Best Phone Automation

Ranked #3 of 7 for best phone automation

Automate review

A free Android app from LlamaLab that builds automations as flowcharts from more than 410 building blocks12.

Updated By the Best Phone Automation deskHow we scoreDisclosure

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Verdict

7.6/10

Pick Automate for deep Android automation on a small budget: every feature is free up to 30 running blocks, and Premium is a one-time $4.99 purchase on Google Play in the US32.

Best for Budget Android power users

Skip it if you use an iPhone, or you want a simple trigger-and-action list instead of flowcharts with variables and expressions41.

Visit Automate (opens the Automate website)

Automate at a glance
DeveloperLlamaLab1
Developer of record on Google PlayH. Lindqvist Art Direction & Design, Stockholm, Sweden2
PlatformAndroid only4
Building blocksMore than 410 (LlamaLab's count on Google Play)2
Free edition limit30 running blocks at once; no limit on stored flows3
Google Play downloads5M+2
Plug-insApps that support the Locale/Tasker plug-in API1
AdsNone, per LlamaLab's privacy policy5

How Automate scores

Score breakdown for Automate
Power 25%9.0More than 410 blocks cover files, messages, phone calls, device settings and sensors2. Flows use variables, expressions and functions, call Locale/Tasker plug-ins and HTTP services including webhooks1, accept HTTP requests through a built-in web server and run shell commands2. A privileged service started over ADB reaches system features that regular apps cannot6. Score: 410+ blocks with variables, plug-ins, HTTP and an ADB privileged service give 9.0.
Ease of use 25%6.0Novices configure blocks from predefined options and can download finished flows from the in-app community1. Building from scratch takes learning: a flow stops at any unconnected dot, and the FAQ lists flow design mistakes that drain the battery4. LlamaLab documents a recovery procedure for flows that lock up the app or the whole device7. Score: flowcharts that take learning, with community flows to start from, give 6.0.
Reliability 20%7.0Running flows are saved to storage and resume from the last block after a restart8, but only when the Run on system startup option is on, and it is off by default4. The FAQ lists battery settings to change by hand on Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, OnePlus and other phones, and a permanent notification keeps the background service running4. The latest Google Play update shipped on October 27, 20262. Score: a background service with documented battery-manager steps gives 7.0.
Price 15%9.0Every feature is free up to 30 running blocks, with no limit on stored flows3. Premium is one in-app purchase listed at $4.99 on Google Play in the US2, and it covers every device on the buying Google account3. Score: every feature free up to a 30-block cap and a one-time upgrade under $5 give 9.0.
Privacy 15%7.5LlamaLab's privacy policy says the app shows no ads, gathers no usage statistics, stores flows only on the device and calls Google and Microsoft APIs directly from the phone5. Google sign-in is used only by optional features: the community, cloud messaging, and the Gmail and Google Drive blocks59. Google Play's data safety form lists crash logs, app interactions and device IDs as collected optionally for analytics and as data that may be shared with other companies10, and the app uses the Accessibility API and Device Administrator permission for some features2. Score: flows kept on the device, with device IDs on the data safety form, give 7.5.

Automate pricing

Automate pricing, checked 8 November 2026
PlanPriceNotes
Free$03Every feature, limited to 30 running blocks at once. Unused blocks inside a running flow count toward the 30. No limit on stored flows.
Premium$4.99 one-time (Google Play, US)2One in-app purchase that removes the 30-block limit. It belongs to the Google account that bought it and covers every device registered to that account3. Google Play in Germany showed €3.9011.

Strengths and weak spots

Strengths

  • Every feature is in the free edition; the only limit is 30 running blocks at once3.
  • Premium is one in-app purchase that covers every device on the buying Google account3.
  • More than 410 blocks, plus variables, expressions, Locale/Tasker plug-ins and HTTP webhooks21.
  • No ads and no usage statistics according to LlamaLab's privacy policy, and flows stay on the device unless you share them to the community5.
  • A privileged service started over ADB lets blocks reach system features that regular apps cannot6.

Weak spots

  • Android only: LlamaLab offers no iPhone, PC or online edition4.
  • Flowcharts take learning: a flow stops at any unconnected dot, and one block acts as a trigger or a condition depending on its Proceed option48.
  • Flows restart after a reboot only when you turn on Run on system startup, and many phones need battery settings changed by hand4.
  • Google Play policy keeps some features out of the store build; they ship in a separate add-on app that Android 14 and later installs only through an ADB workaround12.
  • The privacy policy says the app gathers no analytics, while Google Play's data safety form lists crash logs, app interactions and device IDs as collected for analytics and as data that may be shared with other companies; the policy names Google Play services as the collector of crash and performance data105.

Alternatives to Automate

Automate: common questions

Is Automate for Android free?

Yes. Every feature works in the free edition, which allows 30 running blocks at a time and any number of stored flows. Premium removes the limit with one in-app purchase3, listed at $4.99 on Google Play in the US2.

Is Automate available for iPhone or PC?

No. LlamaLab says Automate is an Android app and is not available on any other platform. To edit flows on a Windows or Mac computer, LlamaLab points to an Android emulator such as BlueStacks4.

Why does Automate stop running in the background?

LlamaLab's FAQ names task killer apps and system power-save features as the likely cause and lists the battery settings to change on stock Android and on Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, OnePlus, Sony, Nokia and Meizu phones. Flows resume after a reboot only when the Run on system startup option is on4.

Sources

  1. LlamaLab. Automate for Android. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  2. Google Play (listing by LlamaLab). Automate - Apps on Google Play (US store). Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  3. LlamaLab. Premium - Automate documentation. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  4. LlamaLab. Frequently asked questions - Automate documentation. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  5. LlamaLab. Privacy policy - Automate documentation. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  6. LlamaLab. Android Debug Bridge - Automate documentation. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  7. LlamaLab. Device recovery - Automate documentation. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  8. LlamaLab. Flow - Automate documentation. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  9. LlamaLab. Security - Automate documentation. Checked 8 Nov 2026.
  10. Google Play (form completed by LlamaLab). Automate - Data safety - Google Play. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  11. Google Play (listing by LlamaLab). Automate - Apps on Google Play (German store). Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  12. LlamaLab. Extensions - Automate documentation. Checked 8 Nov 2026.