As the days grow shorter and the mornings darker, waking up naturally becomes a a bit of a challenge. To feel less groggy and start my day more gently, I decided to look for a sunrise alarm clock, one that wakes me with gradual light and soft music or sounds instead of an agressive alarm on my phone. I also wanted to keep my phone out of the bedroom to reduce blue light exposure before sleep.
Why sunrise alarms are worth it:
They mimic natural sunlight, helping to regulate your circadian rhythm right from the start of the day, especially helpful during long, dark winters.
They wake you up gradually and calmly, setting a positive tone for the day.
Many models include extra features such as white noise, wireless charging, or even air purification for a better sleep environment.
Here are the best sunrise alarm clocks of 2025 for different budgets and needs.
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Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks
In this list, we choose the best sunrise alarm clocks that do not require your phone to set up. They are all perfect options if you intentionally want to keep your alarm clock sepparate from your phone.
Odokee Sunrise Alarm Clock White Noise Machine: Natural Wake Up Light
A dimmable Clock with Bluetooth Speaker for Bedroom – 25 Sleep Sounds. It comes in 5 different colors.
The sunrise simulation gradually brightens over a customizable 5-60 minutes before your set alarm time, and the 5W stereo speaker delivers clear sound quality.
Pros
+ Gentle wake up
+ Customizable brightness levels
+ Great quality and easy to use
Cons
– Some report issues with the alarm function not being reliable
Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light
Customizable sunset, sunrise, and sound profiles. This sunrise alarm clock also includes a Midnight light, FM radio, phone charging dock, power backup, speaker, auto-dimming display, bedside lamp, and smart snooze.
Pros
+ Sunrise Simulation: warm bright light that increases gradually
+ Wind down feature that mimics sunset
+ Battery backup
Cons
– The clock cannot be used as a Bluetooth speaker
– High price for a plastic clock
– Programming is not intuitive
Vivilumens Sunrise Alarm Clock
This Wake Up Light Sunrise Alarm Clock simulates a gradual sunrise, gently increasing the brightness 10 minutes before the alarm rings. It also features white noise sounds.
It has a 10-minute snooze button. Comes in 3 different textures ( 2 wood grains and silver).
Pros
+ Affordable option
+ Elegant design
+ Customizable brightness and variety of lighting options
+ USB port for charging phone
Cons
– Programming isn’t intuitive
– The alarm function is not reliable
Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light
Simulated sunset and sunrise, 20 brightness settings, and a choice of 5 natural wake-up sounds. It also features FM radio, a tap snooze, a bedside lamp, and an automatic dimmable display.
Pros
+ Dusk Simulation feature
+ 2 separate alarm settings
+ Sunrise feature that changes colors from red to orange to bright yellow/white gradualy
Cons
– No backup battery. If you have any power issues, the clock resets
– Clock can be easily knocked off due to its shape
Dreamegg Sunrise 1 – Sunrise Alarm Clock, Sound Machine
This is a simple, tech-free sunrise alarm clock with 29 soothing sounds, including nature sounds, meditations, lullabies, white noise, brown noise, pink noise, and fan sounds. It also has 9 different light colours.
Pros
+ Simple setup
+ Coton-lined design
+ Many customizable features
Cons
– Gets bright too quickly
– Buttons are too small
-Light goes off when your snooze
Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 – Sunrise & Sunset Alarm Clock
It features 15-90 minute sunset/sunrise duration, a choice of 15 sleep/wake sounds, or FM radio. Perfect for those who want a nostalgic retro look for their alarm clock.
Pros
+ Sunrise and sunset feature
+ Variety of wake-up sounds
+ The interface itself is light-sensitive
Cons
– High price
– Many find it hard to set up
Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks With Phone Integration
If you are used to controlling all the gadgets from your phone, here is a list of sunrise alarm clocks fit for every tech gadget geek.
Hatch Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock
The Hatch Restore 3 alarm clock uses an app for setup to give you more flexibility and features, but is intended to be used phone-free in your bedroom. I have many free sounds and setups but if you want more options there is a paid version of the app as well.
Pros
+ Many great white noise options
+ Easy to set up and use
+ Customizable options for light colors, sounds, and routines
+ Beautifull minimal design
Cons
– High Price and pay wall to unlock all the app features
– Only a few options of free sounds on the app
BLUEAIR Mini Restful Sunrise Clock with HEPASilent Filtration and Wake Up Light
If you were thinking of buying an air purifier and an alarm clock, this Restful Sunrise Clock might be perfect. Yes, it is a bit more pricey than other alarm clocks, but with a hefa filter system, it is definitely worth it. The filter removes 99.97%* of allergens, fine particles, and pollutants, and filters up to 140 sq ft in 12.5 minutes.
I love this innovation, and if I did not have my HEPA filter, this alarm clock would be the one I go for.
Pros
+ Quiet built-in air purifier
+ The filter is easy to change
+ A very simple app makes it easier to control
Cons
– Some users report occasional wifi connectivity issues
If you want to improve your bedroom air quality, you might also like:
To summarise, The Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks
If you, like me, are trying to keep the bedroom a technology-free zone, a sunrise alarm clock is a great addition to your sleep sanctuary. When choosing the best sunrise alarm clock for you, choose something that you will love using and that will help you sleep and wake up more rested and productive.
Silvija Meilunaite, PN1-NC, CSMC, is a certified nutrition and menopause coaching specialist, and a writer in the nutrition and self-improvement field. She explores science-based approaches to holistic health and plant-based nutrition, with a strong focus on researching clean, non-toxic products that support long-term well-being.
