35% of Americans have used a sleep tracker, and 77% found that it helped them improve their sleep.
Ready to join them?
If you’re here, you’re thinking about tracking your sleep, but you might not know which sleep trackers will work best for you.
Consider this your unbiased guide to the best sleep trackers available today (that will improve your sleep tonight).
… But look for our totally biased plug for an amazing mattress to support your sound sleep journey at the end.
Understanding Sleep Trackers
Sleep trackers use sensors to monitor sleep patterns, different sleep stages, duration, and heart rate. There’s no shortage of options out there:
Wearable devices (watches and rings)
iPhone and Android apps
Non-wearable mats that slip under your sheets or mattress
We’ve done the research for you.
Whatever device you choose, rest assured that the technology you invest in is amazing. Remember, alarm clocks the size of toaster ovens used to sit on our bedside tables less than 20 years ago. Now, tiny devices monitor our sleep health, catch sleep disorders before they become serious, predict when we’ll need a midday nap, and get our sleep routines in order so we can take advantage of the benefits of deeper sleep.
Let’s look at what these devices track.
35% of Americans have used a sleep tracker, and 77% found that it helped them improve their sleep.
How Sleep Trackers Work
Sleep trackers come loaded with sensors that gather pattern data. They measure your
- heart rate: wearable sleep trackers use flashing LED lights to monitor your heart rate.
- sleep duration and quality: most trackers use accelerometers (tiny motion detectors) to monitor your movement and estimate sleep time and quality.
- sleep stages: sleep trackers use your heart rate and movement to determine which stage of sleep you’re in: light, deep, or REM.
- blood oxygen levels: Wearables use red LED reflection to track your blood oxygen levels
Benefits of Using a Sleep Tracker for Better Sleep Patterns
A sleep tracker is only a tool—it’s up to you to apply the invaluable insights to improve your sleep quality and overall health.
Your sleep score will help you adjust your routines so you get enough sleep. The end result is better rest, and with that comes a list of beneficial health improvements, from physical health to mental health.
One way to use the data is to optimize your sleep stages. For example, if you tend to hit the deep sleep stage at 5:45 a.m., 15 minutes before your alarm goes off, you could adjust your sleep/wake schedule so that your alarm goes off during light sleep instead.
Sleep trackers may also uncover sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea. 936 million adults around the world have mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Early detection, thanks to a sleep-tracking app or device, may prevent high blood pressure and heart, kidney, and metabolic health complications.
Sleep trackers provide insights into your sleep hygiene. Making small adjustments creates a ripple effect from deep rest to mental health.
Choosing the Right Sleep Tracker
Wearable trackers, smartphone apps, and pressure-sensitive mats that go under your mattress—it all comes down to personal preference and budget.
Here’s all the information you need to make the best choice:
Fit and Comfort
If you opt for a wearable or mat, choose one that won’t leave you annoyed and fidgeting all night. An uncomfortable sleep tracker will have the opposite effect on restful sleep; it might interfere with how much sleep you get.
Look for a wearable with a comfortable, adjustable band that fits snugly but not tightly. Many a well-intentioned sleep chaser has splurged on a watch or band to get on top of their sleep health only to discover that they don’t like the feel of something on their wrist while they sleep—the same way some people simply can’t wear socks to bed (but that’s a separate article).
If you think you’d prefer a mat, make sure it’s unobtrusive, quiet, and comfortable.
Of course, if you’ve never used a sleep tracker before, this might be hard to figure out before testing one. So check the product’s user reviews and the store’s return policies to ensure you can return it if it doesn’t work for you.
Battery Life and Materials
What’s the tracker’s battery life? What’s that battery made of?
Mornings are rough enough already—you don’t want to add “charge sleep tracker” to your to-do list. So look for a tracker that only needs to be charged every few days to a week for more convenience. High-quality materials are essential for comfort and long-term durability.
Sleep trackers aren’t cheap (well, good ones aren’t anyway), and you don’t want your investment to fall apart or stop working after a few months of use. User reviews are helpful here. Read different accounts of the average lifespan of the tracker from users and uncover any quality issues users have had.
Tracking Capabilities and Accuracy of Sleep Stages
There are plenty of affordable options out there, but the pricier options come with in-depth, accurate insights—the kind that get you to your sleep goals faster.
Not all sleep trackers offer the same metrics and monitoring. Wearables typically analyze sleep quality, duration, and stages, as well as heart rate and blood oxygen levels. Apps detect sounds and use them to estimate your movement. Many sleep mats fall somewhere in the middle, with greater tracking capabilities than apps but not as precise or in-depth as wearables.
Think about this before you buy: if you’ve used a free app on your phone and it didn’t move the sleep needle like you hoped, perhaps it’s time to invest in a wearable.
That being said, you might not have very far to go on your sleep journey. Perhaps after a few weeks of nighttime reminders on your phone and a gentle wake sound with haptics at the right wake time, you’ll get your sleep routine in check—no big budget required.
Let’s evaluate your options:
Top Sleep Trackers for 2024
Mechanics, benefits, fit, comfort, performance, and budget: check. All that’s left is to look at the best options available today.
Best Overall: Oura Ring

