What is Merlin?
Merlin is a multi-model AI assistant from Foyer, available at getmerlin.in as a web app, browser extension and mobile app. It lets you chat with GPT, Claude, Gemini and other models in one place.
A sidebar opens on any page to summarise, query videos or reply to emails. Foyer claims over one million users, and the service was live in October 2026. It is unrelated to the Merlin AI construction ERP.
Key Features
- Model switching: Merlin lets you switch between models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, DeepSeek, Mistral, Meta and xAI for each prompt. Comparing answers from GPT, Claude and Gemini happens in one window instead of three separate apps.
- Browser sidebar: A sidebar opens on any web page with the Ctrl or Cmd plus M shortcut. It reads the page you have open, so you can ask questions about an article without copying text into a separate chat.
- Page and video summaries: Merlin condenses articles, PDFs, slide decks and YouTube videos into short summaries. YouTube summaries include timestamps, according to the official site, which makes it quicker to jump to the relevant part of a long video.
- Writing helpers: Built-in helpers draft emails and replies inside Gmail, LinkedIn and X. The assistant works in the text box you are already using, which saves switching tabs for routine outreach and social posts.
- Projects: Projects let you upload files and links as a reusable knowledge base for later chats. Researchers can question the same document set repeatedly and test how different models answer from one source.
- Crafts: Crafts produce diagrams, charts, infographics and code snippets, with the official site listing more than 20 diagram types. It also generates React and Shadcn app snippets for developers prototyping interfaces.
- Image generation: Merlin creates images with models such as Flux 1.1 Pro inside the same account. Marketers can produce a social graphic alongside the post copy without opening a separate image tool.
- Web access: Chats can pull real-time information from the web, according to the official site. This helps with current topics where a model’s training data would otherwise be out of date.
Pros
- One subscription: Merlin puts several premium models behind one bill, with Pro at $19 per month on annual billing. One 2026 review notes this costs less than a single ChatGPT Plus subscription.
- Works in context: The sidebar reads the page you already have open, so summaries and replies use real context. Most multi-model chat apps keep you in their own tab, which means more copying and pasting.
- Wide platform choice: Extensions for Chrome, Edge and Safari plus iOS and Android apps cover most devices. Store ratings shown on the official site sit at 4.8 for Chrome and 4.7 for iOS.
- Usable free tier: The free plan gives a set number of daily queries, which the official site lists as 102. That is enough to test summaries and model switching for a week before deciding on Pro.
- Stated security credentials: Merlin states it follows GDPR and holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification. Those claims give business users a starting point, though the extension still reads the pages you open.
- Suits many roles: Students, marketers, developers and researchers each find a matching toolset in one app. Summaries, drafting, code snippets and document questions cover the most common daily tasks for these groups.
Cons
- Fair use limits: Reviewers report an unstated fair use ceiling on Pro that slows or pauses heavy users. Long daily research sessions can hit the cap mid-month, and the boundaries are not clearly explained.
- Thinner answers: Some reviewers describe replies as shorter or watered down compared with the native ChatGPT or Claude apps. Users wanting maximum depth from one model may prefer that vendor’s own subscription.
- Struggles with precise tasks: Reviewers report trouble with detailed instructions and exact data tasks, such as pulling a list of names from a CSV file. Check outputs carefully before using them in reports or spreadsheets.
- Context drift: Long conversations can lose track of earlier messages, according to user reports. You may need to restate key details or start a new chat when a thread runs long.
- Light team tooling: Merlin has no workflow automation or deep helpdesk integrations. Its site helpers draft text in a box, but they cannot tag tickets or run multi-step processes for support teams.
- Name confusion: Several unrelated products, including a construction ERP and a Tray.io agent, also trade as Merlin AI. Searching for help or reviews can surface the wrong company, so check you are on getmerlin.in.
Who is Using Merlin?
- Students: They summarise lectures, papers and long videos.
- Marketers: They draft social posts and outreach messages quickly.
- Developers: They debug code and compare model outputs.
- Researchers: They question uploaded documents through Projects.
Pricing
Merlin is freemium, and Pro costs $19 per month when billed yearly (official site, checked October 2026).
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited daily queries and summaries |
| Pro | $19/month billed annually ($228/year) | Premium models, higher fair use limits |
| Teams | $15/seat/month billed annually (reported) | Pro features, admin dashboard |
One 2026 guide reports $29 for monthly Pro billing, which we could not confirm. Limits change often, so recheck terms on getmerlin.in before paying.
What Makes Merlin Unique?
A sidebar that follows you across the web is the real differentiator. Most multi-model chat apps keep you in their own tab, while Merlin reads the page you already have open. Combined with Projects, you can test rival models against the same source document.
Compatibilities and Integrations
- Browsers: Chrome, Edge and Safari extensions plus a web app.
- Mobile: Apps for iOS and Android.
- Sites: Helpers for Gmail, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
- Files: PDF, slide and spreadsheet uploads.
Merlin Tutorials
Getting your first summary takes a couple of minutes.
- Install the extension or open the web app.
- Sign in to activate free daily queries.
- Open an article and press the Merlin button.
- Pick a model and ask follow-up questions.
- Create a Project for document-based answers.
How We Rated It
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy and Reliability | 3.8 | Depends on chosen model |
| Ease of Use | 4.5 | Sidebar works on any page |
| Functionality and Features | 4.4 | Chat, summaries, images, Projects |
| Performance and Speed | 3.9 | Occasional slowdowns at peak |
| Customization and Flexibility | 4.1 | Many models to switch between |
| Data Privacy and Security | 3.6 | Claims SOC 2, reads pages |
| Support and Resources | 3.4 | Mixed reports on support |
| Cost-Efficiency | 4.2 | Cheaper than several subscriptions |
| Integration Capabilities | 3.7 | Site helpers, little automation |
| Overall Score | 4.0 | Average of the nine criteria |
Summary
Merlin suits students and writers who want several models on one bill. The main limitation is the Pro fair use cap, which heavy users may reach mid-month. We see it as a reading and drafting aid, not a team automation tool. Track your free-tier usage for a week before paying yearly.
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