I regularly use Reclaim, and there is no denying it is one of the best AI calendar apps on the market. However, I recently decided to try another smart scheduling tool: Motion. After spending time with Motion, it felt like a pretty good smart calendar app. I was excited to see a Reclaim vs Motion comparison to see which smart calendar app is better.
While both smart scheduling tools work great, there are significant differences regarding features, pricing, and integrations. Here’s what I explored in the Reclaim vs. Motion showdown.
- Motion is better if you need a smart calendar app with project management features.
- Motion is accessible on desktop, mobile, and web, whereas Reclaim is available only as a web app.
- Reclaim is more affordable.
- Reclaim tracks and analyzes focus time, personal time, and team productivity, while Motion does not offer a similar feature.
- Reclaim offers more integration options.
Motion vs Reclaim at a glance
| Motion | Reclaim | |
| Best for | Small teams that are looking for an all-around tool that they can use for project management besides scheduling features. | Individuals manage multiple calendars while focusing on a healthy work-life balance. |
| Features | Strong focus on task and project management features. | Highly flexible features for smart scheduling with time analytics and reporting. |
| Integrations | Limited options. | Wide range of integration possibilities. |
| Ease of use | Simple navigation with mobile, desktop, and web access. | User-friendly interface and swift learning curve, but lack of a mobile and desktop app. |
| Customization | It is a flexible task and meeting scheduler tool but offers fewer personalization alternatives. | Transparent calendar view with many personalization options (no-meeting days, habits, time blocks for travel time, color coding). |
| Pricing | Individual plan: $19 per user/month Team plan: $19 per user/month | Free plan: Available Starter plan: $8 per user/month Business plan: $12 per user/month Enterprise plans: Enterprise $18 per user/month |
What is Reclaim?
Reclaim is an AI scheduling app that automatically finds the best time for tasks, meetings, habits, and breaks. This AI tool boosts your productivity and helps you regain work-life balance by blocking time for personal commitments or events. Reclaim has a wide range of integration possibilities with an available free plan.
What is Motion?
Motion leverages AI to build your weekly schedule, allowing you to effectively manage the projects and tasks assigned to you. It can auto-schedule meetings, synchronize your work calendar and personal calendar, and block time slots for recurring tasks and specific projects. Motion is available as a web, desktop, and mobile app.
Comparison: Motion vs Reclaim
Let’s get started with the Motion vs Reclaim breakdown!
Features
While there are some similar features, there are significant distinctions.
Automated scheduling
Both Motion and Reclaim use AI algorithms to automatically schedule tasks and meetings. You can add priorities, preferences, and due dates, and these two tools will handle the rest. Motion and Reclaim reschedule undone work if you do not complete the tasks by the deadline.
What is an addition to smart scheduling from Reclaim is its habits feature. Selecting how aggressively Reclaim should defend the habit and what others should see in your calendar gives an additional layer for smart time blocking.
Calendar sync
You can sync multiple calendars when using Reclaim or Motion to see your personal tasks and work projects in one place.
While Motion supports both Outlook and Google Calendar sync, you can connect Reclaim only with Google Calendar. Nevertheless, I would not consider this as a significant advantage because if you share your Google Calendar with your iCloud or Outlook, you can see all your calendar events using Reclaim.
Task management
Task management features are crucial parts of every AI scheduling assistant. Efficient task management starts with the to-do list but does not end there. You need to manage tasks and ensure they are on track even if you have more important tasks.
Unlike Motion, Reclaim has simple task management features. By clicking the “Tasks” tab, you can see all the tasks in one place. To create tasks, you must add duration, timeframe, due date, and visibility. Reclaim will organize tasks and meetings based on these inputs to ensure you complete them before the deadline.
Furthermore, you can integrate Reclaim with many third-party task management apps, so you do not need to add tasks manually.
When adding a task, you can choose the assignee, set priority, determine duration, specify start and due dates, and decide when it should be auto-scheduled.
The dashboard provides a clear and comprehensive view of outstanding tasks. I find Motion’s dashboard more effective in understanding who needs to do what and when.
