Best Silent Alarm Clocks (Say Goodbye to Annoying Wake Up Calls!)

I have recently posted product reviews of the best silent wall clocks. In that article, I talked about how annoying the analog clock ticking noises can be. Today, we’ll discuss how you can eliminate another source of infinite agony: morning alarms. I’ll present some of the best silent alarm clocks on the market and leave you wondering why you’ve ever put up with your noisy alarm in the first place.

By now, you’re probably aware of the fact that I’m a firm believer in the sanctity of the bedroom. The room you sleep in should be completely silent and free of distractions. After all, even if you do your best to soundproof your bedroom, it won’t matter unless you can keep loud appliances away.

That’s why TV and other unnecessarily noisy gadgets are banned from my room. Fortunately, there are plenty of quiet devices on the market. However, there is one device we all need to have in our bedrooms no matter how loud it is: an alarm clock.

Why You Need a Silent Alarm Clock

Like many of you, I appreciate the few hours a day I get to just sleep. So, when I started researching silent alarm clocks, I was thinking that I’d much rather be awakened softly if there’s a device that could manage that. And, as it turns out, there are actually plenty that can!

Obviously, I didn’t always understand how an alarm clock can ever be effective without causing a ruckus. Well, I’ve actually learned to distinguish between two types of silent clocks:

• Clocks that are silent (non-ticking)
• Clocks with silent alarms

I was listing the first type in my reviews of the best silent wall clocks. The reason why I narrowed my search down to analog clocks in that article is two-fold. For one, I thought it would be more of a challenge to find non-ticking analog clocks, as digital ones were already silent. And, for another, I’ve never really liked the looks of most digital clocks.

As it turns out, it really wasn’t much of a challenge to find non-ticking analog clocks. And there are some digital clocks that aren’t all that horrible. So, this time around, I’ve included both types of products in my search. Since I’d already considered non-ticking clocks, I was more interested in seeing the types of silent alarms that could replace the standard blaring alarms we’re all too used to.

Types of Clocks with Quiet Alarms

The clocks I have found can use several types of silent alarms:

• Vibrating
• Gradually increasing volume
• Lighting effects and sunrise simulation

Many of the clocks I found can wake you up just by vibrating either on your bedside table or against your body. Personally, I believe that the vibration can sometimes be as bad as sound. However, by all accounts, the vibrations these devices make aren’t as strong as the ones a smartphone produces. So, it is still a good alternative to hearing blaring noises first thing in the morning.

The second type of alarm has been especially helpful to me in the past. Typically, these clocks play some sort of soothing noises, like birds chirping or other relaxing melodies. They’ll start quietly and work their way up to a louder volume within a timespan of 15–30 minutes. If you don’t like to be startled awake, this type of alarm might be the one for you.

Finally, there’s a whole subcategory of silent alarm clocks that wake you up by simulating the sunrise. It is a fantastic option, especially if you live somewhere with a lot of light pollution.

If you can’t fall asleep with all that light pouring into your room, you can simply shut the blinds or close the curtains. However, doing so makes it even harder to roll out of bed in the morning since you are unable to see the sun. So, an alarm clock that can simulate the sunrise is very helpful, especially during the winter months when you might not even see the sun until noon.

Features to Look for in a Silent Alarm Clock

Now let’s discuss some of the features you’ll want to keep an eye on when shopping for a silent alarm clock.

Loudness

Obviously, we want to make sure that we’re looking at the right products. So, check if the manufacturer included any of the familiar phrases, such as “non-ticking” (if you’re looking at an analog clock), “silent alarm,” or a similar claim.

Do you have your heart set on getting a clock with one of the alarm types I’ve mentioned? Well, you can check if the products you’re looking at have a vibrating or sunrise alarm, or perhaps a way to set the alarm volume or tune. A brief glance at the clock’s main features will tell you everything you need to know.

Design

This is a bit of a big one for me, especially when I’m looking at digital clocks. Take a look at the general design of the device, as well as the materials it’s made of. Also, if we’re talking about digital clocks, you may want to consider its display.

Do you want the numbers to be visible at night? I wouldn’t — it would be a pretty big distraction, after all. However, you might like knowing what time it is if you wake up in the middle of the night. Some digital displays also have brightness settings, which is a pretty neat feature.

I like to think that most of the products I’ve chosen for my list are nowhere near as horrific as some of the digital clocks I’ve seen. So, you should be able to find the perfect silent alarm clock for yourself today.

