White noise app for Mac

The simplest method: SeventyNoise

Install SeventyNoise, pick a noise (white, pink or brown) in the main window, set the volume, then click Play. The background sound starts instantly and masks distractions around you: office chatter, traffic, noisy neighbors. No sound file is ever played: all three textures are computed live on your Mac, on demand.

Download the free SeventyNoise trial (7 days, macOS 13+).

Why background noise helps you focus

• It masks sudden peaks: a conversation starting, a door slamming, a coworker's notification become far less noticeable under a continuous background.
• It steadies attention: a predictable sound with no sudden variation demands fewer cognitive resources than a silent but unpredictable environment.
• It also helps you fall asleep: many people use brown noise, deeper and more enveloping, as a background to fall asleep faster.

White, pink or brown: which to pick

White noise has equal energy across every frequency: the most effective at masking conversation, but also the most hissy. Pink noise loses energy in the highs and sounds softer, close to steady rain: a good compromise for working all day. Brown noise, even deeper, works well for sleep or for people sensitive to high-pitched sounds.

Why not a YouTube white noise video

A white noise video streams data continuously, depends on a stable internet connection, and often gets interrupted by an ad or a tab going to sleep. SeventyNoise computes the noise locally, with no file and no network: zero interruptions, zero ads, and CPU usage that drops back to 0% the moment you stop.

Mistakes to avoid

• Setting the volume too high: an effective background noise stays discreet, below the level of surrounding speech.
• Using a looping MP3 file: short loops create an audible, distracting pattern over time, unlike a continuously computed noise.
• Forgetting the sleep timer if you use it at night: SeventyNoise offers 30, 60 or 120 minutes.

Get SeventyNoise: distraction-free focus, for life.