QuickPlan Basic vs Merlin Project
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
QuickPlan Basic
This app simplifies project planning with intuitive gesture controls on a Gantt chart. It allows for project synchronization across devices and teams, with export/import capabilities for popular formats like Microsoft Project. Focuses on privacy by saving data locally or via iCloud Drive.
- Gantt chart project planning
- Natural gesture controls
- Cross-device and team synchronization
- Microsoft Project integration
- Export to PDF, Excel, and image
- Privacy-focused local storage
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Project planning has never been easier. Project management with natural gestures on the Gantt chart, synchronization and sharing of projects across multiple devices and teams, and support for integration with Microsoft Project Plan. ## PRIVACY FOCUSED Projects are saved locally on the device or in iCloud Drive, developer team does not have a server to store user-created data. With NATURAL GESTUREs on a clean and elegant interface, project management is more accessible, faster and more efficient than ever before. Visualize, manage and simplify projects flexibly and efficiently with Gantt charts, outline list and property editor, create tasks, organize your project calendar and resources, track status. It's easier than you think, with a minimum of effort and learning. QuickPlan app supports exporting projects to image, Excel, PDF, Microsoft Project and WBS files. AND to import projects from Microsoft Project, WBS and Mind-map files. The app supports synchronization of project plans between the same user's macOS and iOS devices and supports team collaboration via iCloud Drive. And it supports syncing and sharing via OneDrive and Dropbox. QuickPlan also supports duplicating projects by members for better teamwork. QuickPlan optimizes the best features of Microsoft Project Plan and brings them to iPad - without the complexity - providing users of all experience levels with an INTUITIVE and discoverable project management experience. ## EFFICIENT MAINTENANCE - Gestures for tasks: create, remove, move, indent and outdent, change order. - Gestures to zoom in and out, collapse and expand. - Keyboard shortcuts. - Batch input. - The most fluid Gantt chart app on a clean interface. ## STRONG PLANNING - Multiple Projects. - Supports duplication of the entire project and duplication by specific members. - Organize tasks into REAL task groups and sub-projects. - Task color, icon, contact, and required task fields. - Five levels of outline (plus sub-project, for a total of ten levels of outline). - Gesture-based management of task links. - Lock editing, row height. - Integration with the iOS Files app. - Manual and automatic project backup. - Project currency, charge rate, project resources, calendar, task date policy. ## TREE and LIST - Representation as a tree with support for displaying key paths. - Representation as a list with support for sorting and filtering. ## UI CUSTOMISATION - Customization of the task column title and visibility. - Style of the task bar. ## REPORTING - Export as image, PDF and Microsoft Excel (including three sheets). - With options to customize the output. ## SYNC - Sync projects between iOS and Mac devices via iCloud Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox. ## TEAM COLLABORATION - Sync between team members via iCloud Drive. ## INTEGRATION - Export and import Microsoft Project XML files. - Import and export SwiftApp WBS files. - Import from Microsoft Excel files. - Import from iThought Map files. ## SHARE - Supports Airdrop, OneDrive, Dropbox. ## TEAMWORK - Create a new project by exporting tasks for the selected project members. ## NOTIFICATION - Widget to track ongoing tasks (iOS 14 or later). - Today widget and Local Notification. The best project planning app for iPad. - Initialize, discuss, present and share your plan. - Export it to Microsoft Project Plan to work on it PC. - Strategic Planning. - Import MS Project XML file and reports, tracking. - Plan actions in meetings, confirm. - Guide employees.
Merlin Project
This professional project management tool offers comprehensive planning, control, and monitoring features. It supports various project views like Gantt charts and Kanban boards, with cloud synchronization for collaboration. A 30-day free trial is available.
- Gantt diagram with plan/actual comparison
- Mind maps for graphical planning
- Kanban boards with automatic adjustment
- Net plans in graphical formats
- Cost and budget planning
- Patented cloud synchronization
- Automatic resource leveling
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Merlin Project is the professional tool for the project manager on Mac, iPad, iPhone & Vision Pro. Customers in over 160 countries rely on this practical software. Merlin Project provides you with answers to all your questions about planning, controlling and monitoring your projects. Try the extensive functions free of charge for 30 days. Our customers love the easy-to-learn application as a standard in many industries: For example in media, development & IT, architecture & construction as well as research & teaching. Top Features on the iPad & Vision Pro • Work breakdown structure with Gantt diagram in many variations with plan/actual comparison • Mind maps for graphical project planning • Kanban boards with automatic adjustment of completed work • Net plans in many graphical formats • Costs and budgets with top-down and bottom-up planning • Patented synchronization of all projects with other users via cloud services (iCloud, Dropbox, etc.) • Automatic resource leveling and utilization view • Attach e-mails, checklists, project risks and additional information • Modular reporting system • Import from Microsoft Project Compact on the iPhone Merlin Project is also a reliable companion on the telephone. All data and key figures are always available in a compact format. Even minor changes are no problem. If you want to admire your project plan graphically, simply rotate your iPhone into landscape format. So you always have everything under control, even on the move. Pricing • Annual or monthly subscription required to create & work on projects • Before you decide, you can try Merlin Project for 30 days for free, with no obligations. • No subscription required to open and view existing Merlin Project documents Legal Prices vary depending on geographical location. Subscriptions are billed via your credit card or iTunes account. Your subscription will renew automatically unless canceled within 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription period. You will not be able to cancel the subscription once activated. You may cancel automatic renewal by selecting Manage App Subscriptions in your iTunes Account settings and selecting the subscription you want to modify. Privacy policy: https://www.projectwizards.net/about/legal/privacy Terms of use: https://www.projectwizards.net/about/legal/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Merlin Project at Free against QuickPlan Basic's $19.99. Merlin Project also leads on device support (3 vs 1). QuickPlan Basic's advantage is review sentiment (81% vs 48%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Merlin Project is free to download; QuickPlan Basic costs $19.99 up front. QuickPlan Basic sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Merlin Project sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
QuickPlan Basic holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 148 and 31 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of QuickPlan Basic's written reviews are positive against 48% of Merlin Project's.
QuickPlan Basic ships an update every 3 months, Merlin Project every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | QuickPlan Basic | Merlin Project |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (148 ratings) — better | 4.4 (31 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.6% of reviews — better | 48.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 148 — better | 31 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 209 MB | 64 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 皓 李 | ProjectWizards |
Customer experience
QuickPlan Basic
Merlin Project
In-app purchases
QuickPlan Basic
- Import from Mindmap$0.99
- Share and Sync$1.99
- Import from Excel$1.99
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- Export to PDF$3.99
- Export to Excel$3.99
Merlin Project
- Monthly Subscription$9.991 Month
- Annual Subscription$99.991 Year
Questions
Is QuickPlan Basic free?
Is Merlin Project free?
Which has better reviews, QuickPlan Basic or Merlin Project?
Do QuickPlan Basic or Merlin Project have ads?
Which is updated more often, QuickPlan Basic or Merlin Project?
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