OSCAR vs SleepHQ: Free vs Paid CPAP Data

OSCAR is free and runs on your own computer. SleepHQ is a paid cloud service with a limited free tier. That one line decides the question for most people. OSCAR reads more machine brands and shows more depth, but it asks you to learn a dense desktop program. SleepHQ gives you a modern web interface, automatic uploads and easy sharing, in exchange for a subscription and for your nights living on someone else's servers.

OSCAR vs SleepHQ: Head to Head

	OSCAR	SleepHQ
Price	Free, and the project says it always will be	Free tier: one device, your most recent 30 days. Pro is US$14.90 a month, or US$149 a year (as of September 2026)
Platform	Desktop program for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus Chromebook and Raspberry Pi builds	Any web browser
Where your data lives	On your own computer	On SleepHQ's servers
Machine brands read	ResMed, Philips Respironics, Fisher & Paykel, Löwenstein, DeVilbiss, Resvent and BMC	ResMed, Philips Respironics, Fisher & Paykel, Löwenstein
Getting the data in	Pull the SD card and import it yourself, every time	Upload the card, or let the optional Magic Uploader hardware send it each morning
Learning curve	Steep. The interface assumes you already know the terms	Low. Built for a general audience
Sharing with a clinician	Export charts or hand over the data folder yourself	A share link anyone can open, or a direct connection if your clinic uses SleepHQ

The current release is OSCAR 2.0.1, published June 23, 2026. SleepHQ's free tier is capped at one device and your most recent 30 days of nights; the US$14.90 per month Pro tier (US$149 a year, both checked on sleephq.com in September 2026) lifts both caps. Neither tool changes what your machine wrote to the card, so nothing stops you from running both.

CPAP Clarity sits in a third position: free like OSCAR, browser-based like SleepHQ, and private like neither, because the parsing happens on your device and no night is uploaded anywhere. The rest of this guide covers all four tools, including ResMed's own myAir app.

Why Analyze Your CPAP Data?

Your CPAP machine records incredibly detailed information every night, far more than the simple AHI number on its screen. Analyzing this data helps you:

• Understand your therapy: See exactly what's happening while you sleep
• Identify problems early: Catch rising leak rates or increasing AHI before they become serious
• Have informed conversations with your doctor: Bring data, not just symptoms
• Optimize your setup: Find the best mask, pressure, and settings for you

But you need the right tool. Here's how the options compare. For a side-by-side feature matrix across every browser and desktop tool we cover, see our best CPAP data tools compared guide.

The Options

ResMed myAir

What it is: ResMed's official companion app. Free, connected via Bluetooth or cellular.

Pros:

• Convenient, syncs automatically
• Simple daily score out of 100
• Basic compliance tracking

Limitations:

• Heavily simplified. The "score" system hides important details
• Known to inflate results (events per hour are only a small part of the score, so a score in the 90s can coexist with a clinically significant AHI)
• No detailed event breakdown or timing
• No leak rate graphs or pressure curves
• No data export
• ResMed devices only (obviously)

Best for: Users who want a quick daily check without any technical depth.

ResMed also makes a desktop program called ResScan, but it is clinician software meant for providers, not patients. The ResScan download guide explains what it does and why a browser tool is the easier path for reading your own data.

OSCAR (Open Source CPAP Analysis Reporter)

What it is: Free, open-source desktop application. The gold standard for detailed CPAP analysis.

Pros:

• Incredibly detailed: breath-by-breath waveforms, every metric imaginable
• Supports multiple machine brands
• Active community on apneaboard.com
• Completely free

Limitations:

• Desktop only. No mobile or web version
• Steep learning curve. The interface is dense and intimidating for beginners
• Dated UI. Qt-based interface from the early 2010s
• Manual import. Must physically remove SD card and connect to computer via an SD card reader
• Slow development. Maintained by a small group of volunteers
• No insights or explanations. Shows you the data but doesn't help you understand it

Best for: Power users who want maximum detail and are willing to invest time learning the interface.

SleepHQ

What it is: Commercial web-based CPAP analysis tool with a subscription model.

Pros:

• Modern web interface
• Cloud storage and syncing
• SD card uploader hardware available

Limitations:

• Paid subscription for full features
• Data stored on their servers
• Less detailed than OSCAR for advanced analysis

Best for: Users who want a modern interface and are willing to pay a monthly subscription. For a detailed SleepHQ comparison, see SleepHQ vs CPAP Clarity.

CPAP Clarity

What it is: Free, privacy-first web app for CPAP data analysis with smart insights.

Pros:

• Free forever. No subscription, no account needed
• Privacy-first. All data processing happens in your browser; your health data never leaves your device
• Beautiful, modern interface. Designed for clarity, not complexity
• Smart insights. Plain-English explanations of what your data means
• Works on any device. Desktop, tablet, or phone browser
• Instant results. Drag and drop your SD card folder

Limitations:

• Six CPAP brands (ResMed, BMC, React Health Luna G3, Löwenstein Prisma, Philips DreamStation, Yuwell), not Fisher & Paykel or Resvent yet
• Flow-rate waveforms cover ResMed, Philips, and Löwenstein, not yet every supported brand
• Newer tool, still adding features

Best for: Users who want to understand their data without a learning curve, with zero privacy compromise.

Feature Comparison

Feature	myAir	OSCAR	SleepHQ	CPAP Clarity
Price	Free	Free	US$14.90/mo*	Free
Platform	Mobile app	Desktop	Web	Web
AHI breakdown	Basic	Detailed	Detailed	Detailed
Event types	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leak charts	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pressure charts	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Event timeline	No	Yes	Limited	Yes
Smart insights	No	No	No	Yes
Privacy	Cloud	Local	Cloud	Local
Setup time	2 min	15+ min	5 min	1 min
Learning curve	None	High	Low	None
Account required	Yes	No	Yes	No

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Choosing the right tool depends on your priorities. Here is a straightforward look at the strengths and weaknesses of the three main CPAP data analysis tools.

