I tested sleep earbuds for months: Here are the 3 I'd buy, and the one I'd skip
Overview
Table of Contents
Getting proper sleep can help improve nearly every aspect of your health, but over a third of adults in the United States don't get enough of it, according to the CDC.
If a noisy environment is what's keeping you up at night, you've likely considered foam earplugs, but those are no longer the only option available, with reusable earplugs and sleep earbuds offering a more convenient alternative.
I spent many nights of sleep over a few months trying out earplugs and earbuds ranging from $50 to $349 to find the best of what's out on the market — and to see if getting earbuds just for sleep is actually worth it.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $219.99 (List Price $249.00)
Apple iPad 11" 128GB Wi-Fi Retina Tablet (Blue, 2025 Release) — $274.00 (List Price $349.00)
Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones — $248.00 (List Price $399.99)
Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Security Camera (5-Pack) — $159.99 (List Price $399.99)
Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 (List Price $49.99)
Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $249.99 (List Price $599.00)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $339.00 (List Price $399.00)
WD 6TB My Passport USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive — $138.65 (List Price $179.99)
Dell 14 Premium Intel Ultra 7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 2K Laptop — $999.99 (List Price $1549.99)
With Black Friday fast approaching, this is an especially great time to pick up sleep earbuds. As the early stages of sales begin, we've already seen the Soundcore A30 earbuds, our upgrade pick, drop under $200. Our former upgrade pick, the Ozlo Sleepbuds, is also $50 off at $299.
As a note, we generally no longer recommend the Ozlo Sleepbuds as their price point isn't on par with the features offered by their competitors. At their full price point, I'd say to skip them. However, if you're especially intrigued by their design (and have no qualms with the lack of ANC), grabbing them for $299 instead of their usual $349 is the absolute most we'd recommend paying for these earbuds to get true value.
The best earbuds for sleeping
Below, I pulled three of the best sleep earbuds on the market. Between the overall best, upgrade, and earplug picks, there's a wide range of price points, but as with any product, the most expensive of the bunch isn't necessarily the best overall. With that in mind, I highlighted where each earbud excelled, whether that be in comfort, noise cancellation, or ease of use, to help you pick the best sleep earbud possible.
UPDATE: Aug. 18, 2025, 9:45 a.m. EDT As of April 2024, the Ozlo Sleepbuds increased in price from $299 to $349 on Ozlo's website and Amazon in the United States due to tariffs. While we initially scaled back our recommendation to only grabbing them on sale, since testing the Soundcore Sleep A30s, which offer similar feature sets for far less, we no longer recommend the Ozlo Sleepbuds as one of our top pick sleep earbuds.
Anker Soundcore Sleep A20
Best for most people
The Good & The Bad
- Allows you to stream sleep sounds from app or your own audio
- Tracks sleep data
- Earbuds and case have great battery life
- Half the price of the Ozlo Sleepbuds
- Smaller case takes up less nightstand real estate
- Touch controls don't get activated while you're sleeping
- Comes with six different earbud tips, with three for noise blocking and three for breathability
- Can't perform certain actions on app without both earbuds in
- Sleep sound library isn't super peaceful
- App design could be more streamlined
- Earbud tips have slightly tacky texture
Who it's for
If you want sleep earbuds that give you the flexibility of streaming audio or simply acting as fancier earplugs, the Anker Soundcore Sleep A20 will get the job done — and for half the price of our upgrade pick. They're not without some quirks, but on the whole, they offer the best feature to price point ratio.
Why we picked this
I tested the Ozlo Sleepbuds right before I tested the Soundcore Sleep A20 buds, and honestly, it was hard to pinpoint any stark differences in performance, which considering their $150 price difference, is pretty impressive on Soundcore's part.
The Soundcore buds promised more battery life per charge, which I didn't really notice as both buds easily hit the eight-hour range. However, I did notice that the case held 80 hours of charge, meaning I didn't have to charge it for a week, while I had to recharge the Ozlo case after two nights of using the earbuds. The Soundcore buds also connected with my device with noticeably less lag than the Ozlos.
So where did they show their lower price point? Maybe this is more personal preference, but I wasn't a huge fan of the sleep sound library on the Soundcore app. A lot of the sounds felt too busy and too loud, even at lower volumes. One night, when I was testing out a feature that switches the audio from Bluetooth streaming to white noise when the earbuds detect you've fallen asleep, the sound of the white noise literally woke me up because of how loud it was. Admittedly, this was because of the volume I set it at, but only because the volume sounded fine (low even!) on the podcast I was streaming, and I didn't exactly expect the white noise from the Soundcore app to be significantly louder.
