Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Yu

A Mac app for soothing background sounds

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Yu launched in 2015; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Hear▲234

   Unlimited control over real-world sounds

   2016 · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Defonic▲185

   Background noise generator for relaxing and working.

   2014 · defonic.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   A Soft Murmur▲92

   Ambient sounds to wash away distraction.

   2014 · asoftmurmur.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Ambify▲113

   Turn music into light

   2016 · getambify.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Background Music▲218

   Control the audio on your Mac apps from the menu bar

   2016 · github.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Hear and Now▲95

   Delightful way to reduce stress and clear your mind

   2016 · its alternatives →

7. 7
   SoundDrown▲80

   Ambient sounds to help you focus, relax, and escape

   2014 · soundrown.com · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Dev Tones▲165

   Professional royalty-free sounds for your app

   2014 · rcptones.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Soothing Sounds▲81

   A simple and beautiful ambient noise app.

   2020 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

10. 10
    Nature sound▲158

    Background noise generator for work and relaxation

    2016 · play.google.com · its alternatives →

11. 11
    White Noise▲94

    App that plays sounds that'll help you relax & sleep

    2014 · tmsoft.com · its alternatives →

12. 12
    Soundbar▲213

    A lightweight SoundCloud player for Mac

    2016 · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Mindscapes▲90

    Stochastic background music generator

    2014 · mindscapes.co · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Spring▲63

    A rhythm based music app for exercise

    2014 · springmoves.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    Capo▲85

    A new way to analyze and learn to play music

    2014 · supermegaultragroovy.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Shazam for Mac▲151

    Listens and identifies music in the background

    2014 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Octave▲191

    A free library of UI sounds for your apps

    2014 · raisedbeaches.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    SoundMate▲107

    Enjoy SoundCloud from your Mac's menu bar

    2015 · icyarrow.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Musio▲72

    A new take on the iOS music player

    2013 · musioapp.co · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Soundkit▲151

    Professional sound effects library designed for UI projects

    2014 · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Noise App▲94

    Create your optimal acoustic environment on the go.

    2020 · apps.frhlch.at · its alternatives →

22. 22
    NOISESUPPLY▲125

    Pandora for SoundCloud

    2015 · its alternatives →

23. 23
    Yubi▲64

    Talk to your Mac and let Yubi do the typing

    19d ago · yubichan.ai · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Hermes▲80

    A Pandora Mac app 🎶

    2016 · hermesapp.org · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →