Captain Wake is an iPhone alarm app that won't let you dismiss the alarm with a tap. Instead you complete a real-world mission — photograph the sky or your kitchen, shake the phone, scan a barcode, or solve math problems — and by the time you're done you're actually awake.
We built Captain Wake because we were tired of the same old alarm clock routine: alarm rings, you tap dismiss, you fall back asleep. Sound familiar?
We're constantly improving Captain Wake with new missions, better AI verification, and more ways to build your morning routine. Stay tuned for updates!
Download Captain Wake and never oversleep again.
Frequently asked questions
What is Captain Wake?
Captain Wake is an iPhone alarm app that won't let you dismiss the alarm with a tap. Instead you complete a real-world mission — photograph the sky or your kitchen, shake the phone, scan a barcode, or solve math problems — and by the time you're done you're actually awake.
What missions does Captain Wake have?
Photo, math, barcode, shake and spin. Photo missions are the strongest because they're anchored to a real place in your home, so you have to stand up and walk there; the image is verified on-device and never uploaded.
Is Captain Wake free?
It's free to download, with a Premium subscription at around $29.99 a year after a 3-day free trial that unlocks the extras. It's iPhone-only and needs iOS 17 or later.
Can you cheat Captain Wake by closing the app?
No. The alarm keeps ringing through a force-quit, a phone restart, and silent mode. Completing the mission is the only thing that stops it.
Why people use Captain Wake to wake up on time
Not because it rings louder. Because it removes every way your half-asleep brain talks you back into bed.
1
There is no button to tap
Swiping an alarm away is a reflex you can perform while still asleep. A mission needs your thinking brain switched on — and once it is on, sinking back under is much harder.
2
It survives every trick
Force-quit the app, restart the phone, flip it to silent, turn the volume down. The alarm re-arms and keeps going until the mission is actually done.
3
It gets you physically upright
Photo and barcode missions are anchored to a spot in another room, so the only way to stop the noise is to stand up and walk there. You cannot pre-stage it from bed.
4
It fixes the night, not just the morning
A sleep forecast before bed, bedtime reminders and wake-up streaks — because the 6 AM problem usually starts at 1 AM.
Stop oversleeping. Start your mornings right.
Captain Wake is the alarm that makes you earn your morning. Photo missions, math, shake — no faking it.
