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Mac automation apps compared: which one fits your job?
Seven ways to automate a Mac, from built-in Shortcuts automations to code. They are good at different things, and several of them work well together.
Last updated . We make Profiles Switcher; the other descriptions are based on each tool's own documentation and App Store listing.
What should you look for in a Mac automation app?
- What starts it. Events such as a Wi-Fi network, a place, a device or a time. Check that the triggers you need are there.
- What it changes. Built-in actions you pick from a menu, shortcuts you build, macros, or code.
- How much you build. Menus take minutes; macros and code take longer and give more control.
- A single event or a whole setup. Some tools react to one event at a time; profile-based tools switch a whole setup that stays in place while it applies.
- Where it comes from. Mac App Store apps are sandboxed and update automatically.
At a glance
| Tool | How you build | Best for | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profiles Switcher | Pick triggers and actions from menus; combine rules with any or all; priorities choose the active profile | Switching your whole setup by place, device or time without building anything, with your shortcuts as extra actions. | Mac App Store, macOS 13 or later |
| Shortcuts automations | Create an automation in the Shortcuts app: one trigger, then a shortcut | Running one shortcut when a single event happens, with nothing extra to install. | Built into macOS 26 Tahoe |
| Shortery | Choose a trigger in the app and pick a shortcut to run | Shortcuts users who want system events, calendar meetings or hotkeys to start a shortcut. | Mac App Store |
| Trypa | Choose a trigger in the menu bar app and pick a shortcut; can pass trigger data into it | Shortcuts power users who want unusual triggers such as sound recognition or AirTag proximity. | Mac App Store (full and Lite versions) |
| Keyboard Maestro | Build macros from triggers, conditions and actions in a macro editor | People who want to build detailed macros that type, click and control windows and apps. | Direct download from the developer |
| Hammerspoon | Write Lua code in a configuration file | Developers who enjoy writing code and want complete control. | Free, open source, direct download |
| ControlPlane | Rules with confidence weights activate profiles; actions run on activate and deactivate | Open-source fans who want shell scripts and sensors such as DNS or running apps. | Open source; a Swift rewrite is in active development (alpha in 2026); last packaged release 1.6.7 (2019) |
1. Profiles Switcher: context profiles for your whole setup
A profile bundles rules and actions. When its rules match it switches on and runs every action together, so docking, arriving at work or plugging in headphones changes several settings at once.
Exactly one profile is active, chosen by priority, and the menu bar shows which one and what else matches. A short settle window turns a burst of changes, like docking, into one clean switch.
Everything runs on the Mac. It is a sandboxed Mac App Store app for Apple Silicon and Intel.
- Triggers
- 19, including Wi-Fi, location, IP range, displays, Bluetooth, USB, headphone jack, lid, power, battery, time zone and appearance
- What it runs
- 18 built-in actions (sound, microphone, wallpaper, printer, network shares, apps, URLs, keyboard layout, sleep, notifications) plus Run a Shortcut
- Best for
- Switching your whole setup by place, device or time without building anything, with your shortcuts as extra actions.
2. Shortcuts automations: apple’s built-in automations (macOS 26 Tahoe)
macOS 26 brought personal automations to the Mac. Each automation pairs one trigger with a shortcut and can run immediately or after a confirmation.
It is the natural home for the actions themselves. Profiles Switcher can run the same shortcuts from its own triggers, so the two work well together.
- Triggers
- Time of day, alarm, email, message, file, folder, external drive, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, display, Stage Manager, app, battery level, charger, Focus
- What it runs
- Any shortcut, with Apple’s large library of actions
- Best for
- Running one shortcut when a single event happens, with nothing extra to install.
3. Shortery: trigger app for Shortcuts
Shortery watches system events and runs a shortcut in response, so every action is built in the Shortcuts app.
It covers events such as calendar meetings, camera use and screen lock.
- Triggers
- Around 19 categories: apps, audio, calendar events, camera, clamshell, devices, Focus, folders, hotkeys, LAN, login, monitors, power, screen lock, sunrise and sunset, time, wake and sleep, Wi-Fi
- What it runs
- Your shortcuts
- Best for
- Shortcuts users who want system events, calendar meetings or hotkeys to start a shortcut.
