Compare Evernote Web Clipper and Merlin AI: Which Extension is the Best?

Evernote Web Clipper is a tool for saving web content directly to your Evernote account. It offers great features like customizable clips and tagging but has some usability issues.
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
Key Features
  • Web Clipping: Save articles, web pages, and PDFs directly to Evernote.
  • Customizable Clips: Add highlights, text, and other annotations to your clips.
  • Tagging and Organization: Tag your saved content for easy retrieval.
  • Screen Capture: Capture full web pages or specific parts without ads and sidebars.
  • Integration: Seamlessly integrates with your Evernote account.
  • 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
7.4
8.4
Total users
2,066,575
1,000,000
Total ratings
130,705
8,802
Average rating
4.1 ⭐
4.8 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.7
2.27
129.5K+ ratings
2.0M+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.8
3.24
8.8K+ ratings
1.0M+Users
Edge
-
-
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
3.5
3.69
1.2K+ ratings
66.6K+Users
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Safari
-
-
Features
8.5

Evernote Web Clipper offers a large number of functions that make it easier to save and organize web content. These include simple bookmarking, but also other functions such as the ability to add highlights and comments to screenshots, which we find particularly useful.

screenshots

A very important main function for us is also to set tags and easily find saved data, photos, or similar using tags. Titles can also be added here to display them clearly in your notebook.

tags
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.

Missing Feature
Performance
7.0

Performance is a major drawback of Evernote Web Clipper. Many users report issues in reviews about the tool not loading or not working properly. Although it offers many features, these performance issues can be annoying and limit overall effectiveness. In our tests, only a few minor performance issues were detected.

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
7.0

The design is functional, but not particularly intuitive. Although the interface is clear, navigating the settings and functions is somewhat confusing. Improvements in the design of the user interface could improve the accessibility of the tool for a larger target group.

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.

Design
Value for Money
7.5

The extension itself is free, but it is only really useful when the paid version of Evernote is activated. Considering that you have to think your way in to set everything up and use it, the price-performance ratio might be a bit expensive for basic users.

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
6.5

The tool has a slightly larger learning curve, especially for new users. Numerous shortcuts can be defined for easy clipping, but it can take a long time from initial setup to full use. In addition, many users have reported problems with logging in and loading the tool.

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
8.0

Evernote Web Clipper handles user data responsibly and has clear data protection guidelines. However, the tool does not respond to “Do Not Track” signals, which could be problematic for some users who value this. The data is stored on US servers, meaning data protection law applies there.

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

Evernote Web Clipper is a good tool for anyone who needs to save and organize web content. Its integration with Evernote makes it a powerful extension for productivity enthusiasts, especially if Evernote is already in use. Drawbacks include ease of use and performance issues reported by users. Overall, it is a strong tool but may require some patience and troubleshooting.

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.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Evernote Web Clipper and Merlin AI, Merlin AI came out on top, scoring 8.4.

Evernote Web Clipper is the most widely used, with over 2 million users and 131k+ reviews, but Merlin AI outperformed it in our review. User reviews for Evernote Web Clipper reflect our findings, while we rate Merlin AI lower than users do.

Notably, Merlin AI has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.80, which is even higher than our rating of 8.4.

There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below.


  • Looking for the richest feature set? Evernote Web Clipper stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, Merlin AI lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • Need top performance? Merlin AI stands out with a rating of 7.5. On the other hand, Evernote Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.
  • Design lovers, take note: Merlin AI stands out with a rating of 9.1. On the other hand, Evernote Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.
  • Want to get the most for your money? Merlin AI stands out with a rating of 8.2. On the other hand, Evernote Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • If you hate complicated tools, Merlin AI stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, Evernote Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 6.5.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Merlin AI stands out with a rating of 9.3. On the other hand, Evernote Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.

If you want a quick recommendation, Merlin AI is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you.