Hate your blaring alarm? We found the best sunrise clocks for a gentler wake-up

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Sunrise clocks help you gradually wake up with light rather than the blaring noise of an alarm clock, which can cause better quality sleep, experts say.Hatch; LoftieIf you start your day before sunrise, or if you’re looking for a more peaceful alternative to a blaring alarm clock, a sunrise clock may be your new favorite nightstand accessory. It mimics the natural sunrise by gradually lighting up at a certain time, and many even have gentle sounds to help you wake up. Best of all, it won’t jolt you awake like a normal alarm clock (or your phone) would.

Using an alarm clock that simulates both the sunset and sunrise can help you fall asleep faster and wake up quicker in the morning, says Dr. Shelby Harris, a licensed clinical psychologist and the director of NY Sleep and Psychology. If you’re ready to make the switch, I consulted sleep experts on the benefits of sunrise alarm clocks and what to look for when shopping for one. I also pulled together a list of options to shop based on their guidance.

Best overallHatch Restore 3$undefined$169.99AmazonLearn moreBest budget pickJall Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock$31.24$52.98AmazonLearn moreBest app-enabledPhilips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light$undefined$179.99AmazonLearn moreBest portableCasper The Glow Light$116.10$129.00AmazonLearn moreSee 1 MoreWant more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.

$169.99Amazon$169.99Hatch.coWhat to knowBrightness settings: adjustable | Wake-up sounds: 13 | Relaxation sounds: 25 | App-enabled: yes | Light colors: red, orange, white | Sunset simulation: yes | FM radio: noWhat we likeMany sleep/wake-up soundsSleek and modern designSomething to noteOnly works with Wi-FiNot as bright as other optionsThe Hatch Restore 3 is a favorite among our experts and the NBC Selected team. “I’m more likely to sleep through the night now since I’m not anticipating being startled awake by my phone’s blaring alarm,” says NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin. “The gradual increase of light in my bedroom lets me slowly transition from a deep sleep into consciousness.”

You can use this sunrise clock to gently wake you up in the morning, moving from red to orange to white before your alarm sounds, or as a bedside light to wind down. You can also customize your sleep and wake up routine, play sound, adjust light and more using the companion Hatch Sleep app, or you can press the buttons directly on the device to control your nighttime or morning routine (keep in mind, you’ll need Wi-Fi connection for the device to work). It’s also a stylish alternative to other alarm clocks: “Since the curved device has a sleek, minimalistic appearance, it practically blends into my bedroom,” says Malin.

Malin loves how the Hatch Restore 3 gently wakes her up with gradual light.Best app-enabledPhilips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light$179.99Amazon$179.99PhilipsWhat to knowBrightness settings: 25 | Wake-up sounds: 7 | Relaxation sounds: 3 | App-enabled: yes | Light colors: white, orange, yellow, amber | Sunset simulation: yes | FM radio: yesWhat we likeSleep tracking on smartphoneBuilt-in phone charging dockAuto-dimming displaySomething to noteOnly works with Wi-FiThis Philips sunrise clock comes recommended by Dr. W. Christopher Winter, a neurologist and sleep specialist based in Charlottesville, Virginia. It has an auto-dimming display and five adjustable colors. The light gradually gets brighter and starts 30 minutes before your scheduled alarm time — the simulation starts off as a soft red and moves to orange and ultimately a bright yellow light to wake you up. The brand’s companion app, SleepMapper, lets you customize your chosen sunset and sunrise times, track your sleep over time and sync your sleep metrics with Apple and Google Health.

$116.10$129.00AmazonNow 10% off$116.10$129.00CasperNow 10% offWhat to knowBrightness settings: adjustable | Wake-up sounds: n/a | Relaxation sounds: n/a | App-enabled: yes | Light colors: standard warm light | Sunset simulation: yes | FM radio: noWhat we likeDoesn’t need to stay pluggedEasy brightness controlAuto-dimming and auto-offSomething to noteNo sleep or wake-up soundsCasper’s The Glow Light lacks sound options, so it’s less of an alarm clock and more of a sunrise- and sunset-simulating light. I use the Glow Light every day to wake up in the morning since the light gradually increases over the course of an hour based on the time I set on the companion app. It also functions as a bedside lamp: I usually use its auto-dimming feature to help me wind down at night, and the light will automatically turn off after an hour, so I can fall asleep without having to worry about it staying on. I like that the light has several straightforward, easy-to-use functions: You can twist it on its base to control its brightness, flip it upside down to turn it on and off, and lift it off its base to light up the way to a midnight snack (it’s durable enough to survive everyday tumbles, too).

