Merlin
Merlin: A Mac-and-browser assistant that brings research, meeting notes, file work, and routines together. Ranked #44 of 55 in General-Purpose AI Assistants by our editors (4.8/10); pricing: 7-day trial; best for mac and browser users automating research and office tasks.
At a glance
- Editor score4.8 / 10
- Pricing7-day trial
- Best forMac and browser users automating research and office tasks
- Free planNo
- Web searchYes
- Facts checked3 Oct 2026
Where it wins
- Handles browser research, files, meeting notes, and scheduled routines
- Companion answers questions about selected text, pages, files, or approved captures
- Connects with Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Notion, Granola, and Linear
Where it doesn't
- Requires connecting email and calendar accounts during onboarding
- Listed platforms are limited to macOS and a Chrome extension
- After the seven-day trial, the listed price is $19/month
Our verdict on Merlin
Merlin is a Mac-based AI assistant for people who want help with research and office tasks across browser pages, files, meetings, and connected services. Its scope spans browser research, meeting recording with speaker-labelled transcripts and notes, file and office-document work, and scheduled or event-driven routines. That breadth suits individuals and smaller teams looking to bring several work tasks into one assistant, especially Mac users who also work in Chrome. It is less suited to people seeking a broad platform footprint beyond those environments.
The browser extension can use existing browser sessions, while Merlin’s Companion answers contextual questions about selected text, webpages, files, or an approved screen capture. It can also work with reports, spreadsheets, decks, websites, and coding projects. Connections include Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Notion, Granola, and Linear, alongside email, calendar, and other supported services. This makes Merlin relevant to workflows that move between research, communications, and office materials; buyers should still check whether their particular services are supported and whether the Mac-and-Chrome setup fits their daily work.
According to the vendor’s pricing page, the paid Merlin plan has a seven-day free trial and then costs $19 per month. The listed plan highlights AI assistant features, and the product has no free plan. Current onboarding requires connecting email and calendar accounts, an important consideration for anyone cautious about granting account access. Merlin lists email support and SOC 2 compliance. Its homepage and pricing descriptions are not fully aligned, so prospective buyers should verify that the capabilities they need are available in the current product before subscribing. Choose Merlin for a Mac-centered mix of browser research, meetings, and office tasks; look elsewhere if you need a free tier or broader platform coverage.
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Merlin pricing
All 1 Merlin plans and prices →
Merlin fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Web search | Yes |
| File uploads | Yes |
| Image input | Yes |
| Voice interaction | Not verified |
| Deep research mode | Not verified |
| Free trial | 7 days |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop, Browser extension |
| Platforms | macOS, Chrome extension |
| Compliance & security | SOC 2 |
| Support | |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 6 integrations: Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Notion, Granola, Linear |
| Pricing | 7-day trial (source) |
| Website | merlin.computer |
| Facts checked | 3 Oct 2026 |
Merlin integrations
Merlin lists 6 integrations on its own site.
- Gmail
- Google Calendar
- Slack
- Notion
- Granola
- Linear
Alternatives to Merlin
- ChatGPTA broad AI assistant for everyday tasks, with web search, file analysis, image tools, and team workspaces.9.4
- GeminiA broad multimodal assistant with free access and close ties to Google services.9.3
- Microsoft CopilotA flexible everyday assistant, with its strongest fit for Microsoft 365 users.9.2
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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