Peace and quiet are necessary for staying relaxed, but the hectic chaos of the world makes that an ever more difficult state to achieve. Of course, once you get home, you can craft your environment such that you do not have to worry about too much additional noise disrupting your silence.
On the other hand, this is never more important than when you are trying to go to sleep, but often the instrument you use to make sure you wake up on time can be the culprit. Though many people rely on alarm clocks to make sure they are not late for work, they can also make so much noise that you do not get enough sleep– which might make you late for work anyway.
That is why we put together a list of the 5 best silent alarm clock reviews of 2021, highlighting what each one does best. We also answer some of the most prescient questions relating to silent alarm clocks as well as breakdown their different features, so you can find the right option to leave you feeling refreshed in the morning.
Best Silent Alarm Clock Reviews
Best Seller: ShakeAwake Vibrating Alarm Clock – ATC0833
- Pocket size travel alarm clock
- Selectable vibrating alarm or beep sound alarm
- Bright back-light for viewing at night
Unless you have already done a bit of research into silent alarm clocks, there is a good chance that you might not have heard of ShakeAwake even though it has been around for 30 years. Part of this is likely because ShakeAwake specializes exclusively in silent alarm clocks but takes that specialization a step further than most.
Whereas most “silent” alarm clocks aim to eliminate noise generated by their product in one particular way, ShakeAwake takes a two-fold approach. For starters, this silent alarm clock is digital which means that its timekeeping function does not require any moving parts and is thus silent.
However, the main reason that we put this entry as our best-seller, despite some alternatives technically selling more units, is due to its multiple alarm system. Specifically, the ShakeAwake ATC0833 Alarm Clock is the only entry on our list that comes with a vibration alarm that does not make any noise outside of the slight hum generated from vibrating.
Unfortunately, when a product is not only one of the few on the market with its feature but also comes from a highly specialized company, you should expect to pay a bit more. That said, the ShakeAwake ATC0833 Alarm Clock is also fairly easy to use from a mechanical standpoint even if it can be difficult to change its settings waking up in the dark.
Another thing to consider is that though this silent alarm clock might come with a kickstand to prop it up, the stand is not the most durable. Still, the ShakeAwake ATC0833 Alarm Clock can also be carried around as it not only weighs less than any other option reviewed at 1 ⅝ oz, but it is also the most compact model on our list at 3” x 2” x ½”.
Features
- The digital time keeping makes no noise
- Has a completely silent vibration alarm mode
- It has a compact profile and lightweight design
- Few buttons makes it easier to use
- Has a flipout kickstand for setting up
Verdict
The ShakeAwake ATC0833 Alarm Clock might come with some potential issues, but there is no getting around the fact that the vibrating alarm is the quietest that we encountered. On top of that, the digital timekeeping does not make any noise, and its compact profile combined with the lightweight design makes it easy to take on the go.
Pros
- Has a vibration mode
- Is extremely portable
- Is easy to use
- Is a digital clock
Cons
- Is more expensive
- Not the best build
Top Pick: MARATHON CL030053SV Classic Silent Sweep Alarm Clock with Auto Night Light. Batteries Included
- SILENT SMOOTH SWEEP: This clock was engineered with a silent, continuous-sweep second hand quartz movement. It does not emit a ticking...
- AUTO-NIGHT LIGHT: An ambient light sensor triggers a soft glow to illuminate the dial when placed in low light.
- ALARM WITH SNOOZE: Easy to set alarm function with conveniently placed ON/OFF and SNOOZE buttons.
Out of all the different companies on our list, none of them have the kind of experience or prestige as Marathon which has been around since 1904. On top of that, Marathon may not specialize in silent alarm clocks specifically, but it still focuses exclusively on high-end timepieces of various types.
That said, Marathon stays true to its reputation and offers one of the quieter general function alarm clocks we found despite employing a mechanical action. The reason for this is that the Marathon CL030053SV Alarm Clock uses a mechanical quartz action with superior manufacturing to move silently.
Of course, being a premier maker of various timepieces with a sterling reputation affords you certain privileges, one of which is the ability to charge more money as this silent alarm clock is an expensive option. However, this is also one of the few silent alarm clocks on our list that does not come with even a moderate instance of getting louder over time.
On the other hand, the Marathon CL030053SV Alarm Clock requires you to know how loud you want the alarm to be ahead of time as it is also the only model reviewed that comes with a volume dial. Still, that feature means that this silent alarm clock is one of the few customizable options on our list too while also being fairly easy to use– assuming you are fully awake with light.
However, the Marathon CL030053SV Alarm Clock needs to justify its high price beyond those features and does so with one of the best built-in night lights we came across. Not only is this silent alarm clock’s night light better in terms of its performance, but it also automatically detects the ambient light and turns it on without assistance when placed in a dark space.