The Oura sleep-tracking ring is our top pick across all categories. The sleek, low-profile design offers more style and comfort than some of the bulkier watch options, while its three hospital-grade sensors provide comprehensive sleep data and monitoring.
Oura tracks your
- heart rate
- respiration
- body temperature
- movement
In the morning, you’ll know a bunch of great stuff about your sleep:
- Total sleep
- Time in bed
- Sleep efficiency
- Resting heart rate
- Sleep stages
- Sleep quality

Using the accompanying Oura app, view a snapshot of your sleep score or dig into more insights and tips to improve your sleep.
Features and Benefits
- Tracks sleep stages, heart rate, and body temperature
- Provides a comprehensive summary of sleep data
- Stylish and comfortable design
- Water-resistant down to 330 feet for up to 12 hours
- 7-day battery life
Cons:
Expensive
- Not adjustable
- Locked into a subscription (optional)
- Doesn’t offer comprehensive fitness tracking (if that’s important to you on top of sleep tracking)
The big catch is that it’s pricey upfront, starting at $300 (and doubling in cost for the swankier finishes). To unlock the more advanced features and data, you’ll have to commit to the $6/month membership fee, which comes with the kind of impressive features many are happy to pay for.
Also, it’s not adjustable. If your weight changes (or your sodium levels fluctuate), you might have some fit issues.
Oura doesn’t offer the same fitness and exercise tracking capabilities as some of the other picks on our list. It only tracks running, cycling, and walking. So, if you want a well-rounded tracker for sleep, workouts, and day-to-day activities, you might be better off with a more comprehensive option.
Best Wristband: Whoop 4.0

The Whoop 4.0 is like a smartwatch … minus the watch. It’s actually more like a sporty bracelet that monitors your body. It’s a simple, soft-touch silicone wristband that's waterproof, dirtproof, sweatproof, and stainproof. It tracks both your sleep and daily activity using your blood oxygen level, skin temperature, and heart rate.
One big selling point is the wireless battery pack that charges the wristband while you’re wearing it, so you can track your health 24/7. The app also includes a “Sleep Coach” that helps you better understand your sleep metrics and make changes to improve your sleep time and quality.
There’s no screen on the Whoop, so you can only interact with it through the app, which is a pro for some people and a con for others.

Features and Benefits
- Tracks sleep, strain, recovery, and stress
- The “Sleep Coach” feature uses a vibrating haptic system to wake you up during a light sleep phase
- Water-resistant down to 32 feet for up to two hours
- Includes a wireless battery pack for continuous wear
- 5-day battery life
- Screenless
Cons:
- The most expensive option (don’t let the free price tag fool you)
- Need the app since there’s no screen
It’s cost-effective upfront: the Whoop is free with a $30/month or $239/year membership. But it’s the most expensive option overall. Compared to the Oura Ring, it takes 1.5 years for the Whoop to catch up to the cost of a new Oura,but then it quickly replaces the Oura as the most expensive option by the end of the second year. Whoop hits $1,000 in cost after 4 years, whereas the Oura Ring will take 10 years to reach $1,000:
Whoop:
- Year 1: $239/year membership
- Year 2: $239 x 2 = $478
- Year 3: $717
- Year 4: $1,000
Oura Ring:
- Year 1: $300 to buy plus $72/year membership = $372
- Year 2: + $72 = $444
- Year 3: $516
- Year 10: $1,000
Best Sleep Tracker Watch: Apple Watch Series 8 and 9

