Free App vs. Premium: What Each Costs
Free Happiest Baby app
- Remote control, sound volumeFree
- Motion Limiter, alertsFree
- Level Lock, Weaning ModePremium only
Premium, bought new
- All Premium settingsIncluded
- After 9 months$19.99/mo to keep
Premium, secondhand
- All Premium settingsIncluded
- Free monthsNone
Checked against Happiest Baby’s Premium app features and pricing page, its subscription announcement, and its support article on manual controls on October 11, 2026. Renters get Premium for the length of the rental plus one extra month.
What SNOO Does With No Subscription
The bassinet’s main job doesn’t depend on the app. Happiest Baby’s support center explains the manual controls: press the power button once to start SNOO, press it again to stop, and press and hold to step up the level of sound and motion. SNOO’s responsive rocking and white noise run from the bassinet itself.
Add the free Happiest Baby app and you get, per Happiest Baby’s feature list:
- Remote control to start, stop, and raise or lower SNOO’s level
- Basic sound settings for white noise volume
- Motion Limiter, which keeps rocking at or below Level 2
- Alerts when the baby needs extra attention
- Real-time status, sleep tips, multi-baby profiles, and a tracker for sleep, feeding, and diapers
Happiest Baby says this free app is available to every SNOO user, “even if it’s second- or third-hand.”
What Premium Adds
The Premium app unlocks settings that change how SNOO responds, plus extra content:
- Level Lock, which keeps SNOO on one level all night
- Weaning Mode, which plays sound all night but rocks only when the baby cries, to prepare for the move to a crib
- Responsiveness settings and Motion Start Level
- Car Ride Mode and Sleepytime Sounds
- Daily reports and sleep log, premium articles, and the “Ask Happiest Baby” assistant
Who Gets Premium Free
Happiest Baby’s rules depend on how you got the SNOO:
- Bought new from Happiest Baby or an authorized partner: 9 months of Premium free
- Rented from Happiest Baby, including employer rental programs: Premium for the whole rental plus one month after you return it
- Original owners who bought before July 15, 2024: 9 months of Premium free from when you start using SNOO for a baby, and again for your next baby
- Bought secondhand or borrowed: the free app only, with Premium at $19.99 a month
The secondhand rule is the part that caused the backlash when Happiest Baby announced it in 2024. Settings like Level Lock and Weaning Mode had been free to every owner, and moving them behind a monthly fee upset parents who had bought used bassinets (Fortune covered the reaction).
The Secondhand Math
A used SNOO is still usually the cheaper route, but count the subscription honestly. Happiest Baby says SNOO is for babies up to 6 months old (or until they can roll over or push up on hands and knees). If you’d want Premium for five or six of those months, that’s roughly $100 to $120 on top of the used price. A new SNOO costs $1,995 on Happiest Baby’s site and includes those 9 months.
The cheaper approach for a used SNOO is to start on the free app. Remote control, alerts, and the Motion Limiter are enough for many families. Because Premium is a monthly price, you can add it only for the stretch you need it, for example when you want Weaning Mode near the end of the bassinet months.
Buying a New SNOO
The SNOO listing on Amazon is sold and shipped by Happiest Baby, Inc. Buying from Happiest Baby should qualify for the 9 months of free Premium, but if that matters to you, confirm with Happiest Baby before ordering.
SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet
Responsive rocking and white noise, with the free app for every owner. 4.1★ (581 ratings).
Amazon’s price was below Happiest Baby’s $1,995 list price when we checked. Prices change often, so confirm before buying.
Who Should NOT Pay for Premium
If you bought a used SNOO and your baby settles fine on the default program, you don’t need Premium. The free app already covers the things most parents use every night: starting and stopping SNOO from another room, adjusting volume, and getting alerts. Pay only when a specific Premium setting, like Weaning Mode or Level Lock, solves a problem you actually have.
FAQ
Does SNOO require a subscription? No. SNOO works from its power button with no app, and the free Happiest Baby app is available to every owner. Only the Premium app settings cost extra.
How much is the SNOO subscription? $19.99 a month for Premium, according to Happiest Baby. It’s free for 9 months when you buy a new SNOO from Happiest Baby or an authorized partner.
Does a secondhand SNOO work without a subscription? Yes. Secondhand and borrowed SNOOs get the free app, with remote control, alerts, and the Motion Limiter. Premium settings cost $19.99 a month.
Is Weaning Mode free on SNOO? No. Weaning Mode is a Premium feature, as are Level Lock and Car Ride Mode.
Can I use SNOO without the app? Yes. Press the power button to start or stop SNOO, and press and hold it to raise the level of sound and motion.
Bottom Line
- You’re buying new: Premium is free for 9 months, longer than the 6 months SNOO is designed for.
- You’re buying or borrowing used: start with the free app and add Premium only for the months you need a specific setting.
- You’re renting: Premium is included for the rental, plus a month.
For other baby gear with a free and paid split, see our Owlet subscription guide, Nanit guide, and Hatch Restore guide.