# Sunrise Alarm for Smart Lights — Wake-Up Clock for HomeKit > HomeKit smart light dawn simulator for natural wake-ups. (iPhone/iPad app by Evan Michael James Blanke.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunrise-alarm-for-smart-lights/id6753123163 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Evan Michael James Blanke](https://appshunter.io/developer/1842599437) - Category: Health & Fitness, Lifestyle - Price: $4.99 - Rating: 4.60/5 from 13 App Store ratings · 11 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 16.4 · 5 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2025-10-02 - Data updated: 2026-08-17 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunrise-alarm-for-smart-lights/id6753123163/reviews.md ## What is Sunrise Alarm for Smart Lights? Sunrise Alarm turns your existing HomeKit smart lights into a gradual dawn simulator, no subscription, no new hardware required. Your sunrise runs directly on your Apple TV or HomePod, so it wakes you even if your phone is off, out of battery, or away from home. You'll need an Apple Home hub (Apple TV or HomePod) and at least one HomeKit-enabled light to get started. Most people see measurable improvements in morning alertness and sleep quality in as few as six days. Research in chronobiology shows why: your cortisol awakening response is triggered by light, not sound. A gradual rise from dark to bright works with your biology in a way a loud alarm never can. Works with Philips Hue, Nanoleaf, LIFX, and all other HomeKit-certified devices, including bulbs, strips, blinds, shades, plugs, switches, and more. If it's in your Home app, it works. Your body already knows how to wake up. Now your lights do too. FEATURES - Sequence lights across a room or your whole home, each fading in on its own schedule so the sunrise builds around you - Open blinds, shades, and window coverings on your sunrise schedule, so real daylight, not just your bulbs, joins your wake-up - Customize color, brightness, and fade duration to match your sleep environment - Create different schedules for weekdays, weekends, or any routine - Turn plugs on or off when your alarm runs (coffee maker, heater, fan) REQUIREMENTS - Apple Home Hub (Apple TV or HomePod) and at least one HomeKit-enabled device. ## Key features - Gradual dawn simulation - HomeKit device integration - Customizable light color and brightness - Scheduled alarms - Independent operation on Apple TV/HomePod ## Chart rankings - #85 in Top Paid · Health & Fitness (US App Store) ## Recent user reviews (10 of 11) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sunrise-alarm-for-smart-lights/id6753123163/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Excellent App and Dev *2026-03-03* Incredibly useful app and responsive developer **Developer response:** Thank you for the review. Really glad it's been useful! ### 5/5 — Simple and Effective *2026-02-24* Previously setup my own shortcuts, but it’s cumbersome to manage and change. This app is perfectly seamless and simple, love it$ **Developer response:** Thank you for the review! Really glad it's been a seamless alternative to managing Shortcuts. ### 5/5 — Amazing app!! *2026-02-09* Found this app through the App Store/reddit from a post from the creator. I wasn’t sure at first whether to get it or not since you can’t try it and it’s a new app but I’m glad I did! It’s a one time purchase so no subscriptions after and it does exactly what I want with creating sunrise lamps with the new IKEA bulbs. It’s a nice UI that uses Apple Home features in the background so no need for your phone when it’s set up it will be running on your Apple TV/Homepod I recommend the app as it’s already doing a lot for anyone that just wants a simple sunrise lamp and doesn’t want to pay for a subscription for that. The creator seems very motivated to add more features in the future so I’m curious to see that too! **Developer response:** Thank you for the review and for taking the time to share your experience. One of the core goals of this app was to deliver a reliable, set-and-forget experience that runs natively on your home hub, so I’m glad to hear it’s been working well for you. I’m actively working on improvements and additional features and look forward to sharing more updates in the future. Thanks again for the recommendation. ### 5/5 — In testing it works but actual alarm doesn’t come on and the automation marks it completed task *2025-11-19* Asked for assistance to the developers of the app no reply -very frustrating