Frequently Asked Questions

What is Better Sleep?

Better Sleep is a cross-platform app (iOS, Android, Web) that helps adults improve their sleep through curated sleep science content, structured routines, manual sleep logging, trend charts, and personalized insights. All content is backed by citations from reputable sources including the NIH, Sleep Foundation, Mayo Clinic, and peer-reviewed research.

Do I need to create an account to use Better Sleep?

No. Better Sleep uses anonymous-first authentication. When you first launch the app, an anonymous session is created automatically — no sign-in screen, no account required. You can use all core features (content library, sleep logging, routines, trend charts) immediately. An account is only needed when you want to remove ads (one-time purchase) or subscribe for premium features like cloud sync and custom routines. Account creation happens naturally at those moments, not upfront.

What is the onboarding sleep quiz for?

The 5-question quiz at first launch captures your current sleep patterns (bedtime, wake time, quality rating, biggest challenge, and optional caffeine habits). Your answers are stored in your profile and used to personalize the tip cards and insights you see. The quiz takes under 2 minutes and can be skipped, though completing it gives the app more context to surface relevant content.

What content is in the Learn tab?

The Learn tab contains 15+ long-form sleep science articles and 50+ bite-sized tip cards organized across 9 categories: Sleep Basics, Light & Sleep, Temperature, Nutrition & Caffeine, Exercise & Sleep, Stress & Relaxation, Sleep Environment, Sleep Schedules & Consistency, and Common Sleep Myths. Every article and tip card includes at least one citation from a reputable source. You can browse by category, search by keyword, and bookmark articles to revisit.

How do I log my sleep?

Tap "Log Sleep" from the Home tab or navigate to the Sleep tab. The entry form has three fields: bedtime (pre-fills from your last entry), wake time (defaults to now), and a quality rating (1–5). All fields are required. A typical entry takes under 30 seconds. You can edit or delete any past entry by tapping it in your sleep history.

What are trend charts and when do they appear?

Trend charts appear in the Sleep tab after you have at least 3 data points logged. They show three charts: sleep duration over time, sleep quality over time, and bedtime consistency. You can switch between 7-day and 14-day views for free; the 30-day view requires a Plus subscription. If you don't have enough data yet, the app shows a friendly empty state encouraging you to log a few more nights.

What is a sleep routine and how does the streak work?

A routine is a checklist of activities you complete before bed or after waking to build healthier sleep habits. Better Sleep includes pre-built evening templates (Wind Down, Quick Relax, Active Decompression) and morning templates (Energize, Gentle Start). Select one as your active routine and it appears on the Home tab. Check off each step as you complete it. The streak counter increments for each consecutive day you complete the routine — and resets if you miss a day.

Can I build my own custom routine?

Yes, with a Plus subscription. The custom routine builder (available on the Routines tab) lets you pick from a library of 20+ activities (dim lights, breathing exercise, light stretch, journal, warm bath, aromatherapy, and more) and arrange them in any order. You can adjust the duration of each step and name your routine. Custom routines work identically to templates — they show on your Home tab as a checklist and count toward your streak.

What are personalized insights?

After 7 or more days of sleep logs, Better Sleep starts detecting patterns in your data. Basic insights (available to all tiers) show correlations like whether you sleep better on days you complete your routine. Extended insights and enhanced weekly summaries — which include personalized observations like "Your weekend quality is lower despite sleeping longer, your bedtime varied by 2.5 hours" — require a Plus subscription. All insights are labeled as observations, not medical advice.

What is the weekly summary?

Once per week, a summary card appears on your Home tab showing your average sleep duration, average quality rating, routine completion rate, and one personalized insight or recommended tip based on your data. The basic weekly summary is available to all tiers. The enhanced version (with deeper pattern analysis and recommendations) requires a Plus subscription.

What is the morning reminder notification?

A local push notification that fires at your configured time each morning reminding you to log last night's sleep. The default time is 9:00 AM. You can change the time or turn it off in Settings. Tapping the notification opens the sleep log entry screen directly. On web (no push), the app shows an in-app banner instead if you haven't logged today.

What is the difference between the Free, Ad-Free, and Plus tiers?

• Free (Tier A): All core features work with no account required. Banner and interstitial ads are shown. Trends are limited to 7 days. No custom routines. No extended insights.
• Ad-Free (Tier B): A one-time purchase that removes all ads permanently. No additional features beyond ad removal. Requires account creation at purchase.
• Plus (Tier C): A monthly or annual subscription that removes ads and unlocks custom routine builder, 14-day and 30-day trend charts, extended weekly insights, and cloud sync across devices.

Is Better Sleep safe to use as medical guidance?

No. Better Sleep is for informational purposes only. A medical disclaimer is shown on first launch and must be accepted before using the app. All insights and content are labeled as observations or educational information — not medical advice. If you have a sleep disorder or health concerns, consult a qualified medical professional.