Brain.fm, Endel or Noisli? Three apps that use sound to help you concentrate, compared on price.
Researched from official sources, updated today, 2 min readThe right sound can make it much easier to settle into work. Some apps make music designed for focus, some generate soundscapes that adapt to you, and some let you mix your own background noise. We compared the focus sound apps in our inventory and picked three. Prices were checked on November 1, 2026.
| Brain.fm | Endel | Noisli | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Music made specifically for deep work | Adaptive soundscapes on many devices | Mixing your own ambient noise |
| Price | Free trial; under $6/month | Premium $6.99/month, $39.99/year or $249.99 lifetime | Free; Pro $10/month billed yearly |
| Platforms | iPhone, Android, web | iPhone, Android, Mac, web, Apple Watch | iPhone, Mac, Chrome |
Music made specifically for deep work
Brain.fm makes functional music for focus, sleep, relaxation and meditation. Its site says the music uses patented, science-backed neural-modulation technology. Tracks are personalized and organized around activities such as deep work, creativity and learning. There is a free trial, and the subscription costs less than $6 a month. Students get 20% off, and teams can contact Brain.fm for pricing.
Pick it if you want music built for one job: helping you concentrate.
Adaptive soundscapes on many devices
Endel generates personalized soundscapes for focus, relaxation and sleep, and the sound adapts in real time to you and your surroundings. It is available on phones, wearables, desktop, the web and more. There is no free plan in our records. Premium costs $6.99 a month, $19.99 a quarter, $39.99 a year, or $249.99 for life.
Pick it if you want sound that shifts with your day, plus a lifetime option.
Mixing your own ambient noise
Noisli lets you mix ambient noises into your own soundscape for work, sleep or relaxing. It also has playlists, a timer and a distraction-free text editor. The free plan is a good start. Pro is $10 a month billed yearly, and a Business plan covers two users.
Pick it if you prefer simple background noise to music and like to tweak your own mix.
LifeAt, a virtual workspace that pairs focus music and sounds with backgrounds, timers and to-dos.
For focus music that is designed for deep work, Brain.fm is the most targeted choice and the cheapest paid plan here. If you want adaptive sound across many devices, or a one-time lifetime purchase, choose Endel. If you just want customizable background noise and a free plan, Noisli is the easiest place to start.