9 Best Alarm Clocks

9.8/10

What makes this the best unit around? In large part, it’s due to the LED projector that displays the time on your wall or ceiling. The projector arm swivels 180 degrees, allowing you to point it in the direction you find most convenient. The displayed numbers are VERY large, making it easy to see at night (especially for those who wear glasses). The unit plugs into the wall, but it has a built-in battery as a backup in case of a power outage. Once the power returns, it automatically resets to your alarm settings. All in all, a VERY reliable device!

Features

9.8/10

The 3.6″ LCD screen displays the numbers clearly, though it can be a bit bright for people who like total darkness. It auto-adjusts to Daylight Savings Time, and the dual alarms can be programmed not only according to time, but also day of the week (no ringing on the weekends!). There are two alarm options: radio and buzzer. However, it also functions as a sound system, with an auxiliary cable that can connect to your music players.

Value

9.8/10

$40 may sound like a lot to pay, but it’s a fair price to pay for this bad boy. Considering its reliability and convenient features, you’ll find that this baby is definitely as good as it gets for the price.

9.7/10

If you have a hard time waking up in the morning, this is the unit for you! Not only is it one of the loudest alarm clocks around (up to 113 db), but it comes with bright LED lights and a Super Shaker bed vibration unit that will vibrate the bed as the alert goes off. If you don’t like the vibration and lights, you can set it for sound only. The volume and tone are fully adjustable, making it ideal for both light and deep sleepers.

Features

9.7/10

The unit runs on wall power, but it also has a built-in battery so it will always be on and accurate. It comes with dual alarms. You can adjust the tone fo the alert as desired, or you can turn off the sound and use ONLY the vibrate feature. It’s highly effective at waking you up no matter how heavy you sleep.

Warning: Read the instruction manual to ensure accurate set-up! Setting it at the incorrect frequency will affect the clock’s accuracy.

Value

9.7/10

The $35 you’ll pay for this product will be money well-spent if you (or someone in your family) have a habit of sleeping through alarms. It’s loud, it’s annoying, and it will wake you up!

9.6/10

It can be set to any U.S. time zone, and it will automatically adjust the time according to your location.  The projector displays the time on your ceiling, though it can take a bit of adjustment to get it just right. It comes with a “crescendo alarm” (starts quiet and grows louder) for a gentler wake-up, as well as an 8-minute snooze. With the battery backup, it will always be on and set to the right time.

Features

9.5/10

If you want guaranteed accuracy, this unique clock is for you. It automatically adjusts the time, date, and day according to the U.S. Atomic Clock (via radio frequency), and it updates for Daylight Savings Time on its own. Few units can match the precision of this device, manufactured by the company that brings you scientific calculators.

Value

9.7/10

$30 for this incredibly accurate device is not too high a price to pay. You’ll find that it is durable, doesn’t take up too much space on your bedside table, and lasts for years to come. Definitely a worthy purchase!

9.6/10

Don’t like white light? Try setting it to red, orange, or yellow with the customizable LED bulb. The wake-up lights come with a built-in alarm clock, with FM radio capability or five different gentle alert sounds. Its dual alert feature allows you to set two different wake-up times, and its simple tap-to-snooze design makes it easy for you to get a few more minutes of light sleep.

Features

9.7/10

This wake-up light is more than just an alarm clock–it’s a system designed to simulate the sunrise. The light slowly brightens in anticipation of you getting up, with a 20 to 40-minute “sunrise” duration depending on your settings. The light reaches 300 lux, roughly the same as a basic indoor light bulb, but in a gradual change that will help you to slowly come out of sleep rather than suddenly waking up.

Value

9.5/10

Make no mistake: this is a pricey unit! At $130+, it’s a high-priced device. But if you HATE the jolting wake-up of  typical alarms, you’ll love the more natural, gentler wake-up design of this unique alarm.

9.4/10

The iHome Blutetooth alarm has a lot of features, which also means a lot of buttons. The buttons are tiny, so it’s a bit difficult to figure out at first. That being said, once you get the hang of it this combination Bluetooth speaker alarm clock is relatively easy to operate.

Features

9.6/10

This is a Bluetooth, color changing, dual alarm clock radio with included speakerphone, so, ya, features are kind of its thing.

