Even heavy sleepers won’t oversleep with these picks.
If your iPhone’s built-in alarm isn’t cutting it for you, or you’re trying to go device-free in your bedroom, it’s time to try waking up to an actual alarm clock. It can be hard to figure out what’s the difference between alarm clocks and which one is right for you – do you want a basic alarm clock radio, a stylish high-tech device for your smart home, or a vibrating alarm clock? For anyone who can wake up even the heaviest sleeper, we’ve rounded up the best alarm clocks for your needs.
The Good Housekeeping Institute has an extensive testing process in place when evaluating alarm clocks. This includes reviewing ease of use when setting alarms, turning off alarms, playing music, and reviewing clock visibility. Our lab experts also test performance when it comes to alarm effectiveness and accuracy, sound quality, and usability of additional features. We also perform a special slap test to evaluate durability.
When making a purchase, our professionals recommend paying attention to the following features:
Large Screen Display: Numbers should be easily readable, even from afar, in front of a well-lit screen.
Radio Settings: Some digital alarm clocks come with AM/FM radio capabilities. Some alarm clock radios also have an option to connect over Bluetooth to play music from your phone.
If your iPhone’s built-in alarm isn’t cutting it for you, or you’re trying to go device-free in your bedroom, it’s time to try waking up to an actual alarm clock. It can be hard to figure out what’s the difference between alarm clocks and which one is right for you – do you want a basic alarm clock radio, a stylish high-tech device for your smart home, or a vibrating alarm clock? For anyone who can wake up even the heaviest sleeper, we’ve rounded up the best alarm clocks for your needs.
The Good Housekeeping Institute has an extensive testing process in place when evaluating alarm clocks. This includes reviewing ease of use when setting alarms, turning off alarms, playing music, and reviewing clock visibility. Our lab experts also test performance when it comes to alarm effectiveness and accuracy, sound quality, and usability of additional features. We also perform a special slap test to evaluate durability.
When making a purchase, our professionals recommend paying attention to the following features:
Large Screen Display: Numbers should be easily readable, even from afar, in front of a well-lit screen.
Radio Settings: Some digital alarm clocks come with AM/FM radio capabilities. Some alarm clock radios also have an option to connect over Bluetooth to play music from your phone.
Why We Love It
A great alternative to the snoozer
Take Note
It may be intense for light sleepers
RCA
RCA
Amazon.Com
$12.69
buy now
If you’re looking for a simple, no-frills alarm to wake you up, this RCA digital alarm clock is it. You won’t be confused by any fancy functions because it’s hard to mess with—there’s an alarm option, a snooze button (which doubles as a night light!), and a backup battery that can be used in case of power failure. I make sure to wake you up.
Why We Love It
simple, intuitive design
budget-friendly
Take Note
limited features
With this multi-feature alarm clock radio, you can wirelessly stream music via Bluetooth, charge most devices, and ask Siri or Google Assistant to tell you the weather. The dual alarm function allows you to set an alternate alarm if you wake up at different times throughout the week. One note: The alarm buzzer is loud, which is great for heavy sleepers, but some users found even the lowest volume setting too loud for their liking.
Why We Love It
charge your phone while listening to music
A good alternative to heavy sleepers or snoozers
Take Note
Some users find it too loud
$59.95
4 Wooden Digital Alarm Clock
Most alarm clocks aren’t designed with aesthetics in mind, but this one from Jill is one of the best-looking minimalist designs we’ve seen. It allows you to set up to three alarms and can monitor indoor temperature and humidity. Reviewers love that the watch doesn’t take up a lot of space and that the numerals can be easily seen from afar.
Why WE Love It
Allows you to set up to three alarms
sleek, chic design
Take Note
runs out of battery quickly
5 TimeShaker Vibrating Alarm Clock
If you’re interested in trying a vibrating alarm clock but the Sonic Bomb is too aggressive for you, try iLuv’s TimeShaker. From its appearance, it looks just like a typical alarm clock but it includes a bed shaker to tuck underneath your mattress that wakes even heavy sleepers. You can choose between three different vibration strengths, and it comes with a USB port to charge your phone or another device without taking up another wall outlet.
Why We Love It
strong vibration setting
6 Echo Dot
This smart speaker offers far more than just a typical alarm clock. Not only can you ask Alexa for the weather and news, but you can also integrate it with other smart home devices. Setting an alarm is as easy as saying, “Alexa, wake me up tomorrow at 7 a.m.,” but you can also set an alarm on the Amazon Alexa app.) You can also ask her to wake you up to her favorite song, a radio. Stations, or the voices of celebrities (hello, Blake Shelton!) Just keep in mind that this device doesn’t have a screen to display the time—if you need an alarm clock with a screen, try the Echo Spot instead.
Why We Love It
hands-free operation
Integrates with other smart home devices
Take Note
lacks a visible screen display
7 Alarm Clock on Wheels
If you have a bad habit of pressing the snooze button, this digital alarm clock will not only beep until you snooze – it rolls, hides, and jumps. The clock will change direction, shake and run until you catch it, forcing you to sleep. This allows you to snooze for up to 8 minutes, but still have the watch light up in the dark and ready to follow you.
Why We Love It
Rolls to Discourage Snoozing
light to wake you up
Take Note
treasured
Why We Love It
Includes a simulation light with adjustable brightness
Comes with FM Radio
With a lightweight feel and only five buttons, this compact alarm clock was built with simplicity in mind. It includes a lighter, larger screen display and a wide snooze button that’s easy to find. The watch folds up so you can easily put it away while you travel, and it has a backup battery function. Reviewers love that the brand revamped the design to include only essential features, making it a great option on the go.
Why We Love It
simple, lightweight design
Take Note
limited amount of features
If you have a newer cell phone, chances are it supports wireless charging. This alarm clock has a built-in wireless charging pad on the top and an additional USB port. You can set two different alarms on different schedules, so you can wake up early on weekdays and get some sleep on weekends. The FM radio has 10 pre-set stations, and the screen is big enough to read the time—plus, you can turn down the brightness.
Why We Love It
Can wirelessly charge two phones at once
Take Note
sound quality is average
