Apps and online care
Sleep Cycle vs Insight Timer
They differ on 7 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.
Insight Timer
Insight Timer gives you thousands of free guided meditations, sleep tracks and talks, plus a simple timer for silent practice.
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
- Insight Timer: People who want a large free meditation and sleep library without paying; People who like choosing between many teachers and styles
- Probably not for
- Sleep Cycle: Chronic insomnia, which is better treated with CBT-I
- Insight Timer: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988
- Cost
- Sleep Cycle: Free version, or Free; Premium about $39.99/year
- Insight Timer: Free version, or Free; MemberPlus $59.99/year or $9.99/month
- Where
- Sleep Cycle: iPhone, Android
- Insight Timer: iPhone, Android, Web
- Research
- Sleep Cycle: Not stated
- Insight Timer: Some research support
- Privacy
- Sleep Cycle: Grade C
- Insight Timer: Grade B+
- Sells your data
- Sleep Cycle: Not stated
- Insight Timer: No
The same for both: kind of help (an app i use on my own), how you pay (free, i'll pay myself), hipaa (not stated).
In crisis or thinking about suicide? In the US, call or text 988. This page is information from our reviews, not medical advice.