How to Choose a CPAP Machine in 2024
Whether you choose one of our recommendations or want to continue doing your own research, it’s important to know what to look for. A CPAP machine can be a rather significant purchase, so be sure to consider all of the following points before deciding which machine is best for you:
Doctor’s Recommendations
The most important thing to consider when shopping for a CPAP machine is what your healthcare provider has recommended or stated as a requirement for you in terms of the machine’s features. Your physician may have specific recommendations for comfort features, might want you to get an APAP or BiPAP machine, or may even tell you to seek out a machine with a humidifier. You should always make sure that whatever machine you purchase will meet the requirements of your healthcare provider, as they have the most intimate knowledge of your situation and medical needs.
Comfort Features
Your CPAP therapy should be comfortable, and there are many industry-standard comfort features that will hopefully make your therapy more manageable and approachable. Here are some popular features to look for as well as a brief description of what each one does:
- Auto-Titration: Perhaps the single most important feature and highest recommendation we can give, auto-titration automatically adjusts your therapy pressure on a breath-by-breath basis instead of holding your prescribed pressure constant throughout the night like a traditional CPAP machine. Auto-adjusting CPAP machines, also referred to as APAPs, can adjust to your exact needs if you’re feeling congested or sick, or experience lifestyle changes that affect your therapy such as weight loss, smoking cessation, or dietary changes.
- Ramp: Instead of starting your therapy at your prescribed pressure, the Ramp feature will start at a lower pressure and incrementally increase over the course of 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes, depending on the setting and machine.
- Auto Start/Stop: With this feature, your machine will detect when your mask is on and when you’re breathing to automatically begin administering your therapy pressure. It will also stop when you remove your mask, limiting how much you actually need to interact with your machine and eliminating the need to fumble around for buttons in the dark to start or stop your machine.
- Exhalation Relief: The continuous pressure of CPAP therapy can be too strong for some to exhale against, making breathing more difficult when exhaling. An exhalation relief feature will reduce the air pressure each time you exhale so that there’s less resistance acting against you. This feature typically has multiple settings and can be turned completely off.
Data Tracking Capabilities
Most CPAP machines will feature data tracking capabilities that allow you to record sleep data to an SD card, but many also have a smartphone app that will sync with your device for easier viewing and sharing of your sleep data. If you’re someone who needs to work closely with a healthcare provider to monitor your sleep health, you’ll want a machine with easily accessible and sharable data.
Heated Humidifier
CPAP therapy can easily dry out the nasal passages and throat, leading to discomfort and lower sleep quality. This is especially true for people over 60, but analgesics, antihistamines, antidepressants, and many other types of medications can also have a drying effect on the body, which is made worse by CPAP therapy. Using a heated humidifier with your CPAP machine can negate these effects and make your therapy much more tolerable, improving your sleep quality, CPAP compliance, and indirectly, your overall quality of life.
Most modern CPAP machines have an integrated humidifier, so you won’t have to purchase any extra parts to add humidification to your therapy air.
Noise Level
While most machines on the market will advertise being “whisper-quiet,” some machines operate at distinctly different pitches than others despite being the same volume. This can be quite an issue for light sleepers, so it may be a good idea to seek out video or audio of the machine being used to see if it’s a sound you can easily sleep with every night for hours on end. If you’re someone who is very sensitive to CPAP machine noise, sleeping with a sound machine might help you get the rest you need.
Warranty
In a perfect world, this isn’t something that will matter during the ownership of your machine. However, accidents happen, and manufacturer defects are an unfortunate reality we sometimes face, so you should make sure to educate yourself about the warranty of any machine you’re considering in case anything bad happens to the device. There are two main types of CPAP warranties: convenient and inconvenient.
If your machine has a convenient warranty, your device will be replaced with an identical or near-identical unit before your faulty machine is ever sent off for inspection. With an inconvenient warranty, you’ll have to send your machine in for inspection and repair before a replacement machine is sent to you. CPAP machine warranties typically cover a two-year period after the device is purchased, though some manufacturers also offer three-and five-year warranties as well.
Machine Weight and Size
Of course, you’ll also want to keep in mind how much nightstand space you have to work with, whether you’ll be frequently traveling with your machine, and how heavy of a machine you’ll be able to move on your own if necessary. You may want to consider a Travel CPAP Machine, which is ultra-portable and specifically designed for travelers.
How We Choose the Best CPAP Machines (Why You Should Trust Us)
At CPAP.com, we’ve been helping pair people with the best masks, machines, and therapy equipment for their needs since 1999. When reviewing CPAP machines, our team meticulously evaluates each therapy device based on its comfort features, noise level, humidification system, air filtration system, user interface, data tracking capabilities, value for price, and general design. We know that everyone has different needs and that not all CPAP machines are made for all people. We always aim to find a balance between affordability, functionality, and ease of use in recommending the best CPAP machine for you.
Final Thoughts
We hope this article has provided some clarity on some of the best CPAP machines available today. Keep in mind your doctor’s orders where features are concerned and where you might be traveling with your new CPAP machine. The AirSense 11 is an excellent choice for anyone, even frequent travelers, and the Luna II Auto CPAP is a close second for anyone looking for an alternative to some of the bigger names in the industry like ResMed and Philips Respironics.