CPAP Clarity

Pros:

• Free with no account or subscription required
• All data stays in your browser (no cloud uploads, no privacy concerns)
• Works on any device with a browser (desktop, tablet, phone)
• Plain-English insights explain what your data means, not just what it shows
• No installation. Drag and drop your whole SD card folder and go
• Clean, modern interface designed for readability

Cons:

• Fewer supported brands than OSCAR: ResMed, BMC, React Health Luna G3, Löwenstein Prisma, Philips DreamStation, and Yuwell (not Fisher & Paykel or Resvent yet)
• Breath-by-breath flow waveforms cover ResMed, Philips, and Löwenstein, not yet every supported brand
• Newer tool, so community resources are still growing
• Requires SD card access (no wireless sync)

OSCAR

Pros:

• Maximum data depth, including breath-by-breath flow waveforms
• Supports ResMed, Philips Respironics, Fisher & Paykel, and other brands
• Large, established community on forums like apneaboard.com
• Completely free and open source
• Decades of development and user testing

Cons:

• Desktop only (Windows, macOS, Linux). No mobile or web access
• Steep learning curve with a dense, technical interface
• Manual SD card import every time you want to view data
• No built-in explanations or insights. You need to know what you're looking at
• Development pace is slow, maintained by a small volunteer team
• Interface design has not been updated significantly in years

SleepHQ

Pros:

• Modern, polished web interface
• Cloud storage means your data is accessible from any device
• Optional hardware uploader for automatic SD card syncing
• Good balance of detail and usability

Cons:

• Subscription required for full features
• Your health data is stored on their servers
• Less detailed than OSCAR for advanced waveform analysis
• Account registration required

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose CPAP Clarity If...

You want to understand your therapy data without investing time in a learning curve. CPAP Clarity is designed for CPAP users who want more than myAir's oversimplified scores but find OSCAR's technical depth overwhelming. It is ideal if privacy matters to you, since your data never leaves your browser. It is also a good fit if you primarily use a phone or tablet, since it works on any device with a browser. The smart insights feature translates your numbers into plain-English observations, so you don't need to memorize what "95th percentile pressure" means or whether your leak rate is in the normal range. If you are new to analyzing your CPAP data, this is the best place to start. See how to use CPAP Clarity for a walkthrough.

Choose OSCAR If...

You are a power user who wants to see everything your machine records, down to individual breaths. OSCAR is the right choice if you use a non-ResMed machine (Philips Respironics, Fisher & Paykel, etc.), since it supports the widest range of devices. It is also valuable if you are working closely with a knowledgeable sleep physician who wants to review detailed waveform data. The community around OSCAR is one of its greatest strengths. Forums like apneaboard.com have years of discussions where experienced users help newcomers interpret specific waveform patterns. Be prepared to invest time learning the interface, though. Many experienced CPAP users use both OSCAR for deep analysis and a simpler tool like CPAP Clarity for daily review.

Choose SleepHQ If...

You prefer a managed, cloud-based experience and don't mind a monthly subscription. SleepHQ is a good fit if you want your data automatically synced and accessible from any device without manually transferring an SD card each time. Their optional hardware uploader plugs into your machine and sends data to the cloud automatically, which is the most hands-off workflow available. SleepHQ offers a more modern interface than OSCAR while providing more detail than myAir. Keep in mind that your health data will be stored on their servers, which may or may not be a concern depending on your privacy preferences. For a detailed comparison, see SleepHQ vs CPAP Clarity.

Which Should You Use?

Start with CPAP Clarity if you want immediate, understandable insights from your data without any learning curve or privacy compromise. It's free and takes about a minute to get started.

Add OSCAR if you become a power user and want to dive into breath-by-breath waveform analysis. Many serious CPAP users use both: a quick tool for daily checks and OSCAR for deep dives.

Stick with myAir only if you just want to confirm you used your machine last night and nothing more. If myAir's simplified scores leave you wanting more (and most people eventually do), our Beyond myAir guide explains exactly what you're missing and how to get started with deeper analysis.

Try CPAP Clarity now, free, no account needed →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OSCAR free?

Yes, completely. OSCAR is open source and the project states plainly that it never asks for payment and always will be free. There is no paid tier, no account and no upsell. It is maintained by volunteers, which is also why its interface and its release pace lag behind commercial tools.

Is SleepHQ free?

Partly. The free tier lets you track one device and view your most recent 30 days of data. Full history, unlimited devices, exports and the extra charts sit behind the Pro tier, which was US$14.90 a month or US$149 a year when we last checked in September 2026.

Can OSCAR and SleepHQ read the same SD card?

Yes. Both read the data files your machine already wrote to its card, and neither one alters them, so you can import the same card into both. Plenty of people do exactly that: SleepHQ or a browser tool for the quick morning check, OSCAR when they want to stare at individual breaths.

Does OSCAR work on a phone?

No. OSCAR is a desktop program only, with builds for Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook and Raspberry Pi. There is no iPhone or Android version and no web version. If you want to read your CPAP data on a phone, you need a browser-based tool.

Primary Sources

• OSCAR project page, sleepfiles.com (opens in new tab) (version, platforms, and the statement that OSCAR is free)
• OSCAR source, loader plugins (opens in new tab) (the definitive list of machine brands OSCAR can read)
• SleepHQ pricing (opens in new tab) (tiers, caps and prices in US dollars)
• SleepHQ FAQ (opens in new tab) (supported brands and how sharing works)