ToolRankBest AI research and productivity tools with desktop apps
Updated 16 Oct 2026 · Prices from vendor pages only · How we rank →
The short answer
Each of these AI research and productivity tools runs as a desktop app (Mac, Windows or Linux) rather than only in a browser. Notion AI comes first: AI built into the docs and databases teams already use, with custom agents on Business. The cheapest verified paid plan here is Mem Mem Plus ($9/month). 4 of the 5 have a free plan we could confirm. Every price below is from the vendor’s own page, checked 16 Oct 2026.
Ranked shortlist
- Notion AI: AI built into the docs and databases teams already use, with custom agents on Business. Plan: Plus: $10/member/month
AI trial - Granola: AI notepad that enhances your meeting notes without a bot. Plan: Business: $14/user/month
- Motion: AI calendar and task scheduling. Plan: Pro AI: $19/seat/month
7,500 credits/seat/month - Raycast: Mac launcher with built-in AI chat and commands. Plan: Not yet verified
- Mem: AI-organised note-taking. Plan: Mem Plus: $9/month
Order follows ToolRank’s editorial ranking in Research & Productivity, filtered to tools that fit this page. Anything we couldn’t confirm on a vendor page says “Not yet verified”.
Side by side
| Rank | Tool | Relevant plan | Starting price | Free plan | Best for | Main limitation | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Notion AI | Plus: $10/member/month AI trial | $20/member/month (Business, includes Notion AI) | Free plan includes a trial of Notion AI only | Teams whose knowledge already lives in Notion | Free and Plus only include an AI trial; full AI needs Business ($20/member/month). | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #2 | Granola | Business: $14/user/month | $14/user/month (Business) | Basic: $0 | Bot-free AI meeting notes | Team features need Business | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #3 | Motion | Pro AI: $19/seat/month 7,500 credits/seat/month | $19/seat/month (Pro AI) | Free trial | Auto-scheduling tasks into your calendar | No free plan; billing period for the listed price was not clear on the page | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #4 | Raycast | Not yet verified | Not yet verified | Free for personal use | Mac launcher with optional AI | Pro price not verified; Pro always includes AI | 16 Oct 2026 |
| #5 | Mem | Mem Plus: $9/month | $9/month (Mem Plus) | Free: 25 new notes/month | AI note-taking that organises itself | Free plan caps new notes | 16 Oct 2026 |
Prices as listed by each vendor on the last-checked date, USD, before tax. Plans and limits change, so follow the sources below.
Who should pick which
Pick Notion AI for teams whose knowledge already lives in Notion (Plus: $10/member/month); think twice if you don't use Notion. Pick Granola for bot-free AI meeting notes (Business: $14/user/month). Watch out: team features need Business. Pick Motion for auto-scheduling tasks into your calendar (Pro AI: $19/seat/month). Watch out: no free plan; billing period for the listed price was not clear on the page. Pick Raycast for mac launcher with optional AI (free plan: Free for personal use). Watch out: pro price not verified; Pro always includes AI. Pick Mem for AI note-taking that organises itself (Mem Plus: $9/month). Watch out: free plan caps new notes.
FAQ
Which of these is cheapest?
Mem Mem Plus ($9/month) is the lowest paid price we verified on this list (https://get.mem.ai/pricing, checked 16 Oct 2026). Check the vendor page for tax, billing period and usage limits.
Which of these have a free plan?
Notion AI: Free plan includes a trial of Notion AI only; Granola: Basic: $0; Raycast: Free for personal use; Mem: Free: 25 new notes/month.
How were these tools chosen?
They are the tools in ToolRank's rankings with a desktop app listed by the vendor, confirmed on the vendor's own website on 16 Oct 2026. Tools we could not verify are left out rather than guessed, and anything unconfirmed is marked Not yet verified.
Sources
- Notion AI: Notion pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Granola: Granola pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Motion: Motion pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Raycast: Raycast pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
- Mem: Mem pricing checked 16 Oct 2026
Related comparisons
Profiles: Notion AI · Granola · Motion · Raycast · Mem
More best-of lists
- Best AI search engines
- Best AI tools for academic research
- Best AI tools with MCP support (all categories)
- Best AI tools under $10 a month (all categories)
- Best free AI tools for finding research papers
- Best AI note-taking apps
- Best free AI research and productivity tools (with a real free plan)
- Best AI research and productivity tools for $10 a month or less
- Best AI research and productivity tools for $15 a month or less
- Best AI research and productivity tools for $20 a month or less
- AI research and productivity tools with a free trial (paid plans only)
- Best AI research and productivity tools with an API
- Full Research & Productivity ranking →
Some links may be affiliate links. They never affect rank.
Get the weekly ToolRank brief
New AI tools, verified price changes and fresh comparisons. One email a week. Unsubscribe anytime.