Best Sleep Cycle Alternatives: FAQs (2026)
1. What is Sleep Cycle?
Sleep Cycle is a sleep tracker and smart alarm that uses your phone's microphone or an Apple Watch to estimate your sleep phases and wake you in light sleep. In the U.S. App Store, Premium plans are listed at up to $57.99 (October 2026).
2. Why look for Sleep Cycle alternatives?
We read Sleep Cycle's 500 most recent U.S. App Store reviews (November 2025 to September 2026). The most common complaints were price and paywalls (features that used to be free moved behind Premium), updates that made the app worse, alarms that didn't go off, and tracking that didn't match how people actually slept.
3. What is the best alternative to Sleep Cycle?
Soothfy is the best all-round Sleep Cycle alternative if stress, anxiety or racing thoughts affect your sleep. It tracks sleep and mood, gives you Instant Relief CBT exercises for the exact symptom you feel, and builds an evening routine. If you only want a tracker, Pillow (Apple Watch) and AutoSleep ($8.99 once) are the closest swaps.
4. Is Sleep Cycle free?
Sleep Cycle has a limited free version, but recent reviewers say setup pushes a Premium trial first. In the U.S. App Store, Premium plans are listed at up to $57.99 (October 2026). Soothfy is free to download with a 7-day free trial.
5. Does Soothfy track sleep?
Yes. Soothfy has a sleep tracker next to its mood tracker. Daily check-ins become weekly and monthly charts showing how sleep connects to mood, anxiety and focus, and you can download reports to share with a doctor.
6. What app helps with racing thoughts at night?
Soothfy is built for this. Instant Relief lets you pick your exact symptom and gives you 3 CBT exercises with a 2-minute timer, and its evening Anchor Habit, journal and sound therapy help you wind down.
7. What is the best free Sleep Cycle alternative?
CBT-i Coach is completely free and teaches CBT for insomnia. Pillow, ShutEye and SleepScore have free plans with limits, and Soothfy offers a 7-day free trial.
8. Is there a sleep tracker without a subscription?
Yes. AutoSleep costs $8.99 once in the U.S. App Store and needs an Apple Watch. Its listing says there are no subscriptions.
9. Can a sleep tracker make insomnia worse?
It can for some people. Sleep researchers described "orthosomnia", where worry about tracker data becomes part of the sleep problem. Soothfy pairs tracking with CBT tools so the data leads to action instead of worry.
10. What is the best app for insomnia?
For long-term insomnia, choose an app built on CBT for insomnia, the first-line treatment, such as the free CBT-i Coach, and talk to a doctor. If stress or anxiety keeps you awake, Soothfy's Instant Relief and evening routine help with the thoughts behind it.
11. What's the best Sleep Cycle alternative for Android?
Soothfy, RISE, ShutEye, SleepScore and CBT-i Coach are all on Android. Pillow and AutoSleep are iPhone and Apple Watch only.
12. Which sleep app is best for ADHD?
Soothfy is built for ADHD and anxious brains: it combines sleep and mood tracking with short CBT exercises and an evening Anchor Habit that doesn't depend on remembering a routine.
13. How do I cancel Sleep Cycle Premium?
On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions. On Android, open the Play Store, then Payments and subscriptions. Deleting the app does not cancel the subscription.
14. What's the best Sleep Cycle alternative overall in 2026?
If stress, anxiety or racing thoughts affect your nights, Soothfy: sleep and mood tracking plus Instant Relief and an evening routine, so the data leads to better sleep. If you only want a tracker, Pillow or AutoSleep.
Ready for better nights?
Download Soothfy free and start tracking your sleep and mood tonight.
Free to download · 7-day free trial
This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Prices and features change often. Last updated October 3, 2026.