App Showcase: Alarmy

What it does

Alarmy is an alarm clock app built for people who struggle to wake up. Its core premise is simple: to turn off the alarm, you must complete a 'mission.' These missions range from solving math problems to shaking your phone, forcing your brain and body to become active. Beyond its powerful alarm, the app also functions as a morning routine hub, offering sleep tracking, weather updates, and even a daily horoscope.

Where it shines

Alarmy excels at making its value tangible. The 'Alarm Power' score (01:19) is a clever gamification mechanic that reframes premium features as direct upgrades to the alarm's effectiveness. The app also provides exceptional user support for complex settings. For instance, its guided tutorial for enabling Background App Refresh (02:03) is a thoughtful touch that prevents user frustration and ensures the app works reliably. The core mission-based alarm system (02:59) is the star, effectively breaking the snooze cycle by requiring active engagement.

UX highlights

• Guided First Use: The onboarding flow (00:30) doesn't just show features; it actively guides you to set up your first functional alarm, creating immediate investment.
• Clear Permission Framing: The app uses custom warm-up screens for notifications (00:55) and tracking (01:01), explaining why each permission is needed before the system prompt appears.
• Contextual Tooltips: Upon reaching the main dashboard for the first time, helpful coach marks (01:08) point out key functions, reducing the learning curve.
• In-Mission Previews: During setup, selecting a mission like 'Math' triggers a short video preview (00:42), clearly demonstrating how it works before you commit.
• Morning Dashboard: The app extends beyond a simple utility by offering a dashboard with weather, morning feeling logs, and horoscopes (04:48), aiming to become a central part of the user's morning.

Monetization & growth

Monetization is introduced early with a soft paywall during onboarding (00:17). This paywall leverages social proof, displaying user testimonials and a '58% Off' discount to anchor the price and value. The app avoids a free trial, opting for a direct subscription model. Throughout the app, premium features are clearly marked and often presented as 'power-ups' (01:19), a smart framing technique that encourages upgrades. The app also uses in-line prompts, such as suggesting users try other missions (01:18), to drive exploration of premium features.

Who it’s for

Alarmy is designed for heavy sleepers, chronic snoozers, and anyone who needs an extra push to get out of bed. Its mission-based system is particularly useful for students who need to get to class on time or professionals who want to build a more disciplined morning routine. Users looking for more than just a basic alarm clock will also appreciate its integrated sleep tracking and morning dashboard features.

Notes & opportunities

While the app is feature-rich, the multiple entry points to the premium subscription could feel slightly repetitive. For example, prompts appear on the main screen and when tapping locked features. Consolidating these might create a smoother experience. Additionally, the requirement for Background App Refresh is a potential friction point, though the app's excellent guided setup (02:03) does a great job of mitigating this issue. The core loop, however, is exceptionally well-designed and delivers on its promise.