Best alarm clocks

No one likes getting up in the morning — unless you're an early bird — but a good alarm clock makes waking up just a little easier. We've tried dozens of alarm clocks, from the gentle, gradual mornings of sunrise alarm clocks to silent alarm clocks for waking up without disturbing the entire household. Regardless of your personal alarm tastes, we've picked out the best alarm clocks for every type of sleeper.

When choosing an alarm clock, be sure to consider your . "Light sleepers may want as few distractions and artificial light as possible," said Alex Dimitriu, MD, the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine. "Deep sleepers may want an alarm that is loud or gradually loud, possibly with light or a sunrise simulator to facilitate waking up from a deep slumber." After testing every kind of alarm clock over the years, we've picked options for every type of sleeper.

You can also read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests home products here.

Our top picks for the best alarm clocks

Best overall: The Loftie - See at Amazon

Best budget: Jall Wooden Alarm Clock - See at Amazon

Best sunrise: Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light - See at Amazon

Best smart: Hatch Restore 3 - See at Hatch

Best for heavy sleepers: Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb Extra-Loud Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker - See at Amazon

Best overall

Our top pick was especially effective at waking me up. What sets the Loftie apart from other alarm clocks is its two-phase alarm system. The first alarm is a gentle tone that helps my body and mind wake up slowly. The second is a louder melody that gets me out of bed. This method is effective in reducing sleep inertia (also known as morning grogginess).

It's multifunctional. Since its launch, Loftie has added more sounds, alarms, and new features. It works as a white noise machine, Bluetooth speaker, and sleep timer. You can set multiple alarms from the device and choose the type of sounds you want to wake up to. With only three buttons at the top, it's simple to use.

It's helped me unplug at night. The Loftie was designed to break the bad habit of scrolling through your phone during your bedtime and morning routine. Instead of looking at social media right before bed, I enjoyed falling asleep to the Loftie's included breathing techniques, sound baths, and bedtime stories. The display dims automatically as the night progresses, and a warm amber glow serves as a gentle, adjustable nightlight.

It has smart compatibility, too. Setting up the clock includes downloading the required Loftie app (available for iOS or Android). For the most part, you can do everything on the device and stay out of the app, unless it's time for an update. Overall, the Loftie did a fantastic job at waking me up on time every day in the most pleasant way possible.

Best budget

This is a simple, no fuss device. The Jall Wooden Alarm Clock is a solid budget option that covers the basics and looks nice on your nightstand. Setup is quick and straightforward — it took me about three minutes, since there's no Wi-Fi or app involved.

Using it is a gentle, reliable way to wake up. The alarm is a standard beep, but it's noticeably gentler than the other budget options I tested. The volume is adjustable, and you can set up to three alarms. There's a weekday mode, too, so you can ensure your alarm won't go off during your weekend snooze. It's not the most powerful alarm, though, so it might not be loud enough to wake very heavy sleepers.

I love the wood look. The faux wood finish looks clean and minimal, and compared to the other budget options we tested, this one feels a lot more polished on a nightstand. The LED display is clear and easy to read, and the brightness can be adjusted depending on your preference.

It's an excellent value for the price. It also includes a few extra features, like temperature and humidity readings. They're not essential, but they're nice features to find at this price point. The build quality is also decent for the price. It held up well during testing, though the exterior may scratch over time depending on how it's handled. Overall, this is the kind of budget alarm clock most people will be happy with. It's simple, reliable, and looks better than most options in this price range.

Best sunrise

Sunrise alarm clocks are the key to gentle, calm mornings. If you are really looking to set up a morning and night routine, the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light is a great pick. With the ability to customize which sounds and lights to wake up and wind down with, you can relax more naturally during your sleep routine.

It's a delight to use. While testing, I woke up refreshed each morning. The snooze function is simple: just tap anywhere on the clock to snooze your alarm and sleep for nine more minutes. You probably won't need to snooze it, though, since the gradually increasing warm glow wakes you up naturally.

Read our full Philips SmartSleep Connected Wake-Up Light review.

Best smart

Smart compatibility is handy for setup and changing settings, but try to minimize your screen time around bed. The Hatch Restore 3 is the best smart alarm clock, with a sunrise display, a library of content that spans classic alarm sounds to original bedtime stories, app connectivity, and customizable alarm settings. Experts recommend avoiding using your phone before bed, but using it to program your alarm clock is certainly handy. With the accompanying app (available on iOS or Android), you can program your Hatch Restore, including display colors and sounds. You can even set a routine, if you find yourself gravitating towards a certain meditation or sleep story at bedtime. The app is free, but you'll have to upgrade to Hatch+ ($49.99 yearly or $4.99 monthly) to unlock extra features.

It's personalizable, too. Besides smart capabilities, the Hatch Restore is a gorgeous alarm clock with a huge array of features, including 50 sounds and 18 colors, for a personalized wake-up experience, whether you prefer a sunrise or sound-based alarm. The only thing it's missing is Bluetooth capabilities or radio.

Read our Hatch Restore 3 review.