$31.24$52.98AmazonNow 41% offWhat to knowBrightness settings: 20 | Wake-up sounds: 7 | Relaxation sounds: n/a | App-enabled: no | Light colors: blue, indigo, purple, red, orange, yellow, green | Sunset simulation: n/a | FM radio: yesWhat we likeSeveral brightness levelsDual-alarm capabilitiesOne-click snoozeSomething to noteNo companion appThis Jall sunrise alarm clock has seven colored lights and 20 brightness levels to gradually wake you up over the span of 10, 20 and 30 minutes. It also has access to FM radio and seven built-in sounds to help you wake up or wind down, such as birds chirping, ocean waves and piano music. To better customize your routine, the clock also has 16 volume levels to choose from.

$169.00AmazonWhat to knowBrightness settings: adjustable | Wake-up sounds: 15 | Relaxation sounds: n/a | App-enabled: no | Light colors: red, orange and warm white | Sunset simulation: yes | FM radio: yesWhat we likePlenty of sleep/wake-up soundsAuto-dimming displaySomething to noteNo companion appMilitary time onlyThis Lumie sunrise clock lets you customize the maximum brightness and wake up gradually over anywhere from 15 minutes to 90 minutes. It also has a built-in alarm that lets you wake up with the radio or one of 15 sleep sounds to complement the light, according to Lumie. Plus, It has an auto-dimming display and a snooze button.

Lumie also offers other, pared down Bodyclock models available: The Bodyclock Rise 100 loses its radio function and alarm while the Bodyclock Glow 150 includes 10 waking sounds and a duration of 20 minutes, 30 minutes and 45 minutes.

$299.99$360.00AmazonNow 17% off$279.99$299.99LoftieNow 7% offWhat to knowBrightness settings: adjustable | Wake-up sounds: 100+ (paired with Loftie alarm clock) | Relaxation sounds: 100+ (paired with Loftie alarm clock) | App-enabled: yes | Light colors: red, orange and warm white | Sunset simulation: yes | FM radio: n/aWhat we likeSleek, modern designLight adjustable via appSleep and wake-up timesSomething to noteBest paired with Loftie clockNo built-in sleep soundsLoftie Smart Alarm Clock$199.99$239.98LoftieNow 17% off$199.99AmazonWhat to knowBrightness settings: adjustable | Wake-up sounds: 100+ | Relaxation sounds: 100+ | App-enabled: yes | Light colors: n/a | Sunset simulation: n/a | FM radio: n/aWhat we likeGreat sound qualitySleek designApp-enabledSomething to noteExpensiveThough this is a pricier option, I recommend pairing Loftie’s smart lamp and alarm clock for a complete sunrise clock and sound machine set. The lamp, which doubles as a chic piece of home decor, gradually brightens at the time you set via the companion app, while the alarm clock (which the brand notes is not a sunrise clock, but rather more like a sound machine) has sleep, meditation and wake-up sounds to help you rise in the morning and wind down at night. The lamp doesn’t display time nor has built-in sleep sounds like most other options on this list, so pairing it with the clock provides most of the capabilities you might be looking for in a new morning alarm. You can also set a sleep schedule on the app, which lets you gently transition from day to night by gradually turning down the brightness.

To pull together our list, the experts recommended I keep the following key features in mind (more on these features below):

selectedselectedWe've tested over 31 bed sheets — these are the best onesHow do sunrise alarm clocks work?Most sunrise alarm clocks are fairly similar: They have a light that simulates the sunrise and sunset, which can gently increase and dim light without the adrenaline rush of a regular alarm clock. “They are especially beneficial during the winter when the sun rises later, and can help improve symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, insomnia, jet-lag and other sleep issues,” says Harris.

