Apple Shortcuts vs IFTTT
We give Apple Shortcuts a 3.0 GPA and IFTTT a 3.6, out of 4.0. Apple Shortcuts grades higher on the free plan. IFTTT grades higher on ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Apple Shortcuts
Free automation app for iPhone, iPad and Mac, built by Apple
Free
IFTTT
Simple trigger-and-action automations for apps and smart devices
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAApple ShortcutsVery good | 3.6GPAIFTTTExcellent | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree. The US App Store lists it with no in-app purchases shown, so there's no paid tier waiting further in. In a category where paid plans usually start around $19 a month, that's hard to beat. | APro is $2.99 a month billed annually, so $35.88 a year, in a category where paid plans usually start around $19. And you pay per account, not per run, so a busy Applet costs the same as a quiet one. Pro+ with unlimited Applets is $8.99. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole app is free: over 300 built-in actions, the Gallery of ready-made shortcuts, personal and home automations, and iCloud sync. You do need the hardware, mind: an iPhone or iPad on iOS 12 or later, or a Mac. | BFree forever with unlimited runs, which is kind. But you get 2 Applets, at standard speeds, and multi-action Applets and Webhooks aren't part of it. Two automations and you're done. |
| Features | BOver 300 built-in actions, triggers like a time of day, an alarm or arriving at a place, and real scripting when you want it: variables, If and Repeat, and requests to web APIs. The gap is other people's apps. One appears only if its developer supports Shortcuts, and the rest you reach through API requests. | BMore than 1,000 services, from Google Sheets and Slack to Philips Hue and Ring, plus published Applets you just switch on. Pro adds multi-action Applets and Webhooks, and Pro+ adds queries and filter code. It's made for trigger-and-action jobs, though, and Pro stops at 20 Applets. |
| Ease of use | C4.2 from about 8,500 App Store ratings, which lands in our C band. The Gallery helps, since you can add a ready-made shortcut and edit it to see how it's built. Making your own means chaining actions one step at a time. | A4.6 from nearly 60,000 App Store ratings. Pick a published Applet and switch it on, or describe what you want and Chat Create builds it from your prompt. Nobody needs to draw a flowchart. |
| Platforms and integrations | CiPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, with shortcuts kept in step through iCloud. That's one family of devices. There is no Windows, Android or web version, so nothing you build travels outside Apple's world. | AWeb, iPhone and Android, and the phone apps add triggers like your location, photos and notifications. It connects to more than 1,000 services, with Webhooks on Pro for anything that isn't listed and an MCP server for AI tools. |
| Best for | free automation on iPhone, iPad and Mac | simple automations for apps and smart homes |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Apple Shortcuts and IFTTT. How we grade
Where they differ
- Apple Shortcuts is free. IFTTT starts at $2.99 / month, billed annually ($35.88 per year).
- Only Apple Shortcuts lists a macOS app.
- Only IFTTT lists a web app.
- Only IFTTT lists an Android app.
- Apple Shortcuts also covers no-code.
In commonFree planiOSTemplatesWorkflow automation
At a glance
| Apple Shortcuts | IFTTT | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $2.99 / month, billed annually ($35.88 per year) |
| Free plan | The US App Store lists Shortcuts as free, with no in-app purchases shown. It needs an iPhone or iPad on iOS 12 or later, or a Mac. | 2 Applets with unlimited runs at standard speeds, using published or do-it-yourself Applets, plus the mobile apps. |
| Free trial | None listed | Free trial of Pro offered at sign-up; length not stated on the pages checked |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Apple Inc. | IFTTT Inc. |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | ifttt.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Apple Shortcuts
- iPhone, iPad and Mac owners automating tasks across Apple's apps
- Routines tied to a time, a place or an alarm on iPhone
- Anyone who wants automation on Apple devices at no cost
IFTTT
- Personal and smart-home automations with one trigger and one action
- People who prefer switching on ready-made automations to building them
- A low-cost paid plan priced per account rather than per run
Worth knowing
Apple Shortcuts
- Shortcuts runs only on Apple devices: the App Store lists it for iPhone and iPad, and Apple documents a Mac app. There is no Windows, Android or web version.
- A third-party app appears in Shortcuts only if its developer supports it; other services have to be reached through web API requests.
- Keeping shortcuts in step across devices depends on iCloud Sync and on being signed in with the same Apple account.
IFTTT
- The Free plan allows only 2 Applets, and Pro stops at 20.
- Multi-action Applets and Webhooks need Pro; queries, filter code and AI services need Pro+.
- Free Applets run at standard speeds; the fastest speeds are reserved for paid plans.
- IFTTT's terms say it offers no refunds or credits, and subscriptions renew automatically.
Key features
Apple Shortcuts
- Actions
- Each shortcut is a series of actions, and each action is one step. The App Store listing cites over 300 built-in actions, and apps that support Siri Shortcuts add their own.
- Gallery
- A curated collection of ready-made shortcuts. Any of them can be added to your own collection and then edited to suit, which also shows how they are built.
- Personal and home automations
- On iPhone and iPad, an automation is triggered by an event instead of being started by hand. Triggers include a time of day, an alarm, a sleep schedule and arriving at a place.
- Many ways to run a shortcut
- On iPhone and iPad: the app, Siri, the Home Screen, a widget, the share sheet, Control Center or an Apple Watch. On a Mac: Finder, Spotlight, the menu bar, a keyboard shortcut or the command line.
- iCloud Sync
- With iCloud Sync turned on, a shortcut added, changed or removed on one device is updated on the others signed in to the same Apple account, including Apple Watch.
- Scripting and web APIs
- Advanced actions cover variables, If and Repeat logic, menus and prompts, running JavaScript on a web page, URL schemes and requests to web APIs with JSON parsing.
IFTTT
- Applets
- An Applet links a trigger in one service to an action in another. Published Applets can be switched on as they are, or you can build your own.
- 1,000+ services
- IFTTT lists more than 1,000 services, from apps such as Google Sheets, Slack and Notion to smart-home brands such as Philips Hue, Ring and LIFX.
- Multi-action Applets and Webhooks
- Pro and Pro+ Applets can run several actions from one trigger and can use Webhooks to reach services IFTTT does not list. Neither is part of the Free plan.
- Queries and filter code
- Pro+ adds queries and filter code to Applets and lets you connect more than one account for the same service.
- Chat Create and MCP
- Chat Create builds an automation from a written prompt, and the IFTTT MCP server connects AI tools to your services and automations. AI services inside Applets need Pro+.
- Mobile apps
- The iOS and Android apps create and manage Applets and add device triggers such as location, photos and notifications. Mobile access is included on the Free plan.
Plans
Apple Shortcuts
ShortcutsFree
The whole app: over 300 built-in actions, the Gallery of ready-made shortcuts, personal and home automations, and iCloud sync.
IFTTT
Free$0
2 Applets with unlimited runs at standard speeds, using published or do-it-yourself Applets, and mobile app access.
Pro$2.99
per month, billed annually ($35.88)
20 Applets at the fastest speeds, multi-action Applets, Webhooks, exclusive triggers and actions, and customer support.
Pro+$8.99
per month, billed annually ($107.88)
Unlimited Applets, AI services, multiple accounts per service, queries and filter code, and prioritized support.
Ways to pay less
Apple Shortcuts
No public discounts listed.
IFTTT
- Annual discount
Save 40% with yearly billing
IFTTT's plans page shows a 40% saving on Pro and Pro+ when billed yearly: $35.88 a year for Pro and $107.88 a year for Pro+.
