The Blanket Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Blanket in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Blanket
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source ambient sound mixer for the Linux desktop
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among focus apps, read from Blanket’s own pages.
Made by Rafael Mardojai CM · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Blanket’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Blanket’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 41 of the 65 other focus apps we grade
Blanket is a free, open-source Linux app that plays ambient sounds to help with focus or with falling asleep in a noisy place. It comes with 14 sounds, among them rain, a storm, a coffee shop, a fireplace and white and pink noise. Sounds can be combined at their own volumes, saved as presets and extended with your own audio files. It is a GNOME Circle app, installed from Flathub or a distribution's packages.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Blanket, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No account, no options you must understand first.
- 1
Best for background noise on a Linux desktop
Blanket is a free Linux app that plays rain, a coffee shop or white noise while you work: mix a few sounds, save the mix, and it keeps playing after you close the window.
- 2
It is free
Blanket has no paid plan at all. Free and open-source software under the GPL 3.0 or later, listed as Free on Flathub. The developer takes donations through PayPal and Liberapay.
- 3
It runs on Linux
Linux.
- 4
Fourteen built-in sounds
Birds, Boat, City, Coffee Shop, Fireplace, Pink Noise, Rain, Summer Night, Storm, Stream, Train, Waves, White Noise and Wind, with a general volume control over the whole mix.
- 5
Presets
Save a set of sounds and their volumes as a preset and switch between presets later. Presets arrived in version 0.5.0.
- 6
Custom sounds
Add your own audio files alongside the built-in sounds. Version 0.8.0 added the ability to rename custom sounds.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 41 of 65
That is against the other focus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Blanket is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Blanket at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Linux
- Made by
- Rafael Mardojai CM, since 2020
- Category
- Focus Apps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for background noise on a Linux desktop
Blanket is a free Linux app that plays rain, a coffee shop or white noise while you work: mix a few sounds, save the mix, and it keeps playing after you close the window. It has 14 sounds built in, runs only on Linux, and releases are slow, with 0.8.0 in July 2025 more than a year after 0.7.0.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free, in a category where the middle plan is $3.99 a month. Blanket is GPL software with no paid tier, no account and no upsell anywhere in it; the developer takes donations through PayPal and Liberapay if you feel like it. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with nothing kept back: all 14 sounds, your own audio files, presets, background playback and autostart. There is no paid version for a limit to point at. |
| Features | C | It does its one thing completely: mix sounds at their own volumes, save presets, add your own files, keep playing with the window shut and drive it from the desktop's media keys. That one thing is a small job, and the built-in library stops at 14 sounds. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record for a Linux app, but there's nothing to set up: install it from Flathub or your distribution's packages, press play, drag a slider. No account, no options you must understand first. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | One operating system. Linux, and nothing else: the README lists the Windows, macOS, Android and web apps only as other people's projects inspired by Blanket, so your phone and your work laptop are out. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Blanket is for
- Fits if you work on Linux and want rain or café noise without keeping a browser tab open
- Works for people with their own recordings, since you can add them next to the stock sounds
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Windows, a Mac or a phone, because it's Linux only
- Too light for people who want a big library, with 14 sounds built in
- Tight if you want sounds beyond those 14, as you have to find and add your own audio files
- Watch out: updates are slow, with 0.8.0 in July 2025 and 0.7.0 back in April 2024
Good to know
Good for
- Linux users who want background noise while they work
- Falling asleep in a noisy environment
- People who want to mix their own audio files with stock sounds
Worth knowing
- Linux only, from Flathub or distribution packages. The README lists Windows, macOS, Android and web apps only under Related Projects, as apps inspired by Blanket.
- The built-in library is 14 sounds; anything else has to be added as a custom audio file.
- The latest release, 0.8.0, is dated July 27, 2025; the one before it, 0.7.0, came out in April 2024.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Blanket is free to use.
There is no paid version for a limit to point at.
Blanket
$0
The complete Linux app: 14 built-in sounds, custom sounds, presets, background playback and MPRIS controls.
The free plan
Free and open-source software under the GPL 3.0 or later, listed as Free on Flathub. The developer takes donations through PayPal and Liberapay.
Read from flathub.org on Oct 9, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Linux
Free open-source ambient sound mixer for the Linux desktop. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, focus music.
- Fourteen built-in sounds
- Birds, Boat, City, Coffee Shop, Fireplace, Pink Noise, Rain, Summer Night, Storm, Stream, Train, Waves, White Noise and Wind, with a general volume control over the whole mix.
- Presets
- Save a set of sounds and their volumes as a preset and switch between presets later. Presets arrived in version 0.5.0.
