The 11 Best Alarm Clocks of 2024, Tested by Light and Heavy Sleepers

Best Overall

DreamSky Digital Alarm Clock

$15 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Audio
  4.5/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Design
  4.8/5
• Value
  4.8/5

If you’re looking for a basic, budget-friendly alarm clock, the DreamSky Digital Alarm Clock is simple but effective. It has a minimalistic design that’s available in several color options, and its large, easy-to-read digital display can be fully dimmed so it doesn’t bother you during the night. There’s a USB port on the back that you can use to charge your phone, and the alarm volume can be set between 30 and 90 decibels. 

The DreamSky Alarm Clock only offers one alarm sound: it’s a classic beeping audio that starts soft and gets louder if you don’t turn it off. We liked that the clock’s snooze button is large and easy to press to extend your alarm for another 10 minutes, and we appreciated the clock’s compact design. Plus, it's small enough to throw in your weekend bag or underseat luggage when traveling.

Dimensions: 5.3 x 2.6 x 1.4 inches | Display: Digital | Alarm Volume: 90 decibels | Dimmable: Yes | Smart Features: No

Best Sunrise

Hatch Sound Machine

$100 at Amazon $90 at Walmart

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4.8/5
• Audio
  5/5
• Performance
  4.8/5
• Design
  4.9/5
• Value
  4/5

The Hatch Restore is an alarm clock, white noise machine, and sunrise simulator, all wrapped into one sleek unit. It offers a variety of soothing white noise sounds to help you fall asleep, and it can gently wake you up in the morning by mimicking the sunrise. It also offers a variety of alarm sounds, from traditional beeping to chirping birds. We found that nature sounds were a much nicer way to wake up than the typical sound of an alarm.

In testing, we found this alarm clock to be more complex to set up, as it must be paired with a smartphone, but once that was complete, it was intuitive to operate. We found that the bedtime routines are useful for winding down before going to sleep, though certain features — including meditations and sleep stories — require a monthly subscription fee. However, the alarm is perfectly functional and extremely versatile, even without the subscription.

Dimensions: 7.5 x 2.75 x 5.75 inches | Display: Digital | Alarm Volume: Not listed | Dimmable: Yes | Smart Features: Yes

Best Digital

Jall Digital Alarm Clock

$20 at Amazon $30 at Walmart

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Audio
  4.3/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

The Jall Alarm Clock has an easy-to-read digital clock face, and it also displays the temperature and humidity of the room. This alarm clock comes in several finishes, including a wood-inspired look and options with colored displays. We like that you can set up to three different alarms — for instance, one for weekdays and another for weekends — and it’s quick and easy to select them using switches on the back of the clock. 

The Jall clock has just one alarm sound, but there are five volume settings to choose from, and we think that there’s enough difference between the settings for both heavy and light sleepers. You can adjust the display's brightness to suit your needs, and there’s also a “sound control” setting that turns the display off unless the alarm is sounding or you touch the screen. 

Dimensions: 5.91 x 3.15 x 3.15 inches | Display: Digital | Alarm Volume: 60 decibels | Dimmable: Yes | Smart Features: No

Best with Phone Charger

Mosito Digital Alarm Clock

$24 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Audio
  4/5
• Performance
  4.3/5
• Design
  4/5
• Value
  3.5/5

If you like to sleep with your phone within reach, the Mosito Wooden Alarm Clock has a convenient wireless charging station that’s compatible with most types of smartphones. It has a rectangular design that comes in a wood-style finish, and you can choose from a few different colors. The alarm clock has a large digital display that shows the time and room temperature, and you can set two different alarms using buttons on the back. 

We love that this alarm clock is quick and easy to set up, and you can adjust the volume level and display brightness to suit your needs. We especially appreciated the convenience of the charging dock. We found it nice to be able to set our phone down on the clock to charge without having to plug it in. However, we did notice that the snooze button and alarm shutoff button are easy to confuse, especially in the dark. 

Dimensions: 5.7 x 2.5 x 2.5 inches | Display: Digital | Alarm Volume: 90 decibels | Dimmable: Yes | Smart Features: No

Best with Bluetooth

iHome Bluetooth Alarm Clock

$79 at Newegg.com View on Ihome.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Audio
  4.8/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

The iHome Color-Changing Dual Alarm Clock has built-in Bluetooth, which allows you to use virtually any audio as your alarm. It can even be used as a speakerphone to make calls, thanks to its built-in microphone. This alarm clock has a unique circular design that’s a bit larger than other alarm clocks, and the display is surrounded by a color-changing light that offers five hues and six different wake-up options. 

All the controls on this alarm clock are clearly labeled and intuitive to use, and we had no problem pairing it to our phone via Bluetooth. You can adjust the alarm volume to suit your needs, and we love that you can press any button to snooze the alarm — a handy feature when you’re groggy in the morning. 

Dimensions: 6.03 x 5.28 x 6.03 inches | Display: Digital | Alarm Volume: Not listed | Dimmable: Yes | Smart Features: Yes

Best for Heavy Sleepers

Roxicosly Super Loud Alarm Clock

$20 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Audio
  4.3/5
• Performance
  4.5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

If you tend to snuggle under the covers and sleep through your alarm, the Roxicosly Alarm Clock is exactly what you need. Not only does it have a louder-than-average alarm that’s 110 decibels, but it also comes with a vibration puck that you can place under your mattress or pillow. The clock has three settings — alarm only, vibration only, or alarm and vibration — and it’s sure to rouse you from even your deepest sleep. 

