Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about snoring, sleep health, and how SnapSnoreScore works.
Snoring affects nearly half of all adults at some point in their lives. Whether it's a soft, occasional rumble or a nightly chainsaw symphony, understanding your snoring patterns is the first step toward better sleep — for you and everyone around you. Not sure if you snore? Read our guide on how to know if you snore.
SnapSnoreScore was built to make snoring awareness simple, free, and completely private. There are no accounts to create, no data uploaded to the cloud, and no subscriptions. Just open the app, press start, and go to sleep. Your phone does the rest — analyzing sounds locally in your browser and giving you a Snore Score from 0 to 100 when you wake up. Ready to try? Start your free snore test.
Below you'll find answers to the most common questions about how the app works, how your privacy is protected, tips for reducing snoring, and important health information about snoring and sleep apnea.
How It Works
Privacy & Your Data
Using the App
Tips for the Best Results
Getting an accurate Snore Score depends on a few simple factors. Here's how to set yourself up for the most reliable results. For lifestyle changes that can reduce your score, see our 8 proven tips to stop snoring.
- Phone placement: Put your phone on the nightstand, 30–60 cm from your head, with the microphone facing you.
- Keep it charged: Plug your phone in to avoid battery drain during long sessions.
- Reduce background noise: Close windows, turn off fans and TVs. The quieter the room, the more accurately the algorithm can isolate snoring sounds.
- Be consistent: Use the same phone position each night so your scores are comparable over time.
- Run longer sessions: A full night gives a more representative score than a 30-minute test. Snoring patterns often change during different sleep stages.
- Track over time: A single score is interesting, but a week of scores reveals real trends. Use the History tab to compare nights and see if lifestyle changes make a difference.
Snoring & Your Health
How loud is snoring, in decibels?
Use this chart to place your own snoring — each row links to a deeper breakdown of that level.
| Decibels | Snoring level | Sounds like | Impact on your partner | Concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–49 dB | Very light | Quiet library, soft rainfall | Barely noticed by most partners | Low concern |
| 50–59 dB | Light / social | Soft conversation, refrigerator hum | Background noise — light sleepers may stir | Low concern |
| 60–64 dB | Moderate | Normal conversation, dishwasher | Regularly disrupts a partner in the same bed | Worth checking |
| 65–74 dB | Loud | Vacuum cleaner, busy restaurant | Hard to sleep through without earplugs | Worth checking |
| 75–84 dB | Very loud | City traffic, garbage disposal | Audible through a closed bedroom door | Screen for apnea |
| 85–94 dB | Extreme | Lawnmower, motorcycle at 8 m | Partner usually moves to another room | Screen for apnea |
| 95+ dB | Record territory | Chainsaw, jackhammer | Heard from other floors of the house | See a clinician |
Decibel ranges are measured roughly 1 metre from the sleeper. Concern levels are general guidance, not a diagnosis.
Which remedies actually work?
Typical reductions reported in published studies, ranked by strength of evidence. More detail in our tips guide.
| Remedy | Typical reduction | Evidence | Effort | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side sleeping (positional therapy) | ~50% | strong | Free · tonight | Stops the tongue and soft palate collapsing backwards. |
| Oropharyngeal (throat) exercises | ~59% | strong | 8 min × 3/day | CHEST trial: 36% fewer snores, 59% less snoring power. |
| 10% weight reduction | ~26% | strong | Months | 26% improvement in sleep-disordered breathing. |
| No alcohol 3–4 h before bed | ~30% | moderate | Free · tonight | Alcohol relaxes airway muscles and deepens vibration. |
| Mandibular advancement device | ~45% | strong | Fitted device | Holds the lower jaw forward to widen the airway. |
| Nasal strips / saline rinse | ~15% | limited | Free · tonight | Helps mainly when congestion is the driver. |
| Head-of-bed elevation (10–15 cm) | ~20% | moderate | One-off setup | Reduces airway collapse from gravity. |
Reduction figures are typical values reported in peer-reviewed studies and vary by individual. Not medical advice.
Important Medical Disclaimer
SnapSnoreScore is not a medical device. It has not been evaluated, cleared, or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), or any other medical regulatory authority.
The Snore Score is a non-clinical estimation based on environmental sound patterns. It does not measure oxygen saturation, airflow, respiratory effort, brain activity, heart rate, or sleep stages — parameters that are typically required for clinical sleep assessments.
If you experience any of the following, consult a healthcare professional:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue
- Gasping, choking, or pauses in breathing during sleep
- Frequent morning headaches
- Difficulty concentrating or memory problems
- A bed partner observing that you stop breathing at night
These may be signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious condition that affects an estimated 1 billion people worldwide. A doctor can recommend a formal sleep study (polysomnography) or a home sleep apnea test for proper diagnosis.
Do not rely on SnapSnoreScore or any consumer app to make decisions about your health. For our full legal terms, see our Terms of Use.
General Questions
Still Have Questions?
If you didn't find the answer you were looking for, feel free to reach out at snapsnorescore@gmail.com. We're always happy to help explain how SnapSnoreScore works and how you can get the most out of your snore tracking experience.
You might also find helpful information in our blog articles covering topics like why people snore, how to stop snoring, and when snoring is dangerous. Remember that SnapSnoreScore is designed as a fun, privacy-first tool — it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.