The best sleep gadgets to help you drift off, according to a panel of poor sleepers

Score: 94/100

When it comes to sleep trackers, The Oura Ring – which has been spotted on celebs including Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Prince Harry – is tough to top. Though pricey, it has three medical-grade sensors and gathers a breadth of data to help you improve your sleep quality.

It tracks everything from sleep stages and sleep efficiency to skin temperature and blood oxygen levels and presents all the data via clear, colour-coded graphs and charts, helping you get a better picture of your sleep and overall health.

It scored top marks for accuracy (it will register when you get up in the night to use the loo or if you’re tossing and turning) and our experts raved about the personalised insights, which helped them make positive changes to their sleep routines.

As a bonus, The Oura Ring is significantly more attractive than a bulky wrist tracker and much comfier to sleep with. In fact, our tester barely noticed they were wearing it after a while. The long battery life (up to eight days) is the icing on the cake.

Read our full Oura Ring review.

Score: 93/100

We’re huge fans of Bob and Brad’s massage guns here at Good Housekeeping, so we had high hopes when the brand’s eye massager arrived at our testing facility. The futuristic-looking piece of kit is a worthwhile buy if you spend a lot of your day in front of a screen and struggle with eye strain, facial tension and headaches.

The mask works by combining compression massage and heat therapy to improve blood flow around the eyes, melt away stress and even reduce puffiness. There are three pressure levels (soft, moderate and strong) to choose from and three heat settings, plus the option to connect to Bluetooth and stream your favourite playlists to help you feel even more relaxed.

“I absolutely adore this product, I have no complaints”, said one panellists, adding: “I felt so calm and refreshed after using it.” It also scored top marks for portability – it's foldable and comes with a zipped carry case for easy on the go – and it’s exceptionally quiet, so you don't have to worry about disturbing others during your R&R session. It boasts speedy USB-C charging, the battery life is excellent, and it automatically shuts off after 15 minutes if not in use to save battery life.

We've also tested the Eye Oasis 3 model, which scored 84/100 in our tests, but we'd still recommend the Eye Oasis 2, which scored more highly with our panel.

Score: 92/100

While most sunrise alarm clocks are solely designed to help you wake up gently, this impressive Philips design is also the perfect bedtime companion.

Panellists loved the sunset simulation, which gradually reduces the alarm’s brightness and helps you unwind before drifting off. It also offers 20 different levels of light intensity and a wide range of sleep sounds to help you doze off.

Other stand-out features? The clock automatically dims at night and there’s an excellent ‘midnight’ function, which provides enough light so you can move around in the dar, without switching on the main light and disturbing your partner. Just tap the top of the unit twice to activate it.

At close to £150, it's an investment, but this durable device is highly effective, and it will be with you for the long run. It also has a smart snooze button and a handy USB port so you can charge your phone or smartwatch overnight.

Score: 90/100

Turn your bedroom into a tranquil haven with this gorgeous ceramic electric diffuser.

Switch it on before you’re ready to drift off and prep for sleep with the built-in breathwork coach, which guides you through three calming sequences. Just breathe in and out as the light on the diffuser dims and brightens. Testers loved this feature, saying it helped them fall asleep quicker and enjoy a deeper, more restorative slumber.

Panellists appreciated how easy it was to use – it comes with a handy remote control so you don't have to get out of bed and you can customise the mists and light settings. They also said the delicate scent filled their rooms within minutes and the device itself is super quiet, which is exactly what you want when you’re winding down.

Score: 88/100

This screen-free sleep gadget – which was designed with the help of doctors, sophrologists and sleep centres – features over 200 (!) music and meditation combinations to help “calm the mind and promote dynamic relaxation”.

It's a pleasure to use – just turn the dial to choose a programme (there are eight options, spanning breathing exercises, guided visualisations, body scans and relaxing music). Then select your time (eight or 20 minutes) and choose between a soothing male or female voice. It was an instant hit with our testers, who said the routines helped them de-stress and fall asleep quicker. They particularly loved that it doesn't have a screen or an accompanying app, so there’s no disruptive blue light and you can keep your bedroom a phone-free zone.

