Drift / White noise
Free white noise generator
Press play for free white, pink or brown noise right in your browser, with a sleep timer that fades out. Nothing downloads, nothing loops with a gap, and you do not need an account.
On iPhone, a browser tab usually stops playing when the screen locks. For all night sound with the phone locked, use the free Drift app.
White, pink or brown: which noise is best for sleep?
All three are random sound spread across every pitch you can hear. They differ in how much of that sound sits in the low notes versus the high ones.
- White noise has equal energy at every frequency, so it sounds bright and hissy, like radio static. It is the best at covering sharp sounds such as a barking dog, a snoring partner or voices through a wall.
- Pink noise has equal energy in every octave, so the high end is softer. It sounds like steady rain or wind, and many people find it easier to listen to for hours than white noise.
- Brown noise (also called red noise) drops off even more toward the highs, leaving a deep rumble like a distant waterfall or the inside of a plane. It is the gentlest of the three and covers low traffic hum well.
There is no single best color. Start with brown or pink if white sounds harsh, and switch to white if sudden noises still wake you. Give each one a full night before you decide.
Tips for using noise at night
- Keep the volume low: just loud enough to soften the sounds that bother you, about the level of a quiet shower.
- Put the speaker across the room rather than next to your pillow. For a baby, keep it well away from the crib and quiet.
- Use the sleep timer if you only need help falling asleep. A slow fade is less likely to wake you than sound that stops all at once.
- Keep it steady. A constant sound masks better than one that changes, which is why noise works better than music for many sleepers.
Questions
Is this white noise generator free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with no account, no download and no ads in the player. The sound is generated live on your device, so it never repeats with a gap.
Will it keep playing when my phone locks?
Usually not on iPhone, because mobile browsers pause web audio when the screen locks. Leave the screen on, or use the free Drift app, which keeps playing with the phone locked.
What is the difference between white, pink and brown noise?
White noise has equal energy at every frequency and sounds bright. Pink noise has equal energy in every octave and sounds like rain. Brown noise is weighted further toward the low end and sounds like a deep rumble.
Which noise color is best for sleep?
It depends on what keeps you awake. White noise covers sudden sharp sounds best; pink and brown are softer and easier to listen to all night. Try each for a full night.
Why is there no sound on my iPhone?
Tap Play again after the page loads, turn up the volume, and check that the Ring and Silent switch is not set to silent, since some iPhone browsers mute web audio in silent mode.