The Merlin Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Merlin in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Merlin
The Insider’s Guide
AI sidebar extension with models from several labs in one account
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI assistants, read from Merlin’s own pages.
Made by Foyer Tech, Inc. · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Merlin’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Merlin’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 30 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade
Merlin is an AI assistant from Foyer Tech that brings models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, DeepSeek and others into a browser sidebar, opened on any tab with Ctrl+M or Cmd+M. It chats about the page, file or video you are viewing, summarizes, translates, helps write in any text box and adds answers beside search results. One account also works in a web app and in iOS, Android, Windows and Mac apps. A free plan allows a daily number of queries, and a premium plan adds voice chat and premium tools.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Merlin, taken from its own pages and our grades.
One shortcut opens it beside whatever you're reading, so there's not much to learn.
- 1
Best for an AI sidebar on any web page
We can't tell you the paid price, because its site wouldn't let us read the pricing page and the store listings disagree with each other.
- 2
There is a free plan
Free plan with up to 102 queries per day across ChatGPT, Grok, DeepSeek, Gemini and Perplexity models, according to the Google Play listing. Paid plan prices could not be confirmed.
- 3
It runs on 5 platforms
Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 4
Sidebar on any tab
Ctrl+M or Cmd+M opens Merlin beside the page you are on, where it can summarize, translate or pull the key points out of that page.
- 5
Multiple models in one interface
Switches among models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, DeepSeek and other providers inside the same chat view.
- 6
Projects
Turns a knowledge base, uploaded files or links into a dedicated assistant, with the material kept together in one searchable place.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 30 of 57
That is against the other AI assistants we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace Merlin you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Merlin at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Foyer Tech, Inc.
- Category
- AI Assistants
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.5 on the App Store, 780 ratings
The report card
Best for an AI sidebar on any web page
Merlin lives in your browser's sidebar: Ctrl+M or Cmd+M on any tab sums up the page, PDF or YouTube video in front of you, with models from several labs. Free runs to 102 queries a day, going by its Google Play listing. We can't tell you the paid price, because its site wouldn't let us read the pricing page and the store listings disagree with each other.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | We can't pin the price down. Merlin's site answers automated readers with a security check, and the store listings disagree: the US App Store lists Merlin Pro at $20.00 and Merlin Unlimited at $15.00 a month, and Google Play shows items from $3.49 to $499.99. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Up to 102 queries a day across ChatGPT, Grok, DeepSeek, Gemini and Perplexity models, going by its Google Play listing. Most people could live on that. Voice chat, premium tools and team collaboration are the paid bits. |
| Features | C | A sidebar on any tab that summarises, translates and answers questions about the page, a PDF or a video, with models from several labs, Projects on your own files and 70-odd extra tools. The basics of a sidebar assistant, and the listing can't say what the paid tiers add. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.5 from about 780 App Store ratings. One shortcut opens it beside whatever you're reading, so there's not much to learn. The plans are the muddle, with query top-ups that expire sold on top. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | A browser extension, a web app, and apps for Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, all on one account. It works inside Gmail, LinkedIn and YouTube, and beside Google, Bing and Yahoo results. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Merlin is for
- Fits if you want an AI helper beside the web pages you read
- Works for long PDFs or YouTube videos where you only want the key points
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want a clear price before you start, since its paid plans couldn't be confirmed
- Watch out: the App Store lists Pro at $20.00 a month and Unlimited at $15.00, and Google Play runs $3.49 to $499.99
- Skip it if you want voice chat, premium tools or team features for free, as they're described as premium
- Tight if you buy top-ups and forget them, since 3,000 queries for $4.99 expire after 30 days
- Tight if you go past 102 queries a day, the free plan's cap
Good to know
Good for
- People who want an AI sidebar on any website
- Summarizing pages, PDFs and YouTube videos while browsing
- Trying models from several labs with one account
Worth knowing
- Merlin's website answers automated readers with a security check, so its pricing page could not be read and paid plan prices are unverified.
- Store listings do not give a clear lineup: the US App Store lists Merlin Pro at $20.00 and Merlin Unlimited at $15.00 a month, and Google Play shows items from $3.49 to $499.99.
- The free plan is capped at up to 102 queries per day, and voice chat, premium tools and team collaboration are described as premium features.
- The US App Store also sells query top-ups that expire, such as 3,000 queries valid for 30 days at $4.99.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Merlin's current pricing could not be confirmed from its own site.
Voice chat, premium tools and team collaboration are the paid bits.
