Best Phone Automation

Apple Shortcuts vs IFTTT

Shortcuts controls the iPhone itself. IFTTT links the phone to web services and smart-home devices.

Updated By the Best Phone Automation deskHow we scoreDisclosure

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Short answer

Apple Shortcuts wins for automating the iPhone: it scores 8.2 against IFTTT's 6.1, is free and built in, and Apple lists 20 triggers that run it without asking17. IFTTT fits links to web services and smart-home devices; on iOS its Shortcuts service has one trigger and no actions10.

Pick Apple Shortcuts if
you want the iPhone to change its own settings and run actions at a time, a place, a Wi-Fi network or an NFC tag, for free71.
Pick IFTTT if
you want the phone to trigger, or be triggered by, 1,000+ web services and smart-home devices such as Philips Hue and MyQ13.
Apple Shortcuts and IFTTT compared
Apple ShortcutsIFTTT
Our score8.26.1
PriceFree, built in1Free plan with 1,000 credits a month; paid from $2.09 a month billed annually2
Runs oniPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Vision; the Mac has its own app34iPhone (iOS 17.0 or later), iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Vision; Android phones and Wear OS56
Runs without asking20 listed triggers, once Allow Running When Locked is on7Applets between cloud services run on IFTTT's side; phone services need the app installed and signed in8
Control of the phoneHundreds of actions drawn from the apps on your devices9The iOS Shortcuts service has one trigger and no actions10
Web servicesWeb API requests11; no OAuth 2 sign-in121,000+ apps and devices13
AccountAn Apple Account only for optional iCloud Sync and sharing through iCloud1415Yes, a free IFTTT account16
App Store rating4.6 (49,541 ratings, US App Store)174.6 (59,685 ratings, US App Store)6
Background limitsAutomations synced to another device arrive turned off15iOS background syncs can be unreliable, IFTTT says18

Scores by criterion

Apple Shortcuts

Score breakdown for Apple Shortcuts
Power 25%8.0
Ease of use 25%8.0
Reliability 20%8.0
Price 15%9.5
Privacy 15%7.5

IFTTT

Score breakdown for IFTTT
Power 25%5.5
Ease of use 25%8.5
Reliability 20%5.0
Price 15%6.5
Privacy 15%4.0

Visit Apple Shortcuts (opens the Apple Shortcuts website)Visit IFTTT (opens the IFTTT website)

Questions people ask

Do I need IFTTT if I have Shortcuts?

Only for services Shortcuts cannot reach on its own. IFTTT connects 1,000+ apps and devices13, while Shortcuts web requests cannot sign in with OAuth 212.

Is IFTTT free on iPhone?

Yes. The Free plan includes 1,000 credits a month, unlimited Applets and every Applet feature219. The iOS app lists Pro at $7.99 a month and Pro Yearly at $65.996.

Sources

  1. Apple. Delete built-in Apple apps from your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch - Apple Support. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  2. IFTTT. Plans & Pricing - IFTTT. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  3. Apple. Shortcuts User Guide for Mac - Apple Support. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  4. Apple. Shortcuts App - App Store. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  5. Google Play. IFTTT.ai: Automation made easy - Apps on Google Play. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  6. Apple. IFTTT.ai: Automation made easy App - App Store. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  7. Apple. Add automations to Shortcuts on iPhone or iPad - Apple Support. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  8. IFTTT Help Center. Do I need the IFTTT app installed for Applets to run?. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  9. Apple. Intro to Shortcuts on iPhone and iPad - Apple Support. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  10. IFTTT. iOS Shortcuts Integrations - Connect Your Apps with IFTTT. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  11. Apple. Intro to web APIs in Shortcuts on iPhone or iPad - Apple Support. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  12. Apple. API limitations in Shortcuts on iPhone or iPad - Apple Support. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  13. IFTTT. The easiest way to automate anything - IFTTT. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  14. Apple. Secure features in the Shortcuts app - Apple Support (Apple Platform Security). Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  15. Apple. Sync shortcuts on iPhone or iPad - Apple Support. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  16. IFTTT Help Center. How does IFTTT work?. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  17. Apple. iTunes Search API lookup for Shortcuts (id1462947752, US store). Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  18. IFTTT Help Center. About iOS background syncing. Checked 9 Nov 2026.
  19. IFTTT Help Center. What are credits and how do they work?. Checked 9 Nov 2026.