Rise vs Sleep Cycle: which sleep app fits you?

Rise and Sleep Cycle are both popular, well-reviewed sleep apps, and they suit different people. Tap what sounds like you and the picker shows which fits best. We also include a third option, Sleepward, which our studio makes, so you can see it next to both.

What sounds like you? Tap all that apply

Pick at least two.

Rise0

Sleep Cycle0

Sleepward0

Rise vs Sleep Cycle vs Sleepward at a glance

	Rise	Sleep Cycle	Sleepward
Core idea	Sleep debt and your circadian energy schedule	Sound-based sleep tracking with a Smart Alarm and AI sleep coach	A guided wind-down routine before bed
Account, ads, privacy	See its listing	See its listing	No account, no ads; records stay on your iPhone
Price to start	Yearly subscription	Free download, optional Premium	Subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase
App Store ratings	4.7 from about 74,000 ratings	4.7 from about 32,000 ratings	Newer, fewer ratings so far

Facts from each app's App Store listing, November 2026. Sleepward is made by Honest Little Apps, the studio behind this page.

Who each one is for

Choose Rise if…You want sleep-debt numbers and an energy schedule, and it's an established, well-reviewed app.

Choose Sleep Cycle if…You want detailed overnight tracking and a smart alarm, and it's one of the best-known sleep apps.

Or try Sleepward if…Your sleep starts going wrong before you're even in bed, and you want a calm routine to fix that.

Want more detail? See Rise compared in depth, or browse all honest comparisons.

Sleepward: Bedtime Routine

Sleepward: Bedtime Routine gives your day a clear ending with a guided wind-down routine. No accounts, no ads, and your records stay on your device. Subscription or one-time lifetime purchase.

Free on the App Store

Questions

Which is better, Rise or Sleep Cycle?

Rise focuses on your sleep debt and energy schedule. Sleep Cycle focuses on tracking your night with sound and waking you with a smart alarm. Pick by which problem you have.

Is Sleepward free?

Sleepward is free to download. Price to start: Subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase.

Where did these comparison facts come from?

From each app's App Store listing in November 2026. Features and prices change, so check the listing before you decide.

Updated November 12, 2026.

Rise sleep app alternativeRISE tracks sleep debt and your energy curve. If you mostly need help winding down at night, with no account and a lifetime option, compare it with Sleepward.
Caffeine cutoff calculatorFind your last-coffee time from your bedtime, and see how much caffeine from today’s drinks is still in you when you lie down. Based on a 2023 meta-analysis. Free, nothing saved.
4-7-8 breathing timerA free guided 4-7-8 breathing timer. Follow the glowing ring: breathe in for 4, hold for 7, out for 8. Soft tones, four cycles, nothing to install.