Pushcut vs Tasker

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.