In the era of smartphones and alarm clock apps, we often forget about the humble alarm clock and its rightful spot on our nightstand. However, alarm clocks present a convenient and more foolproof alternative to smartphone clocks. Some are fully-battery operated or have a back-up battery feature for plug-in models, so you can wake up on time even if the power goes out. Alarm clocks can also have special alarm settings, bluetooth capabilities, charging ports, and unique features that ensure you wake up on time. Check out these alarm clock options to discover the best one for you.

Most User-Friendly Alarm Clock: Ebern Modern & Contemporary Digital Alarm Clock

If you're after an alarm clock that's easy to use, inexpensive, and reliable even with an impromptu power outage – this is it! The Ebern modern & contemporary digital alarm clock has a simple, straightforward design that plugs straight into a standard household outlet. It has a red LED digital time display so you can easily view the time even in the dark. Power out? No problem. When plugged in, the alarm clock's internal battery stores up energy it’ll use to remain in operation if the electricity goes out. It also has a "can't miss" snooze button for those mornings when you can afford a few more minutes of rest. Choose between black (pictured above) and white finish options to match your aesthetic.

What Customers Say:

"Nice small size and easy to set the time. Simple and easy for a non-technical person to use."

"Good small bedside clock. It's easy to set the time and the numbers are easy to read without being too bright."

"Perfect size, nice design, and simple to use."

The Best Classic Alarm Clock: Twin Bell Alarm Clock

Wake up early and keep things classy with the timeless Twin Bell alarm clock. It operates using AA batteries (not included) and an interior quartz mechanism. The batteries' current runs through the quartz material and activates the motor to get the clock ticking (no pun intended!). This produces the classic ticking sound, which adds to the vintage feel of this clock. The Twin Bell alarm clock also keeps things traditional with a numerical analog clock face. Want to see the time at night? Press the button located on the back of the clock to light up the clock face. Choose between a sleek gold finish (pictured above) or a silver finish to match the metal finishes in your room.

What Customers Say:

"What a darling small clock! It looks great on a dresser in the guesthouse bedroom."

"Bought this in silver. Looks great in a modern farmhouse-style living space."

"I love it. It's cute and pretty. It's easy to operate and most of all, the price is great!"

Best Smart Alarm Clock: iHome Compact Bluetooth Alarm Clock

Play music, charge your phone, check the time, and choose custom alarm settings when you go with the iHome compact Bluetooth alarm clock. This small but mighty alarm clock has too many must-have features to pass up. Charge two phones at once when the clock is plugged into the wall thanks to the device's two USB charging ports. Connect your iPhone to the speaker via Bluetooth to play music even when your phone isn't plugged into the USB port. Use the dimmable light on the back of the alarm clock for ambient light before bed or for an easy morning transition. You can also program your wake-up settings exactly to your liking. You can set the snooze button from one minute up to 29 minutes and you can set multiple alarms with different wake-up sounds just like you would with your smartphone.

What Customers Say:

"It is so great!! Night light, charger, speaker, etc. We love it so much I ordered another one."

"I love this clock. Goes great in my bedroom. Also love that it pairs with my music."

"I Absolutely LOVE this alarm clock. Cute to look at, Bluetooth if wanted, dimmer, can shut lights off all together, two alarm options."

Best Wood Alarm Clock: Analog Beech Solid Wood Quartz Alarm Tabletop Clock

There's something fresh and eye-catching about natural materials paired with technology – so we had to include this natural wooden alarm clock on our list. This wood alarm clock keeps things classic with a numerical analog design. The smooth wooden shape of the alarm clock adds a modern touch to the design while remaining simplistic enough for any aesthetic. You don't even need to plug in this clock! Simply insert one AA battery and use the control functions on the back of the clock to program it to your liking, set an alarm, or access the clock face light feature. Perhaps the best feature? This clock is non-ticking, so you get the look of an analog clock without the noise.

What Customers Say:

"This little clock is very streamlined and classy. Nice quality wood and a clear dial."

"This little clock is perfect for my bedside table."

Best Portable Travel Alarm Clock: Digital Atomic Alarm Tabletop Clock

Ensure you wake up on time for your next adventure with a travel clock. The digital atomic tabletop clock automatically calibrates to display the date, time, and temperature no matter which North-American time zone you're in (Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern, Atlantic, Newfoundland). The front of the clock includes the display panel, an alarm on/off switch, volume controls, alarm-setting button, and clock-adjusting button. The back has a reset button, and other control settings including a light on/off switch. This controls the clock's automatic light display that lights up in dark conditions. When you reach your hotel or set up your campsite, just unfold the alarm clock to sit upright. It's compact enough to fit into a suitcase or carry-on and only requires two AAA batteries to operate. Choose between black (pictured above), white, or blue finishes.

What Customers Say:

"Compact and excellent for travel. It is amazing that this small clock that is so easy to use has all those wonderful features!! Strongly recommended."

"This is a great compact travel clock. Since it is atomic, you will always have the correct time no matter where you travel."

