The Dark Noise Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Dark Noise 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.
Dark Noise
The Insider’s Guide
Ambient noise app for iPhone, iPad and Mac with custom mixes
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among focus apps, read from Dark Noise’s own pages.
Made by Dark Noise LLC · 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 Dark Noise’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Dark Noise’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
3.0
GPA, above 51 of the 65 other focus apps we grade
Dark Noise is an ambient sound app for iPhone, iPad and Mac that plays looping noise such as rain, a beach or green noise to help with sleep, focus or relaxation. Sounds start from the app, from interactive widgets, or by voice through Siri and Shortcuts, and a timer fades them out. The app is free with 8 sounds, and Dark Noise Pro adds a library of more than 50 sounds and custom mixes by subscription or one-time purchase.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Dark Noise, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Tap a sound and it plays, and the widgets mean you often never open the app at all.
- 1
Best for white noise on an iPhone, iPad or Mac
Dark Noise plays rain, beach and other noise on iPhone, iPad and Mac, started from a widget or by asking Siri, with a timer that fades it out.
- 2
Paid plans start at $1.67 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $2.99 / month, or $19.99 / year (US App Store).
- 3
There is a 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.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and macOS.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 3.0 GPA, above 51 of 65
That is against the other focus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
Nothing Dark Noise does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 5 things listed below take a company.
Dark Noise at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $2.99 / month, or $19.99 / year (US App Store)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial on the yearly Dark Noise Pro plan, as stated in the vendor's 3.5 release post
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Dark Noise LLC, since 2019
- Category
- Focus Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.8 on the App Store, 3,683 ratings
The report card
Best for white noise on an iPhone, iPad or Mac
Dark Noise plays rain, beach and other noise on iPhone, iPad and Mac, started from a widget or by asking Siri, with a timer that fades it out. Free stops at 8 sounds, Pro is $19.99 a year or $49.99 once, mixes can't be shared, it needs iOS 26 or macOS 26, and there's nothing for Android or Windows.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Pro 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. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free 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. |
| Features | C | It 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. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.79 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | One 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. |
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 Dark Noise is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Falling asleep or masking noise with a simple sound app
- Apple users who start sounds from widgets, Siri or Shortcuts
- People who prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$1.67
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Dark Noise has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.99 / month, or $19.99 / year (US App Store).
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.
The 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.
Trying it first
7-day free trial on the yearly Dark Noise Pro plan, as stated in the vendor's 3.5 release post
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on darknoise.appLifetime 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.
Stated on apps.apple.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Dark Noise Pro”, against $19.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺599,99 | $12.20 | 39% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 999.00 | $15.90 | 20% less |
| Canada | $24.99 | $17.57 | 12% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 349ribu | $19.52 | about the same |
| Mexico | $399.00 | $21.92 | 10% more |
| South Africa | R399.99 | $24.19 | 21% more |
| Germany | 22,99 € | $25.76 | 29% more |
| United Kingdom | £19.99 | $26.43 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Ambient noise app for iPhone, iPad and Mac with custom mixes. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, one-time purchase, AI features, focus music.
Playing noise is a small job next to the rest of this category, and mixes can't be shared with anyone.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- Siri
- Apple Shortcuts
- AirPlay
- iCloud
Dark Noise is made by Dark Noise LLC, and has been around since 2019.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
51/65
Other focus apps it is graded above
Dark Noise's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 51 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 45 of 65) and worst on features (C, above 3).
Its paid plans start at $1.67 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.82 for the category: 5 of the 45 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 3 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 focus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Dark Noise’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 40 of 65
- BFree plan and trialAbove 41 of 65
- CFeaturesAbove 3 of 65
- AEase of useAbove 45 of 65
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 8 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. Dark Noise 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
Nothing Dark Noise does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 5 things listed below take a company.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 51 of the 65 other focus apps we grade. It costs $19.99 a year.
What you could not
- A library of sound you would have to license.