Performance aside, the good-looking gadget, complete with gold detailing and a beechwood cover, won’t look out of place on your nightstand. The battery lasts up to seven days on a single charge and it’s ultra lightweight, so you can stick to your meditation routine when you’re away from home.

If you’re looking for a new pre-bed ritual and you want to avoid scrolling on social media come 10pm, the Morphée sleep device could be just what you need. The brand also has a My Little Morphée device specially designed for children.

Score: 87/100

Loop's viral sleep earplugs feature a small body and ultra-soft oval tips (with four sizes to choose from) that mould to the ear's natural shape and ensure a comfortable night's rest, regardless of sleeping position.

They worked a treat for our panel members, with one saying: “I lie on my side and they didn't get in the way at all.” Another satisfied tester declared they were the best sleep ear plugs they'd ever tried and there was no going back.

They offer up to 27dB of ambient noise reduction to drown out the world in a variety of settings, whether it's a snoring spouse or traffic noise. “They made sleeping much more bearable in a loud hotel room,” one panellist told us.

Ideal for travelling, they come with a neat snap-close case, which you can attach to your bag and carry around with you. They're also really easy to clean.

Score: 87/100

If you want to track your sleep but the idea of wearing a device while snoozing puts you off, let us introduce you to this convenient alternative. The thin mat sits under your mattress and collects in-depth sleep data, without getting in your way.

It features a pneumatic sensor to identify different types of movement, from tossing and turning to changes in your breathing pattern, and there’s a built-in speaker, which detects snoring and any other nighttime noises. In the morning, you can check your stats on the user-friendly Health Mate app – it breaks down everything from your sleep cycles (how long you spent in light, deep and REM sleep) to instances of sleep apnoea and provides you with an overall sleep score.

It may sound high-tech, but the mat is refreshingly simple to set up and use. Our testers had it up and running in minutes (you simply plug it into a nearby power source, slip it under your mattress and you’re good to go) and the accompanying app was intuitive to use. Testers particularly loved that once it was installed, there was no nightly activation process to remember – the device will do its work in the background and send the data through to the app. It also provides detailed reports, which you can share with your GP if you have any health concerns.

Everyone loved diving into the nitty gritty of their sleep and agreed that it helped them prioritise their sleep. On the whole, it proved accurate, although one or two testers noted some discrepancies with sleep timings. For hassle-free sleep tracking at a reasonable price, thought, this is a smart buy.

Score: 86/100

This palm-sized vibrating gadget is just what you need to calm your busy mind and unwind before bed. How does it work? Simply choose a breathing rhythm via the app (there are plenty to pick from), put your thumb on the sensor, and breathe along to the vibrations – it’s as simple as that. According to the brand, the exercise calms the nervous system, promotes feelings of relaxation and gets you ready for sleep.

The impressive device lets you track a range of stats, including your heart rhythm, heart rate viability (the time between each heartbeat) and heart coherence (how in sync your heart rate is with your breathing rate) via a colour-coded graph. You can also use the device without the app – just give it a shake and breathe in and out as the Moonbird expands and contracts.

We were surprised by just how much we loved the tiny device. Even our testers who were new to breathwork and sceptical about meditation said they’d happily continue using it. “Holding a physical device in my hands gave me something to focus on rather than just my breathing,” said one tester.

The six-minute “falling asleep” routine proved particularly popular, with panellists saying they felt noticeably less stressed and more zen afterwards. It also scored full marks for portability – it comes with a stylish silk pouch so you can pop it in your bag for on-the-go stress relief.

Score: 85/100

There’s nothing like a good massage to relax your muscles and send you off into a deep sleep. That’s why the Theragun Sense massage gun is the perfect addition to your bedtime routine. It offers a dedicated sleep programme, complete with step-by-step visual instructions via its LCD screen, to help you doze off peacefully.