Features
- The quartz movement is silent
- Has a solid automatic night light
- Has a convenient snooze and alarm button
- Few buttons makes it easier to use
- Is more reliable due to a solid build
Verdict
Marathon lives up to its name thanks to an excellent mechanical quartz timekeeping action, though the alarm can get a bit loud if you are not careful. Still, this alarm clock comes with a solid night light that uses ambient light detection to automatically turn on and is far less likely to fail after a couple of months than the competition.
Pros
- Has a quartz movement
- Has ambient light sensors
- Easy to use
- Has a good build
Cons
- Is more expensive
- The alarm can get loud
Best Value: Peakeep Small Battery Operated Analog Travel Alarm Clock Silent No Ticking, Lighted on Demand and Snooze, Beep Sounds, Gentle Wake, Ascending Alarm, Easy Set (Black)
- Small square alarm clock features, measured at 3 1/4 * 3 1/4 * 1 5/8 in, light weight (3.5 oz), 1 AA battery operated, fits perfectly on...
- Classic beep alarm sounds, designed to ascending four stages for gentle wake at first, then ascend in volume with more and more hurried...
- Press the top easy-access large snooze/light button to illuminate the entire dial few seconds for night time viewing. This also suspends the...
Peakeep begins the part of our list with products from companies that you almost certainly have not heard of with this manufacturer being the oldest of the bunch at just over half a decade. Still, Peakeep at least specializes in alarm clocks, even if they do not focus exclusively on silent alarm clocks.
That said, the Peakeep Alarm Clock starts things off properly by ensuring you do not have to worry about an annoying ticking sound through the use of a mechanical quartz timekeeping action. However, it is worth noting that this silent alarm clock is not as reliable as some of the other models we encountered and may start to make ticking noises over time.
On top of that, the Peakeep Alarm Clock also wakes you from your sleep gradually by slowly increasing the volume of the alarm over time as it goes off, rather than blaring it at maximum volume all at once. This silent alarm clock also makes it a point to be easier to use than some of the others with all of the buttons, switches, and knobs placed apart from one another and clearly labeled.
Of course, you can only expect so much from this silent alarm clock as it comes in at an extremely low price with some other features to increase that value. Still, the Peakeep Alarm Clock is a reasonably portable model– though you will not want to carry it around in your pocket like with some of the competition– tipping the scales at only 3 ½ oz and measuring only 3 ⅛” x 3 ⅛” x 1 ⅔”.
Features
- The quartz movement is silent
- Has an ascending alarm for gradual waking
- It has a compact profile and lightweight design
- Few buttons makes it easier to use
- Has a button-press night light
Verdict
The Peakeep Alarm Clock is the first in a series of inexpensive options that employ a mechanical quartz action for silent timekeeping. It also does not hurt that this alarm clock features an ascending alarm beep, though it is not the most durable nor known for lasting as long as some of the other models.
Pros
- Has a quartz movement
- Is easy to use
- Is more portable
- Is less expensive
Cons
- Not the best night light
- Not the most durable
Runner Up: Analog Alarm Clock, 4 inch Super Silent Non Ticking Small Clock with Night Light, Battery Operated, Simply Design, for Bedroom, Bedside, Desk, (Green)
- 【High Quality Simple Design】 - The clock is made of high quality material which is smooth to touch. The clock is simple enough, so it is...
- 【Super Silent Hand】 - The sweep second hand does not make any annoying noise, keep the clock silent, make a super peaceful space for you...
- 【Simple Alarm Function】 - Loud alarm will last up to 30 minute, can easily wake you up. ON/OFF button can help you turn on/off the alarm...
Out of all of the companies on our list, JALL Store is easily the newest and least experienced with a little over a year of experience to its name. That said, this company seems to be doing things a bit differently as not only does it specialize explicitly in timepieces but tends to favor those with something a little bit different about them.
That said, the JALL Store Alarm Clock applies some of the most common quiet features to keep this option silent, starting with a mechanical quartz action. Even better, this silent alarm clock does not seem to have quite as much difficulty maintaining its quiet action over time as some of the other models we encountered.
To make this even better, the JALL Store Alarm Clock is another model that comes equipped with an ascending alarm that increases the volume of the beep over time to prevent it from jarring you awake. Though, it should be noted that this silent alarm clock is the only model we reviewed that does not come with a snooze button.
Still, the JALL Store Alarm Clock stays true to its brand’s approach to using unique features as it is the only entry on our list to use metal for the housing, increasing its overall durability. What makes this all the more surprising is that this silent alarm clock combines solid durability and decent reliability at a low price.