When playing around with the controls later in the daylight hours, I found the highest volume literally hurt my ears — thankfully, setting it that high is avoidable, but it did feel like these headphones could've used a better safeguard in terms of volume. After all, it's not like you can quickly adjust the volume when you're unconscious. In terms of the automatic switching feature, I found that it usually jumped the gun. Sometimes, I'd just settle down to close my eyes and the earbuds would switch over (an issue I didn't experience with the Ozlo earbuds).
In terms of flaws, those were the only major ones I noticed. The buds stayed in my ears just as well as the Ozlos, and felt just as comfortable to use while lying on my side. Though both earbuds use silicone tips, the Soundcore ones feel the slightest bit tackier — it didn't bother me, but my partner couldn't stand the feeling, so if you deal with any sensory sensitivity, it's something to be aware of. My audio streamed reliably (if, again, a little on the loud side), and the touch controls worked perfectly when I used them but never accidentally triggered at night while I slept. In general, I didn't find myself using the touch controls to adjust the volume or switch between modes all that much, but they still felt like a nice addition.
The Soundcore earbuds also offer sleep data, which can be stored on the earbuds for up to a week (with a sync required to get the info in your app). I've never used any sort of sleep-tracking device before, but from the few times I've used sleep-tracking apps from my phone, these earbuds offered more accurate and detailed data on how I slept, from how long to how many times I tossed and turned.
Details
Anker Soundcore Sleep A30
Best noise-cancelling sleep buds
The Good & The Bad
- Active noise cancellation
- Adaptive snore masking
- Plenty of ear tip and wing options
- Tons of customization available with different soundscapes
- Tracks sleep data
- Snooze feature with alarm
- Slimmer profile earbuds than the Sleep A20
- Higher price point
- Battery life isn't quite as good as Sleep A20 earbuds
- Didn't launch with toggle to turn sleep detection off
Our review
Check out our full review of the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds.
Who it's for
If active noise cancellation on your sleep earbuds is a non-negotiable, the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 buds are for you.
Why we picked this
Sometimes, the sleep situation demands more than passive noise cancellation and good white noise, and that's where the Sleep A30 earbuds come in. As the only pair of sleep earbuds on the market with ANC, the A30s have a clear advantage. It brings these earbuds up to a more premium price point of $229.99 (compared to the Sleep A20's $179), but it's still a far cry cheaper than the Ozlo Sleepbuds' $349.
In addition to the ANC, Soundcore took the best of the Sleep A20s and made it better (for the most part). These earbuds feature three different types of soundscapes for falling and staying asleep: AI audio brainwave, snore masking, and white noise. The brainwave sounds allow you to fine-tune the sound with the audio space, density, and brightness, as well as add in more layers with "elements" (think rain sounds and singing bowls). Mercifully, neither my partner nor I are big snorers, but if your circumstances are different, the snore masking sounds can be toggled to automatically adjust with any volume increases during the night, thanks to microphones built into the charging case. Out of pure preference for the type of sounds, I liked these soundscapes best. The white noise system is the same that you can find on the A20 — I find them a bit too busy-sounding for my personal taste, but they still allow a decent degree of customization.
The app itself has a nice layout, the earbuds are even comfier than the A20s (which I didn't have any issues with), and the inclusion of memory foam ear tips in addition to silicone ones is a nice touch for anyone who needs a little extra sound-blocking power. Over two months of testing, I had no issues with the sleep tracking or my alarm not going off — and I did get plenty of use out of the new snooze feature.
The only points where there wasn't a noticeable step up from the Sleep A20s were in the battery life and sleep detection features. For battery life, the ANC shortens the per charge to nine hours, or six and a half hours if you're also using Bluetooth. However, the case still holds 45 hours, so I didn't feel like I had to charge it every other night. The sleep detection, on the other hand, had fewer silver linings during my testing period — the versions of the companion app I used had no option to toggle it off, which often resulted in the earbuds stopping my audio while I was still awake. This would be a major issue, but an app update is supposed to come Aug. 20 that will allow for sleep detection to be toggled on and off (as it can be with the Sleep A20s).
Details
Loop Dream
Best earplug option
The Good & The Bad
- Incredibly comfortable to sleep in
- Does a great job of blocking out noise without any extra white noise
- Stays in ears well
- Requires very minimal storage space
- No fiddling with an app required
- Block noise well, but still let through sounds like an alarm
- Pricey
- Recommended that you replace the ear tips every 100 wears
- Fewer color options than other Loop earplugs
Our review
Read our breakdown of all the Loop models.