Website: apps.apple.com/app/id1594183810
4. Trypa: trigger app for Shortcuts
Trypa has one of the widest trigger lists of any Mac trigger app and can hand trigger details to the shortcut it runs.
All actions happen in Shortcuts, where Trypa also adds actions of its own.
- Triggers
- About 30, including geofences, AirTag proximity, sound recognition, calendar, Apple Music, displays, Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth, battery, Focus, thermal state and free memory
- What it runs
- Your shortcuts; also adds its own actions to the Shortcuts app
- Best for
- Shortcuts power users who want unusual triggers such as sound recognition or AirTag proximity.
Website: apps.apple.com/app/id1666429734
5. Keyboard Maestro: macro automation platform
Keyboard Maestro can automate almost anything you can do by hand, and has a long history and an active forum.
It is a toolkit: you assemble the macro that does what you need, step by step.
- Triggers
- Dozens, including hot keys, applications, Wi-Fi, USB devices, mounted volumes, display layout, power status, time, idle and MIDI
- What it runs
- Hundreds of built-in actions: typing, windows, clipboard, web forms, images and more
- Best for
- People who want to build detailed macros that type, click and control windows and apps.
Website: www.keyboardmaestro.com
6. Hammerspoon: scripting bridge (Lua)
Hammerspoon connects macOS to the Lua scripting language. Out of the box it does nothing; your code decides everything.
Its community shares ready-made modules called Spoons.
- Triggers
- Anything its APIs expose: Wi-Fi, location, batteries, screens, USB, audio devices, keyboard and more
- What it runs
- Whatever you script
- Best for
- Developers who enjoy writing code and want complete control.
Website: www.hammerspoon.org
7. ControlPlane: context-aware profiles (open source)
ControlPlane, a fork of MarcoPolo, pioneered context-aware profiles on the Mac. Its developer is rebuilding it in Swift for current macOS; the README describes the rewrite as alpha.
It weighs evidence from sensors to decide which profile applies, and can run actions both when a profile starts and when it ends.
- Triggers
- 17 sensors, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, power, network, IP, DNS, monitors, volumes, running apps, screen lock, lid, audio output, host availability, time and file presence
- What it runs
- About 16 actions, including shortcuts, shell scripts, opening and quitting apps, speech, volumes, wallpaper and sleep prevention
- Best for
- Open-source fans who want shell scripts and sensors such as DNS or running apps.
Website: github.com/dustinrue/ControlPlane
Which one should you choose?
- "Set up my Mac for wherever I am": Profiles Switcher.
- "Run a shortcut when X happens": Shortcuts automations on macOS 26, or Shortery and Trypa for more triggers. Profiles Switcher can run shortcuts from its triggers too.
- "Automate what I do with the keyboard and mouse": Keyboard Maestro.
- "I want to write code": Hammerspoon.
- "I want open source context profiles with shell scripts": ControlPlane. Coming from it? See the ControlPlane migration guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best automation app for Mac?
It depends on the job. To switch your whole setup by place or device without building anything, use Profiles Switcher. To run one shortcut when an event happens, use Shortcuts automations on macOS 26, or Shortery or Trypa for more triggers. For detailed macros, use Keyboard Maestro; for full control with code, Hammerspoon.
Do I need to know how to code?
Only for Hammerspoon, which uses Lua. Profiles Switcher, Shortcuts, Shortery and Trypa are set up from menus, and Keyboard Maestro uses a visual macro editor.
Can these apps work together?
Yes, and they often do. Profiles Switcher, Shortery and Trypa can all run shortcuts, so a shortcut you build once can be started by whichever trigger suits you.
Which ones are on the Mac App Store?
Profiles Switcher, Shortery and Trypa. Shortcuts is built into macOS. Keyboard Maestro, Hammerspoon and ControlPlane are downloaded from their developers.
Try the profile approach
Profiles Switcher is a menu bar app for Mac (macOS 13 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel) that switches your Mac's setup automatically. You build profiles from 19 triggers, such as the Wi-Fi network you join, a place, headphones or a display, and 18 actions, including running any of your Shortcuts. Everything runs on your Mac; it is available on the Mac App Store.
Download on the Mac App Store