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Matt Jancer

The Best Sunrise Alarms to Help You Rise and Shine

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more . Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

Best Overall Homelabs Sunrise Alarm Clock Read more

A Nice Upgrade Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light (HF3520) Read more

Most Intuitive Design Casper Glow Light Read more

Most Connected WiiM Wake-Up Light Read more

Alarm clocks can be a terribly jarring way to wake up in the morning. The digital blaring is effective, but harsh. Waking up to a sunrise alarm is, by stark contrast, downright pleasant, and falling asleep to one of its artificial sunsets (if your model is capable of it) is a far gentler way to slumber. And if you're like most of us, you need more sleep .

Sunrise alarms simulate gradual sunsets at night and gradual sunrises in the morning to help you fall asleep and wake up more naturally by tricking your biological hardware. I've tested the best sunrise alarm clocks, and a few of the worst. These are my favorites.

Check out our many other sleep-related buying guides , such as the Best Mattresses for Side Sleepers , Best Organic Mattresses , Best Bed Sheets , Best Bed Frames , Best Mattresses on Amazon , Best Sleep Gadgets , Best Weighted Blankets , Best Pillows , and Best Sleep Trackers .

Updated March 2024: We've added the Dekala Sunstone, Hatch Restore 2, and Jall Wake-Up Light, as well as updated our copy for the redesigned iHome Zenergy. We've also updated pricing and availability.

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Why You’d Want a Sunrise Alarm

Your body is built to wake naturally with the sunrise and feel sleepy as it sets. The sun rises at a deeply orange 2,000 kelvin and transitions to a rich, golden 4,000 K on its way to a bluer midday sun around 5,600 K. Sunsets do the reverse. My apartment was the perfect lab for testing these alarms. In my bedroom, I hang blackout curtains because I live on a busy city street that's almost as bright at night as it is during the day.

I'm a heavy sleeper who doesn't have a problem waking up, but that doesn't mean I enjoy it. When I woke up with (most of) these sunrise alarms, I had an easier transition into consciousness. If you don't have access to a window in your bedroom, or maybe you use blackout curtains like me, a sunrise alarm could make your mornings or nights a little easier.

Best Overall

Yanking it out of the box, the build quality of this thing smacked me right upside the head. A solid metal stand and touch-sensitive buttons for a bit over $40!? Sign me up. It's simple to use, and the light on the sunset setting was warm and relaxing. The artificial sunrise was enough to rouse me out of bed, but it wasn't too bright. There are nature sounds, like birds and ocean waves, to help you wake up too.

It did a good job of casting enough light when it was the only lamp in my otherwise dark bedroom, but it's a bit on the small side, and because of its headlamp-like shape it shines most in a particular direction. The light is also not as diffused as the higher-end alarms on this list—certainly enough to read by before bed, but not quite as able to bathe the whole room in light. It's still plenty bright to help wake you up, though.

You can dim or turn off the LED display. For people like me, who have always hated seeing glowing numbers in an otherwise dark room, the latter is a great option. I'll never understand why more alarms don't offer it. It's a steal at about $40, especially with the extras like multicolor mood lighting, access to an FM radio, and a center snooze button that's easy to hit.

A Nice Upgrade

Why is this so heavy? And big? Those were my first thoughts when I took Philips' alarm out of the box. The Philips HF3520 oozes build quality and is easily the nicest alarm in this guide. It has the usual features, such as an audible alarm, five natural wake-up sounds, and an FM radio.

The lens is convex, and some light shines through the back of the casing, so it casts light in more directions than other headlight-shaped sunrise clocks I reviewed, like the Homelabs. Light is beautifully diffused, which keeps the rays from being blinding—that's especially nice in a dark room when your pupils are enlarged and particularly susceptible to harsh light. The more upscale Philips SmartSleep model (below) barely beats it out in the quality of light, but the HF3520 has the second-nicest light quality in this roundup. The clock display and touch controls are a cut above the cheaper alarms.

This would be my top pick if it wasn't so expensive. It's several times the price of the Homelabs, but it's not five times the alarm. Perhaps it's worth it if you have a particularly large bedroom and want the extra light for reading as you settle into bed. It is nicer to look at, though.

Most Intuitive Design

You've got to hand it to Casper for intuitive design. To start the sunset program before bed, just flip the alarm over. There's a button on top to pause and unpause it, and when it's sitting on the charging pad, just turn it to adjust the brightness. Everything else, like setting wake-up schedules and adjusting the length of the sunsets and sunrises in 15-minute increments (up to 90 minutes), is controlled through the app.

It has only one shade of light, and while you can adjust the brightness, you can't make it warmer (yellower) or cooler (bluer). But it's a gorgeously warm yellow light. You can pair several together, and they'll sync so you can have one in the living room and another in the bedroom, which will ease your whole apartment into a sunset as you near bedtime. Or just have two on both nightstands. They recharge on a pad the size of a coaster.

Of all the sunrise alarms I tested, this was the best at evenly lighting up a dark room. It's also the only wireless model I tested, so I could start a sunset in the living room and bring it with me into the bedroom later. It's about $40 cheaper than it was when we first tested it, but it doesn't have a clock, a radio, or an audible wake-up buzzer. If you ban your phone from your nightstand every night and need an alarm that can be programmed to scream at you precisely at 6:30 am, you'll need a different sunrise alarm.

Most Connected

The WiiM is the easiest alarm I've used. There is very little learning curve: Just load the Light app onto your smartphone, and plug the lamp into an outlet. As soon as you open the app it'll automatically discover the lamp. Well-designed screens walk you through the setup. The WiiM's app explains everything clearly, and there are physical buttons for snooze, brightness, volume, light modes, and mute.

Some sunrise alarms have too few buttons, making you go into the app for every little action. Some have too many buttons, making it feel cluttered. The WiiM has all the necessary buttons and leaves the rarely touched settings for the app, unlike the Casper above.

Via the WiiM app, you can link your phone and wake up to your own favorite music or use any of the preprogrammed sleep sounds. None can match a dedicated sleep machine . The WiiM's light could get quite bright—almost on the threshold of hurting my eyes if I lay on my bed facing it with the brightness all the way up. Obviously, just dial back the brightness if it's too much for you. But bright is good. The digital clock and settings display is bright and clear, one of the best on any sunrise alarm. It also comes with Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant built into it, which you can enable or disable at will.

Aarian Marshall

Eric Ravenscraft

Adrienne So

Brenda Stolyar

The Super-Premium Pick

After testing some of the more affordable options on this list, I was ready to say I couldn't recommend a this clock. But the SmartSleep, formerly known as the Somneo, nailed the basics of what a sunrise alarm should be, then piled on a bunch of customizable features you won't find on other devices. First off, the light spreads over the walls like warm butter. It's somewhat directional, but the hole in the middle and convex shape casts light at wider angles than other directional alarms. The light quality is slightly ahead of the other premium alarms on this list, and you can select from four light profiles.

Setting it up was simple. As soon as I plugged it in, the alarm lit up with directions to download the Philips app on my phone. You can control it through the touch-sensitive controls on the alarm's face, but the best way to operate all its features is through the app, (Don't bother with the non-Wi-Fi model.) You can even follow a guided breathing exercise through the light to relax before bed, and the wake-up sounds aren't gimmicky—I loved waking up to the gentle chirping of birds.

Best for Sounds

The Zenergy's new casing looks slick and modern, a welcome change from the older model, which is now called the Zenergy Dream Mini. Functionally, this Zenergy maintains the previous model's strong collection of relaxing sounds for before bed and when waking up in the morning. Most of the 15 relaxation sounds are pleasant, natural-sounding, and offer a very calming effect. Storm, Chimes, and River are my favorites. There's also a guided breathing exercise where a voice instructs you when to take in breaths, hold them, and release them over a soothing track in the background, and it gets me in the mood for bed every time. However, there's no sunset feature that gradually lowers the light before bed.

You can set these sounds to activate in the morning along with the sunrise function, if you like. Twenty minutes before your set wake-up time, the Zenergy will gradually begin to brighten and your chosen sound will gently grow louder until both are at their maximum settings. Waking up to the Chimes and River sounds were the most relaxing to me as my brain slowly woke. The wide choice in available sounds allows you to add some variety to your mornings so that you don't get tired of them.

Color patterns such as Aurora (a rainbow effect) and Pulse (a colored checkerboard pattern) are just for fun; they aren't designed to wake you up in the same way the sunrise function does. They're a nice little bonus if you enjoy hanging out in your bedroom during the day or early evening and just want a fun lighting effect. Like the older Zenergy, this one doesn't light up the room nearly as much as the other alarms.

Custom Routine With Philips Hue

Smart bulbs are one of the best aspects of the smart home concept today. With the right bulbs and a bit of tinkering, you can set up sunrise and sunset routines using your existing lamps and overhead lights. There are lots of good smart bulbs . I used Philips Hue for this article.

You'll need a Hue Bridge for $60 to control your smart bulbs away from home, and also Hue bulbs that fit your light fixtures. The 60W-equivalent A19 for $35 is the most common bulb for a typical lamp. Make sure you buy the White Ambiance or Color model (not the base White) so that you can change the color temperature (measure of whiteness to yellowness).

You can set “At Sunrise” and “At Sunset” routines through the Hue app, and choose from custom scenes to vary the light quality as the lights fade in or out gradually at your preferred time. With a color temperature of 2,200 to 6,500 K, Hue bulbs give a wide range of light, from Super Walmart–white to melted-butter yellow. The downside is that if you don't already have light fixtures in your bedroom, it's an expensive way to build a sunrise-and-sunset system. And unlike many sunrise alarms, you won't get sleep sounds, although you can always check out our guide to the Best Sound Machines if you need a little noise to nod off.

More Sunrise Alarms

Lumie Bodyclock Active 250 for $140 : Looks aren't everything, but it's hard to ignore that this Lumie looks and feels like something designed more than a decade ago because it was designed more than a decade ago. Operating it is a pain. Even with the manual in front of me, working the various controls was a headache. Yet it fills up a dark room better than the more directional lamps, although the large vents on the back of the lens cast a peacock pattern of light on the walls. It does a good job of diffusing the light, and it has the usual list of features—a loud alarm, a dimmable clock, a snooze button, and buttons to adjust brightness and the duration of sunsets and sunrises. The Lumie isn't bad, just expensive for what you get in a market full of newer designs.

Hatch Restore 2 for $200 : The Restore 2 is one of the most handsome sunrise alarms I've come across. With its its solid build and fabric-covered front, through which glows the modern, digital clock numbers and main sunrise bulb, it certainly looks and feels like the premium product it is. It's also available in three earth-tone colors to blend in (or stand out) from your home design, including green-gray Slate, khaki Putty, and muted-bronze Latte. Compared to the original Restore, its aesthetic is more upmarket.

At first, I was taken aback by the fact that its light bulb is directional, rather than domed. It had sufficient light but didn't light up my whole bedroom much. Yet in practice, with it on the nightstand 2 feet from my face, it had enough light to rouse me in the mornings and lull me asleep at night. You can customize your wake-up and bedtime routines by choosing from various light settings of different intensity and color temperature, too. One of the Restore 2's strengths is how its smart app works with its sound machine features. Virtually all of the relaxing nature sounds and white noise sounded realistic, high-quality, and soothing. The crackling campfire and falling rain were my favorites, although sea breezes, birds singing, and wind chimes were particularly pleasant, too.

One thing that sticks out is the Hatch+ Membership , for $5 per month or $50 per year. All the important stuff, such as the crucial sunrises, sunsets, and library of sleep sounds, is available without the membership, but Hatch+ adds channels of curated music, sound routines, guided rest exercises, and “sleep stories,” which are relaxing stories. In my opinion, it's not necessary to pay for the membership. The Restore 2 includes plenty of functionality without it. The channels are interesting to have but not at all crucial, and I'd rather keep my $5 per month. The star content of the Restore 2—the sunrise/sunset features and sound library—are included for free anyway.

