When comparing Locale vs Automate, the Slant community recommends Automate for most people. In the question“What are the best Android apps for making your phone automatically perform certain actions based on set criteria?” Automate is ranked 4th while Locale is ranked 9th. The most important reason people chose Automate is:
The free version of this app allows 30 concurrent 'blocks' to be run. No other limitations on functionality are set.
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Pros
Pro No noticeable effect on battery life
Even with Locale's advanced functionality, users have reported no noticeable effect on battery life.
Pro Uses Google data backup API
All the "situations" used on Locale are saved using Google data backup API, so once the variables are right, they will never be lost.
Pro Balances ease of use and complexity
This app is complex, but the UI makes it easy for anyone to use without much of a learning curve.
Pro Optimized for low battery drain
Pro Uses WiFi to determine location
Instead of using GPS like other apps, Locale uses WiFi to determine a user's location when possible. This is one of the reasons that Locale is so efficient when it comes to battery life.
Pro Free version
The free version of this app allows 30 concurrent 'blocks' to be run. No other limitations on functionality are set.
Pro Uses flowcharts
Flowcharts offer both a nice way of visualizing the logic and an intuitive way of creating it by dragging and connecting the boxes.
Pro Includes more than 250 blocks
Pro Supports Tasker and Locale plugins
Pro A bit simpler than Tasker
Pro Profiles can be exported as launcher home screen icons
Built into the features of the app, users can create profiles to then export them as a launcher app to easily be launched from ones home screen. Sadly though there is no way to add these to ones app drawer.
Cons
Con Can't create custom scenes
Automate can't create actionable graphic overlays and dialogs.