AI Planner Apps 2026

Are they worth the hype? Let's find out.

Everyone's slapping "AI" on everything in 2026. Your toaster probably has AI now. But AI planners? Some actually deliver. Most don't.

I spent a month testing the big ones. Here's the truth.

What AI planners promise: Add tasks, tell the AI your deadlines, and it automatically schedules everything around your meetings. Sounds magical. Sometimes it is.

The Big Players

$19/month

Motion

The OG AI planner. Add a task, set a deadline, and Motion finds time in your calendar. Reschedules automatically when things change.

The good: Actually works. Saves real time if you have a packed calendar.

The bad: $228/year. That's a lot for task scheduling. And sometimes the AI makes weird decisions you have to fix manually anyway.

Best for: Execs with 20+ meetings per week.

$10/month

Reclaim.ai

Protects your focus time. Blocks "busy" time for deep work, then shrinks those blocks as your calendar fills up.

The good: Cheaper than Motion. Great for protecting maker time.

The bad: Less smart about task scheduling. More of a calendar defender than a true planner.

Best for: People drowning in meetings who need focus time.

$4/month

Trevor AI

Budget AI planner. Drag tasks to your calendar and it suggests optimal times.

The good: Cheap. Simple. Gets the job done.

The bad: AI is less impressive than Motion. More of a smart assistant than a magic scheduler.

Best for: Budget-conscious users who want some AI help.

Free

SkedPal

Older AI scheduler. Calculates when you should work on what based on deadlines and priorities.

The good: Free tier is generous.

The bad: Interface feels dated. Less polished than newer competitors.

Do You Actually Need AI Scheduling?

Hot take: Most people don't need AI scheduling. If you have fewer than 10 meetings a week, manual planning takes 5 minutes. Paying $19/month to save 5 minutes is $228/year for 4 hours saved. Do the math.

You DO need AI scheduling if:

You DON'T need AI scheduling if:

The Alternative: Simple + Smart

Here's what I actually do: I use Funtasking for tasks and life balance, plus Google Calendar for scheduling. Manual time blocking takes me 5 minutes every morning.

Funtasking shows me which life areas need attention. Google Calendar shows me when I'm free. No AI magic needed. And it's free.

If your calendar is truly chaotic, try Motion's free trial. But don't feel bad if you end up back with a simple system. Simple works.

Comparison

App Price AI Quality Best For
Motion $19/mo Excellent Busy executives
Reclaim.ai $10/mo Good Protecting focus time
Trevor AI $4/mo Basic Budget option
Funtasking + GCal Free Manual Most people

Try Simple First

Funtasking is free. See if you need AI before paying for it.

Start Free

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