First ThingThe best alarm apps for Android, compared honestly
The short answer
For most people, the Clock app already on your phone is enough if you get up at the same time every day. If you struggle to get out of bed, Alarmy's wake-up missions are built for that. If you want to track your sleep, Sleep as Android goes deepest. If your mornings change from day to day, First Thing works out each alarm from your week and calendar. We make First Thing, so read our pick with that in mind.
At a glance
| App | Best for | How it decides when you wake | Wear OS | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Clock | Simple fixed alarms on a Pixel | You set every time | Yes | Free |
| Samsung Clock | Galaxy phones and watches | You set every time | Galaxy Watch | Free |
| Alarmy | Heavy sleepers | You set it; a mission turns it off | Not in its listing | Free with ads; in-app £2.52 to £144.99 |
| Sleep as Android | Sleep tracking | Wakes you in light sleep inside a window you set | Yes | Free with ads; in-app £0.82 to £69.99 |
| Sleep Cycle | Easy sleep tracking | Wakes you in light sleep inside a window you set | Yes | Free; in-app £0.69 to £53.99 |
| Chrono | A clean, open-source clock | You set every time | No | Free, from F-Droid or GitHub (not on Play) |
| First Thing | Mornings that change | Works it out from your week and calendar, and says why | Yes, rings first | Free; Pro £29.99 a year |
Wear OS and prices are from each app's Google Play listing in the UK on 11 November 2026. "In-app" is the range Play shows for everything the app sells, from the smallest purchase to the dearest.
Each app, and who should pick it
Google Clock
Pick it if you get up at the same time every day
Already on Pixel phones and free on Play. Reliable, simple, with a Bedtime mode and a Wear OS app. The catch: it rings exactly when you told it to, so an early meeting or a day off is down to you.
Alarmy
Pick it if you sleep through alarms
Turns the alarm off only when you've done a mission: a photo of your sink, maths, shaking the phone. Very effective for heavy sleepers. The catch: it's built to be hard to stop, which is the opposite of what light sleepers want.
Sleep as Android
Pick it if you want to understand your sleep
The deepest sleep tracker on Android, with smart wake in light sleep, wearables support and years of features. The catch: lots of settings to learn, and the full app is a paid unlock.
First Thing
Pick it if your mornings change from day to day
Works out each alarm from your usual week and, if you like, tomorrow's calendar, then plans your bedtime and tells you why in one line. Free for the alarm and your week; Pro moves the alarm by itself. The catch: Android and Wear OS only, and it doesn't track your sleep itself. It reads it from Health Connect, so you need a watch or app that records it.
Sleep Cycle
Pick it if you want tracking without the fiddling
Listens through the microphone and wakes you in light sleep. Easier to start with than Sleep as Android. The catch: the useful history and trends sit behind the subscription.
Samsung Clock and Chrono
Pick one if you want a plain clock
Samsung's Clock is the natural choice on a Galaxy with a Galaxy Watch. Chrono is a free, open-source alternative with a clean design. It isn't on Google Play: you get it from F-Droid or GitHub. Neither plans anything for you, which for many people is the point.
How we compared them
We installed each app on a Pixel and a Samsung phone and used it as the real alarm for at least a week, then checked every price and feature against its Play listing on the date above. We looked at four things: does it ring reliably, how much it does for you, how easy it is to stop, and what it costs once the trial ends. We'll update this page every three months.
Questions
What is the best free alarm app for Android?
The Clock app that came with your phone. It's free, reliable and needs no setup. Pick something else only for a specific need: heavy sleeping, sleep tracking, or mornings that change.
What is a smart alarm?
Usually an alarm that wakes you in light sleep within a window you choose. First Thing uses the term differently: it works out when you need to be up from your week and calendar. Smart alarms explained.
Which alarm app is best for heavy sleepers?
Alarmy. Its missions make you get up to switch it off.
Which alarm apps work on Wear OS?
Google Clock, Sleep as Android, Sleep Cycle and First Thing all have Wear OS apps. Samsung Clock works with Galaxy Watches.