If you’ve ever laid in bed wide awake, exhausted but wired, scrolling your phone in a desperate attempt to wind down — or worse, jolted awake by a blaring alarm that feels like a personal attack — you’re not alone.
Crappy sleep is a modern epidemic. Whether it’s racing thoughts at night, trouble waking up in the dark, or feeling groggy no matter how many hours you got, it’s frustrating. And when your body and brain are tired, everything feels harder.
That was me too. I wanted to fix my sleep, but I didn’t want another complicated gadget, or worse, a device that forces me to pay for a monthly subscription just to function properly.
So I gave the Hatch Restore alarm clock a try — without the subscription — to see if it could actually make a difference.
Here’s exactly what worked, what didn’t, and whether it’s worth it for people who, like me, struggle with falling asleep (a new badge of aging as a post-30-year-old) and waking up.
What Is the Hatch Alarm Clock?
- The Hatch Restore 3 (launched January 2025, ~$169.99) is Hatch’s newest smart alarm clock, combining sunrise-simulation light, sunset wind‑down, guided meditations, sound machine, and more.
- The earlier Restore 2 also offers these features; it lets you adjust brightness, schedule sunrise/sunset, and access free soundscapes — though more content requires a Hatch+ subscription ($4.99/month or $49.99/year).
Why Sunset Alarm Clocks Work
Traditional alarm clocks wake you with a sudden jolt — an abrupt sound that triggers your fight-or-flight stress response, especially if it’s still dark outside. That shock to your system can make waking up feel harsh and disorienting.
In contrast, sunrise and sunset alarm clocks are based on the science of circadian rhythms — your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, which is regulated by exposure to light. Research shows that:
- Gradual morning light exposure can help suppress melatonin (your sleep hormone) more naturally than sound alone, making waking up easier and more alert. A 2019 study found that artificial dawn light improved mood, cognition, and wake-up quality in people with sleep difficulties.
- Dim red light in the evening supports melatonin production better than blue light, making it easier to fall asleep. This study noted that red light exposure at night improved sleep quality and endurance in female athletes.
- Light-based cues help reinforce sleep routines by signaling to your brain when it’s time to wind down or wake up, even if your schedule fluctuates.
In short, clocks like the Hatch Restore mimic the natural rhythms our bodies evolved with, offering a gentler, more biologically aligned way to improve sleep over time.
My Honest Experience Without the Hatch+ Subscription
I chose not to subscribe to Hatch+. I didn’t want to buy an alarm clock that locks essential features behind a paid subscription — it gave me the same feeling as when I found out Peloton charged a monthly fee on top of the equipment purchase. That kind of business model irks me.
So I decided to test the free version of the Hatch alarm clock first to see if it was functional and worth it without adding yet another subscription charge to the monthly bill.
Here’s what I found:
- Sunrise and sunset lighting features are fully usable with a wide range of light colors and brightness options
- You get access to a basic library of soothing soundtracks, ambient soundscapes, and guided meditations
- The sunset wind-down routine is customizable — and it quickly became my favorite part of the experience
- White noise and nature-based sound options are included and can definitely help you stay asleep
The only notable gap between the free version and paid subscription? Alarm options for heavy sleepers. Currently, the Heavy Sleepers Shuffle is behind a paywall, requiring the Hatch+ subscription to unlock those alarm options.
When I was a kid, I actually slept through a hotel fire alarm. I woke up outside, in my dad’s arms, having no idea how I got there. Thankfully, it was a false alarm — but it proved one thing: I’ve always been an extremely heavy sleeper.
That didn’t magically change in college either. I needed three alarms to get out of bed for an 8 a.m. class — and even then, my Freshman year roommate had to say my name from across the room to snap me into the present moment.
So believe me when I say: I understand what it takes to wake up someone who sleeps like a rock.
The Hatch Restore’s volume is surprisingly powerful, and when paired with the sunrise lighting feature, it offers a very effective combination that isn’t as jarring as your traditional alarm clock.
