Sound masking apps vs white noise machines: which is right for you?

If you use sound masking alongside tinnitus, you have two broad categories of tools: dedicated hardware (white noise machines and sound machines) and software (apps on your phone or tablet). Sound masking for tinnitus has been studied since Feldmann (1971) published the first systematic research, and Vernon (1977) pioneered wearable masking devices. Both hardware and software produce sound. Both can change the acoustic conditions of a room. But they work differently, cost differently, and suit different situations.

This is an honest comparison. Neither option is universally better. The right choice depends on how you use sound masking, where you use it, and how much control you want over the sound itself.

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What a white noise machine does

A dedicated sound machine is a single-purpose device that sits on a nightstand, desk, or shelf and produces sound. Most models fall into one of two categories.

Mechanical machines use a physical fan or rotating disk to generate sound acoustically. The Marpac Dohm is the best-known example. These produce a smooth, analogue sound with no digital artifacts. The frequency profile is shaped by the physical design of the fan housing.

Electronic machines use digital audio to play recorded or synthesized sounds through a built-in speaker. The LectroFan, Hatch Restore, and similar devices fall into this category. They offer more sound variety (multiple noise colours, nature sounds, tonal options) but the sound is digital playback through a fixed speaker.

Prices range from about $25 for basic models to $200 or more for feature-rich devices with smart home integration, lighting, or alarm functions.

What a sound masking app does

A sound masking app runs on a phone or tablet and delivers audio through the device speaker, external speakers, or headphones. Apps range from simple (a few preset sounds with volume control) to highly configurable (multi-layer mixers with per-layer pitch and volume controls, DSP effects, and frequency exploration tools).

Prices range from free (with limitations or ads) to $5 to $30 for full-featured apps. Most use a one-time purchase or subscription model.

The comparison

Sound quality

Hardware advantage. Dedicated machines, especially mechanical ones, produce sound with no compression artifacts. Electronic machines have purpose-built speakers optimized for the specific frequency ranges they produce. The speaker quality in a $100 sound machine is typically better than the speaker in a phone.

App advantage. When used with good headphones or a quality external speaker, an app can match or exceed the audio fidelity of a dedicated machine. The limiting factor is not the app itself but the output device. Through a pair of decent over-ear headphones, a well-designed app delivers clean, artifact-free audio.

Verdict. For speaker-based room sound, a dedicated machine often has an edge. For headphone use, the app wins because the headphones are the speaker.

Customization

Hardware advantage. Most sound machines are simple to operate. Turn the dial, select a sound, adjust volume. For people who want a fixed sound that they set and forget, this simplicity is a feature.

App advantage. This is where apps have a clear and significant advantage. A feature-rich app can offer dozens or hundreds of sounds, multi-layer mixing, per-layer pitch control, frequency exploration tools, DSP effects, save/recall of custom profiles, and sleep timers with gradual fade.

A dedicated machine gives you a fixed set of sounds at their default pitches. Research by Perez-Carpena et al. (2021) found that frequency-targeted sound (narrowband noise centred on the individual's tinnitus pitch) produced higher rates of temporary tinnitus suppression than broadband noise, which suggests pitch control is a meaningful feature, not a novelty. An app like Siasola Tinnitus Masking Sounds gives you 95+ sounds with a 5-layer mixer, independent pitch and volume on every layer, and the ability to build a custom profile matched to your specific situation. That level of control is not available in any hardware device at any price.

Verdict. If customization matters to you, apps win decisively.

Portability

Hardware advantage. None. Dedicated machines are designed for one location. Some are compact enough to pack in luggage, but they are not pocket-sized.

App advantage. Your phone is already with you. At the office, on a trip, commuting, at a restaurant, anywhere your tinnitus follows you, the app is already in your pocket. Pair it with earbuds or headphones and your sound environment travels with you.

Verdict. Apps are portable. Machines are not.

Reliability and battery

Hardware advantage. A plugged-in sound machine runs all night without concern about battery, system updates, notifications, or phone calls interrupting the audio. It does one thing, and it does it without interruption. Given that Gallo et al. (2023) found 72.2% of tinnitus patients rate their sleep quality as poor, uninterrupted overnight playback is a real consideration.

