Merlin Project review
A deep Apple-focused planner for teams that need more than basic Gantt charts.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Merlin Project is a project management application for Mac, iPad and iPhone users. It brings together Gantt scheduling, Kanban boards, mind maps, milestones, task dependencies, workload planning, resource management, costs and budgets. Projects are held in a local project file, supporting offline-capable planning without mandatory cloud storage. It is suited to professionals and teams working primarily within the Apple ecosystem, especially where project schedules need more structure than a basic task list.
Pricing is split by device. Merlin Project for Mac costs $22.99 per user per month when billed monthly, or $229.99 per user per year when billed annually. Merlin Project for iPad costs $9.99 per user per month, or $99.99 per user per year. The iPad plan covers iPad, iPhone and Apple Vision Pro. A 30-day free trial is available, followed by a read-only viewer rather than an ongoing editable free plan. The published plans show professional project management for individual users and teams on Mac, while the mobile plan is designed for Apple mobile devices.
Its platform and ecosystem fit are a central strength. Integrations include Apple Calendar, Contacts, iCloud Drive, Mail and Reminders, alongside Dropbox, Box.com, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Project. Microsoft Project import and export can help teams exchange project data, while shared files and cloud synchronization support collaboration. AppleScript and JavaScript automation extend its workflow options. Choose Merlin Project if you want detailed planning on macOS or iOS; teams needing broader platform coverage or a lower-cost editable free plan should look elsewhere.
Merlin Project pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Combines Gantt, Kanban and mind map views in one application
- Includes workload, resources, baselines, earned value, costs and budgets
- Supports Microsoft Project exchange and Apple ecosystem integrations
- Where it doesn't
- Available only on macOS and iOS platforms
- Starts at $22.99 per user per month for Mac
- No ongoing editable free plan after the 30-day trial
Merlin Project fact sheet, pricing and score →
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