If you’re looking for a tracker that can do … well, everything, the Apple Watch is for you.
The Apple Watch Series 8 and 9 seamlessly go from the office to the gym to the bed, tracking everything from your activity and workouts to your general health and sleep.
It syncs up flawlessly with other Apple devices, so if you’re already in that ecosystem, you’ll have no problems pairing it with your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Features and Benefits
- Has a built-in sleep tracker that monitors sleep stages, sleep schedule, and heart rate
- Comprehensive tracking features, including menstrual cycles andheart rhythms
- The “Wind Down” feature helps you develop a bedtime routine
- 18-hour battery life requires daily charging
Cons
- Battery life
- Lacking detailed insights
The Apple smartwatch is not a perfect solution, and there are some downsides.
For one, the short battery life means you have to charge it every day. There’s also the size issue: the Apple Watch is undeniably bulky, even if you get the smallest size, and a lot of people find it uncomfortable to wear to bed.
There’s also no dedicated sleep app for the Apple Watch—all of your health data is contained in the Health app on your phone. This means you can see everything in one place, but you also don’t get some of the detailed insights offered by dedicated sleep trackers.
Best for Sleep Reports: RISE App

If wearables and mats aren’t your thing, give RISE a try—it’s unique (and it was voted one of Apple’s best apps of 2024).
Created by experts in sleep science, this nifty app tracks your circadian rhythm and “sleep debt,” guiding you day by day to get back in the black. It’s a sleep tracker, gentle alarm clock, and sleep coach all in one package, and its only goal is to maximize your energy throughout the day by improving your sleep.
By tracking your circadian rhythm, RISE predicts your energy cycles and shows you how to optimize your days. Learn your ideal bedtime, wake time, caffeine limitations, and more to get your best night’s sleep every night.
You can use the app independently or with a third-party wearable device. It’s the most affordable option on our list, with membership prices starting at $9.99/month or $69.99/year.

Features and Benefits
- Tracks sleep debt, patterns, quality, and circadian rhythm
- Includes a “gentle”-sounding alarm clock
- Offers a resource guide with tips for improving your sleep
- Helps you optimize your days to take advantage of high-energy periods
- Most affordable option
Cons:
- Relies on a wearable to make it more accurate
- Not a fitness tracker
- Is sleep debt real?
Keep in mind that RISE is built solely on the idea of making up your “sleep debt”,but there’s no consensus on whether or not that’s actually possible. In addition, RISE doesn’t offer any additional activity or health-tracking features, so it’s only useful for monitoring and improving your sleep.
Best for Sleep and Fitness: Fitbit Inspire 3

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is essentially a toned-down, lower-profile alternative to the Apple Watch.
It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but it makes up for a lack of features with deep insights into health, fitness, and sleep, along with an impressive battery life.
With the Fitbit Inspire 3, you can track your:
- heart rate
- sleep stages
- sleep score
- blood oxygen levels
- stress management
- menstrual cycle
The Inspire 3 isn’t as comprehensive as some of Fitbit’s other offerings, but on the other hand, it’s one of the most affordable models at just $100. Plus, you can clip it to your clothing instead of wearing it as a watch.
Features and Benefits
- Tracks sleep stages, sleep duration, and heart rate
- Monitors stress levels, temperature, and other health metrics
- Water-resistant up to 50 meters
- Fitness tracker
- 10-day battery life
- Affordable
Cons:
- To get access to the full list of features, you’ll need to purchase the $9.99/month premium membership.
Best Non-Wearable Sleep Tracker: Withings Sleep

Maybe you don’t like clunky things on your wrist or expensive rings, but you still want access to all the detailed data you can only get from sensors. You’re in luck: Withings Sleep is a sleep-tracking mat that goes under your mattress and tracks your sleep/wake times, sleep duration, and sleep cycles. It even has sound sensors to monitor your snoring and breathing patterns.
It pairs with the Health Mate app to deliver insights into your sleep patterns and quality.

