SleepLog / Sleep sounds / Rain sounds
Rain sounds
Rain sounds for sleep
Steady rain with light drops, made live so it never loops. Add thunder for a storm, or the sea, then set a timer.
This rain uses the same recipe as the rain sound in the SleepLog iPhone app: a deep noise bed with random drops on top.
Pick a sound or two, then press Play. The timer fades them out over the last 30 seconds.
On a phone, your browser may stop the sound when the screen locks. The SleepLog app keeps playing all night.
Rain sounds and a snoring check, in one app
Rain is SleepLog's free sleep sound. It plays while the app listens for snoring, coughing and sleep talking.
Scan with your iPhone camera to get SleepLog
Updated 22 October 2026
Why do rain sounds help people sleep?
Rain covers other noise with a steady, mostly low sound that has nothing in it to grab your attention. Research on sleep sounds is limited, though: a 2021 review of 38 studies rated the evidence as very low quality.
Rain works much like brown noise with texture on top. The steady wash masks traffic and household sounds, and the drops are random, so there's no rhythm to follow. Many people also link rain with being indoors and safe, which may be part of why it relaxes them.
Rain or rain with thunder?
Plain rain is the safer choice for light sleepers; thunder adds a slow, deep swell that some people find cozy and others find distracting.
The thunder here isn't sudden cracks. It's a low rumble that rises and falls over about half a minute, with rain underneath. Try rain alone first, then add Thunder at a low level in the player above. Ocean waves and a fireplace mix well with rain, too.
Rain sounds vs white noise
Rain sounds softer and more natural than white noise because most of its energy is low; white noise is better at covering voices and sharp sounds.
| Rain | White noise | Brown noise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character | Low wash with random drops | Bright, even hiss | Deep, smooth rumble |
| Covers best | General household and street noise | Voices, footsteps | Traffic, hum |
| Feels | Natural, varied | Mechanical | Soft, steady |
How long should rain sounds play?
Long enough to fall asleep, usually 30 to 60 minutes; the timer here fades the rain out over the last 30 seconds so the silence doesn't wake you.
If early-morning noise wakes you, let it run longer at a low volume. Browsers can pause sound when a phone locks, so for a full night on iPhone the SleepLog app is more reliable: its rain keeps playing while it records the night.
Questions
Are rain sounds good for sleep?
Many people find them relaxing and they cover other noise well, but research on sleep sounds is limited: a 2021 review of 38 studies rated the evidence that continuous noise improves sleep as very low quality. If rain helps you relax, it's worth a try.
Is rain better than white noise for sleep?
Neither is proven better. Rain is softer and more natural, with most of its energy in low frequencies; white noise is better at covering voices and sharp sounds.
Do these rain sounds loop?
No. The rain is generated live in your browser, so it never repeats. It uses the same recipe as the rain sound in the SleepLog iPhone app.
Sources
- Riedy SM, Smith MG, Rocha S, Basner M. Noise as a sleep aid: a systematic review. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2021;55:101385.
- SleepLog iPhone app, sleep sound recipes (SleepSoundPlayer), checked 22 October 2026.
Rain tonight. Your night, heard tomorrow.
SleepLog for iPhone plays rain while it listens for snoring and gives every night a score.
Scan with your iPhone camera to get SleepLog