How Clucky Uses Rooster Sounds and Missions to Stop Oversleeping

Clucky, a new iOS alarm application designed to replace the standard smartphone wake-up tone with the persistent sound of a crowing rooster, officially launched on the App Store on August 21, 2026. Developed by former Fanatics software engineer Adrian Angelo Abelarde, the app aims to eliminate the “snooze habit” by combining aggressive audio cues with cognitive and physical “missions” that must be completed to silence the alarm.

The core mechanic of Clucky revolves around high-stakes wake-up routines. Unlike standard alarms that can be dismissed with a single tap, Clucky requires users to engage in specific tasks. These include solving math problems, shaking the device for a set duration, or walking a specific number of steps. The app also features an AI-powered object hunt mission, which requires the user to find and photograph a specific household item—such as a coffee mug or a toothbrush—before the rooster stops crowing.

A conceptual image of a phone screen showing a puzzle task. — Users must complete physical or cognitive missions, such as solving math problems, to silence the alarm.

Technical Implementation and “Extra Loud” Mode

To ensure the alarm is not easily ignored, Clucky utilizes Apple’s AlarmKit framework. This integration allows the app to support “Extra Loud Mode,” which programmatically raises the media volume and enables the alarm to bypass the device’s Silent and Focus modes. The application also leverages modern iOS features such as Dynamic Island and Live Activities to provide persistent visual feedback on mission progress while the alarm is active.

Beyond individual use, the app introduces a social accountability feature called “The Flock.” This allows users to form groups with friends or family. If a member of the Flock fails to wake up and complete their assigned mission, other group members receive a notification and can send “crow nudges”—repeated rooster sounds—to the sleeper’s device to provide external pressure.

Early Traction and Subscription Model

The app operates on a “Clucky Pro” subscription model, which is required to access the full range of missions and social features.

The “unforgiving” nature of the app’s design intentionally makes it difficult for users to return to sleep once the alarm is triggered.