(checked 2026-10-10)Greige listing, 3,293 ratings; pooled across colors.
Tom's Guide's best sunrise alarm clock and Wirecutter's upgrade pick: a bright, customizable sunrise, sleep sounds and wind-down routines in a fabric shell, now with on-device buttons. But you need the app to set it up, the best content is behind a $50-a-year Hatch+ plan, and its Amazon low-star share is the highest here, with owners citing value and units that stop working.
Subscription: Optional: Hatch+ is $4.99/mo or $49.99/yr for the full sound and light library; basic sounds and the sunrise work without it (Tom's Guide, Wirecutter)
Top complaints
- Best features need a subscription
Wirecutter and Tom's Guide note Hatch+ ($50 a year or $5 a month) is needed for the full library; without it the choices are much more limited. Amazon owners are split on value.
- App and Bluetooth setup
You must set it up with the Hatch app over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Tom's Guide's tester sometimes had to toggle Bluetooth to reconnect, and you can't play your own music on it (Wirecutter).
- Some units stop working
Amazon's summary says that while the alarm works well, some owners report it completely stops working.
What owners love
- Bright, customizable sunrise
Measured at 140 lux at 2 ft, tied for brightest Wirecutter tested, and bright enough to wake testers without sound; 20 light colors even without Hatch+.
- Big, good-sounding library
Tom's Guide calls its sound quality outstanding; with Hatch+ there are thousands of soundscapes, meditations and podcasts that sound crisp through the speaker (Wirecutter).
- Phone-free once set up; stable
A big button on top starts and stops routines (Tom's Guide), and it's smaller and sturdier than the Philips, so it's harder to knock over (Wirecutter).
- You don't want a subscription
- You're not comfortable with phone apps
- You only need white noise
- A sunrise alarm and sound machine in one
- Building a wind-down routine
- A stylish nightstand
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Tom's Guide, sunrise alarm clocks guide: Best overall sunrise alarm clock (updated 2026-09-04): outstanding sound and sleek design; subscription and app required.
- Tom's Guide (Hatch Restore 3 review): Review: phone-free controls and good value; subscription fee, app/Wi-Fi setup, and occasional Bluetooth glitches.
- Wirecutter (NYT), sunrise alarm clocks guide: Upgrade pick (updated 2026-06-12): as bright as the top pick with the most light and sound options; needs a $50/yr subscription for full use.
- Sleep Foundation: Best design (updated 2026-09-09): sunrise and night modes; subscription optional for bonus content.