Avoid These

Amazon Echo Glow for $30 : One of almost endless varieties of Amazon Echo devices , the Echo Glow is marketed specifically for kids and so it prioritizes intuitiveness over features. It's not a hub and doesn't have a microphone, so you need to pair it with an Echo device in order to control it with your voice, although you can control it through the Alexa app without a hub. The Echo Glow reaches a maximum brightness of 100 lumens, but it doesn't seem to get any brighter than a cheap nightlight. It's like jumping straight to the halfway point of a sunset.

You can set various colors and automatic color-shifting schemes, as well as custom schedules, but that's about it. There are no other features, although it does seem durable enough to survive a toddler's room. Even for $20, its value is weak. You're better off buying your kid our top pick, the Homelabs. Or if you want something intuitive that your kid can use without an app, spring for the Casper Glow Light.

Dekala Sunstone for $50 : The Sunstone just didn't reach the brightness levels we're looking for in a sunrise alarm. Even at full brightness, it was less like waking up to a sunrise and more like waking up to someone waving a dim lantern around the room. It's a shame, because it's quite an attractive, modern-looking alarm that didn't feel as cheap as its $50 price.

Jall Wake-Up Light for $39 : This affordably priced alarm offers 20 brightness levels in a cheap package, but while its seven alarm tones (bird song, waves, etc.) offer a decent (but not great) variety, they all sound a bit tinny and cheap. The Jall won't fool you even for a moment into thinking you're hearing real birds or waves lapping. This light also lacks a sunset feature. It may only be $40, but for that money you can purchase the Homelabs light and not give up the sunset feature, which is a major draw of having a sunrise alarm.

Lexon Mina for $30 : It might only cost $30, but I wish Lexon hadn't chosen to give it a rechargeable battery rather than just let the user plug it into a wall socket. A bedside alarm clock is not something that needs to work wirelessly. It never moves, so that was a baffling design decision. It lasts for about 12 hours on a charge, which is more than enough for a night's sleep, but it was annoying having to recharge it constantly. The included cable was a USB-C to USB-A, with the USB-C side plugging into the lamp itself, so you may need an adapter or a new cable to charge it. The lamp was also very dim on its brightest setting.

Medea Giordano

Louryn Strampe

Nena Farrell

Scott Gilbertson

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Best overall

Best budget, best for personalization, best portable.

• What to look for
• How we tested

The 4 best sunrise alarm clocks for a gentle wake up in 2024

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Even the best alarm clock can be a jarring way to wake up if it uses loud beeping to get you out of bed. Sunrise alarm clocks simulate a natural and gradual sunrise with a range of soft orange and yellow LED lights for a gentler wake-up.

The best sunrise alarm clocks can have health benefits, too, and reduce the effects of sleep inertia, that drowsy, disorienting feeling that many of us experience after abruptly waking up. "Sudden awakenings can lead to sudden changes in cortisol and other neurotransmitters that could cause problems," said W. Chris Winter , MD, of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine. "Waking up with a gradual increase in wake-promoting light makes a lot of sense." 

In addition to consulting experts, I utilized my own experience in sleep science for this guide. I tested eight wake-up lights, using each for three consecutive days and nights to evaluate how effective, easy to use, and durable they are. I recommend the Philips SmartSleep Connected , which multi-functions as a sleep tracker, radio, phone charger, and more, with stunning sunset and sunrise simulations and sleep environment monitoring. For about half of the price, if you're not interested in the smart app features, the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light  also simulates sunset and sunrise with 20 brightness settings and 5 natural wake-up sounds. 

Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches home products .

Our top picks for sunrise alarm clocks

Best overall: Philips SmartSleep Connected - See at Amazon

Best budget: Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light - See at Amazon

Best for personalization: Hatch Restore 2 - See at Hatch

Best portable: Casper Glow Light - See at Amazon

The Philips SmartSleep Connected will help you fall asleep gently and wake up on time by creating stunning sunset and sunrise simulations. It's built with technology to monitor and improve your sleep environment, and encourages you to practice healthy sleep habits.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Allows you to customize duration, color, sound, and intensity of wake-up and wind-down programs
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Smartphone connected
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Makes recommendations for improving sleep environment
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Can set up to 16 alarms
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Large
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Does not play music via Bluetooth
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Not a good option for those who prefer manual controls
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. May disturb partner

The Philips SmartSleep Connected is a relatively large sunrise lamp that resembles a glowing donut. It's controlled almost entirely from an app (available for iOS or Android ) that allows you to customize "wind-down" and "wake-up" profiles with your preferred sound, light intensity, and duration. I found it intuitive to use.

The stunning sunset simulation was my favorite feature: The brightness gradually decreased from beautiful hues of bright yellows to soft reds for five to 60 minutes. This is accompanied by your choice of four natural relaxing sounds (or FM radio) that fade away with the sunset. 

I've used the Philips SmartSleep Connected for months and love waking up to "summer birds" and an "island red" sunrise with warm red and orange lights distributed nicely throughout the bedroom. The combination made me feel like I was on vacation.

The device tracks your sleep habits and lets you know if your bedroom is too hot, humid, bright, or loud for optimal sleep. Other features include guided meditations, a night light, backup battery, USB charging dock, AUX cord to play music from your phone, and a reading light. Unfortunately, you can't connect via Bluetooth. All this customizability comes at around $200.

Read our full Philips SmartSleep Connected review .

The Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light has a unique spherical design that creates a beautiful sunrise simulation, and features many of the same premium settings as the more expensive Philips Smartsleep Connected.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Creates the best sunrise simulation
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Very user-friendly and simple
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Fully manual
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited sound options
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't have app connectivity

A less expensive option from Philips, the SmartSleep Wake-Up Light has fewer customizable options and features than the Philips SmartSleep Connected and is completely manual; no app is needed. I recommend this one if you want something simple but still high-quality and efficient. It offers impressive colored sunrise simulations and relaxing sunsets for about $130 less than our top pick.

I had no problem setting the time and alarms with the easy-to-follow instructions. Falling asleep to this lamp was very relaxing; the sunset simulation therapy works just as well as the Philips SmartSleep Connected. The display automatically dims as the room gets darker, which is great for cocooning yourself in total darkness.

Waking up with this lamp was such a pleasant experience. The gradual and natural sunrise simulation increased over 30 minutes until it completely flooded my bedroom with beautiful, rich, orange-and-yellow lights and the gentle sounds of "Nepal bowls."

You can choose from five natural wake-up sounds, including "birds" and "ocean waves," or your preferred FM radio station. The snooze feature is unique: A single slight tap anywhere on the device snoozes the lamp for nine minutes.  

It did a great job waking me up to feel refreshed in the morning.

I prefer this Philips model's smooth, spherical shape and smaller size over the Philips SmartSleep Connected, although I wish it connected to the app for more customization. I missed the extra features in the Philips SleepMapper app when I used this model, like the sleep-environment monitoring and extended customization. I hope Philips comes out with a new sunrise alarm clock that features all of the Philips SmartSleep Connected options but is shaped like this model to simulate that beautiful, natural sunrise.

Read our full Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light review .

The Hatch Restore 2 has the most light options and sleep sounds of any model we tried, and they're all fully controlled through its multifunctional Hatch Sleep app.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Many customization options
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Large buttons
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Sleep and rise options
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Bright display
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Can set multiple alarms
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Most functionality is through the app
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't play music
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Guided meditations only available with subscription
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Must be connected to WiFi to use
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No clock dimming buttons on the device

The Hatch Restore 2 is the latest version of the popular, customizable sunrise alarm clock. We liked the original Hatch Restore because of its many light and sound options. The latest model has some small improvements. It usually retails for around $200, about $70 more than the older model.

The most noticeable difference is the "sleep" and "rise" buttons. You can tap either to start the programs you set up in the app ( iOS and Android ). Do a short press of either button to snooze. Hold down the button, and it shuts the routine off. The older model had a single button that was much smaller, which I had to fumble around for some mornings to turn the alarm off. 

While the original Restore had a single speaker, the newest one has three, helping fill out the sleep and wake sounds. The entire front is covered in a linen fabric, available in three colors (brown, cream, and gray). This gives the Restore 2 a more refined look and helps diffuse the light more than the original's plastic front. The half-oval shape is similar and mimics a sun rising over the horizon. 

In the app, you'll find sleep sounds ranging from pink noise to owl calls. You can set the duration and volume or have it run until you tap the clock's button. If you prefer to fall asleep to waves but want constant white noise while you sleep, you can set that up, too. You can choose from 13 wake-up sounds for mornings and pick a lighting color and brightness level. You can select the alarm duration and when you want to set the device to start gradually brightening. 

You can get a fair amount of functionality from the clock without the subscription ($49.99 yearly or $4.99 monthly). But the unwind programs, which include meditations, music, and stories, aren't available unless you subscribe.

The Casper Glow Light is uniquely designed as a wireless, portable night light, and uses intuitive gestures and a streamlined design to create a beautiful and simple experience.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Beautiful warm lights
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Portable
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Pairs with multiple Glow Lights for a bedroom light show
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Intuitive and easy to operate with simple gestures
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Lacks sound
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Requires a smartphone app for expanded features like setting sleep and wake times

The Casper Glow Light is a small, portable cylinder that you control with just a few gestures: flip to turn on, rotate to adjust the light intensity, and wiggle to turn on the night light. The device is softly lit and smartly designed with gentle, warm hues for a better sleep experience.

The light charges wirelessly and pairs with an intuitive app (available for iOS and Android ). While you can operate the light without it, the app is a must to set wake-up and wind-down times, which cue a sunset or sunrise that can last from 15 to 90 minutes.

One of the unique features of the Glow Light is that it synchronizes with other Glow Lights to make pretty light shows. Once you have more than one, you can name each and group or ungroup them through the app. I used two lights together and found they set a tranquil ambiance.

This alarm clock can also be used as a portable night light. This feature is useful when you want to find your way at night without bright lights. It was fun to carry around when I needed a glass of water in the dark. It's made with polycarbonate to resist bumps and endure falls, so it's also great for kids to use. 

Falling asleep with the Glow Lights was a treat. The soft, warm lights create a peaceful sleep environment, gradually dim to slowly relax you, and then turn completely off for total darkness. The Casper Glow Lights are made with high-quality warm LEDs that were effective in waking me up gently.

However, the device focuses solely on effective light therapy, and unlike other models we tested, there are no sound options. It might not be ideal for heavy sleepers who need noise to wake up; you'll still need to set a separate, audible alarm. A single light costs about $100.

Read our full Casper Glow Light review .

What to look for in sunrise alarm clocks

When looking for a sunrise alarm clock, certain features might impact the model you buy. 

Setup and ease of use: Setting up an alarm clock should be quick and intuitive. You should also be able to change the clock easily and adjust the volume and brightness without pulling out your phone. The snooze button should be large and easy to find. Also, most people don't want to have to remember to turn on their alarm clock every day, so we don't recommend the Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 .

Size: Since most people keep alarm clocks on their bedside tables, they shouldn't be overly large. But the display should still be clear and large. 

Light and sound options: Sunrise alarm clocks often use a combination of light and sound to help wake you up. There should be multiple options for sound and brightness that you can select on the device. If you use a sound machine to fall asleep, you might consider an alarm with fall-asleep routines incorporating sleep sounds. 

Alarms: You should be able to set multiple alarms. Turning off the alarm should be simple, so you don't need to hunt around for a button or switch first thing in the morning. Consider our guide's best silent alarm clocks if you don't want to disturb your partner. 

Battery backup: If your power goes out in the middle of the night, an alarm with a backup battery or the ability to stay on for a few hours without power can save you from being late.

Smart features: Accompanying apps should enhance the use of the alarm, but the alarm should not have to rely on WiFi connectivity to work. 

Durability: Most people probably need an alarm clock that can withstand the occasional knock off the nightstand.  

