Best Sunrise Alarm Clock (2025): No More Hitting the Snooze Button

The Hatch Restore 3 isn’t just an alarm clock, but a fully customizable circadian-rhythm coach. Sleepopolis medical advisor Dr. Shelby Harris says, “The Hatch Restore is one of the most customizable sunrise clocks and includes sleep sounds, adjustable brightness levels, and an app that allows you to personalize your sleep and wake times.” 

Our tester was impressed with the variety of features, rating the alarm, sunrise feature, and wow factor 5 stars each. Therefore, the Hatch Restore 3 lands at the top of my list as the best overall sunrise alarm clock.

Unlike a traditional alarm clock, the Hatch has a fabric “face”. The fabric acts as a thin curtain, allowing light to seep through gradually. Our tester, Melanie Kassel, rated the build and display 5 stars, saying, “One of my absolute favorite things about it is that you can hide the digital time display for total darkness at night.” The time is displayed at the base of the clock and appears and reappears just by tapping it. 

When using the sunrise feature, you can choose from a variety of light colors and gradient presets, allowing you to fully customize your wake-up routine. For example, Melanie was partial to the “Blue Ridge” preset, which starts at a deep blue and gradually transitions to a bright orange. You can also instantly control the light’s intensity with a slider that ranks brightness on a scale from 1 to 100, so she rated the sunrise feature 5 stars.

Melanie thought the Hatch exceeded the basic expectations of a sunrise alarm clock, especially since it doubles as a sound machine. She rated the “wow factor” 5 stars because she was astounded by the variety of noises available. “I prefer to wake up to some light harp or piano music,” she said. “But, if I wanted, I could choose acoustic covers of 90s boy band songs, or even a pep talk from an ‘Obnoxiously Famous Personal Trainer’.”

One of the Hatch’s most notable features is its app, which allows you to change the light color, sequence, and type of alarms.  After the preferences are set, you can put your phone away and use the controls on the Hatch to operate it from there. Melanie found this to be a seamless process, rating the ease of use 4 stars.

Keep in mind that Hatch requires a “Hatch+” monthly subscription of $4.99 to unlock all features, including additional sounds to choose from, lighting options, and bonus content. While you can still access the main alarm and light functions without a subscription, you will need to pay extra for the full experience.

Read our full Hatch Restore review for a deep dive into this sunrise alarm clock.

Instead of crowding your bedside with both an alarm clock and a lamp, the Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150 allows you to consolidate both into one compact device. In addition to a sunrise alarm clock, the Lumie doubles as a fading sunset light with adjustable brightness. With a 5-star rating for its alarm, sunrise function, and extra features, this alarm clock is a great choice for people looking for a peaceful transition in and out of sleep.

While most people purchase a sunrise alarm clock to help them wake up, the Lumie Bodyclock can also be used to help you fall asleep. You can choose between 20, 30, or 45-minute sunrise or sunset simulations, which gradually brighten in the morning and dim at night. When using the sunset feature, the light will either dim to a very low level, acting as a nightlight for the rest of the night, or turn off completely. 

Our expert tester, Sosha Lewis, was initially skeptical of this product, not fully buying into the concept of simulating a natural wake-up. Since she prefers to wake up with her internal body clock, she’s not a fan of blaring alarms. However, she thinks the Lumie is the only alarm she’s ever tried that mimics a gentle, peaceful sunrise, so she rated this feature 5 stars.

To accompany the sunrise and sunset features, the Lumie offers calming sounds. Whether you want to fall asleep and wake up to white noise, a thunderstorm, or even a purring cat, you’ll be able to personalize the ambiance. When Sosha tried these alarms, she rated them 5 stars for wow factor, saying, “I love that you can customize the sounds to assist in a gentle wake-up so much better than walking up to a jarring siren.” 

Sosha was also impressed with the overall design and aesthetic of the Lumie. While its construction is plastic, she thought it felt durable and was pleasing to the eye. “I thought it was going to be hokey, but it’s not. I’m impressed with the materials and construction, and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy,” she said.

The only issue Sosha encountered was the setup process, which wasn’t very intuitive, so she rated the ease of use 3 stars. We recommend reading the instruction manual thoroughly before setting up the Lumie to ensure smooth operation. Once she dug into the instructions, she was able to complete the setup, but she still couldn’t figure out how to switch it off of military time.

For people with very specific sleep needs, a customizable alarm clock can be an easy way to personalize their sleep experience. I chose the Reacher Sunrise Alarm Clock as the best customizable device because it offers 26 unique sounds, a dimmable night light, and an adjustable color scheme. Additionally, our tester, Dan Caffrey, put the Reacher together in mere minutes, earning 5 stars for ease of use.

When Dan received the Reacher Sunrise Alarm Clock, he didn’t even glance at the instructions. Each button is clearly labeled on top of the clock, allowing you to change the sunrise duration, flip through different sounds, and set your alarm time. Although an instruction manual is included in the packaging, he found the setup and operation to be very intuitive.

The Reacher offers eight color variations, which can be adjusted from 0 percent to 100 percent brightness. During his evaluation, Dan was impressed by the alarm and sunrise features, which he rated 5 stars. 

“As my first sunrise alarm clock, I was really taken by all the colors and customizable settings,” he said. “To be honest, I don’t need an alarm clock since I have a three-year-old, but I enjoyed the sunrise function here and found it soothing and hypnotic.”

