I Tested White Noise Machines for a Month to Find the 7 Best

The LectroFan Evo scored 7/10 and impressed us during testing with 22 non-looping options that include multiple fan sounds, white noise variations, and an ocean setting — solid choices for masking household noise. We found the compact, travel-friendly design and built-in sleep timer convenient for short trips and bedside use. During our review, some testers missed more diverse nature sounds beyond ocean, and our experience shows it must remain plugged into USB power since there's no internal battery or customization of sound profiles.

While not the highest scorer at 5.5/10, the Rohm Travel Sound Machine is extremely compact and lightweight, and during our review it proved handy for trips and hotel rooms. We found the simple interface easy to use, but the unit only offers three sound options — Bright White Noise, Deep White Noise, and Gentle Surf — which limits versatility. Our experience also flagged some durability concerns, with reports of units failing after a few months, so consider this an inexpensive, temporary travel solution rather than a long-term bedside device.

Despite its higher price and a 7.5/10 score, the Sound+Sleep SE impressed us in testing with 64 non-looping sound profiles and Adaptive Sound Technology that automatically adjusts volume to ambient noise. We found the natural and environmental options useful for masking unpredictable household sounds, and appreciated two USB charging ports plus a headphone jack for private listening. During our review, some sounds struck us as less polished than others and the lack of Bluetooth for wireless streaming is an inconvenient omission. Overall, it's feature-rich if you prioritize variety.

The Hatch Restore 3 earned a middling 6/10 in our review despite offering a customizable sunrise alarm and good sound quality across its 31 sound options. In our testing the dynamic lighting and soothing soundscapes helped ease wake-ups, but we found the device's reliance on Wi‑Fi for basic alarm functionality frustrating for travelers and anyone with flaky internet. Our experience also shows the paywalled library of guided meditations and extra sounds limits value unless you subscribe, so it's best for users who want a smart bedside hub accepting subscription fees.

Designed with nurseries in mind, the Dreamegg D1 earned an 8/10 in our testing by delivering 24 high-fidelity, non-looping sounds and a convenient timer with 30, 60, and 90-minute auto-off options. During our review we found the light yellow night light handy for middle-of-the-night checks, though our experience shows it's not dimmable and can be brighter than some parents prefer. The lack of battery operation means it must stay plugged in, but its sound quality and baby-friendly features make it one of the better nursery-focused choices.

As our top-rated budget pick with a 9/10 score, the Magicteam Sound Machine earned its high rating in our testing by packing 20 non-looping natural sounds into an impressively compact, travel-ready design. We found the memory function especially handy — it remembers your last settings so you don't fumble in the dark — and the affordability makes it a no-brainer for travelers or dorm rooms. During our review we noticed there's no built-in battery so it needs power, and the top volume can be lacking in very noisy spaces.

Lightweight and inexpensive at about $39, the Hatch Rest Go scored 6.5/10 in our testing and is a solid travel companion thanks to its compact design and good sound quality. We found the ten sound options provide enough variety for short trips or noisy hotel rooms, but during our review the lack of a timer felt limiting for overnight use. Our experience shows the power button's long-press requirement can be frustrating in the dark, so it's best suited to travelers who value portability over fuss-free controls.