Sleep Effect vs Don't Disturb
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Sleep Effect
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SLEEP EFFECT: YOUR ARCHITECT OF CALM. Stop fighting the silence. Whether youβre battling a racing mind, a noisy neighborhood, or the hum of tinnitus, Sleep Effect empowers you to build a personalized audio sanctuary. Using a state-of-the-art layering engine, we don't just play soundsβwe help you conduct your environment. WHY SLEEP EFFECT? Unlike standard sound machines that play repetitive loops, Sleep Effect uses an organic replay engine. By introducing natural delays between sounds, we eliminate "loop fatigue," creating an unpredictable, immersive atmosphere that feels like the real world. THE CORE FEATURES: 1. AN INFINITE LIBRARY OF HIGH-FIDELITY AUDIO Curated by sound enthusiasts, our library is immersive and categorized for effortless discovery: * WATER & RAIN: Thunderstorms, mountain streams, and the ocean pulse. * THE GREAT OUTDOORS: Rustling leaves, meadow breezes, and forest nights. * WILDERNESS ECHOES: Haunting loon calls, distant gulls, and midnight owls. * COZY ELEMENTS: Crackling log fires and wind-swept cabins. * AIR & SPACE: Mountain gusts and soft drones to clear mental clutter. 2. THE CUSTOM MIX ARCHITECT Donβt just listenβcreate. Layer unlimited sounds simultaneously with precision control: * INDIVIDUAL VOLUME SLIDERS: Make the rain heavy, but the distant thunder faint. * NAMED FAVORITES: Save your "Rainy Cabin" mix with custom emojis for one-tap relaxation. 3. PRECISION CONTROLS & SLEEP TIMER * GENTLE FADE-OUT: Set your timer and drift off as the audio gracefully fades to silence. * MASTER PLAYER: A polished, tactile interface to pause or stop all sounds instantly. 4. ORGANIC REPLAY DELAYS Our "Natural Replay" feature allows you to add manual delays between tracks. This ensures your environment stays fresh and organic, preventing your brain from spotting a loop. DESIGNED FOR YOUR BEDSIDE: * OBSIDIAN DARK MODE: Designed to reduce eye strain and keep your room dark. * LOCK SCREEN CONTROL: Full artwork and media controls without unlocking your phone. * BACKGROUND PLAY: Keep your soundscape running while using other apps. PERFECT FOR: * DEEP SLEEP: Mask tinnitus and silence racing thoughts. * PARENTS: Create a consistent, soothing environment for babies. * DEEP WORK: Block out office distractions and reach a flow state. * MEDITATION: Ground your practice with high-fidelity nature. Transform your space. Find your frequency. Download Sleep Effect today.
Don't Disturb
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Somewhere above the clouds there is a small island where it is always night. A campfire crackles. Fireflies drift between the pines. An owl watches from the treetops, and a little glowing soul sits at the center, waiting for you. Don't Disturb isn't a list of tracks. It's a place. ARRANGE THE NIGHT AROUND YOU Drag sounds onto the island and put them wherever you like. Rain over the pines. The ocean behind your shoulder. Bring the fire in close, until you can almost feel it. The night arranges itself around you, and it stays where you left it. TURN YOUR HEAD With AirPods, the island holds still. Look over at the camp and the fire keeps crackling on your left. The owl still calls from the same tree. Your ears believe the place, and the rest of you follows. Lovely on any headphones. Quietly magic on AirPods. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR Waves. Rain. Wind through the pines. A campfire. A running stream. Crickets in the grass. An owl. A wolf, very far away. And a small music box, for the nights that want a melody. MADE FOR FALLING ASLEEP Set a sleep timer and the island dims on its own β the lanterns go out, the fire burns down, and the soul curls up to sleep. The controls step back when your hands rest. Nothing flashes, nothing interrupts, nothing asks anything of you. YOURS ALONE No account. No ads. No tracking. Nothing you do here leaves your phone. Put your headphones on, drag the rain a little closer, and stay a while.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Don't Disturb at every 3 days against Sleep Effect's fortnightly. Don't Disturb also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Sleep Effect ships an update fortnightly, Don't Disturb every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | Sleep Effect | Don't Disturb |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 3 days β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.1 | 18.0 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 324 MB | 126 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ahmed Nabulsi | Rojo Volcan |
In-app purchases
Sleep Effect
No in-app purchases
Don't Disturb
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Sleep Effect free?
Is Don't Disturb free?
Do Sleep Effect or Don't Disturb have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sleep Effect or Don't Disturb?
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