The Best Alarm Clocks of 2026

During testing, the Sharp DreamCaster was the first alarm clock that felt more substantive and, to be frank, easier to set up and navigate than any of the others. It’s intuitive from start to finish, from changing the time to setting the alarm.

Rather than mashing buttons for several minutes, the clock relies on a dial atop the body. It makes changing time and setting alarms a breeze. Though the dial may not be the most attractive design choice, it drastically improves the device’s functionality.

If you plan to regularly change the alarm time or other settings, this pick could make your life a little easier. The display can also be dimmed, making it sleep-friendly.

An impressive array of white noise features also set the Sharp apart. There’s plenty of settings to use in the evening and throughout the night to help drown out noises that could otherwise disturb your slumber. It was a unique feature that many other clocks we tried lacked entirely. There are six tracks, ranging from various tones of white noise to rain noises and the sounds of the ocean.

While waking up with the Sharp wasn’t a particularly life-changing experience, it does its job—and then some. A selection of volumes will be ample for most people, though it’s equipped with just one alarm tone, a fairly standard beeping that wasn’t as unpleasant as others we tested.

My only gripe was that I initially set the alarm to PM, unknowingly. For two days, it chimed at 8:40 PM—fortunately I was home, so I was able to turn it off. Less fortunately, it didn’t wake me up the first morning I used it. From there, it was smooth sailing.

I tested the Loftie last, as it was the most expensive option and has a bit of hype from fans online. I was expecting it would be too good to be true. Plus, I couldn’t imagine spending more than $100 on an alarm clock—it seemed outlandish. Then I tried it out.

The very first morning, I opened my eyes and thought to myself that this is what waking up should be. It wasn't more than a minute or two before my phone was in hand, and I was researching how to procure my own Loftie. (We don’t keep products we test, and I didn’t want to even think about a morning without the device.)

The clock stands out for its attention to detail, smooth and intuitive interface, great design, and, of course, the phenomenal experience of waking up with it. The alarm wakes you up with two components. It starts with soft music to gently rouse you. Then, just shy of 10 minutes later, the “get-up tone” goes off.

It’s also a calming and soothing experience, with a repetitive note that’s designed to get your attention. There’s several options for both of these alarms, and you can choose them directly on the device or through a mobile app that’s connected through a Bluetooth speaker.

The Loftie alarm has a tremendous volume range, and because the alarm tones aren’t blaring beeps, even at the loudest alarm setting it isn’t a painful experience. (Don’t get me wrong; at the highest setting, it’s still loud.)

The alarm has a bunch of extra features, too, that make it more worth the money, including a selection of white noise tracks, meditations, and bedtime stories. The company periodically adds new tracks, and you’ll be prompted to update the device through Wi-Fi when it does.

Finally, there’s a subtle built-in light that can gently illuminate your nightstand if you find yourself waking up to go to the bathroom. You can even program it to come on to subtly cue that it’s time to start your nighttime routine.

For the coolest alarm clock that really can do it all, you can't beat the LittleHippo Mella. This is the clock that can take you from the toddler years through the big kid years and will likely only be retired once your teenager deems it no longer cool.

Aside from its cuteness quotient, the Mella has a lot going for it. It works as both an "OK to wake clock" as well as a traditional alarm clock, it has a built-in night light and white noise machine, and it was simple to set and easy to hit the snooze button.

While it can be tempting to buy a kids' clock that serves just one purpose—either to help them wake up or keep them in bed, depending on the sleep issue you're facing—having a multi-functional clock like the Mella is far more practical in the long run.

One of the biggest reasons the Mella impressed us is because it is the only kids’ alarm clock we tested that was consistently loud enough to wake kids who are heavy sleepers. This alarm’s sound wasn’t significantly louder than the other alarms, but something about the tone made it the best choice for waking kids up and getting them out of bed in time for an early school drop-off.