Tools · SPBoucher
Menu

Automator

Maintenance

by Apple Inc. · Application · also known as Apple Automator

Apple's long-standing drag-and-drop workflow builder for macOS that produces apps, Quick Actions, folder actions and calendar-triggered automations

ProprietaryFreeLocal
Visit official site Compare

Link verified Nov 2, 2026

Overview

Automator is the workflow-building application that has shipped with macOS since Tiger (2005). Users assemble actions from a library, such as Finder file operations, image manipulation, text handling, shell scripts and AppleScript or JavaScript steps, into a linear workflow and save it as a standalone application, a Quick Action available in Finder and Services menus, a Folder Action that fires when files are added to a folder, a Calendar alarm, a print plug-in or a dictation command.

It remains useful for document-centric automation on the Mac: batch renaming, PDF splitting, image conversion and glue scripts that run when something lands in a watched folder. Workflows can be imported into the Shortcuts app, which Apple now positions as the primary automation tool across its platforms. Automator still ships with current macOS releases but has received few new features in recent years, so it is best regarded as stable, maintained software rather than an actively evolving product. It is macOS-only and has no equivalent on iOS.

Editorial note on uncertainty. Apple has not formally deprecated Automator; the maintenance status reflects the absence of significant new features since Shortcuts arrived on macOS.

Capabilities

  • Drag-and-drop workflows from a library of system actions
  • Output as application, Quick Action, Folder Action, Calendar alarm or print plug-in
  • Shell script, AppleScript and JavaScript for Automation steps
  • Variables and looping within workflows
  • Import into Shortcuts

Typical workflows

  1. Convert and rename images dropped into a folder
  2. Add a Finder Quick Action that runs a shell script on selected files
  3. Schedule a workflow through a Calendar event

Strengths

  • Preinstalled on every Mac
  • Folder Actions and Quick Actions without code
  • Easy migration path to Shortcuts

Limitations

  • Little new development; Shortcuts is Apple's focus
  • macOS only
  • Linear workflows with limited branching and error handling

Prerequisites

  • macOS

Who it is for

  • Mac users automating file and document chores
  • Long-time macOS power users

Alternatives & comparison

  • AppleScript

    Apple's English-like scripting language that drives scriptable macOS applications through Apple events, run from Script Editor, osascript or other automation tools

    ProprietaryFree
  • Hammerspoon

    Open-source macOS automation app that exposes system APIs to a Lua configuration file for hotkeys, window management and event-driven scripts

    Open sourceOpen source
  • Keyboard Maestro

    Commercial macOS macro application that runs sequences of actions from hotkeys, typed strings, application, time, device and system triggers

    ProprietaryPaid
  • Shortcuts

    Apple's built-in visual automation app for macOS, iOS and iPadOS that chains app actions, scripts and system functions into runnable shortcuts

    ProprietaryFree
Compare Automator with its alternatives →

Sources & verification

Primary sources consulted for this record. Claims are tied to the fields each source supports; the automated link checker re-verifies every URL on a schedule.

Confidence
Medium
Reviewed
Nov 1, 2026
Links
Verified · Nov 2, 2026

Spotted an error?

Broken link, outdated license, wrong category, or a tool that no longer exists? Tell us; reports are reviewed by the editor.

launchd

Apple Inc. · macOS automation

In-depth entry

macOS's built-in service manager that starts, supervises and schedules daemons and per-user agents from property-list job definitions

ProprietaryFreeLocalBroken

Alfred

Running with Crayons Ltd · macOS system utilities

macOS launcher and productivity app whose paid Powerpack adds workflows, clipboard history, snippets and custom searches

ProprietaryFreemiumPaidLocalNov 2, 2026

Karabiner-Elements

pqrs.org (Takayama Fumihiko) · macOS system utilities

Free, public-domain keyboard customizer for macOS that remaps keys and defines complex modifications through JSON rules at the driver level

UnlicenseOpen sourceFreeLocalNov 2, 2026

Raycast

Raycast Technologies Ltd · macOS system utilities

Extensible launcher for macOS (with Windows and iOS versions) combining app search, clipboard history, snippets, window management and a store of community extensions

MixedFreemiumPaidLocalBroken

cliclick

Carsten Blüm (BlueM) · macOS automation

Small open-source macOS command-line tool that emulates mouse clicks, drags, movements, key presses and typing for scripted GUI control

BSD-3-ClauseOpen sourceFreeLocalMaintenanceNov 2, 2026