Start Your Day Screen-Free with One of the Best Alarm Clocks We Tried and Recommend

This wooden alarm clock from Jall has a modern look with a classic, simplistic display. Its subdued look fits into any bedroom decor and it comes in several finishes if you want something more customized to your space.

You can adjust the brightness between six levels on the digital display; the volume of the alarm is also adjustable to five different levels. In addition to telling the time, it also tells you the humidity and temperature inside. You can set up to three alarms at once and it has a weekday mode so it doesn’t go off on weekends.

It must be plugged into the wall to work and there’s no battery backup, so you'll have to reset it if there’s a power outage. Still, the looks, functionality, and price are plenty to be happy about.

Key Specs

This analog Peakeep clock is ideal for fans of post-mod design. It has a large, clear analog face that has some modern updates like a backlight. It also doesn’t tick, so you can assure your sleep won’t be interrupted.

This clock is also great for those who have trouble waking up, since the alarm is pretty loud and there is no snooze button, though this may be a downside to some.

It also comes in a few fun colors, so you can pick one that best suits your bedroom decor. The retro functionality of running on a replaceable battery means it won't fall prey to any power outages.

Key Specs

The Flip+ is a super simple option that takes up very little space on your nightstand. Other than a snooze function and light-up display button there’s not much else to this alarm clock—but that’s the beauty of it—no need for Wi-Fi connectivity or another app you have to download.

To deactivate the alarm you simply flip it over and start your day. The alarm runs on 2 AAA batteries which are included and the small size makes it a good option for travel.

Key Specs

This minimalist alarm clock has mod appeal with its rounded shape. I liked the simplicity in both the design and functionality on this alarm clock. The display is attractive and easy to see and can be turned off completely when I sleep.

The alarm is just a beep sound that speeds up and it jolts you awake which some may not like but I don’t mind. The only gripe is that it doesn’t come with the adapter to plug into the wall.

It won’t take up a lot of room on small nightstands and gives you simple functionality in a sleek little package. Setup is fast and easy; there’s no hooking up to Wif-Fi or Bluetooth—you just plug it in, set the time, and it’s good to go.

There are five buttons on top to set the time, adjust the alarm’s volume, and dim the display. Note the temperature shows inside temps which is a bit strange since many options show what it’s like outside, but it’s still a nice extra feature for a minimalist clock. You can put in disposable batteries so it works during an outage and doesn’t lose track of the time.

Key Specs

The Loftie doubles as a sound machine with preloaded white noises and sound baths to put you to sleep, and different zen-inducing alarm sounds to wake you up—my personal favorite is one with birds chirping and a gentle, rhythmic gong.

You have to download the app for the initial setup, but once that’s done you can control everything using the clock itself. It has the classic alarm clock look and reminds me of the ’90s one my dad had, but it’s modernized version with rounded edges, a glossy finish, and a sleek LED display instead of the antiquated red light.

The brightness can be adjusted manually or set to automatically dim and brighten depending on the light in the room. I set mine to automatic and it seamlessly adjusts between night and day. I’m a very light sleeper and the time on the display at night is just bright enough for visibility without being disruptive.

It comes preloaded with a bunch of different alarm sounds, sound baths, and guided meditations. I’m not one to really look for any of that in an alarm clock, but waking up to the birds and gong has been noticeably more enjoyable and I won’t be going back to the jolting beep any time soon.

It comes with a USB cable and a wall plug which I liked, but setup after that was a bit complicated. The app is user-friendly enough, but alerts me that the clock is offline even when it isn’t, which is annoying.

As such, I don’t mess with the app and control everything from the machine itself and haven’t had any issues. The design, functionality, and sounds make this my personal favorite and the one I’ll continue using after writing this guide.

Key Specs

Deep sleep is great, but it can be a real issue if you’re one to sleep through your alarm or worse—turn it off without even realizing. This alarm clock gives you a one-two punch of a loud alarm sound and a vibrating disc that goes under your mattress to jolt you awake when sound alone just won’t cut it out.

The alarm can go up 106 decibels, which is comparable to standing next to a running motorcycle or power saw, according to decibel comparison charts.

The bed shaker attaches to the alarm clock with a 71-inch cord so you can easily place it under a mattress or pillow on either side of the bed. You can choose to wake up using just the alarm buzz, bed shaker, or combination of the two. The buttons are user-friendly for setting the time and alarms, and the interface looks like a standard minimalist alarm clock.

If you need even louder sound we previously recommended the Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb, but some found it to be less user-friendly and its design is rather tacky.

Key Specs