JUMP TO Section Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.- Best overall
- Best sunrise
- Best for heavy sleepers
- Best with a loud alarm
- Best for time projection
- Best for kids
- What to look for
- How we tested
- FAQs
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The best alarm clocks cater to your sleeping style. We all sleep differently — if you're a light sleeper, you'll appreciate soothing sounds that wake you up gradually, and if you're a heavy sleeper, a loud siren might be exactly what you need.
For this guide, we tested and researched several alarm clocks. Our best overall is The Loftie – it has pleasant melodies for sleepers who want to wake up gradually, and it's easy to use. For an even gentler wake up, we also recommend the Philips SmartSleep Connected, which mimics a natural sunrise for a pleasant wake up. It was the top pick in our guide to the best sunrise alarm clocks.
"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."
You can also read more about how Insider Reviews tests home products here.
Our top picks for the best alarm clocks
Best overall: The Loftie - See at Loftie
The Loftie provides a unique wake-up experience with a growing library of pleasant melodies.
Best sunrise: Philips SmartSleep Connected - See at Amazon
If you are looking for a peaceful way to wake up, you should look into investing in a sunrise alarm clock. This is one of our best alarm clocks due to its added features and extras.
Best for heavy sleepers: Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb Dual Extra-Loud Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker - See at Amazon
If noise alone isn't enough to wake you, the Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb vibrates intensely to help get you out of bed.
Best with a loud alarm: Emerson SmartSet - See at Amazon
The Emerson SmartSet has a loud buzzer, easy-to-read numbers, and a beautiful cyan nightlight.
Best for time projection: Magnasonic Projection-Temp-Connection - See at Amazon
The Magnasonic Projection-Temp-Connection alarm clock is a reliable time projector that will ensure you wake up promptly every morning.
Best for kids: Hatch Rest+ - See at Best Buy
Many parents love the Hatch Rest+ because it can work as an "OK-to-wake-up" light and then transition to a traditional alarm clock for older kids.
Best overall: The Loftie
- Alarm style: Sound
- Number of alarms: 30
- Snooze duration: 9 minutes
Pros: Two types of alarm to help you wake up, multiple alarms, an ever-growing library of content, Bluetooth speaker that can play music from your device
Cons: Relies on WiFi for continuous system updates
Note: The Loftie is currently out of stock, but it is available for pre-ordering, shipping by October 15, 2023
What sets the Loftie apart from other best 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 (morning grogginess).
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.
The Loftie was designed to break the bad habit of scrolling through your phone during your bedtime and morning routines. 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.
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 sunrise: Philips SmartSleep Connected
- Alarm style: Sound and light
- Number of alarms: 16
- Snooze duration: 9 minutes
Pros: Various customization options, extra features, and smartphone compatibility
Cons: Takes up a lot of space on your nightstand, in order to play music you have to use the included AUX cord
The Philips SmartSleep Connected is a popular choice among Insider editors. If you are looking for the best sunrise alarm clock with all of the added bells and whistles, this is probably the best choice for you.
While it is one of our physically larger options and takes up a lot of real estate on your nightstand, the warm sunset feature and its hues are unbeatable.
If you are really looking to set up a morning and night routine, this is a great pick for intuitive sleepers that want to start analyzing their sleeping habits. With the ability to customize which sounds and lights to wake up and wind down with, you are able to relax more naturally during your sleep routine.
And, if you are looking to dive deeper than bird sounds and warming color projections, you are also able to track things like, bedroom temperature, brightness in the room, and how to really optimize your sleep.
Read our full Philips Smartsleep Connected sunrise alarm clock review.
Best for heavy sleepers: Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb Dual Extra-Loud Alarm Clock with Bed Shaker
- Alarm style: Vibration, sound, or both
- Number of alarms: 2
- Snooze duration: 1 to 30 minutes
Pros: Strong vibration, reliable, optional sound setting
Cons: Might disturb your partner, not a gentle wake-up, you can't set alarms for specific days only
With its puck-shaped shaker, the Sonic Bomb Extra-Loud Alarm Clock uses a powerful vibration to help ensure that you wake up on time. It's very abrupt, so it won't rouse you gently, keep this in mind when considering your favorite alarm clock pick.
