Compare AdBlock Max and Merlin AI: Which Extension is the Best?

	AdBlock Max	Merlin AI
	AdBlock Max is a great ad blocker designed to enhance your browsing experience by eliminating intrusive ads. With a user-friendly interface and powerful features, it stands out among competitors. Ad Blocker	Merlin AI is a browser extension and web app that unifies top AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Mistral) for research, summarizing, writing, coding, diagramming, translation, and more—directly in yo AI ChatGPT
Key Features	Comprehensive Ad Blocking: Blocks pop-ups, banners, and video ads. Customizable Filters: Allows users to tailor their ad-blocking preferences. Enhanced Browsing Speed: Reduces page load times by eliminating ads. Privacy Protection: Prevents tracking and protects user data. User-Friendly Interface: Easy to navigate and configure.	Unified AI Models: Access ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Mistral, and more from one account—no need for separate logins. Research & Summarize: Summarize web pages, YouTube videos, PDFs, and documents instantly. Content Creation: Write emails, social media posts, blogs, and outreach messages with AI assistance. Projects: Build custom AI chatbots using your own files, links, or knowledge ba Crafts: Instantly generate code snippets, diagrams, and mindmaps Live Search: Get up-to-date answers by searching the web in real time. Multi-language Support: Translate content into 25+ languages. Keyboard Shortcuts: Quickly summon Merlin with Ctrl/Cmd+M anywhere in your browser.
Our Rating	8.6	8.4
Total users	200,000	1,000,000
Total ratings	8,247	8,802
Average rating	4.8 ⭐	4.8 ⭐
Entry Level Price	Free	Free
Chrome	4.8 8.2K+ ratings 200.0K+Users	4.8 8.8K+ ratings 1.0M+Users
Edge	-	-
Firefox	-	-
Safari	-	-
Features	9.0 AdBlock Max offers comprehensive functions for blocking advertising, including pop-ups, banners, and video ads. Ad blocker A slider can be used to set how thoroughly websites should be searched for advertisements, etc., to block them. Depending on the filter method, the extension must be granted more permissions. In addition to these basic functions, there are other functions such as blocking cookie notifications or increasing Internet security through tracking protection. These additional functions are hidden at the bottom of the settings and can be activated. There is also a website whitelist on which no advertising should be blocked. Privacy Security Privacy protection functions automatically prevent tracking and protect user data.	8.0 Merlin AI offers a variety of features including summarizing, writing, coding, diagramming and more. It supports multiple AI models such as GPT-4, Claude and Gemini and allows users to create custom AI chatbots and knowledge bases. The platform also integrates with the web and files in real time. However, some features, such as PDF summarization, are not as robust as those of specialized tools. It also lacks what we consider to be the important function of direct communication between AI and the current website. In addition, the function of direct communication between AI and the current website, which we consider important, is missing.
Performance	8.3 Basically, the extension runs smoothly without any performance problems. Page load times are shortened by blocking advertising. Only during installation in Chrome did the browser crash once after the end of installation.	7.5 Merlin is generally fast and responsive, but it can slow down browsers, especially on older hardware. There are occasional bugs and crashes, though the team releases frequent updates and improvements.
Design	8.8 The user interface is clear and intuitive. In particular, the filter customization options are very clearly displayed in the extension pop-up.	9.1 The design has a modern look and feel, with handy keyboard shortcuts and sidebar integration that make navigation easier. That said, the user interface can feel cluttered and overwhelming, especially for new users, and there are inconsistencies between the extension, web, and mobile versions.
Value for Money	9.0 If you take a closer look at the extension in addition to the basic functions, you will see how many additional functions are available. As a free web extension, the price/performance ratio is very good.	8.2 The free plan is generous for light users, offering a substantial daily quota and access to a wide range of basic features. The Pro plan is competitively priced, especially when compared to the cost of subscribing to multiple separate AI tools, and unlocks unlimited access to all models and advanced features. However, the absence of a free trial for premium features means users must commit before experiencing the full capabilities of Merlin AI. Additionally, some users report that the query system—where different models and features consume varying amounts of daily queries—can be confusing or feel restrictive, particularly for those trying to understand how far their usage will go on each plan.
Ease of Use	8.0 The tool is uncomplicated and easy to install. Due to the well-designed method of a slider for the strength of the filter mode, preferences are easy to configure for everyone. The other functions are easy to activate, but some users may find it difficult to understand which function does what. For each function, there is a description with the corresponding filter code on GitHub.	8.5 Getting started with Merlin AI is straightforward—installation is quick, and the onboarding process is simple enough for most users to begin using core features right away. However, the platform’s extensive feature set can be overwhelming at first, leading to a noticeable learning curve as users explore everything it offers. Some users have expressed confusion about how the daily query limits work, how different models are selected or switched, and which features are available on each plan. Occasional bugs and log-in issues can also disrupt the workflow, requiring users to troubleshoot or reach out to support. Overall, while Merlin AI is accessible, mastering its full capabilities may take some time and patience, especially for those new to AI tools.
Security & Privacy	8.5 AdBlock Max offers privacy protection through the additional function to prevent tracking. The extensions' data is protected by industry-standard measures.	9.3 Merlin does not sell user data to third parties and only uses data for core functionality. The privacy policy is transparent, but some users remain concerned about the amount of data collected and the permissions required.
Conclusion	AdBlock Max is a good tool for anyone who wants to block advertising quickly and easily. It also has additional features for those with a little more technical knowledge. Unfortunately, these are somewhat hidden for beginners and are described via external GitHub links. However, the extension scores well for beginners with the well-designed slider for adjusting the filter method. This is also useful for people who only want to extend a few permissions for tracking, as this authorization must first be assigned if better blocking is desired.	Merlin AI is a powerful and versatile tool that can really boost the productivity of a wide range of users. The integration of multiple AI models and functions into a single extension is ideal for this p However, Merlin is not completely perfect. We encountered occasional bugs, inconsistencies in the user interface and some performance issues. Pricing can also be confusing, and some features are locked behind a paywall.. Overall, Merlin AI is a good choice for anyone looking for an all-in-one AI assistant for the browser - especially if you value having multiple AI models and tools in one place.
	Install AdBlock Max	Install Merlin AI
Our Recommendation	In our comparison between AdBlock Max and Merlin AI, AdBlock Max came out on top, scoring 8.6. Merlin AI is the most widely used, with over 1 million users and 9k+ reviews, but AdBlock Max outperformed it in our review. We rate AdBlock Max and Merlin AI lower than users do. Notably, AdBlock Max has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.83, which is even higher than our rating of 8.6. In the end, the differences between these extensions are minimal, so your choice may come down to personal preference or specific features. Looking for the richest feature set? AdBlock Max stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Merlin AI lags behind in this area with a rating of 8. Need top performance? AdBlock Max stands out with a rating of 8.3. On the other hand, Merlin AI lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5. Design lovers, take note: Merlin AI stands out with a rating of 9.1. On the other hand, AdBlock Max lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.8. Want to get the most for your money? AdBlock Max stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Merlin AI lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.2. If you hate complicated tools, Merlin AI stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, AdBlock Max lags behind in this area with a rating of 8. With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Merlin AI stands out with a rating of 9.3. On the other hand, AdBlock Max lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5. If you want a quick recommendation, AdBlock Max is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you.