Reclaim’s basic features are sufficient if you already use a third-party task management app. However, if you are looking for an all-around productivity tool for both task management and smart scheduling, Motion might be an ideal pick.
Project management
Although Reclaim is not a project management tool, it provides broad integration possibilities with third-party apps. It works great if you integrate it with a project management app rather than as a standalone project management tool.
In contrast, Motion offers more advanced features regarding project management. You can add project tasks and sub-tasks to your team’s calendars and track progress. Motion takes the burden of project planning off your shoulders. It automatically schedules tasks and sub-tasks to ensure timely completion.
Motion has all the essential features to manage small business projects and workflows. Nevertheless, Motion has no direct integration options with third-party project management apps.
Scheduling links
Scheduling links help others determine when to book a meeting based on availability. While Motion refers to it as a booking link, it is essentially the same.
Both Motion and Reclaim can define your preferred meeting hours. However, Reclaim provides more flexibility with the high-priority scheduling links.
With high-priority scheduling links in Reclaim, you can display your recurring tasks, habits, and one-on-one meetings as free time. This ensures that you can prioritize and make important meetings happen.
Time tracking and analytics
I love it when productivity tools save me time and help me measure it, and Reclaim excels in this area. It provides insights into work-life balance trends, focus time, and personal time.
Furthermore, you can also access team stats if you choose the paid plans. This can be a fantastic addition to busy teams. It assists in planning future projects and balancing workloads and ultimately contributes to more effective task management.
Unlike Reclaim, Motion lacks a time tracking and analytics feature. So, if you enjoy analyzing and planning, Reclaim would be an excellent choice.
Integrations and supported platforms
Reclaim provides many integration possibilities with third-party apps, including Google Tasks, Todoist, Asana, ClickUp, Slack, Zoom, etc. Reclaim is a perfect way to upgrade your calendar management and boost team collaboration if you use these tools.
In comparison, Motion has fewer integration options than Reclaim. However, you can integrate Motion with apps like Google Meet, Google Calendar, or Microsoft Teams. The Zapier integration is a significant advantage, allowing access to many third-party apps.
Ease of use
Reclaim has a user-friendly design, providing an intuitive experience. I never experienced any performance issues. The learning curve is swift, even if you are unfamiliar with similar apps.
I appreciated the details hidden in its features. For example, templates, the recurring tasks feature, or smooth one-on-one meetings set up. The only significant drawback I noticed is the lack of a mobile and desktop app.
Compared to other apps, Motion has a simple user interface. While the navigation is pretty easy, Motion helps with additional tutorial videos to ensure you know all the features. Adding a new task or meeting is smooth, making task and meeting management easy. You can use keyboard shortcuts to add tasks quickly anywhere on your computer.
The convenience of accessing Motion on desktop, mobile, and web makes it a standout in the Motion vs. Reclaim comparison when considering ease of use.
Customization and flexibility
When customizing your calendar with Reclaim, you can set up no-meeting days, incorporate habits, make time blocks for travel time, or use color coding for events. The calendar view in Reclaim makes it easy to distinguish focus time, priority tasks, and personal events. Reclaim offers a wide range of options to tailor your calendar to your liking.
I value the flexibility of adding priorities and preferences to ensure that Reclaim automatically schedules meetings or tasks at the right time.
Motion is also a flexible task and meeting scheduler. It offers customizable options when adding new tasks or meetings to your calendar. Comparing the Reclaim and Motion calendar view, I felt Reclaim provides a more transparent overview of your to-dos.
Both Motion and Reclaim provide a wide range of templates to streamline your workflow and save time by generating reusable structures for projects and tasks. These can be pretty useful when managing multiple projects.
In a nutshell, Reclaim and Motion are highly customizable smart calendars. For me, Reclaim’s flexibility when adding tasks makes it a winner.
Pricing
Motion’s pricing
The pricing model is the following:
- Individual plan: $19 per user/month
- Team plan: $19 per user/month
They provide a one-week free trial for users to explore and decide if it fits their needs. There is a significant difference in pricing between the annual and the monthly individual plan. While the individual plan is $19, if you choose the annual plan, the monthly plan will cost you $34 per month. Therefore, choosing the yearly plan is definitely more cost-effective if you decide to use Motion after the free trial.