- Custom sounds
- Add your own audio files alongside the built-in sounds. Version 0.8.0 added the ability to rename custom sounds.
- Background playback and autostart
- Sounds can keep playing after the window is closed, and the app can start in the background when you log in, with a preference to always start paused.
- MPRIS controls
- Play, Pause, Stop and PlayPause are available through MPRIS, the Linux desktop's media player interface, and its Next and Previous commands step through presets.
- Power awareness
- Playback pauses when the system enters power saver mode. Keeping the computer from suspending while sounds play is an option, off by default.
Where it runs
- Linux
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Blanket is made by Rafael Mardojai CM, and has been around since 2020.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
41/65
Other focus apps it is graded above
Blanket's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 41 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 53 of 65) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
Blanket has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 focus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Blanket’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 40 of 65
- AFree plan and trialAbove 53 of 65
- CFeaturesAbove 3 of 65
- BEase of useAbove 17 of 65
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 65
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 56 focus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Blanket is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Blanket is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
What you could not
- A library of sound you would have to license.
- A real app for Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Blanket’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Noisli, A Soft Murmur, myNoise, Noizio and Dark Noise
The 5 tools Blanket is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Noisli
Free plan · from $10/mo
Ambient sound mixer with a session timer and text editor.
- Only Blanket lists a Linux app.
- Only Noisli lists a web app.
- Only Noisli lists an iOS app.
- 3.0GPA
A Soft Murmur
Free plan · from $14.99/yr
Ambient sound mixer for the browser, iPhone and Android.
- Only Blanket lists a Linux app.
- Only A Soft Murmur lists a web app.
- Only A Soft Murmur lists iOS and Android apps.
- 3.2GPA
myNoise
Free plan · from $10 one-time
Adjustable background noise and soundscape generators.
- Only Blanket lists a Linux app.
- Only myNoise lists a web app.
- Only myNoise lists iOS and Android apps.
- 3.2GPA
Noizio
Free plan · from $2.99 one-time
Ambient sound mixer for Mac, phones and the browser.
- Only Blanket lists a Linux app.
- Only Noizio lists a web app.
- Only Noizio lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- 3.0GPA
Dark Noise
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Ambient noise app for iPhone, iPad and Mac with custom mixes.
- Only Blanket lists a Linux app.
- Only Dark Noise lists iOS and macOS apps.
- Blanket is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Blanket free?
Yes. Blanket is free to use.
How much does Blanket cost?
Blanket lists one plan. Blanket: $0.
What platforms does Blanket work on?
Blanket is available on Linux.
Does Blanket have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Blanket is listed for Linux.
Does Blanket have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Blanket is listed for Linux.
Is Blanket open source?
Yes. Blanket is open source, according to its own site.
Who makes Blanket?
Blanket is made by Rafael Mardojai CM. It dates from 2020.
What are the alternatives to Blanket?
The closest alternatives to Blanket in our directory are Noisli, A Soft Murmur, myNoise, Noizio and Dark Noise.
How does Blanket compare with other focus apps?
Blanket's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 41 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 9.
Is Blanket good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Blanket A for value for money. Blanket has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Blanket?
Blanket is free, so making your own would save you nothing. What you could not make: A library of sound you would have to license.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Blanket’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Blanket's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-21.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Rafael Mardojai CM. Prices change, so check apps.gnome.org before you buy.
- apps.gnome.org/Blanket/
- flathub.org/en/apps/com.rafaelmardojai.Blanket
- raw.githubusercontent.com/rafaelmardojai/blanket/master/README.md
- api.github.com/repos/rafaelmardojai/blanket/releases?per_page=40
- github.com/rafaelmardojai/blanket/releases/tag/0.1.0
- github.com/rafaelmardojai/blanket/releases/tag/0.7.0
- raw.githubusercontent.com/rafaelmardojai/blanket/master/data/com.rafaelmardojai.Blanket.gschema.xml.in
- raw.githubusercontent.com/rafaelmardojai/blanket/master/SOUNDS_LICENSING.md
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Blanket, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/blanket
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Blanket: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/blanket
Know someone choosing between focus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/blanket/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded focus apps after Blanket, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Focus Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 66 focus apps we grade, compared
- ScreenZen Insider's GuideFree app that delays and blocks distracting apps and sites3.6 GPA
- Flora Insider's GuideFree focus timer that grows trees, alone or with friends3.2 GPA
- Flow Insider's GuideMinimal Pomodoro timer for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Blanket’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Blanket is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Rafael Mardojai CM. Prices and plans change: check apps.gnome.org before you buy.