Dark Noise vs White Noise Lite (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick White Noise Lite: it is third in our ranking of focus apps, and they share a 3.0 GPA.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Dark Noise grades higher on ease of use. White Noise Lite grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Dark Noise
Ambient noise app for iPhone, iPad and Mac with custom mixes
White Noise Lite
Free ad-supported sleep and focus sound app
Which one is for you
Pick Dark Noise if
- Fits if you fall asleep to rain and want it to fade out by itself
- Works for people who start things from widgets, Siri or a Shortcut
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you have an Android phone or a Windows PC, as it's Apple only
- Tight if you're staying free and want to build mixes, since those are Pro
- Not for you if your iPhone or Mac can't run iOS 26 or macOS 26
- Watch out: mixes can't be shared, and the help center suggests sending a screenshot instead
- Watch out: the 7-day free trial is on the yearly plan only
Pick White Noise Lite if
- Fits if you want a free sound machine for sleep
- Works for people who want one-time prices rather than a subscription
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you cannot stand ads, as Lite shows them
- Watch out: only Pro has the 50 HD sounds and the generator tools
- Watch out: the site's table does not say which editions exist on each platform
- Watch out: Watch, TV and widget support are in the paid editions
- Too light for a focus timer, as it plays sounds and does little else
How we grade them
| 3.0GPADark NoiseVery good | 3.0GPAWhite Noise LiteVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | APro is $19.99 a year, about $1.67 a month, where the cheapest quarter of focus tools starts at $2.99, and one purchase covers iPhone, iPad and Mac. Monthly is $2.99, and Lifetime is $49.99 once if you'd rather never see a renewal. | AFree with ads, with one-time upgrades at $0.99 and $2.99, far less than a year of what focus apps charge. |
| Free plan and trial | BFree gets 8 sounds looping for ever, the fade-out timer and the Siri and Shortcuts support, which is enough to live on if rain is all you want. The rest of the 50-odd library, custom mixes and the themes are Pro. | BLite is free with 50 sounds, a recorder, 5 alarms, mix pad and background audio, with ads, and you can live on it. |
| Features | CIt does its one thing completely: 50-plus sounds, mixes with a slider per sound, Magic Mix building one from a description, a fade-out timer, widgets, Siri and offline playback. Playing noise is a small job next to the rest of this category, and mixes can't be shared with anyone. | CBundled sounds, mix pad, timers, alarms, recorder and offline playback. HD sounds and generators only come in Pro. |
| Ease of use | A4.79 from about 3,700 App Store ratings, the top band here. Tap a sound and it plays, and the widgets mean you often never open the app at all. | BNo rating on record, but it is an app you install and play. |
| Platforms and integrations | COne family of devices: iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision, tied in with Siri, Shortcuts and AirPlay. No Android, Windows or web version, and it wants iOS 26 or macOS 26 or later, so an older Apple device is out too. | BiPhone, Android, Mac and Windows apps, but no integrations. |
| Best for | white noise on an iPhone, iPad or Mac | free sleep and focus sounds |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Dark Noise and White Noise Lite. How we grade
Where they differ
At a glance
| Dark Noise | White Noise Lite | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $2.99 / month, or $19.99 / year (US App Store) | $0.99 one-time (Full edition) |
| Free plan | Free to download. The vendor's 3.0 release post lists 8 free sounds with infinite looping, the timer, and Siri and Shortcuts support; the 50+ sound library, custom mixes and premium themes need Pro. | Lite is free with ads: 50 SD sounds, advanced recorder, 5 alarms, mix pad, background audio and full stereo. |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial on the yearly Dark Noise Pro plan, as stated in the vendor's 3.5 release post | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Dark Noise LLC | TMSOFT |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | tmsoft.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Dark Noise
- Apple platforms only: iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision. No Android, Windows or web version is listed.
- The free tier has 8 sounds; the rest of the library, custom mixes, alternate icons and premium themes need Dark Noise Pro.
- The App Store listing requires iOS 26, iPadOS 26 or macOS 26 or later.
- Custom mixes cannot be shared natively; the help center suggests sending a screenshot for others to copy.
White Noise Lite
- The Lite edition shows ads; Full and Pro remove them.
- The site's table does not say which editions exist on each platform.
- Only the Pro edition includes HD sounds and bundled generator tools.
- The page's pricing is the US list; Watch and TV support are in the paid editions.
Key features
Dark Noise
- Sound library
- More than 50 ambient sounds, each with an animated icon, including stereo remasters of Rain, Thunderstorm, Beach and Airplane Interior and a Green Noise sound. Eight sounds are free.
- Custom mixes
- Dark Noise Pro lets you combine sounds into a named mix, with a volume slider for each sound and a custom icon. Mixes cannot yet be shared with other people from inside the app.
- Magic Mix
- Describe a soundscape, such as a stormy beach, and Apple Intelligence builds a custom mix from the prompt. It arrived on iOS in version 3.5 and on the Mac in 3.6.
- Fade-out timer
- A timer fades the sound out at a set time of day or after a set duration, and a Long Fade option stretches the fade over a period you choose.
- Widgets, Siri and Shortcuts
- Interactive Home Screen, Lock Screen and Control Center widgets start and stop sounds without opening the app, and Siri or a Shortcut can play a sound by name.
- Offline playback and AirPlay
- Every sound is stored on the device and plays without an internet connection. AirPlay is supported, and Siri Shortcuts can start a sound on a HomePod.
White Noise Lite
- 50 bundled sounds
- Rain, ocean, fan and other sounds ship with the app.
- Mix pad
- Mix several sounds into one soundscape.
- Timers and alarms
- Timers fade sounds out; Lite has 5 alarms, paid editions 20+.
- Recorder
- Record and loop your own sounds.
- Offline playback
- Sounds play locally without a connection.
Plans
Dark Noise
Free$0
Eight sounds with infinite looping, the fade-out timer, and Siri and Shortcuts integration.
Dark Noise Pro (monthly)$2.99
per month, US App Store in-app purchase
Unlocks more than 50 sounds, custom mixes, alternate app icons and premium themes. The app is universal across iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Dark Noise Pro (yearly)$19.99
per year, after a 7-day free trial
The same Pro features billed yearly. The App Store shows amounts without periods; the billing basis is from the vendor's release posts.
Dark Noise Pro Lifetime$49.99
one-time purchase
Pro unlocked with a single payment in place of a subscription.
White Noise Lite
Lite$0
Free with ads; 50 SD sounds and 5 alarms.
Full$0.99
one-time
20+ alarms, no ads, Watch, TV and widget support; generator tools are an in-app purchase.
Pro$2.99
one-time
Adds 50 HD sounds, generator tools included, 20+ alarms and no ads.
Ways to pay less
Dark Noise
- Annual discount
Yearly Pro costs about 44% less than monthly
The vendor prices Dark Noise Pro at $19.99 a year against $2.99 a month, which comes to $35.88 over twelve months.
- Lifetime license
Dark Noise Pro Lifetime for a one-time payment
The US App Store lists a Dark Noise Pro Lifetime in-app purchase at $49.99, which the vendor describes as a one-time purchase.
White Noise Lite
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Dark Noise or White Noise Lite?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Dark Noise starts at $2.99 / month, or $19.99 / year (US App Store), and White Noise Lite starts at $0.99 one-time (Full edition).
Which has a free plan, Dark Noise or White Noise Lite?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Dark Noise and White Noise Lite have a free plan.
Which platforms do Dark Noise and White Noise Lite run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only White Noise Lite lists Windows and Android apps. Both list macOS and iOS apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.