Revolutionary iOS App Awake: Engaging Heavy Sleepers with Missions and Features for a More Productive Morning Routine

A novel iOS application titled ‘Awake’ was unveiled on Monday, geared towards chronic sleepers who must complete tasks to deactivate their alarms. The app is accessible exclusively to users running the latest iOS 26 update, also released on the same day.

Unlike conventional alarm clocks that can be silenced with a mere tap, Awake aims to stimulate users’ cognitive processes to ensure they fully awaken. Upon activation of the alarm, users are presented with a series of interactive tasks to complete before silence is achieved.

These duties encompass a diverse range of challenges, such as rotating the iPhone, performing push-ups, or solving mathematical problems, puzzles, and even language lessons. By integrating physical and mental exercises, Awake strives to disrupt the pattern of repeatedly hitting snooze and promote a more energetic morning start.

While similar apps exist, such as Alarmy, Challenges, Mathe Alarm, and others, Awake distinguishes itself by offering additional features. One notable addition is the “Morning Briefing,” which delivers a customized digest of information chosen the previous night, including weather forecasts and calendar events.

There’s also an integration with Block, restricting user access to social media upon awakening. A future upgrade will enable users to listen to new podcast episodes as soon as they open their eyes.

Furthermore, Awake encompasses a sleep planning function that enhances sleep quality by allowing users to input their preferred amount of sleep and desired wake-up time. The app then calculates the optimal bedtime.

Leo Mehlig, the independent developer behind the widely acclaimed daily planner app Structured, developed Awake in response to a high demand from Structured users. Mehlig seized the opportunity following Apple’s announcement of iOS 26, which provided developers with access to a new Alarm Kit framework to create alarm and timer applications boasting features like full-screen alerts.

“I felt there had to be something more effective than a standard alarm clock for individuals who find it difficult to rise in the morning,” Mehlig shared with media outlets. “We had always planned for such an app, but we put it on hold. Seeing the Alarm Kit during Apple’s keynote made me realize we needed to develop this.”

Awake is available at no cost, with a premium subscription option priced at $1.75 monthly or $19.99 yearly. The premium tier unlocks additional tasks like switching on a light, scanning a QR code, and walking a predetermined number of steps. One task even requires users to recite a mantra.

In the future, Mehlig envisions incorporating a feature called “Wake Up Check,” which will verify whether users are genuinely awake post-completion of a task. By utilizing the step counter, the app will monitor user activity following the task; if no activity is detected, it will send an alert. If the user fails to respond within a few minutes, the app will reactivate the alarm to prevent them from falling back asleep.