What is Apple Shortcuts used for?

Apple Shortcuts is the automation app built into iOS, iPadOS and macOS that chains multiple actions across apps into reusable shortcuts. It is a good fit for automating repetitive tasks on an iPhone and chaining actions across several apps.

Is Apple Shortcuts free?

Yes. Apple Shortcuts is free to use.

Is Apple Shortcuts open source?

No. Apple Shortcuts is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to Apple Shortcuts include Hammerspoon.

What are some alternatives to Apple Shortcuts?

Apple Shortcuts competes with IFTTT, Zapier and Microsoft Power Automate. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Apple Shortcuts alternatives.

Apple Shortcuts: features, pricing and alternatives

About Apple Shortcuts

Shortcuts is an automation app from Apple that is included in iOS, iPadOS and macOS. A shortcut is a quick way to complete one or more tasks with apps, built from a multi-step sequence of actions.

An action is the basic building block, a single step in a task. Users mix and match actions to create shortcuts that work with apps and content on their Apple devices as well as services on the internet. A Gallery offers curated shortcuts that can be added with a tap and then customized, and shortcuts can be run from the app itself.

Shortcuts is a built-in feature rather than a separate paid product, and availability of some apps and services varies by country or region.

Key features

Multi-step shortcuts built from actions
Gallery of curated shortcuts
Works with apps and web services
Built into iOS, iPadOS and macOS
Run shortcuts from the app

Good fit for

→Automating repetitive tasks on an iPhone
→Chaining actions across several apps

Tags: automation; shortcuts; ios; macos; workflow; apple; no-code

Apple Shortcuts: questions and answers

What is Apple Shortcuts used for?: Apple Shortcuts is the automation app built into iOS, iPadOS and macOS that chains multiple actions across apps into reusable shortcuts. It is a good fit for automating repetitive tasks on an iPhone and chaining actions across several apps.
Is Apple Shortcuts free?: Yes. Apple Shortcuts is free to use.
Is Apple Shortcuts open source?: No. Apple Shortcuts is proprietary (closed-source) software. Open-source alternatives to Apple Shortcuts include Hammerspoon.
What are some alternatives to Apple Shortcuts?: Apple Shortcuts competes with IFTTT, Zapier and Microsoft Power Automate. For open-source options, see Enlisted's ranked list of open-source Apple Shortcuts alternatives.