Withings Sleep also has some unique features, like an automatic sleep diary you can share with your doctor. Plus, it connects to your smart home environment, so you can set routines to turn on lights or adjust the temperature as soon as you wake up.
Priced at just $130, with no subscriptions required, the Withings Sleep mat is surprisingly affordable. It also plugs in instead of relying on a battery, so there’s no need to charge it, but if electrical outlets are in short supply in your bedroom, that may be a con for you.

Features and Benefits
- Tracks sleep patterns, sleep duration, sleep onset, and time to wake
- Also tracks snoring duration, breathing, and heart rate
- Plugs into an electric outlet, so you don’t have to worry about charging
- No subscription required
Cons:
- Lacks comprehensive features: You may not get the same level of data accuracy as you would with a wearable.
- Requires a plug
Special Mention: Eight Sleep Pod

Want a top-of-the-line, high-tech sleep tracker? Check out the Eight Sleep Pod. It’s the latest in sleep technology and comes with 36 medical-grade biometric sensors that tell you pretty much everything you could ever want to know about your sleep. The Pod 4 Ultra includes:
- A comfy but high-tech mattress cover that tracks your breathing and heart rate
- An adjustable base that fits inside your bed frame
- A hub that connects the Pod to the app and holds the water for heating and cooling
That’s right—the Pod also comes with a heating and cooling feature that can take each side of your bed from 55°F all the way to 110°F. You can even control the elevation, temperature, and built-in vibrating alarm with a few taps on the side of the mattress.
Too much work? No worries. The Autopilot feature learns all about your sleep requirements and automatically adjusts the temperature, elevation, and wake-up time to maximize your rest.

Of course, the downside is that all of these awesome features come with a hefty price tag. The Pod 4 (without the adjustable base) starts at $2,499, while the Pod 4 Ultra (base included) comes in at $3,949.
Neither model comes with a mattress, but the cover and base can be used with any mattress, including memory foam or hybrid ones like the Leesa Legend Hybrid.