Power Source

Depending on whether or not you have a power outlet near your bed, you might prefer your clock to be battery-powered. Most of the ones on my list are, though there are also some clocks that do need to be plugged in.

If you’re someone who likes to take a clock with you wherever you go — for example, if the clock is also your nightlight — grab one that is battery-powered. And, if you don’t like throwing batteries away, you can just get rechargeable ones.

Extra Features

The alarm clocks I’ve found come with plenty of unusual features. Other than telling time, some of them also tell temperature and even act as a radio or a Bluetooth speaker. And, as I’ve mentioned, some also have night lights and can wake you up with a gradual increase of light.

I even found a device that also acts as a wireless charger for your phone, which I was especially excited to review.

Price

As is often the case, clocks with more features come at a steeper price. But, as always, I’ve made it a point to include products at various price points on my list.

The first 5 products on my list are all under $20, followed by 3 that are in the under $50 category, and a few that are about $70. And, since I love to see what the fuss is all about with the really expensive products, I’ll close the list with a Philips alarm clock that’s just under $200.

Top 10 Best Silent Alarm Clocks

A small disclaimer before we start: just because I’ve ordered these products in a price ascending way doesn’t mean that any of them are better than the others. In fact, that’s ultimately for you to decide. I’m only here to tell you about these clocks’ features!

1. FAMICOZY Bedside Clock

This FAMICOZY bedside clock has all of the basic features you can expect from a device that’s under $10. It’s a non-ticking silent analog clock, thanks to the Quartz internal mechanism you might remember from my previous clock reviews. The clock has a 2.95-inch square face and it’s about 1.5 inches thick. The clock housing is black, and the front is covered with a transparent guard.

Despite the overall small size of the clock, the numbers are big and visible. In fact, the clock even has a night light you can turn on by pressing the big button on top. The light will gently illuminate the face of the clock, so it won’t wake you up in the middle of the night. In addition, the same button also acts as a snooze.

The repeating snooze feature is actually pretty convenient if you can’t bring yourself to use an off-switch so early in the morning. Speaking of which, the alarm switch is in the back, along with the speaker and the alarm setter. This clock does have a loud crescendo alarm. But it starts slow and the volume of the beeps will get increasingly louder until you turn it off.

The time setter and the battery compartment are also in the back of the clock. So, you’d better get an AA battery ready for you to use if you order this clock.

Features:

• Non-ticking small analog clock
• Crescendo alarm
• Repeating snooze every 5 minutes
• Uses one AA battery
• Has a night light

2. Tech Tools Shake-N-Wake Personal Alarm Clock

While the Tech Tools Shake-n-Wake may look a bit like your grandma’s heart rate monitor, it’s actually just a personal vibrating alarm clock. The small rectangular digital clock comes with a wristband, so you can wear it while you sleep. When you need to wake up, the alarm will start vibrating against your skin, though you can even place it under your pillow.

The alarm clock comes in black and white with orange detailing or blue with gray buttons. There are two buttons on the left and the right sides of the device and one switch on the bottom. The switch allows you to choose between having an audible and a vibrating alarm. Also, the lower button on the left illuminates the digital screen, and the other three buttons set the time and the alarm.

This alarm clock is great for people who have to wake up early and don’t want to disturb their partners. It runs on a single AA battery and it’s in the under $20 category.

Features:

• Digital personal alarm clock
• Vibrating or audible alarm
• Three color combinations
• Backlight feature
• Uses an AA battery

3. Peakeep Melody Alarm Clock

Since I do like to shake it up here, let’s check out another analog silent alarm clock. Like the other non-ticking clocks, this Peakeep Melody Alarm Clock runs on a Quartz mechanism. The white body of the clock is 4.5 inches tall, 2.5 inches wide, and half an inch thick.

The plastic surrounding the clock face comes in three colors: black, mint green, and pink. As for the clock itself, the numbers are big and legible, black against a white background. In addition to the clock face, the front of the clock also houses two dials.

The left dial lets you choose from seven different melodies which include birdsong, Chinese, Japanese, and French music, as well as a standard beeping alarm. And, you can further adjust the volume of the alarm between 25–85 decibels using the right dial. To put that into perspective, that means that you can choose to wake up to anything between a hushed conversation to a vacuum cleaner.

Furthermore, you can use the large button on top of the device to snooze the alarm for 5 minutes. Or, if you’re the type of person who immediately gets up, you can turn the alarm off using the switch on the right side. Of course, you can also use the top button to illuminate the clock face at night. Finally, the device runs on 3 AA batteries which are included in the purchase.

