In the past two decades, sleep-tracking technology has advanced immensely—with smart headbands now a leading force in the industry. The best sleep headbands go far beyond basic metrics, offering actionable insights for better rest, real-time interventions and even built-in wind-down tools. Our top pick overall, the Muse S Athena, is one of the most sophisticated options on the market. Its lab-grade sensors track brain activity, heart rate, blood flow and more, while responsive audio helps you fall—and stay—asleep.
“These headbands track real-time patterns in your brain activity and respond with cues that encourage your system to settle,” says Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell, a board-certified physician and certified sleep specialist. “When a device delivers the right sound or gentle vibration at the right moment, it can reinforce relaxation and help guide you into more stable sleep stages.” The Muse S Athena also includes features for daytime use, such as guided meditation and programs designed to improve focus and productivity. But if you’re looking for different—or less complex—technology, we’ve rounded up four other sleep headbands to consider below.
The Muse S Athena is a soft, adjustable headband that contains clinically validated sensor technologies (EEG, or electroencephalography, and fNIRS, or functional near-infrared spectroscopy) to measure your brain activity and, through PPG (photoplethysmography), your heart rate in order to help support better sleep, focus, energy and more. It also features a gyroscope to understand your movements and posture, while an accelerometer and PPG sensors together help estimate breathing patterns.
For all that technology packed in, I found it to be quite comfortable. I’ve used it both during the day to meditate and at bedtime to help me sleep. However, it did take a few trials (and band adjustments) to make it through the entire night with it on, as initially I’d wake up at 3 a.m. and pull it off. I mainly sleep on my side and switch to my back occasionally, and it stayed secure in both positions; but like every headband on this list, it takes some getting used to and dedication.
See Everything From Your Brainwaves To Sleep Cycles
The sleep tracking is extremely detailed in Muse’s accompanying app, revealing a breakdown of each night’s sleep stages, intensity levels of deep sleep, body movements and heart rate. It’s a lot of graphs and information to digest, and I found I cared to pay attention to some details more than others—like my sleep durations and position changes.
My favorite part: There are different audio experiences to use as you wind down, like guided stories, soundscapes and meditations. I found these worked exceptionally well in lulling me to sleep, and the likely reason for that is that the sounds adapt in real time based on your brain and body activity—meaning once you’re in deep sleep, the audio stops. The brand also recently launched Deep Sleep Boost within the technology, which detects slow-wave sleep and plays pink noise to further encourage it.
In addition to sleep, the device can track your cognitive states, like fatigue and recovery—so it’s more of a “lifestyle” headband than one solely dedicated to rest. Its ultimate goal is to help you train your brain in order to not only sleep better but also manage your mood and focus.
Thoroughly Research, But Still Out For Public Verdict
Since it’s a newer product to hit the market, there aren’t many peer-reviewed clinical trials on the Muse S Athena yet, but its EEG, PPG and fNIRS technologies are based on decades of research. Muse itself has been around for over a decade; the brand created two other models before the S Athena that have both been validated in independent labs for sleep staging accuracy and more.
No subscription is required, but the premium upgrade unlocks access to a personalized AI coach, deeper brain health insights, the ability to pair it with other apps and substantially more guided and training sessions. There’s a 30-day return period to decide if you’d like to keep it, and it’s backed by a one-year warranty.
Unlike the Muse S Athena and other devices, the Frenz Brainband doesn’t include a focus on meditation and instead primarily dedicates itself to sleep. The AI-powered headband tracks a wide range of physiological signals in real time, including brain activity, eye movements, facial muscle activity, blood oxygen levels, heart rate and more. Using this data, it plays personalized audio through built-in speakers that don’t block your ears, adjusting the sound content and noise level based on its live monitoring of your brain and physiological signals to help you sleep better.
A Tool To Help You Sleep, But Also Wake Up
With its AI technology and sensors to analyze eye and facial muscle movements, blood oxygen levels and heart rate, the Brainband captures extremely detailed sleep-stage tracking. It also uses AI to help optimize sleep throughout the night and wake you up at the best time for your body with a smart alarm.
