Compare software

Apple Shortcuts vs Automate: catalog facts
Apple Shortcuts	Automate
Free Free, bundled with macOS and iOS.	Free Described by the developer as a free app.
macOS, iOS	Android
Built into every modern Mac, iPhone, and iPad at no extra cost Drag-and-drop editor is approachable without any scripting	Visual flowcharts are easier to follow than rule lists More than 400 building blocks
Limited to the Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android version Less powerful for complex conditional logic than dedicated macro tools	Android only Complex flows still need expressions and variables
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Closed source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.