Features:

• Non-ticking analog clock
• Three colors available
• Adjustable alarm melody and volume
• Snooze and illumination
• 3 AA batteries (included)

4. TimeVision ShakeAwake Vibrating Alarm Clock

In several ways, TimeVision’s ShakeAwake digital clock is similar to the Shake-n-Wake personal clock I reviewed moments ago. It allows you to choose between using the typical beeping alarm or a vibrating one. Additionally, the two products are even in the same price category.

The ShakeAwake has two buttons (for hours and minutes) and one switch in the back, as well as a large snooze button on top. As we’ve seen in previous products, the snooze button can also illuminate the display. The clock itself is pretty small overall, measuring in at only 3 by 2 inches in size. In addition, it’s just over half an inch thick when the fold-out stand is out.

When the stand is closed, it should prevent you from pressing the buttons in the back. So, you’ll even be able to slip it under your pillow and set it on vibrate. The clock uses a single AAA battery and is still within our under $20 category.

Features:

• Small digital bedside table clock
• Vibrating or audible alarm
• Backlight feature
• Runs on an AAA battery

5. MARATHON Analog Desk Alarm Clock

Like the previous clock, the point of this one is more in its silent mechanism and attractive design, rather than in its silent alarm. In fact, the design of the piece is what drew me to it in the first place, and it’s available in 6 different colors, too. So, I can definitely see why this MARATHON analog desk clock takes us into the under $50 category.

The clock is 3.8 inches tall, 3.5 inches wide, and 1.5 inches thick although the clock face itself is only about 3 inches in diameter. Still, the numbers are clearly visible even at night, thanks to the automatic night light feature. Essentially, the device has light sensors which trigger soft illumination at night. In addition, the red snooze button on the top side of the device also turns the night light on.

Naturally, the mechanical clock hands are powered by Quartz movement, so the clock is non-ticking. The clock runs on 2 AA batteries, which are included with the purchase. According to users, the alarm itself isn’t too loud or annoying, but it will get you up. And, as long as you get to work on time this thing will pay for itself, right?

Features:

• Analog desk alarm clock
• Available in 6 colors
• Automatic illumination, light sensors
• Snooze feature
• Runs on 2 AA batteries (included)

6. LittleHippo Mella Ready to Rise Children’s Sleep Trainer

If you’re attempting to teach your kids to be early risers, this LittleHippo clock and night light is perfect! The Mella clock is onion-shaped and has three feet which come in various colors. The body itself is white, though you and your kids can pick out any color to surround the black digital clock face. Naturally, all of the materials (ABS plastic and silicone) have been deemed child-safe.

First of all, you can use this clock as a night light and even a white noise machine. In fact, you can even choose between white noise, ocean sounds, and a lullaby. You also have a choice of 3 alarm sounds. Furthermore, you can set both the sound volume and the display brightness to one of 5 levels.

In keeping with the 5-level pattern, you can also choose one of 5 colors to be your child’s night light. At bedtime, Mella will glow whatever color you choose and you’ll see her eyes close above the digital clock. In the morning, about 30 minutes before your child should be up, the clock will glow yellow and have a playful expression. Finally, the light will turn green when it’s time to get out of bed.

You can also use audible or silent alarms for naps or other activities, as you’ll see in the manual. The clock does come with a power adapter and a 4-foot USB cable, so you’ll be able to charge the little gadget.

Features:

• Digital 12 or 24-hour clock
• Night light and white noise machine
• Audible or silent alarms
• Rechargeable battery

7. Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock HF3500

Finally, I’ve got this Philips Light Alarm Clock to take us into the sunrise simulation portion of these reviews. This digital clock is set in the middle of an 8-inch circular light, which will slowly turn on and increase brightness up to 200 lux to wake you up. But, before I get carried away with the alarm, let’s check out the main features of the clock.

The clock is supposed to be upright on your bedside table, which is made possible by its static stand. The stand also houses the clock’s speaker and the charger port. Meanwhile, the rest of the controls are in the front, under the digital clock.

There are four buttons: brightness, a minus and a plus button (presumably for setting the time and brightness), and the alarm icon. Once you figure out the product instructions and set the alarm, you can either use the clock as a reading lamp or go straight to bed.

Come morning, the yellow light will gradually increase in brightness for half an hour, gently rousing you from your sleep. At some point, the clock will start emitting a beeping noise, which will also gradually increase in volume. And, if you decide that you’re not ready to get up, you can tap the front of the clock to snooze the noise.

