Merlin Project vs OpenProject vs Quickbase vs Smartsheet Comparison
Merlin Project
Starting at $5.83 /User/Month
- Individuals
- Freelancers / Consultants
Experience professional-quality project management with the Merlin Project. A trusted platform for various industries, including Media & Agencies, Architecture & Construction, Education, and Research & Development. With…
OpenProject
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Free Trial
- Freelancers / Consultants
- Large Enterprises
OpenProject is a collaborative project management software for planning, tracking, and reporting on projects. It emphasizes usability – before users start a project, they need a tool that enables them to start working ef…
Quickbase
Starting at $35 /user/month
- Free Trial
- Freelancers / Consultants
- Large Enterprises
Quickbase is a no-code project management platform that empowers teams to build, automate, and optimize workflows without complex coding. Designed for businesses of all sizes, it enables users to create custom applicatio…
Smartsheet
Starting at $9 /month
- Free Trial
- Freelancers / Consultants
- Large Enterprises
Smartsheet is a dynamic project management tool that simplifies tracking and planning for teams of all sizes. Offering a user-friendly interface, it’s designed to adapt to your unique workflows, whether you're managing s…
OpenProject leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 61 reviews.
Merlin Project vs OpenProject vs Quickbase vs Smartsheet — at a glance
| Feature | Merlin Project | OpenProject | Quickbase | Smartsheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 2.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Reviews | 4 | 61 | — | 2,444 |
| Starting price | $5.83 /User/Month | Contact for pricing | $35 /user/month | $9 /month |
| Free trial | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free version | No | No | No | No |
| Best for | Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business | Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business |
| Category | Project Management Software | Project Management Software | Project Management Software | Project Management Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Mac | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac |
| API | — | Available | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Online | Business Hours, Online | 24/7 (Live rep), Online, Business Hours | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2 | — | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001 |
| Data residency | Global | Global | Global | US |
Key differences between Merlin Project and OpenProject
- Pricing: Merlin Project starts at $5.83 /User/Month. OpenProject pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: OpenProject offers a free trial; Merlin Project does not.
- Target audience: Merlin Project is built for Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants, while OpenProject targets Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises.
- User satisfaction: OpenProject scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
- Deployment: Merlin Project supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac; OpenProject supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Installed - Mac.
Compare Merlin Project vs OpenProject vs Quickbase vs Smartsheet — and walk away knowing which one fits.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Project Management Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
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Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business
Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business
Best for building custom no-code workflows in medium to large enterprises.
- You need to rapidly create tailored project management apps without coding.
- Your team requires strong workflow automation to reduce manual tasks.
- You want seamless integration with tools like Salesforce and Slack.
- You are a freelancer or very small team needing simple task management.
- You prefer out-of-the-box project management without customization or complexity.
Best for teams needing customizable, spreadsheet-style project management with automation.
- You require flexible workflows adaptable to complex project plans and diverse teams.
- You want strong project management features like Gantt charts, dashboards, and resource tracking.
- You value automation to reduce manual errors and save time in project execution.
- Your team needs extensive offline functionality due to unreliable internet access.
- You prefer simple, ready-to-use workflows without investing time in customization or training.
Merlin Project typically suits Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants. OpenProject tends to fit Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.
Description | Experience professional-quality project management with the Merlin Project. A trusted platform for various industries, including Media & Agencies, Architecture & Construction, Education, ... Read More about Merlin Project | OpenProject is a collaborative project management software for planning, tracking, and reporting on projects. It emphasizes usability – before users start a project, they need a tool that ... Read More about OpenProject | Quickbase is a no-code project management platform that empowers teams to build, automate, and optimize workflows without complex coding. Designed for businesses of all sizes, it enables ... Read More about Quickbase | Smartsheet is a dynamic project management tool that simplifies tracking and planning for teams of all sizes. Offering a user-friendly interface, it’s designed to adapt to your unique ... Read More about Smartsheet |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 8.3/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.8/10 | 9.8/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||||
Best Company Size | — | 10 to 500 employees | 50-1,000 employeesMedium to Large Enterprises | 50-500 employees501-5,000 employees |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
No key benefits available yet.
- Comprehensive Project Management Features: OpenProject offers a wide range of tools, including Gantt charts, task management, time tracking, and agile boards, supporting various project management methodologies.
- Open-Source Flexibility: As an open-source platform, OpenProject allows organizations to customize the software to meet their specific needs, providing flexibility in workflows and integrations.
- Collaborative Tools: The platform includes forums, wikis, and document sharing that help teams collaborate effectively and share knowledge throughout the project lifecycle.