To break it down a bit further, the IBT29 is equipped with Bluetooth technology, an FM radio, aux-in port, and built-in alarm tones, so the choice is yours in terms of what you’d like to wake up to. Aside from that, you can also use it to listen to your favorite songs, radio station, podcast, or audiobook while you’re getting ready in the morning or falling asleep at night. Aside from that it allows you to choose from five eye-catching colors and six wake up color modes, plus it features a USB charging port that will let you charge your device while you’re using it!

Value

9.5/10

A combination alarm clock, nigh light, Bluetooth radio/speaker, and charging port all in one will run you close to $100 in store, so to find this alarm clock on sale for under $50 on Amazon is a total bargain.

9.5/10

Probably one of the most straight forward alarm clocks on our list when it comes to operation. The clock has been designed with absolute simplicity in mind and you will have no problem whatsoever operating it, just pop in the batteries, set the time and alarm using the buttons on the front, and you’re good to go. Perfect for children and seniors as well!

Features

9.3/10

While  many of the alarm clocks on our list include a numbers of extras and features, the Digital Travel Alarm Clock by Travelwey decided to trim the fat and bring you an extremely simple alarm clock that’s easy to operate and will get the job done time after time.

Includes a clear display with a 5 second on-demand light that will allow you to see the time day or night, an alarm and snooze facility, and a large ON/OFF button which will switch off the display and render the light switch inactive until you’re ready to use it. When off, internal time is still kept so you will not need to reset it each time you reach a new destination.

Value

9.4/10

Available in black or white for under $10, and you can get next day delivery with Amazon Prime—what a steal! Do be aware you get what you pay for though, this alarm clock does not offer much in the way of features.

9.3/10

The arms and legs are fully mobile, just like any other LEGO figurine. Your child (or man-child) can play with Vader, provided they return the figure to a sitting position–the only way the snooze button, located on Darth’s head, will work. Be warned: futzing with the arms and legs may make it hard to return the figure to standing position. The alert is easy to set, and though it doesn’t have many extra features, it’s a reliable device.

Features

9.3/10

If you have a kid who loves LEGOs (or you, as a grown man, are unashamedly a LEGO fan), this is the device for you! It’s designed in the shape of Star Wars’ biggest bad-ass, and yet it’s a fully functioning alarm clock that will wake up even deep sleepers. Despite its high volume, the beep of the alert isn’t grating or annoying. Kids will love the fact that the unit lights up red (like his lightsaber) when the snooze button is pressed.

Value

9.3/10

$20 isn’t too high a price to pay for unique and funny clock–after all, it’s Darth-freakin’-Vader! The 9-inch tall unit will be a fun purchase for kids or grown-ups who love LEGOs and/or Star Wars.

9/10

There is no way to set the alert for AM/PM (it’s an analog 12-hour face), so you have to remember to manually set the alarm hand and turn it on every night. It will take a bit of work to get the setting at precisely the right time. There is no ticking sound, and the luminous dial and hands will make it easy to see the face at night. There’s even a backlight built in so you can light up the face to tell the time. The unit runs on a single AA battery, and the timekeeping is highly reliable until the battery runs low. 

Features

9/10

If you like the old-school models, this is the one for you! When it’s time to wake up, those twin bells ring out with enough sound to wake up your neighbors. There is a drawback with the design: the button to turn off the bells is located in the back, and can be tough to find. However, it’s this that makes sure you get up in the morning.

Value

9.5/10

For $8, this old-timey model is a total steal! You may set your neighbors and family against you, but it’s GUARANTEED to get you out of bed in the morning.

9/10

This device is simple and reliable. It doesn’t come with all the extra fancy frills you get with other units, just a time display and alarm setting. The alarm is VERY loud, and it will keep ringing until you turn it off. It’s compact and fits on any nightstand, but it’s very easy to set and use. The nightlight built into the base will light up a room of any size, making it an ideal option for a kids’ room.

Features

9/10

This product is accurate as long as the unit stays plugged in. The battery built into the base is designed to keep it running in case of a power outage, but be warned: you may lose a few minutes if the power stays out for more than 4 or 5 hours. It will turn off when running on battery power, but the alert will still ring on time. If you turn on the nightlight, it will light up the snooze button, making it easier to hit for five more minutes of sleep.

Value

9.5/10

Considering that you’re paying just $10 for this puppy, it’s a good purchase. It may not have all the extra features of the pricier units, but it’s a simple, reliable workhorse that gets the job done.