Apple Shortcuts vs Pushcut

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

Pushcut

• Shortcuts and HomeKit users who want notifications with action buttons
• Running shortcuts unattended on a spare iPhone or iPad
• Triggering iOS shortcuts from IFTTT, Zapier, Make or a home server

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.

Pushcut

• The app is listed for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch only; the site offers no Mac, Android or web version.
• The free version stops at 3 notifications, 1 action per notification and 2 background actions, with no widgets or dynamic content.
• The Automation Server needs a dedicated, always-on iOS device with Pushcut in the foreground, and it runs requests one at a time.
• Pro caps the server at 100 requests a day. Interval schedules, delayed execution and timeouts over 10 seconds need the separate Server Extended subscription.

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.

Pushcut

Actionable notifications

Notifications carry custom text, images and sounds plus buttons that run a shortcut, activate a HomeKit scene, open a URL or send a web request. They can target specific devices.

Time, location and webhook triggers

Notifications and background actions fire on daily, weekly or monthly schedules, at locations or iBeacons, from Shortcuts and HomeKit automations, or from a webhook.

Custom widgets

Widgets for the home and lock screen show content that automations, online services or the API update, and run a shortcut or HomeKit scene when tapped. They need Pro.

Automation Server

A dedicated iOS device running Pushcut executes shortcuts and HomeKit scenes without confirmation, triggered by schedules, locations, notifications, integrations or the API.

Integrations and Web API

IFTTT, Zapier and Make can send notifications, update widgets and run server actions, and a JSON API accepts requests from home servers or anything that can make an HTTP call.

Apple Watch support

Interactive notifications arrive on the watch, where HomeKit scenes, online actions and HTTP requests can be run directly. Opening Shortcuts or other apps from the watch is not supported.

Apple Shortcuts

• ShortcutsFree

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

Pushcut

• Free$0

  Up to 3 notifications with 1 action each and 2 location-based background actions, sent from local triggers or basic webhooks without dynamic content.

• Pro$1.99

  per month; $17.99 per year

  Unlimited notifications and actions, custom widgets, HomeKit scenes, online actions, the JSON API and an Automation Server limited to 100 requests a day.

• Pro Lifetime$39.99

  one-time purchase

  The Pro feature set bought once as an in-app purchase instead of by subscription.

• Automation Server Extended$2.49

  per month; $22.49 per year

  Separate package for the Automation Server: 5,000 requests a day instead of 100, interval schedules, delayed execution and longer request timeouts.

Apple Shortcuts

No public discounts listed.

Pushcut

• Annual discount

  About 25% less on annual plans

  Pro is $17.99 a year against $1.99 a month ($23.88 over 12 months), and Server Extended is $22.49 a year against $2.49 a month.

• Lifetime license

  Pro Lifetime for $39.99

  Pushcut Pro can be bought once for $39.99 as an in-app purchase. The Automation Server Extended package is listed only as a monthly or annual subscription.