to see in testing it works but actual alarm doesn’t **Developer response:** Thanks for your review. We respond to all support messages within 24 hours, so please feel free to contact us at SunriseAlarmTeam@gmail.com, if you still need assistance. We’re here to help! ### 5/5 — Einfach, elegant und fair *2025-11-09* Die Bedienung ist sehr übersichtlich, durch die Live-Vorschau sieht man das eingestellte Licht auch gleich, auch die Vorschau des geplanten Weckers ist super. Der Preis (2,99 € als Einmalzahlung) ist unschlagbar. **Developer response:** Vielen Dank für das tolle Feedback! Es freut mich sehr, dass dir die einfache Bedienung und die Vorschauen gefallen. ### 5/5 — Dimmt Home Lichter über einen Zeitraum! *2025-11-08* Also streng genommen erstellt die App nur 10, 20 oder 30 Szenen und stellt die Uhrzeit, damit diese passend nacheinander abgespielt werden. Dadurch entsteht ein Effekt wie ein langsam heller werden. Das funktioniert auch sehr gut. Ich würde mir als Auslöser noch Sonnenauf oder Untergang wünschen, so dass das Licht kein Alarm, sondern eine Art Ergänzung abends darstellt. Also während es draußen dunkler wird, wird das Licht heller. **Developer response:** Vielen Dank für dein ausführliches Feedback! Es freut mich zu hören, dass der Dimm-Effekt für dich gut funktioniert. Deinen Wunsch, Sonnenauf- und -untergang als Auslöser zu nutzen, werde ich bei zukünftigen Updates berücksichtigen. ### 5/5 — It just works, also a suggestion *2025-10-23* I bought this, and tested it with my lights on a dimmer, some RGBWW LED strips, some RGB smart light bulbs, and some RGBWW smart light bulbs. And it works with all of them. I can mix the types of lights to be used with each wake-up alarm, and I can stagger their turn-on times. The main thing I would like to see added is the ability to use it for going to bed, where I start a “slowly turn the lights off” routine to tell my body that it’s about time to go to sleep. That would be awesome. **Developer response:** Thank you for your detailed review. We’re glad to hear the app works well with all your lights! Your idea for a bedtime feature that slowly turns the lights off is excellent. We’re planning to add it in a future update to make the full wake-up and wind-down experience even better. ### 2/5 — Better alternatives available elsewhere *2025-10-23* Honestly, I ended up requesting a refund. I didn't realize until creating the first alarm that, currently, there's really not much—if anything(?)—that differentiates Sunrise Alarm from the Wake Up Light app. On paper, it's a great and welcome idea—in practice, however, both apps just work by creating as many as 30+ individual scenes, which gradually transition at intervals over the configured period. It's infinitely more preferable to be able to configure a simulated sunrise lighting transition using an app like Controller for HomeKit, that doesn't involve using 10 to 30+ individual single-purpose scenes; especially for those users (like myself) who have many scenes and may already be approaching Home's scene limit. **Developer response:** We’re sorry this didn’t meet your needs! Sunrise Alarm is a one-time purchase. No subscriptions, and no hidden fees. While it uses HomeKit scenes, it makes setting up a sunrise wake-up fast and effortless, much simpler than configuring dozens of scenes manually. ### 1/5 — Keine Funktion *2025-10-18* Die App steuert meine LED-Streifen nicht. Ich kann zwar einen Wecker erstellen, aber die Lichter schalten sich nicht ein. **Developer response:** Wir entschuldigen uns, dass Ihre Lichter nicht wie erwartet eingeschaltet wurden. Unser Team setzt sich dafür ein, dass Ihre Alarme einwandfrei funktionieren, und wir helfen Ihnen, alle auftretenden Probleme zu lösen. Bitte wenden Sie sich für Unterstützung an SunriseAlarmTeam@gmail.com, und wir bringen alles wieder in Ordnung. ### 5/5 — Parfait *2025-10-14* Application trouvée sur Reddit que je recommande fortement, elle fonctionne très simplement et me permets de mieux réguler mon réveil en douceur. Merci! **Developer response:** Merci pour votre avis et votre recommandation ! Nous sommes ravis que l’application fonctionne bien pour vous et vous aide à vous réveiller en douceur. ## Frequently asked questions about Sunrise Alarm for Smart Lights ### What is Sunrise Alarm? Sunrise Alarm is an application that transforms your HomeKit-enabled smart lights into a gradual dawn simulator. It aims to improve your morning alertness and sleep quality by mimicking natural light cycles. ### Does