Which of these apps work on both iPhone and Android?

Roost Alarm and Alarmy are on iOS and Android. Risly is iPhone-only. Sleep as Android is Android-only.

Start with platform, then snooze, then whether you need follow-up checks after you dismiss. Try Do Not Disturb and the lock-screen stop on a test alarm before you rely on any of them.

Does a normal Clock app work for heavy sleepers?

The built-in Clock app rings reliably, including through many silent/Focus setups, but it is easy to stop. That is why challenge apps exist. Reliability of sound and hardness of dismiss are different jobs.

Guide

What are the best alarm apps for heavy sleepers?

The apps heavy sleepers usually compare are challenge or mission alarms: Roost Alarm (iOS and Android, no snooze, wake checks), Alarmy (iOS and Android, many missions plus sleep features), Risly (iPhone-only mission alarm), and Sleep as Android (Android, CAPTCHA-style dismissals). Pick by platform, whether snooze exists, and whether the challenge still holds after the sound stops.

Heavy-sleeper alarm apps compared on documented behavior
Feature	Roost Alarm	Alarmy	Risly	Sleep as Android
Snooze	None.	Markets anti-snooze missions. Check the current app if you need a snooze control.	FAQ: no snooze button.	A full-featured Android alarm; snooze is part of that category. Confirm in the app.
Challenges	Math, memory, shake, barcode, photo, squats.	Public listings: math, photo, barcode, shake, typing, walking, squats, and more.	Seven missions on risly.app, including scan, math, memory, QR, barcode, shake, push-ups.	Publicly known for CAPTCHA, math, shake, QR/NFC-style dismissals. Exact current set: check the app.
Wake checks	Three over ~20 minutes.	Wake Up Check listed as Premium on Alarmy Android support.	Not described on Risly’s public FAQ or homepage.	Not described as a three-check sequence like Roost Alarm.
DND / silent	Rings with DND, silent, offline.	Markets a loud alarm. Confirm on your OS.	Claims AlarmKit rings through silent, Focus, DND.	Android system alarms can be configured to interrupt; confirm in the app and OS settings.
iOS challenge caveat	Rings closed; challenge can be skipped if you stop the system alarm. Android holds.	Try the lock-screen stop on your phone.	FAQ says the mission remains the only exit. Try it on your phone.	Android-only, so the iOS caveat does not apply.
Price	$39.99/yr or $11.99/mo, 3-day trial.	Several store plans; check the current price in the store.	3-day trial, then a subscription shown in the App Store.	Has long offered a paid unlock; current Play price is in the store listing.

What to look for

Heavy sleepers usually need more than a loud sound: a dismiss path that takes thinking or movement, and something that keeps you from lying back down.

The apps people put next to each other for that job are Roost Alarm, Alarmy, Risly, and Sleep as Android. Features and prices on the other apps can change, so confirm the current store listing if a detail matters to you.

Roost Alarm

Roost Alarm is a challenge alarm for heavy sleepers. No snooze. Challenges: math, memory, shake, barcode, photo, squats. Three wake checks over about 20 minutes. Rings with Do Not Disturb, silent mode, and offline. iOS 26+ and Android. Premium is $39.99/year or $11.99/month with a 3-day free trial.

Honest iOS limit: the alarm still rings with the app closed, but you can turn it off without the challenge. On Android the challenge always holds.

Alarmy

Alarmy (DelightRoom) is the mission-alarm name most people already know. Public listings describe many missions and a wider sleep product (analysis, snore, bedtime sounds). Wake Up Check is described as Premium on Alarmy’s Android support site. Prices vary by SKU and region.

Risly

Risly is an iPhone (iOS 26+) anti-snooze mission alarm. Its site lists seven missions and says there is no snooze button. It does not ship Android according to its FAQ. Subscription price is shown in the App Store after a 3-day trial.

Sleep as Android

Sleep as Android (Urbandroid) is an Android sleep and alarm app long associated with CAPTCHA-style dismissals, math, and other tasks that stop a half-asleep swipe. It is not on iPhone. Check Google Play for the current feature set and price.

A practical way to choose

Need iPhone and Android with no snooze and follow-up checks? Roost Alarm is built for that shape.

Need the widest mission catalog and sleep extras, and you are willing to check what is free versus Premium? Look at Alarmy.

iPhone only, seven published missions, no Android? Risly matches that constraint.

Android only, long-standing CAPTCHA/math dismissals? Sleep as Android is the usual comparison in that lane.

Test Do Not Disturb, silent mode, and the lock-screen dismiss path on your actual phone.

Frequently asked questions

Which of these apps work on both iPhone and Android?: Roost Alarm and Alarmy are on iOS and Android. Risly is iPhone-only. Sleep as Android is Android-only.
How should I choose?: Start with platform, then snooze, then whether you need follow-up checks after you dismiss. Try Do Not Disturb and the lock-screen stop on a test alarm before you rely on any of them.
Does a normal Clock app work for heavy sleepers?: The built-in Clock app rings reliably, including through many silent/Focus setups, but it is easy to stop. That is why challenge apps exist. Reliability of sound and hardness of dismiss are different jobs.

Get Roost Alarm

Challenge alarm for heavy sleepers. 3-day free trial. $39.99/year or $11.99/month. iOS 26+ and Android.

Other apps’ features and prices can change. Confirm the current App Store or Google Play listing if a detail matters.

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