How we tested sunrise alarm clocks

In addition to interviewing sleep experts Dr. Alex Dimitriu , founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, and Dr. William Winter of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine, I did hands-on testing with eight different sunrise alarm clocks.

I previously managed a sleep laboratory for two years and continue contributing to sleep research. I've presented some of my work at the Eastern Psychological Association and have tested products for SleepScore Labs . Part of my research involved investigating strategies to reduce sleep inertia (like using sunrise alarm clocks), so I also relied on my background in sleep research and product testing to evaluate each product over several nights. I assessed each device based on ease of setup, performance, durability, special features, and usability over several weeks or months.

Sunrise alarm clock FAQs

Is waking up to light good for you.

These clocks may help regulate cortisol and melatonin production, two important hormones for controlling sleep/wake cycles. The lights' "wake-up" cycles encourage the production of cortisol in the morning by simulating a natural and gradual sunrise.

Is a wake-up light alarm clock worth it?

Sunrise alarms are pricey compared to traditional alarm clocks and phone apps. However, if you are groggy most mornings, it might help you wake up more gradually.

Is it better to wake up to sound or light?

This depends on your needs. Sleep mask wearers may not respond to light cues, while others have trained themselves to ignore the sounds of their alarm. Many sunrise alarms use both to "help better prepare the body to wake up more gently with less startle," Dimitriu said.

Do sunrise alarm clocks work?

Light-based alarms may not work for everyone, said Kelly Waters , MD, a sleep specialist at Spectrum Health. "If someone is sleep deprived or catching up on sleep or a deep sleeper, this may not be sufficient to wake them," she said.

How does a sunrise alarm clock compare to a traditional alarm?

The key difference is that sunrise alarm clocks use gentle light and sound to help you wake up before resorting to the loud noises typical of a standard alarm clock.

What is sleep inertia?

Sleep inertia is that drowsy feeling that occurs after you wake up. "Gradual alarms (sound or light) are excellent solutions to wake people gradually," said Dimitriu, since these softer alarms offer a gentler, more natural wake-up experience.

You 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 [email protected] .

• Main content

The Best Sunrise Alarm Clock

If you wake up confused and panicked at the sound of an alarm clock beeping in the dark, you may find mornings more pleasant with a sunrise alarm clock, also called a wake-up light.

We dove into the research on circadian rhythms, and we woke before dawn with 10 different sunrise alarm clocks and two non-clock lighting devices.

Our favorite, the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520 , emits soothing, red-tinted dawn-and-dusk simulations and gentle wake-up sounds.

Everything we recommend

Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520

The best sunrise alarm clock.

This sleek alarm has the most soothing simulated sunrise and sunset, which may help you feel less groggy. It has a good range of alarm sounds and other useful features, but programming the clock is awkward.

Buying Options

Upgrade pick.

SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light HF3670

A luxe wake-up light.

This Bluetooth-connected model has many of the same features as our main pick, but with some nice-to-have extras like a USB charging port, soothing sunrise lighting, and multiple alarms. It’s also easier to change the settings via the intuitive app.

May be out of stock

What we looked for

A sunrise alarm clock should offer enough brightness to rouse you from slumber.

We sought out sunrise alarm clocks that were intuitive to use. No hard-to-access snooze buttons.

Mornings shouldn’t feel like a jolt but instead a gentle nudge. We favored options that offered pleasant wake-up sounds.

Sunrise alarm clocks with companion apps and charging ports make it convenient to set your wake-up routines.

Many sunrise alarms use white light to wake you, which can be irritating in the early morning. The Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520 starts with a more soothing, red-tinted light that gradually grows into a bright white light. This approach feels more natural and may be more effective at helping you feel less groggy when you wake up.

The HF3520 has a good range of five alarm sounds, a backup alarm, a backup power source (so your alarm will still function in case of a power outage), and a decent radio. But it lacks an app, and manually programming the clock is awkward.

The Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light has many of the same features as our top pick, including a natural, red-tinted sunrise and sunset light.

But it offers more alarm sounds and a wider range of brightness levels and programmable sunrise nuances. It also has sensors that detect temperature and humidity, noise, and light levels (which post readings on its app), a built-in nightlight (just tap if you need it), and a USB port.

It’s the intuitive app that truly makes the upgrade worth it, allowing you to program your sunrise and sunset times and other features much more easily than navigating the buttons on the clock. We also like that you can set multiple alarms during the week and that the sunset component comes with the option of several “wind down” routines.

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked and tested, our pick: philips wake-up light hf3520, flaws but not dealbreakers, upgrade pick: philips smartsleep connected sleep and wake-up light hf3670, what about the casper glow light, what about sunrise alarm apps or smart bulbs, other good sunrise alarm clocks, the competition.

Writer Joanne Chen wrote earlier versions of this guide, for which she interviewed two sleep researchers and three light scientists about the usefulness of light therapy and tested several sunrise alarm clock options over the course of a month.

In 2023, updates writer Annie Chou completed a new round of testing for this guide, comparing seven new sunrise alarm clocks against our current picks.

If it’s hard for you to wake up in the morning, or if you find it harder as the days grow darker in the fall and winter, a sunrise alarm may help you feel less groggy. Biologically, people are wired to wake up as the sun rises, and wake-up-light alarm clocks are designed to simulate that effect, starting with a dim light that builds up to the brilliance of a bright spring day over the course of about 30 minutes. (However, if you have trouble getting out of bed, a dedicated wake-up alarm clock probably remains best.)

You might be wondering how a sunrise alarm works, considering that your eyes are closed when you sleep. It turns out that your eyes are not just for seeing but also for adjusting your biological clock (just as your ears aren’t only for hearing but also for helping you maintain your balance). Inside the retina are light-sensitive cells that detect light changes at dawn and dusk, sensing light even if your eyes are closed. Once detected at dawn, light of sufficient intensity helps to suppress your levels of melatonin. This may make you feel less tired.

You don’t really need a special clock to wake yourself up with light—any ol’ lamp with a timer will do. The simple introduction of bright light itself may be helpful to vanquish jet lag , but there’s something about the gradual reveal of light that makes these clocks more appealing to folks who aren’t morning people, who despise the jolt of a conventional alarm, or who need help rolling out of bed during darker fall and winter mornings. One small study that asked subjects to do math problems and go biking after waking up suggests that dawn simulation could be useful for reducing sleep inertia and getting your daytime on. Preliminary studies suggest that it can lower the risk of heart attacks (PDF).

Sunrise alarm clocks may be helpful for people with seasonal affective disorder or a clinically diagnosed case of delayed sleep-phase syndrome . But you can’t rely on these clocks alone as treatment. The typical treatment for SAD is bright-light therapy, which requires a medical-grade device that shines 20 to 50 times brighter light than what these alarms provide. A severe case of DSPS requires a regimen prescribed by a sleep doctor.

In our most recent round of testing, we tried seven new models against our current picks. Here is what we looked for:

Intense brightness: A sunrise alarm clock needs to be bright enough to wake you up from a deep slumber. We measured each sunrise alarm clock’s maximum brightness level with a light meter in a pitch black room.

An elegant appearance: You can’t help but notice the device on your nightstand, so it’s ideal to have something that can hold its own in a well-kept bedroom. We set out to find a dependable clock that most people would be happy to look at every morning and evening.

User-friendliness:  It’s important for a sunrise alarm clock to have easy-to-use and accessible buttons (so you can easily hit that snooze button on days where light alone won’t get you up). We also preferred clocks with a companion app that allows you to set your alarms and customize sunrises and sunsets through your phone.

Pleasant alarm tones: These typically clocks have an audio alarm, which kicks in at the height of the light’s brightness. We favored alarm clocks with a variety of sounds to choose from, and listened to each (like chirping birds or crashing waves) to evaluate the selection and sound quality.

Backup power and alarms:  We favored options with power back-up capabilities in the event your power blows. And for those occasions when you ambitiously set the alarm at 5 a.m. to get stuff done—only to deeply regret it when the alarm actually goes off—the ability to set a second alarm can prove useful.

We slept with each model at home for at least one night, using blackout curtains to ensure a pitch black environment, and took note of which sunrises genuinely helped us get out of bed. We also measured each sunrise alarm clock’s brightness levels in a pitch dark room with a light meter to determine which models were the brightest of the bunch.

The Philips Wake-Up Light HF3520 offers the best features at the most reasonable price. It’s the least expensive alarm we’ve found that offers a realistic, red-tinted dawn and dusk simulation, which feels more natural and may work better than white light at helping you feel less groggy. It also offers thoughtful extras such as five alarm tones, a good radio, and a backup alarm; plus, it looks sleeker and feels sturdier than similarly priced and cheaper models.

The HF3520 and Philips’s two premium models, the SmartSleep HF3650 and HF3670 (our upgrade pick ), are the only Philips alarms that offer a red-light component in their simulation, and science suggests that this approach may be more than a gimmick. A 2015 PLoS Biology study on mice suggests that the more natural the light, the more effective it is at shifting the internal circadian clock. Humans aren’t mice, of course, but the concept is rational, said Dan Oren, MD, associate adjunct professor of psychiatry at Yale University, in an interview.

The HF3520 also features a red-toned sunset simulation, meant to help you wind down for bed. As with simulated dawn, more research is needed to prove the benefits of a faux sunset, but it’s reasonable to think that it may help you get on a better sleep cycle, said Oren. Any light at night can suppress melatonin, but dimmer, longer-wavelength lights (such as the red of the HF3520) suppress it less. So when you program a simulated sunset, you’re allowing your body to feel sleepy as it naturally should—in turn, you get to bed earlier, you get more sleep, and ultimately you get up more easily when the simulated dawn kicks in.

We like that the numbers on the clock dim when the room dims, just as with the SmartSleep. Darker rooms foster more restorative sleep. With the cheaper models, you have to adjust the brightness yourself. Our pick isn’t as bright as the SmartSleep, however—its maximum intensity is 300 lux as opposed to 315 lux (a measure of light intensity as picked up by your retina). But that isn’t a big deal. “We don’t have any data that this small difference would be noticeable,” explained Kathryn Roecklein, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, in an interview.

For those days when you’re really wiped out and you need the sound of an alarm to nudge you awake, the clock has five alarm tones you can choose from: yoga-ish music with chirping birds, chirping only, chirping with a cuckoo, gentle piano music, and ocean waves with seagulls. The Philips model that’s the next level down has only three choices (piano music, plain chirping, and chirping with the cuckoo). There’s also a radio, which sounds as good as on our upgrade pick, the Philips SmartSleep, and can serve as an alarm tone too. If these sounds don’t get you up, you can also set a backup alarm. To snooze an alarm, all you have to do is touch the clock anywhere—a convenience that’s unique to this model.

The glossy orb design is arguably as attractive as that of the more expensive Philips models, and it’s definitely an upgrade from the plasticky designs of the lower-end choices. What’s more, its shape (a sort of a sideways cone) and weight keep it from toppling over.

This clock is missing certain bells and whistles of our upgrade pick —a phone charger, an aux cable and port to play music from your phone over the alarm’s speaker, a midnight light, and extra sounds—but we think most people won’t miss them.

Programming and controlling the HF3250 is awkward and complicated. Changing the time and settings and programming alarms requires clicking menu/select and +/- buttons multiple times. Turning an alarm on or off, or changing the brightness of the light, requires fiddling with tiny buttons along the rim of the clock. All this can be difficult and frustrating, especially in the dark or if you have dexterity issues, and it’s easy to accidentally knock the clock over while trying to find the right button. If this will annoy you too, consider our upgrade pick , which can be controlled with an app.

As with all Philips models, the LED in the HF3520 can’t be replaced when it goes out, so you’ll have to replace the entire clock. However, as Philips’s product development team wrote to us, the clocks are “tested to last for seven years with regular use.” It comes with a two-year warranty.

