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The MacroDroid Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about MacroDroid in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

MacroDroid

The Insider’s Guide

Android automation app built on triggers, actions and constraints

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among automation tools, read from MacroDroid’s own pages.

Made by ArloSoft · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.4GPA

Contents

  1. 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
  2. 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
  3. 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
  4. 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
  5. 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
  6. 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
  7. 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from MacroDroid’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on MacroDroid’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.4

GPA, above 15 of the 40 other automation tools we grade

MacroDroid is an Android app that automates a phone or tablet with macros. Each macro combines a trigger, one or more actions and optional constraints, chosen from more than 120 triggers, 200 actions and 80 constraints, with no programming needed. A built-in Template Store offers ready-made macros shared by other users. The free version is ad-supported and limited to 5 macros; a one-time Pro upgrade removes the ads and the limit.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about MacroDroid, taken from its own pages and our grades.

No store rating on record, so B is the ceiling.
From our grade for ease of use
  1. 1

    Best for a first go at automating an Android phone

    It's Android only, and nothing in it connects cloud apps to each other.

  2. 2

    What it costs

    Paid plans start at $1.49 - $10.00 per item in-app; the Pro upgrade is a one-time payment.

  3. 3

    There is a free plan

    The free version is ad-supported and lets you create up to 5 macros. The MacroDroid wiki describes it as otherwise fully functional.

  4. 4

    It runs on Android

    Android.

  5. 5

    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.

  6. 6

    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.

  7. 7

    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.

  8. 8

    A 2.4 GPA, above 15 of 40

    That is against the other automation tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.

  9. 9

    Keep it

    To replace MacroDroid you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

MacroDroid at a glance

Pricing
Free plan, from $1.49 - $10.00 per item in-app; the Pro upgrade is a one-time payment
Free plan
Yes
Free trial
None stated
Runs on
Android
Made by
ArloSoft, since 2012
Category
Automation
Our grade
2.4 GPA, fair

The report card

Best for a first go at automating an Android phone

MacroDroid automates an Android phone: pick a trigger, add actions and maybe a constraint, or install a ready-made macro from the Template Store. The free version stops at 5 macros and shows ads, and Google Play gives only a $1.49 to $10.00 range for the one-time Pro upgrade. It's Android only, and nothing in it connects cloud apps to each other.

ToolGPA report cardMacroDroidGraded Oct 10, 2026
SubjectGradeComment
Value for moneyAThe Pro upgrade is a one-time in-app purchase, which Google Play lists between $1.49 and $10.00, against subscriptions from around $15 a month in this category. No renewal, and it unlocks unlimited macros and drops the ads.
Free plan and trialCThe free version is otherwise fully functional, but it shows ads and stops at 5 macros. Five goes quickly once you have one for the car, one for the office Wi-Fi and one for the night. Cloud backup and uploading your own templates are Pro too.
FeaturesC120+ triggers, 200+ actions and 80+ constraints, plus variables, dictionaries, loops, IF/THEN/ELSE and AI actions that mostly run on the device. It does its job fully, and the job is the phone in your hand: nothing here connects cloud apps to each other.
Ease of useBNo store rating on record, so B is the ceiling. The Template Store installs a working macro in one tap, and an AI assistant helps build one. Automating other apps' buttons needs Android's accessibility services turned on.
Platforms and integrationsDAndroid phones and tablets only, and the Wear OS companion needs the phone app. There's no iPhone, computer or web version. Webhooks and Tasker plug-ins reach outwards, but it runs on one operating system.
Grade point averageFair, out of 4.02.4

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who MacroDroid is for

  • Fits if you're new to automation and want ready-made macros to start from
  • Works for people who want a one-time upgrade and no subscription

Who it is not for

  • Skip it if you have an iPhone, because it runs on Android only
  • Tight if you're staying free, with 5 macros, ads and no cloud backup
  • Not for you if you want cloud apps connected to each other, as it automates the phone in your hand
  • Watch out: Google Play lists in-app purchases at $1.49 to $10.00 and doesn't state the exact Pro price
  • Watch out: automating other apps' buttons needs Android's accessibility services switched on

Good to know

Good for

  • 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

Worth knowing

  • 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.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

$1.49

To start. There is a free plan too

MacroDroid has a free plan. Paid plans start at $1.49 - $10.00 per item in-app; the Pro upgrade is a one-time payment.

