Step 1
Open Programs, then Sleep stories
Sleep stories sits with the other programs on the Programs tab.
Sleep stories
Sleep stories for the end of a long day
Put the phone down, close your eyes and let a calm voice carry you to sleep. The stories are audio only, so the screen stays dark, and a wind-down reminder can tell you when it is time to start.
The short answer
Her Good Days has free sleep stories: calm spoken audio for bedtime, in the Sleep stories program on the Programs tab. They play with the screen off, and there are short relaxation sessions beside them.
A wind-down reminder at a time you pick tells you when to start, and the sleep log the next morning keeps track of how the night went. The stories are there to help you wind down, and the app makes no medical claim for them.
How do I start a sleep story?
Step 2
Pick a story and press play
4 stories, about 3 minutes each. Press play, then lock the phone and put it face down.
Step 3
In the morning, log the night
Tap + Log, then Sleep. After a week or two, Insights shows whether the nights you listened ran longer.
The player
Lie down and let it play
The player has one big pause button, with 15 seconds back and 15 seconds forward on either side. Read along shows the words if you would rather read the story.
Relax
Shorter sessions in Relax
For nights when a story is too much, Relax has short audio sessions. Pick how you feel and the list narrows.
- Breathing: a circle to follow, in for 4 and out for 6, for about a minute.
- Body scan: a session to do in bed, before sleep.
- Wind-down: 4 minutes to settle after a long day, or when you feel low.
A routine that starts before bed
The NHS suggests relaxing for at least an hour before bed, with something like a bath or a book, and getting up at the same time each day. A wind-down reminder makes the first part easier: set it under You, Notifications for the time you want to start slowing down, then pick a story or a few minutes of the Breathe program.
Made to listen to in the dark
- Audio only, so nothing lights up the room.
- Short relaxation and mindfulness sessions sit next to the stories, for evenings when you want something shorter.
- Every story has captions and a full transcript, if you would rather read it.
Related
Questions
Are the sleep stories free?
Yes. Sleep stories are one of the programs in the app, and every program is free, with no trial and no premium tier.
Can I listen with the screen off?
Yes. Sleep stories are audio only, so you can lock the phone and put it down.
Will the reminder say it is about sleep?
No. Lock-screen text is the same plain line for everyone, such as "You have a reminder".
Do sleep stories help with insomnia?
They are a way to wind down, and the app makes no medical claim for them. The NHS suggests relaxing for at least an hour before bed. If you have had trouble sleeping for months, see a doctor.
Sources
- NHS: Insomnia Checked October 30, 2026
Every health fact on this page comes from the sources above. We re-check them every 6 months. Spotted an error? Write to [email protected]. How we check health information.
Start with today
Her Good Days is free, with no third-party ads and nothing to subscribe to. Free on iPhone and Android.