Percussive therapy aside, there are also breathwork sessions to calm your nervous system and help you decompress. Simply place your finger on the biometric sensor and haptic vibrations will let you know when to inhale and exhale. There’s soothing music tinkering in the background, and you can compare your pre- and post-session heart rate to see if your body really is more relaxed. Our expert certainly noticed the difference.

The sleek, well-made device is whisper-quiet, so it won’t get in the way of your R&R efforts, and it comes with four different attachments – including a ball to release tension and a thumb to ease lower back pain – to target your whole body. In addition to aiding your slumber, you can also use it to see to your sore, achy muscles or long-suffering joints.

Score: 84/100

Struggle to drift off due to a snoring partner, noisy surroundings or an anxious brain? These noise-cancelling sleep buds are designed to block out the world around you and help you get a solid, rejuvenating night’s sleep. They went down a storm with our panel, with one tester saying, “I loved absolutely everything about this product,” and another saying they'd recommend them to everyone.

On the Soundcore app, there’s a comprehensive library of soundscapes to choose from, or you can stream your own Spotify playlist. Testers loved the vast selection and said they helped them to relax and doze off faster. No sound leakage was reported, so they won’t disturb your other half, and they did an excellent job of masking heavy breathing and snoring.

The lightweight earbuds proved extremely comfy, even for the side sleepers among our panel, and were barely noticeable overnight. They also come with a compact travel case, so they’re great for taking with you on the go and they boast sleep tracking capabilities. Make sure to take the time to select the right ear tips and wings to find the perfect fit.

Read our editor's full Soundcore Sleep A30 review.

Score: 77/100

This sleek pebble-shaped gadget – which combines vibrations and soundscapes – is worth considering if you can’t sit still or struggle to focus during meditation. It’s designed to stimulate the vagus nerve (which controls the ‘fight or flight’ response), regulate the nervous system and provide deep relaxation in a matter of moments. But what did our panel think?

They found it easy to set up and use – it connects to the accompanying Sensate app immediately and from there, you simply pop it on your chest, select a music track (choose from 10, 20 or 30 minutes), adjust the volume and vibrations and you’re good to go.

Everyone enjoyed the hypnotic music and unusual vibrating sensation on their breastbone, and they rated its R&R benefits too. “I felt more ready to sleep and my racing thoughts had quietened,” said one tester, while another commented: “My Whoop tracker registered that my stress levels had dropped and I was meditating.”

It comes with a lanyard and a travel pouch, so you can keep up your wind-down routine or enjoy some stress relief when you’re on the go. If we had to find fault, it doesn’t come cheap, and you have to pay extra for a Sensate Plus subscription to access the full suite of sounds. Still, if you’re serious about calming your frazzled nervous system and improving your slumber, it’s an excellent choice.

Score: 77/100

The second eye massager in our round-up, this one has been created by the percussive therapy pros at Therabody. The VR headset-style device combines heat, vibration and massage to help bust stress, enhance relaxation, relieve eye strain and help you wind down before bed.

Three are three settings to choose from, including SmartRelax, Headaches & Eye Strain and Sleep Prep, plus a clever biometric sensor to measure your pulse and provide personalised treatment. Headaches & Eye Strain targets your third eye (the space between your eyebrows), Sleep Prep offers a slow, gentle temple massage while SmartRelax provides a gentle, heated massage around the eyes and temples to help lower your heart rate and relax you.

Testers enjoyed the soothing sensations (SleepPrep proved particularly popular) and liked the customisation available – you can toggle between the heat and vibration settings in each mode to find what works best for you. You can also track your progress via the Therabody app (seeing your heart rate lower after a session is incredibly motivating) and access a range of zen soundscapes.

Best of all, they automatically switch off after 15 minutes, so there's no issue if you drift off while wearing them. They did an excellent job of blocking out light, but they are on the bulky side, so they may not be the comfiest if you’re lying on your side.

Testers did note that they were rather noisy too, and some said finding the right fit required some fiddling around. On the plus side, there's a neat carry case for portability.

Read our full Therabody Smart Goggles review.