Sleep Apps · Review
Nature Sounds Review
A sleep app from Rory Buckley — rated 4.6 stars by 108 App Store users.
App Store rating
4.6 / 5 (108 ratings)
Starting price
Free (in-app purchases vary)
Free tier
Yes
Platforms
iOS · iPadOS
Developer
Rory Buckley
Launched
2014
Our verdict
Nature Sounds holds a strong 4.6-star average across 108 App Store ratings and ranks #157 in App Store search results for "sleep sounds". This is a data-driven review compiled from its store listing, pricing, and user-rating profile — we have not yet completed hands-on testing, and a full editorial review is planned.
Data-driven review: this page is compiled from App Store data — the app’s real rating average and count, pricing, search ranking, and the developer’s published description (quoted, not paraphrased). We have not yet hands-on tested this app; a full editorial review is planned. Our hands-on-tested picks are marked throughout. Unsponsored, no affiliate influence.
Nature Sounds is Rory Buckley's entry in the sleep app space, and users rate it highly: a strong 4.6-star average across 108 App Store ratings.
Its App Store listing describes it this way: “In need of relaxation, or do you have trouble sleeping? The Nature Sounds app will calm your nerves & help you drift off to sleep in no time.” As with all listings, that is the developer's own framing — useful for understanding what the app aims to be.
This review is compiled from App Store data — the rating profile, pricing, ranking, and the developer's published description — rather than hands-on testing. We flag that openly: it tells you what the data supports, and our full editorial review will go deeper.
Pros & cons
What we like
- A strong 4.6-star average across 108 App Store ratings — real users rate it well.
- Free to download, so trying it costs nothing.
- Ranks #157 in App Store search for "sleep sounds" — genuine visibility in its category.
- Available since 2014, with an established presence on the store.
What we don’t
- We have not yet hands-on tested this app — this review reflects store data, not editorial experience.
- Like most free wellness apps, expect in-app subscription offers; check current pricing before committing.
- Smaller user base than the category leaders, so the rating sample is limited.
Best for / avoid if
Best for
- →People browsing beyond the big names in the sleep app category
- →Users who weigh real App Store ratings heavily (4.6 stars, 108 ratings)
- →Anyone who wants to try options at no cost
Avoid if
- →You want a deeply vetted, hands-on-tested pick — see our editorial reviews of BetterSleep, Calm, Pzizz
- →You need clinical or therapeutic support — no consumer app provides that
Pricing
Download
Free
Free to install from the App Store.
In-app purchases
Varies
Many apps in this category offer optional subscriptions — check the App Store listing for current in-app pricing.
What Nature Sounds is
Nature Sounds is a sleep app for iOS by Rory Buckley, first released in 2014.
In the developer's words: “In need of relaxation, or do you have trouble sleeping? The Nature Sounds app will calm your nerves & help you drift off to sleep in no time.”
Where Nature Sounds sits in the category
By the numbers: a strong 4.6-star average across 108 App Store ratings, ranking #157 in App Store search for "sleep sounds". That makes it a smaller app still building its audience.
Store ratings are not the whole story — they skew positive across this category — but a large sample at 4.6 stars is a meaningful signal that existing users find it does what it promises.
What the listing emphasizes
“In need of relaxation, or do you have trouble sleeping? The Nature Sounds app will calm your nerves & help you drift off to sleep in no time.” — that is the pitch, in the developer's own words.
We quote the listing rather than paraphrase it so you can judge the developer's claims for yourself. Our hands-on editorial review, when published, will test those claims.
Where Nature Sounds falls behind
Editorial vetting. Unlike BetterSleep or Calm, we have not yet tested Nature Sounds hands-on.
Transparency of in-app pricing. App Store listings often reveal subscription costs only after download — check the in-app purchases section of the listing.
Brand ecosystem. The category leaders pair their apps with large content teams and published research; smaller apps rarely match that depth.
Nature Sounds vs. the category leaders
The sleep app category is anchored by BetterSleep, Calm, Pzizz — all of which we have reviewed editorially, hands-on.
Nature Sounds's case rests on its user-rating profile (4.6 stars, 108 ratings) and its free download. The leaders' case rests on vetted content depth and track record.
A sensible approach: read our editorial reviews of the leaders first, and try Nature Sounds for free if its specific angle appeals — App Store ratings this positive usually mean the core experience delivers.
Bottom line
Nature Sounds earns a strong 4.6-star average across 108 App Store ratings — real users like it. Until our hands-on review lands, treat this page as an honest data profile: strong signals, store-verified facts, and clearly marked limits.
Want a daily positivity practice in your own voice? Selfpause lets you record personalized affirmations, layer them with calming music, and keep them on your lock screen.
Try Selfpause FreeAlternatives to Nature Sounds
BetterSleep
4.3Build-your-own soundscapes with a generous free tier.
Read our review →
Calm
4.5Premium Sleep Stories and relaxation.
Read our review →
Pzizz
4.1Generative sleep and nap sessions.
Read our review →
Frequently asked questions
Is Nature Sounds free?+
Nature Sounds is free to download. Like most apps in this category it may offer in-app subscriptions — check the in-app purchases section of its App Store listing for current pricing.
How is Nature Sounds rated?+
It holds a 4.6-star average across 108 ratings on the US App Store — a smaller app still building its audience.
Who makes Nature Sounds?+
Rory Buckley, who released it in 2014. The App Store listing links to the developer's site and privacy policy.
Is this a hands-on review?+
Not yet — this review is compiled from App Store data: ratings, pricing, search ranking, and the developer's published description. A full editorial review is planned. For hands-on-tested picks in this category, see our reviews of BetterSleep, Calm, Pzizz.
A note on mental health: apps and online services can support wellbeing, but they are not a substitute for professional care. If you are struggling, a licensed professional can help — and if you are in crisis, contact your local emergency number or, in the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).