During testing, we loved that the snooze button on this alarm is larger than its other buttons and noted that the vibration puck helped us wake up faster without disturbing our partner. However, this clock is on the larger side at almost 7 inches in length, and all its control buttons are on top, making it easy to hit the wrong button when you’re trying to snooze the alarm. 

Dimensions: 6.82 x 1.5 x 3.39 inches | Display: Digital | Alarm Volume: 110 decibels | Dimmable: Yes | Smart Features: No

Best Design

Gingko Edge Light Alarm Clock

$60 at Amazon View on Gingkodesign.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Audio
  4/5
• Performance
  4.8/5
• Design
  4.8/5
• Value
  4/5

The Gingko Edge Light Alarm Clock has a unique design that we loved during testing. The compact clock is battery-powered, so you can place it anywhere in your room, and each charge can last for up to six months. It can be programmed with two different alarms, and when you flip it over, it has a built-in nightlight — handy for late-night bathroom runs. 

During testing, we loved that this alarm is easy to fit on a cluttered nightstand, but we were a little disappointed that it only offers one alarm sound and volume level. When you want to turn the alarm off, you can simply flip the clock over, and while the display brightness is adjustable, we noticed it can be a bit hard to read in a dark room. 

Dimensions: 3.94 x 3.94 x 4.33 inches | Display: Digital | Alarm Volume: Not listed | Dimmable: Yes | Smart Features: No

Best Lamp

Winshine Touch Wake Up Night Light

$29 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Audio
  5/5
• Performance
  4.8/5
• Design
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

If you’re looking for an alarm clock that serves as a sunrise light and bedtime lamp, the Winshine Touch Alarm Clock is one of our top picks. It has a digital clock display at the bottom, while at the top of the unit is a color-changing light. There are six colors and three brightness levels to choose from, and you can set it to dim after 10, 20, or 30 minutes.

We appreciated the nine different alarm sounds, including ocean waves and a bird chirping lightly. We enjoyed waking up to this peaceful noise rather than a classic blaring alarm sound. The lamp can also be set to light up slowly 30 minutes before your alarm time, mimicking the sunrise to help lull you from sleep more gently. The only downside of this unit is that the clock display isn’t dimmable, and it might be too bright if you prefer your bedroom pitch-black for sleeping.

Dimensions: 5.94 x 2.51 x 2.51 inches | Display: Digital | Alarm Volume: Not listed | Dimmable: No | Smart Features: No

Best for Kids

LittleHippo Mella

$50 at Amazon $50 at Target $50 at Walmart

If you’re looking to foster independence in your child, the LittleHippo Mella is a great pick for a big kid's bedroom. The best thing about this clock is that it uses different lights to let your child know when it’s time for bed and when to rise. Use the simple buttons on the bottom of the machine to program your child’s bedtime schedule. When it’s time to go to bed, the clock ring will turn red. The next morning, your child will know it’s almost time to get up when the clock ring turns yellow, giving them 30 minutes of quiet playtime in their room. When it’s time to wake up for the day, the clock ring will turn green.

Not only is it a kid-friendly alarm clock, but it’s also a nightlight and sound machine, too. There are six different nightlight colors and three peaceful sounds to choose from. There are also other features, like a nap timer and child lock functionality. We wish the machine was more customizable, however. If your child's sleep schedule differs on the weekend, you will need to reprogram on Fridays and then again on Sundays for the following week. This is not a dealbreaker, but definitely something to keep in mind in terms of ease of use. Although the price might feel a little steep, this clock will go well beyond the toddler years.

Dimensions: 4.25 x 4.25 x 4.5 inches | Display: Digital | Alarm Volume: Not listed | Dimmable: Yes | Smart Features: No

Best Investment

Loftie Clock

$150 at Amazon $149 at Byloftie.com $149 at Huckberry

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  3.5/5
• Audio
  4.8/5
• Performance
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

The Loftie Clock is more than just an alarm clock — it’s an all-in-one sleep solution, complete with a nightlight, white noise machine, and a Bluetooth speaker. The sleek design has a unique two-phase alarm that uses soft sounds for 30 seconds to gently lull you from your cozy sheets, followed by louder melodic sounds nine minutes later. The process mimics your natural waking process, so you’re not jolted awake. 

During testing, we found that the Loftie Clock was more time-consuming to set up, as you have to sync it with your phone and allow it to run updates. However, once it was up and running, we found it extremely easy to personalize. There are a wide range of sounds, volume settings, and nightlight options available, and there's also a sleep timer and blackout mode if you don’t want the clock display on at night. The only downside we found is that the alarms are all very gentle and soothing, which may not be enough to rouse heavy sleepers.

Dimensions: 2.75 x 6.5 x 2.75 inches | Display: Digital | Alarm Volume: Not listed | Dimmable: Yes | Smart Features: Yes

Best Retro

Kikkerland Retro Alarm Clock

$21 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4/5
• Audio
  3/5
• Performance
  4/5
• Design
  3/5
• Value
  4.5/5

If you’re looking for an alarm clock with a little more personality, the Kikkerland Retro Alarm Clock is an inexpensive option with a funky vintage design. It comes in a few different colors, and the compact design features an analog clock face with glow-in-the-dark hands, making it easy to tell the time, even at night. 

While this alarm clock has an attractive appearance, it’s extremely basic in terms of functionality. It has a classic beeping alarm sound, and you’re not able to adjust the volume at all. Additionally, there’s no snooze button — just a button to turn the alarm off. We would have liked for the control knobs on the back of the clock to be a little bigger, as they can be tricky to turn, but overall, we think this retro clock is a solid, no-frills option for the price. 

Dimensions: 4.25 x 3.5 x 2.25 inches | Display: Analog | Alarm Volume: Not listed | Dimmable: No | Smart Features: No