Sunrise Alarm require a subscription? No, Sunrise Alarm does not require a subscription. It is a one-time purchase. ### What devices are compatible with Sunrise Alarm? Sunrise Alarm works with all HomeKit-certified devices, including Philips Hue, Nanoleaf, and LIFX bulbs, strips, plugs, and fans. It requires an Apple Home Hub (Apple TV or HomePod) and at least one HomeKit-compatible light. ### How does Sunrise Alarm improve sleep and alertness? The app uses a gradual light increase to trigger your body's natural cortisol awakening response, which is more effective than sound-based alarms. Users report improvements in as few as six days. ### Can Sunrise Alarm run without my phone? Yes, your sunrise alarm runs directly on your Apple TV or HomePod. This means it will function even if your phone is off or not nearby. ### How often is Sunrise Alarm updated? The latest version is 1.2.0, last updated on February 21, 2026. Update frequency is typically tied to new iOS features or user-requested improvements. ### What is the age rating for Sunrise Alarm? Sunrise Alarm has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for users of all ages. ### What are the customization options for the sunrise simulation? You can customize the color, brightness curves, and fade duration of the light to match your sleep environment and personal sensitivity. You can also set different alarm schedules for weekdays and weekends. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.3.1 — 2026-07-07 - Improved on/off device scheduling, with clearer timing during setup - Made alarm preview descriptions more accurate ### 1.3.0 — 2026-06-20 - Control blinds, shades, and window coverings alongside your lights - Choose whether plugs and switches turn on or off when your alarm runs - Choose one of your own Home scenes to restore after sunrise - Faster alarm editing and creation ### 1.2.0 — 2026-02-21 - Select multiple lights at once instead of tapping through them one by one - Browse included color presets or save your own favorites - Control exactly when each light joins the sunrise across a room - Choose from four brightness transition styles - Lights return to normal after sunrise automatically, no manual reset needed - Smart plugs, fans, and outlets now work alongside your bulbs and strips ### 1.1.1 — 2025-11-08 This update brings improved reliability and a smoother morning experience, driven by user feedback: - Smoother Transitions: Fixed choppiness with certain color bulbs for a perfect sunrise fade. - Wider Compatibility: Added support for more smart light models (better setup experience). - More Reliable Alarms: General performance boosts and minor fixes ensure your alarms never miss a beat. Thank you for using Sunrise Alarm for Smart Lights. Your feedback helps us keep mornings bright! ### 1.1 — 2025-10-15 * Added support for more smart bulbs, including additional LIFX and Philips Hue devices, fixing issues where some lights didn’t turn on as scheduled. * Improved UI for a smoother, more consistent experience. * Minor bug fixes and performance improvements. ## Apps similar to Sunrise Alarm for Smart Lights | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Dark Noise: Ambient Sounds](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-noise-ambient-sounds/id1465439395) | 4.8 (3,622) | Free | Health & Fitness | | [Duffy - Steps Complication](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duffy-steps-complication/id1207581673) | 4.7 (728) | Free | Health & Fitness | | [BodyState: Vitals Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bodystate-vitals-tracker/id6479940325) | 4.7 (1,612) | Free | Health & Fitness | | [FitBee Calorie & Macro Counter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fitbee-calorie-and-macro-counter/id6443979108) | 4.8 (2,515) | Free | Health & Fitness | | [Sonar - Health & Performance](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sonar-health-and-performance/id1595073849) | 4.6 (335) | Free | Health & Fitness | | [AwakeSync](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/awakesync/id6466740367) | 3.5 (4) | Free | Health & Fitness | ## Related topics [sunrise alarm for smart lights](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sunrise-alarm-for-smart-lights) · [sunrise light](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sunrise-light) · [sunrise alarm clock simulated](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sunrise-alarm-clock-simulated) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-17.*