I Found a $35 Sunrise Alarm Clock That Rivals the $170 One Everyone Talks About

I’m naturally a night owl, and left to my own devices, I’d stay up really late and sleep in until 9:30 a.m. or so. But about six months ago, I started a job that makes that luxury impossible. I work for a local news channel writing scripts for anchors to read on the morning news show. This means that I have to be up at 2:30 a.m. and at the office ready to write around 3:30 a.m. Needless to say, I’m doing everything I can to try and make the unideal early wake-up (and bedtime) more bearable. 

This has meant trying out various pillows, sleep remedies, and most recently, a new alarm clock. When I came across a TikTok review of the Hatch alarm clock — which is supposed to wake you up gently and naturally — on my For You Page, I knew I wanted to try it. You can imagine my disappointment when I found out that it costs $170. Even though Hatch reviews say it’s well worth it and it’s tough to put a price on good sleep, I wasn’t prepared to drop that much money. So, I set off to find a similar sunrise-style alarm clock on Amazon and that’s how I discovered the REACHER Wood Grain Sunrise Alarm Clock.

Beyond wanting a more pleasant start to my very early mornings, I was also interested in a sunrise alarm clock because of one scary experience I had, where I somehow snoozed the multiple alarms on my phone and didn’t wake up for work. An alarm clock that mimics natural sunlight to gently wake you up seemed like a good backup if good old-fashioned noise failed to work.

I came across the REACHER Wood Grain Sunrise Alarm Clock while browsing on Amazon. Of the dozens of other Hatch look-alikes, this one caught my eye because the natural wood grain aesthetic felt similar to the Hatch and it was also a great deal at less than $40. Plus, it has more than 2,000 reviews and an over four-star rating. 

Shipping was fast, so I was able to try out my new alarm clock within a few days of ordering it. The first thing I noticed was how easy it was to set up. It came with a small pamphlet that explained what each of the buttons on the side do, how to set up an alarm, how to dim the wake-up light, and what different wakeup sounds are available. 

I especially liked that the wake-up sounds you could choose from mimicked natural noises, like birds chirping or a campfire — a lot less harsh to wake up to at 2:30 a.m. than a blaring alarm. You can also turn on these noises to help you fall asleep at night, which I have yet to try but I may use soon. 

The first time I used this alarm clock I honestly was a little confused by the light — but it’s difficult not to be disoriented when waking so early. Despite the initial confusion, I didn’t feel the heart-racing anxiety I experience when I’m woken up by my blaring alarm clock. It was a much more peaceful way to wake up.

I’ve been using this alarm clock since I started my job in January 2025 and not only have I not slept through an alarm since, but I’ve woken up feeling more rested. It’s also nice that you can choose to have the alarm’s natural light gradually wake you up before the alarm actually goes off. Mine starts slowly turning on the light 10 minutes before the sound goes off, but you can set it to start up to an hour before your alarm. 

I appreciate this feature in particular because I’ve found that I tend to hit the snooze button less when I have time to gradually wake up and prepare for the alarm. I like to use the sound of birds chirping as my wake-up sound, but there are plenty of other calming sounds to choose from.

I will say there is a part of me that still wants to make the investment and try the Hatch alarm clock one day, but that’s more because of the aesthetic rather than the actual features. From what I can tell online, the REACHER has basically all of the same features as the Hatch: It’s a sunrise–style alarm clock that mimics natural light to gently and naturally wake you up; it offers sleep sounds and has a dimmable light. The one major exception is that the Hatch offers a subscription for $5 a month that lets you create personalized settings, but I don’t think I’d want to spend the extra money anyway.

If you are on the fence about splurging on the Hatch alarm clock or looking for some way to make getting out of bed a little better, definitely check out the REACHER Wood Grain Sunrise Alarm Clock. I will say, though, you can’t put a price tag on good sleep.

Buy: REACHER Wood Grain Sunrise Alarm Clock, $34.99