Awaken Blog

Awaken vs Alarmy: Which Alarm App Is Better for Heavy Sleepers?

Updated Nov 2026 · Awaken

What do Awaken and Alarmy have in common?

Both are alarm apps for people who sleep through normal alarms or switch them off without waking. The core idea is the same: the alarm keeps ringing until you complete a task that needs a working brain or body. That matters because a tired person can tap "stop" on reflex, but it's hard to solve a math problem or walk to the kitchen and scan a barcode while still asleep.

So if you're choosing between them, you're not choosing between a method that works and one that doesn't. You're choosing which style fits you.

How is Alarmy different?

Alarmy is one of the best-known apps in this category and has been around for years. Its strengths, in fairness:

• More missions and options. It offers a wide range of missions and lots of ways to customise them.
• More than an alarm. It has added extra features around sleep and mornings beyond the alarm itself.
• Android and iPhone. If you switch phones or want the same app on both, Alarmy covers that. Awaken is iPhone-only.
• A large user base, which means lots of reviews, guides and answers online.

The trade-off some users mention is that a big app can feel busy. More screens, more settings and more prompts to upgrade can be a lot at 6 a.m. Some people love the depth; others want to set an alarm and go to sleep. Alarmy's exact free and paid features change over time, so check its App Store page for the current list.

How is Awaken different?

Awaken is deliberately narrow. It's a loud alarm clock for iPhone that does a few things well:

• No snooze. There isn't a snooze button to hit.
• Eight challenge types: math problems, shake the phone, screen taps, scan a barcode, dance, memory game, photo mission and typing a sentence.
• Loud sounds made for heavy sleepers.
• A wake-up check a few minutes after you turn the alarm off, so you can't finish the challenge and fall straight back asleep.
• A 7-day free trial, so you can test it on real mornings first.

What Awaken doesn't try to be: a sleep tracker, a full morning routine planner or an Android app. If you need those, Alarmy or another app is a better fit.

Awaken vs Alarmy at a glance

Features and prices change. Check both Awaken and Alarmy on the App Store in your country before paying for either.

Which challenge actually wakes you up best?

This matters more than the app logo. In general:

• Barcode or photo missions are strongest for heavy sleepers because they make you leave the bed and walk somewhere. Pick an item in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Math or typing wakes your brain without needing to stand. Good if you share a room or have mobility limits, weaker if you tend to crawl back under the covers.
• Shaking, tapping or dancing gets your body moving and is quick, but some people can do it half-asleep. Combine it with putting the phone across the room.

Both apps let you choose. Whichever you pick, put the phone out of reach so you have to stand up anyway.

Who should choose Alarmy?

• You want lots of mission types and settings to play with.
• You like extra sleep and morning features in the same app.
• You use Android, or switch between Android and iPhone.

Who should choose Awaken?

• You're on iPhone and want a straightforward alarm that's hard to turn off.
• You know snooze is your weakness and want it gone completely.
• You fall back asleep after dismissing alarms and want a wake-up check.
• You'd rather set it once and not manage lots of options.

Are there other options?

Yes. If you'd like to compare more apps, we keep a list of Alarmy alternatives and a wider roundup of the best alarm apps for heavy sleepers. And some people don't need an app at all: a fixed wake time, more sleep and a phone across the room solve a lot. Our guide on how to stop hitting snooze covers those habits.

How should I decide?

Try one for a week of real mornings, not a test alarm at noon. Note how often you got up on the first alarm and whether you fell back asleep. If Awaken's focused approach works, keep it. If you find yourself wanting more options, Alarmy is a good app and worth trying. The best alarm is the one that gets you out of bed every day.