What are the best iOS automation apps?

Question

iOS

What are the best iOS automation apps?

6

Options
Considered

15

User
Recs.

Nov 8, 2021

Last
Updated

6 Options Considered

Best iOS automation apps	Price	Last Updated
-- Workflow	-	Nov 8, 2021
-- Pythonista	-	Jan 10, 2021
-- Launch Center Pro	-	Sep 22, 2016
-- Editorial	-	Jun 6, 2018
-- IF	-	Dec 29, 2015

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Editorial

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score 5 · Answer 1

Workflow

Top Con

Uncertain future

Apple bought it and there is a hight probability that it's going to get discontinued. See More

Top Pro

Drag and drop interface

score 3 · Answer 2

Pythonista

Top Pro

It's Python

It's not just python-like - it is python, and as such can use a ton of handy python modules from the internet to do strange and outlandish things. Being able to leverage your existing python skills is super handy. See More

Top Con

It's Python

If you do not know Python or are not interested in coding or learning it, this is wholly unsuited for you. That's cool - it takes all kinds, and there are good alternatives available for you. See More

Top Pro

Good docs and active forum

Pythonista comes with volumes of built-in docs, and the Pythonista forum at https://forum.omz-software.com/category/5/pythonista is active and detailed. Updates are frequent and substantial. See More

Top Con

Not primarily intended as an automation app

Pythonista is a general programming app; it can do automation, and do it well, but automation is not the primary focus of the app or it's users, and so it takes some digging to find the bits you need related to automation. I see this as a plus for the app in and of itself, but many will find an app that is focused on automation to be more useful for their needs. See More

See All

score 2 · Answer 3

Launch Center Pro

Top Pro

Excellent third-party app support

The library includes actions for hundreds of apps. See More

Top Con

Limited support for action chaining

LCP uses x-callback-url for action chaining. Currently the app supports x-callback-url in Dropbox, clipboard, defining, brightness, messaging, email, and speaking URL schemes. See More

ResponsibleIshtarDeela's Experience

could not access any non standard apps See More

Top Pro

Allows scheduling actions

You can set up an actionable notification to pop up at a certain time that will allow you to run an action. It's possible to schedule repeat notifications. See More

Top Con

No in-app way to discover user-created actions

Top Pro

Allows launching apps from the notification center

Top Pro

Supports location based actions

You can set up an actionable notification to pop up at a certain location that will allow you to run an action. See More

Top Pro

Integrates with IFTT for even more functionality

See All

Answer 4

IF

Top Pro

Extremely simple

While this app can complete complex tasks, it is very easy to use. See More

Top Con

Limits only one action per trigger

Instead of allowing users to have a large amount of actions launch based off of one trigger, the limit is only 1:1. See More

Top Con

Recipes aren't guaranteed to work

Sometimes recipes don't work as expected, or fail to launch completely. See More

See All

Answer 5

Drafts

Top Pro

Excellent third-party app support

Top Con

Limited to text-based actions only

Drafts is a text editor first and an automation app second. It starts with a blank page for writing text. That text can then be used for a wide variety of actions - it can become a tweet, it can become a calendar event, it can become a reminder, an email, a blogpost, etc. See More

What are the best iOS automation apps?

6 Options Considered

Workflow

My Recommendation for Workflow

My Recommendation for Workflow

Uncertain future

Drag and drop interface

Pythonista

My Recommendation for Pythonista

My Recommendation for Pythonista

It's Python

It's Python

Good docs and active forum

Not primarily intended as an automation app

Launch Center Pro

My Recommendation for Launch Center Pro

My Recommendation for Launch Center Pro

Excellent third-party app support

Limited support for action chaining

Allows scheduling actions

No in-app way to discover user-created actions

Allows launching apps from the notification center

Supports location based actions

Integrates with IFTT for even more functionality

Editorial

My Recommendation for Editorial

My Recommendation for Editorial

IF

My Recommendation for IF

My Recommendation for IF

Extremely simple

Limits only one action per trigger

Recipes aren't guaranteed to work

Drafts

My Recommendation for Drafts

My Recommendation for Drafts

Excellent third-party app support

Limited to text-based actions only

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