- Give Your Team a Voice: Quickbase lets teams build custom applications without needing extensive coding skills, helping them simplify workflows and improve productivity. I've seen firsthand how this puts app development in reach for everyone, letting all team members contribute.
- Rapid Deployment: With Quickbase, you can quickly create and deploy applications designed for your business needs. This lets you respond to changing market conditions or internal requirements faster than competitors.
- Smooth Integration: The platform integrates easily with existing tools and systems, letting your organization keep its current infrastructure while improving capabilities. This flexibility lets users use their favorite tools without disruption.
- With Smartsheet, teams can collaborate in real-time, keeping everyone aligned. This builds transparency and accountability within projects, making it easier for managers to track progress.
- Customizable Dashboards: Smartsheet offers customizable dashboards that let you visualize project data at a glance. This feature helps executives make informed decisions quickly, as they can monitor key metrics without digging through extensive reports.
- Automation Capabilities: By automating repetitive tasks, Smartsheet saves time and reduces errors. Administrators will appreciate how this feature allows them to focus on higher-value activities rather than getting bogged down with manual processes.
Best fit
No best-fit guidance available yet.
- 10 to 500 employees
- Construction, Engineering, IT Services, Education, Nonprofit Organizations
- Project Managers, Team Leads, Operations Managers, IT Project Coordinators, Construction Managers
- 50 to 1,000 employees
- SaaS, Consulting, Fintech, and Revtech
- Project Managers, Business Analysts, Operations Managers, and IT Administrators
- 50-5,000 employees.
- Industries include Project Management, IT Services, Marketing Technology (Martech), Financial Technology (Fintech), Consulting, and SaaS.
- Typical users are Project Managers, Operations Managers, Marketing Coordinators, IT Directors, and Business Analysts.
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
No alternatives guidance available yet.
- Organizations seeking dedicated customer service and guaranteed uptime may opt for commercial project management solutions that offer 24/7 support and service level agreements.
- Teams relying on a diverse set of tools might prefer platforms that offer a wide range of pre-built integrations with third-party applications to streamline workflows.
- Companies managing large teams and complex projects may look for software that provides advanced resource allocation, forecasting, and utilization tracking capabilities.
- Pricing runs 2–3x higher than Airtable or Monday.com for comparable low-code features
- Lacks native data analytics and requires custom integrations or third-party tools like Tableau for reporting
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users — most teams hire a Quickbase specialist or consultant to manage builds
- Pricing exceeds $25/month per user for most teams — competitors like Monday.com and Asana offer similar features at $10–15/month
- Lacks native construction and software development templates — teams in these industries typically layer in specialized tools like Procore or Jira
- Steep learning curve requires 4–6 weeks of training for new users — alternatives like Trello and ClickUp have faster onboarding
Software Demo
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How do Merlin Project, OpenProject, Quickbase and Smartsheet Compare on Features?
Total Features | 15 Features | 22 Features | 10 Features | 21 Features |
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Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Merlin Project, OpenProject, Quickbase and Smartsheet on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | — |
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HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | — | — |
ISO 27001 | — | — |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | — | — |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | — | — |
Data Encryption | — | — |
Audit Logs | — | — |
Data Residency | 🌐 Global | 🌐 Global |
Merlin Project vs OpenProject vs Quickbase User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | No reviews available for the product | |||
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Rating Distribution | No reviews available for this product | |||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is cautious across 2 reviews, with several recurring concerns in feedback. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Buyer sentiment is positive across 17 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights Quickbase's flexibility and automation, though some users note usability challenges. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights Smartsheet’s flexibility, collaboration features, and powerful project management tools, tempered by concerns about learning curve and offline limitations. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
| Negative Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
List of Customers
Customers | No Customers information available. |  Bahn  Suelzle Kopf  Nokia |  Amazon  P and G  Fresenius |  Pfizer  Whirlpool  Western Digital |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  14 Screenshots |  5 Screenshots |
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Videos |  8 Videos |  3 Videos |
Alternatives
Alternatives |
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Related Blogs and Articles for Project Management Software
Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Merlin Project or OpenProject?
- OpenProject edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs 2.8). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Merlin Project and OpenProject offer a free trial?
- OpenProject offers a free trial. Merlin Project does not.
- What is the starting price of Merlin Project vs OpenProject?
- Merlin Project starts at $5.83 /User/Month. OpenProject starts at Contact for pricing.
- What are the top alternatives to Merlin Project?
- Top alternatives to Merlin Project include Quickbase , Smartsheet, ClickUp, Microsoft PPM, Wrike.
- What are the top alternatives to OpenProject?
- Top alternatives to OpenProject include Quickbase , Smartsheet, ClickUp, Freshbooks, Jira.