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Merlin Project

Offline Mac and iPad project planner with Gantt, Kanban and mind maps

Free trial · from $6.99/moProject ManagementChecked Oct 9, 2026
Visit projectwizards.net
Merlin Project, as pictured on projectwizards.net
How Merlin Project presents itself. Image from projectwizards.net.

What is Merlin Project?

Merlin Project is a project management app for Mac, iPad and iPhone from the German company ProjectWizards. A single project file can be shown as a Gantt chart, a Kanban board, a mind map or a workload view, and the app works offline with files kept on the user's own devices. It is sold by subscription only, and the Mac app and the iPad and iPhone app are subscribed to separately.

Merlin Project is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $6.99 per user / month for the Express edition; full Mac app $22.99, iPad $9.99. See every plan

Good for

  • Project managers on Mac who want Gantt scheduling with baselines and earned value
  • Planning in places without a reliable internet connection
  • Organizations that need project data kept off a vendor's cloud servers
  • Exchanging plans with people who use Microsoft Project

Worth knowing

  • Runs only on Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple Vision Pro; the vendor lists no Windows, Android or browser version.
  • The Mac app and the iPad and iPhone app need separate subscriptions; the vendor offers no bundle.
  • Subscription only: the vendor no longer sells a one-time or perpetual license.
  • Merlin Project Express, the $6.99 edition, leaves out Kanban, mind maps, baselines, earned value and team features.

Key features

Gantt chart and scheduling
Link tasks with dependencies, set milestones and read slack times. The critical path recalculates as progress is entered.
Kanban board and mind map
The same project data can be shown as a Kanban board or a mind map, and moving a card or adding a branch updates the Gantt chart.
Resources, baselines and earned value
Assign people, materials, companies and equipment to tasks and see who is overbooked. The full app also has dynamic baselines and earned value analysis.
Offline files with sync
Projects are stored on the user's devices and work without a connection. Teams sync through iCloud Drive, Dropbox or other cloud storage, not a vendor server.
AI project assistant
Since version 9, an assistant generates a starting project structure with tasks, dependencies and resources from a short text description.
Import and export
Reads and writes Microsoft Project XML, MindManager, FreeMind, OPML, CSV and iCalendar files, imports OmniPlan files, and exports PDF, image and HTML reports.

Merlin Project pricing

Starts at
$6.99 per user / month for the Express edition; full Mac app $22.99, iPad $9.99
Free plan
None
Free trial
30-day free trial with every feature (14 days for Express); afterwards the app becomes a free read-only viewer.
Merlin Project Express$6.99per user / month, or $69.99 per yearA separate, smaller Mac app with Gantt planning and resources. No Kanban, mind map, baselines or team features. App Store or Setapp only.
Merlin Project for iPad$9.99per user / month, or $99.99 per yearThe full app on iPad, iPhone and Apple Vision Pro. A separate subscription from the Mac app.
Merlin Project for Mac$22.99per user / month, or $229.99 per yearThe full Mac app with Gantt, Kanban, mind map, workload, baselines and earned value. Sold in the vendor's store and on the Mac App Store at the same price.

Read from projectwizards.net on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Merlin Project before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Ways to pay less

  • Annual discountTwo months free with yearly billing

    The price list labels yearly billing as 2 months free: the Mac app is $229.99 a year against $22.99 a month, which comes to $275.88 over 12 months.

    Stated on projectwizards.net
  • Education50% education discount on the Mac app

    The purchasing FAQ gives students and educators 50% off Merlin Project for Mac in the vendor's own store on proof of status. It is not offered through the App Store.

    Stated on projectwizards.net
  • Nonprofit50% off for nonprofits and charities

    Nonprofits and charities that send proof of status get 50% off the Mac list price in the vendor's store. Churches and clerical organizations are excluded.

    Stated on projectwizards.net
  • Other savingsVolume discount from 10 licenses

    Mac subscriptions bought in the vendor's store get 5% off from 10 licenses, rising in steps to 30% from 100 licenses. It cannot be combined with other discounts.

    Stated on projectwizards.net
  • Other savingsFamily Sharing on App Store subscriptions

    A subscription bought through the App Store can be shared with up to five other family members through Apple's Family Sharing.

    Stated on projectwizards.net

Works with

Merlin Project alternatives

All Merlin Project alternatives comparedAll project management tools

Common questions

Is Merlin Project free?

No, Merlin Project is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial with every feature (14 days for Express); afterwards the app becomes a free read-only viewer.

How much does Merlin Project cost?

Merlin Project lists 3 plans. Merlin Project Express: $6.99 per user / month, or $69.99 per year. Merlin Project for iPad: $9.99 per user / month, or $99.99 per year. Merlin Project for Mac: $22.99 per user / month, or $229.99 per year. Prices were read from projectwizards.net on Oct 9, 2026.

What platforms does Merlin Project work on?

Merlin Project is available on macOS and iOS.

Does Merlin Project offer any discounts?

Merlin Project publicly lists the following: Two months free with yearly billing; 50% education discount on the Mac app; 50% off for nonprofits and charities; Volume discount from 10 licenses; Family Sharing on App Store subscriptions.

Does Merlin Project have an Android app?

No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Merlin Project is listed for macOS and iOS.

Does Merlin Project have a Windows app?

No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Merlin Project is listed for macOS and iOS.

Is Merlin Project open source?

Merlin Project is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.

Does Merlin Project work offline?

Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.

What does Merlin Project integrate with?

Merlin Project's listing names Microsoft Project, iCloud Drive, Dropbox, MindManager, FreeMind and OmniPlan. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Does Merlin Project have a student discount?

50% education discount on the Mac app. The purchasing FAQ gives students and educators 50% off Merlin Project for Mac in the vendor's own store on proof of status. It is not offered through the App Store.

Who makes Merlin Project?

Merlin Project is made by ProjectWizards GmbH. It dates from 2004.

What are the alternatives to Merlin Project?

The closest alternatives to Merlin Project in our directory are OmniPlan, Microsoft Project, GanttProject, ProjectLibre and GanttPRO. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Merlin Project.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.