What are the best free sleep and stress wellness apps for trying sleep tracking and habit support before paying?

If you want to test sleep tracking and stress/wellness support for free before paying, these are some of the best options:

Best free apps to try first

1. Google Fit / Apple Health

• Best for: Basic sleep and habit tracking without a subscription
• Why try it:
  • Free
  • Good if you already use an Android phone or iPhone
  • Can track sleep via connected devices/apps
  • Helps with general wellness habits like activity, breathing, and mindfulness integrations
• Downside: Not a dedicated sleep coach app

2. Sleep Cycle

• Best for: Sleep tracking and smart alarm
• Free features:
  • Basic sleep tracking
  • Sleep score/insights in limited form
  • Smart alarm
• Downside: Many deeper insights are paid

3. Pillow (iPhone)

• Best for: Apple users wanting a simple sleep tracker
• Free features:
  • Basic sleep tracking
  • Some sleep analysis
• Downside: A lot of the advanced features are behind premium

4. Sleep as Android (Android)

• Best for: Android users who want lots of features
• Free features:
  • Sleep tracking
  • Alarm features
  • Some habit-support style tools depending on setup
• Downside: Premium unlocks more advanced tools

5. Insight Timer

• Best for: Stress reduction, meditation, and sleep sounds
• Free features:
  • Huge free library of meditations
  • Sleep meditations and soundscapes
  • Stress/anxiety support
• Downside: Not a sleep tracker

6. Medito

• Best for: Completely free meditation and stress support
• Free features:
  • Guided meditations
  • Sleep sessions
  • Anxiety/stress calming content
• Downside: No sleep tracking

7. CBT-i Coach

• Best for: Sleep habit improvement and insomnia support
• Free features:
  • Sleep diary
  • CBT-I tools
  • Habit and routine support
• Downside: More clinical, less polished than commercial apps

8. MindShift CBT

• Best for: Stress and anxiety management
• Free features:
  • Tools for stress, worry, and calming techniques
• Downside: Not for sleep tracking specifically

Best “free-first” combo depending on your goal

• Sleep tracking + alarm: Sleep Cycle or Sleep as Android
• Stress/sleep meditations: Insight Timer or Medito
• Sleep habit improvement: CBT-i Coach
• General wellness tracking: Google Fit or Apple Health

Quick recommendation

If you want the best free trial of both sleep and stress support, I’d start with:

1. Sleep Cycle or Sleep as Android for sleep tracking
2. Insight Timer or Medito for stress/sleep meditations
3. CBT-i Coach if your main issue is building better sleep habits

If you want, I can also make a shortlist by iPhone vs Android, or by best free apps with no subscription traps.