Comparison

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts vs ShortFlow

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

Head to head
About

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts

Enhance Apple's Shortcuts app with over 130 powerful new actions. Utilize advanced tools like OCR, document scanning, music integration, and NFC for deeper automation. Create custom app-like experiences and manage data across devices.

Highlights
  • 130+ powerful new actions for Shortcuts
  • On-device text recognition (OCR)
  • NFC Read + Write
  • Style and render text to images
  • Global variables for data storage
  • Create custom app-like experiences with Preview Tool
  • Apple Music integration
Features
Read full description

Toolbox Pro gives you 130+ powerful new actions to use within Apple’s Shortcuts app. Tools include the latest iOS technologies: • iOS document scanner • Lightning-fast, on-device text recognition (OCR) • Tag files • Manipulate reminders and calendar events with more options than Shortcuts • Apple Music tools give you access to the whole catalogue of 60 million songs (Apple Music subscription required) • Transcribe speech from audio files • Add contacts and contact groups • Get workouts and activity summaries from Health • TouchID/FaceID authentication • Style and render text to images • NFC Read + Write • Image filters • Create photo albums • The Preview Tool lets you present text, images, rich URLs & interactive maps with flexible layouts. Add your own buttons to create your own app-like experience • Global variables let you store data between shortcuts and devices • Menu creator • Icon generator • Recognise objects in images using machine learning • Get current motion of device (driving, walking etc) • Full-screen text input box • Remove duplicates from list • Quick-match text before, after or between words • Device details like orientation/is dark mode on/is audio playing/is silent mode on And many, many more. Get nearly 40 tools for *FREE*, unlock everything with a single in-app purchase. You can find detailed descriptions of what each tool does in the app along with *lots* of example shortcuts to get you started. This app supports dark mode, voice control and dynamic type. Privacy policy spoilers: I don’t store any of your data or track you. (Read more: www.toolboxpro.app/privacy-policy)

About

ShortFlow

Access your favorite apps, websites, and custom shortcuts directly from your iPhone's Lock Screen. Create personalized widget buttons with a vast icon library for quick launching. Supports Always-On display and offers advanced customization options.

Highlights
  • Launch apps from Lock Screen
  • Open URLs from Lock Screen
  • Access Shortcuts app actions
  • Customizable widget buttons
  • Over 4,000 icons available
  • Supports Always-On display
Read full description

Open any apps, shortcuts, URLs from the Lock Screen. Place custom widget buttons on your Lock Screen, with your choice of over 4,000 icons. Each can be configured to launch your favorite app, website, or any shortcut from the Shortcuts app. Other Features: • Display custom title on a widget • Built-in presets for quick configuration • Supports iPhone 14 Pro's Always-On display • Easily change widgets through the app Pro Features: • Transparent widget backgrounds • Create up to 20 different widgets • Place an inline widget above time

Screenshots

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts4 screens
ShortFlow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ShortFlow at 4.7 against Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts's 4.5. ShortFlow also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 weeks). Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts's advantage is iOS requirement (14.5 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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. Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and ShortFlow sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ShortFlow holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 432 and 196 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts's written reviews are positive against 68% of ShortFlow's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts ships an update every 3 weeks, ShortFlow every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts versus ShortFlow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterToolbox Pro for ShortcutsShortFlow
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (432 ratings)4.7 (196 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.8% of reviews67.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings432 — better196
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.5 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSnailed It Development LtdKenneth Kao

Customer experience

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts

All ratings432 ratings
Positive85.4%
Neutral3.5%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews199 reviews
Positive64.8%
Neutral8.0%
Negative27.1%

ShortFlow

All ratings196 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive67.7%
Neutral19.4%
Negative12.9%

Bugs and requests

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Restore purchase not working
  • Clipboard issues
  • List manipulation bugs
  • Haptic feedback not working
  • Example shortcuts not working

Requested features

8 requests
  • Sort numbers action
  • Custom repeat action
  • Detect if other apps are open
  • Share multiple shortcuts at once
  • Ability to read AAE files and photo edits
Show 3 more
  • SD card management
  • Detect currently running shortcut
  • Mac version

ShortFlow

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts

One-time4
  • Tip Jar - Small$0.99
  • Tip Jar - Medium$2.99
  • Tip Jar - Large$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Toolbox Pro Premium$5.99
1 purchases

ShortFlow

One-time1
  • ShortFlow Pro$2.99

Questions

Is Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts free?
Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ShortFlow free?
ShortFlow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts or ShortFlow?
ShortFlow is rated higher. Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts averages 4.5 out of 5 from 432 ratings, while ShortFlow averages 4.7 from 196 ratings.
Do Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts or ShortFlow have ads?
Neither Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts nor ShortFlow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts or ShortFlow?
Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts ships an update every 3 weeks, and ShortFlow every 8 days. Most recently, Toolbox Pro for Shortcuts was updated on September 22, 2026 and ShortFlow on September 7, 2026.

Other comparisons