Apple Shortcuts vs Tasker

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

Tasker

• Android users who want detailed control over how their phone behaves
• Automations tied to location, time, the app in use or device state
• People who prefer a one-time purchase to a 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.

Tasker

• Tasker is an application for Android only; the developer's site lists no iOS, desktop or web version.
• A few actions, such as Kill App and Mobile Data on some devices, require root access.
• The 7-day trial is a direct download from the developer's site; the Google Play version is paid from the start.
• Triggering tasks from another Android device or a PC needs the separate Join app.

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.

Tasker

Profiles, contexts and tasks

A profile links one or more contexts, such as an app, a time, a date, a location, an event or a gesture, to a task, and the task's actions run when the contexts apply.

350+ actions

Actions send SMS, create notifications, change system settings and volumes, control Do Not Disturb, open apps, work with files and control music playback.

130+ states and events

Automations can react to the app in use, the time of day, your location, the Wi-Fi network, a received SMS or call, the song that is playing and other states and events.

Manual triggers

Tasks can be started from launcher shortcuts, quick setting tiles, home screen widgets, a long press on the volume buttons, media buttons and notifications.

Scenes and App Factory

Scenes let you design your own interface to show information or trigger tasks. The separate Tasker App Factory turns a project into a standalone app.

Plugins, web APIs and sharing

Third-party apps expose actions and events to Tasker as plugins, HTTP Request and HTTP Auth actions call web APIs, and TaskerNet shares tasks, profiles and projects as links.

Apple Shortcuts

• ShortcutsFree

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

Tasker

• Tasker$4.49

  one-time purchase

  The full app from Google Play in the US. The listing also marks it as free with a Google Play Pass subscription.

Apple Shortcuts

No public discounts listed.

Tasker

• Other savings

  Included with Google Play Pass

  The Google Play listing marks Tasker as free with a Play Pass subscription, so Play Pass subscribers do not pay the $4.49 purchase price.