Best sunrise alarm clock: Hatch Restore Sound MachineBest alarm with nature sounds: JALL Wake-Up Light Sunrise Alarm ClockBest smart alarm clock: Echo Dot with clock (4th Gen)Best alarm clock for kids: I.Code Time To Wake Up Alarm ClockBest modern alarm: Tivoli Audio Model One Digital (Gen. 2)Best travel alarm: Travelwey Digital Travel Alarm ClockBest cheap alarm clock: Peakeep Twin Bell Alarm Clock
How we selected the best alarm clocks
We selected the best alarm clocks by taking the necessary, well, time. We tested products with our families, waded our way through expert and real-world user opinions, and determined what models lived up to manufacturers’ claims. When it comes to sleep, people have very different needs, so that’s why we considered a range of clocks. The best alarm clock for one person may be a sunrise clock that wakes them up with changing light, while the best clock for heavy sleepers may have bells that seem downright rude to lighter sleepers. By considering all the features available, we arrived at a well-rounded list that can help you feel well-rested around the clock.
What to consider when shopping for the best alarm clocks
From display type to sleep sounds, the best alarms can be very different from one device to the next. Here are some of the top features to consider when shopping for the best alarm clock.
Do you want analog or digital?
There are really only two types of displays, though some smart alarm clocks allow you to choose between both types of faces. Digital displays tend to offer a cleaner look, but some people love the throwback style that analog offers.
Are you in the mood for lighting?
What’s that sound?
Many of us are still haunted by the obnoxious beeping or buzzing of our childhood alarm. But the best alarm clocks today have many sound options—from streamed music to traditional FM radio to pleasant nature sounds—meaning you no longer have to be jolted out of your sweet dreams. If you don’t want to fiddle with apps, look for alarms with lots of built-in sound options. But Bluetooth connectivity is relatively easy to set up and can allow your smart alarm to wake you up with pretty much anything your smartphone is capable of playing. Another noteworthy point in the audio department is that some of the best alarm clocks don’t just wake you up, they can also help you stay asleep. They accomplish this, in part, via embedded white noise or nature sounds or they let you play soothing audio via a synced app.
How smart do you want your alarm clock to be?
Some alarm clocks keep it simple by design, displaying the time and waking you up at the right hour. But other clocks are smart alarm clocks, letting you stream apps or other audio content over Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi. Smart alarm clocks can also give you wireless control over all the features of your smart home. Turning the lights off downstairs or activating a security alarm at the front door can be as easy as communicating with your alarm. For some, this provides peace of mind, while for others, all that technology in an otherwise simple device is more of a headache.
The best alarm clocks Reviews & Recommendations
Whether you’re looking for the best sunrise clock for a natural wakeup or the best alarm with nature sounds, the following are natural choices for the best alarm clocks of 2023.
Best sunrise alarm clock: Hatch Restore Sound Machine
Why it made the cut: With an impressive 22 light colors and an expansive volume of sleep sounds, this sunrise clock lets you customize your bedtime routine, helping you to fall asleep easily, sleep soundly, and wake gradually. Specs:
Product dimensions: 7.5 x 2.75 x 5.75 inchesMounting type: Tabletop Display: DigitalPower source: Outlet
Whether you feel like reading in bed or drifting off to sleep, 22 selectable colors (controlled, along with brightness and volume, via soft-touch buttons or connected smart device) mean you can always get the right soft glow from this tabletop alarm, avoiding harsh, eye-straining blue hues. Through the app (available for iOS and Android), you can connect this best sunrise alarm clock to Wi-Fi and then create a customizable sleep routine that emits the right lights and sounds to help you drift off and reach a deep slumber. In addition, a subscription option lets you access meditations, sleep stories, and a more adjustable ambiance. And, in the morning, the light will naturally wake you up by mimicking the rising sun (though there’s no snooze button, you can’t pause the dawn).
Best alarm clock with nature sounds: JALL Wake-Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock
Why it made the cut: The built-in nature sounds, like ocean waves and birdsongs, combined with the sunrise feature help create a natural wakeup. Specs:
Product dimensions: 3.5 x 7.2 x 7.2 inchesMounting type: Tabletop Display: DigitalPower source: Outlet
Featuring dual alarms, an FM radio, a reading light/nightlight, a USB-charging port, and built-in sounds, this sunrise alarm serves a full spectrum of functions whether it’s dusk or dawn. It has seven built-in sounds—including crashing waves, babbling brooks, and wind—making it one of the best alarm clocks with nature sounds. Plus, it can be set to all seven colors of the rainbow, with 20 levels of brightness possible for every color. At night it can be an atmosphere lamp, and in the morning it can gradually come to life across 10, 20, or 30 minutes (with a 9-minute snooze option you can trigger up to five times).
