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6 Best Merlin Project Alternatives for Windows in 2026

Explore 6 alternatives to Merlin Project — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

Best Merlin Project alternatives, ranked and compared

Quick answer

The quick answer: the best Merlin Project alternatives are Smartsheet, ClickUp and Wrike. Smartsheet tops the list with a SpotScore of 9.8 and a 4.56★ rating. Compare all 6 on score, rating, and pricing below.

Not every team clicks with Merlin Project, and that's fine. These 6 project management software alternatives give you real choices on price, features, and usability. We rank them by SpotScore, which combines real-user satisfaction with market presence, then layer in ratings and pricing. Scan the comparison table first, then read the detail for each pick.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
SmartsheetStreamline your projects with Smartsheet's powerful tools.9.8★★★★★ 4.56(2444)Freefrom $9/moteams of all sizes
ClickUpEffortlessly streamline your projects with ClickUp9.8★★★★★ 4.87(2889)Freefrom $7 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
WrikeEffortlessly manage projects and teams with Wrike.9.2★★★★★ 4.55(2062)Freefrom $10 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
OmniFocusStreamline your tasks and collaborate with ease.9★★★★★ 4.62(52)Freefrom $9.99/moteams of all sizes
Microsoft ProjectEfficient project management, from start to finish.8.8★★★★☆ 4.02(1526)Freefrom $10 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
Microsoft PPMStreamline projects with Microsoft PPM.8.5★★★★☆ 4.02(1419)Freefrom $10 /User/Monthteams of all sizes

9.8

SpotScore

Smartsheet - Project Management Software

Smartsheet

RECOMMENDED

Streamline your projects with Smartsheet's powerful tools.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

4.6

2444 verified reviews

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What is Smartsheet?

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 simple checklists or complex project plans. Smartsheet’s intuitive platform ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Smartsheet offers custom pricing plan

9.8

SpotScore

ClickUp - Collaboration Software

ClickUp

RECOMMENDED

Effortlessly streamline your projects with ClickUp

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

4.9

2889 verified reviews

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What is ClickUp?

ClickUp is a versatile cloud-based project management platform designed to cater to both individual project needs and the complex demands of enterprise-level teams. Offering a customizable planning experience, it allows users to toggle between two distinct views, providing flexibility based on ...

Read more about ClickUp
Free TrialTry Free →·

ClickUp offers custom pricing plan

9.2

SpotScore

Wrike - Project Management Software

Wrike

Effortlessly manage projects and teams with Wrike.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.5

2062 verified reviews

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What is Wrike?

Wrike is a web-based project management software designed to enhance team collaboration, streamline workflows, and boost productivity. It provides real-time visibility into project progress, ensuring teams stay aligned with deadlines and objectives. Task management and prioritization tools help ...

Read more about Wrike
Free TrialTry Free →·

Wrike offers custom pricing plan

9.0

SpotScore

OmniFocus - Task Management Software

OmniFocus

Streamline your tasks and collaborate with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.6

52 verified reviews

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What is OmniFocus?

OmniFocus is task management software from The Omni Group. With a guided tour for beginners and advanced features for experts, OmniFocus provides a flexible way to organize projects and tasks no matter what kind of project you're working on. It syncs with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch via ...

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8.8

SpotScore

Microsoft Project - Project Management Software

Microsoft Project

Efficient project management, from start to finish.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.0

1526 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Microsoft Project?

Microsoft Project is the project management solution that helps teams easily collaborate, communicate and follow their project plan from start to finish. Microsoft Project also helps streamline business processes so that your team can better focus on important project details and more ...

Read more about Microsoft Project
Free TrialTry Free →·

Microsoft Project offers custom pricing plan

8.5

SpotScore

Microsoft PPM - Project Management Software

Microsoft PPM

Streamline projects with Microsoft PPM.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.0

1419 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Microsoft PPM?

Microsoft Project is the market-leading project management software application, providing more powerful project management capabilities than other alternatives. It helps organizations of all sizes to improve resource allocation and better plan for new projects through innovative ...

Read more about Microsoft PPM
Free TrialTry Free →·

Microsoft PPM offers custom pricing plan

What each tool does well

Smartsheet9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Customizable and user-friendly interface, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced professionals.

Watch for: Advanced features may require a learning curve, making onboarding somewhat challenging for new users.

ClickUp9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Versatile platform with constant updates and amazing customer support that prioritizes user feedback promptly.

Watch for: Steep learning curve initially, which may be challenging for newcomers without a technical background.

Wrike9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Easy-to-use interface with drag-and-drop functionality, providing seamless task management and organization.

Watch for: Difficult to navigate for beginners with a steep learning curve for mastering advanced functionalities.

OmniFocus9Best for teams of all sizes

Highly configurable for individual task and project management workflows.

Watch for: Available on Apple devices only — no Windows, Android, or web access.

Microsoft Project8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Customizable and flexible for various project types, including complex ones.

Watch for: High subscription cost; no longer available for outright purchase.

Microsoft PPM8.5Best for teams of all sizes

Offers Gantt charts, resource management, and task dependencies, with broad customization.

Watch for: Licensing costs deter smaller organizations compared to freemium or open-source alternatives.

Why teams look for a Merlin Project alternative

When teams go looking for a Merlin Project alternative, it's often because of issues like these:

  • Merlin Project is predominantly suited for desktop users and lacks broader mobile application support for on-the-go project management.
  • For users transitioning from simpler tools, Merlin Project might take some time to master due to its full capabilities and detailed interface.

What makes a good Merlin Project replacement

Here's what the data says about these 6 project management software alternatives: 6 offer a free tier; paid plans run $7–$10, with ClickUp the cheapest entry point; and ClickUp is the highest rated at 4.87★ across 2889 reviews.

What drives the order.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Merlin Project are ClickUp (4.9★), OmniFocus (4.6★), Smartsheet (4.6★). Compare all 6 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Merlin Project, prioritize: Timeline View, Project Templates, Idea Management, Kanban Board, Time & Expense Tracking, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Merlin Project starts from $5.83 /User/Month. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Merlin Project is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend shortlisting 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

The right Merlin Project alternative for your situation

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Smartsheet, ClickUp and Wrike let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: ClickUp has the strongest star rating (4.87★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: Smartsheet has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.8) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

How to move on from Merlin Project

A safe move off Merlin Project starts with the basics: export your data and test the import into your new tool. Make sure the workflows you depend on are covered, run a short pilot, and keep Merlin Project active until the migration is finished. Free tiers above make trialing easy.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].