Who it's for
If you like to keep it simple (and want to avoid using electronics before bed), a pair of reusable earplugs is a great way to block out sounds at night. The Loop Dreams are on the pricey side, but their durability, comfort, and noise-blocking abilities make them worth the price.
Why we picked this
Priced at $50 for a pair of earplugs, I wanted the Loop Dreams to perform like a dream — so I was thrilled when they delivered.
Full disclosure: Prior to testing these earplugs for this roundup, I owned a pair of original Loop Quiet earplugs (the Loop Quiet 2 earplugs retail for $27.95 and can be found on sale for $19.95). I generally used those for sleep, and so I had high expectations for Loop's Dream earplugs, specifically designed for sleeping, to elevate the experience.
I'm going to be honest — the Loop Dreams don't block drastically more noise and feel significantly more comfortable, but to be fair, the Loop Quiets set the bar high. That said, having used both models, if you're only planning on using the earplugs during your sleeping hours, the Dreams are worth it for getting the best possible sleep experience. They never fell out of my ears, where the Quiets sometimes do. The foam ear tips are covered in silicone, and the outer closed loop shape is more tapered and smaller than the original Quiets as well, which have a more blunt tip. In general, these made the Dreams feel even more comfortable to wear and get a better seal for blocking out noise — more than once, when my partner rolled over to say something to me without realizing I was wearing these earplugs, I didn't hear a thing.
Yes, they're a good deal more expensive than the Quiets, but if you truly want to give yourself the best comfort and noise-blocking while you sleep, the Dreams are the way to go. And compared to either of our earbud picks (without white noise on, of course), I found that they blocked out sound even better. Considering all you have to do is learn how to put them in properly (which takes the slightest learning curve), they're also by far the easiest of our three picks to use.
Beyond being no-fuss, a benefit I especially appreciated with using earbuds is that it minimized the temptation to spend more time on my phone than I really needed to right before bed. Best of all, despite how well they block room sounds like a partner sleeping or an air conditioning system, they let through more piercing sounds like that of an alarm, which was comforting both for waking up on time every day and for the reassurance that I'd wake up fine in the event of an emergency.
So sure, they're expensive — and their ear tip replacements aren't the cheapest either — but for the most straightforward noise-blocking solution that works well, and doesn't invite more screen time, I prefer the Loop Dream earplugs.
Details
Topics Earbuds
How are sleep earbuds different than normal earbuds?
First, a confession: I used to wear AirPods nearly every night to sleep. More accurately, I used to wear a single AirPod so I could actually sleep on my side.
After testing earbuds designed for sleeping, I can tell you that everyday earbuds don't match up to the sleep earbud experience. For starters, standard earbuds aren't designed to be worn while you're lying on your side, so they often stick out of your ears and put hard plastic in contact with your ear. Not to mention, earbuds typically cap out at six to seven hours of battery life per charge, so if you're getting at least eight hours of sleep, you run the risk of interrupting it with the sound of your earbuds powering off.
Sleep earbuds, on the other hand, can offer white noise options, better battery life, and significantly more comfort (that actually allows you to wear more than one earbud at a time). The pairs I tested came without microphones and with touch controls that worked but were less sensitive than traditional earbuds, so you can lie on your side without activating them. When I initially tested options for this guide, there weren't really any with active noise cancellation, but that has since changed thanks to the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds. Still, you'd be surprised at how well passive noise cancellation, a good fit, and white noise work.
Is it safe to wear earbuds to sleep every night?
First and foremost, it's important to consider that sleep earbuds aren't the only way to approach nighttime noises that might be keeping you up.
I consulted Dr. Ashley Kita, an otolaryngologist and assistant professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at UCLA, to discuss any risks associated with wearing earbuds all night. While she didn't warn against using earbuds, she suggested that if what's keeping you up is a partner's snoring, you start looking for solutions there.
"If you're doing all of this to avoid a partner who is snoring, sometimes gently encouraging that person to investigate why they're snoring is kind of an important consideration," Kita said. "Because we find that obstructive sleep apnea is really underdiagnosed, and snoring, for some people, is the only sign of it."
If, however, what's keeping you up is less in your control, then you do want to be aware of three main aspects of using earbuds all night: proper hygiene, safe noise levels, and your ear comfort.
Proper hygiene
When I started testing these earbuds, I realized I was now wearing earbuds uninterrupted for longer than I typically would in the course of a day, even as someone who tests headphones for a living. When I asked Dr. Kita how that wear time might raise someone's risk for infection, she drew a comparison to the wear time of hearing aids:
"Many individuals wear hearing aids for longer hours during the day than they sleep at night," she said. And yet, folks who wear hearing aids don't often have ear infections, though long wear times may increase their risk.
