The 6 Best Alarm Clocks of 2025, Tested by BHG

Your alarm clock is the first thing you “talk to” every morning. And if that conversation starts with a violent
BEEP BEEP BEEP that makes you sit straight up like a haunted mannequin, you deserve better.

Better Homes & Gardens (BHG) did what most of us only threaten to do at 1:47 a.m.they tested a whole pile of
alarm clocks at home and narrowed the field to six winners for 2025. The results are delightfully practical:
budget-friendly, easy to use, and built for real life (aka: groggy fingers, dark rooms, and the occasional “I hit snooze
but I swear I didn’t” mystery).

Quick take: BHG’s six winners (and who they’re for)

• JALL Digital Alarm Clock Best Overall for most bedrooms and budgets.
• DreamSky Digital Alarm Clock Best Budget pick with a big, readable display.
• Winshine Touch Wake Up Night Light Best Sunrise option without “luxury car payment” pricing.
• Hatch Restore 3 Best Smart clock for routines, customization, and gentle wake-ups.
• Better Homes & Gardens Sunrise Alarm Clock (Walmart) Best for Heavy Sleepers who need a loud wake-up.
• IKEA Dekad Best Analog for people who want simple, vintage, and basically unbothered.

How BHG tested alarm clocks (and why that matters)

Alarm clocks are sneaky. They can look adorable online and still commit crimes in your bedroom:
too bright at night, too quiet in the morning, or buttons that require the dexterity of a concert pianist.
That’s why at-home testing mattersbecause a clock isn’t “good” until it survives your real routine.

The criteria that actually affect your mornings

BHG focused on the kinds of things you notice immediately (and complain about forever):

• Setup and usability: Can you set it up without a 14-step ritual and a flashlight?
• Display clarity: Can you read it half-asleep, with one eye open, from a reasonable distance?
• Brightness control: Because “nightstand lighthouse” is not a vibe.
• Alarm volume and tone: The right amount of “wake up” without “panic attack.”
• Power source + backup: Especially important if storms or power flickers are common where you live.
• Personalization: Multiple alarms, weekday/weekend schedules, sunrise options, sounds, and routines.

Translation: they judged clocks the way you wouldexcept with more patience and fewer sleepy groans.

The 6 best alarm clocks of 2025 (mini reviews)

1) JALL Digital Alarm Clock Best Overall

If you want an affordable, “does-the-job” bedside alarm clock with more flexibility than you’d expect at the price,
this is BHG’s top pick. The JALL stands out because it’s simple but not stingy: you get multiple brightness settings,
solid volume control, and the ability to set more than one alarm (which is great if you’re a “two alarms minimum” person).

What makes it especially livable is the weekday/weekend scheduling. Instead of resetting your alarm every Friday night like
you’re filing paperwork, you can set recurring patterns and let the clock handle the calendar.

Best for: Most people who want a straightforward digital alarm clock with useful customization.

Watch-outs: If you’re an extremely heavy sleeper, the loudest volume may still be too polite.

Why it’s on the list: A great blend of readability, brightness control, and simple scheduling.

2) DreamSky Digital Alarm Clock Best Budget

The DreamSky is the “big numbers, no drama” option. BHG highlights it as especially friendly for glasses-wearers,
older adults, and anyone who doesn’t want to squint at a tiny display while negotiating with consciousness.

It’s also the kind of clock you can recommend to your family without getting tech-support calls at midnight.
You set one alarm, the display is clear, and the brightness options help keep your room from turning into a tiny Times Square.

Best for: Tight budgets, guest rooms, seniors, and minimalists who just want to wake up on time.

Watch-outs: You can only set one alarm at a timefine for most people, annoying for serial snoozers.

Why it’s on the list: Readable, reliable, and uncomplicated (the holy trinity of budget clocks).

3) Winshine Touch Wake Up Night Light Best Sunrise

Sunrise alarm clocks are the “wake up like a Disney princess” category: instead of a sudden siren, you get gradual light
that mimics morning. The Winshine is BHG’s favorite sunrise pick because it hits the essentials without requiring a premium
price or a complicated ecosystem.

It’s designed to be simple: you can set wake-up and wind-down timing with buttons on the bottom, and you can choose from
a handful of sounds (including nature-style options). If you’re curious about sunrise clocks but not ready to commit to a
higher-end smart model, this is the training-wheels versionin a good way.

The “touch” element also helps: tapping to adjust features is easier than hunting for tiny side buttons in the dark like
you’re defusing a bomb in your pajamas.

Best for: People who want gentler mornings and a low-cost sunrise alarm clock.

Watch-outs: Sound selection exists, but the true “alarm tone” options are limited.

Why it’s on the list: The most affordable sunrise pick that still feels legitimately useful.

