Plays with the screen off
Lock your phone or switch apps — the sound keeps going, with play and pause controls right on your lock screen.
White noise & calm sounds — free online player
Play white, pink and brown noise plus rain, ocean, fire and more — looping forever or on a sleep timer, and it keeps playing with your screen off. No app, no sign-up.
Built for real, restful nights
Most white-noise pages stop the moment your screen turns off. playwhitenoise is designed to stay with you until morning.
Loops forever
Every sound is a seamless, gapless loop. Leave it running all night without a single break or fade.
Gentle sleep timer
Set 15, 30 or 90 minutes — or your own length. The sound fades out softly and stops so it never wakes you.
Free, no app, offline
No sign-up, no ads, no download. Add it to your home screen once and it even works without a connection.
Pick a sound or a goal
Jump straight to any noise colour or ambient sound, or to a guide for sleep, focus, studying, babies and tinnitus — each opens the player ready to play.
Colours of noise
Nature & ambient
Nine sounds, from deep noise to rolling surf
The classic noise colours each have a different character. Pick the one that fades into the background for you — many people find brown or pink the most calming, while white is best for masking sudden sounds.
Brown Noise
A deep, rumbling noise with the high frequencies rolled off. Brown noise feels like distant thunder or a steady waterfall — many people find it the most calming for focus and deep sleep.
Pink Noise
Balanced across the spectrum with gentle, even energy — softer than white noise. Pink noise resembles steady rainfall and is often used to improve deep sleep and mask background sound.
White Noise
Equal energy at every frequency — the classic static hiss. White noise is the most effective at masking sudden sounds like traffic, voices or a snoring partner.
Green Noise
Mid-frequency noise centred around the ambient sound of the natural world — like a calm forest or a faraway stream. Soothing without the brightness of white noise.
Grey Noise
Tuned to how the ear actually hears, so every frequency feels equally present. A soft, even blanket of sound — popular for tinnitus relief and deep focus.
Blue Noise
Energy rising toward the high frequencies for a crisp, airy hiss. Blue noise is a favourite for masking ringing in the ears and for a lighter, brighter backdrop.
Violet Noise
Energy concentrated in the very high frequencies for a fine, delicate hiss — the mirror image of brown noise. A go-to for masking high-pitched ringing and tinnitus.
Ocean Waves
Waves swelling and breaking in a slow, endless rhythm. The gentle rise and fall mirrors calm breathing, making it a beautiful companion for winding down.
Rain
A soft, continuous shower with no thunder to startle you. Steady rain is one of the most loved sounds for sleep, reading and quiet concentration.
Stream
A gentle brook trickling over stones — light, bright and always moving, without the heaviness of a waterfall. Fresh and calming for focus or rest.
Waterfall
A constant, powerful cascade of water. Fuller and deeper than rain, it wraps the room in a smooth, even roar that drowns out everything else.
Wind
A soft, gusting wind that rises and falls. The slow movement gives the calm of an open landscape without becoming distracting.
Fan
The familiar, even hum of a fan or air conditioner — a low rumble under a smooth layer of airflow. Comforting, consistent and great for masking household noise.
Airplane Cabin
The steady, enveloping drone of a plane at cruise — a deep rumble beneath a smooth layer of rushing air. One of the most loved sounds for falling asleep anywhere.
Fireplace
The warm roar and soft crackle of a wood fire. Cosy and grounding — perfect for reading, relaxing or drifting off on a cold night.
Heartbeat
A slow, resting heartbeat over the soft hush of the womb — deeply soothing, and a classic for settling babies, and adults, to sleep.
Frequently asked questions
Does the sound keep playing when my screen is off?
Yes. playwhitenoise uses real audio playback and the Media Session API, so once you press play the sound continues when you lock your phone or switch to another app — with pause and skip controls on your lock screen. For the most reliable all-night playback, add the site to your home screen and open it from there.
Can it play forever?
Every sound is a seamless loop with no gaps, so it plays continuously for as long as you like. If you want it to stop on its own, use the sleep timer.
What is the difference between white, pink and brown noise?
White noise has equal energy at every frequency — a bright, full hiss that masks sudden sounds well. Pink noise is softer and more balanced, similar to steady rain. Brown noise rolls off the high frequencies for a deep, rumbling sound that many people find the most relaxing for sleep and focus.
Which noise is best for sleep?
It is personal, but brown and pink noise are the most popular for sleep because they are deep and gentle. White noise is better when you mainly want to block out a noisy environment. Try a few and keep whichever one fades into the background fastest for you.
Is it really free?
Completely. There is no sign-up, no account and no download required. You can use every sound, the sleep timer and background playback at no cost.
Does it work offline?
Yes. playwhitenoise is an installable web app. After your first visit it caches the sounds, so you can add it to your home screen and play even without an internet connection.
Will white noise damage my hearing?
Played at a comfortable, low volume it is considered safe for adults. As with any audio, keep the level moderate — especially overnight or through headphones — and lower it if it ever feels loud.