Slo vs BetterSleep: Sound Mixing Apps Compared (2026)

Overview

Slo and BetterSleep (formerly Relax Melodies) are both sound mixing apps designed to help users sleep. Both allow users to layer multiple sounds together to create custom soundscapes. However, they differ significantly in scope: BetterSleep has expanded into a comprehensive sleep platform with tracking, meditation, and specialized audio content, while Slo maintains a focused approach centered on ambient sound mixing. This comparison covers the features, libraries, and pricing of both apps.

What Slo Offers

Slo is an ambient sound app built around a clean mixer interface. The app provides 70+ sounds including noise types (brown, white, pink), nature recordings, and atmospheric audio. Users can layer multiple sounds at individual volume levels to create custom mixes tailored to their preferences.

The app is available on iOS, Android, and macOS. Slo includes a sleep timer and is designed with a minimal interface that avoids clutter from unrelated features. The focus is on providing quality sounds with an intuitive mixing experience.

Slo offers a free tier with access to a selection of sounds. A premium subscription unlocks the complete sound library. The app does not include sleep tracking, guided content, or specialized audio formats like binaural beats.

What BetterSleep Offers

BetterSleep (formerly known as Relax Melodies) is one of the longest-running sleep sound apps, having rebranded and expanded its feature set over the years. The app includes a sound library of 300+ sounds spanning nature, urban environments, instruments, ASMR, and noise types. Like Slo, it features a mixer that allows users to layer sounds together.

Beyond sound mixing, BetterSleep includes guided meditations, bedtime stories, breathing exercises, and binaural beats content designed for specific mental states. The app also includes a sleep tracker that monitors sleep patterns and provides insights over time.

BetterSleep offers over 100 sounds for free, with the full library and all features available at $59.99 per year. The app is available on iOS and Android but does not offer a native macOS desktop application.

Key Differences

Sound Library Size

BetterSleep offers 300+ sounds across a wide range of categories including ASMR, instruments, and urban environments. Slo provides 70+ sounds focused on noise types and nature recordings. BetterSleep’s larger library includes more niche categories, while Slo’s library is curated around sounds commonly used for sleep and focus.

App Scope and Features

BetterSleep has expanded beyond sound mixing to include sleep tracking, guided meditations, bedtime stories, breathing exercises, and binaural beats. The app serves as an all-in-one sleep platform. Slo focuses exclusively on ambient sound playback and mixing without additional features or content types.

Interface and Simplicity

Slo is designed around a minimal interface with quick access to sounds and the mixer. The app does not include content feeds, tracking dashboards, or navigation to non-sound features. BetterSleep’s interface accommodates its larger feature set, which means navigating between sounds, meditations, stories, tracking, and other sections.

Binaural Beats and ASMR

BetterSleep includes binaural beats audio designed to target specific brainwave states, as well as ASMR content. Slo does not include these specialized audio categories, focusing instead on standard noise types and environmental sounds.

Sleep Tracking

BetterSleep includes a built-in sleep tracker that monitors sleep duration and patterns. Users can correlate their sound mixes with sleep quality over time. Slo does not include sleep tracking functionality.

Platform Availability

Slo is available on iOS, Android, and macOS as a native desktop app. BetterSleep is available on iOS and Android. Users who want to use their sound mixer on a Mac desktop would find a native app in Slo but not in BetterSleep.

Pricing

BetterSleep is priced at $59.99 per year for full access, with 100+ sounds available for free. Slo offers a free tier with select sounds and a premium subscription for the full library. Both apps provide substantial free content, though the scope of what requires payment differs.

Which App Is Right for You?

If you are looking for a focused sound mixer with a curated library and a clean interface that avoids feature creep, Slo provides a streamlined experience. The native Mac app and minimal design make it suitable for users who want to mix ambient sounds without navigating through unrelated content.

If you are looking for a comprehensive sleep platform with a large sound library, sleep tracking, guided meditations, binaural beats, and ASMR content, BetterSleep provides all of these in one app. The larger library offers more variety for users who want to experiment with different sound combinations and content types.

Both apps share the core sound mixing concept and include sleep timers. The decision comes down to whether you prefer a focused tool or a feature-rich platform.

---

Information based on publicly available data as of April 2026. Visit the official BetterSleep and Slo app store listings for the most current details.

Related Articles

• Best Sound Mixing Apps in 2026
• Slo vs White Noise: Sound Machine Apps Compared
• How to Create the Perfect Sleep Soundscape
• Best Sleep Sound Apps in 2026