4) Hatch Restore 3 Best Smart

The Hatch Restore 3 is the “your bedroom, but curated” option. It’s designed around routines:
a multi-stage wind-down, sleep sounds, and a sunrise-style wake-up that can be paired with gentle audio.
BHG liked it for the personalization and the overall relaxing experiencebasically, it’s an alarm clock that tries
to improve your whole sleep setup, not just your punctuality.

This is also where the smart clock trade-off shows up: you’ll use an app (at least at first), and many of the extra sounds
and light options are tied to a subscription. That doesn’t automatically make it badsome people love having a library of
soundscapes, meditations, and routinesbut it does mean the “real cost” depends on how you’ll use it.

Best for: People who want a customizable smart alarm clock and enjoy guided routines.

Watch-outs: Some features are subscription-based; decide if you’ll actually use them long-term.

Why it’s on the list: A genuinely high-end experience with strong customization and a gentle wake-up style.

5) Better Homes & Gardens Sunrise Alarm Clock (Walmart) Best for Heavy Sleepers

Some of us wake up to birdsong. Others could sleep through a marching band and a minor earthquake.
If you’re in Group Two, BHG’s heavy-sleeper pick is refreshingly blunt: it’s loud, it’s bright, and it’s not trying to be subtle.

You still get a sunrise/sunset light and sleep soundsnice extras for a basic modelbut the main character trait is
the alarm itself. BHG specifically calls out that the alarm is very loud and jarring (which is exactly what many heavy sleepers need).
There’s also battery backup, so you’re less likely to get betrayed by a power hiccup.

The downside of “basic but powerful” is usability: cramped buttons can make it easy to hit the wrong thing in the dark,
and daily reset behavior can be annoying if you want your clock to remember your life.

Best for: Heavy sleepers who need a louder alarm and a brighter wake-up light.

Watch-outs: Limited adjustability (including volume), and fiddly buttons.

Why it’s on the list: It’s effective. Not eleganteffective.

6) IKEA Dekad Best Analog

The IKEA Dekad is the anti-smartwatch. It’s analog, vintage-inspired, and intentionally simple:
one alarm, battery powered, and basically no extra features. If you want a clock that does not glow, ping, sync, update,
or ask for your Wi-Fi password, this is your calming little time buddy.

It’s also a good choice if screens keep you awake. Digital clocks can be visually distracting, even dimmed. An analog clock
is quieter in spiritthough you should still place it where you can see it without doing gymnastics.

Best for: Minimalists, screen-averse sleepers, and anyone who wants a simple bedside clock with style.

Watch-outs: No snooze, no volume control, and it’s not the loudest option for deep sleepers.

Why it’s on the list: Charming, basic, and surprisingly refreshing in a world of subscription everything.

How to pick the right alarm clock for your sleep style

If you’re a light sleeper

Look for brightness control and a gentler alarm curve. You want a clock that won’t light up the room at night,
and you want volume options that won’t launch you into orbit. The JALL is a strong fit here because it offers dimming and multiple sound levels.

If you’re a heavy sleeper

Prioritize volume, brightness, and a backup plan (battery backup or a reliable power setup).
If you regularly sleep through alarms, you might also consider placing the clock farther away so you have to physically get up to turn it off.
Not funbut wildly effective.

If you hate waking up to sound

Try a sunrise alarm clock (Winshine or Hatch). Light-based wake-ups can feel less aggressive than sound-only alarms,
especially during darker seasons. If you use an eye mask or sleep face-down under the blanket like a hibernating bear,
pair the light with sound so the alarm still reaches you.

If you want a whole “sleep routine,” not just a wake-up time

Smart options like the Hatch Restore 3 are built for bedtime rituals: wind-down audio, consistent schedules, and
routines that encourage less phone time at night. Just be honest with yourself: if you love customization, it’s great.
If you want one button and zero apps, you’ll be happier with a simpler clock.

Do sunrise alarm clocks really work?

In general, sunrise alarms aim to wake you more gradually by using increasing light to nudge your body toward “morning mode.”
Many experts describe light exposure as a cue that can help reduce the harshness of sudden waking and make mornings feel less jarring.

They aren’t magic for everyone, though. If you’re severely sleep-deprived, working weird shifts, or you sleep with your face covered,
light might not be enough on its own. That’s why many people do best with a light + sound comboyou get the gentle ramp-up,
plus an audio backstop in case your brain decides to ignore the sun.

FAQ: alarm clock questions people secretly Google at 2 a.m.

Is using your phone as an alarm really that bad?

It’s not “bad,” but it’s often messy. Phones tempt you to scroll, they light up with notifications, and they train your brain
to associate your bed with everything except sleeping. A dedicated alarm clock can simplify the sleep space: one job, one device.

