# Apple Shortcuts

> Free automation app for iPhone, iPad and Mac, built by Apple

Shortcuts is Apple's own automation app. A shortcut chains actions from Apple's apps and from third-party apps that support it into one task that runs with a tap, a click or a Siri request. On iPhone and iPad, personal automations start a shortcut from an event such as a time of day or arriving at a place. The app is free, and shortcuts sync between devices through iCloud.

- **Category:** Automation
- **Made by:** Apple Inc.
- **Website:** https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/welcome/ios
- **Runs on:** iOS, macOS
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 5, 2026

## Pricing

Apple Shortcuts is free to use.

- **Pricing model:** Free
- **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.
- **Free trial:** None listed.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shortcuts | Free | The whole app: over 300 built-in actions, the Gallery of ready-made shortcuts, personal and home automations, and iCloud sync. |

Read from https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shortcuts/id915249334 on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Apple Shortcuts before buying.

## Key features

- **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.

## Good for

- 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

## Worth knowing

- 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.

## What people say

- **App Store rating of the iPhone and iPad app:** 4.2 out of 5 from 8,524 ratings in the United States, read Oct 5, 2026. This is the store's rating of the app, not a score from ToolGPA. Source: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id915249334

## Works with

Siri, Calendar, Reminders, Maps, Photos, Safari, Health, Music

**Tags:** Workflow automation, No-code, Templates

## Alternatives

- [IFTTT](https://toolgpa.com/tools/ifttt): Simple trigger-and-action automations for apps and smart devices. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/apple-shortcuts-vs-ifttt)
- [Tasker](https://toolgpa.com/tools/tasker): Android automation app driven by profiles, contexts and tasks. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/apple-shortcuts-vs-tasker)
- [MacroDroid](https://toolgpa.com/tools/macrodroid): Android automation app built on triggers, actions and constraints. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/apple-shortcuts-vs-macrodroid)
- [Automate](https://toolgpa.com/tools/automate): Android automation app that builds tasks as flowcharts. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/apple-shortcuts-vs-automate)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026:

- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/shortcuts/id915249334
- https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/welcome/ios
- https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/apdf22b0444c/ios
- https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/apdfbdbd7123/ios
- https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts/apd932ff833f/ios
- https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts-mac/welcome/mac
- https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts-mac/apdf22b0444c/mac
- https://support.apple.com/guide/shortcuts-mac/apdb3a4240b0/mac

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/apple-shortcuts
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).