Vibration alarms might work well for people who have trained themselves to sleep through sound alarms or who can't hear them. You put the puck under your mattress, and you'll feel an intense buzz when your alarm goes off. Even through my very thick mattress, I felt the alarm vibrating on the other side of the bed. I could also hear the sound of it shaking, too. If you're trying not to wake your partner, this isn't a great solution.
For a budget alarm clock, the Sonic Bomb is fairly customizable. You can choose only the vibration, just a buzzing sound, or combine them. There are a few options for the buzzer's tone, and you can turn the flashing lights on or off.
You can also change the snooze duration, which isn't always something you find on similarly priced alarm clocks.
One big drawback is that you have to remember to between the two alarms if you don't want a weekday alarm going off on the weekend. There's no way to set the alarms for specific days, but you can have them both go off every day.
Best with a loud alarm: Emerson SmartSet
- Alarm style: Sound
- Number of alarms: 2
- Snooze duration: 9 minutes
Pros: Large, easy-to-read time display; Bluetooth capabilities; convenient USB port
Cons: Time display cannot be completely shut off
The Emerson SmartSet clock radio has a gradual beeping alarm sound that gets loud enough to wake up even heavy sleepers. Sleep specialist Alex Dimitriu, MD, recommends placing a loud alarm clock for heavy sleepers "far from the bed stand so they would require getting up and walking over to turn it off."
You can also wake up to your favorite FM radio station that gradually increases in volume. Two alarms can be set for weekdays only, weekends only, or all seven days.
Its lovely cyan LED time display is large, clear, and easy to read. A soft cyan nightlight turns on and off via a button on top of the device. Other features include a USB charging port and Bluetooth speaker. Unfortunately, you can't use the speaker to wake up to your own music, though the sound quality is decent for an alarm clock.
The device is easy to navigate, with the buttons located at the top of the device. One issue that I had with this alarm clock was not being able to change the alarm settings while listening to music via Bluetooth. To set the alarms or adjust other settings, you have to stop the radio or music first.
Additionally, even though the nightlight can be fully turned on or off, the time display can only be dimmed and doesn't shut off completely. Overall, the Emerson SmartSet is one of the best alarm clocks for people who like a big time display, a beautiful cyan glow, and a loud alarm.
Best for time projection: Magnasonic Projection-Temp-Connection
- Alarm style: Sound
- Number of alarms: 2
- Snooze duration: 9 minutes
Pros: Easy to use, convenient time and temperature projector, AUX audio input
Cons: No Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity, only three brightness levels, only one alarm sound option
The Magnasonic alarm clock is sleek and easy to set up, with a projector for convenient viewing. It features a blue LCD display with a clear view of the time, day of the week, and indoor temperature.
These stats can also be viewed from an adjustable projector that displays on the wall or ceiling. An auto dimmer turns off both the display and light projector when you want total darkness. You can set two alarms and wake up to your favorite AM/FM radio station or the built-in buzzer.
Other features include sleep and nap functions, a backup battery, and AUX audio input to listen to your music (though you can't wake up to AUX audio).
You have the option to set your alarm for Monday through Friday, the weekend only, or just one day. Even though this is a traditional alarm clock, the sound is not abrupt and obnoxious. Instead, it's a gradual sound that gets loud enough to wake up even heavy sleepers. This alarm clock offers reliability for light sleepers like me, without being too jarring.
The Magnasonic alarm clock lacks some nice-to-have features compared to the other best alarm clocks, including more alarm sound options and Bluetooth connectivity. It would be nice if the display dimmer had more than three brightness levels, too.
Overall, the Magnasonic is one of the best alarm clocks because it is reliable, easy to use, and convenient.
