Comparison

Shortcuts vs ChatGPT

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Shortcuts

Automate everyday tasks on your iPhone and iPad by creating custom workflows. Combine actions from your favorite apps to perform complex operations with a single tap, Siri command, or even automatically. Explore hundreds of built-in actions to streamline your digital life.

Highlights
  • Create custom automations
  • Hundreds of built-in actions
  • Integrates with favorite apps
  • Home Screen icons for quick access
  • Siri integration
  • Automatic task execution
  • Make animated GIFs
  • Create PDFs from Safari
Features
Read full description

Now, with Describe a Shortcut, you can automate daily tasks with a simple description. Just describe what you need, and Shortcuts creates an automation that connects actions across apps. Choose from hundreds of built-in actions in your favorite apps — like Calendar, Camera, Reminders, and more — to help you accomplish everyday tasks with a simple tap from the Home Screen, by asking Siri, or even automatically. Use the Shortcuts app to: • Add a Home Screen icon that calls a loved one • Make animated GIFs • Make PDFs from Safari And so much more... Shortcuts opens up incredible possibilities to automate things you do regularly on your iPhone and iPad.

About

ChatGPT

This app provides access to advanced AI capabilities, including text generation, image creation from descriptions, and voice conversations. It offers personalized advice, creative inspiration, and instant answers for various tasks, syncing history across devices.

Highlights
  • Image generation from text
  • Advanced voice conversations
  • Photo upload and transcription
  • Creative inspiration and ideas
  • Tailored advice and planning
  • Personalized learning assistance
  • Professional brainstorming
Features
Read full description

Introducing ChatGPT for iOS: OpenAI’s latest advancements at your fingertips. This official app is free, syncs your history across devices, and brings you the latest from OpenAI, including the new image generator. With ChatGPT in your pocket, you’ll find: · Image generation–Generate original images from a description, or transform existing ones with a few simple words. · Advanced Voice Mode–Tap the soundwave icon to have a real-time convo on the go. Settle a dinner table debate, or practice a new language. · Photo upload—Snap or upload a picture to transcribe a handwritten recipe or get info about a landmark. · Creative inspiration—Find custom birthday gift ideas or create a personalized greeting card. · Tailored advice—Talk through a tough situation, ask for a detailed travel itinerary, or get help crafting the perfect response. · Personalized learning—Explain electricity to a dinosaur-loving kid or easily brush up yourself on a historic event. · Professional input—Brainstorm marketing copy or map out a business plan. · Instant answers—Get recipe suggestions when you only have a few ingredients. Join hundreds of millions of users and try the app captivating the world. Download ChatGPT today. Terms of service & privacy policy: https://openai.com/policies/terms-of-use https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Shortcuts3 screens
ChatGPT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shortcuts at none against ChatGPT's 9. Shortcuts also leads on ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). ChatGPT's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (11M vs 47K). On price there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ChatGPT sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $8.00 per month. Shortcuts asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ChatGPT holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ChatGPT has 11M ratings behind it against 47K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of Shortcuts's written reviews are positive against 71% of ChatGPT's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shortcuts ships an update every 9 months, ChatGPT every 6 days. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

Scorecard10 real differences · 1 level
Shortcuts versus ChatGPT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShortcutsChatGPT
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (47K ratings)4.8 (11M ratings) — better
Positive reviews49.2% of reviews70.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings47K11M — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#1 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB259 MB
Age rating17+12+
DeveloperApple Inc.OpenAI OpCo, LLC

Customer experience

Shortcuts

All ratings47,401 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral3.5%
Negative7.8%
Written reviews2,819 reviews
Positive49.2%
Neutral12.5%
Negative38.4%

ChatGPT

All ratings11,008,615 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral1.2%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews26,227 reviews
Positive70.6%
Neutral4.3%
Negative25.1%

User reviews

Shortcuts

From 47K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful automation capabilities
  • 👍 Customizable app icons and widgets
  • 🎨 Aesthetic customization options
  • 💡 Useful for home automation and productivity

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy, crashes, and exhibits unexpected behavior
  • 🔍 Inaccessible and difficult to use
  • 🔕 Annoying notification banners
  • 🔌 Drains battery when running complex shortcuts

ChatGPT

From 11M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful and versatile AI assistant
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 🤖 Impressive conversational abilities
  • 💡 Convenient mobile access to ChatGPT
  • 🧠 Vast knowledge base on diverse topics

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional inaccuracies or inconsistencies in responses
  • 🔖 Limited to pre-2021 data, lacking real-time updates
  • 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data usage
  • 🔍 Difficulty in navigating and managing conversation history

Bugs and requests

Shortcuts

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Shortcuts randomly stop working, requiring device restart
  • Inconsistent behavior when adding/removing actions in shortcuts
  • Shortcuts not syncing properly between devices
  • Automations not running automatically as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add 'and' statement for automations
  • Allow toggling of silent mode on iPad and Apple Watch
  • Provide option to disable notification banners
  • Improve syncing and reliability between devices

ChatGPT

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unexpected app crashes or freezes
  • Issues with login and account verification
  • Inconsistent performance on different iOS devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to integrate with other apps and services
  • Support for voice commands and audio responses
  • Enhanced search and organization of conversation history
  • Customization options for the AI's personality and behavior
  • Improved accessibility features for users with disabilities

In-app purchases

None

Shortcuts

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

ChatGPT

Subscriptions6
  • ChatGPT Go$8.001 Month
  • ChatGPT Plus$19.991 Month
  • ChatGPT Pro 100$100.001 Month
Show 3 more
  • ChatGPT Pro 200$200.001 Month
  • ChatGPT Plus$200.001 Year
  • ChatGPT Pro 500$500.001 Month
One-time3
  • 100 Credits$4.00
  • 500 Credits$20.00
  • 1000 Credits$40.00

Questions

Is Shortcuts free?
Shortcuts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ChatGPT free?
ChatGPT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Shortcuts or ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is rated higher. Shortcuts averages 4.6 out of 5 from 47K ratings, while ChatGPT averages 4.8 from 11M ratings.
Do Shortcuts or ChatGPT have ads?
ChatGPT shows ads; Shortcuts does not.
Which is updated more often, Shortcuts or ChatGPT?
Shortcuts ships an update every 9 months, and ChatGPT every 6 days. Most recently, Shortcuts was updated on October 13, 2026 and ChatGPT on October 13, 2026.

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