Compare Merlin AI and PresentBoard: Which Extension is the Best?

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
PresentBoard is a customizable dashboard with widgets like calendars, to-dos, and weather. It's very user-friendly and regularly updated but still has a few initial bugs.
Key Features
  • 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.
  • Customizable Widgets: Choose from various widgets like calendars, weather updates, and to-do lists.
  • Dynamic Backgrounds: Personalize your dashboard with calming and dynamic backgrounds.
  • Search Google & ChatGPT: Search for information using Google and ChatGPT right from your dashboard
  • Enhanced Bookmarks: Improved bookmarks widget for easy access to your favorite sites.
  • Calendar Integration: Seamless integration with iCalendar and Google Caneder for better event management.
Our Rating
8.4
8.9
Total users
1,000,000
1,000
Total ratings
8,802
18
Average rating
4.8 ⭐
4.5 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.8
3.24
8.8K+ ratings
1.0M+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.5
4.25
18 ratings
1.0K+Users
Edge
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Firefox
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Safari
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Features
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
9.3

PresentBoard is characterized by its extensive range of functions and offers a variety of widgets to different requirements.
The customizable widgets allow users to create their own dashboards. Starting with the home weather, personal backgrounds, the stock market prices of your shares, or simply your bookmarks. Everything can be individually arranged and visually customized.

my Dashboard

The iCalendar and Google Calendar integration worked perfectly in the test so that you can always keep track of your appointments immediately when you open a new tab.

It is also worth taking a look at future updates, where PresentBoard has created a list of additional functions that users can vote on themselves to prioritize for future development. In our opinion, a decisive function that competitors have already partially integrated is the integration of ChatGPT directly as a widget in the dashboard.

future widgets
Performance
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.

8.0

PresentBoard works reliably once it has been set up. Only when customizing the dashboard can minor problems occur. For example, occasionally clicking on the + symbol did not work, which is annoying when setting up.

bug +

Occasional bugs reported by users in the reviews were actively fixed by the developers in regular updates.

Overall, the extension delivers a good performance.

Design
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
9.0

When selecting the design of PresentBoard, importance was placed on both the visual and the functional. Users have almost no limits when it comes to customizing the dashboard. Whether different backgrounds of the dashboard, colors and backgrounds of the texts of widgets or ready-made templates. With a little time, everyone can find the right design.
In our opinion, the design only could only be a little clearer and more intuitive when it comes to adjusting widgets.

Value for Money
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.

9.5

PresentBoard offers extensive features for being free. Many features are offered for a fee by competitors, the ones here are free, making it a valuable tool for users who want to increase their productivity at no cost.

Only the lack of some functions such as a directly integrated AI model is still decisive here compared to competitors. This is usually offered for a fee, but if it were also offered free of charge here, users would have an unbeatable price-performance ratio.

Ease of Use
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.

8.3

There were no problems with the installation process of PresentBoard during the test. After installation, a new tab appears on which users are immediately shown the tutorial video and various sample templates. Great importance was attached to user-friendliness here. This also shows that you do not have to register to use the functions. You only need to log in if you want to save the self-created dashboard in the cloud to avoid losing it.

Installation Dashboard


When creating your own New Tab with the various widgets, can be overwhelming at first. Without the tutorial, not all of the diverse number of configurations are immediately self-explanatory. There are also small bugs, such as occasionally being unable to click on the + because the cursor does not accept it or when enlarging/reducing widgets that sometimes require several attempts.

In summary, the extension is easy and intuitive to use with the help of the tutorial. However, anyone who wants to set up their dashboard without using the ready-made templates should be aware of the high initial time expenditure.

Security & Privacy
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.

9.0

PresentBoard takes user privacy seriously and ensures that data is not sold to third parties. The data protection regulations are described transparently so that users who value data security are in the right place.

The only negative aspect is a security warning from Google when setting up Google Analytics. The application should still be checked here, if you continue to click that you trust PresentBoard, this has no influence on the later use, but this does not inspire good confidence for the user.

google analytics security warning
Conclusion

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.

PresentBoard is a new tab extension that offers a variety of widgets and individual customization options. This is exactly the strength of the extension that sets it apart from its competitors and should help everyone in everyday life. Small bugs are still present, but functional errors are quickly responded to and updates quickly fix the errors described by users. The announced updates, including the integration of AI, also give hope for further useful functions that competitors already have.
Overall, PresentBoard is a good choice for anyone looking for a personalized and efficient browsing experience.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Merlin AI and PresentBoard, PresentBoard came out on top, scoring 8.9.

Merlin AI is the most widely used, with over 1 million users and 9k+ reviews, but PresentBoard outperformed it in our review. User reviews for PresentBoard 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.

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? PresentBoard stands out with a rating of 9.3. On the other hand, Merlin AI lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • Need top performance? PresentBoard stands out with a rating of 8. 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, PresentBoard lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.
  • Want to get the most for your money? PresentBoard stands out with a rating of 9.5. 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, PresentBoard lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.3.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Merlin AI stands out with a rating of 9.3. On the other hand, PresentBoard lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.

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