The Best White Noise Machines, According To Someone Who Can’t Function Without Them

Fan-powered white noise machines don’t offer the sound variety of their digital counterparts, but I ultimately prefer them for two reasons: First, their noise comes from a physical fan rather than a pre-recorded or digitally generated one, so the sound is always calmingly natural. The fan is also whirring inside the machine in real time, so there’s no risk of the repetition you might get from a pre-recorded sound loop (which can be like nails on a chalkboard to my easily agitated brain). This is why I prefer a fan-powered machine, and my favorite is the entirely no-frills Dohm Classic. First launched in 1962 and essentially untouched ever since, has a powerful internal fan, two speeds, and nothing else. Just plug it in and flip the switch (up for a slower fan speed and softer whir, down for a faster and louder) to fill the empty silence or block out everything from construction to snoring. It’s also affordable, and gets even cheaper when you buy in bulk. There’s also the Dohm Elite, which functions exactly light the Classic but has an updated exterior. If you want an even less expensive but also fantastic option, try the single-speed Dohm Uno.

The Dohm Nova is Yogasleep’s more modern take on a classic fan-powered machine. It has 10 fan speeds, adjustable volume and tone, and an adjustable amber nightlight. Its washable fabric cover also looks much sleeker than the Classic and Uno’s hard plastic shells. And while there’s no app, the Nova does have a button that allows you to set run times of 45 minutes, 90 minutes, or 8 hours. (You can also let it play continuously.)

The Snooz is real fan-powered white noise machine, but with a bunch of added bells and whistles. It has a sleek, space-age look and backlit power button; an adjustable white noise intensity that flows smoothly from “light” (which the company likens to a table fan) to “heavy” (airplane cabin); and an accompanying app that lets you adjust the fan power remotely and program the machine to turn on/off and fade in/out automatically. I’ve also heard its max volume is noticeably louder than the Dohm Classic’s highest setting, which is intriguing.

The Snooz Breez is a smart fan and a smart fan-powered white noise machine in one. The white noise component functions just like the original Snooz (adjustable volumes, accompanying app). The fan has multiple speeds, app connectivity, and an Auto-Fan mode that senses room temperature and adjusts automatically; and both features can be used together or independently.

The LectroFan EVO is an all-digital model with 22 non-looping sound variations: 10 fan sounds, 10 ambient sounds, and two ocean sounds. It also has three sound types: white, pink (which is deeper and more intense, similar to a heavy rainfall), and brown (even deeper and even more intense, like a waterfall). It’s loud but also compact and lightweight, making it easy to take on overnight trips. There’s no app but there is a manual sleep timer, and you can also save your preferred sound settings. LectroFan also makes a highly rated Classic model, which has 20 sounds (no ocean noises), is slightly quieter, and lack’s the EVO’s headphone jack.

Adaptive Sound Technologies, who also make the LectroFan, is the brand behind the Sound + Sleep SE. It’s a fancy machine, and also pricey — but you do get a lot of bang for those bucks: There are 16 sound categories (rainfall, ocean, city, fan, meditation, and white, pink and brown noise ambient noises) with four sound options for each, for a total of 64 unique, non-looping options that can also be layered on top of one another to create even more variations. If that’s not enough, the SE can also send sound changes in your environment and automatically adjust its intensity.

The Magicteam machine is a fairly no-frills digital option that’s also very affordable. This particular version has 32 volume levels and a whopping 40 non-looping sounds, including white noise, nature and water-themed sounds, lullabies, and mellow piano instrumentals. It remembers your most recent setting when you turn it on; and you can leave it on continuously or select a 1- 2- or 3-hour timer. Magicteam also makes a version with 20 sounds and attractive faux wood finish. Both models are small and lightweight, making them super portable and packable

The most bare-bones digital model on the list, the Homedics Sound Sleep looks more like a boardroom conference phone than a white noise machine; but if you’re looking for an easy-to-use device that simply gets the job done, you found it. It has six simple sounds (white noise, thunder, ocean, rain, babbling brook, and quiet forest sounds Homedics calls “Summer at Night”), gets decently loud, and has an option auto-off timer you can set at 15, 30, or 60 minutes. And because it’s so flat and can either be plugged in or run on batteries, it’s also great for taking on the road.

With a library of 15 sounds from crickets and ocean waves to lullabies and fetal tones, along with 14 additional white noise and fan options, the DreamEgg’s D3 Pro is a great option for babies and grownups alike. Even better: It’s the only rechargeable tabletop device on this list, allowing for up to 12 hours of continuous use even if you happen to be without an outlet. There’s also a headphone jack, which is especially handy if you want your white noise but no one else does.

The first noise machine and nightlight combo on the list, this is the machine has been in my daughter’s room since day 1 (actually, mine is an earlier-model Hatch, but I’d go for this second-gen model if I was buying it today). It comes with a few pre-programmed settings, but you can use the Hatch app to change the sound, volume, and nightlight brightness and color, and even create customized programs that turn on and off at specified times — making it especially useful as a wake-up clock. You can also bundle your purchase with the portable Hatch Rest Go (which can also be purchased separately); and if you really want to be extra, upgrade to paid and add music, bedtime stories, and even goodnight voice notes to your sound repertoire with a Hatch+ subscription.

(And I’d be remiss if I didn’t also point out that Yogasleep, the brand behind my beloved Dohm Classic, also makes two similar and highly-rated devices worth checking out: The charmingly simple Duet, and more grown-up looking but still kid-friendly Yogasleep Dream Center.)

Think of the Hatch Restore 3 as the Rest for grownups. Instead of a continuous nightlight, the Restore supports natural circadian rhythms by dimming at bedtime, going dark when you’re asleep, and waking you in the morning with a sunrise-simulating brightening (instead of a jarring alarm). It also has a library of more than 80 soothing sleep sounds; and you can use the Hatch free app to pick from a growing library of curated bedtime routines, or create your own. And of course, there’s the option to access even more sleep content with a Hatch+ subscription.

The palm-sized Yogasleep Travel Mini is nightlight/noise machine combo that’s purposefully portable. It has six noise-dampening sounds sounds, including brown noise, nature sounds, and the classic Dohm fan; and its night light has three gentle brightness settings, and a soft amber tone that won’t disrupt your natural sleep cycle. I particularly love the removable lanyard, which makes it perfect for putting on your nightstand or attaching to your baby’s stroller or carseat. The USB charging cable provides power for up to 8 hours of continuous, cord-free use (though some customers say theirs have held a charge for nearly twice as long).

For a white noise machine-only option that’s equally powerful and portable but also more affordable, the DreamEgg Portable (which did a great job lulling my infant daughter to sleep during naptime walks) is a fantastic option.