No renewal, and it unlocks unlimited macros and drops the ads.
From our grade for value for money

  • 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.

The free plan

The free version is ad-supported and lets you create up to 5 macros. The MacroDroid wiki describes it as otherwise fully functional.

Read from play.google.com on Oct 5, 2026.

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

1

Place it runs: Android

Android automation app built on triggers, actions and constraints. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, AI features, templates, workflow automation, no-code.

It does its job fully, and the job is the phone in your hand: nothing here connects cloud apps to each other.
From our grade for features
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.

Where it runs

  • Android

What it works with

  • Tasker
  • Locale
  • Wear OS
  • Gemini Nano

MacroDroid is made by ArloSoft, and has been around since 2012.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

15/40

Other automation tools it is graded above

MacroDroid's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 15 of the 40 other automation tools we grade, and level with 8.

It stands best on value for money (A, above 27 of 40) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 41 automation tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. MacroDroid’s own letter is outlined.

  • AValue for moneyAbove 27 of 40
  • CFree plan and trialAbove 2 of 40
  • CFeaturesAbove 1 of 40
  • BEase of useAbove 38 of 40
  • DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 40

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

Keep it

To replace MacroDroid you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

What you could make

  • Templates: an app builder makes this well.

What you could not

  • Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
  • A builder that other people can use without writing code.
  • A real app for Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
  • AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.

What this rests on. MacroDroid’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

Tasker, Automate, Apple Shortcuts and IFTTT

The 4 tools MacroDroid is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

  • 2.4GPA

    Tasker

    Free trial · from $4.49 one-time

    Android automation app driven by profiles, contexts and tasks.

    • MacroDroid has a free plan. Tasker does not, though it has a free trial.
    • MacroDroid also covers templates and no-code.
    MacroDroid and Tasker compared in full
  • 2.4GPA

    Automate

    Free plan · from $4.99 one-time

    Android automation app that builds tasks as flowcharts.

    • MacroDroid also covers templates.
    MacroDroid and Automate compared in full
  • 2.8GPA

    Apple Shortcuts

    Free

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

    • Only MacroDroid lists an Android app.
    • Only Apple Shortcuts lists iOS and macOS apps.
    • MacroDroid can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    MacroDroid and Apple Shortcuts compared in full
  • 3.0GPA

    IFTTT

    Free plan · from $2.99/mo

    Simple trigger-and-action automations for apps and smart devices.

    • Only IFTTT lists a web app.
    • Only IFTTT lists an iOS app.
    • MacroDroid can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    MacroDroid and IFTTT compared in full

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

11

Questions, each answered in a line or two

The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

Is MacroDroid free?

MacroDroid has a free plan. The free version is ad-supported and lets you create up to 5 macros.

How much does MacroDroid cost?

MacroDroid lists 2 plans. Free: $0.

What platforms does MacroDroid work on?

MacroDroid is available on Android.

Does MacroDroid have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. MacroDroid is listed for Android.

Does MacroDroid have a Windows app?

No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. MacroDroid is listed for Android.

Is MacroDroid open source?

MacroDroid is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.

What does MacroDroid integrate with?

MacroDroid's listing names Tasker, Locale, Wear OS and Gemini Nano. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Who makes MacroDroid?

MacroDroid is made by ArloSoft. It dates from 2012.

What are the alternatives to MacroDroid?

The closest alternatives to MacroDroid in our directory are Tasker, Automate, Apple Shortcuts and IFTTT.

How does MacroDroid compare with other automation tools?

MacroDroid's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 15 of the 40 other automation tools we grade, and level with 8.

Could I make my own version of MacroDroid?

To replace MacroDroid you would be making connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from MacroDroid’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from MacroDroid's own pages and its Google Play listing on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-27.

Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by ArloSoft. Prices change, so check macrodroid.com before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

3,189

Tools graded, in 94 categories

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

  • 3,189

    tools graded

  • 94

    categories

  • 426

    price changes on record

  • 579

    apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

Scan for the live page

Prices and grades as they are today

Quoting this guide?

Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

ToolGPA, "MacroDroid: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/macrodroid

Know someone choosing between automation tools?

Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/macrodroid/guide

ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa

See our other guides

The best-graded automation tools after MacroDroid, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

ToolGPA

Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.

Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›

Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what MacroDroid’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. MacroDroid is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ArloSoft. Prices and plans change: check macrodroid.com before you buy.