# Google Docs vs Shortcuts

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.

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.

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.

Google Docs ships an update weekly, Shortcuts every 9 months. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Google Docs | Shortcuts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640/reviews)** | [4.6 (47K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shortcuts/id1462947752/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.3M** | 47K |
| Positive reviews | **69.9% of reviews** | 49.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#10** | — |
| Size | 361 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Apple Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) |

## What reviewers say

### Google Docs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Free · Productivity, #57 Top Free (US App Store)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Google AI Pro (5 TB) | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### 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


## Frequently asked 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 15, 2026 and Shortcuts on October 15, 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.*