| Merlin | Smith.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | — | — |
| Description | — | — |
| Screenshots | — | — |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed | ||
| Last updated | — | — |
| Metric | Merlin | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 34+ | 219+ |
| Free plan | ★ Yes | — |
| Pricing | ★ Free plan available | From $140/mo |
| Built for Shopify | — | — |
| Pricing tiers | 4 tiers | ★ 5 tiers |
| Listed since | Nov 2024 | Jun 2018 |
On pricing, Merlin offers a free tier (Free plan available) while Smith.ai starts at From $140/mo. For early-stage stores or merchants validating fit, the free-tier path lets you run the app on real orders before committing budget. Recommended evaluation path: install both apps' free tiers (where available) and run them in parallel on a small cohort of orders for 7-14 days before committing. The data tables below show the per-feature breakdown — for most merchants the deciding factor will be a single integration or workflow detail that's hard to compare from listing pages alone. This verdict is generated from the live marketplace data on this page — rating, review count, pricing tier, and category position all refresh from the canonical HubSpot App Marketplace listing every 24 hours. AppRanks does not accept payment to influence comparison outcomes; the methodology is documented on the About page and applies identically to every pair on the site.
Read each app's audit: Merlin audit • Smith.ai audit
Merlin is the cheaper option — it offers a free plan (Free plan available). Smith.ai starts at From $140/mo. Both publish their pricing on the HubSpot App Marketplace marketplace; AppRanks mirrors what's listed on each refresh cycle.
It depends on what you're optimizing for. Merlin fits better if you prioritize broader integrations; Smith.ai is the call if you need the larger user base. Read both apps' detail pages on AppRanks for the full feature breakdown, install counts, and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the HubSpot App Marketplace marketplace. Merlin has more onboarding documentation maturity (0 reviews vs 0), which usually translates to better-tested setup wizards and quicker time-to-value. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly — read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for merchant-reported install experience.
Merlin typically suits early-stage and growth-mode stores based on its review-base composition (0 reviews). Smith.ai aligns more with early-stage and growth-mode stores (0 reviews). Larger review bases generally mean the app has been load-tested at scale — relevant if you're processing high order volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.
Migration support varies by app and category. Merlin and Smith.ai both publish their export options on their marketplace listing pages (or in their support docs); some apps offer one-click import from competitors, others require CSV. The fastest check: search "import from Smith.ai" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
