7 Alarm Clocks Highly Rated Across Major Online Review Sites

Waking up in the morning can feel like a miserable chore for many of us. Our phones thankfully have the power to serve as an alarm clock, but it has its drawbacks and can wind up doing more harm than good. You might find yourself scrolling through social media instead of sleeping or waking up and rolling over in the middle of the night to check noisy notifications or glance at the time. Not only does using your phone throughout the night impact your sleep, but it prevents you from truly disconnecting from the outside world when you should be resting. Having a separate, effective alarm clock is essential for those of us who struggle to get out of bed in the morning. So which products do experts agree are the best alarm clocks overall?

EdNews did the research, consulting 13 consumer review sites in an effort to bring you a consensus list of the top-rated alarm clocks. Our list comprises the seven most frequently listed alarm clocks from across these sites. Do you think we missed a quality alarm clock? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

The List: Top Rated Alarm Clocks, According to Reviewers

1. Loftie Alarm Clock

The top spot on the list of the best alarm clocks belongs to Loftie. Loftie is a super simple yet effective alarm clock that will have you waking up in a great mood every morning. As GQ explains, Loftie features an easy-to-use interface and comes loaded with extras to help make your sleep experience one of a kind. You’ll have the option of connecting your Loftie alarm clock to your smartphone via the app, so you won’t have to ditch your phone altogether but you also don’t need to rely on it for an alarm. Loftie is more than just an alarm clock, it’s a sound machine and a bedtime companion designed to help you fall asleep without stress.

Vice calls the Loftie alarm clock the very best available on the market and for good reason. “It’s the sound equivalent of waking up to the smell of bacon and pancakes.” It features Bluetooth so you can even listen to your favorite podcasts while winding down for the night. Or, if you prefer, you can cue up the white noise to enter yourself into a beautiful night’s sleep. Loftie allows you to set a blend of two different alarms in tandem, so you can hone in on the perfect combination of sounds to wake you up in the morning.

You’ll also love Loftie’s small, sleek design which doesn’t take up too much space on your nightstand. As Business Insider explains, Loftie is always adding new sounds to its ever-growing content library. Simply connect your Loftie to Wi-Fi and you’ll have access to a range of unique and pleasant sounds designed to wake you up peacefully. This Loftie alarm clock works as a sound machine, a Bluetooth speaker, and a sleep timer. Loftie’s unique features eliminate the need to bring your smartphone to bed with you, enhancing your sleep experience and ensuring you’re at your best when the new day begins.

2. Lenovo Smart Clock Essential

Buzzing into the second spot on the list of the top alarm clocks is the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential. Let’s face it, we’re living in a time of smart home devices and your alarm clock is no exception. As People notes, this smart alarm clock connects to Wi-Fi and serves double duty as a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, keeping you connected to other smart devices in your home while you wind down after a long day at work and raising kids. No more fumbling around with button combinations on your alarm clock. You can set your alarm, adjust the sounds that will wake you, and even configure the sound levels all without lifting a finger, literally.

The Spruce calls the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential the very best option for a quality alarm clock. Whether you want natural sounds such as birds chirping or you like to wake up to your favorite songs, this Lenovo alarm clock has you covered. Of course, Lenovo is one of the leading manufacturers of home computers and laptops, so it comes as no surprise that Lenovo is also producing one of the top smart alarm clocks on the market today. This alarm clock even features an auto-adjusting LED clock display and a dimmable night light, so you won’t have to worry about the glow of the clock keeping you up at night.

Using your smartphone in bed is proven to negatively affect your sleep quality. Lenovo tackled this issue with its smart alarm clock, making the break up with your phone smooth and easy, notes Better Homes and Gardens. And, the Lenovo Smart Clock Essential is perfect for couples with varying sleep schedules. You can set separate alarms to meet your individual needs without having to reset the alarm every time one of you wakes up. The digital display even shows the temperature and the day of the week so you can stay on top of every aspect of your sleep health.

3. Jall Wooden Digital Alarm Clock

Ringing into the third spot on the list of the top alarm clocks is the Jall Wooden Digital Alarm Clock. The Jall is a stylish, minimalistic wooden alarm clock that works just as great as it looks on your nightstand. As The Spruce writes, the Jall is a “basic, cost-effective alarm clock” that gets the job done and looks cool while doing it. The minimal design of the Jall matches its functionality – it’s simple to use and offers a straightforward wake-up experience.

Good Housekeeping loves the Jall Wooden Digital Alarm Clock because it's reliable and easy to use. You can set up to three alarms at once and it even comes with a weekday mode which allows you to turn off the alarm for those lazy weekend days when you finally get the chance to sleep in. For anyone who prefers a pitch-black room for sleeping, the Jall features an adjustable brightness display which can be turned completely off to give you the darkest environment possible when sleeping.

CNN calls the Jall Wooden Digital Alarm Clock the best option on the market for its simplicity and dependability. The Jall also won’t clog up your nightstand with a bulky alarm clock. It is small and discreet yet stylish and sleek. The Jall is simple to set, use, and read and you will rest peacefully knowing that it will dependably wake you up in the morning.

4. Hatch Restore 2

Chirping into the fourth spot on the list of the best alarm clocks is the Hatch Restore 2. This is far more than an alarm clock. This smart gadget is multifunctional and designed to improve your overall quality of sleep and not just wake you up in the morning, explains USA Today. The Hatch Restore 2 is a sleep machine that features a night light, a sunrise simulator, and an effective alarm clock all designed to enhance your sleep experience.

