Comparison

Google Docs vs Shortcuts

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

Head to head
About

Google Docs

Create, edit, and collaborate on documents online in real time. Work together seamlessly with your team, even offline, and access a variety of file types. AI-powered features can help draft and refine content.

Highlights
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Offline editing
  • Template library
  • Multiple file type support
  • AI-powered drafting
  • Commenting and action items
Read full description

Create, edit, and collaborate on online documents with the Google Docs app. Work together in real time • Share documents with your team • Edit, comment, and add action items in real time Create anywhere, anytime—even offline • Capture spontaneous ideas on the fly • Get things done, even on the go, with offline mode • Save time and add polish with easy-to-use templates Edit and share multiple file types • Open a variety of files, including Microsoft Word files, right in Google Docs • Frictionless collaboration, no matter which application your teammates use • Convert and export files seamlessly Google Docs is part of Google Workspace: where teams of any size can chat, create, and collaborate. Google Workspace paid subscribers have access to additional Google Docs features, including: Use Gemini in Docs to quickly draft and edit content • Draft outlines, blog posts, briefs, and more on the go • Improve your writing with AI-powered suggestions Learn more about Google Docs: https://workspace.google.com/products/docs/ Follow us for more: • X: https://x.com/googleworkspace • Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/googleworkspace • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/googleworkspace

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.

Screenshots

Google Docs4 screens
Shortcuts3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shortcuts at none against Google Docs's 1. Shortcuts also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). Google Docs's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (3.3M vs 47K). On price 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. Google Docs sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $199.99 per year. Shortcuts asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Google Docs holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Docs has 3.3M ratings behind it against 47K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Google Docs's written reviews are positive against 49% of Shortcuts's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Google Docs ships an update weekly, Shortcuts every 9 months. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Google Docs versus Shortcuts: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGoogle DocsShortcuts
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.3M ratings) — better4.6 (47K ratings)
Positive reviews69.9% of reviews — better49.2% of reviews
Number of ratings3.3M — better47K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
Best chart rank#11 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size361 MB9 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperGoogleApple Distribution International

Customer experience

Google Docs

All ratings3,271,482 ratings
Positive95.4%
Neutral1.9%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews3,622 reviews
Positive69.9%
Neutral5.9%
Negative24.2%

Shortcuts

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

User reviews

Google Docs

From 3.3M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Convenient and accessible
  • 👍 Seamless collaboration
  • 🔒 Automatic saving
  • 💡 Offline functionality
  • 👍 Versatile for various uses

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Laggy performance and input delays
  • 👎 Limited formatting and customization options
  • 🔍 Difficult to organize and navigate documents
  • 👎 Compatibility issues with other platforms

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

Bugs and requests

Google Docs

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unexpected crashes and document loss
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
  • Issues with image insertion and manipulation

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved document organization with folders
  • Expanded font and formatting options
  • Better integration with Microsoft Office
  • Smoother scrolling and navigation

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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Google Docs

Subscriptions1
  • Google AI Pro (5 TB)$199.991 Year
None

Shortcuts

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Google Docs free?
Google Docs is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shortcuts free?
Shortcuts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Google Docs or Shortcuts?
Google Docs is rated higher. Google Docs averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.3M ratings, while Shortcuts averages 4.6 from 47K ratings.
Do Google Docs or Shortcuts have ads?
Neither Google Docs nor Shortcuts shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Google Docs or Shortcuts?
Google Docs ships an update weekly, and Shortcuts every 9 months. Most recently, Google Docs was updated on October 14, 2026 and Shortcuts on October 14, 2026.

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