A collaborative research study with multiple universities, including Oxford and the University of Colorado, found that the Frenz wearable helped users fall asleep by about 24 minutes faster. It also showed high accuracy in sleep-stage tracking compared to gold-standard polysomnography, or medical-grade technology.
Though it’s rooted in enhancing sleep, the accompanying Frenz app does offer daytime audio sessions to help you relax or focus.
The Somnee headband is all about relaxation, providing a 15-minute wind-down routine each night that consists of personalized neurostimulation—electrical pulses designed to tell your brain it’s time for sleep. During this session, you can choose from three audios (meditation, serenity or ocean waves) or no sound at all and adjust the volume and LED intensity as desired.
A Comfortable, Relaxing Fit
Forbes Vetted editorial assistant Lee Cutlip tested the Somnee in her home and enjoyed the neurostimulation sessions; she found that “they put me in a more relaxed mood and state before bed.” Cutlip adds that the headband’s fabric is soft and lightly cushioned, while “the Velcro strap makes it easy to adjust the headband to your desired fit, and it feels secure.”
When you fall asleep, the Somnee uses EEG and tACS (transcranial alternating current stimulation) technology to try to learn your brain’s patterns and how to support your sleep needs. The electrical signals adjust in real time to do this. An AI sleep coach, developed based on these findings, then shares reports and guidance for better rest.
Potential Downsides To Keep In Mind
As a dedicated side sleeper, Cutlip says the headband didn’t stay put throughout the night and would shift up, needing readjustment. Keep this in mind if you move around a lot in your sleep, though the brand also says you don’t need to wear it all night to experience its benefits. It’s also worth noting that the electrodes on the band have adhesives to stick to your forehead, which Cutlip didn’t personally enjoy for longer than the 15-minute neurostimulation session.
Though peer-reviewed studies are limited, some research has shown the stimulation technology the Somnee uses can improve sleep quality.
The Elemind Headband is designed to measure your brainwaves and provide acoustic pulses as a response to stimulate deeper sleep. It’s the only model on this list that uses this approach, and you can control it with a simple tap of its button if you wake up in the middle of the night.
Not Your Traditional Wind-Down Music
In a randomized, controlled crossover trial sponsored by Elemind, participants with sleep-onset insomnia fell asleep an average of 10.5 minutes faster when using the device. Commerce writer Monica Petrucci described the sounds as being more like “erratic static” than what’s traditionally considered smooth and relaxing, but the brand notes that they’re specifically designed to promote restfulness and help restart sleep if awakened.
Like most other sleep headbands, the Elemind Headband took some getting used to during initial testing. However, Pettrucci says the soft fabric is supremely comfortable with an easily adjustable Velcro strap; even as a stomach sleeper, she says, “I was still able to get into my normal position without any disturbance or imposing discomfort.”
Accessible Sleep Data, But Not The Most Intricate
She notes that its sleep tracking is not as sophisticated as some others on this list, but it provides a lot of the basics that may be substantial for most—such as a breakdown of one’s sleep stages, time it takes to fall asleep, sleep efficiency and restlessness.
If you’re looking for a variety of soundscapes or meditation sessions for relaxation, you may want to consider one of the other options on this list.
Personalized sounds and vibrations are at the center of the Spatial Sleep headband, designed to lull your brain to a meditative state. The brand says it uses low-frequency tones that mimic drowsiness and deep sleep, acting as a wind-down guide for your brain.
A Selfie Powers Every Session
The AI-powered technology reads your facial features to create customized spatial audio, requiring you to take a picture of your face before every session. Mattress and sleep editor McKenzie Dillon used the Spatial Sleep headband at home and describes the noises as “spacey and atmospheric sounds.” It plays these melodies from the front of the headband for 45 minutes, with the goal of users falling asleep within 15 minutes. Since it has Bluetooth connectivity, you can also play your own sound libraries from a connected device—a feature Dillon appreciated.