We could not confirm Merlin’s current prices from its own site, so this guide lists no plans. getmerlin.in has them.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Monthly Merlin Unlimited”, against $15.00 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺599,99 | $12.20 | 19% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 799.00 | $12.72 | 15% less |
| Canada | $19.00 | $13.36 | 11% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 249ribu | $13.93 | 7% less |
| Australia | $25.00 | $17.45 | 16% more |
| South Africa | R299.99 | $18.14 | 21% more |
| Germany | 17,00 € | $19.05 | 27% more |
| United Kingdom | £15.00 | $19.83 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and Browser extension
AI sidebar extension with models from several labs in one account. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, chat assistant, AI search, AI agents.
The basics of a sidebar assistant, and the listing can't say what the paid tiers add.
- Sidebar on any tab
- Ctrl+M or Cmd+M opens Merlin beside the page you are on, where it can summarize, translate or pull the key points out of that page.
- Multiple models in one interface
- Switches among models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Mistral, DeepSeek and other providers inside the same chat view.
- Projects
- Turns a knowledge base, uploaded files or links into a dedicated assistant, with the material kept together in one searchable place.
- Chat with files, pages and videos
- Answers questions about PDFs, documents, images and one or several open tabs, and summarizes YouTube videos, with bilingual subtitles available.
- Writing and translation help
- Suggests and rewrites text in any text box, including tweets, LinkedIn posts and Gmail, and translates selected text or whole pages in more than 50 languages.
- Search answers and AI tools
- Adds concise, citation-linked answers beside Google, Bing and Yahoo results, and bundles more than 70 tools such as an AI detector and an AI humanizer.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
- Gmail
- Google Search
- YouTube
- Bing
- Yahoo
- Quora
- Stack Overflow
Merlin is made by Foyer Tech, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
30/57
Other AI assistants it is graded above
Merlin's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 30 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 45 of 57) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 58 AI assistants we grade, cut by the letter each got. Merlin’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 5 of 57
- BFree plan and trialAbove 34 of 57
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 57
- BEase of useAbove 21 of 57
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 45 of 57
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Merlin you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
What you could not
- An AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
- A search engine with an AI model behind it.
- An AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Gmail, Google Search and LinkedIn among them.
What this rests on. Merlin’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Monica, Sider, ChatHub, Poe and ChatGPT
The 5 tools Merlin is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Monica
Free plan · from $8.3/mo
AI assistant with many models, built around a browser sidebar.
- Monica also covers grammar & style.
- 3.0GPA
Sider
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
AI sidebar for the browser with many models and mobile apps.
- Only Merlin lists a web app.
- Sider also covers grammar & style.
- 2.6GPA
ChatHub
Free plan · from $14.99/mo
Ask several AI models one question and compare answers side by side.
- Merlin also covers AI agents.
- 3.4GPA
Poe
Free plan · from $4.17/mo
One app for chatting with AI models from many different labs.
- Only Merlin lists a browser extension.
- Merlin also covers AI agents.
- 3.4GPA
ChatGPT
Free plan · from $8/mo
OpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice.
- Only Merlin lists a browser extension.
- Only ChatGPT lists a Linux app.
- Merlin also covers AI agents.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
10
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Merlin free?
Merlin has a free plan. Free plan with up to 102 queries per day across ChatGPT, Grok, DeepSeek, Gemini and Perplexity models, according to the Google Play listing.
What platforms does Merlin work on?
Merlin is available on Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
How is Merlin rated?
Merlin's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.5 out of 5 from 780 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Merlin have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Merlin is listed for Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Is Merlin open source?
Merlin is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does Merlin integrate with?
Merlin's listing names Gmail, Google Search, LinkedIn, YouTube, Bing, Yahoo, Quora and Stack Overflow.
Who makes Merlin?
Merlin is made by Foyer Tech, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Merlin?
The closest alternatives to Merlin in our directory are Monica, Sider, ChatHub, Poe and ChatGPT.
How does Merlin compare with other AI assistants?
Merlin's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 30 of the 57 other AI assistants we grade, and level with 8.
Could I make my own version of Merlin?
To replace Merlin you would be making an AI model, which you can rent by the request but not make.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Merlin’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Merlin's own store listings on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Its website answered our reader with a security check then and again on 9 October, so its pricing page was never read and paid prices are unconfirmed. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-26.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Foyer Tech, Inc. Prices change, so check getmerlin.in before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Merlin, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/merlin
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Merlin: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/merlin
Know someone choosing between AI assistants?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/merlin/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI assistants after Merlin, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Assistants Insider's GuideEvery one of the 58 AI assistants we grade, compared
- Gemini Insider's GuideGoogle's AI assistant, tied into Gmail, Docs and other Google apps3.8 GPA
- Chatbox Insider's GuideAI chat client for your own API keys or a hosted model plan3.4 GPA
- ChatGPT Insider's GuideOpenAI's general-purpose AI assistant for chat, images and voice3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Merlin’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Merlin is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Foyer Tech, Inc. Prices and plans change: check getmerlin.in before you buy.