The team plan is $19 per month per user if picking the annual plan. If you consider a monthly plan, it is $34 per user per month. Key distinctions in features between individual and team plans include automated task planning and collaborative task management with teammates.
Reclaim’s pricing
Reclaim has the following pricing structure:
- Free plan: Available
- Starter plan: $8 per user/month
- Business plan: $12 per user/month
- Enterprise plans: Enterprise $18 per user/month
Reclaim stands out with its generous free plan, offering features like three weeks of scheduling range, Google Tasks integration, calendar syncs, buffer time for meetings, and more. However, features like team scheduling, additional integrations, and an unlimited number of habits are exclusive to paid versions.
The main differences between the Starter plan and the Business plan are the number of scheduling links, max users in the team, smart 1 1s, and the scheduling range (8 weeks versus 12 weeks). The Starter plan suits smaller businesses with smaller teams, while the Business plan is tailored for businesses with more and bigger teams.
The Enterprise plan is for businesses with over 100 employees. These plans have the highest security with a prioritized customer support team.
Reclaim also offers discounts for startups, educators, and non-profit organizations. Furthermore, if you switch from Clockwise, Motion, or Calendly, you also receive a discount.
Reclaim pros and cons
Pros
- Reclaim is more budget-friendly.
- Available discounts.
- More flexible time blocking and smart scheduling.
- Many personalization options.
- Solid analytics and time-tracking features.
- High-priority scheduling links are an excellent way to prioritize between meetings.
Cons
- Currently, there are no available desktop and mobile versions.
- Direct calendar sync with Outlook would be a helpful addition.
- No project management features.
Motion pros and cons
Pros
- Motion is more than just a meeting management app; it has strong task and project management features.
- Allows keyboard shortcuts.
- You can easily create tasks and templates.
- 7-day free trial.
- The sync calendars feature lets you connect directly with your Outlook and Google Calendar.
Cons
- No free plan.
- The monthly plan is pricey.
- Lack of integration options.
Alternatives to Motion And Reclaim
The most popular alternatives to Motion and Reclaim are the following:
- Timehero
- Clockwise
- Trevor AI
- Clara
- Morgen
- CalendarHero
- Todoist
- Calendly
Beyond Reclaim vs Motion
If you want to explore more information regarding this topic, check out the related readings:
- Reclaim AI Review 2024: Pros And Cons You Need To Know
- Motion App Review: Is It The Best Meeting Scheduler?
- 8 Best AI Scheduling Assistants To Maximize Your Time In 2024
- Best 7 AI Task Manager Tools to Get More Work Done
Wrap-up
Both Motion and Reclaim are excellent productivity tools for syncing calendars and meetings. However, their capabilities extend beyond scheduling and calendar sync, excelling in various areas. Deciding which one is better is ultimately depending on your requirements.
Reclaim is excellent for managing multiple calendars and helps save time for personal events and good habits. This makes it an ideal application for individuals juggling a lengthy to-do list who want to ensure a healthy work-life balance.
Motion is a more complex scheduling and task manager app focusing on productivity. It is an excellent choice for small teams and entrepreneurs aiming to elevate their overall productivity.
Frequently asked questions
Is Reclaim or Motion better?
It depends on your needs. Motion is an all-around productivity tool that you can use for project management besides meeting scheduling and syncing calendars. Reclaim also allows calendar sync, and it is an ideal tool for managing multiple calendars while keeping your focus on a healthy work-life balance.
What is the difference between the Reclaim and Motion calendars?
There are significant differences in the features, pricing, and integrations. Motion has solid project management features, while Reclaim relies on third-party integrations. Reclaim has a free plan, but Motion has only paid plans.
Is Reclaim free?
Reclaim free plan includes three weeks of scheduling range, Google Tasks integration, calendar syncs, meeting buffer time, and more. Nevertheless, you can access more advanced features if using the paid plans.
Can I integrate Motion with Google Calendar?
Motion allows calendar sync with Outlook and Google Calendar to see all your calendars in one place.
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read the full privacy policy here.
