Wake Up
Or Pay Up

When you set an alarm in Tethered, you choose a pledge amount (the financial penalty for oversleeping). If you don't complete your wake-up challenge within the time limit, your card is automatically charged. This is what makes Tethered the most effective alarm for heavy sleepers—real consequences create real motivation. All payments are processed securely through Stripe.

Currently we offer two challenge types: Math problems (solve equations to prove you're thinking clearly), and Step counting (take a certain number of steps to get moving).

Yes, you can edit or delete alarms anytime except when the "Lock Before Alarm" feature is enabled. This feature prevents changes 1 hour before the alarm time to prevent cheating.

Absolutely! We use Stripe for all payment processing, which is PCI-compliant and uses industry-standard encryption. We never store your credit card details on our servers.

If you complete your challenge within the time limit, you won't be charged anything! The alarm turns off and you start your day successfully. For repeating alarms, it automatically schedules for the next occurrence.

If you're a heavy sleeper who sleeps through alarms or can't resist hitting snooze, Tethered uses a psychological principle called loss aversion. The fear of losing money is a powerful motivator—it's why financial penalties work better than willpower alone. Most users stop oversleeping within the first week because the stakes make waking up non-negotiable.

Tethered is specifically designed for people who struggle to wake up. Unlike regular alarms that can be dismissed mindlessly, our challenges (math problems or step counting) require you to be fully alert. Combined with financial stakes, it's the most effective alarm for heavy sleepers who've tried everything else.