We hope that our comprehensive research reflects our dedication to enhancing the lives of those with sleep apnea. We recognize that the machine you choose for your therapy will profoundly impact the next few years of your life, and we take this responsibility very seriously. Through leveraging our own hands-on experience, industry knowledge, customer reviews, and understanding of the latest research into therapy advancements, we aim to provide you with the most appropriate equipment recommendations tailored to your unique needs and lifestyle. Our perspective as seasoned CPAP experts enables us to navigate an ever-evolving product landscape so that we may continue to offer solutions that consistently deliver and make your life a little bit easier.
27 Responses
Can this ever make one feel light headed — especially if the settings are too high– And how to correct accordingly ????
Thanks for sharing these informations. I am a sleep apnea patient. I am searching for the best CPAP mask. I do not know anything about CPAP mask. Really liked the resmed airsense 10 review. I also agree, all the features of Airsense are really impressive. I can carry this outside also. Depending on the informations shared by you, resmed airsense 10 will be the best for me.
Hi Kate, we are very happy to hear that the article was helpful to you in making a decision on which machine may be best for you! Please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221 with any further questions, or concerns.
Have a great day!
Hello, I just got a new cpap Dream machine it only has blue tooth, I don’t like that so much. And now after using it I started sneezeing and runny nose.
DreamStation Go now has a humidifier.
Hi Adam, yes the DreamStation Go now has a humidifier, which makes it an even more appealing travel option.
I used my AirSense 10 with a Philips Dreamware full face mask last night for the first time. I’m really happy with the comfort of the mask and am encouraged that I’ll transition to using CPAP in a relatively short period of time.
My only concern with the AirSense 10 is the cellular communication of data. Without bluetooth, you don’t connect to the machine for data. You rely on the app to connect to your account, which has used a cellular signal to gather your information from the machine sitting right beside you. If you are in an area with poor cell service, that data might not have been transmitted.
The documentation even says it could take an hour or more after waking for the app to have access to your sleep information. Really? With today’s technology? An hour or more? To gather data from a device sitting right beside you?
ResMed needs to rethink that for the next iteration of their machine.
Hi Greg,
Thank you for your feedback. I know that it must be frustrating knowing that you may not have access to your sleep data immediately.
ResMed is always striving to come up with possible solutions to their customer’s frustrations. I reached out to ResMed directly and was advised that the data transfer does take at least an hour to transfer from device to the app, but it has nothing to do with the bluetooth, and the delay is with the machine itself.
For further questions, or concerns please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221, or you may e-mail us at: cpap@cpap.com. Also, if you would like any further clarifications regarding the data transferring process, or time periods, you may reach ResMed directly at: 1-800-424-0737.
Have a great weekend!
Hi Greg,
I suggest you ask your provider to change the Essentials option from On to Plus in the clinical menu. You will then see additional information (AHI, leak, etc.) on the Sleep Report screen while you wait for the MyAir app to update.
Being in the market for a new machine, I was interested to read this article on the best CPAPs. After reading it, however, I’m left wondering if the authors have actual experience with the equipment being written about. It’s hard to know whether I’m just reading a regurgitation of specs with some opinion about them, or a professional review information based on actual use. I was hoping for the later.
Part of my concern comes from the AirMini review. Much made about the HumidX feature, which is certainly an interesting solution to providing humidification in a highly portable machine. Despite that, I was a bit surprised by the high rating for humidification. I have tried this machine and loved almost everything about it. While the machine itself was pretty quiet, the nature of the HumidX design creates a very loud Darth Vader sort of sound while breathing (at least with the P10 mask I used). For some it wouldn’t be an issue, but it was a showstopper for me. Had I not had direct experience with the machine, I would never have known about this issue from the review. That’s a glaring omission in the article, given it’s a key bit of information that could influence the reader’s decision. It creates a question about what other pros and cons are missing.
To help inform the reader, please ensure the articles state whether a review is based on third party information or actual use. In the latter case, please include all key pro and cons.
Hi AJ, thank you for your feedback. I can totally understand where you are coming from with your concerns. However, the ratings for the machine that you are speaking about AirMini, specifically lists the drawback for the 30 Decibels (noise level) also, for noise the machine is rated very low with a score of 4 out of 10.
The article goes even further stating that the noise tolerance level varies from patient to patient. Whereas, some folks may not be bothered by the sound level, others such as yourself will see the sound level as a deal breaker.
This is why CPAP.com offers free 30 day returns on this machine. We certainly have no interest in making any false claims, or no desire to give the illusion that any of our products are rated higher than they actually are.
Some of our articles are written by professionals, some by researchers and then others by actual CPAP users. If you scroll to the bottom of each article written, you will see a little bit of information about the Author.
Thank you for your feedback and if you have any further questions, or concerns, please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221.
Enjoy your day!
Hi Carol,
Thanks for the response. I did note the decibel rating for the Airmini. With regards to tolerance, I didn’t find the noise level of the machine itself objectionable.