How important is battery backup?

Veryespecially if you live somewhere with occasional outages or you’ve ever woken up late and said,
“Huh. The microwave clock is blinking. That feels suspicious.” Battery backup usually keeps the time and your alarm settings
safe during power interruptions, even if the display doesn’t stay lit.

Are subscription-based smart alarm clocks worth it?

Worth it if you’ll use the content: guided wind-downs, sound libraries, and routines. Not worth it if you just want a
sunrise light and a standard alarm tone. The smartest money move is choosing a clock that still functions well without paid extras.

Real-world experiences: what it’s like living with these alarm clocks

Reading a “best alarm clocks” list is one thing. Living with an alarm clock is another. A great alarm clock doesn’t just wake you upit
behaves itself at night, is easy to set when you’re half asleep, and doesn’t make you regret being born at 6:15 a.m.
Here’s what tends to happen when real people switch from phone alarms (or ancient mystery clocks) to BHG-style winners.

Week 1: The Brightness Negotiation.
The first surprise is usually the display. Not the timeeveryone expects numbers. It’s the brightness. A too-bright display can make
your room feel like a 24-hour diner, and a too-dim display can make you squint like you’re decoding a secret message.
This is where clocks like the JALL and DreamSky earn their keep: multiple brightness settings turn bedtime into a calm,
dim environment instead of a neon situation. Many people end up choosing a “barely-there glow” at night and a brighter setting
during the day, so the clock remains readable without hijacking the room.

Week 2: The “I Need Two Alarms” Revelation.
Some people are “one alarm and done.” Others are “set one at 6:30, one at 6:33, one at 6:37, and one at 6:44,
because my brain is a committee.” A clock that supports multiple alarms or weekday/weekend schedules reduces mental load.
Instead of resetting times every night, you set a routine once and stop negotiating with yourself at bedtime.
That’s a big reason BHG liked the JALL: it supports the reality that your schedule is not identical seven days a week.

The sunrise experiment: a gentler wake-up is a different kind of effective.
When people try a sunrise alarm clock for the first time, the most common reaction isn’t “Wow, I popped out of bed instantly!”
It’s more like, “I woke up without being offended.” That matters. The gradual brightening from something like the Winshine
(or the more advanced routine-building of the Hatch) often reduces the shock factor of waking. Instead of an immediate adrenaline spike,
you get a ramp-up that feels more naturalespecially in winter, when it’s still dark outside at reasonable adult wake-up times.
Many people still pair light with sound, but they choose softer tones because the light is already doing part of the work.

Heavy sleepers: loud isn’t rude, it’s compassionate.
If you regularly sleep through alarms, a gentler solution can actually become a trap. The heavy sleeper’s “best alarm clock”
isn’t the one with the prettiest sunrise gradientit’s the one that reliably interrupts deep sleep. That’s why a loud, jarring option
can be the kindest thing in the room. A clock like the Better Homes & Gardens Sunrise Alarm Clock (Walmart) tends to create
immediate accountability: you wake up, you notice it, and you deal with it. The trade-off is nuance. It’s not trying to be a spa.
It’s trying to get you to work on time.

The analog reset: surprisingly peaceful (and slightly chaotic).
People who switch to an analog clock like the IKEA Dekad often report a calmer bedside setup. No glowing digits. No app. No extra noise.
It feels “clean.” But analog clocks also require you to be a little more intentional. You set the alarm by hand. You place the clock where
you can see it. You accept that snooze may not exist. For some sleepers, that’s exactly the point: fewer features, fewer temptations,
fewer things to tinker with at 11:58 p.m.

The bottom line from real use: The best alarm clock is the one you can operate in the dark, half-awake,
without getting annoyed. That’s why BHG’s list is so practical. It covers the full range of sleepersbudget shoppers,
light sleepers, heavy sleepers, sunrise fans, smart-home lovers, and analog minimalistswithout forcing everyone into the same “perfect morning.”
Your perfect morning is personal. Your alarm clock should be too.

Conclusion: the best alarm clock is the one you’ll actually enjoy owning

If you want a safe, widely appealing pick: start with the JALL Digital Alarm Clock.
If you want simple and cheap (in a good way): go DreamSky.
If you want a gentle sunrise without a big spend: Winshine.
If you want the full sleep-routine experience: Hatch Restore 3.
If you need something that can out-yell your deepest sleep: the BHG Sunrise Alarm Clock is your wake-up enforcer.
And if you want to unplug from screens entirely: IKEA Dekad keeps things charming and basic.

No matter which route you choose, the goal is the same: wake up with less stress, fewer snooze spirals, and a little more control
over the start of your day. Your future selfthe one who’s not sprinting out the doorwill be extremely grateful.