Features and Benefits
- Tracks… well, everything: sleep stages, sleep and wake times, temperature, breathing, heart rate—even your local weather
- Fully adjustable base with custom elevations for sleeping, reading, and relaxing
- Heats and cools each side of the bed to the occupant’s ideal temperature
- Autopilot customizes your bed for your best sleep
- Built-in vibrating and thermal alarm
- Snoring detection feature automatically adjusts the base to help you breathe easy
Cons:
- Expensive and requires a $15-24 monthly subscription
Sleep Tracker Considerations
If you still aren’t sure if a sleep tracker is right for you, consider three things:
- >Accuracy
- Durability
- Orthosomnia
How accurate are sleep trackers, really?
Surprisingly, researchers haven’t reached a verdict on the accuracy of sleep trackers. One study found that trackers only have a 78% accuracy rate when it comes to identifying sleep vs. wakefulness, but other studies show varying results.
People simply sleep differently.
Sleep tracker results may be highly accurate for one person and completely wrong for another. Some people move a lot in their sleep, and the sleep tracker may incorrectly assume that they’re awake and tossing and turning when, in reality, they’re sleeping soundly.
On the other hand, some people lay absolutely still when trying to fall asleep, and the tracker may determine they’re already sleeping when they’re actually thinking about how they said, “You too!” when the airport worker told them to enjoy their flight (we’ve all been there).
However, sleep trackers that use multiple factors—heart rate, movement, temperature, etc.—to gauge sleep are generally more accurate. As technology advances, accuracy improves.
Bottom line: No sleep tracker is 100% accurate, and the current technology doesn’t compare to the level of insights you’ll get from a medical sleep study. So, if you’re concerned about issues like sleep apnea, it’s best to talk to your doctor.
Are wearable sleep trackers waterproof?
Most wearable sleep trackers are water-resistant to a certain depth and for a specific period of time, but it varies by device. For example, the Oura ring is water-resistant down to 330 feet for up to 12 hours, while the Fitbit Inspire 3 is only water-resistant down to about 164 feet.
What is orthosomnia, and how does it relate to sleep trackers?
Orthosomnia is a condition where people become obsessed with tracking sleep.
Overanalyzing sleep with a sleep-tracking device puts orthosomniacs in a cycle of anxiety that inhibits their ability to sleep [insert damp party blowers].
Orthosomnia is not an official medical term or diagnosis, but researchers first documented the phenomenon back in 2017 when numerous patients started asking for treatment for sleep problems that they self-diagnosed based on sleep tracking.
Sleep tracking devices educate you on things like sleep onset latency, actual sleep duration, REM sleep (rapid eye movement), and sleep apnea (and other sleep disorders). They also provide sleep scores based on your sleep efficiency. But sleep trackers and sleep-tracking apps shouldn’t replace real medical care provided by sleep specialists (medical professionals) who are certified to diagnose a potentially serious sleep disorder. So if you find yourself obsessing over your sleep data, that’s a sign it’s time to put the sleep tracker away and give your mind and body a break from the endless monitoring.
Nearly 40% of U.S. adults sleep on a mattress that is six or more years old, and it's affecting their sleep duration, comfort, and quality.
The Right Sleep Environment: Make the Most of Your Sleep Tracker
Sleep trackers provide insights into your sleep hygiene. Making small adjustments could create a beneficial ripple effect—from deep rest to mental health.
But learning about your sleep habits, sleep quality, and other sleep factors won’t get you all the way there: acting on those insights is the game changer that really improves your sleep.
Maybe your sleep tracker shows that noise disrupts your sleep. In that case, introducing sleep sounds, like brown noise, to your sleep environment might help. Maybe your sleep tracker shows that you snore. Adding a humidifier or air purifier might be the action item here (along with a visit to your doctor).
In our neck of the woods, one thing we know a lot about is rest—we’ve spent thousands of hours focusing on physical comfort to support a good night’s sleep. One of the most impactful changes you can make to get better sleep is to invest in a quality mattress.
Research shows that nearly 40% of U.S. adults sleep on mattresses that are six or more years old, and this affects their sleep duration, comfort, and quality.
A mattress that has reached the end of its life will leave you tossing and turning, waking up unrested. So. if your bed could use an upgrade, invest in a quality mattress—and see what your sleep tracker thinks about that.
Final Thoughts: The Best Sleep Tracker for You
- Consider comfort, accuracy, and ease of use when choosing a sleep tracker
- Look for devices that provide actionable advice and personalized recommendations
- Consider the cost, subscription requirements, and return/warranty of the device.
To sum things up, the best sleep tracker for you is the one that ticks all of your unique “wants list” boxes. Decide which features are must-haves, which ones are optional, and which ones you’ll never use. This will help you narrow down your options to those that fit your needs.
Comfort and accuracy are the two most important factors—you don’t want a sleep tracker that gives you incorrect info or keeps you awake all night fidgeting with it.
But you should also consider the total cost of ownership.
Some options are affordable upfront but charge monthly or ongoing subscription fees to access all of the features. Some are free. Look for a device that personalizes recommendations to improve your sleep quality.
Happy snoozing from Leesa.
FAQs
Still have questions?
Which sleep tracker is most accurate?
All of the sleep trackers on our list are reportedly highly accurate, but actual results vary from person to person, and wearables are generally more accurate than non-wearables or apps. No tracker will give you the same level of accuracy and insights as a medical sleep study, but you should be able to get a good overview of your sleep from any of these devices.
Are sleep trackers worth it?
It depends on your goals and the factors that keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. If you’re only looking for insights into your sleep and advice to improve it, then a sleep tracker is a great investment. But it can’t fix your sleep on its own. And if you don’t sleep well because your mattress is worn out or your sleep environment is noisy, then a sleep tracker is only one part of your sleep story.
What's the best free sleep tracker?
The Whoop 4.0 wristband is free, but you have to sign up for a monthly (pricey) subscription. If you want a truly free sleep tracker, there are some apps with free tiers available, such as PrimeNap, Sleep Cycle, and Sleep Score. However, to access their more advanced features, you’ll need to pay for the premium version.
What is the best sleep tracker that is not a watch?
The Oura ring is the best non-watch sleep tracker, but if you don’t want a wearable at all, we recommend the Withings Sleep mat. It goes under your mattress and uses a variety of sensors to provide detailed sleep tracking.