What Reclaim AI does best?
Owned by Dropbox, Reclaim AI is one of the free tools for upgrading how you use Google Calendar or Outlook as an individual or a team. But despite its superpowers, there are tools that can do similar things or even go above and beyond to help you use AI to better manage your tasks.
Reclaim has been on the market for a few years now (since around 2019), and it's matured into something genuinely useful. I tested it for about 3 months in 2026, and honestly? The auto-scheduling works better than I expected. But it's not perfect, which is why you're here looking at alternatives.
Here's some things we want to bring forward into our recommendations:
AI Prioritization - Reclaim does wonders for helping you re-shuffle tasks based on the importance of them. It looks at deadlines, task duration, and your calendar to figure out when things should happen. When it works, it's stupidly good. When it doesn't, you're manually fixing conflicts.
Finding Focus Time - The platform helps craft and protect time that could be used for deep work without the noise of meetings. It automatically blocks chunks of your calendar for focused work, which is great until your manager books over it anyway (RIP focus time).
Work Life Balance - Reclaim helps you weave in habits like lunch, yoga, breaks into that routine of yours: a healthy balance. The habits feature is probably Reclaim's best addition. It ensures you don't skip lunch or work through breaks, which honestly saved me from burnout a few times.
Team Meeting Coordination - Reclaim excels at finding meeting times across teams without the back-and-forth email chains. The smart 1:1 scheduling is clutch for managers juggling multiple direct reports.
In our experience, these are the best features of Reclaim and ones that we should be aware of when recommending you alternatives below. But Reclaim has gaps too: it's Google Calendar-heavy (Outlook support exists but feels secondary), the task management is basic compared to dedicated to-do apps, and the free tier limits can be frustrating once you're hooked on the features.
Maybe you're looking for something with better task management, more AI features, works with calendars beyond Google, or just costs less. Let's find you the right fit.
Sunsama
Best for Work Life Balance
Sunsama is a popular tool for work life balance. For those who want a better way to focus on quality tasks versus quantity tasks, you'll like Sunsama.
Reclaim does present some great features for work life balance like habits for blocking time automatically, analytics for providing breakdowns on how you spent your time (something Sunsama does too) and the ability to use priority based task management for reducing the need to constantly think about what's next. But as a collective, Sunsama is more unique for personal users as a full planner system.
Here's the thing: Sunsama forces you to be intentional about your day. The guided daily planning flow makes you review tasks, set objectives, and actually think about whether you're overcommitting. Reclaim automates more, which is great for busy people, but Sunsama makes you slow down and plan mindfully.
Whereas Reclaim does wonders for teams that want to use these work life balance tools alongside their calendar chaos, Sunsama is more individual-focused. The guided planning ritual every morning and evening helps you start and end your day with clarity, something Reclaim doesn't push you to do.
Where Sunsama wins: - Helps with task and time limits for your day, preventing overload (Reclaim doesn't cap your daily tasks) - Offers a unique guided planning method for planning your next day and the week ahead - Sunsama has a more robust desktop app with good integrations with Notion, ClickUp, Asana, and more for task consolidation - Weekly objectives feature lets you zoom out and focus on what actually matters - Shutdown ritual helps you close out the workday properly (game changer for work-life boundaries)
Where Reclaim wins: - Better job for meeting scheduling and automatic meeting scheduling for teams - More powerful AI auto-scheduling without the manual planning overhead - Free tier exists (Sunsama only has a 14-day trial) - Handles team coordination better with smart 1:1 meetings
I've used both for extended periods. Reclaim feels like autopilot for your calendar, which is great when you're drowning in meetings. Sunsama feels like a personal coach forcing you to be thoughtful about your time, which is great when you're drowning in busywork that doesn't matter.
Sunsama is best for individuals who want to replace Reclaim with a more mindful planner tool. Those open to spending a bit more per month to access, as Sunsama begins at $16 per month (annual) or $20/month (monthly). That's pricier than Reclaim's free tier, but cheaper than Reclaim's paid plans once you need team features.
Bottom line: if you're an individual contributor who wants to escape the "always on" grind and focus on meaningful work, Sunsama wins. If you're managing a team or drowning in meeting coordination, stick with Reclaim.
Motion
Best for AI Prioritization
Motion is one of the closest like-for-like alternatives to Reclaim, but not on a budget... Reclaim offers good priority management features, auto-scheduling and time blocking to ensure that people don't book meetings with you. Motion offer all of these, but with more power.
