Comparison

Complication Lab vs ShortcutStudio

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

Head to head
About

Complication Lab

Personalize your Apple Watch and iPhone with custom complications and widgets. Display health data, HomeKit information, and more with extensive customization options. Create an unlimited number of unique setups to match your lifestyle.

Highlights
  • 30+ health data types
  • Apple Watch complications
  • iPhone Lock Screen widgets
  • iPhone Home Screen widgets
  • HomeKit data integration
  • Custom colors and styles
  • Unlimited complications and widgets
Features
Read full description

Complication Lab makes your Apple Watch and iPhone truly yours — now with lock screen widgets and HomeKit data support! • Pick from 30+ health data types, like heart rate, blood oxygen, and more. • Add your favorite health stats to Apple Watch Complications, iPhone Lock Screen Widgets, and iPhone Home Screen Widgets. • Bring in HomeKit data for your Home Screen Widgets. • Personalize every detail with custom colors and styles. • Stay on top of your goals in a way that feels effortless. • Create unlimited complications and widgets—mix, match, and make it yours! Complication Lab is designed to take full advantage of the latest watchOS and iOS features. Your health, activity, and HomeKit data stay on your device. We value your privacy as much as you do. Take control. Have fun. Build the perfect setup for your life.

About

ShortcutStudio

Easily build and refine Apple Shortcuts using AI. Describe your automation needs in plain English, and the app generates working shortcuts. Explore community creations and export directly to your device.

Highlights
  • Create shortcuts from AI prompts
  • Refine shortcut logic with AI
  • Browse community shortcuts
  • Export to Apple Shortcuts app
  • Manage shortcut drafts
  • Discover new automations
Features
Read full description

ShortcutStudio is the fastest way to create, refine, and install Apple Shortcuts and Automations on iPhone, iPad, and macOS. Describe what you want to automate in plain English, and ShortcutStudio helps turn your idea into a working shortcut. You can keep refining the result with AI, or explore community-made shortcuts in the marketplace, and export directly into the Apple Shortcuts app when you're ready to run it. Features: • Create shortcuts from a simple prompt • Refine shortcut logic with AI • Browse featured and community shortcuts • Search, sort, and discover new automations • Export and open shortcuts in the Apple Shortcuts app • Save, duplicate, reorder, and manage drafts Whether you are building personal automations, productivity tools, or reusable workflows, ShortcutStudio makes shortcut creation more approachable and much faster. Some features may require an internet connection. Optional paid subscriptions may be offered for expanded usage and premium capabilities: Free: • 15 messages/day • 10 downloads/day • 5 marketplace downloads/day • 350 character input limit • Auto thinking mode Plus ($4.99/mo, $49.99/year, or $99.99 lifetime) • Force Actions • Private downloads • 50 messages/day • 50 downloads/day • 5 web searches/day • Unlimited marketplace downloads • Choose thinking mode • 1,000 character input Pro ($9.99/mo, $99.99/year, or $199.99 lifetime) • Force Actions • Private downloads • 200 messages/day • 150 downloads/day • 15 web searches/day • Unlimited marketplace downloads • Import shortcuts • Choose thinking mode • 2,500 character input Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ ShortcutStudio is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Apple Inc.

Screenshots

Complication Lab4 screens
ShortcutStudio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ShortcutStudio at 71% against Complication Lab's 23%. ShortcutStudio also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.5) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Complication Lab sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and ShortcutStudio sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ShortcutStudio holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ShortcutStudio has 23 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of Complication Lab's written reviews are positive against 71% of ShortcutStudio's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Complication Lab ships an update every 3 weeks, ShortcutStudio every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Complication Lab versus ShortcutStudio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterComplication LabShortcutStudio
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (4 ratings)4.1 (23 ratings) — better
Positive reviews22.5% of reviews71.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings423 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOlberrySEAN JASON SAULSBURY

Customer experience

Complication Lab

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive22.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative65.0%

ShortcutStudio

All ratings17 ratings
Positive76.5%
Neutral11.8%
Negative11.8%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Complication Lab

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Subscription$29.99
10 purchases

ShortcutStudio

Subscriptions4
  • ShortcutStudio Plus (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • ShortcutStudio Pro (monthly)$9.991 Month
  • ShortcutStudio Plus (yearly)$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • ShortcutStudio Pro (yearly)$99.991 Year
One-time6
  • ShortcutStudio BYOK Free$4.99
  • ShortcutStudio BYOK (Plus)$9.99
  • ShortcutStudio BYOK (Pro)$19.99
Show 3 more
  • ShortcutStudio Plus (Lifetime)$99.99
  • ShortcutStudio Plus -> Pro Upgrade$99.99
  • ShortcutStudio Pro (Lifetime)$199.99

Questions

Is Complication Lab free?
Complication Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ShortcutStudio free?
ShortcutStudio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Complication Lab or ShortcutStudio?
ShortcutStudio is rated higher. Complication Lab averages 3.5 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ShortcutStudio averages 4.1 from 23 ratings.
Do Complication Lab or ShortcutStudio have ads?
Neither Complication Lab nor ShortcutStudio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Complication Lab or ShortcutStudio?
Complication Lab ships an update every 3 weeks, and ShortcutStudio every 4 days. Most recently, Complication Lab was updated on November 3, 2026 and ShortcutStudio on November 5, 2026.

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