How the Tasker Android App Compares to Apple Shortcuts (and How to Use Each)
If you’ve reached the point where you want to use your phone more efficiently and start creating automations—customizable mini-apps for performing tasks—then Tasker (for Android) and Apple Shortcuts (for iOS) are likely among the tools you’ll use. Below, you’ll find a brief description of both apps and their features, as well as an explanation of their similarities and differences. The main difference is that Android allows its apps to interact more deeply with the operating system and its features than iOS, and Tasker takes full advantage of this.
For those new to automated phone calls, it offers a virtually limitless range of possibilities based on the “if this happens, then do that” principle—at the most basic level, plugging in headphones can increase the volume, while connecting to a working Wi-Fi network can silence the phone.
Tasker has more capabilities than Apple Shortcuts, but it requires more effort.
Even the most dedicated Tasker fans admit that mastering the app isn’t easy. Plus, it costs $3.99, so make sure you’ll use it to its full potential before buying. However, once you get used to the app, you’ll find it’s powerful and functional, and there’s a simplified Tasker interface you can switch to, allowing you to edit existing automations rather than starting from scratch.
Go to the full Tasker interface, and you’ll see it divided into tabs: Profiles (triggers that run specific actions and their associated tasks), Tasks (actions that aren’t associated with triggers), Scenes (user interface settings), and Variables (stored values and settings, such as your phone’s battery level). Automations often group these elements into projects, which can be found in the bottom tab.
Importing a sample project is perhaps the easiest way to get started. Click the “+ ” (plus) button (in the lower right corner), then select TaskerNet and make your selection. Once you find something suitable, click the “Import” button, and it will be added to Tasker and configured. You’ll also need to grant the automation all the necessary permissions.
In the TaskerNet catalog, you’ll find the ” Turn phone face down” automation, which will mute the phone. After loading the project, you’ll see it at the bottom of the screen, ready for selection. In the “Profiles” tab, there’s a toggle for “Orientation: Face Down” (this is what the automation expects), and if you tap it, you’ll see the associated action—enabling Do Not Disturb mode. In the “Tasks” section, there’s a separate task that configures the automation, and you can edit it to change the on-screen message.
A full explanation of Tasker and its features would require much more space than is presented here—check out the wealth of information on the Tasker website —but you can start creating simple automations in the Profile tab by clicking the “+” (plus) button and selecting a trigger and action from the provided lists. For example, you could choose time as the trigger and switching to dark mode as the action.
If that seems too complicated, taking a look at Tasker’s capabilities might give you a leg up: for example, searching through sketches , getting notified when your WhatsApp message goes from unread to read , or automatically switching to voice input when your phone is placed on a flat surface .
Apple Shortcuts is easier to learn than Tasker, but you have fewer controls.
Apple Shortcuts is similar in some ways to Tasker for iPhone, but it’s much easier to use: creating and editing automations is simpler, and while the ability to interact with basic phone functions is limited, it’s sufficient for most tinkerers.
All your current shortcuts are displayed in the app’s Library tab, and in the Automations section, you can find shortcuts that run automatically without your intervention—for example, based on the time of day or when you open an app. In the Gallery section, you can view shortcuts curated by Apple.
As with Tasker, starting with an example is a good way to get comfortable with the app. Open your Gallery and you’ll find the “Remind me to go to work” shortcut: tap the “+” (plus) button in the corner to add it to your library. The trigger is getting within 100 meters of your office, and the action is to display a reminder.
The shortcut will request information about your workspace and ask you to provide it when adding it to the library. When you launch the shortcut, you’ll be prompted to add the information to a work note in Apple Notes—this way, you can create a comprehensive list of everything you don’t want to forget, specifically for your workspace.
Tap the three dots on any shortcut in your library to see a detailed description of its operation. Triggers can be based on time and date, location, opening or closing apps, focus modes , or changes to settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Actions can include a variety of tasks in Apple’s own apps (from adding calendar entries to getting directions on a map), as well as in some third-party apps. You can also control various aspects of your phone, such as changing airplane mode or screen brightness.
You’ll find a multitude of user-created shortcuts online. These tasks and automations can be customized to track a move using QR codes, log daily water consumption , or get the weather forecast for an upcoming event. You can also start creating your own by clicking the “+” (plus) button in the “Library” or “Automation” tabs.
Tasker vs. Shortcuts is like Android vs. iOS.
Comparing Tasker and Shortcuts is an interesting way to look at Android and iOS as a whole. While Google and Apple have borrowed features from each other over the years, there remain some significant differences, many of which become apparent when using the two tools.
Apple Shortcuts provides a wealth of suggestions and offers a simpler workflow, though it’s capable of very clever automations. However, it’s more limited in its control over the mobile operating system and the apps installed on it: Shortcuts can only access apps to the extent permitted by the developers.
Tasker can interact with apps regardless of whether the developers or Google have taken any action to enable it. Unlike Shortcuts, it can read notifications, draw over other apps, and even perform actions on your behalf (such as taps and swipes). Tasker is also better than Shortcuts at continuous monitoring.
Apple (understandably) wants to maintain some restrictions on Shortcuts for security and privacy reasons, but Google puts the onus on you to run only automations and tasks you understand and trust. For better or worse, Tasker and Android give you more freedom if you’re willing to truly explore your phone’s capabilities (and are patient enough to figure out the interface).