Features
- The quartz movement is silent
- Has an ascending alarm for gradual waking
- It has a metal build for increased durability
- Few buttons makes it easier to use
- Has a button-press night light
Verdict
The JALL Store Alarm Clock offers a couple of different features to help keep it silent including a mechanical quartz action as well as an ascending alarm beep. It also offers a solid metal build for increased durability, but it is one of the few models that does not include a snooze button and has a weak night light.
Pros
- Has a quartz movement
- Is easy to use
- Has a metal build
- Is less expensive
Cons
- Not the best night light
- No snooze button
Also Consider: Tinload Small Battery Operated Analog Alarm Clock Silent Non Ticking, Ascending Beep Sounds, Snooze,Light Functions, Easy Set (Black)
- Compact Size -- measured at 3.25" x 3.25" x 1.6" , light weight (3.5 oz), 1 AA battery operated, fits perfectly as a desk /bedside /...
- Completely Silent - Super quiet concise design alarm clock without annoying tick tock sound, ideal for those who need complete silence to...
- Snooze and Light Function– Snooze and light button locates on easy-to-find top place. Hold button down for 5 minutes snooze or to light up...
Our last entry comes from another company that follows a fairly similar profile as many of the others in that it is not terribly experienced with just a few years of operation behind it. Also following a common trend, Tinload specializes exclusively in alarm clocks, though they are not necessarily unique.
Given this inauspicious introduction, it should come as little surprise that the Tinload Alarm Clock hits most of the same beats as the other models in keeping itself quiet. For instance, this silent alarm clock is another entry that employs a mechanical quartz timekeeping action to prevent the second hand from ticking.
However, the Tinload Alarm Clock is also another option that trades some of its build quality to come in at a lower price. As has been seen before, this tradeoff leads this silent alarm clock to suffer from an increased likelihood to start ticking after being used for an extended period.
Still, the Tinload Alarm Clock at least keeps the good common features too like the ascending alarm that increases the volume of its beep over time. On top of that, this model comes with a snooze button as well as a night light button, though the night light itself is nothing to brag about as it is little more than a weak light in the top right corner of the clock face.
Features
- The quartz movement is silent
- Has an ascending alarm for gradual waking
- It has a compact profile and lightweight design
- Few buttons makes it easier to use
- Has a button-press night light
Verdict
The Tinload Alarm Clock is another model that employs the mechanical quartz action for quiet timekeeping as well as an ascending alarm beep. Unfortunately, it is not the most reliable and may start to make a ticking noise after using it for a couple of months, though it is at least an inexpensive model.
Pros
- Has a quartz movement
- Is easy to use
- Is more portable
- Is less expensive
Cons
- Not the best night light
- Not the most reliable
Best Silent Alarm Clock Buying Guide
Timekeeping Action
- Digital – This is one of the more common types of timekeeping actions used for alarm clocks in general, but it holds special significance for silent alarm clocks. While there are silent mechanical timekeeping actions, they may wear out over time which can lead to the clock ticking. Digital timekeeping actions, on the other hand, rely on vibrations in quartz crystals to trigger the circuitry.
- Mechanical Quartz – While digital clocks might use quartz to help keep time, mechanical quartz timekeeping actions aim to offer the best of both worlds. With this type of timekeeping action, the quartz triggers the gears, instead of circuitry, to ensure that the clock keeps accurate time. However, since the gears respond to continuous signals from the quartz, it allows the clock’s hands to sweep instead of tick. The only potential issue is that a poorly made mechanical quartz timekeeping action may become asynchronous and develop a tick over time.
Alarm
- Auditory – This is the most common type of alarm used for an alarm clock and the one that most people think of when they think of an alarm clock. To prevent an alarm clock from shocking you awake with its beep, some manufacturers make it so that the alarm gradually increases in volume. This ascending volume allows you to wake up gradually, rather than jerking awake due to obnoxious, blaring noise.
- Tactile – Of course, some people do not want to worry about what happens should the ascending alarm ever hit the “loud” part of its scale. To accommodate this desire, a select few manufacturers make alarm clocks that allow you to eschew the auditory alarm altogether in favor of a tactile alarm. In this instance, the alarm clock vibrates instead of playing a tone and is significantly quieter than auditory alarm clocks– though this means you need to keep the vibrating alarm closer to you so you can feel the vibrations.
Night Light
While not a necessity, all alarm clocks require some form of a lighted face, so you can read the clock in the dark. While there are a couple of ways to tackle this issue depending on the type of alarm clock, one of the most common and effective is a built-in night light that illuminates the clock face.
That said, there are multiple ways to achieve this effect with some being better than others, though the digital alarm clock is arguably one of the simplest. With a digital alarm clock, the numbers are displayed on an LCD or LED screen which can then be used to light up either the numbers themselves or the back of the screen.