App advantage. Modern phones handle background audio well, but interruptions are possible. A notification sound, a phone call, or an operating system update can disrupt playback. Using do-not-disturb mode and keeping the phone plugged in mitigates these issues, but the hardware machine is inherently simpler in this regard.

Verdict. For overnight use where uninterrupted playback matters, dedicated hardware is more reliable. For daytime and on-the-go use, this difference is less significant.

Cost

Hardware. $25 to $200 for the device, plus potential replacement costs if it fails. No ongoing fees.

Apps. $0 to $30, depending on the app and pricing model. Some apps are one-time purchases. Others use subscriptions. The phone itself is a cost you are already paying regardless.

Verdict. Apps are generally less expensive, especially considering you already own the playback device.

Room filling vs personal listening

Hardware advantage. Dedicated machines with quality speakers fill a room with even, consistent sound. This is useful for shared bedrooms (both sleepers benefit) and for creating an ambient environment without wearing headphones.

App advantage. Through headphones, apps deliver a personal sound environment that does not affect anyone else in the room. This is essential in shared workspaces, during commutes, or when a partner prefers silence.

Verdict. Depends on the use case. Room filling favours hardware. Personal listening favours apps.

Who each option is best for

A dedicated machine is a good choice if you:

• Use sound masking primarily at home in one location (typically the bedroom)
• Want a set-and-forget device with no screen interaction
• Prefer room-filling sound over headphone listening
• Share a bedroom and both people want the ambient sound
• Do not need to adjust pitch, layer sounds, or explore frequencies

An app is a good choice if you:

• Want to use sound masking in multiple locations (home, work, travel)
• Want control over pitch, layering, and frequency targeting
• Have tinnitus that fluctuates and need to adjust your sound environment regularly
• Want to explore your tinnitus pitch and match sounds to your specific frequency
• Prefer headphone listening for privacy or precision
• Want to save multiple profiles for different contexts (sleep, focus, commute)

Both is also an answer

Some people use a dedicated machine at home for overnight sound and an app during the day for portable masking. The two are not mutually exclusive. If your nighttime needs are simple (consistent broadband noise, no pitch adjustment needed) a bedside machine handles that well. If your daytime needs require more control and portability, an app fills that gap.

Where siasola Tinnitus Masking Sounds fits

Siasola Tinnitus Masking Sounds is designed for people who want more control than a hardware machine can offer. The 5-layer mixer with independent pitch and volume per layer, 95+ sounds, DSP effects, and pitch exploration tools provide a level of customization that does not exist in the hardware category.

Justin, the developer, built it because he has tinnitus and found that fixed-sound devices did not give him enough control over his sound environment. The app is a sound customization tool, not a medical device.

If you have been using a white noise machine and wondering whether an app could give you a better fit, the answer depends on whether the limitations you are experiencing are about sound quality (favour hardware) or about customization and control (favour an app).

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References

1. Feldmann H. Homolateral and contralateral masking of tinnitus by noise-bands and by pure tones. Audiology. 1971;10(3):138-144. doi:10.3109/00206097109072551

2. Gallo KEB, Correa CDC, Goncalves CGDO, et al. Effect of tinnitus on sleep quality and insomnia. International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology. 2023;27(2):e197-e202. doi:10.1055/s-0041-1735455

3. Perez-Carpena P, Bibas A, Lopez-Escamez JA, Vardonikolaki K, Kikidis D. Systematic review of sound stimulation to elicit tinnitus residual inhibition. Progress in Brain Research. 2021;262:1-21. doi:10.1016/bs.pbr.2021.01.020

4. Vernon JA. Attempts to relieve tinnitus. Journal of the American Auditory Society. 1977;2(4):124-131. PubMed:845067

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siasola Tinnitus Masking Sounds is a sound customization tool. It is not a medical device and does not claim to produce any health outcome. If you experience tinnitus, consult an audiologist or healthcare provider. Individual experiences with sound masking vary.