A 2025 study conducted through Stanford Medicine found that Spatial Sleep’s personalized audio shows “promise for insomnia treatment,” after 20 people with moderate to severe insomnia did daily 45-minute sessions for four weeks and most experienced meaningful improvement. The authors noted that larger studies are needed to confirm the results and understand any long-term effects.
Focused On Wellness, Not Deciphering Sleep Data
On Spatial Sleep’s accompanying app, you’ll find mind-stimulating exercises and routines involving meditation, breath work and more to enhance your daily wellness and overall sleep hygiene. However, if you’re searching for sleep tracking, this is not the right pick for you.
How We Chose The Best Sleep Headbands
Our testing process involved thorough research, at-home testing and consulting experts.
- We researched all the sleep headbands currently available on the market, narrowing down our top contenders after evaluating their technology and any supporting published lab or research studies.
- Four staffers shared insights after using four of the headbands on this list at home: the Muse S Athena Headband, Spatial Sleep Headband, Somnee Sleep Headband and Elemind Headband.
- We evaluated and compared key criteria, including ease of setup, overall comfort, available sleep tracking and data insights, core technology and any special features.
- We read through customer reviews to ensure the products we highlight had a majority of positive feedback, only including options with an average rating of four stars or higher.
What To Consider When Shopping For The Best Sleep Headbands
Though experts say sleep headbands are generally considered safe for most people to use, they shouldn’t replace evaluation by a medical professional. If you experience symptoms of a sleep disorder, have a neurological condition or implanted medical device, consult your doctor before using one. If you’re in the clear to do so, consider the following factors when shopping.
Ease Of Setup And Use
All of the sleep headbands we feature involve a setup process, including downloading an accompanying app. The headbands need to be charged after certain durations of use and may feature different components, like control buttons on the device or sensor recognition.
Comfort
Wearing a headband all night means comfort is essential. Consider the materials used, adjustability and how the overall design may (or may not) work with your main sleeping position(s). No matter the one you choose, all of our testers agree that it takes time to adjust to having something around your head while sleeping. Also, keep in mind that most of the headbands require a clean face, so you may need to forgo skincare or makeup while in use.
Technology And Sleep Tracking
Sleep headbands offer everything from soothing sounds to complex sleep tracking and brain training. “Calming sounds can lower arousal levels and help your brain shift into a more restful state,” while “soft vibrations add another layer of sensory input that may help your body settle,” says Holliday-Bell. Many headbands offer personalized stimulations as well, using AI and other technologies.
“The value is shifting toward interpretation and coaching rather than just collecting numbers and data,” adds Holliday-Bell. As for sleep tracking, she says it’s important to identify one that will “enhance your sleep, not complicate it.” If too much data is going to overwhelm you, choose a simpler model.
For better peace of mind, prioritize headbands with published research, transparent privacy and data policies, and clear instructions and explanations for how they operate.
Why Trust Us
The sleep team at Forbes Vetted consists of seasoned editors and writers who have produced an extensive library of mattress and sleep guides. In addition to hands-on testing, we deeply research all products we write about, including sleep headbands, and confer with relative experts.
- Bridget Chapman, author of this article, is the senior mattress and sleep editor at Forbes Vetted and oversees the section. She’s a certified sleep science coach who’s tested hundreds of sleep products, including our top sleep headband pick, the Muse S Athena.
- McKenzie Dillon, mattress and sleep editor, has also tested a wide variety of sleep products and carries a sleep science coach certification. She contributed insights on the Spatial Sleep Headband for this story.
- This article was edited by Forbes Vetted managing editor Emmy Favilla, who has also tested the Muse S Athena and has covered a variety of sleep and wellness consumer products over the past decade.
Our Experts
- Angela Holliday-Bell, M.D., board-certified physician, certified sleep specialist and founder of The Solution Is Sleep LLC
- Carleara Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., MSH, RN, sleep science advisor for Aeroflow Sleep and assistant professor at University at Buffalo
- Ariel Garten, neuroscientist, psychotherapist and founder of Muse