The AI tools that Motion offers prioritize your task, organize them into the project and can even delegate them to others.
Motion is very powerful now with AI documents that can allow you to take notes and turn them all into a project or a task list for you. Motion offer so many ways for your team to book meetings, collaborate on a date.
But comes at a price, almost $29 per month for the basic tier (subject to change). Motion presents a solid focus on AI prioritization, better than what Reclaim offers.
Reclaim does meetings very well with 1:1 auto-scheduling and team group meetings handled. For work life balance, Reclaim does a better job with habits & focus time (in our opinion). For project management abilities & sharing, Motion wins here too. Reclaim is better for meeting focused teams who have lots of 1:1.
Motion is better for teams who need to plan, project & timeline their work. Motion is a lot more expensive per month than the top tiers of Reclaim - be aware!
Todoist
Best for Budget
If you're looking closely at the wallet and you don't care so much for the AI abilities for prioritization. We've got an option! It might be worth going with a traditional to-do list app, and which one do we tend to recommend? Likely Todoist. It offers a great all-round experience for managing tasks, planning your work in Kanban boards & create recurring tasks.
Todoist is your good old fashion to-do list app, which works very well for those who want something without the noise of AI or meetings. We placed this in our list as sometimes people need to consider a unique tool to their thinking, to see whether the constant exploration for a Reclaim alternative could be a shift in your thinking.
Todoist doesn't offer meeting scheduling, work life balance abilities or even AI prioritization.
But it will make a great home for your task management.
If you're looking for something simple and easy to begin plotting your tasks on, this is a good choice. Those who need a more basic to-do list app with no priority planning features. For those on a budget as Todoist costs $4 per month (subject to change).
FlowSavvy
Best for Auto Scheduling
FlowSavvy is an auto-scheduling tool for individuals. It focuses on your own prioritization and plotting in important tasks.
If you're seeking a auto-scheduling task management tool as an solo user, without the worry of meetings or work life balance features, FlowSavvy is a good value tool for that job.
If you liked the look of Motion for your own use, but couldn't swallow the $20+ per month price tag, then FlowSavvy offers a top tier price of $8 per month (subject to change) - making it a mid-tier planning app for your needs.
It helps to re-schedule tasks based on context you add to each task. FlowSavvy does wonders for your auto-scheduling much like Reclaim. Works with Google Calendar & Outlook, like Reclaim, even iCloud too. Syncs with more than 1 calendar (2) on the basic plan. Pricing isn't crazy too, less than Reclaim pricing for auto-scheduling abilities.
For those who want auto-scheduling and help with prioritizing. Manage and organize workloads. There are some recommended FlowSavvy alternatives to consider too.
Akiflow
Best for Consolidation
Akiflow is one of the tools always mentioned with Reclaim comes up. Much like Sunsama it helps users to bring in tasks from other apps into one base. This is something that Reclaim doesn't offer and allows users a good way to better see all their tasks under one dashboard.
Akiflow does have some work life balance features (Rituals) and some focus time blocking abilities, even a mode called Time Slots for better helping blocking out time to your needs.
But when it comes to booking meetings, it only has a way to schedule a meeting with an external party. Akiflow is better for managing all your tasks in one place. Reclaim does a better job for helping you to weave in habits & see where you spend your time. Akiflow doesn't do as good a job at helping you to plan, re-schedule and auto-plan features.
There isn't many AI prioritization modes in Akiflow compared to Reclaim & Motion.
Clockwise
Best for Teams
For teams, Clockwise is the closest like-for-like alternative. It works with Google Calendar and Outlook to help schedule meetings and block time in for you.
If you're a team and you're looking at the abilities that Reclaim offer for managing meetings, with ible meetings and re-scheduling of tasks, you'll be good to have a look at Clockwise. Reclaim does a better job at helping your plan your tasks separate to your calendar.
Clockwise has some good AI chat abilities to help break down your tasks and events coming up. Clockwise is cheaper per month (subject to change) marginally for users.
Not for individuals. Best for teams of 3+ that want to plan calendar events and their schedule
Clockwise is an AI calendar and scheduling assistant used for teams to manage time.
Hoop
Best for Meetings
Hoop is an up-and-coming to-do list app that helps take the admin out of meetings you attend. It joins your Google Meets, Zoom, or whatever you use, to basically extract important tasks, doing this with Slack and email too, then compiling them into one location for you to sort later and prioritize.
