26-in-1 AI extension to Write, Summarize & Code

The system says that my OpenAI API key is registered and accepted, but when I try to use Merlin's functionality (ANY of it), the system keeps throwing error messages that "Something went wrong. The error message from OpenAI is: Status code 429, Too Many Requests"

Merlin 'support' says that my key was invalid, so I generated a new key. Same problem, again.

Merlin support is VERY slow to respond.

Very frustrating. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this product.

Good

I looked at Merlin when they released in the first AI wave. Couldn't buy because subscription model is not my style.

So I bought this right after I see the LTD.

The pros:
- Good and premium UI
- Rich in AI models and tools. Even Flux Pro and some latest imaged
- Frequently update features

The Cons
- Emailed the support team for some enquiries but couldn't get response.
- The AI credit of the highest tier seems still low, (wish for the highest tier are up to 50000 credits)
- Some small issue in the UX like
+ Sidebar and quick prompts can't be change ( i want to use other language than just english, now they only have "Summarize", "Tell me key points"...)
+ Can't move Merlin windows on the side, it's stuck there and block some of the view of the website.
+ Saved prompt don't have "Title" so it's hard to find and manage for a Quick action

Mostly I would use the app only to chat with the page for now.
Because all those reasons above I would want to give 4 tacos but well I love the app. So it's five for me :)

Hope the team can improve in the future.

I'm very pleased with my purchase, and Merlin is by far my favourite AppSumo buy to date that I find myself using every day. I love the fact that I've got access to all the latest AI models, saving me tons of money in subscriptions. Merlin has been the perfect replacement for another similar product that I purchased which went downhill, but I won't get into that. I love the fact that they've got a mobile app which I use daily. All in all, I can say this is my best AppSumo buy to date, and I would highly recommend Merlin.

I was searching for Chat GPT and Claude alternatives that allow me to use my own API keys (BYOK) and pay only for what I truly use. However, I discovered that this app only permits the use of an API key for the Chrome extension, which is incompatible with the web version and the iOS app I primarily use. Additionally, it restricts me to using the Claude API key or any other except OpenAI. Considering its limited functionality to web usage through the Chrome extension, I recommend exploring another product called Viinyx. Viinyx functions as a Chrome extension and enables the use of my API keys with various major LLMs. It also offers significantly lower costs.

I purchased two Tier 2 subscriptions for my wife and me, but I am more inclined to request a refund unless they integrate BYOK functionality for iOS and the web version.

"First Impressions & Overall Experience with Merlin"

When I first got my hands on Merlin, I was as excited as a kid with a new toy. I immediately recognized its potential for daily work tasks, thinking "This could be really useful!" The excitement peaked when I upgraded from the free plan, especially loving the idea of no daily limits.

Daily Usage Experience:

Merlin has become an indispensable tool in my daily routine. The text generation feature is particularly impressive, and I use it almost every day.

I upgraded to Tier 2 in December 2024 to explore the image generation capabilities more thoroughly. While I don't use image generation frequently due to credit limitations, it's added another dimension to my Merlin experience. Tier 2 provides sufficient credits to experiment comfortably.

While I appreciate their proactive approach to introducing new features, I'm slightly concerned about whether this might lead to price increases, quality degradation of basic features, or stability issues.

Areas for Improvement:

The Android app's stability is somewhat disappointing. It occasionally malfunctions, possibly due to updates. However, this isn't a major issue since the web version is always available.

Customer service shows effort, but those seeking quick resolutions might find it lacking.

Recommendation: 5 Tacos 🌮

Merlin is particularly recommended for users focusing on text generation. While the free plan or Tier 1 suffices for very light users, Tier 2 is ideal for those who plan to use it extensively. It's perfect for weekend side hustlers too.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Merlin continues to evolve!

I use it daily for various research-related tasks, lectures, brainstorming, and sometimes even for translating or shortening finished texts. Everything is done solidly, without the errors and musings in other such programs. I urge you to buy it!

Sorry, but see:
https://www.debugbear.com/chrome-extension-performance-lookup?search=merlin

Works for the most part but LTD credits are fixed each month, but cost to use them on most models keep increasing, decreasing the value of this LTD deal. This is a worrying trend. I get that they have increased cost associated with running a service but this should have been made transparent from the beginning. Also some of the popular models are being phased out. My straico deal has not done any of this. Their use charge on your LTD monthly credits do not change and are charged reasonably. Wish Merlin would look after their appsumo LTD customers like this.

I LOVE this product. The usage fits my needs, the UI is intuitive, and I appreciate the customer support.

That said, I find myself using it in the browser 95% of the time because the extension is buggy.

I have many many issues with trying to use the extension with a youtube video. It often gives me errors and I give up. There IS a help doc with a great explanation but I find myself revisiting it too often.

Chatting with pages often yields just as many bugs, and it's a bummer I can't reference those chats well in the solo browser window.

Advice to the team:
- Focus on refining what you currently have (Look at the feedback, people love it!) instead of adding more features
- Focus on an exceptional customer experience; less bugs, better UI, continue your great customer support

Thank you! One of the better things I have bought from Appsumo!

P.S. I use the mobile app and it's pretty good!

I had used Merlin a few years back (early days of ai) and it was ok.... but now it is truly a powerhouse! The ability to utilise the best LLM for the task is a gamechanger for my workflow. Highly recommend👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

I depend on Merlin for almost all of my research, especially to create summaries of informational YouTube videos. This feature significantly saves me time compared to watching the entire video. I also turn to Merlin whenever I have questions. Overall, Merlin is my favorite purchase from AppSumo. I bought the Tier 2 plan and have never come close to running out of credits.