Compare Infinity New Tab and Merlin AI: Which Extension is the Best?

Infinity New Tab (Pro) transforms your browser's new tab into a customizable dashboard. Features like AI integration, to-do lists, and personalized backgrounds boost productivity and user experience.
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
  • Customizable Layout: Personalize your new tab with a variety of high-quality wallpapers.
  • AI Integration: Access to AI-4.0 mini in the free version, with advanced AI features in the Pro version.
  • To-Do List: Integrated to-do list with reminders.
  • Weather Updates: Real-time weather information.
  • Bookmark Management: Easily manage your bookmarks and frequently visited sites.
  • Data Synchronization: Sync your data across multiple devices.
  • Mobile App: Available as a mobile app and web page.
  • 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
8.3
8.4
Total users
933,147
1,000,000
Total ratings
26,893
8,802
Average rating
4.8 ⭐
4.8 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.9
4.41
24.9K+ ratings
300.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.8
3.24
8.8K+ ratings
1.0M+Users
Edge
Microsoft Edge Store logo
4.7
4.68
2.0K+ ratings
633.1K+Users
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Firefox
-
-
Safari
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Features
9.0

Infinity New Tab (Pro) offers many features that significantly enhance the browsing experience. In particular, the great possibility of customizing the layout and an integrated AI is a function that we no longer want to miss.

AI

Tools like the simple to-do list, weather updates, or that you see the number of unread e-mails are handy for every day.

to do
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

The extension runs smoothly without any noticeable impact on browser performance. There are deductions because links on the website to instruction videos were no longer up to date and due to bugs, among other things, no subscription was possible at the time of the test.

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
9.0

The design is clean and visually appealing. The high-quality backgrounds and intuitive layout make for a pleasant user experience. However, sometimes you will maybe find the customization options overwhelming initially.

custom
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
8.5

While the free version offers many features, in our opinion the subscription model might not be ideal for everyone. The Pro and Premium versions offer excellent value for those who need advanced features, but the cost might be a barrier for some 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
8.5

The extension is straightforward to set up and use. The only thing you can get lost in for hours is the individual settings until you have tested every logo, arrangement, etc. before making your final decision for your layout.

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
7.5

Infinity New Tab (Pro) is transparent about its data collection practices and offers basic privacy protections. However, it could improve by explicitly addressing user rights and third-party data handling.

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

Infinity New Tab (Pro) is a great tool for anyone looking for a free tool to enhance their browsing experience with customizable features and productivity tools. While it does have some problems, such as occasional data loss to many users after updates, it's a valuable addition to your browser.

We particularly liked the AI integration and the extensive customization options. However, the subscription model might not be ideal for everyone. Overall, Infinity New Tab (Pro) is worth considering if you’re looking for a new tab extension that offers many features for free.

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 Infinity New Tab and Merlin AI, Merlin AI came out on top, scoring 8.4.

Merlin AI is the most widely used, with over 1 million users and 9k+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. We rate Infinity New Tab and Merlin AI lower than users do.

Notably, Infinity New Tab has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.82, which is even higher than our rating of 8.3.

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? Infinity New Tab 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? Merlin AI stands out with a rating of 7.5. On the other hand, Infinity New Tab 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, Infinity New Tab lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.
  • Want to get the most for your money? Infinity New Tab stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, Merlin AI lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.2.
  • Ease of use? It's a tie: Infinity New Tab and Merlin AI. In the Ease of Use category, Infinity New Tab has scored a very good 8.5. It is user-friendly, though there may be a small learning curve for some users.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Merlin AI stands out with a rating of 9.3. On the other hand, Infinity New Tab lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.

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.