Philips actually has a whole range of Wake-up Light Alarm Clocks. If you’d like to see what the most expensive product in that line looks like, stick around to the end of the reviews.

Features:

• Digital clock with a light alarm
• Beeping alarm and sunrise simulation
• 10 brightness settings
• Tap to snooze
• Needs to be near an outlet

8. Adytronic Sunrise Alarm Clock

The design of the Adytronic Sunrise Alarm Clock is understandably similar to the Philips one. However, I wanted to include it so that you may see what other light alarms are on the market. And, if we’re talking about the sheer number of features, the Adytronic just might have the Philips beat. But first, let’s see what the two have in common.

Like the Philips light alarm clock, this one has the time glowing red on a black display centered inside of a ring of light. However, this product is a bit smaller overall, as it’s only 6.69 inches tall. The time can be set in the 12 or 24-hour format, like with the previous product. Also, you set the alarm to simulate the sunrise, and even help you fall asleep by slowly dimming down.

In addition to those features, you can also choose your alarm from 6 nature sounds or wake up to the sound of your favorite FM radio station. Everything seems to be adjustable with this clock. In fact, you can even change the yellow light to one of 6 other colors!

Most of the control buttons are on top of the device, though some are also on the LED display. You can adjust the display brightness, light, play radio, choose the alarm music, and snooze. The device also comes with a power adaptor, a USB cable, and AAA batteries.

Features:

• Digital clock with sunrise and sunset simulation
• 7 light settings available
• Wake up to one of 6 nature sounds or an FM radio station
• Plugs into an outlet or uses AAA batteries (included)

9. Homtime Wireless Charging Alarm Clock

Before I wrap up this list with another Philips light alarm clock, there’s one more product I wanted to review. This Homtime Alarm Clock might not have the gentlest alarm sound, but it’s so multifunctional that I had to include it.

The clock has a very sleek design, with a square 5-inch base and a 2.5-inch height. The edges are all rounded, and you can get it in white or black colors. All of the controls are on the top side of the device. However, since they’re all flat and pressure-sensitive, it may be a bit hard to get used to them.

The first thing you’ll note about this device is that it will wirelessly charge your phone if it has that option. If you have another phone, you can use USB charging, and the clock will protect your phone from overcharging.

You can also use the clock as a speaker, either via Bluetooth or an auxiliary cord. You can even listen to FM radio stations. In addition, there’s also a built-in microphone, if you need to take a call or issue a voice command.

As for the clock itself, it’s fairly standard. You can see the time in white numbers against a black display, though you can choose one of 4 brightness levels. The alarm starts off gently and gets louder, and the snooze will get you 9 more minutes of sleep.

You’ll need to have the clock plugged in to work. Even though it does come with a button cell battery, it’s only to retain the clock setting during a power outage.

Features:

• Digital alarm clock, speaker, and radio
• Crescendo alarm
• Wireless and USB phone charging
• Needs to be plugged in

10. Philips Wake-Up Light Alarm Clock HF3510

Finally, we’ve reached the over $100 price category and the last product on my list. So, let’s briefly check out some of its more impressive specs.

Like the previous Philips light alarm, this one has that circular lamp, though the display is at the bottom, not in the center. This device will also simulate the sunrise for 30 minutes before you’re supposed to get up. However, you’ll also be able to adjust the color and choose between 3 nature sounds for the alarm. Or, you can even opt to have only the light alarm, which wasn’t an option with the previous model.

There are tactile clicky buttons along the top side of the lamp, so you can snooze your alarm for 9 minutes, turn on the radio, or adjust the brightness. The controls under the display in the front are touch-enabled, though. Basically, the only thing this device doesn’t have in comparison to the even more advanced HF3520 is sunset simulation.

Features:

• Digital clock with sunlight simulation
• 3 nature sounds which you can turn off
• 20 brightness settings
• Tactile controls
• Needs to be near an outlet

Final Thoughts

That about wraps up my list of the best alarm clocks. Personally, I’d go with a light alarm, since it does produce the least noise. However, if you have a partner you may also want to consider a vibrating one. You definitely won’t go wrong with any of the products on this list.

And, if you’re finding it hard to fall asleep in the first place, you may also want to look into some noise-canceling earmuffs, headphones or earbuds (linked below).

RELATED POSTS:

• 10+ Best Silent Wall Clocks That Won’t Drive You CooCoo
• Best Noise Canceling Earmuffs For Sleeping
• Best Noise Canceling Headphones And Earbuds
• White Noise Fans (Loud Enough To Drown Out Noise)