But that’s not your only option. If white noise is a bit too shrieky for you, there’s also the lesser-known but increasingly popular brown (or red) noise, which is deeper than white noise thanks to a bigger bass kick, and sounds like heavy rainfall. And then there’s a third option—pink (or ambient) noise, which is gentler and more soothing, resembling the splash of a never-ending waterfall. There’s no conclusive scientific evidence supporting the claim that these noise palettes significantly boost concentration or aid sleep. But many people still find them helpful and use them to work or relax every day. These sounds are not for everyone, but it’s worth trying white, brown, and pink noises to see if they boost your work or rest. As always, an increasing number of apps are happy to help. White Noise Generator is available for Android for free. You can remove ads for $3 a month. Noisli is available for Android and iOS for $2, or for free on the web. White Noise HQ is available for iOS for free. Noise: Brown, Pink, White is available for Android for free. You can get rid of ads for a one-time payment of $3. White Noise Deep Sleep Sounds is available for Android and iOS for free. You can also get a premium account with full access to sounds and features for $2 a week. Dark Noise is available for iOS for $10. Over on the iOS side, you can cue up calming sounds on your iPhone, so check the link for full instructions on how to enable it. There are only a limited number of sounds available, and there’s little in the way of customization, but if you don’t want to install yet another app on your iPhone then it’s a handy alternative to have.