Most sunrise clocks will start gradually brightening about 30 minutes to an hour before your scheduled wake up time (some give you the option to adjust that length via an app) to give you enough time to fully wake up at your preferred time.

Sunrise clocks aim to help you wake up by lighting up your space gradually and slowly in order to give your body time to react and adjust, says Khosla. It’s a great, natural way for people who typically wake up before the sun is out, like those who work a night shift or parents waking up their kids before school, says Winter.

“They mimic the look of a gentle sunrise, and light is a very powerful cue for helping with darkness at night for sleep and light in the morning for awakening our circadian rhythm,” says Harris.

The presence (or lack) of light can be a main factor in regulating our sleep cycle: A 2019 study shows that light exposure too late in the day and too early in the morning may reduce your quality of sleep and affect the body’s circadian rhythm, an internal mechanism that regulates various processes within any given day or 24-hour cycle (including the sleep-wake cycle).

They are a great alternative to traditional alarms, experts say. Disrupting your sleep too abruptly, such as with a blaring alarm clock, can push you to have lower sleep quality in the long run and can even affect your overall well-being, including weight gain, mood swings, lack of alertness and memory loss, says Khosla.

To determine the best sunrise alarm clock for your needs, my experts highlight a few key features to keep in mind when shopping for one, including brightness level and sleep sounds.

Brightness level plays a huge role in how you wake up (and whether you wake up on time) with a sunrise alarm clock. It may seem intuitive, but the brightness level of any sunrise clock is only accurate at a certain distance, so if you have it all the way across the room, it may not seem too bright and might not work as well, experts say. There are other variables, like the size of your room and your wall paint colors, that can impact how you perceive a light source, too.

While sunrise alarm clocks available don’t generally have extremely bright lights, they can still be helpful. “You have to take what’s available commercially, recognizing that it may not be ideal,” says Dr. Seema Khosla, medical director at the North Dakota Center for Sleep. Your goal should be to sleep better, not necessarily to completely optimize the process, she says.

In addition to mimicking a sunset that helps you slowly fall asleep to a dimming light, some sunrise alarm clocks also offer sleep sounds like white noise and nature sounds to help you fall asleep at night (the latter can also be used as a gentle alarm in the morning), says Harris. White noise in particular can accomplish multiple things, including reducing outside distractions and tapping into a calming reflex, experts told us in our guide to white noise machines.

“Sunrise alarm clocks that allow you to control and set them from your phone are the most convenient,” says Harris. Though options that don’t offer a Bluetooth feature or Wi-Fi connectivity are still just as effective (especially if you’re not necessarily tech-savvy, says Winter), most app-controlled clocks can offer the benefit of managing its brightness, setting a timer and browsing sounds to help optimize your bedtime and wake-up routine.

If you’re a heavy sleeper who is afraid to go without an alarm, you can still use a sunrise alarm clock. However, experts recommend looking for one with built-in wake-up sounds and make sure they can get loud. Experts agree: Sleep sounds are still a gentler way to wake up than a blaring alarm.

Generally, not really. “They’re not a bad idea and can help with sleep overall by keeping your sleep on a good, regular time schedule, which can in and of itself help with depression,” says Harris. But a sunrise clock isn’t nearly as bright as bright light therapy with a light box. “That bright light therapy is what helps with [seasonal affective disorder] more than a typical sunrise alarm,” says Harris.

A sunrise clock alone isn’t enough to build healthy sleeping habits, according to our experts. They highlighted the importance of regulating the light you’re exposed to in general, which means getting a lot of light during the day and less in the evening. Likewise, sunrise clocks are great only if operated appropriately and alongside other healthy sleep behaviors, like eating right, exercising, putting your phone away before bed and trying to stay away from screens altogether long before that moment, says Khosla.

At NBC Selected, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Selected who has covered home, sleep and beauty for over five years. For this article, I spoke to three sleep experts about the benefits of using a sunrise alarm clock and whether they can actually improve your sleep. I also compiled expert recommendations, along with top picks tested by NBC Selected staffers.

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Mili GodioMili Godio is the updates editor for NBC Selected. Her expertise lies in wellness, skin care, hair care and pets.

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