Much like Reclaim, it has a way to sort and work out which task is most important. Each task is titled, managed into a tag, and prepared for you to sort later. Hoop doubles up as an AI note-taking tool for meetings too.
The magic here is the automatic capture. How many times have you been in a meeting, someone says "can you send me that report?" and you forget to write it down? Hoop catches those action items automatically. It's like having an assistant who actually pays attention.
From what I've tested, the AI is pretty good at distinguishing between random discussion and actual tasks. Not perfect (it occasionally captures "let's grab coffee" as a task), but better than manually tracking everything yourself.
We'd recommend Hoop for busy individuals in lots of meetings who constantly lose track of commitments. If you're in 5+ meetings a day and find yourself scrambling to remember what you promised to whom, Hoop is worth trying.
Trade-offs vs Reclaim: - Doesn't have as many AI prioritization and work life balance features as Reclaim (no habits, no focus time blocking) - Reclaim lacks an AI note-taking tool right now, so Hoop fills that gap - Hoop is more about task capture from meetings; Reclaim is more about calendar optimization - Hoop works very well as a Mac to-do list app and on other devices (iOS, web)
Pricing is competitive too: Hoop has a free tier that's actually useful, and the paid plan is cheaper than Reclaim's team pricing. If meetings are your pain point and you need AI to extract tasks automatically, Hoop solves a problem Reclaim doesn't even try to address.
What makes a good Reclaim alternative?
When looking for a Reclaim AI alternative, you need to think about what you actually use Reclaim for. Not all calendar and task tools are created equal, and what works for someone else might not work for you.
Calendar-First vs Task-First
Reclaim is calendar-first. It lives in your Google Calendar (or Outlook) and treats tasks as events to be scheduled. Some alternatives flip this: they're task managers that happen to have calendar views. Figure out which mental model fits your brain better.
If you think in terms of "I have these time blocks available" (calendar-first), look at tools like Clockwise, Motion, or FlowSavvy. If you think in terms of "I have these tasks to do" (task-first), look at Todoist, Akiflow, or Sunsama.
AI Auto-Scheduling: Do You Really Want It?
Reclaim's AI scheduling is powerful but it's not for everyone. Some people love the autopilot feel: tasks magically appear in their calendar. Others hate giving up control and constantly fight the AI's decisions.
If you want more AI, Motion goes even deeper with prioritization algorithms. If you want less AI and more manual control, Akiflow or Routine let you time block manually. Neither is wrong, just different workflows.
Team vs Individual Focus
Reclaim shines for teams: smart 1:1 scheduling, finding group meeting times, coordinating across calendars. If you're using Reclaim solo, you're only tapping into maybe 40% of its power.
For solo use, Sunsama, FlowSavvy, or Routine might fit better. They're built for individuals from the ground up. For teams, Clockwise or Motion have robust collaboration features that match or exceed Reclaim.
Work-Life Balance Features
Reclaim's habits feature (lunch breaks, exercise, meditation) is genuinely useful for preventing burnout. Not all alternatives have this. If work-life balance is why you use Reclaim, make sure your alternative handles habits or personal time blocking.
Sunsama is the best alternative for this. The shutdown ritual and daily objectives keep you focused on what matters instead of just cramming more tasks in. Motion has work hours settings but doesn't push balance the way Reclaim or Sunsama do.
Integration Ecosystem
Reclaim works with Google Calendar, Outlook, Slack, and a handful of task managers. If you're deep in a specific ecosystem (Notion, ClickUp, Asana), check if your alternative integrates better.
Akiflow brings in tasks from 10+ apps. Sunsama integrates with Notion, Asana, Trello, and more. Motion is more isolated (fewer integrations). Figure out what you need to connect before committing.
Pricing Structure
Reclaim has a generous free tier (though limited). Many alternatives don't. Motion, Sunsama, and Akiflow all start around $15-20/month with no free tier (just trials). If budget matters, factor this in early.
Tips for migrating from Reclaim
Switching from Reclaim to another planning tool takes some thought. You can't just export-import and call it done. Here's what I've learned from switching between these tools multiple times.
Understand What You're Actually Using
Before you migrate, audit your Reclaim usage. Are you using habits? Focus time? Task priorities? Team scheduling? Many people sign up for Reclaim thinking they'll use everything, but end up only using 2-3 features.
