# Shortcuts vs ChatGPT

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.

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

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Shortcuts | ChatGPT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (47K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortcuts/id1462947752/reviews) | **[4.8 (11M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chatgpt/id6448311069/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 47K | **11M** |
| Positive reviews | 49.2% of reviews | **70.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#1** |
| Size | 9 MB | 259 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Apple Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) | [OpenAI OpCo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1684349733) |

## What reviewers say

### Shortcuts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortcuts/id1462947752)

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:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chatgpt/id6448311069)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Grossing · Productivity, #1 Top Grossing, #2 Top Free · Productivity, #3 Top Free (US App Store)

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:** Safari Extension, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support, Fun Camera support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ChatGPT Go | $8.00 | per month |
| ChatGPT Plus | $19.99 | per month |
| ChatGPT Pro 100 | $100.00 | per month |
| ChatGPT Pro 200 | $200.00 | per month |
| ChatGPT Plus | $200.00 | per year |
| ChatGPT Pro 500 | $500.00 | per month |
| 100 Credits | $4.00 | one-time |
| 500 Credits | $20.00 | one-time |
| 1000 Credits | $40.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*