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- Hooks into the device itself: widgets, Siri, Shortcuts and the lock screen.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
What this rests on. Dark Noise’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
Noizio, A Soft Murmur, myNoise, Noisli and Portal
The 5 tools Dark Noise is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Noizio
Free plan · from $2.99 one-time
Ambient sound mixer for Mac, phones and the browser.
- Only Noizio lists a web app.
- Only Noizio lists an Android app.
- Noizio also covers Pomodoro timer.
- 3.0GPA
A Soft Murmur
Free plan · from $14.99/yr
Ambient sound mixer for the browser, iPhone and Android.
- Only Dark Noise lists a macOS app.
- Only A Soft Murmur lists a web app.
- Only A Soft Murmur lists an Android app.
- 3.2GPA
myNoise
Free plan · from $10 one-time
Adjustable background noise and soundscape generators.
- Only Dark Noise lists a macOS app.
- Only myNoise lists a web app.
- Only myNoise lists an Android app.
- 2.2GPA
Noisli
Free plan · from $10/mo
Ambient sound mixer with a session timer and text editor.
- Only Dark Noise lists a macOS app.
- Only Noisli lists a web app.
- Dark Noise can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Portal
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Nature scenes with spatial audio for focus, sleep and calm.
- Portal also covers Pomodoro timer.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
16
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 Dark Noise free?
Dark Noise has a free plan. Free to download.
How much does Dark Noise cost?
Dark Noise lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Dark Noise work on?
Dark Noise is available on iOS and macOS.
Does Dark Noise offer any discounts?
Dark Noise publicly lists the following: Yearly Pro costs about 44% less than monthly; Dark Noise Pro Lifetime for a one-time payment.
How is Dark Noise rated?
Dark Noise's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3,683 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Dark Noise have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Dark Noise is listed for iOS and macOS.
Does Dark Noise have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Dark Noise is listed for iOS and macOS.
Is Dark Noise open source?
Dark Noise is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Dark Noise work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Dark Noise integrate with?
Dark Noise's listing names Siri, Apple Shortcuts, AirPlay and iCloud. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Dark Noise have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day free trial on the yearly Dark Noise Pro plan, as stated in the vendor's 3.5 release post.
Who makes Dark Noise?
Dark Noise is made by Dark Noise LLC. It dates from 2019.
What are the alternatives to Dark Noise?
The closest alternatives to Dark Noise in our directory are Noizio, A Soft Murmur, myNoise, Noisli and Portal.
How does Dark Noise compare with other focus apps?
Dark Noise's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 51 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 7.
Is Dark Noise good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Dark Noise A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $1.67 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.82 for the category: 5 of the 45 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Dark Noise?
Nothing Dark Noise does is plain enough to make in a weekend. The 5 things listed below take a company.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Dark Noise’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 Dark Noise's own pages on 9 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-03-30.
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 Dark Noise LLC. Prices change, so check darknoise.app before you buy.
- darknoise.app/
- apps.apple.com/us/app/dark-noise-ambient-sounds/id1465439395
- darknoise.app/posts/dark-noise-3
- darknoise.app/posts/dark-noise-3_1
- darknoise.app/posts/dark-noise-3_3
- darknoise.app/posts/dark-noise-3_5
- darknoise.app/posts/dark-noise-3_6
- darknoise.app/releases
- darknoise.app/press
- darknoise.app/help
- darknoise.app/support/working-offline.html
- darknoise.app/support/share-mixes.html
- darknoise.app/support/set-timers.html
- darknoise.app/support/create-custom-mixes.html
- darknoise.app/support/download-on-multiple-devices.html
- darknoise.app/support/family-sharing.html
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
- Dark Noise, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/dark-noise
- 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, "Dark Noise: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/dark-noise
Know someone choosing between focus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/dark-noise/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded focus apps after Dark Noise, 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 Dark Noise’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. Dark Noise is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Dark Noise LLC. Prices and plans change: check darknoise.app before you buy.