Overall, our wake-up experience with the Bluetooth-connected Philips SmartSleep HF3670 felt no different from the one we had with our main pick. But if you like the convenience of programming your alarms via an intuitive app, setting multiple alarms during the week (including a very loud, very bright get-up-or-else one), customizing your sunrise themes, and using the clock as a calming tool for falling asleep, you may find the Philips SmartSleep HF3670 to be worth the extra cost. It also offers some other special features, like temperature, humidity and light sensors, and the ability to log your sleep and wake up times in the app, but these are simply nice-to-haves.

The SmartSleep’s SleepMapper app makes navigating the clock’s functions intuitive. With it, you can program wake-up alarms for every day of the week (as opposed to just two in the HF3520) and designate wind-down times, along with corresponding brightness levels, alarm sounds, radio stations, and the volume. You can also do all this directly with the buttons on the clock, but that’s a lot of settings and a lot of buttons, which can get frustrating.

The SleepMapper app will ask you to create an account to use it, but it’s not required. The privacy policy says the app does collect data about how you use the SmartSleep clock (for example, your alarm settings and tones) and other data (like sensor readings and Wi-Fi data). Philips states that the app will ask for your consent before this data is collected, and that the information may be used for sleep-related research. You should review the app’s privacy policy for more information.

Besides three extra alarm sounds (think wind chimes and yoga music), higher maximum brightness (315 instead of just 310 lux), and the added amber nuances in the light, you can choose from four sun “themes,” such as a pink “Caribbean” sunrise versus the frostier “Nordic” one. The so-called Power WakeUp alarm commands attention. For the mornings you absolutely must be up by a certain time (like for a 4 a.m. flight), you can program it to go off after your regular alarm. When your tough-love moment arrives, the device flashes urgently like hazard lights and emits a sound like a car that won’t start—right next to your bed.

If you need help decompressing at night, the Philips HF 3670’s upgraded wind-down feature provides a benefit that our main pick’s sunset doesn’t. As the light dims gradually according to your set time interval, over the course of, say, 15 or 30 minutes, you can choose from seven “wind-down” programs to go with it, complete with breathing exercises and relaxation sounds. Of course, you might not be into this sort of thing, or you could simply pair the sunset feature on our main pick with a white-noise machine , sleep-tracking app , or meditation app . But we appreciate the virtue of a streamlined sleep tool.

The Philips HF3670 has sensors in the back to detect your room’s temperature as well as its humidity, light, and noise levels. (Don’t worry: It doesn’t actually listen in; it just reads decibel changes.) You can check the app to find out whether you need to make any changes appropriate for sleep.

The HF 3670 also has a USB charging port, an on-demand nightlight, the ability to record your wake and sleep times in the app, an easier-to-maneuver donut shape, and an arguably more stylish look. You also can record your bedtime and wake time by tapping a button in the app. We considered these features to be “nice-to-haves” but not on their own worthy of the higher price.

Casper’s  Glow Light is a 3-by-5-inch cylindrical lighting device that the popular mattress brand touts as “a magical light for better sleep.” We found the Glow Light fun and intuitive to use, but we don’t think it has enough useful features to justify its $130 price tag.

You can program the Glow Light to brighten and dim gradually to ease you into your morning or evening, but unlike our sunrise alarm clock picks, it does not have a dedicated clock or audio alarm (bad news for heavy sleepers). Our tester enjoyed its portability and its gentle ambient lighting, which can be adjusted with a simple twist. But if you’re aiming to use the Glow Light as a way to wake up in the morning and don’t care about having a clock or audio alarm, a smart bulb could work just as well and is more cost effective.

We’ve tested a handful of sunrise alarm apps, and found they tended to have mixed reviews and emit meager light compared with a dedicated sunrise alarm clock. As John Hanifin, PhD, assistant professor of neurology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, explained in an interview, it’s preferable to have a “bedroom-filling” light to wake up—and that’s hard for these apps to do.

To achieve that “bedroom-filling” light for less than a sunrise alarm clock would cost, you could try a smart bulb or network of smart bulbs, such as from Philips Hue . This approach works best if you’re confident about getting up without the help of a just-in-case audio alarm (though you can use a regular alarm clock or your phone as backup, of course). You can use a smart bulb with a regular lamp and control it with an app or smart speaker such as an Amazon Echo or Google Nest .

If you are looking for a chic sunrise alarm clock with curated light colors and soundscapes, the Hatch Restore 2 might be a good option. The second iteration of Hatch’s sunrise alarm clock, the Restore 2 offers far more than sunrises and sunsets: users can set up morning and bedtime routines with color variations (like turquoise and lilac instead of just pre-set yellows and oranges) and pick from various soundscapes or music, like “Pacific Northwest Riverside” or “Midnight Jazz Piano.” However, the Restore 2’s sunrise simulation wasn’t nearly as bright compared to our picks (it failed to wake our testers up). You’ll need a $50 premium membership to access their full catalog of curated soundscapes. With its stylish, earth-toned linen exterior, we think the $200 device is a nice addition to your nightstand, but not worthwhile as a sunrise alarm clock.

In our most recent round of testing in 2023, we evaluated three models from Lumie: the Bodyclock Rise 100 , the Glow 150 , and the Bodyclock Shine 300 . Though we liked the futuristic, flat-base design of these clocks, none of them were as bright as our picks in our light measuring tests. We also disliked that each model’s control buttons are inconveniently located on the face of the device, requiring you to stabilize the machine with both hands before pressing any button (no small feat in the middle of the night). The Bodyclock Shine 300, the most expensive model, costs nearly $50 more than our top pick, despite delivering far less brightness.

Dekala Sunstone : We liked this alarm clock’s unobtrusive design, but we found its sunrise simulation to be too dim. In our tests with a light meter, the Sunstone offered roughly just one-third of our top pick’s brightness levels.

Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light HF3650 : This model is essentially our current upgrade pick, the HF3670 , but without Bluetooth connectivity (and thus the ability to control the clock’s settings from an app.) It has one less wake-up sound and relaxation sound than the HF3670 and just one sunrise to choose from (as opposed to four). Because the HF3650 typically costs the same as the HF 3670, our upgrade pick, we think you’re better off going with the HF3670.

Philips Wake-Up Light HF3500 : Instead of multiple alarm tones, this cheaper Philips model offers just a “gentle” beep, which, in fact, sounds about as soothing as being in a hospital. We first tested this model in 2018, and retested it in late 2023. Both times we found it felt flimsy and didn’t offer enough customization, so we ultimately decided that it’s not worth the $60 price tag.

This article was edited by Christina Colizza and Courtney Schley.

Mark Aloia, PhD, global lead, behavior change with Philips Respironics and psychologist in the sleep department at National Jewish Health in Denver , phone interview , September 11, 2018

John Hanifin, PhD, assistant professor of neurology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia , phone interview , September 21, 2018

Dan Oren, MD, associate professor of psychiatry (adjunct) at Yale University and board member at the Center for Environmental Therapeutics , phone and email interview , September 24, 2018

Kathryn Roecklein, PhD, associate professor of psychology at University of Pittsburgh , phone interview , September 20, 2018

Orie Shafer, PhD, professor of molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor , phone interview , September 17, 2018

Meet your guides

Joanne Chen

Joanne Chen is a former senior staff writer reporting on sleep and other lifestyle topics. Previously, she covered health and wellness as a magazine editor. After an assignment forced her to sleep eight hours a day for a month, she realized that she is, in fact, a smarter, nicer person when she isn’t sleep-deprived.

Annie Chou is an updates writer for Wirecutter’s sleep and appliance team. She got her master’s in anthropology from the University of Chicago and worked for years in the restaurant service industry. In her spare time, she hangs out with (and obsesses over) her chocolate lab mix, Mochi Q.

Further reading

I’ve Slept Through Fire Alarms and Bumpy Car Rides. This Calming Sunrise Alarm Clock Always Wakes Me Up.

by Phillip Zminda

The Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520 ’s gradual rays of red-tinted light and tranquil sounds have woken me up for nearly three years.

The Best Alarm Clocks

by Gregory Han

We found the best alarm clocks for all kinds of spaces, from analog and digital ones to smart alarms that gradually wake you up.

Wirecutter Picks to Revamp Your Bedroom on the Cheap(ish)

by Gabriella DePinho

Redoing your room doesn’t have to blow your budget. Here’s a handful of less-pricey picks for mattresses, pillows, and everything in between (ahem, sheets).

4 Smart(ish) Things to Help You Wake Up Easier

by Rachel Cericola

No one really enjoys waking up, but using smart-home devices can certainly help you rise, shine, and streamline your morning routine.

Best sunrise alarm clocks 2024: tested by a sleep expert

Wake up right with a sunrise alarm. These clever clocks simulating natural light, gently waking you up and replacing the dreaded morning alarm

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• Best overall

Best for tracking sleep

• Most stylish
• Best portable
• Best budget
• How I tested

Best sunrise alarm clocks 2024: Jump Menu

1. Best overall : Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 2. Best for tracking sleep : Philips SmartSleep 3. Most stylish : Hatch Restore 2 4. Best portable : Casper Glow Light 5. Best budget : hOmeLabs Sunrise Alarm Clock 6. How I tested 7. FAQs

Not a morning person? If getting out of bed in the morning is a struggle, a sunrise alarm could be a game changer. Rather than a loud alarm startling you awake, these gentle wake up lights slowly increase the level of light in your room to mimic sunrise. In turn, this slow build-up of light helps to tell your body to reduce the production of sleep hormones, such as melatonin and increase wakeful hormones like cortisol.

In addition to the sunrise light feature, most of our suggested models have plenty of other features. Lights can wake you up with different sounds or radio stations and many have timers to fade them out after a certain period of time. Some double as mood lights and a sunset stimulation, where the light fades from full to zero to help you fall asleep.

I tested each of these recommended wake up lights, using them in their different modes and testing all the features. I have featured wake up lights to suit different budgets and with a range of modes so you can find the best product to help wake you up in the morning.

Sometimes sleeping on the best mattress doesn't cut it. These lights well help you wind down well well and wake up right. 

Best sunrise alarm clock overall

1. Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

✅ You want realistic sunrise:  of every alarm I tested, this had the most realistic sunrise and sunset. ✅ You want varied alarm sounds:  A wide range of alarm sounds means you can vary your mornings.   ✅ You like to wake up with the radio:  FM radio means you can wake up to your favorite shows.

Don't buy it if:

❌ You want music streaming:  if you like to wind down with a playlist or a podcast, you won't be able to listen to them through this speaker. ❌ You don't like fiddly setup:  getting this clock working is unnecessarily complicated. ❌  You care about audio quality:  to be fair, it's a tiny speaker, but the audio on this isn't amazing.

The Bodyclock Shine 300 sits in the middle of Lumie’s range but I think most people will be more than happy with its functions. I found that the Shine produced the most realistic sunrise effect, with the lights shifting gradually through red, yellow and then white. It mimics a natural sunrise well and the shift in colors is subtle and smooth.

There are a wide range of sounds to choose from, if you want to add these in on top of the light. Or you can choose to wake up to an FM radio station if you’d prefer. Some of the sounds are frankly bizarre (bleating goats are an acquired taste at 6:30am) but there are lots of calmer options to choose from such as waves, thunderstorms, and blackbirds. The light can double up as a reading lamp and you can set just one alarm or schedule your whole week with different wake up times.

My biggest criticism of the Shine is the initial setup. The instructions are overly complicated and the audio button use wasn’t entirely clear. But once I got past that, I thought this was an elegantly designed light with a realistic light pattern.

2. Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake Up Light Therapy Lamp

✅ You want to track your sleep:  unlike other sunrise alarms, this can track your sleep and sleep conditions. ✅ You've got a bigger bedroom:  the unique design casts gentle light much further than other alarms ide range of alarm sounds means you can vary your mornings.   ✅ You love to customise:  there's a huge range of lights and sounds to play with.

