White noise
Bright, even hiss that's best at covering voices, traffic and sudden sounds.
White noise has equal energy across all frequencies. It sounds like an untuned radio or a strong fan, and it's the best of the three at masking voices and sharp noises.
Tip: keep the volume low, around the level of a quiet conversation, and set the timer so it fades out after you're asleep. On a phone, keep the screen on or the browser may pause the sound.
10-hour versions that fade to a dark screen are coming to our YouTube channel.
Other free sleep sounds
Brown noiseDeep, soft rumble like distant surfPink noiseSoft and balanced, like steady rainRain soundsSteady rain on the roof, generated live so it never repeatsOcean wavesSlow waves rolling in, the way Bondi sounds at nightFan soundsThe familiar bedroom fan hum, without the cold air in winter
Want to mix several sounds at once? Try the full sound mixer.
Still can't sleep?
Have a look at the Sleep Kit, sorted by what's keeping you up.