The 8 Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks To Wake You Up Gently And Naturally

App: Yes | Clock display: Yes | Trial: 30 nights

Pros:

• Customizable features
• Robust sound library
• Aesthetically appealing

Cons:

• High price point
• Works best with the app

The Hatch brand became virtually synonymous with sunrise alarm clocks with the release of its Restore model in 2020, but it upped the ante with the Restore 2. The new version of the alarm clock comes in a choice of three muted colors and is wrapped in linen, which gives the light a soft, diffused quality. The sunrise alarm is entirely customizable, from the 10 accompanying sounds to the length of time it takes to fully come on (which you can set for anything from 5 to 60 minutes) to the brightness of the light itself. The Hatch Restore 2 functions best with the accompanying app, but you can turn the alarm on and off with a sliding side button on the device.

The Hatch Restore 2 has three speakers and a library of 21 white-noise tracks, including rain, wind, crickets and the ocean. These can help muffle any ambient noise as you fall asleep or throughout the night. This feature is customizable, too—you can set white noise to run anywhere from a few minutes up to 24 hours. Last but not least is the nighttime routine function, an integrated timer you can set to signal when it’s time to wind down and switch from one part of your evening relaxation routine, such as reading, to another, like meditation. The steps on the Hatch’s nighttime routine can also be set to correspond to various soothing sounds, different colors and brightness of light.

What our writers and the reviews say: “The gentle illumination of the Hatch Restore 2 has done away with my dark and stressful mornings,” says Forbes Vetted contributor Lindsey Vickers, who tested the Hatch Restore. “I entirely underestimated the difference it would make, but the light has massively improved my morning experience.” A Hatch customer writes, “While my Hatch Restore is amazing for winding down and setting myself up for a good night’s sleep, my favorite thing about it is waking up to its sunrise and starting my morning from a place of calm. I love how relaxed I feel waking up and throughout the day.”

App: Yes | Clock display: Yes | Trial: 30 nights

Pros:

• Night light, sound machine and clock in one
• Encourages healthy sleep habits in growing children
• Wi-Fi controlled

Cons:

• Higher price point
• Works best with the app

With its child-focused Rest+, Hatch made our list again. The newest Rest+ builds on the success of the original Rest, with the addition of a backup battery that means it works even if the power goes out. This device is a combination night light, sound machine and clock—and it’s made to grow with children from infancy onward. The soft light and soothing sounds are designed to help young ones fall asleep and stay that way through the night. It can also help teach kids good sleep habits using a time-to-rise cue that lets bright-eyed little ones know when it’s time to get out of bed. This feature is especially helpful for parents of children who consistently get up too early.

The Wi-Fi-controlled Rest+ has a robust sleep library with music, bedtime stories and breathing exercises (available with the Hatch Sleep membership), an audio monitor and a dimmable clock. It’s also portable by design, so it can move from room to room or give your child a piece of home and their usual routine while traveling. 

What the reviews say: “We had our first child at the end of 2018 and purchased a Hatch Rest to use in his nursery at night as a dual sound machine and night light. It became one of our favorite baby/toddler products,” says one customer. “We just had our second baby in 2022 and of course purchased our second hatch, a Hatch Rest+. Getting a Hatch is a no-brainer. It does everything you need it to and more without being over complicated.” Another writes, “It’s been wonderful to create good habits for our kids.”

App: Yes | Clock display: No | Trial: 30 nights

Pros:

• Intuitive design works by flipping, twisting and shaking
• Self dims to signal sleep
• Can be synced with other Glow Lights

Cons:

• No alarm
• No clock

It’s neither an alarm nor a clock, but the Casper Glow Light still made our list for its low-key approach to wakeups. In the morning, it gradually brightens to gently nudge you awake—no alarm tone, just light. The self-dimming touch lamp also signals the body that it’s time for bed with customized light settings that let you control brightness and duration. You set the time you want it to wake you in the Glow app, which also lets you manage features like syncing multiple Glow Lights.

The device relies on simple controls like flipping, twisting and shaking. Flip it over to turn it on, and it gradually dims and turns off over the course of 45 minutes. Want to turn it off before then? Just flip it over again. You can also pause the dimming process with a tap of the top or bottom button. A clever gyroscope feature lets you manually twist if you want it to adjust the brightness on your own. During the night, the Glow Light works as a portable nightlight. It has an ambient light sensor that you can trigger with a gentle shake when it’s turned off, giving you just enough light for a late-night trip to the bathroom or the kitchen. 