Best for heavy sleepers

This is an extreme option for very heavy sleepers. If you're a heavy sleeper who struggles to wake up in the morning, the Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock is one of the most aggressive solutions available. It's not subtle, but that's the point. This clock combines an extremely loud alarm, flashing red lights, and a powerful bed shaker designed to physically jolt you awake. Think of it more as a last-resort option for specific individuals, like heavy sleepers or those who are hearing impaired.

The traditional beep is accompanied by strong vibrations. The standout feature is the bed shaker, which sits under your mattress and delivers a strong, buzzing vibration when the alarm goes off. During testing, it was impossible to ignore. Even through a thick mattress, the vibration was intense enough to wake both me and my husband immediately. If you share a bed, your partner will likely wake up too. You can choose between sound, vibration, or a combination of both, depending on your preference, but either way, this is not a gentle wake-up experience. The wake-up experience is intense. This is not a gentle or gradual start to your day. While it consistently got us out of bed, it didn't leave us feeling particularly refreshed. Instead, it feels more like a tool designed to make sure you wake up, no matter what.

Setup is fully manual. It took around 10 minutes to configure, and switching between the dual alarms can be confusing at first and feels dated. There's also no way to assign alarms to specific days, so you need to adjust them manually if your schedule changes.

It cracked during durability testing. Durability is average. After a hard drop the exterior cracked, though the clock continued to function without issue. It doesn't feel especially sturdy, and the design is purely functional. Still, for those who truly struggle to wake up or need a reliable backup for important mornings, the Sonic Bomb delivers where it counts: It will get you out of bed on time, every time.

Our top picks compared

What to look for in an alarm clock

I spoke with sleep expert Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, and relied on my own experience as a sleep researcher and certified sleep science consultant to write this guide.

Alarm tone: Your alarm clock should wake you up the way you want to wake up. If you want to wake up gently, you should choose one of our best alarm clock picks that has soothing sounds. On the other hand, if you are a heavy sleeper, you'll want an alarm with a louder sound.

Aesthetics and size: An alarm clock should seamlessly fit into your room and its style. Your alarm clock should not be a focal point, so try to pick an option that blends into the colors or style of your bedroom.

Source of power:If your nightstand isn't near an outlet you should look into wireless or battery operated alarm clocks. Make sure the alarm clock you purchase fits into your current lifestyle and habits, not the other way around.

Durability: You want something that's long-lasting, reliable, and overall a good investment. Depending on your sleeping habits and how much you want to spend, a simple alarm clock could be a perfect fit for you. If you want something with added features and perks, you are probably going to spend more money.

Extra features: Bluetooth compatibility, sleep tracking, multiple charging ports, and radio, are not included with most alarm clocks. If you are looking for these extras, make sure to check out the features before buying.

How we test alarm clocks

Our testing procedures

For this guide, I tested ten of the best alarm clocks and evaluated them on the following criteria:

Setup: For each alarm clock, I noted how easy or difficult it was to set up the time and alarms and how helpful the instructions were.

Performance: I used each alarm clock for a minimum of three consecutive days to get used to the routine and noted how effective they were in waking me up on time.

Alarm sound: I carefully assessed each alarm's volume and sound selection. I noted whether it was a gradual melodic tune, and whether it was loud enough to wake up heavy sleepers.

Extra features: I tested any additional features of each alarm clock, including Bluetooth integration, sleep timers, apps, projectors, and voice-control features.

Durability: I tested and noted how durable and resistant each was by knocking them off my nightstand to see if they were easily damaged.

Meet the expert behind the guide

Suzy Hernandez, freelance contributor: I'm the go-to alarm clock tester at Business Insider Reviews. I'm a certified sleep science consultant with years of experience testing sleep products. I also authored the best sunrise alarm clocks guide for Business Insider.

Alarm clock FAQs

What type of alarm clock is best for light sleepers?

Light sleepers should look for quieter, gentle alarms and a dimmable display to not disturb sleep. Light sleepers may also benefit from a gentle alarm like the best sunrise alarm clocks.

Why can't I just use my phone as an alarm?

"Keeping a phone on a nightstand is a bit of a distraction and can negatively impact sleep," said Dimitriu. It's better to put your phone away while you sleep. Also, using your phone as an alarm means you're looking at it first thing in the morning, which isn't always the most peaceful experience.

What is the difference between silent and sunrise alarm clocks?

Sunrise alarm clocks mimic the light of dawn — usually in soft orange and yellow shades — to wake up a sleeper gradually and naturally. Some silent alarm clocks also use light, but might also use methods like vibrations as well.

What color alarm clock light is best for sleeping?

Use dim red, yellow, and orange lights on your alarm clock display, since these shades have no impact on your circadian clock. Avoid harsh blue and white colors for the best night's sleep.

Which type of alarm is best for heavy sleepers?

For heavy sleepers, we recommend a loud, sound-based alarm. Quiet or sunrise alarm clocks might be too gentle to rouse heavy sleepers from sleep.

Why do I sleep through my alarms?

If you're sleeping through your alarms, your body may have become attuned to your current alarm style and trained itself to ignore the sound or light. Try changing alarm chimes or styles, but if the problem persists, always consult your doctor.

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