6 Apps for Tinnitus Relief

Updated June 2026

If your ears ring, buzz, or hiss with no outside source, you know how draining it gets. The good news is that the right apps for tinnitus relief can give you a measure of control, often within minutes. They cannot cure tinnitus, because nothing can yet. What they can do is make the sound easier to ignore, especially when you pair them with professional care. This guide covers six apps worth your time, what each does best, and what works alongside them.

The Short Version

Here is the quick read for anyone in a hurry:

• Three apps work for anyone tonight: ReSound Relief, Starkey Relax, and myNoise
• Three more unlock powerful in-ear therapy once you wear that brand’s hearing aids
• Apps use sound therapy to mask the ringing and help your brain tune it out
• There is no cure for tinnitus, but real relief is within reach for most people
• Apps work best alongside a hearing test and a plan from a hearing care provider

The rest of this guide breaks down each app and the care that makes them work.

How Tinnitus Relief Apps Actually Help

These apps are not just background noise. They deliver sound therapy, one of the most established tools for easing tinnitus. Studies suggest it can lower how much tinnitus bothers you over time. Sound therapy does three things:

• Masks the ringing by blending it with more pleasant sound
• Distracts your brain with new sound to focus on instead
• Supports habituation, so your brain learns to tune the ringing out

Dr. Laurel Christensen, ReSound’s chief audiology officer, has tinnitus herself. She describes it with a candle: “Imagine you are in a dark room and you light a candle.” In silence, your tinnitus is that lone flame. Add more sound, and it fades into the background. That is how sound therapy works. Our guide to sound therapy and other tinnitus care goes deeper.

What Makes a Tinnitus App Worth Using

Not every app earns a spot on your phone. The best ones share a few traits. Look for these before you commit:

• Customizable sound, so you can match it to your own tinnitus
• A sleep timer, since nighttime is often the hardest
• Honest language that promises relief, never a cure
• A nudge to see a professional, not a replacement for one

An app that claims to cure tinnitus is a red flag. Relief is real. A cure is not, at least not yet.

The 6 Apps for Tinnitus Relief, Compared

Here is the quick comparison, then a closer look at each one. Pay attention to the last column, since half of these need a specific brand of hearing aids.

1. ReSound Relief

ReSound Relief is a free app for iOS and Android, and anyone with tinnitus can use it. You do not need hearing aids. You can layer up to five sounds into your own soundscape, balance them between each ear, and set a timer for sleep. An optional premium plan adds a guided week-by-week routine. One six-month study of daily use reported less tinnitus distress, especially among veterans.

• Mix up to five custom sounds
• White, pink, and nature-based options
• Relaxation exercises and education
• Streams to ReSound hearing aids if you have them

2. Starkey Relax

Starkey Relax is free on iOS and Android, and it keeps things simple. You get 12 relief sounds you can shape by volume, pitch, and fluctuation. It works on its own through headphones or a speaker, or it can stream into Starkey hearing aids. The app itself says plainly that there is no cure for tinnitus, only relief. That honesty is a good sign.

• 12 customizable relief sounds
• Sleep timer and relaxation tools
• Built-in tinnitus education
• Works with or without hearing aids

3. myNoise

myNoise is the power tool of the group. It offers more than 300 deeply adjustable soundscapes, built by an audio engineer, and a dedicated tinnitus generator. You can tune the sound to sit right around your own tinnitus pitch. It is free to download with a generous free library, and a one-time purchase unlocks everything. It runs on iOS, Android, and the web.

• Hundreds of customizable soundscapes
• Tune sound to your tinnitus pitch
• No ads and no subscription
• Works for anyone, no hearing aids needed

4. Phonak Tinnitus Balance

Phonak Tinnitus Balance is not a standalone masker. It is a relief feature built into many Phonak hearing aids, controlled through the free myPhonak app on iOS and Android. Your hearing care provider tunes it to your hearing profile. It plays broadband noise and soft tones discreetly through your devices. This one is for people who wear Phonak hearing aids.

• Broad-spectrum noise and gentle tones
• Provider-tuned to your hearing
• Discreet, in-ear delivery
• Needs Phonak hearing aids

5. Oticon Companion

Oticon’s relief works the same way. Tinnitus SoundSupport lives inside Oticon hearing aids, and you control it through the free Oticon Companion app. Your provider activates and personalizes it during a fitting. You can choose broadband sounds or soothing ocean-like options, then adjust them on the go. This one is for Oticon hearing aid wearers.

• White, pink, and ocean-like relief sounds
• Adjust levels from your phone
• Provider-activated and personalized
• Needs Oticon hearing aids

6. Unitron Remote Plus

Unitron Remote Plus pairs a tinnitus masker with coaching. The free app, on iOS and Android, lets Unitron wearers control their relief sounds and follow simple tips to stay consistent. The guidance is the standout here, which helps if you like clear steps. This one is for people who wear Unitron hearing aids.