The design of the masks with HumidX (at least for the P10 I tried) creates a very different noise signature from traditional masks. You’re right that some people will tolerate it, if for no other reason than this is an amazingly compact machine.
I personally was surprised by how loud the mask was. If traveling with a partner, that could be a deal breaker.
HumidX is a pretty nice solution to portable humidification and the article provides accolades there. But the noise issue created by HumidX needs to be included as well, in order to inform the reader of an potential issue that goes beyond the machine itself. Especially since the mask is a required part of the overall system.
Thanks!
I have the Airsense 10. What is missing from all your reviews is quality; as in how long before it breaks. You should have done the work required to speak to the repair people because the Airsense 10 is well-known, and infamous among CPAP techs, to have the humidifier fail within a year.
So the CPAP devices that have a separate humidifier, or another technology that doesn’t require an ability to steam water, has a clear advantage in the real world. Moreso once you realize that your $900 CPAP machine is gonna give you a sore throat every morning once the humidifier inevitable fails. And getting it replaced, even under warranty, takes weeks.
Hi Pat, i’m sorry you’re experiencing issues with your Airsense 10 with built in heated humidifier. It is not our experience that humidifiers fail with the AirSense 10, or any other, within the warranty period. While certainly it can happen, it is not the norm. At CPAP.com, we do as much troubleshooting over the phone to diagnose what the issue is with the machine – In some cases, our warranty period can be less than a week turnaround, and of course we offer loaner machines during this time, if they are needed.
That being said, for some people the ability to simply remove and replace the humdifier can be an added benefit – though, truth be told, sometimes its harder to troubleshoot because the issue is actually with the machine itself and not the humdifier.
Did you purchase your machine from CPAP.com? If so, I will be more than happy to assist you with any technical concerns that you have. Please contact us at: 1-800-356-5221 and ask for Carol.
Have a great day!
Hi, I’m looking to replace my CPAP and I would like to have an every day machine which I can use in several travels I must make every year. Is this machine souhaitable for everyday use?
Thanks
Hi Marcelo, you are able to use any of the CPAP machines, for everyday use. If you would like assistance in selecting the machine that may best fit your needs, please feel free to contact our customer service department at: 1-800-356-5221.
We hope to hear from you soon!
I’d like to know if I can use the travel CPAP, the mini or the go for an everyday use?
Thanks
Hi Marcelo, yes, you can.
Have a great day!
i have been diagnosed to have OSAS recently. I am from India and i have met a person with nidex cpap machine ( SEFAM) made in france, and taking its demo. any idea how is the machine.
Hi Dr. Sonu Sharma, my apologies, but I’m having trouble with locating a Nidex CPAP machine. Please provide additional details about the machine (ex. model number, name of machine, manufacturer).
For further questions, or concerns, please reach us at: 1-800-356-5221, or you may e-mail us with additional information at: cpap@cpap.com.
Have a great day!
Useless machine. Go for Philips or ResMed.
I will offer this warning to persons that may travel or even relocate and are looking at the Resmed. We purchased the Resmed 10 Auto and found the machine to be excellent as well as quiet. The service where we purchased the product was knowledgeable and outstanding. We moved from Canada to the US less than a year into its use. After a month here, the machine developed a wheezing sound, that according to online searching is quite a normal occurrence. The machine came with a 2-year warranty, but no one here will do the over the counter exchange while the machine is being serviced. The lack of after-service assistance is unacceptable. Because of this issue, I would not recommend this machine to anyone. They’re after purchase assistance is non-existent!
Is this a review that only uses specs from the manufacture/box/Internet. Has your staff tried these?
Hi Dan, the article is providing information from first hand knowledge. We do trial the machines, but the information is based on customer feedback also.
For further questions, or concerns, please feel free to reach us at: 1-800-356-5221, or you may e-mail us at: cpap@cpap.com.
Have a great day!
I order a clap cleaner from common on 5-15-20 and have not received my cleaner yet order #1256 and paid 64.95 I can’t believe I have not received it
Hi Mary, I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t received your order after such a long period, but please contact the company you placed the order with for an update on the order status.
For other questions, or concerns, please reach us at: 1-800-356-5221.
Have a great weekend!
I’ve been on PAP therapy for over 20 years and I’ve had several different machines, including CPAP, BIPAP and BIPAP ST. Now, my doctor wants me to use an ASV, to help with my CSA.
I have to agree with the rankings of the brands of the PAP machines ranked by this website.
I’ve always had ResMed brand of machines, with the exception of my BIPAP ST, when I thought I’d try to try something new. I chose Phillips Respironics Dream Station. Not only was it huge, taking up much space, the machine did not have an automatic on/off feature, once the mask is applied and removed. For compliance reasons, I love that feature on the ResMed Air Curve 10. The Dream Station power button also needed to be held down for a few seconds to power on/off, which was very annoying. Lastly, the supplied hose material had very thin plastic and ripped much to easily. It was a horrible experience.
I was able to return it and go back to ResMed, which has.much better features, reasonable size and better materials, by far. If you’re unsure which brand to buy, always go with ResMed. You won’t be sorry…