If you're only using the basic task scheduling, you might not need a full Reclaim replacement. A simpler tool like Todoist + Google Calendar might work fine. But if you're deep into habits, focus time, and team coordination, you need a more comprehensive alternative.
Export Your Tasks Early
Reclaim doesn't have a robust export feature for tasks (as of 2026, which is frustrating). Your tasks live in your Google Calendar as events, so you'll need to manually recreate them in your new tool or use Google Calendar's export.
Do this before you cancel Reclaim. Seriously. I've seen people lose track of tasks because they assumed everything was backed up. It's not.
Test Alongside Reclaim First
Run your new tool parallel to Reclaim for at least a week. Keep Reclaim handling your actual commitments while you test the new tool with low-stakes tasks. This lets you learn the interface without risking missed deadlines.
Most alternatives offer 14-day free trials. Use the full trial period. The first 3-4 days always feel clunky because muscle memory fights you. By day 10-14, you'll know if it actually works for your workflow.
Recreate Your Habits Manually
If you use Reclaim's habits feature (lunch, breaks, exercise), you'll need to rebuild these in your new tool. Sunsama handles this well with recurring tasks and rituals. Motion has work hours settings. Akiflow has time slots.
But here's the catch: none of them work exactly like Reclaim's smart habits that auto-adjust based on your calendar. You might need to be more manual about protecting your breaks and personal time.
Adjust Your Meeting Scheduling Strategy
If you use Reclaim for smart 1:1s or team meeting coordination, figure out your replacement strategy. Clockwise handles this similarly. Calendly or Cal.com can fill the gap for external scheduling.
Don't assume your new tool handles meetings the same way. Test it with a few low-priority meetings before relying on it for important ones.
Give It Three Weeks
Two weeks is the minimum to adjust to any new productivity tool. Three weeks is better. The first week you'll hate it (everything is unfamiliar). The second week you'll tolerate it (muscle memory is forming). The third week you'll know if it actually improves your workflow.
If after three weeks you're still constantly wishing you were back on Reclaim, the tool probably isn't the right fit. But if it's just mild annoyance at learning a new interface, push through.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the closest alternative to Reclaim AI?
Motion is the closest overall. It has AI auto-scheduling, task prioritization, calendar integration, and team features. The main difference: Motion is more expensive ($19-29/month) and feels more task-focused, while Reclaim is more calendar-centric. Clockwise is close too, especially for teams, but it's more meeting-focused than task-focused.
Is there a free alternative to Reclaim AI?
Todoist has a free tier and works well as a basic task manager with calendar integration (they added calendar view recently). FlowSavvy has a free tier for auto-scheduling. But honestly? Most true Reclaim alternatives cost money. Reclaim's free tier is actually one of the better deals in this space.
Which alternative is best for individuals, not teams?
Sunsama, hands down. It's built for solo users who want mindful planning, work-life balance, and task consolidation. FlowSavvy is good too if you just want auto-scheduling without the team features. Reclaim's team coordination features are wasted if you're flying solo.
Can I use Motion instead of Reclaim?
Yeah, but expect to pay more. Motion starts at $19/month (Reclaim's free tier covers most individual use cases). Motion's AI is more aggressive about prioritizing and scheduling, which some people love and others find annoying. The project management features in Motion are better than Reclaim's task management, so if you need both planning and PM, Motion wins.
Does any alternative work better with Outlook than Reclaim?
Clockwise has pretty good Outlook support for teams. Motion works with Outlook too. Honestly, most of these tools are Google Calendar-first, and Outlook feels like an afterthought. If you're deep in Microsoft 365, you might be better off with Microsoft To Do + Outlook's built-in features instead of trying to force a third-party tool.
What if I only use Reclaim for habits and focus time?
Sunsama handles this better than Reclaim. The rituals feature, shutdown mode, and focus features are more robust. If you don't need the AI auto-scheduling or team coordination, Sunsama is worth the $16/month. Akiflow's time slots can replicate some of Reclaim's focus time blocking too.
Can I keep using Reclaim and add another tool?
Absolutely. Some people use Reclaim for calendar and meeting coordination, then Todoist or Notion for deeper task management. Akiflow and Sunsama can import tasks from other apps, so you could use Reclaim for scheduling and Akiflow for task consolidation. Tools aren't mutually exclusive.