I will admit, the first night I used it, I didn’t realize the wake-up alarm sound was set to birds. As lovely as that is, I’m blessed enough to be surrounded by so many birds that the cacophony of pleasant chirping sounded too similar to my current environment to wake me up.
That night, I explored the library of sounds and chose the Meditative Flute — beautiful to listen to with a moderate sharpness that ensures I won’t mistake it for something else in my environment.
But for people who need the absolute loudest alarms available, Hatch+ does offer more wake-up options, like additional alarm tones for heavy sleepers and stronger soundscapes.
If you’re like me — a reformed deep sleeper — the free tier may still be enough, especially if you use the light as part of your wake-up strategy.
But if you want every feature, especially for extreme wake-up situations, the subscription might be worth considering.
Color Options & How I Use the Device
Hatch Restore offers a broad palette: bright whites, warm yellows, soothing greens — even calming reds to choose from for waking lights, alarm lights, or even a night light. I enjoy using it as a red-light therapy tool at night, leveraging the “wind-down” feature before I fall asleep, and setting a sleep sound to keep me asleep all night.
In the free version of the Hatch app, you can choose from the following options for a wind-down routine:
- Bedtime Story Sampler
- Irreverent Meditation Season 1
- Bedtime Podcast Sampler
- Sound Bath Sampler (my favorite)
- Meditation Sampler
- Soundscapes Sampler.
Within each of these sampler groupings, there are at least three different sounds that operate on a shuffle. These samplers give you plenty of options to customize your wind-down routine before falling asleep!
Check out my ideal wind-down routine on a Friday night here.
No matter how wired I am, if I sit in bed and turn on the sunset wind‑down feature — even with any sound on in the background — the light soothes my nervous system, helping me fall asleep quickly and consistently. That routine is beautifully paired with the transition to the Bedside Fan sound effect — something I was introduced to and fell in love with on my last trip to Charleston, SC.
Tips If You’re Considering Buying Hatch
- You still get the sunrise/sunset light, basic soundscapes, and guided wind‑down routines in the app through the free version.
- Use warm yellow, green, or red tones, especially in the hour before bed, to support melatonin and circadian health.
- Test the sunset wind‑down light feature — it’s soothing enough to calm the nervous system after a long day.
- Be sure to check the alarm tone before using it to ensure the alarm noise is something that will actually wake you up the next day.
- If you later want more content, you can opt in for Hatch+; just beware that without it, you’re limited to the basic library.
Final Verdict: Is the Hatch Alarm Clock Worth It?
If you’re tired of dragging through the day because your nights are a mess; if you’re wired when you want to be winding down and groggy when you need to get up — you’re not alone. I’ve been there too.
And while no gadget is a magic fix, the Hatch alarm clock has genuinely helped me create a healthier sleep rhythm. After using it for three months, it’s safe to say I highly recommend the Hatch Restore 3 for those who are looking to improve their sleep, have a more in-sync waking cycle, and sleep more soundly overall.
It’s been a wonderful addition to my daily routine and worth the price point.
The fact that it works well without a subscription was a pleasant surprise. I was skeptical (and honestly a little annoyed by the subscription model), but the free tier offers enough to build a calming nighttime routine and a gentler, more natural way to wake up.
If you’re a heavy sleeper like I am, pairing the light with the built-in alarm sounds can be a powerful combo. But if you know you need more intense alarms or a deep library of meditations and soundscapes, you may want to explore Hatch+.
For me, just having a tool that supports better sleep — without demanding more screens, scrolling, or subscriptions — was a win. If you’re looking for a smarter, calmer way to bookend your day, the Hatch sunset alarm clock is worth trying out.
Wake up refreshed and fall asleep easier with the Hatch Restore 3 — check it out on Amazon to see if it’s the sleep upgrade you’ve been looking for.
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