With the long wear times, Kita said the main concern she could anticipate was wax buildup since the natural path for wax to exit the ear canal would be blocked. However, she said it's not necessarily a cause for concern, as wax can typically exit the ear canal at other points during the day when you're not wearing earbuds (or blocking your ear canal in any other way).
As for any heightened infection risk, Kita shared that it can increase when there's greater wax buildup that can then trap bacteria. She recommended cleaning the buds with isopropyl alcohol and a cotton pad after each use, if possible. (One of the brands we tested, Ozlo, recommends a weekly cleaning.) With all that said, someone's risk for infection really comes down to personal susceptibility — some people are more prone to ear infections than others. If you fall into that category, being more proactive about cleaning your earbuds is a good practice.
Noise levels
Noise-induced hearing loss is the second most common type of hearing loss (behind age-related hearing loss), so it's important to be aware of the level of noise you expose yourself to. Kita pointed me in the direction of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) chart for how long people can be exposed to certain decibel levels safely.
In its FAQ, Ozlo also cites OSHA's recommendation, as well as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's recommendations, which top out at 90 decibels and 85 decibels for eight hours, respectively. We reached out to a rep from Soundcore to see if its earbuds have specific upper decibel limits, and will update this guide when we hear back. In general, though, Kita said the less noise, the better, recommending that you always try to use the lowest volume possible.
"While I don't necessarily love the idea of extra noise when you're not even conscious to appreciate it, if it's the thing that's keeping you asleep or letting you sleep, it just comes in this category of risks and benefits," Kita said. "Just make sure that it's quiet enough, then it really isn't that much different than using a white noise machine on your nightstand."
Comfort
Earbuds fitting comfortably is important for you to be able to fall asleep, but also for your ear health.
"Everyone's ear canal is shaped differently," Kita said. "And so something that might be really comfortable for your ears might really cause my ears to ache."
In other words, giving yourself earbuds-induced earaches every night can actually impact your ear health. If one of the below recommendations really isn't sitting right, even with adjustments to the ear tip sizes, don't be afraid to return them.
Other sleep earbuds we tested
At the end of the initial testing period, the one product that didn't make the cut was the 1More Sleeping Earbuds Z30, which, at $89.99, were the least expensive earbuds I tested. While significantly cheaper than the earbuds that did make the cut, their battery life, app features, and fit didn't quite match up to the other options on my list. However, if you're looking for very barebones low-profile earbuds (and don't mind hearing them die in the early hours of the morning), these aren't a bad option under $100.
In keeping up with my value criteria, I decided to ultimately pull the Ozlo Sleepbuds as our best upgrade pick. After their price jumped up from $299 to $349 — far outpricing our existing picks (and most premium standard ANC earbuds, for that matter) — I determined their features didn't justify their price tag. The addition of sleep tracking (which is in the works) or ANC would make these earbuds much more competitive. On that note, the newly-released Soundcore Sleep A30 took their spot, as the only sleep earbuds with ANC on the market at the time of writing.
I tested out five sleep earbuds most nights over a period of a few months, using each product for at least a week and half. During my testing, I paid attention to four major categories when determining which were the best:
Simply put, earbuds that aren't comfortable will not be a pair that you reach for when you go to sleep. I paid attention to any ear soreness I felt in the mornings, and how easy it was to find the right fit that kept the earbuds secure in my ear, without feeling painful. While I never felt like there was nothing in my ear, I did only pick earbuds that wore well enough that I could forget I was wearing them. As Dr. Kita told me, everyone's ear shapes are different, so I also only included earbuds that had at least three different ear tip sizes to use.
There aren't many sleep earbuds on the market that offer active noise cancellation — the many pairs actually don't have microphones (which are standard for quality ANC). However, a good fit can take you a long way, and where you might need a little more help, white noise can make up the difference. I slept in a room with my partner, a mini split unit that likes to creak, and near a street where I can often hear cars late at night. The only earbuds that made this list were ones that significantly dampened, if not outright canceled out, those sounds.
This category covers a lot, from the battery life on the earbuds and the case, Bluetooth connection, app features, and even the size of the case (for those who have limited nightstand space). Basically, anything that could make these earbuds easier or more difficult to fold into a nighttime routine fell into this category — especially because the last time you want to be dealing with a pairing issue is right before you go to bed.
In a word, the price. Does it match up to the performance in each of the above categories? As I was looking at a $250 range between all the products I tested, I wanted to make sure that I felt those price differences in how the earbuds performed.
Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she's covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she's now done for three years at Mashable.