What the reviews say: “[It] makes starting my days at 5 a.m. in the dark so much easier. I wake up gradually [and] peacefully to a room and house filled with soft light. Evenings, as I settle into bed, [I] just flip the beside Glow lamp over, turn it to the brightness level I’m in the mood for, and fall asleep just as gently,” says one reviewer. Another writes, “We were skeptical about the Glow at first—how useful could it really be? The answer: very. We love the night light feature, which has made it so much easier to move around at night. Falling asleep is so peaceful without having to turn off the light.”

App: No | Clock display: Yes | Trial: 45 nights

Pros:

• Adjustable lighting
• Features are managed natively

Cons:

• Higher price point for basic features
• Clock comes pre-programmed in military time

The Lumie Bodyclock Glow 150 is a popular and well-liked bedside lamp and alarm clock in one, with fully adjustable lighting. It’s designed to help you curb that nighttime smartphone habit, with sunset-emulating light that you can set to fade over a period of time. If you aren’t a fan, it can be switched off completely. Wake in the morning with a sunrise duration of 20, 30 or 45 minutes, paired with the option of ten out-of-the-box sounds to get you going (happy goats, anyone?). Unlike many of the other alarms on our list, this one doesn’t require, or even have for that matter, an accompanying smartphone app—all of the Lumie’s features are easy to manage on the device itself.

What the reviews say: “I wanted a clock that didn’t force me to purchase an app or look at my phone before bed,” writes one customer. “I love this clock so much. It has a selection of sounds and a great sunrise simulator that always wakes me up on time.” Another says, “I just wanted something simple that I could operate bedside without fiddling with a phone, and all the simpler types had hit or miss reviews. This was a great compromise.”

App: No | Clock display: Yes | Trial: 30 days through Amazon

Pros:

• Fully adjustable features
• Full-screen LED display with multiple color settings
• Affordably priced

Cons:

• Some reviewers have concerns about durability

This sunrise alarm clock has a full-screen LED display panel, which takes up the entire face. In the morning, it brightens gradually from a dim glow to fully lit, which is timed to peak just as the alarm begins. The combination should get even the deepest sleepers moving in the morning. It has seven natural sounds, including birdsong, ocean waves, wind bells and soft beeps, along with an option for FM radio. Adjustability is built in, so you can determine the duration and brightness of the sunrise, turn off sound completely, dim or turn off the clock face and adjust colors with the mood lighting feature. All in all, it’s a great option at a reasonable price.

What the reviews say: One happy Amazon reviewer says, “If you’re looking for a great sunrise clock at an amazing price, look no further. This is the one.” Another confirms, “This alarm clock checked all my boxes and then some. I doubt there is a better version out there, and it’s reasonably priced considering some of the competitors.” The same reviewer checked back in, and is still a fan a year later. “Update: It’s been a year, and it still works great. Still loving it. I definitely can tell a difference the days that I use this versus the days that I don’t. It’s much easier to wake up with this.”

App: Yes | Clock display: Yes | Trial: 30 days through Amazon

Pros:

• Integrates with Alexa
• Streams music services
• Customizable features

Cons:

• Light dimming occurs in noticeable stages
• Higher price point

The Wiim Wake-Up Light can do many things—all without subscribing to an extra service. It still has a connected app and is also compatible with Alexa, so you can set up voice controls. To wake you, this clock has both a sunrise light feature and gentle sounds, or you can even pick a conventional radio wake-up. Instead of preset tones or music, this clock uses smart speaker technology, so you can stream sounds or songs from whatever service you like. The light color is customizable, so you can create the ambience of your choice.

At bedtime, it can also serve as a reading light and white-noise machine via the smart speaker, or use it to listen to the calming music or guided meditation or your choice. You can dim the clock display when it’s time to sleep.

What the reviews say: One customer says they “really do enjoy it and the ease of use and the free app.” Another points out its ease of use: “Download the app to personalize this machine or use the easy controls on the clock. It’s all good and it works either way. Nice appliance to keep you on track with your sleeping, waking and relaxation needs.”