For analog alarm clocks, this can be a bit trickier as you will need some form of additional light to illuminate the clock face, and the placement of that light impacts its effectiveness. For more budget-friendly models, manufacturers will often include a bulb in the clock face that turns on when you press a button or flip a switch.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with this approach, it means that the part of the face with the bulb will be illuminated more and depends on the quality of the bulb. Higher-end manufacturers often solve this issue by placing one or more bulbs behind the face which then illuminates the whole face at once.
While not especially common, one nice feature that removes the need for you to fiddle with the alarm clock’s night light at all is ambient light sensors. An alarm clock with ambient light sensors will automatically turn the night light on when it is placed in a dark space and turns it off when enough light hits the face.
FAQ’s
What Makes an Alarm Clock Silent?
There are a couple of different approaches that can define what makes an alarm clock silent depending on which stage or function it applies to. Unless you have to deal with a loud alarm clock, it might seem like an oxymoron to think of a silent alarm clock given that its purpose is to ostensibly rouse you from slumber.
That said, there are a couple of ways that an alarm clock can accomplish this feat with the most common coming in the form of an auditory alarm. To prevent an auditory alarm from jarring you awake, some manufacturers include a volume button that allows you to determine how loud the alarm is– though this requires you to know ahead of time how loud you need the alarm to be.
Other manufacturers eschew the volume control altogether and instead opt for an alarm beep that increases in volume over top, the ascending volume eventually waking you without disturbing you too much. On the other hand, you can skip the auditory alarm altogether and choose an alarm clock that wakes with vibration.
The other element that some people might not think of when they consider what makes an alarm clock silent is the timekeeping action, despite the cultural trope of the “ticking clock.” To avoid this noise, manufacturers can use either a digital timekeeping action or opt for a mechanical quartz timekeeping action that moves the hands smoothly and silently.
What Does “Easy to Use” Really Mean?
Pretty much all of the alarm clocks reviewed come with the moniker “easy to use” due to the limited number of buttons required to control its functions. However, the size and arrangement of that interface mean two completely different things when you manipulate them while awake with plenty of light compared to groggily waking up in the dark.
As far as arrangement goes, changing or setting both the time and alarm occur on the back of the alarm clock, but some of the interfaces offer easier manipulation than others. For example, an alarm clock with different buttons or switches for each function– though this necessarily means that there are more things to keep track of.
That said, assuming that the alarm clock does not come with a wealth of different options, a handful of different buttons or switches should not be too difficult to master. Of course, a variety of different buttons and switches is far easier to manipulate when awake with light than they are half asleep in the dark.
Regardless of the arrangement of the buttons, the size of the buttons and switches can also make them more or less easy to manipulate with smaller controls being more difficult. The difficulty of manipulating smaller controls is only magnified when the alarm clock employs a combined interface with fewer control buttons or switches.
What to Look For?
Outside of quietness and ease of use, there are a couple of different qualities or features to keep an eye on when choosing a silent alarm clock– though these tend to break ties more than anything else. One of the most popular additional features included with an alarm clock is some kind of night light.
However, not all night lights are created equally both in terms of use nor in terms of performance with the latter often being the bigger issue as some manufacturers just use a small bulb which can be dubious in its efficacy. A better option is a night light that shines from the back or all of the edges either through a diffuse light or an LED display.
While not as big of a deal, another aspect of the night light to consider is whether you have to manually engage it, which may not be ideal when trying to do so in the dark after just waking up, or whether it can be set automatically. We think a silent alarm clock deserves bonus points if the night light comes on without you even having to set it.
Still, another aspect to consider is the portability of a silent alarm clock given that you may very well need it when traveling just as much, if not more, than when at home. That said, for those who do not like to wear watches or carry around smart devices, some alarm clocks can even be carried in your pocket.
Finally, the build quality of an alarm clock can sway your decision, though most models are made of plastic with a rare few using the more durable metal for the housing. It is also important to consider whether the alarm clock is liable to fall off of its spot on the nightstand or wherever which can be reduced with rubber feet.
Conclusion
Ultimately, there are a couple of different ways you think about a silent alarm clock from its general function to how it wakes you up to its general impact. That said, we found the ShakeAwake ATC0833 Alarm Clock to be one of the more inventive methods that rouses you from sleep with vibration combined with a silent digital timekeeping action.
Of course, if you prefer a more traditional type of alarm clock, the Marathon CL030053SV Alarm Clock not only employs a well-calibrated silent quartz movement but comes with an automatic night light too. If you are looking to save some money while still getting a solid silent alarm clock, the Peakeep Alarm Clock is a reasonable choice.
The JALL Store Alarm Clock is unique on our list thanks to its durable metal housing that also includes a quartz movement as well as an ascending alarm beep. Finally, the Tinload Alarm Clock hits many of the same beats as other entries with a quartz movement and ascending alarm beep but is not quite as reliable.