❌ You find tech frustrating:  some users report issues with the app. ❌ You don't like fiddly setup:  getting this clock working is unnecessarily complicated. ❌  You've got small bedside tables:  this will dominate your nightstand, so you may have to make room for it.

This premium option from Philips looks great on your nightstand but the design also helps to diffuse the light evenly. The convex design helps to cast light at wider angles than other options and the light quality is superb. 

Plug it in and the light will immediately light up with directions to download the Philips app. You’ve then got the choice of controlling it through the touch sensitive controls on the clock’s face or through the app. There are a great range of realistic sounds to choose from, or you can wake up to an FM radio station. 

Sunrise shifts gently from red to yellow and then white, but the SmartSleep is also an excellent reading light and has an equally good wind down feature. I enjoyed the guided breathing exercises to follow before bedtime and there's even a sleep tracker on the app that gives you insights, tracks your sleep and can sync sleep metrics with Apple and Google Health. 

It is a pretty heavy beast though and some users have reported problems with getting the app to work on an ongoing basis. But this is one of the premium lights on the market and it shows in its features. 

Most stylish sunrise alarm clock

3. Hatch Restore 2

✅ You want a stylish clock:  the soft shapes of this clock look great in most bedrooms ✅ You need easy controls: this clock has two big buttons for sunrise and sunset, and a simple switch for the alarm, which is great as you wind down or wake up.   ✅ You love to customise:  the app is packed with a thousands of sleep sounds to help you drift off to sleep.

❌ You don't want a subscription  some features require a subscription. ❌ No other audio:  you can't stream music or listen to the radio with this alarm - you have to use Hatch's library of sounds ❌  You don't have WiFi: this clock can only work with WiFi, so if you don't have that or want to connect it to your phone, you can't use it.

If you’re looking for a light you can control via your phone, the Hatch Restore 2 is the one to go for. This is a really sleek design, which sits nicely on your bedside table. The front is covered with a linen fabric, which helps to diffuse the light, and it’s available in three colors, Putty, Latte and Slate (that's brown, cream and gray, for the rest of us). Setup is easy in the app and you can then control the light entirely through your phone. 

Helpfully, the Hatch will always pick up the correct time via your phone. On the top of the Hatch, you’ll find ‘rest’ and ‘rise’ buttons, plus an Alarm Toggle button on the side to easily turn your alarm on and off. Press either of the top buttons to snooze the alarm and hold down the button to switch off your chosen routine. These button are large and clear, which I found was perfect when I was bleary-eyed in the morning.

I really liked the choice of lighting colors and brightness levels, and you get 13 wake-up sounds to choose from. There's a huge library of other proprietary sounds, too. However, you need a subscription, which is a frustrating ongoing cost.

Best portable sunrise clock

4.Casper Glow Light

✅ You want a pure sunrise alarm:  this wakes you up and sends you to sleep without sound. ✅ You need a nightlight:  you can pluck this alarm off its base for a gentle nightlight if you need to get up in the night.   ✅ You want multiple alarms:  you can sync up multiple lights and fade them at the same time.

❌ You want to tell the time:  this really is the basics of a sunrise and sunset. There's no clock. ❌ You want to listen to music:  winding down with the radio, a podcast, or a playlist isn't possible. ❌  You don't have a smartphone:  you need a smartphone to set this alarm up.

Casper’s Glow Light is fully portable and incredibly simple to use. Flip to turn it on, rotate it to adjust the intensity of the light and wiggle it to turn on the night light. It charges wirelessly on a coaster sized charging pad and this, coupled with its petite size, means it’s easy to take away with you on your travels.

You’ll need to download the app if you want to be able to set wake up and wind down times, which can last from 15 to 90 minutes. There’s also the option to pair the Glow Light with other Glow Lights, although costs could mount up quickly here. It’s also a useful night light – you can pick it up and carry it round with you, rather than bumping into things in the night. 

However, this is a true sunrise alarm. There are no sound options at all, so it might not be enough to wake up heavy sleepers. What's more, there's only one shade of light. You can adjust its brightness, but you can’t change the color. However, I found that its portability and sturdy design (it’s made with polycarbonate to resist bumps and survive falls) means this is a useful light to own.

Best budget sunrise alarm clock

5. hOmeLabs Sunrise Alarm Clock

✅ You 're on a budget:  this clock is usually a 1/5th the price of the other alarms featured here. ✅ You want lots of colors: this clock has multicolor settings, so you can change the light to a calm red or blue before bed. two big buttons for sunrise and sunset, and a simple switch for the alarm, which is great as you wind down or wake up.   ✅ You want a radio:  there's an FM radio built in so you can wake up with your favorite shows.

❌ You're an audiophile:  this alarm sounds very tinny. ❌ You want to read before bed:  the light isn't particularly soft, so it might be a bit harsh to read by. ❌  You have mobility problems:  the buttons to control this are pretty small, so it can be fiddly to turn it on and off. 

Although adults will also like this light, we think it’s particularly suited to kids with its bright choice of colored lights. You can choose from multicolor mood lighting when it’s not in use as a sunrise clock, and the simple design with bright display makes it easy for children to operate. 

The HomeLabs light feels sturdy, thanks to a metal base and it comes with touch sensitive buttons to operate it. There’s also the option to wake up with an FM radio station. The instructions are clear and it’s easy to set up, plus we really like the fact you can turn off the LED display, so it doesn’t keep kids awake. Sunrise and sunset lights are warm and, although the light isn’t as bright as with some wake up lights, it does the job of waking you up.

There are a good range of sounds, but I felt that they sounded a little tinny compared to the other lights on test.  The light isn’t as diffused as others on our list, so it might be harder to use as a reading light. If price is also a concern, the HomeLabs is one of the cheaper options out there.

How I tested sunrise alarm clocks

My wake up lights review was based on the first-hand experience of using these products at home. I used every of the wake up lights for a week at a time and noted how well the lights performed over that period of time.

I also took into account factors such as ease of use, cost, functionality and features to make sure I selected the best wake up lights on the market.

Sunrise alarm clocks FAQs

What should i look for in a wake up light.

  There are a few factors to consider when you’re choosing your light: 

• Brightness – It’s down to personal preference as to how bright you’d like the wake up light to be, so we’d recommend looking for a light that offers adjustable brightness levels.
• Color temperature – Look for a light that offers as natural a light as possible by adhering to the color temperature of light at sunrise and sunset. Those with LED technology have been proven to improve mood and energy levels in the morning. 
• Design – Consider the space you have to put your wake up light in. There’s no point buying a large light if you only have a tiny space to put it in!
• Switches – Think about how you want to control your light, particularly in the morning when you’re half asleep. Do you want a touch sensitive light that you can hit snooze on? Or one with buttons to press? Or are you tech-savvy and want to control everything through an app?
• Audio – Is the light on its own going to be enough to wake you up, or do you need sounds alongside it? If you’re a heavy sleeper then you will probably want sounds to accompany the light, or you might prefer to wake up to a FM radio station. 

Is waking up to light good for you?

In a word, yes. Using light to wake up and wind down can help regulate your cortisol and melatonin production respectively. These hormones help control the wake / sleep cycles. 

Is it better to wake up to sound or light?

 Light is definitely a gentler way to wake up. But if you’re a heavier sleeper, you may need the addition of sound to rouse you from your slumbers. The advantage of the sounds on a wake up light are that they’re also gentler than the shrill blast of an alarm clock. 

There’s a wake up light out there to suit everyone. If you’re looking for all the bells and whistles, app-enabled lights allow you to control everything from your phone and provide users with the most customization options. Those in smaller spaces or people who travel a lot should consider a portable light with battery or charging options. But whichever type of light you choose, make sure that the quality of light is good so that you can wake up in the most natural fashion. 

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Jo Plumridge is a freelance writer and photographer with over 20 years of experience writing for a variety of magazines, websites and books. She writes, perhaps unsurprisingly, about photography, but also on all things interior design and sleep-related, alongside reviews of home and tech products. Jo loves exploring the latest design trends, although she’s yet to find a carpet that doesn’t show up the cat hair from the cats she and her husband foster.

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10 Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks of 2022, According to Experts and Reviewers

Waking up doesn't have to be an alarming event.

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Even for the graceful morning people among us, getting out of bed is pretty intense on the body, according to Dr. Kin Yuen, M.D., M.S., a sleep medicine specialist at the University of California San Francisco . When we are asleep, our blood pressure is lower, which is normal when we are lying down for hours sleeping. But when we start to open our eyes, "the brain has to adapt by speeding up our heart rate and constricting blood vessels [to wake up]," says Dr. Yuen. "Cortisol, a stress induced hormone, helps with that process."

So instead of adding to that stress with loud, triggering bells and ringtones, some people are choosing to wake up with sunrise alarm clocks — a.k.a. wake-up lights or dawn simulators.

How do sunrise alarm clocks work?

Unlike your classic alarms, these clocks are designed to help you wake up more naturally to your biological rhythm. They contain a light that mimics sunlight as it gradually increases in intensity until your desired wake up time.

When the light is bright enough, it can stimulate the sensors at the back of your eye to tell your brain it's time to get up, according to Yuen. The brain then suppresses melatonin — the sleep inducing hormone — and bumps up the release of cortisol and neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and histamine to stir you awake.

So these clocks can come in handy to sync your sleep/wake patterns with the cycle of the sun, attune your body to a different time zone or daylight savings, as well as help make waking at least a bit more pleasurable.

But they may not work for everyone, says Dr. Yuen. For example, if your head often ends up buried under the covers in the a.m., or you like to punch on the snooze button all morning, the light would have no effect. Conditions like cataracts can also impair your eye's reactivity to light, she adds. In situations like those, sunrise alarm clocks would not be very useful.

If you're looking try one out, though, we've combed through reviews of some of the best products available to help make your shopping easier. Look through our list, choose your favorite, and if you can, test out the light at a store near you, says Dr. Yuen. Then you'll get an idea of the light has the right intensity for you and if the clock fits all of your needs. If you don't find one, don't worry, we've got also got a list of the best regular alarm clocks that can help.

Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock

Philips makes some of the best electronics around and this clock does not fall short. The light emanates from a multi-colored LED that shifts from red to a bright yellow-y white for the sunrise setting. You can adjust the duration of the sunrise from 20 to 40 minutes, and tweak the maximum brightness to your desire. This clock also has a sunset setting, which is great for settling down at night. As for sound settings: there's an FM radio as well as gentle alarm sounds. It was also suggested by our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute .

JALL Wake-Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock

If you're on a budget, this clock is one of the more affordable of the bunch and it comes with all the basic features most people are looking for in a sunrise alarm clock: you have your pick of seven different colors and 20 brightness levels to customize your sunrise. The light brightens from 10% to 100% within 30 minutes, but if you find that's too long, you can shorten the duration to 20 or 10 minutes. You can even select different sounds to accompany the light, such as a piano tune or a birdsong, or wake up to your favorite FM radio station. By the way, the sound volume is adjustable, but it's not going to gradually intensify like the light. If you love reading at night, this clock doubles as a night light that you can dim or brighten to your preferences. Many buyers love the fact that it is super kid-friendly and easy to use.

heimvision Sunrise Alarm Clock

HeimVision's model is another pocket friendly buy that is incredibly popular online. Unlike some other clocks that offer your rainbow colors, this one has a light that is simple and more so copies the shades the sun glows in the morning. First it starts with a warm red hue and then brightens to white. If you'd like to add an alarm sound, HeimVision has that for you too. The features that make this clock stand out, though, is that it comes with Alexa voice control and a white noise machine to help soothe you to sleep. Not a bad purchase for under $50.

Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light

This one is just like the regular SmartSleep clock except it has a bunch of fun add-ons like: Bluetooth connectivity, a USB charging port, multiple alarm settings, and their SleepMapper app, which is an "advanced alarm scheduler," according to the makers. The clock also has soothing sounds and a RelaxBreathe function, which has guided breathing exercises to help you fall asleep. The light on this one is brighter than most lights at 315 lux with 5 additional brightness settings. So if you want something a little fancy, this is the one to go for.

hOmeLabs Sunrise Alarm Clock

You'll look at the price tag and think we're joking for including it on the list, many customers love what hOmeLabs has put on the market. The sunrise and sunset settings are pretty standard with the light gradually intensifying over the course of 30 minutes. You get the nature sounds to go with the alarm plus the FM radio. It also comes with eight decorative color options to set the mood in your room. Some people thought that the sound quality for the nature sounds wasn't great and that the light's brightening wasn't gradual enough for them. But if you just want the light function and aren't picky about the rest, we think this is a good pick for how much it costs.

iHome Bedside Sleep Therapy Machine

While the light on this clock isn't the brightest, it has a lot of awesome nature sound options (16 to be exact) and voice-guided breathing exercises. iHome Zenegy's model has both sunrise and sunset options, and with the Bluetooth audio function, you can connect your phone and play music from your favorite streaming platforms. In case the power were to ever go out, this clock even has a backup battery so you don't have to worry about your alarm going conking out when you need it.

Northern Light Technology Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock

Lumie has been designing light therapy products and working with medical specialists for over 30-years, so they know a thing or two about making sunrise alarm clocks. This particular model has both sunrise and sunset options with customizable time durations (from 15 to 90 minutes). It comes with various alarm sounds, and can even work as a dimmable night light for when you're settling down with a good read. This clock covers the basics well, but may be on the pricier side for a product that's fairly simple in the realm of features.

Lumie Wake-up Light Alarm Clock with Radio

This is a slight upgrade to the Bodyclock Active above. It comes with 15 different sounds and the option to adjust the maximum brightness intensity for your sunrise or sunset. The biggest add, though, is that FM radio. So if tunes are important to you, that extra $20 might be worth it.

Elfeland Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock

This clock has the most unique design of the ones we've seen and it's pretty inexpensive. It's a sunrise simulator as well as a night lamp that can change colors. There are only three brightness settings, and the sunrise duration is 30 minutes without options to adjust. You can choose from five different alarm sounds if you need a little extra stimulation to get you up. And it has a USB port for charging your phone. We think this is great for people who want something that can be a bit more of a statement piece (say, like a lava lamp) by their bedside without breaking the bank.

Hatch Smart Bedside Reading Lamp

Another popular buy on the web, this is a clock that you can operate from your phone using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. But if bedtime is no-phone time, there are also buttons for touch control as well. On their app, you can customize your sunrise with various colors and sounds, and you can even scroll through their guided meditations, relaxation exercises, and sleep stories to help you get to sleep. We think the best part of this clock is all of the content the company provides. But be aware: to get premium access to it, you're going to have to pay to subscribe once your free-trail ends. Worth it? Perhaps.

Adele Jackson-Gibson is a certified fitness coach, model, and writer. She earned her master's in Journalism from NYU, her bachelor's in Literature from Yale University, and has since written for various sports, fitness, beauty, and culture outlets. 

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Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks for 2024

Wake up peacefully without the need for a loud alarm using our favorite sunrise alarm clocks.

No one likes waking up to a loud alarm in the morning. It can arguably make your mood even worse when you have to wake up early. If you're thinking about switching, these are the best sunrise alarm clocks to get your morning started with a calming wake-up call.

A sunrise alarm clock is designed to create more peaceful mornings and wake-up routines.  My mornings  have never been better since I got rid of my regular alarm clock and started using a sunrise. They work by emitting light, as opposed to an anxiety-inducing sound, creating the illusion that you're waking up to the sun peeking through your window. They can also help with your mental health in winter, when sun exposure is limited and seasonal affective disorder takes hold.

Jamie Gold , a wellness design consultant and author , told CNET she came across these types of noise-optional alarm clocks when researching noise pollution.

"Our lives and homes are filled with noise, and this creates the potential for insomnia, anxiety and stress," Gold says. "I love the idea of these silent alarm clocks for tying in with our natural circadian rhythms and helping start our days on a calmer note. Some heavy sleepers may need a stronger wake-up system, but if you're not one of them, it's definitely a solution worth considering." 

Creating or redoing bedrooms in ways that reduce noise pollution and enhance sleep is a crucial component of wellness design, the practice of designing a space to promote physical and emotional health, she added.

I personally feel like I've had a better night's sleep since using a sunrise alarm clock. I am also happier when I wake up and feel as if my days have been more productive. Exposure to artificial light in the mornings can improve cognitive performance throughout the day, according to a small study in the journal  Behavioral Brain Research , so my reaction may not be all placebo effect. 

These few picks are our favorites and would make a great gift for anyone who needs less noise and more light in their life. Take a close look at the features each of these clocks offer -- a sleep timer, snooze functionality; some can even be used as a reading light. Once you fight your perfect sunrise simulation clock, you'll be enjoying deep sleep and better mornings.

Read more:   Best Memory Foam Mattress 2023

Hatch Restore 2

Best overall sunrise alarm clock.

With a natural shape inspired by the rising and setting sun, plenty of customizable features and extras like guided meditations and morning affirmations, the Hatch Restore 2 tops our list for the best sunrise alarm clock. It's Hatch's second-generation model and has a simple but elegant design with large, tactile wake and sleep buttons at the top to initiate sleep sounds or turn off your alarm. 

I found myself waking up much more gently with the Hatch Restore than I did with any sound-only alarm clock. In the morning, I programmed the Hatch to emit a "Malibu sunrise," a white, peachy glow that gently woke me up each morning, paired with the relaxing sounds of ocean waves and seagull chirps. Let me tell you, it's a much more enjoyable sound to wake up to than "beep, beep, beep." The possibilities are also endless when it comes to the sound and light combo you want to wake up to. 

You can customize the Restore's sunrise duration, the amount of time you want it to illuminate before it sounds an alarm. I think 30 minutes was my sweet spot, starting its glow and gradually getting brighter half an hour before I wanted to be fully awake. 

I also ended each night with a cozy campfire sound to soothe me to sleep, one of my favorite features from the Hatch as I typically  listen to ASMR  when I go to bed. It plays from the Hatch machine itself rather than my phone, a function I like so I don't have to keep my phone on loud and near my bedside while I'm trying to sleep.

For additional features like morning affirmations and wind-down routines, you'll have to sign up for the membership at $5 a month, a cost I think is worth it if you're interesting in meditating to promote better sleep, and more energy in the morning. The Hatch Restore 2 is available in three different neutral colors: putty, slate and latte. 

Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock

Best sunrise alarm clock on a budget.

If you're not quite ready to shell out $100 or more on a sunrise alarm clock, this budget-friendly sunrise simulation clock from Jall should do the trick. It has all of the basics and makes for a rather customizable sunrise: Choose from seven colors and 20 brightness levels to end your sunrise, as well as seven natural sounds to accompany the light. You can also choose to wake up to FM radio. 

The Jall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock functions as a night light and bedside lamp, too, and you can adjust the brightness level for both. It doesn't have a sunset function like some others on this list, nor does it double as a white noise machine -- but if you only want the sunrise function, that doesn't matter. 

The majority of reviewers on Amazon love this clock: It has 4.3 stars and nearly 100% of the reviews are favorable. It seems that most people who bought this clock were looking for a less abrupt way to wake up, and the Jall Wake Up Light did the trick for them. Buyers also love that it's easy to set up and simple enough for kids to operate on their own.

Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100

Best no-frills sunrise alarm clock.

The Lumie Bodyclock Rise 100 is a simpler version of the Lumie Shine 300. It's a high-quality intro-level sunrise simulator alarm clock for people who are looking for just the basics: The Lumie Rise 100 features a 30-minute sunrise with the option to set the final light intensity. You can also program a sunset to help you fall asleep.

The Lumie Rise 100 does not have nature or ambient sounds to add to your sunrise and sunset, although you can program the optional beeping alarm to start when your sunrise reaches maximum light intensity. Like the Lumie Shine 300, the Lumie Rise 100 has a tap-control snooze feature and an auto-dimming display.

LIFX smart bulbs and your own lamp

Diy sunrise alarm clock.

If you have a bedside lamp already, you can make a DIY sunrise alarm clock by replacing regular light bulbs with smart light bulbs from Lifx . These Wi-Fi-enabled bulbs connect to Alexa, Google Assistant, Cortana and Apple HomeKit, and you can program them to dim and brighten like a sunrise and sunset as you fall asleep and wake up, respectively. 

You won't get any sound, obviously, but if you're a relatively light sleeper who wakes up to changing light, these programmable light bulbs will still get you up in the morning. You can also combine with Lifx  light panels and strips in fun colors for the coolest faux-sunrise ever.

Read our Lifx Mini smart bulb review .

If you want a broader selection -- not just sunrise clocks -- check out our separate list of the best alarm clocks for 2024 . And if you need a good night's sleep, check out the  best mattresses you can buy online and the  best pillows  too.

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The best sunrise alarm clocks of 2024

A sunrise alarm clock can help you stop the snoozing and wake up naturally—no loud noises needed.

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Using the sunrise as an alarm clock has roots in classical yoga theory and is thought to improve mood. Additionally, waking up with the light can balance your body’s internal clock. However, it’s not always easy to depend on the sun to wake you up, especially on cloudy days, during falls and winter, or if you’re a serial snoozer who needs to be dragged out of bed and thrown into a bucket of cold water in the mornings just to be half-roused. The best sunset alarm clocks help you rise easily for more productive and relaxed mornings.

• Best overall: Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light
• Best with sound machine: Hatch Restore
• Best that doubles as a lamp: Loftie Lamp
• Best without an app: JALL Wake Up Sunrise Alarm Clock
• Best budget: hOmeLabs Sunrise Alarm Clock

How we chose the best sunrise alarm clocks

Simulating the sunrise is no easy task. To find the best sunrise alarm clocks, we looked at critical reviews and peer recommendations, compiled our personal experiences and other user impressions, and conducted heavy research. We also looked into factors like budget, additional features, app connectivity, and variety of sounds to find something that fits as many lifestyles and kinds of sleepers as we could account for. You won’t get the best use out of your wake-up light if you don’t like using it. 

I hate to brag, but I am a perfect test subject for this story: I’m a heavy sleeper who is prone to snoozing too much, so I know a thing or two about creative, sometimes aggressive alarms . Getting up out of bed can be challenging, especially when you live in one of the cloudiest cities on the East Coast, as I do. Besides being a very capable and willing human guinea pig wanting to have a cute little morning routine, I’ve also covered gadgets for Gear Patrol and PopSci , among others. 

The best sunrise alarm clocks: Reviews & Recommendations

Camus said we must imagine Sisyphus happy with his Sisyphean tasks, and if you’re going to spend the day doing the same cursed task, the best alarm clocks can help you wake up on the right side of the bed. From ones with relaxing waterfall sounds and built-in mediation practices to ones that blend in with your decor, here are our bright picks.

Why it made the cut: With more than 20 brightness options and a no-frills construction, better days are ahead with this customizable, easy-to-use alarm clock.

• Dimensions: 6″D x 10″W x 10″H
• Bluetooth connectivity: No
• Light options: 20
• Wake-up sounds: 5
• Plenty of brightness settings to choose from 
• Fall asleep settings
• Doubles as a lamp
• Can only choose from natural wake-up sounds, no regular alarm sounds
• Might not fit on smaller nightstands

Good morning sunshine, the Earth says hello … when you wake up with the Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light. Choose from more than 20 brightness settings and five nature-inspired wake-up sounds to customize the kind of light and sound you want to rouse you out of bed. If waking up to music is more your jam, it includes a built-in FM radio. If you must snooze, simply tap the clock, which also doubles as a bedside lamp. The automatic dimmable display—and lack of cellphone connectivity, which can cause scroll temptation—helps you block out extra light to get deep ZZZs. It can also help you fall asleep, thanks to built-in settings that let you know when it’s time to call lights out. If you’re looking for a Philips sunrise alarm clock with more bells and whistles, check out the company’s SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light , which includes an app that allows you to track your sleeping for data-driven dreams. At 10 inches high and wide, it might take up your entire nightstand. However, you’re guaranteed to see the light with an alarm clock like this. Decorate accordingly.

Why it made the cut: Built-in soundscapes, stories, and mind/body exercises can help calm your racing thoughts. 

• Dimensions: 2.75”D x 7.5″W x 5.75″H
• Bluetooth connectivity: Yes
• Light options: Yes, number depends on membership
• Wake-up sounds: Yes, number depends on membership
• Thin profile
• Helps with keeping a nighttime routine
• Rich with features
• Device requires WiFi and Bluetooth

Remember getting a solid night of sleep as a child after nighttime reading? Recreate that deep, luxurious sleep with the Hatch Restore 2. It includes plenty of light options, stories, soundscapes, and can even help you maintain a nighttime routine: you can program up to 10 steps in the app to help you fall asleep. You can adjust the light brightness, color, and sleep sound for each step. This is incredibly useful if you have a hard time winding down, or you accidentally get caught up in yet another episode of Love Island … again. The Hatch Sleep Membership is $9.99 per month, which gives you even more sounds, colors, and stories to choose from. The device requires WiFi and Bluetooth to use—if you don’t have access to either, you might have to skip this clock.

Why it made the cut: Made with aesthetics in mind, you can’t even tell it’s specifically for waking you up. 

• Dimensions:  9”D x 11.5”W x 16”H (With shade)
• Light options: Yes
• Wake-up sounds: No
• Adjustable brightness
• Doubles as a reading light
• Blends into decor
• Wi-Fi connection needed for use
• Need a separate device for alarm sounds

The Loftie Lamp looks like a regular lamp at first glance. However, when combined with the intuitive Loftie app, it turns into a sunrise alarm clock that blends into your decor. Adjust the brightness in the app or by using the light intensity controls on the back. You can also use the lamp for sunset wind-downs: the light that crawls up the top of the lamp to wake you in the morning fades and recedes back to the base toward nightfall to alert your body that it’s time for sleep. If you’re looking to add breathwork, wind-downs, and light-and-sound wakeups, pair the Loftie Lamp with the Loftie Clock —it’s sleek, stylish, and adds more traditional alarm features compared to the Loftie Lamp alone. 

Why it made the cut: Keep your phone away from your sleeping area with this standalone sunrise alarm clock that doesn’t need an app to operate. 

• Dimensions: 3.5”D x 7.2”W x 7.2”H  
• Light options: Yes, 20 levels of adjustable brightness, 7 colors available
• Wake-up sounds: Yes, 7 sounds to choose from
• Features a traditional alarm clock beep sound
• Standalone operation
• Can set two different alarms to go off
• Can’t program for certain days of the week

Many sunrise alarm clocks include an app to control alarm settings and brightness. However, if the thought of connecting yet another thing to your phone makes you violently ill, consider the JALL Wake Up Sunrise Alarm Clock, which is solely operated manually. Along with wake-up sounds, it includes a stand alarm beep—perfect for heavy sleepers who need a bigger push to get out of bed. Use it as a reading lamp or nightlight to unwind before bed, or choose between seven color options that allow you to set the vibe. You can also change the brightness of the display to ensure you get a good night’s sleep. 

Why it made the cut: You don’t have to break the bank to get up at the crack of dawn with this multipurpose clock. 

• Dimensions: 4.1”D x 7.4”W x 7”H  
• Light options: Yes, 7 color options and 10 brightness settings
• Wake-up sounds: Yes, 7 options
• Great for the price
• No app (if that’s your jam)
• Unable to dim the colored lights

The hOmeLabs Sunrise Alarm Clock is probably the cheapest sunrise alarm clock on the market. But don’t let its low price fool you—it’s packed with features similar to more expensive clocks, like a dimmable display and different color options. And, like other choices on our list, you can use it as a reading, night, or mood light. Sound options include a regular alarm beep, bird noises, a lullaby, and ocean waves, making it a great sunrise alarm clock for kids. The snooze button is easy to find, and it doesn’t need app connectivity for use. However, if you were looking for app connectivity, you’ll sadly not have it with this alarm clock. Overall, the hOmeLabs Sunrise Alarm Clock has features seen in pricier alarm clocks at an un-pricey cost.

What to consider when buying the best sunrise alarm clock

Everyone wakes up differently—it’s important to find one that suits your sleep pattern and habits, so you don’t find yourself sleeping through your alarm.

Why a sunrise alarm clock?

Light can affect your circadian rhythm, sleep, and mood . Too much blue light from our phones and computers can keep us up at night, caught up in a scroll that feels like an ouroboros. Too little light from changing seasons can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Those affected by SAD use happy lamps to help cure those winter blues .

The sleep-wake cycle is determined by your circadian rhythm—the mental, behavioral, and physical changes that happen throughout a 24-hour cycle. And your circadian rhythm is happiest when it gets lots of natural light. 

So if artificial light is semi-bad and real light is very good … why a sunrise simulator alarm clock? The light coming from the clock is different than the kind you get staring endlessly into your phone or computer. Usually, sunrise alarm clocks include white or yellow LED lightbulb that leans toward the warmer side of the light spectrum, which is around 100-300 lux. By gradually getting brighter over a 15- to 60-minute timespan, the light tricks your body into thinking that you’re experiencing the real sun, making it easier to wake up. Which, as mentioned earlier, makes your circadian rhythm extra happy despite the slight deception. 

App & Bluetooth connectivity

Some smart sunrise alarm clocks have included apps and Bluetooth connectivity to adjust settings and control the alarms from your phone. This feature is especially useful if you forget to turn off your alarm when preparing to sleep over at a paramour’s house. However, if you’d like to stay as far away from your phone as possible when it comes to sleep, consider one that doesn’t have those particular bells and whistles.

Sounds & light

The abrupt shift from dead sleep to awake can be disorienting and make us more prone to hit “snooze” when our alarm goes off. The sounds should be gentle enough to make waking up easier, but loud enough to hear. Similarly, the sunrise part of the sunrise alarm clock should be bright enough to wake you up. 

Q: How much do the best sunrise alarm clocks cost?

The best sunrise alarm clocks start at $25 and can reach the $300 range. The more connectivity features it has, the more expensive the alarm clock will be. We think it’s a worthy price for becoming an early riser. Be prepared to spend more when purchasing since they have more features than their beeping cousins.

Q: Are sunrise alarm clocks good for heavy sleepers?

Sunrise alarm clocks are excellent for heavy sleepers. They wake you up gradually and make it less likely to press snooze. Just make sure to choose an option that includes a brighter light, around 300 lux and up, and a wider range of volume controls.

Q: How do I set a sunrise alarm clock?

It depends on the kind of sunrise alarm clock you’re looking for. Smart sunrise alarm clocks that connect via WiFi or Bluetooth and have a coordinating app allow you to customize your alarms from your phones. If your sunrise alarm clock doesn’t come with an app, look to the included instructions to find out how to set it.

Final thoughts on the best sunrise alarm clocks

The best sunrise alarm clocks can help you wake up with the chickens—you might even beat the rooster crowing. Although they are more expensive than their sound-only counterparts, what you get health-wise is worth their price. You can help regulate your circadian rhythm, beat the winter blues, and have more productive mornings with the best sunrise alarm clocks. If you’re not a morning owl, we hope at least one of our choices can help you become one.

Why trust us

Popular Science started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

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The Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks of 2024

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Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light

Realistic sunrise and sunset

High-quality nature sounds

Intuitive interface

Lack of special features

Jall Sunrise Alarm Clock

Good light quality

Variety of light options

Device feels cheap

Poor sound quality

Buttons may take some getting used to

Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light

Several light color schemes

Insights to improve ambient environment

Easy to control and navigate

Not as bright as some

Occasional connectivity issues

Hatch Restore 2

Stylish design

Easy to set up and use

Routines can improve sleep

Certain features require payment

Needs more sounds and flexibility

Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300

Dome shape provides a bright sunrise

Aesthetically pleasing

Easy to use

Unique sound options

One color scheme

Lacks special features

Updated March 12, 2024

We’ve all been there—struggling to fall asleep, tossing and turning at night, and waking up groggy. With electronics at our fingertips, getting a perfect night’s sleep is harder than ever. When our circadian rhythm is off, it can affect how we perform in day-to-day activities, our mood, and even our overall health.

The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.

With a stunning lamp that provides realistic sunrise and sunset effects, the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light can't be beat.

The Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light is one of the pricier sunrise alarm clocks we found. Most of the investment clearly goes into the light itself, which is what pushes this clock to the top of our list.

The frosted matte plastic produces one of the most realistic wake-up light sunrises (and sunsets), growing from a deep red into a bright, warm white over 30 minutes.

While you won’t get features like colorful lighting, breathing or meditation exercises, a plethora of soundscapes, or connection with other smart home gadgets from the SmartSleep, you will get basic necessities. The SmartSleep has five fairly-realistic nature sounds and a few small buttons around the top to set the alarm, get ready for bed, or listen to a built-in FM radio.

The features this device lacks aren’t necessarily helpful for sleep, nor even useful in general. The real focus here are the 20 gorgeous brightness settings to personalize the intensity of your sunrise. This alarm excels at what it’s designed to do: simulate sunrise with a high quality light.

As far as bedtime routines, it offers a realistic, soothing sunset function (basically, the sunrise in reverse) that can work as a reading light before your room fully darkens. You can control the settings with the simple, intuitive LED screen.

Overall, for those who want a realistic sunrise and sunset, the Philips SmartSleep is our top choice. The light engulfed my room in a saturated glow that felt extremely natural and woke us up feeling ready for the day.

The Jall Wake Up Light looks like our best overall choice and provides a similar experience at a significantly lower price.

Despite the Jall Wake Up Light feeling a bit cheap, the light works beautifully and has a range of intensity choices. The product description says it's designed "especially for heavy sleepers," so if you’re a snoozer, this could be the pick for you.

Besides the sun simulation, the light has seven colorful glows that make for a nice touch in creating ambiance. The directions aren’t straightforward so be sure to read them thoroughly to learn the controls.

The low price becomes more evident when the speakers are in use. All three alarm tones—forest insect, ocean waves, and creek sound—sound muffled and low quality.

For the price, we think this is a decent choice. Just know you get what you pay for in terms of quality. It may not last forever.

With a built-in sensor, the Philips Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light provides insights to create a better sleeping environment.

For a more deluxe bedside device, the Philips Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light offers some cool “smart” features. You still get a great sunrise and sunset experience, but you also get an intuitive touchscreen interface and a light-guided breathing exercise for mindfully winding down or starting your day. A free, in-depth app, the Philips SleepMapper, offers real-time data about your sleeping environment.

One major drawback: The doughnut design doesn’t produce the same light intensity as dome shaped models. Still, the quality of the light is just as stunning. The simulated sunrise gradually shifts from a deep red into an orange, then a bright, warm white—just not as brightly.

SmartSleep Wake-Up Light only has one sunrise color scheme. The touchscreen controls are intuitive and the app is easy to navigate, and both give you access to all of the alarm’s features.

Another standout feature is that the device monitors the bedroom’s ambient environment. It records room temperature, humidity, light level, and decibels to provide analysis and advice on how to improve sleep quality.

One small downside is that the setup process is more involved than others. We paired the alarm to my home’s Wi-Fi and the SleepMapper iPhone app, and it took a moment for the alarm to reconnect with both every night. Despite this minor flaw, it’s a great tool for learning more about and potentially improving your sleep. As long as you’ll use the lofty features, they’re worth shelling out for.

The Hatch Restore 2 is one of the most aesthetically pleasing smart alarm clocks. It is a noise machine, night light, sunrise simulator, and alarm clock wrapped into one compact bedside device.