"It arrived on time and in perfect condition. It has a night light on it so you can see the time in the dark."

Best Sunlight Alarm Clock: La Crosse Digital Electric Alarm Tabletop Clock

Light alarm clocks add a calming glow to your wake-up routine. We had to include the La Crosse digital electrical alarm clock because of its twenty color light options! Choose a sunlight-inspired light to help you wake up, which is paired with a gradually-increasing melodic alarm. Throughout the day you can turn the light off or set it to one of the other color light options for a fun room accent. In addition to a nature-inspired wake-up routine, this clock also has a guided breathing light setting to help you relax before bed or ease into your day. An added bonus, the La Crosse alarm clock comes with a USB port so you can charge your phone.

What Customers Say:

"I love it! The beautiful colors add a certain ambiance to my bedroom."

"Great clock. Love the glow!"

"It's easy to set up. Wake-up time is very interesting with the sound options, light options, and gradual light changing."

Coolest Projection Alarm Clock: Projection Alarm Desktop Clock

Choose an alarm clock with a projection feature so you can easily view the time without switching positions. This projection alarm desktop clock has a ceiling projection feature you can easily fold down when you don't want a projector display. The projector light comes with four brightness levels, so you can adjust the light output to your liking. In addition to displaying the time, the clock's display screen provides the day of the week, current indoor temperature (in either Celsius or Fahrenheit), and the humidity level. This projection alarm clock plugs into standard household outlets and also has an internal battery so you can use it even when the power goes out.

What Customers Say:

"LOVE LOVE LOVE! It's so much easier to just look up on the ceiling instead of having to activate my cell phone to get the time."

"This clock is wonderful. I really love the time projection."

"I really enjoy being able to see the time on the ceiling without trying to twist around in bed and squint to see. Love this item."

Best Alarm Clock For Heavy Sleepers: Super Loud LCD Alarm Clock

If you have trouble waking up to a standard alarm volume, try the Super Loud LCD alarm clock. It's designed specifically for the heavy sleeper with its 90-decibel alarm sound. To put things in perspective, the average alarm clock rings at 60–80 decibels, so this super loud one is sure to wake even the soundest of sleepers! You can also change the alarm setting from loud to soft for those weekend mornings when you can afford to sleep in longer.

What Customers Say:

"The alarm volume is perfect. It wakes me from a "deep" sleep. I would recommend this item for anyone who has lost some of their hearing."

"It is loud and wakes me up to be on time to leave home for work."

"Works perfect for someone that sleeps soundly."

Easiest Alarm Clock to Read: Memory Digital Electric Alarm Tabletop Clock

Some alarm clocks have small display screens or analog-style displays that make seeing what time it is more difficult when you've just woken up. That's where the Memory digital electric alarm clock comes in! This digital alarm clock has a large display screen and bold fonts, which display the month, day of the week, date, and year, in addition to the time. This makes it extremely easy for anyone to view, even from farther away. The only abbreviations include the AM and PM symbols to the right of the time display. There's no confusion as you can easily confirm the date, time, and other details without having to remember abbreviations for the month and day of the week. This also helps people with vision impairments or memory-related conditions accurately tell the time, day, and date.

What Customers Say:

"This clock is fantastic. My 95-year-old father doesn't have to ask what day it is. Very easy to set. That was the most important thing. That made me so happy."

"My mother-in-law loves it! The large letters and numbers are so easy for her to see, not to mention that the day of the week helps her keep her days straight."

"This clock is perfect for what I wanted. I use it in my bedroom, on top of my bureau, and can see it from a distance without my glasses."

Best Alarm Clock for Kids: Sleep-Training Alarm Clock

Trying to train your toddler to stay in bed? The Sleep-Training alarm clock uses clever color signaling in a fun dog-design to promote a healthy sleep schedule for your little-one – and for you too! The image above showcases how the dog alarm clock works. During the night, the ball glows a soft red to demonstrate that it's time to sleep/stay sleeping. When the set wake-up time arrives, the ball changes to glow green. This lets your child know that it's time to wake up and more importantly, that it's okay to come wake you up.

The sleep-training alarm clock has internal controls situated in an only-parent-accessible compartment (which means no little-ones accidentally changing the time). You can also set a nap timer for shorter sleep patterns. If you want your child to wake up naturally, you can always turn off the buzzer alarm feature. This does not turn off the color sequence, so the ball will still glow green at the set wake-up time.

Please Note: This product comes with one dog sleep-training alarm clock. The image above demonstrates the changing light sequence.

What Customers Say:

"Yessss!!! We so needed this for our boys!! No more waking up at 4 AM to a toddler asking if it's wake up time or not! We love it!"

"Every parent needs to know about these. Works great with our four-year-old – we’ve been using it for a couple years now!"

"Very cool product! Helps my child go to sleep and wake up with little-to-no effort from me. He loves the different colors and enjoys waking up and going to sleep now."

Tip!

Learn more about the variety of clock options available in our clock type guide.

Ready to start your day off right? Check out more options, now: