Apps and online care
Sleep Cycle vs Headspace
They differ on 8 of 10 things we check. No winner here: the better one is the one that fits what you need and how you'd pay.
Sleep Cycle
You set an alarm window, put your phone by your bed, and Sleep Cycle listens through the night, then wakes you when it thinks you are sleeping lightly and shows your sleep and snoring in the morning.
Headspace
You pick short guided meditations, courses on stress, anxiety or sleep, sleepcasts and focus music, and do a few minutes a day on your phone.
Where they differ
- Good for
- Sleep Cycle: Seeing rough patterns in your sleep without buying a wearable; A wake-up alarm timed within a window you choose
- Headspace: Beginners who want structured, short guided meditations; People dealing with everyday stress or trouble winding down for sleep
- Probably not for
- Sleep Cycle: Chronic insomnia, which is better treated with CBT-I
- Headspace: Anyone in crisis or thinking about suicide: call or text 988
- Cost
- Sleep Cycle: Free version, or Free; Premium about $39.99/year
- Headspace: $69.99/year or $12.99/month
- How you pay
- Sleep Cycle: Free, I'll pay myself
- Headspace: I'll pay myself
- Where
- Sleep Cycle: iPhone, Android
- Headspace: iPhone, Android, Web
- Research
- Sleep Cycle: Not stated
- Headspace: Strong research support
- Sells your data
- Sleep Cycle: Not stated
- Headspace: Yes
- HIPAA
- Sleep Cycle: Not stated
- Headspace: No
The same for both: kind of help (an app i use on my own), privacy (grade c).
In crisis or thinking about suicide? In the US, call or text 988. This page is information from our reviews, not medical advice.