Passive vs Active Sleep Tracking: Which Method is Best
If you're looking to track your sleep using your iPhone then you'll likely want to use a sleep tracking app like Sleepiest.
Sleep tracking apps utilise two different approaches to sleep tracking; passive sleep tracking (using Apple and Googles motion and fitness API's), or active sleep tracking (using the microphone or accelerometer). But what's the difference between these two methods, and which one is right for you? In this article, we'll take a closer look at the pros and cons of passive and active sleep tracking to help you decide.
First, let's define what we mean by passive and active sleep tracking. Passive sleep tracking uses the "motion and fitness API" on your iPhone / Android to track your movements and activity levels while you sleep. This method is called "passive" because it doesn't require any input or action from you - the app simply uses the sensors in your phone to track your sleep automatically (only after you give it permission to do so of course).
Passive sleep tracking is the sleep tracking method we use in Sleepiest as it means we can use the historical data from your device provided from Apple / Google - so that can see how you slept in the week before using Sleepiest, as well as how your sleep improves after using Sleepiest.
This ability to view your sleep stats both before you started using us, as well as while using Sleepiest we feel provides the transparency to you that Sleepiest is actually helping to improve your sleep...
In fact we know from the passive sleep data of our current customers that on average you'll likely get 29 minutes extra sleep each night after starting to use Sleepiest.
Plus as it's passive - you don't need to do anything, once enabled it simply crunches the numbers in the background and shows you when you went to bed and woke up each day without having to start/stop tracking every single day.
Active sleep tracking, on the other hand, requires you to take some kind of action to start tracking your sleep. This is the method many other sleep tracking apps use... This could be as simple as pressing a button in the app when you go to sleep and wake up, or it may require you to place your phone near your bed or on your body while you sleep. Active sleep tracking can use the microphone or accelerometer in your phone to track your sleep, either by listening for sounds or by detecting movements.
So, which method is better? The answer depends on your personal preferences and needs. Here are some pros and cons of each method to consider:
Passive sleep tracking (Pros)
Easy to use: With passive sleep tracking, you don't have to do anything to start tracking your sleep. The app will automatically track your sleep (even in the background) using the motion and fitness API on your phone.
Accurate: Because it uses the motion and fitness API on your phone, passive sleep tracking is generally considered to be more accurate than active sleep tracking. It can provide detailed information about your sleep patterns, including how long you slept, how many times you woke up, and how much time you spent in each sleep stage.
Non-intrusive: Because you don't have to do anything to start tracking your sleep, passive sleep tracking is a non-intrusive method that won't disturb your sleep. It's also privacy concious, it only takes aggregate data already processed by Apple or Google, so there's no creepy stuff like recording you with a microphone while you sleep.
Passive sleep tracking (Cons)
Less information: Passive sleep tracking only provides information about your movements and activity levels while you sleep. It can't provide information about other factors that may affect your sleep, such as noise levels or room temperature.
Active sleep tracking (Pros)
The potential to provide more information: active sleep tracking can provide more detailed information about your sleep than passive sleep tracking such as estimated to the "depth" of your sleep. By using the microphone or accelerometer in your phone, active sleep tracking could also potentially provide information about noise levels, room temperature, and other factors that may affect your sleep.
Active sleep tracking (Cons)
Requires action: With active sleep tracking, you have to take some kind of action to start tracking your sleep. This can be as simple as pressing a button, but it still requires an extra step that passive sleep tracking doesn't. Addittionally it forces you to stare at your phone before bed, which is well known to not be great to encoraging sleep.
May intrude your privacy: Depending on how you use active sleep tracking, it can be more intrusive than passive sleep tracking. It might record you and the sounds you make during the night.
May be less accurate: Because it relies on the microphone or accelerometer in your phone, active sleep tracking may be less accurate than passive sleep tracking. It's subject to interference from other noises or movements in your environment such as cars outside or heavy wind or rain.
So which is best?
Overall, both passive and active sleep tracking have their pros and cons, and the right method for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.
Passive sleep tracking is an easy, non-intrusive way to track your sleep, but it may not provide as much information as active sleep tracking. Active sleep tracking can provide more detailed information, but it requires an extra step every single day and may be more intrusive.
Ultimately, the best sleep tracking method for you will depend on your personal preferences and goals.
Here at Sleepiest we're on the side of passive sleep tracking - we feel it offers simpler, easier access to your sleep data and better respects your privacy. What's more, it's available for free inside the Sleepiest mobile app, so what have you got to loose?
