Apple Shortcuts vs MacroDroid

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

MacroDroid

• Android users new to automation who want ready-made macros
• Routines based on location, time, battery level or connectivity
• People who want a one-time upgrade with no subscription

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.

MacroDroid

• The free version shows ads and allows only 5 macros.
• MacroDroid runs on Android phones and tablets only; its Wear OS companion app needs the phone app.
• Google Play lists in-app purchases at $1.49 to $10.00 per item and does not state the exact price of the Pro upgrade.
• Some features, such as automating UI interactions, rely on Android's accessibility services, which are optional to enable.

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.

MacroDroid

Triggers

More than 120 triggers start a macro: location and geofences, battery and app launches, sensors such as shake and proximity, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, notifications and webhooks.

Actions

More than 200 actions can be chained in one macro, including adjusting volume, speaking text aloud, sending messages, controlling media, taking screenshots and running Tasker plugins.

Constraints

More than 80 constraints limit when a macro runs, by day, time, location or device state: for example, connecting to office Wi-Fi only during working hours.

Template Store

A built-in store holds hundreds of ready-made macros shared by the community. One tap installs a template, which can then be adjusted.

Logic and scripting

Power users get user-defined variables, dictionaries and arrays, intents, scripting, IF / THEN / ELSE logic, AND/OR conditions and loops.

AI actions

Per the MacroDroid wiki, AI actions query language models, summarize and rewrite text and describe images, mostly on the device with Gemini Nano. An AI Assistant helps build macros.

Apple Shortcuts

• ShortcutsFree

  The whole app: over 300 built-in actions, the Gallery of ready-made shortcuts, personal and home automations, and iCloud sync.

MacroDroid

• Free$0

  Ad-supported version of the app with up to 5 macros.

• Pro$1.49 - $10.00

  one-time in-app purchase; the listing gives only this range

  Removes all ads and unlocks unlimited macros, with no subscription. The wiki adds cloud backup and uploading your own templates as Pro extras.