Merlin Project

Merlin Project

Project management software on Apple Devices

Smartsheet

Web-based work management

Merlin Project: Integrated Project Architecture

Build comprehensive project frameworks using work breakdown structures. Transform brainstorming sessions into actionable plans with mind mapping features that automatically convert ideas into structured project hierarchies. Monitor project health through real-time critical path analysis and maintain project integrity with robust baseline management that preserves original commitments while tracking actual performance. Execute with Kanban workflows that stay perfectly aligned with your master schedule, ensuring teams can work in their preferred style without compromising project visibility.

Smartsheet: Sheets with Gantt Dependencies and Dashboards

Smartsheet supports timelines and Gantt charts with dependencies, critical path, and baselines. It works well for simple to mid-complexity schedules. Advanced controls like constraints beyond predecessors, standardized calendars, and cross-project logic often require careful configuration and governance. Many teams supplement with dashboards and reports rather than deep schedule mechanics, since success depends heavily on structure and consistent setup.

Merlin Project: Strategic Resource Intelligence

Manage all your project resources - people, equipment, partners, and materials - from one simple interface. The smart system spreads work across multiple projects automatically while tracking costs based on your hourly rates and usage. It spots potential problems before they affect your deadlines and suggests better ways to use your resources. You can include external contractors and specialized resources in your projects without making them learn new software, giving you flexibility while keeping control of everything.

Smartsheet: Assign People on Tasks

Built-in, you'll assign tasks to contacts and use reports or dashboards to see workloads across projects. For portfolio-level capacity planning, time tracking, expense management, and resource heatmaps, Smartsheet relies on its separate Resource Management product (formerly 10,000ft). That's powerful for organizations that standardize on it, but it's an extra system to implement and govern with its own learning curve.

Merlin Project: Enterprise Financial Analytics

Set up budgets for your entire project portfolio, individual programs, or specific work packages. The system automatically tracks spending against your budgets and shows you when costs start to go off track. Labor costs build up automatically based on time worked and your set hourly rates, while fixed costs for equipment, materials, and outside services get added to give you complete cost pictures. Create clear financial reports that show stakeholders how projects are performing financially, explain any budget differences, and predict future costs, so everyone has the information they need for important budget decisions.

Smartsheet: Templates and Formulas with Add-On for Budgets

Out of the box, Smartsheet handles cost tracking through number columns, formulas, and templates. Automated alerts and dashboards help surface variance when properly configured. For more formal budgets, expenses, and time tracking, teams typically adopt Resource Management by Smartsheet. If you expect native earned value-style reporting, plan for configuration work or add-on products to get the financial depth you need.

Merlin Project: Portfolio Command and Control

Multi-project integration keeps linked projects connected. The master project setup gives you central control while letting each project work independently. Changes in one project automatically update related projects. Shared resource pools help you avoid conflicts and make the best use of your resources across all projects. Reports show how projects depend on each other, where you might run short on resources, and how the program is performing financially.

Smartsheet: Cross-Sheet Rollups and Control Center

Smartsheet organizes work across separate sheets tied together by reports and dashboards. For repeatable portfolios with standardized project creation and portfolio rollups, organizations use the premium Control Center app. Resource pooling and leveling at scale generally lives in the Resource Management add-on. Cross-sheet dependency logic exists through references, but it's not the same as native multi-project resource leveling in desktop project management tools.

Merlin Project: Mac Ecosystem by Design

Merlin Project works exclusively on Apple devices: Mac, iPad, iPhone and Vision Pro. This is an intentional design choice that allows deep integration into a system that simply works. Teams already using Mac computers get software that feels natural and works seamlessly with their existing workflow.

Best for: Teams already committed to Apple's ecosystem who value performance, offline capability, and data control.

Smartsheet: Universal Web Access

Smartsheet runs in any web browser and also offers a desktop app wrapper for Mac/Windows—convenient, but it still depends on live connectivity (offline forms on mobile are the exception). Security-conscious organizations may appreciate SSO and governance features.

Best for: mixed-platform teams who prioritize dashboards, automation, and external collaboration over deep, native scheduling.