• Controls the built-in tinnitus masker
• Coaching and reminders to stay on track
• Streams relief sounds to your devices

Apps Help Most Alongside Professional Care

Notice the pattern. Three of these apps help anyone right away. The other three are far more powerful, but only once you are fitted with the right hearing aids. That is the whole point. An app is a great first step, not the finish line.

Here is why. Most people with tinnitus also have some degree of hearing loss. When the brain gets less sound from the ear, it can turn up the volume on the ringing. Hearing aids can help with tinnitus by restoring that missing sound and adding built-in masking. In one study, six months of hearing aid use eased tinnitus annoyance, with the biggest gains in masking and mood.

Relief usually comes from a mix of tools. A typical plan might include:

• A full hearing evaluation to rule out other causes
• Hearing aids with tinnitus features, if hearing loss is present
• Sound therapy through an app and through your devices
• Counseling approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy

There is no cure for tinnitus. There is real relief, and most people who pursue it the right way find their days get easier.

Tinnitus Care in Sioux Falls and Buffalo

This is where an app stops and we begin. At Stanford Hearing, we build tinnitus plans around you, not around a single download. We start with a hearing test, talk through what your tinnitus sounds like and when it bothers you most, then match the right mix of tools.

For many people, that includes our structured tinnitus management program. It runs across four 90-minute sessions, scheduled weekly or every other week. Each session tackles a different part of life that tinnitus touches:

• Your thoughts and emotions around the ringing
• Hearing and communication day to day
• Sleep, which tinnitus often disrupts
• Concentration and focus

We see this often with veterans, since tinnitus is one of the most common service-related conditions. You do not have to sort it out alone. You can explore your tinnitus treatment options with a provider who does this every day, right here in Sioux Falls and Buffalo.

Why Choose Stanford Hearing for Tinnitus Relief

Apps are a strong first step. Lasting relief usually comes from pairing them with professional care. For 20+ years, our locally owned practice has helped people across Sioux Falls and Buffalo quiet the ringing. Here is what you get with us:

• A free tinnitus consultation and a 10-day trial, so you decide with confidence
• Five premium brands, a price match guarantee, and no-interest financing
• In-network insurance, including Medicare Advantage, plus benefit verification
• Hearing aids with built-in tinnitus features, fitted and fine-tuned to you
• Two clinics, in Sioux Falls and Buffalo, whichever is closer

Ready for quieter, easier days? Talk with a hearing care provider who understands tinnitus. Schedule your free consultation and we will build a plan that fits your life.

About the Author

Dr. Jade Husby, Au.D., Owner and President of Stanford Hearing

Dr. Jade Husby is the Owner and President of Stanford Hearing. Her passion for healthcare began young, driven by her joy in helping others. She grew up in Dakota Dunes, SD. Both her Bachelor’s and Doctorate come from the University of South Dakota. Her residency followed at an Ear, Nose, and Throat clinic in Maryville, TN. Today she pours her time and energy into her patients. Her goal is simple. Every patient should feel like part of the Stanford Hearing family.

Common Questions About Apps for Tinnitus Relief

Can I use these apps without hearing aids?

Some, yes. ReSound Relief, Starkey Relax, and myNoise work for anyone through headphones or a speaker. The Phonak, Oticon, and Unitron tools need that brand’s hearing aids. Stanford Hearing can help you find the right fit either way.

Will an app cure my tinnitus?

No. There is no cure for tinnitus today. Apps and sound therapy ease the sound and help you focus on it less. Most people get real, lasting relief with the right plan. Stanford Hearing builds that plan with you.

Which tinnitus app is best for me?

It depends on your tinnitus, your hearing, and whether you wear hearing aids. Start with a free, standalone app to see what helps. Then let Stanford Hearing match you to the best long-term tools for your situation.

Do I need a hearing test before using a tinnitus app?

You can try an app anytime. A hearing test still matters, because tinnitus often comes with hearing loss you may not notice. Stanford Hearing can check your hearing and rule out other causes in one visit.

Are tinnitus apps safe to use overnight for sleep?

Yes, at a low, comfortable volume. Keep the sound just soft enough to blend with the ringing, not drown it out. A sleep timer helps. Stanford Hearing can suggest settings that protect your rest and your ears.

Where can I get tinnitus help near Sioux Falls or Buffalo?

Stanford Hearing has two clinics close to home. We offer hearing tests, hearing aids with tinnitus features, and a structured tinnitus management program. We are locally owned and have served the area for 20+ years. Reach out and we will help.