We Tested 50+ AI Productivity Tools. Here Are The 16 Best Tools | Motion
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we work, enhancing our productivity, and streamlining tasks that used to take up a significant portion of our day.
But with so many ways to use AI, it’s hard to identify which apps are the best for your specific needs.
In this guide, I will dive into the best AI productivity tools available in 2024, and group them by type, to help you make an informed decision to boost your efficiency and workflow.
What are AI productivity tools?
Ultimately, this is a very broad term, which is why this list is so expansive (and will likely be enhanced even more!).
But, we define AI productivity tools as tools that use some form of AI to streamline a task that many people do frequently in their roles.
In this list, you’ll see AI tools that will help you be more productive in any role, and even some tools that can help very specific roles—like academia and marketing.
How I evaluated the AI productivity tools
So how did I evaluate these tools?
I evaluated each one based on several criteria:
- User experience
- Key features
- Pricing
- Compatibility
- Customer reviews
I tried out each tool myself and watched comprehensive guides on how to use each tool.
With this information, I was able to create fairly thorough write-ups on each tool.
I hope they’re helpful!
The best AI productivity tools
- Task management - Motion, Notion
- Chatbots - ChatGPT, Claude
- Marketing & design - Midjourney, Canva, Gamma
- Meeting transcriptions - Otter, Fireflies.ai
- Research assistants - Humata, Recast, Arc Browser, Perplexity
- Unified messaging - Texts, Missive
- Scheduling - Reclaim, Motion
The 16 Best AI productivity tools
1. Task management
Motion
Motion is a robust AI-powered productivity tool designed for individuals and teams with packed schedules.
By seamlessly integrating calendar management, project timelines, and task lists, Motion helps users streamline their daily activities and improve overall efficiency.
Standout features
- Auto-scheduling tasks on your calendar based on priorities, deadlines, and team availability
- Seamless calendar integration with personal and work calendars
- Email/voice integration to add tasks on the go
- Team collaboration features like task assignment, status tracking
- Customizable workspaces, projects, and task templates
What I liked
Motion has deep project management abilities AND integrates within my calendar—this solves a significant pain point beautifully.
With Motion, you can assign work to your teammates, add details with notes, and a priority level, and categorize tasks based on departments or task type.
What I disliked
Some advanced features have a steeper learning curve.
Motion pricing
- Individual: $19 per month (annual $34 monthly)
- Team: $12 per user per month (annual $20 per user monthly)
Notion
Standout features
- Central Hub for information storage
- AI integration for enhanced productivity
- Customizable templates and workflows
- Collaboration features
- Integrates with many other common workplace tools
Notion allows for a wide range of uses, from simple note-taking to complex database management. The AI integration enhances productivity significantly.
What I liked
Notion can answer company-relevant questions by pulling information from your databases and tools like Slack and Google Drive.
What I disliked
The sheer number of features and customization options can be overwhelming.
Notion pricing
Notion offers a free version. Paid plans are $5-$15 per user per month, with advanced AI capabilities for $8 per member, per month.
2. Chatbots
ChatGPT
Standout features
- AI-powered conversational agent
- Versatile use cases
- Ability to upload and analyze files
- Access to multiple OpenAI models
ChatGPT is versatile, useful for brainstorming, writing, and coding.
What I liked
It's ideal for new AI users, incredibly versatile, and integrates well into existing workflows.
What I disliked
Responses can be incorrect, especially for complex queries.
ChatGPT pricing
Free version available, Plus at $20/month, Team version at $25/user/month.
Claude 3.5 Sonnet
Standout features
- State-of-the-art vision recognition
- Advanced reasoning
- Free with limitations
Claude provides fast performance and up-to-date information.
What I liked
User-friendly, captures visual data effectively.
What I disliked
Free plan limitations.
Claude pricing
Free with limits; Pro Plan starts at $20/person/month.
3. Marketing & design
Canva
Standout features
- Easy-to-use graphic design tool
- AI-powered design creation
- Wide range of templates
Canva simplifies design across various platforms.
What I liked
Canva is user-friendly, offering extensive design features.{
What I disliked
Best templates often require Pro Plan.
Canva pricing
Basic plan is free; Pro Plan starts at $15/month.
Midjourney
Standout features
- Accessible via Discord
- Generates images with customization based on prompts
Midjourney uses text prompts to create imagery.
What I liked
Simplicity of use and fast outputs.
What I disliked
Public visibility of generated images.
Midjourney pricing**
Basic plan is $10/month; Pro plan offers more privacy at a higher cost.
Gamma
Standout features
- AI-generated presentations and documents.
Gamma allows quick generation of visually appealing materials.
What I liked
Fast results with intuitive customization.
What I disliked
Content depth might not meet all needs.
Gamma pricing
Free tier available; Plus version at $8/user/month; Premium at $15/user/month.
4. Meeting transcriptions
Otter
Standout features
- Meeting transcription and recording
- Automated meeting notes
Otter records and transcribes meetings accurately.
What I liked
Automated transcription saves time.
What I disliked
Accuracy can vary, especially with names.
Otter pricing
Offers a free version; paid plans start at $8.33/month.
Fireflies
Standout features
- Automatic meeting transcription
- AI-generated summaries
Fireflies.ai manages meetings efficiently.
What I liked
Eliminates manual note-taking.
What I disliked
Transcription can be inconsistent.
Fireflies.ai pricing
Free version available; Pro plan starts at $10/seat/month.
5. Research assistants
Perplexity
Standout features
- Fast AI-generated answers with sources
Perplexity provides reliable information with citations.
What I liked
Citing sources enhances reliability.
What I disliked
Responses can lack depth.
Perplexity pricing
Offers a free version; Professional version at $20/month.
Arc Browser
Standout features
- AI-powered search functionality and window management.
Arc Browser offers a unique browsing experience.
What I liked
Clean UI improves navigation.
What I disliked
Learning curve due to unique features.
Arc Browser pricing
Currently free to use.
Humata
Standout features
- Summarizes and compares documents.
Humata simplifies reading complex texts.
What I liked
Quick summaries save time.
What I disliked
Context may sometimes be lost.
Humata pricing
Free tier available; starts at $1.99/month for students.
Recast
Standout features
- Converts articles into audio summaries.
Recast helps with auditory learning.
What I liked
Engaging format for content consumption.
What I disliked
Customization options are limited.
Recast pricing
Free version; Pro plan at $9.99/month.
6. Unified messaging
Texts.com
Standout features
- Unified inbox for multiple messaging apps.
Texts.com centralizes communication.
What I liked
Saves time managing multiple platforms.
What I disliked
No mobile app available.
Texts.com pricing
Basic version is free; full version for $15/month.
Missive
Standout features
- Unified inbox for emails and messaging.
Missive integrates communication channels.
What I liked
Facilitates team collaboration effectively.
What I disliked
Setup can be time-consuming.
Missive pricing
Free plan; paid plans start at $18/user/month.
7. Scheduling
Reclaim
Standout features
- Share calendar availability with smart scheduling control.
Reclaim.ai automates scheduling.
What I liked
Saves time with scheduling.
What I disliked
Not a standalone calendar.
Reclaim pricing
Free plan available; Pro plan at $8/seat/month.
Conclusion
To sum up, these AI productivity tools are game-changers in enhancing efficiency and streamlining workflows across various domains. Consider giving them a try to find the best fit for your needs!