Best smart alarm clock: Echo Dot with clock (4th Gen)
Why it made the cut: The Echo Dot gives you access to Alexa right from your alarm, meaning, if your home is properly connected, you can control the thermostat, lights, and TV, etc., from your bed. Specs:
Product dimensions: 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inchesMounting type: Tabletop Display: LEDPower source: Outlet
Best alarm clock for kids: I.Code Time To Wake Up Alarm Clock
Why it made the cut: This is the best alarm clock for kids because it gives your little one the sun and the moon so they can learn when it’s time to wake up. Specs:
Product dimensions: 4.7 x 3.9 x 4.7 inchesMounting type: Tabletop Display: Digital, with LED lightsPower source: Outlet
Especially during summer days of long light, parents know that it can be hard getting your toddlers to understand when it’s time to slumber. This alarm for kids helps them learn by allowing you to set when the moon and sun icons appear, signaling that it’s time for bed or time to wake up. You can choose from noise or light alarms and even select sounds to sleep by. The clock includes 28 audio options, from nature sounds like rain and birds to white noise. Kids can choose between eight LED colors, with three brightness settings, or opt to have the clock cycle through all of its available LED displays.
Best modern alarm clock: Tivoli Audio Model One Digital (Gen. 2)
Why it made the cut: This Wi-Fi-connected alarm offers the benefits of a smart alarm clock without unnecessary bells and whistles. It’s got a distinctly retro look, and it even functions as a regular (over-the-air) radio. Specs:
Product dimensions: 5.5 x 8.7 x 4.5 inchesMounting type: Tabletop Display: DigitalPower source: Outlet
While you could read an in-depth look at the Tivoli Audio Model One Digital (Gen. 2), our pick for the best modern alarm clock, the bottom line is that this alarm and smart speaker pairs old-school looks with new-school technology. The retro aesthetic comes from the fabric grille, real wood cabinet, and pleasingly analog dial of this shoebox-sized speaker, while the modern capabilities are showcased via seamless Wi-Fi connectivity and a rich, powerful sound for its size. It supports an array of apps through AirPlay/Chromecast/Bluetooth—including Spotify, Pandora, etc., as well as Netflix, Disney+, and anything else that streams—but it also has an antenna that can collect the signal of your favorite FM radio stations.
Best travel alarm clock: Travelwey Digital Travel Alarm Clock
Why it made the cut: This no-frills device folds up small and doesn’t bother with features like date, temperature, and stopwatch, making it a simple-to-use travel alarm clock. Specs:
Product dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 1.18 inchesMounting type: Tabletop/Handheld Display: DigitalPower source: 2 AAA Batteries
Why make things more complicated than you need? This pocket-size alarm is perfectly simple, displaying the time, letting you set an alarm—and that’s about it. Turn the alarm on and off with a single, large button on the front, and illuminate the digital display with a 5-second light. Weighing just .022 pounds and featuring a clean digital display, this alarm is the best travel alarm clock and as easy to carry as it is to read.
Best cheap alarm clock: Peakeep Twin Bell Alarm Clock
Why it made the cut: The price is right and the bold old-school style makes it even better. Specs:
Product dimensions: 4.13 x 5 x 6.5 inchesMounting type: TabletopDisplay: AnalogPower source: 1 AA Battery
If you have trouble waking up and don’t want to spend what you would for some of the other alarms, this Peakeep may sound right. Selling for $15.99, the Twin-Bell alarm is designed to be one of the best cheap alarm clocks for heavy sleepers because it rings loudly and has no snooze button—the only way to turn it off is to flip the switch on the back. Plus, research shows that the snooze button only messes with your head. The loud bells don’t mean this analog clock will keep you up at night, though, because the second-hand sweeps silently rather than ticking like the midcentury clocks to which this pays homage.
The final word on shopping for the best alarm clocks of 2023
Perhaps you sleep with your phone to use it as a sleep tracker. Or maybe you’ve gone the other direction and are thinking your phone would be better off spending nights on the couch. Either way, you can benefit from some tableside assistance. If your goal is better sleep, the best alarm clocks can deliver that with lights and sounds that create a soothing environment. If you’re trying to detach from your phone, then an alarm is pretty much a necessity if you need to wake up on time. Don’t phone it in; pick up one of the best alarms today.
