Clockwise
eM Client
| Feature | Clockwise | eM Client |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $6.75/mo | Free / from $49.95/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | engineering-teams, remote-teams, managers, knowledge-workers | professionals, windows-users, outlook-alternatives, small-businesses |
| Founded | 2016 | 2007 |
| Focus Time | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smart Scheduling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Meeting Optimization | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Slack Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Calendar Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| ✗ | ✓ | |
| Calendar | ✗ | ✓ |
| Contacts | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tasks | ✗ | ✓ |
| Chat | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pgp Encryption | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Clockwise Pros
- Creates Focus Time automatically
- AI resolves scheduling conflicts
- Team-wide schedule optimization
- Integrates with Google/Outlook calendars
✗ Clockwise Cons
- Requires team adoption for best results
- Can over-optimize meeting moves
- Limited value for individuals alone
✓ eM Client Pros
- One-time purchase
- Feature-rich
- Good Exchange support
- Modern UI
✗ eM Client Cons
- Desktop only
- Free limited to 2 accounts
- Occasional sync issues
The Verdict
Clockwise is built for engineering teams and remote teams, with a focus on focus-time and smart-scheduling. eM Client targets professionals and windows users and leads with email and calendar.
On pricing, Clockwise is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $6.75/mo compared to $49.95/mo for eM Client. That $43.2/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.