Pillow vs Sleep Cycle:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Sleep Cycle had more branded searches than Pillow among sleep apps worldwide. Sleep Cycle had about 74,000 branded searches, while Pillow had 40,500. Sleep Cycle made up 28.3% of all sleep app searches we track, and Pillow accounted for 15.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about sleep apps, Sleep Cycle appeared in all five answers and Pillow in two. Sleep Cycle was mentioned before Pillow in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Sleep Cycle, about 83% more searches than Pillow
Who does AI mention more?
Sleep Cycle, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Sleep Cycle, named ahead of Pillow in every answer
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Top sleep apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Sleep Cycle appeared in all five answers. Pillow was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. Sleep Cycle was listed before Pillow in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Calm1st- Sleep Cycle2nd
BetterSleep3rd
Headspace4th- CBT-i Coach5th
- SleepScore6th
Pillow7th
SleepWatch8th
Pzizz9th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Sleep Cycle5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Calm4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- BetterSleep4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Pillow2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Headspace2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- SleepScore2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- CBT-i Coach2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- SleepWatch1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Pzizz1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about sleep apps
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which sleep app should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best sleep apps?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best sleep app for better sleep?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sleep apps”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sleep tracker app”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Pillow or Sleep Cycle more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Pillow and Sleep Cycle by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine sleep apps we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Sleep Cycle, Pillow. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Calm | Sleep Cycle | Pillow | BetterSleep | Headspace | SleepScore | CBT-i Coach | SleepWatch | Pzizz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 17.6% | 39.4% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 4.3% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 0.44% |
| Nov 2025 | 17.9% | 39.9% | 14.6% | 8% | 9.8% | 6.5% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 0.39% |
| Dec 2025 | 16.7% | 37.2% | 11.2% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 13.6% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 0.36% |
| Jan 2026 | 18.3% | 33.5% | 10% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 18.3% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 0.33% |
| Feb 2026 | 15.4% | 34.5% | 12.6% | 8.4% | 10.4% | 15.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.41% |
| Mar 2026 | 16.2% | 36.3% | 13.3% | 8.9% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 0.43% |
| Apr 2026 | 17% | 38% | 11.4% | 9.3% | 11.4% | 9.3% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.37% |
| May 2026 | 14.5% | 39.7% | 14.5% | 9.7% | 11.9% | 6.5% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.32% |
| Jun 2026 | 18.4% | 33.7% | 15.1% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 6.7% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.33% |
| Jul 2026 | 15.1% | 33.7% | 18.5% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 6.7% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 0.27% |
| Aug 2026 | 16.5% | 30.1% | 20.1% | 13.5% | 9% | 7.4% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 0.24% |
| Sep 2026 | 28.3% | 28.3% | 15.5% | 12.7% | 6.9% | 5.7% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.18% |
How has the Pillow and Sleep Cycle comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Sleep Cycle was ahead of Pillow in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pillow’s share of searches among sleep apps worldwide moved from 11.8% to 15.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 27.1K to 40.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Sleep Cycle’s share of searches among sleep apps worldwide moved from 39.4% to 28.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 90.5K to 74K.
How did search popularity change for sleep apps worldwide in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Calm overtook Sleep Cycle and Pillow to become the leader among sleep apps worldwide, with 28.3% of the searches.
In September 2026, Pillow lost share of searches among sleep apps worldwide, from 20.1% to 15.5%.
In September 2026, Sleep Cycle lost share of searches among sleep apps worldwide, from 30.1% to 28.3%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pillow’s and Sleep Cycle’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Pillow
1 branded search term
- pillow sleep
Sleep Cycle
1 branded search term
- sleep cycle
Other head-to-heads among sleep apps
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