Another feature that stood out to Dan was the 26 unique sleep sounds he could choose if he wanted to drift off to soothing noise. From ocean waves and rainstorms to heartbeats and campfires, people who need auditory assistance to fall asleep can appreciate the wide variety of options available. The noise feature has an auto-off timer that ranges from 5 minutes to 180 minutes, as well as adjustable volume, so he rated the wow factor 5 stars.

At just 11.2 ounces, the Reacher is a remarkably lightweight product, making it easy to transport and store. While Dan said it felt sturdy in his hand without being too bulky, he questioned how durable the parts were inside, given that they were so lightweight. Depending on the color you choose, the clock costs around $50, making it one of the cheapest options in this roundup. 

If you’re a tech-savvy shopper looking for an advanced alarm clock, I recommend the WiiM Wake-Up Light. It’s not just a smart sunrise alarm clock — it actually has a built-in Amazon Alexa. In addition to achieving perfect 5-star scores in alarm and sunrise functions, the WiiM can also be used as a reading light, sound machine, and speaker, making it more of a personal bedside assistant than just a clock. 

The WiiM Wake-Up Light is one of the more luxurious options on this list, having a display screen that mimics fine glass but erupts into numerous colors when the sunrise feature is in use. When expert Dan Caffrey tested this gadget, he said, “There are tons of color options here, and you can really see the nuances of various shades that fade into one another. Looking at the clock is like looking at, well, a sunrise.”

While the sunrise is a key feature of the WiiM, Dan was in awe of the various bells and whistles. In addition to a colored sunrise wake-up, the device can light up to act as a bedside lamp. Additionally, it has built-in speakers, so it’s also a sound machine. He rated the wow factor 4.5 stars and said, “The options are endless. There are built-in white noise and nature options, but you can wake up to pretty much anything — your favorite playlist or even your favorite podcast — because you can connect it to Spotify or other streaming services.”

To control the speakers and other functions, you can use the on-device buttons, the WiiM Light app, or Alexa voice activation. When the Alexa feature is set up, you can ask it to set alarms, control the lighting, automate daily routines, check your calendar, and more. This is unique among the sunrise alarm clocks our team has tested, making it the most tricked-out product on this list.

While Alexa adds an advanced technological element, it also introduces a level of complexity to the product. To use the clock, you must first connect it to Alexa and then download the app. Dan said, “Once everything was set up, it worked great, and I appreciated the voice function. But it took a little while to get there.” Since you can’t just plug it in and use it as a stand-alone clock, he rated the ease of use 3 stars.

Sunrise alarm clocks can vary in price, ranging from inexpensive to luxury, based on their materials, features, and brand. While some devices come with countless features, some shoppers simply want a good value product, a sunrise alarm clock that works as it should without breaking the bank. If this sounds like you, I recommend the Jall Wake-Up Light. Although it’s the cheapest option on this roundup, it didn’t skimp on performance and still earned 5 stars for its alarm and sunrise functions.

The Jall is currently listed for $45 at full retail, but it’s often on sale for around $30. When our expert tester, Kenny Timper, assessed this budget buy, he said, “It doesn’t come with any crazy apps, but it functions as it should, and that’s what counts.” 

Kenny also noted that the 25 available alarm sounds were able to get quite loud and should wake up even the heaviest of sleepers. “There’s a lot of pleasant, natural sounds you can wake up to. I liked the wind chimes and bird sounds the most.” There’s also the option to listen to FM radio or connect your phone to the Bluetooth speakers.

Although it’s a cheaper sunrise alarm clock, there’s still a variety of lighting modes to choose from — 15 to be exact. There’s your typical sunrise colors, but you can also choose options like a striking red or vibrant green. These lights are also adjustable, allowing you to brighten or dim them according to the time of day.

As a cheaper product, the Jall’s materials aren’t the most durable. Made from lightweight plastic, Kenny thought it felt cheaply made, which tarnishes some of the potential wow factor. The controls are a bit clunky, and the alarm wouldn’t hold up if you threw it against the wall, but it’s still a great choice for budget-conscious shoppers. 

Sunrise alarm clocks come in various shapes and sizes, offering distinct visual aesthetics. For a sleek and modern design that complements the overall bedroom design, I recommend the Philips Smartsleep Wake-Up Light. With a design that resembles a real sun looming over the horizon, this clock features 20 brightness settings and can also serve as a bedside table lamp. During testing, the Philips SmartSleep earned 4.5 stars for its durable construction and 4 stars for its display.

When our Sleepopolis expert tester, Livvi DiCicco, tried the Philips SmartSleep, she thought it was visually pleasing and solidly built. The first time she used it was after she had moved into a new apartment, and it functioned as both her morning alarm clock and nightstand lamp. If you’re someone who doesn’t like too much clutter, you can appreciate the dual functionality of this product.

When Livvi tested the Phillips, she thought it made a great choice for night shift workers looking to alter their body clock to an unusual wake-up time. “It’s got a nice warm glow, and I think that if you’re sensitive to light, it will definitely wake you up and mimic the sun. She rated the sunrise function 4 stars because of its adjustable brightness, which can range from dim to more intense.

This sunrise alarm clock is also a good choice for people who don’t want to sleep in complete darkness. Since it acts as a stand-alone light, it can be used as a nightlight in both adult and kids’ bedrooms. Livvi also noted that the actual time displayed on the clock casts a faint glow on the lowest setting, which can appeal to those wanting a dimmer light.

Livvi thinks the bright light is enough to wake you from your slumber, but she wasn’t impressed by the alarm’s sound quality. The options are a bit limited – just five wake-up sounds that consist of a few standard beeps, a bird song, or FM radio. However, deep sleepers who typically sleep through their alarm may need an option with louder, more abrupt sounds available.