While the new design has the same semi-circle shape as the original, the front and back are fully covered in linen fabric, and it comes in three colors—an improvement over the previous generation. In addition to an upgraded appearance, the Restore 2 has a few additional improvements over the original version. Its new design is easier to operate with large, easy-to-find buttons, and it has three built-in speakers for improved sound quality. It also offers 21 new sleep sounds, 10 new alarm sounds, and new light and sound pairings for the sunset setting.

The Hatch app walks you through the processes of creating Unwind, Sleep, and Rise routines, which you can edit and customize at any time. The app is also where you can control the light brightness and volume. The Restore 2 also works with Alexa.

We found the soothing noises helped us fall asleep and minimized interruptions throughout the night, helping improve our overall sleep routine.

One caveat: The “Hatch Sleep Membership” is the best way to use the device, but it costs $49.99 annually. It gives you access to the app’s curated playlists of music, dreamscapes, guided rest exercises, and sleep stories. You don’t have to opt in, but your device will have notably fewer sound and light settings without it.

The Hatch Restore 2 makes an attractive addition to your nightstand, and we found that it’s easy to use and effective at creating a relaxing sleep environment. However, it's one of the more expensive options out there—especially once you factor in the subscription cost.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Lumie Bodyclock Shine, despite its limited lighting options. As the “sun” began to rise, we pleasantly awoke before the alarm sounded, and found the quality of the bulb almost as good as our top pick.

The Lumie only has one color scheme. However, you can adjust the brightness, the dome diffuses light efficiently across the room, and it offers a gorgeous sunset. While the light woke us up with no problem, it doesn’t feel as realistic as the other options. Despite its gorgeous pinks and reds, it lacks some of those more natural yellow and orange hues.

This alarm clock ranks high in aesthetics with its bright LED display and a decorative cloth base covering the speakers. The clock itself feels lightweight—almost cheap—but nothing I’d be afraid of breaking anytime soon. The Bodyclock Shine 300 features 15 sounds—including some unique ones, like “Kitten Purring” and “Café” (which sounds like a bustling coffee shop).

Unfortunately, we had difficulty with the snooze button the first few mornings. We gingerly tapped the device's bulb, but the alarm didn’t stop. It wasn’t until we tapped it with more force that the snooze function finally kicked in.

Can Sunrise Alarm Clocks Improve Your Sleep?

We wouldn’t go as far as to say these will fix your circadian rhythm, especially if you continue to use phones at night. But morning sunlight exposure is key to maintaining your body’s natural cycle, and these devices might help.

More Articles You Might Enjoy

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Meet the testers

Camryn Rabideau

Contributor

Camryn Rabideau is a full-time freelance writer and product tester with eight years of experience. She's been lucky enough to test hundreds of products firsthand, and her specialties include bedding and pet products, which often require help from her two dogs, three cats, and flock of rambunctious chickens.

Felicity Warner

Senior Staff Writer, Audience

Felicity Warner is a Boston-based writer, covering all things timely and trending with Reviewed's Audience Development team. In her spare time, Felicity enjoys thrift and vintage shopping and perfecting the art of latte-making at home.

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Staff Writer

Ceara Perez-Murphy is a staff writer at Reviewed. In her free time she likes trying out new recipes in the kitchen, exploring new restaurants and spending time outdoors with her dogs.

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The 12 Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks for a Gentler Start to Your Day

By Malia Griggs

If you’re not a morning person or are a heavy sleeper, finding the best sunrise alarm clock can be a game-changer for calmly transitioning into your day. Instead of relying on a traditional alarm clock or phone to jolt you from sleep with a siren, beeping, or a song (therefore ruining that song for you), consider a wake-up light, which gently simulates the gradual glow of a sunrise over an extended period leading up to your set alarm time.

Studies have shown that simulating sunlight may help improve sleep quality overall. The use of a sunrise alarm clock could help you establish a regular rhythm of light exposure, which could impact your establishing more consistent wake-up and fall-asleep times, Phyllis Zee, chief of sleep medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, previously told The Washington Post: “That regularity is great for your circadian rhythms and for your overall sleep quality.” There are also potential benefits with morning-light exposure for anyone who has seasonal affective disorder or a delayed sleep-phase syndrome.

If you’re skeptical that a light is enough to stir you, there are all sorts of additional features for many sunrise alarm clocks on the market. When shopping around, you’ll find wake-up lights with varying snooze times and customizable light intensities and brightnesses, and you can also add alarm sounds (such as nature sounds or a radio station). If you struggle to fall asleep or want to avoid blue light before bed, most models go a step further than your regular alarm clock and include a sunset simulation wind down program that lulls you into sleep (with various colored lights and sound options like guided meditations, bedtime stories, white noise , and sound baths). There are sunrise simulation clocks which have Bluetooth speakers, USB charging ports for phones, night-lights and reading lights, and some which look nothing like clocks at all.

Because there are so many wake-up lights out there, we’ve rounded up the best sunrise alarm clocks for a more relaxing start to your day. Below, you’ll find the cult-favorite Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light , as well as best-selling sunrise alarm clocks like the Hatch Restore , Jall Wake-Up Light, Casper Glow Light, Lumie Bodyclock, Homelabs, Loftie, and more from retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target. For more ways to wind down (or easy ways to wake up in the morning) check out our page of best sleep products .

All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520

The super-popular Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light is a sleep staple of this commerce editor, who writes that this clock takes the “alarm” out of waking by “coaxing me from sleep with a gentle glow designed to mimic a sunrise,” paired with one of five soothing sounds from nature (or her favorite radio station) and a slowly dimming sunset feature that draws her into a deep sleep. You can personalize just how bright the Philips SmartSleep grows from 20 brightness levels, easily snooze with a gentle tap on the clock, and use the clock as a bedside lamp.

Hatch Restore

The savvy touch- or app-controlled smart Hatch Restore (which is SELF Certified ) combines sunrise alarm, white noise machine, reading light, and meditation guide into one. What makes the Hatch Restore smart is your ability to program a wake-up and wind down routine, combined with the Hatch Sleep membership and companion app, which gives you access to an expanding library of sleep content (including bedtime stories and tons of natural sounds).

Jall Wake-Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock

With over 18,000 high ratings on Amazon, the Jall Wake-Up Light is a best seller for its color-changing light, seven natural sounds (including birdsong and ocean waves), clock radio, and nine-minute snooze function—not to mention its under-$50 price tag. One enthusiastic shopper writes: “I no longer need my iPhone for an alarm, which improves my sleep and relaxation. The light feature works perfectly as my reading light, and the fun colors that I can choose add a fun ambiance to my room at night. I wake up each morning to a soothing piano riff and a simulation of the sun rising 20 minutes before my alarm goes off. I feel like this product improves my sleep cycle and makes me wake up more energized.”

Homelabs Sunrise Alarm Clock

The Homelabs Sunrise Alarm Clock is one of the most affordable wake-up lights. The sunrise simulation clock includes a wind-down sleep timer, eight different colored light options, five-minute snooze with the touch of a button, radio stations, nature sounds, and three brightness settings (though, according to users, the light goes off at your wake-up time instead of remaining on). It’s not USB-rechargeable, but it does include a back-up battery.

By Jenna Ryu

By Julia Craven

By Maressa Brown

Casper Glow Light

The Casper Glow Light is a pleasingly capsule-shaped light that is designed to be easy to hold and carry—making it great for kids and adults alike. Unlike most sunrise simulation alarm clocks, the minimal light doesn’t have audible alarms or visible times; it’s essentially a rechargeable light that you can pick up and bring with you like a lantern (though you can schedule a silent, sunrise-simulating wake-up). With a twist, you can control the light’s brightness, and if you’re using it at night and don’t want to wake your partner, just wiggle it and it will emit a soft, gentle light. “We’ve been using our Glow lights constantly since they arrived. The interactions are so intuitive—they really are a joy to use,” says one shopper. “My wife is very sensitive to light, especially at night. The warm yellow light itself is very calming, and the fact that they automatically gradually dim and turn off helps us wind down and naturally drift to sleep without having to worry about flipping a switch.”

iHome Zenergy Dream Mini iZBT7

The iHome Zenergy is a bit like a mood ring, with a full spectrum of LED light therapy programs and colors (with names like Energy and Calm). It has 16 different sounds (including chimes, storm sounds, and white noise), a dual sleep timer, ability to schedule different alarms during the week and weekend, and—perhaps most uniquely—the iHome is also a Bluetooth speaker. One reviewer writes: “I bought this to replace my Phillips Wake-Up Light alarm. The iHome Zenergy Mini is smaller, which gives me more room on my nightstand, and I love the sleep and wake functions and that I can connect my phone via Bluetooth. I use the sleep function nightly, and you can program the alarm for how many days you want to use it, so I don’t have to worry about not setting an alarm.”

Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3500

Here’s another Philips SmartSleep model that lacks some of the bells and whistles of its better-selling sibling. This sunrise alarm clock offers 10 light intensities (up to 200 lux) and a snooze button. It doesn’t have the nature sounds of the other clock nor companion-app connectivity or sunset simulation, however. But at half the price, perhaps its simplicity is just what you need.

Designed to kick your phone-before-bed habit to the curb, this smart alarm clock is popular for its library of wind-down routines and small size. Dim your lights and tune in to a Loftie sound bath, guided breath work, or bedtime story to help ease you into slumber. While you sleep, you can use the WiFi-connected Loftie as a sound machine or white-noise machine and may also adjust the light of the Loftie (or put it in blackout mode, with the ability to still use it as a night-light). For the a.m., the rechargeable clock lets you customize a two-phase alarm tone, volume, and days of the week that they play. The Loftie acts as a Bluetooth speaker and continues to update itself as new features and wellness content comes out.

Lumie Bodyclock

Choose between 15 to 90 minutes of time that the Lumie Bodyclock will take to brighten and coax you awake (or to sleep). You can add nature sounds (like a crowing rooster) or a preferred radio station, or you can dim the light, and use it as a night-light. One Amazon shopper who has previously owned the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light writes that they prefer the Lumie because of its smaller size, easier-to-find buttons, and less intense light settings (with an option to turn off the display completely).

Movsou Sunrise Alarm Clock Wake-Up Light

The Movsou Sunrise Alarm Clock is a best-seller at Walmart, with 4.9-star ratings from shoppers: “It’s incredible—I am awoken so gently before the clock is even at its full brightness and before it makes any bird noises. I’m in love. It’s actually been really beneficial not to wake up with a huge shot of adrenaline from my nasty phone alarm and to ease into the day with a calmness.” Over a period of 10 to 60 minutes, the clock gradually increases from 10% to 100%, changing from red to bright yellow-y white. Should you want a little extra sleep, there’s a nine-minute snooze, and a dual-alarm feature if you and your partner wake at different times. The Movsou has a rainbow of lights and seven natural sounds (including frogs croaking, ocean waves, and violin), though if you prefer FM radio, the clock lets you save radio stations to a playlist. As a perk, the Movsou includes a charging port for your phone too.

Chirp Alarm Clock and Lamp

MoMA Design Store

The Chirp isn’t your traditional sunrise alarm, but if aesthetics are a priority for you, this gorgeous sculpture features a kiln-fired porcelain shape reminiscent of the early-rising robin. The curves are lit by LED lights which gradually glow 20 minutes leading up to your set alarm time, playing sounds from nature should you want (i.e., birds chirping or flowing water). One MoMA reviewer writes: “This is my favorite alarm clock I’ve ever had. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and using the app to control it is not only dead simple, it’s delightful.”

Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light HF3670

One more Philips SmartSleep model before we let you doze off. For anyone who needs strong sunlight to rouse them, the HF3670 offers 25 brightness settings (up to 315 lux in light intensity; the strongest of the Philips models), eight wake-up sounds (more than the others), and four relaxation sounds and guided meditations for wind-downs. There’s a Bluetooth speaker built-in, a charger for phones, and most uniquely, an app-linked sensor that maps the sleeping environment of your room (temperature, noise, light, humidity).

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.