SnoozeCast is a free iPhone app that helps you sleep by listening to audiobooks and podcasts. You can play any podcast and then try to go to sleep. After 5 minutes, the app will turn off the podcast automatically (it will lower the volume in the last minute, so that you know the app thinks you are sleeping). If you are still awake, just shake / move / tap your phone, and the app will continue for another 5 minutes, till you actually fall asleep. And when you do fall asleep, the app will bookmark your podcast at that exact point, so that you can resume where you left off.
This, I believe, is one of the best ways for grownups to fall asleep, without relying on story books ;). Unlike other online websites which also help you sleep, I find this way better.
The app offers more than 40 free audiobooks from famous authors, such as Charles Dickens, Auguste Maquet, Jacob Abbott, Alexander Dumas, and much more. You can even listen to all your podcasts saved in your native podcast app. So in order to fall asleep, you can either listen to all your favorite audiobooks or podcasts using the app’s built-in audio player. Just pick a story or podcast, place your iPhone face down near your hand, and start playing (a sleep timer of 5-minutes will start automatically).
Note: SnoozeCast is free to use, but in the free version you can reset a timer only thrice. To overcome this limitation and use additional features like display settings, night mode, etc., you can go for a single in-app purchase.
How to Fall Asleep while Listening to AudioBooks on your iPhone:
Step 1: As soon you open the app, you will see the built-in audio player on the main screen, as shown in the above image. To pick any audiobook or podcast, simply swipe right on the screen or tap the hamburger icon.
Step 2: There will be 2 different tabs named, Books and Podcasts. You can tap to toggle these tabs and select whatever you want to listen to while falling asleep. This app doesn’t offer or lets you download podcasts, but you can import and listen to podcasts from your default podcast app.
Step 3: In the Books tab, you will be able to download more than 40 free audiobooks from legendary authors. Some of the free audiobooks are:
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- Emma, Mansfield Park, and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Hannibal by Jacob Abbott
- The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchanan
- The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
- Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
- The Call of the Wild by Jack London, and much more.
Step 4: After you’re done with picking any audiobook or podcast, tap the big “Play” button at the center of the audio player. The display light will dim a bit and the selected audiobook or podcast will start playing. Remember, a 5-minute timer will automatically start once you press the play button.
Step 5: While you’re listening to the audiobook or podcast, the volume of the audio player will automatically lower as the 5-minute timer runs. After 5-minute, the app will think that you’re asleep and pause the story.
Step 6: Let’s say you couldn’t fall asleep after 5-minutes, then to continue listening to the audio, simply give your phone a knock or shake it slightly. As soon as you do that, the app will know that you’re not asleep and the timer will reset automatically and the audio player will continue dictating the audiobook or podcast.
My Final Verdict:
SnoozeCast is a pretty interesting app that helps you fall asleep by listening to free audio books or podcasts (from native podcast apps). It automatically lowers the volume of the playback while the 5-minute timer runs and stop reading after 5-minutes. If you wish to continue listening, then shake your iPhone or give it a knock to reset the timer and keep listening. The free version allows 3 shakes or knocks, each time you start listening to audiobooks or podcasts.