Best for kids: Hatch Rest+
- Alarm style: Light, sound, or both
- Number of alarms: 10
- Snooze duration: No snooze button
Pros: Good for toddlers and older kids, has many functions including noise machine and night light, works as a monitor
Cons: Expensive, needs WiFi and a smartphone app
The Hatch Rest+ is an all-in-one device that works as a night light, white noise machine, monitor, and alarm. Older kids can also use it as their first alarm clock.
For toddlers who are early risers, adults can set the Rise+ to turn a certain color when it's OK for kids to get out of bed. Insider Reviews contributor Alicia Betz likes this feature that's popular with a lot of parents. You can turn off the sound so it's less likely to wake anyone who's still sleeping. When kids get a little older and need to get up for school, a combination of sound and light can help gently awaken them at the right time.
While the device is pricey, it does have a nice built-in library of white noise and other soothing sounds to help kids fall asleep, too. The light can also signal to them it's time to start winding down for the night and stay as a night light as well. Its backup battery also makes it portable and ensures it will work if the power goes out at night. The Rest+ is also a two-way audio monitor, so you can speak to and hear your children when they're in their rooms.
An app is required to use some of the features, but kids can tap the device to turn it on and cycle through the favorite settings. With 10 programs, the Rest+ can signal when it's nap time, that it's time to brush teeth, and so on. There's a toddler-lock feature in the app to keep little ones from changing the light color before it's time to get up.
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. I also authored Insider Reviews' guide to the best wake up light alarm clock.
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 are going to want to go with one of our alarm clock picks that has louder sounds.
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 nighstand 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 compatability, 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
For this guide, I tested eight 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 and noted whether it was a gradual melodic tune and 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.
Alarm clock FAQs
What type of alarm clock is best for light sleepers?
If you're a light sleeper, you might not need something very loud, and you'll also want something with lights that can be dimmed and turned off during the night. Light sleepers may also benefit from a gentle alarm like the best wake up light alarm clock.
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. Plus, it's better to wake up gently, and a good alarm clock has an array of gentle, gradual sounds.
What is the difference between silent and sunrise alarm clocks?
Sunrise alarm clocks simulate a natural and gradual sunrise with a range of soft orange and yellow LED lights. The best silent alarm clocks can also use light to wake you up, but they can use additional methods as well, like vibrations or headphones.
What color alarm clock light is best for sleeping?
Red, yellow, and orange lights have no impact on your circadian clock. So, before bed try to use a dim variation of these colors if your alarm clock allows you to customize the display, and avoid blue and white lights as much as possible if you are trying to fall or stay asleep.
Jenny McGrath Senior Reporter Jenny McGrath is a senior science reporter, covering archaeology, paleontology, and more. She's written about science throughout history, technological innovations, and women in science. Some archaeological and paleontological research she has covered include Neanderthal cave drawings, some of the oldest stone tools found in the US, a tiny "ice mouse" that lived among dinosaurs, and Pleistocene extinctions. Other areas of interest include invasive species and scientific mysteries. Before joining the science team, Jenny covered smart-home technology and home appliances. Prior to working at Business Insider, Jenny was a senior writer and home editor for Digital Trends. She launched the site's home section as its first home editor in 2014, before Amazon released the first Echo and the same year Google bought Nest. At trade shows including CES, KBIS, and IFA, she's watched smart-home and home appliance trends evolve. She always has podcast recommendations. Read more Read less Suzy Hernandez Freelance Writer Suzy is fascinated by sleep science so she decided to immerse herself in sleep research. She led a sleep psychology lab for more than two years where she conducted research on the effects of naps on cognitive function and the effects of sleep inertia. Suzy has presented her work at the Eastern Psychological Association and she tests sleep products for companies like SleepScore Labs. She continues to contribute to sleep research and loves to promote effective strategies for better sleep quality and communicate the importance of good sleep habits. When she's not testing sleep products or reading about sleep, she likes to spend time with her family on the east end of Long Island, New York, where she is probably taking a nap at Montauk Beach or enjoying a drink by the bay. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
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