Merlin Project
5.8/10Native Mac, iPad and iPhone project planning app with Gantt charts, Kanban boards, mind maps and resource workload views for professional project managers.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
Merlin Project is a project planning app from ProjectWizards, a family-run software company in Melle, Germany. It runs natively on Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple Vision Pro. One project file can be shown as a Gantt chart, a Kanban board, a mind map or a workload view. Moving a Kanban card between To Do, Doing and Done updates the Gantt dates and progress. Mind map branches can become phases and tasks of a work breakdown structure. The workload view assigns people, materials, companies and equipment to tasks and flags overbooking. The app works fully offline. Teams share files through iCloud Drive, Dropbox or other cloud storage, and the vendor's MagicSync technology merges edits from several people working at the same time. No dedicated server is needed. Pricing is a subscription for each edition: Express for Mac costs 6.99 USD a month, the iPad edition 9.99 USD and the full Mac edition 22.99 USD. Annual billing costs the same as ten months. A 30-day trial includes all features. After it ends, the app becomes a free read-only viewer. Integration is mainly through file formats rather than live connectors. It imports and exports MS Project XML and MPX, MindManager, FreeMind, OmniPlan, OPML, CSV and iCalendar files, and exports to PDF and images. It suits Apple-based consultancies, engineering and construction planners, and agencies who want classic critical-path scheduling without a web platform. Its main limitation is that it only runs on Apple devices. There is no Windows or browser client for team members, no built-in chat, and few third-party app integrations.
Our Rating
Who Merlin Project is best for
Best software for ConsultanciesGood fit
Detailed planning and client-ready PDF reports suit consultants working on Macs.
Critical-path Gantt scheduling and resource workload suit engineering projects.
The low-cost Express edition and offline use suit solo project managers on Macs.
Less suited
Resource planning for materials and equipment helps, though it is not a construction-specific tool.
Runs on Apple devices only and offers no web client or central administration.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- One data source shown as Gantt, Kanban, mind map and workload views, with Kanban moves updating the schedule
- Works fully offline, and teams sync through their own iCloud or Dropbox storage without a server
- Wide file compatibility, including MS Project XML and MPX, OmniPlan and MindManager
- Resource pool covers people, materials and equipment, and flags overbooking
- Annual billing costs the same as ten months, and the vendor says existing subscribers keep their price when prices rise
Cons
- Runs only on Apple devices, with no Windows or browser client
- Few live third-party integrations compared with cloud tools
- No built-in team chat
- Reviewers report a steep learning curve and want simpler filtering
- Express edition lacks network sharing
Key Features
Not included
- Team messaging
Merlin Project Pricing
Merlin Project Express (Mac)
or $69.99/year (save 17%)
- No network sharing
- For personal or small projects
- Sold through the Mac App Store
- Gantt, Kanban, mind map and workload views
Merlin Project for iPad
or $99.99/year (save 17%)
- Offline use
- Sync through iCloud Drive or Dropbox
- Runs on iPad, iPhone and Apple Vision Pro
Merlin Project for Mac
or $229.99/year (save 17%)
- MagicSync merges edits from several users
- For professional use by individuals and teams
- Sync through iCloud, Dropbox and other cloud services
- Import and export of MS Project XML, MPX, MindManager, OmniPlan and CSV files
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. All features are available for 30 days. After that, the app becomes a free viewer that can read files, but editing and export need a subscription.
No. Merlin Project runs only on Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple Vision Pro. Users on Windows or mixed setups can only receive shared outputs such as PDF or HTML exports.
Project files are synced through iCloud Drive, Dropbox or other cloud services. The vendor's MagicSync technology merges edits from several people. No dedicated server is required.
Yes. It imports and exports MS Project XML and MPX, along with OmniPlan, MindManager, FreeMind, OPML, CSV and iCalendar formats.
The pricing page says an active subscription keeps its price even if prices rise for new customers.
Annual billing costs the same as ten monthly payments, so it saves about two months compared with paying monthly.
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See Merlin Project in the listMerlin Project is #263 in Project Management by our score.