As U.S. News and World Report notes, the Hatch Restore 2 is innovative and high-tech, but not overly complicated to set up and operate. This Hatch alarm clock is a sunrise clock, meaning it’s designed to simulate sunrise, and it does just that. The dawn light helps notify your body that it’s time to wake up while the machine slowly starts introducing the sounds of the morning to wake you up slowly and peacefully. Although you’ll need to install the Hatch Sleep app to effectively use this alarm clock, the company offers a free and paid version to help meet your sleep needs and keep you resting peacefully throughout the night.

The Hatch Restore 2 is more than an alarm clock, explains GQ. The Restore 2 is an entire sleep tech system designed to improve sleep and keep you fresh. Since it’s designed to simulate sunrise, the Hatch Restore 2 is perfect for anyone who works the third shift and sleeps during the day. A few blackout curtains and a Hatch Restore 2 will help keep your body in rhythm as you achieve the very best sleep possible during the daytime hours. If you have trouble falling asleep, the Hatch sunrise clock has you covered with soothing sounds such as a light rain to help you fall asleep quickly and peacefully.

5. Sonic Alert Sonic Bomb with Bed Shaker

The Sonic Alert is widely regarded as the best option for heavy sleepers who don’t respond to a normal-sounding alarm clock. CNN describes the Sonic Alert as the “most intense, abrasive sound of any alarm clock” available on the market today. This alarm clock is designed to wake the heaviest sleepers out of their deepest slumber.

TechGearLab raves about the Sonic Alert’s ability to wake up heavy sleepers using both a loud alarm clock and a bed-shaking puck that you place under your pillow. When the alarm goes off, the puck also begins vibrating and shaking, leaving you with no option but to wake up out of a sound sleep. This alarm is great for those days when you simply must wake up or risk missing a big moment in your life. Whether you have a big day at work, an important exam at school, or you just don’t respond well to regular alarm clocks, the Sonic Alert will get the job done and successfully wake you up regardless of the conditions.

As CNET explains, if you’re not a heavy sleeper and don’t absolutely need a loud alarm clock, you might find this alarm incredibly annoying and overkill. Still, the adjustable features make this alarm clock useful for a variety of heavy sleepers, and the shaking, vibrating puck ensures you won’t oversleep on those important days.

6. Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light

Illuminating the sixth spot on the list of the best alarm clocks is the Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light. This sunrise alarm clock is similar to the Hatch Restore 2 in that it’s designed to mimic sunrise, waking you up slowly and and naturally. The Philips SmartSleep is also one of the nicest-looking alarm clocks you’ll find, explains Wired. The rounded design makes it aesthetically pleasing to look at while the futuristic features make it a dependable piece of sleep technology.

With cool features such as simulated sunrise and sunset brightness and five natural wake-up sounds, you’ll love the Philips SmartSleep. As CNN notes, the Philips SmartSleep offers intuitive programming and a wide range of alarm sounds to wake you up naturally and peacefully. The lighting feature mimics daybreak to help you wake up naturally, but this alarm clock sets itself apart from others in that it accurately mimics sunset. The pleasant sunset and daybreak lighting promotes a healthy sleep environment that puts you to sleep gradually and wake you up gently.

If you hate being woke up abruptly with jarring sounds, then this might be the perfect alarm clock for you. Visually, CNET describes this alarm clock as “a UFO with a kickstand.” However, the majority of this alarm clock’s surface area is dedicated to the gradual lighting feature. The global shape of the light adds to this clock’s effectiveness while the range of settings allow you to customize your morning experience. Sleep tight, and wake rejuvenated and rested with a Philips SmartSleep.

7. iHome Bluetooth Alarm Clock

Rounding out the list of the best alarm clocks is the iHome Bluetooth Alarm Clock. This simple yet effective alarm clock is perfect for anyone who hates instruction manuals, says Better Homes and Gardens. The easy-to-use, straightforward interface makes the iHome Bluetooth easy to set up while the cool features make it pleasant to wake up to. While the iHome only offers two alarm sounds, the Bluetooth feature means you can connect your favorite music to this alarm clock and program your favorite jam to wake you up in the morning.

The iHome Bluetooth Alarm Clock is a simple alarm solution designed with loads of helpful features, explains The Spruce. The FM radio reliably picks up your favorite local stations and allows you to set up to six preset stations. From there, the iHome features a 3.5mm jack so you can connect audio devices or headphones for personalized listening. You can even use the Bluetooth feature to take phone calls from your bedroom. Although you won’t necessarily be disconnecting from your phone, these features are beyond useful for busy professionals on the road.

The iHome is globally shaped and also features color-changing capabilities with five hues and six different wake-up options. You can even program the lights to bump along with the rhythm of your favorite songs. The circular design makes it a bit larger than other alarm clocks, but the color-changing lights positively add to your waking experience, notes People. Speaking of useful features, you can press any button on this alarm clock to snooze your alarm. No more fumbling around hunting for the snooze button in the dark. Press any button once to snooze your alarm or twice to turn it off, it’s that simple.

Sources used for our list:

• Vice
• CNN
• Better Homes and Gardens
• The Spruce
• People
• Wired
• GQ
• TechGearLab
• Business Insider
• U.S. News and World Report
• Good Housekeeping
• USA Today
• CNET

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. EdNews is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.