Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, which is one of the options below. Facts about Windows, macOS and other products were checked on 23 October 2026 and can change. SofaDeck is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple; all trademarks belong to their owners.
Short answer: for everyday Mac automation, use the built-in Shortcuts app. It replaces most of what Automator did, runs from the menu bar, Spotlight, Siri or a keyboard shortcut, and needs no code. Add Login Items for apps that should open at start-up and Focus modes for notifications. Then put your favourite automations on big buttons — on your iPhone, if you like — so they're one tap away.
Mac automation tools at a glance
| Tool | What it does | Skill needed | Included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shortcuts | Chains of actions across apps, files, web and system settings | Low | Yes (macOS 12 and later) |
| Automator | Older workflow builder, folder actions, Quick Actions | Low | Yes |
| Login Items | Opens apps when you log in | None | Yes |
| Focus modes | Silence notifications, change Home Screen and filters | None | Yes |
| AppleScript / Script Editor | Scripts that control scriptable apps | High | Yes |
| Keyboard shortcut and macro utilities | Triggers, hotkeys, text expansion | Medium–high | Third-party, free or paid |
| SofaDeck macros | Multi-step buttons on your phone: apps, sites, keys, text, volume | None | Third-party, macros in Pro ($9.99 once) |
Build your first automation in Shortcuts
- Open Shortcuts (in Applications, or search Spotlight) and click + to make a new shortcut.
- Search the action list on the right and drag actions in, for example Open App (Mail), Open URLs (your calendar), Set Volume (30%) and Set Focus (Work).
- Name it "Start work" and press Cmd+R to test it.
- Click the info button in the sidebar to Pin in Menu Bar, Use as Quick Action, or Add Keyboard Shortcut.
Good first automations: a "Start work" set-up, resizing or converting a batch of images, renaming files in a folder, a "Leaving" shortcut that mutes the volume and locks the screen, and a "Meeting" shortcut that turns on Do Not Disturb and opens the call link.
Automator and AppleScript: when you still need them
Automator is still included and is fine for Folder Actions (do something whenever a file lands in a folder) and old workflows you already rely on. Shortcuts can import many of them. AppleScript, written in Script Editor, reaches deeper into scriptable apps such as Mail, Finder and Music, and a Shortcuts action can run an AppleScript, so you can mix the two.
Make automations one tap from your iPhone
The weak point of keyboard-driven automation is remembering the trigger. SofaDeck turns your iPhone (or any phone) into a grid of large, labeled buttons for your Mac, opened in the phone's browser over home Wi-Fi — no iPhone app to install. Buttons open apps, files, folders and websites, control music and volume, press keys and type text, and with Pro they send Command/Option combinations and run multi-step macros with waits between steps.
- Download SofaDeck for Mac from the download page (macOS 11 Big Sur or later, on Apple silicon or Intel). It's Developer ID-signed and notarized by Apple.
- Allow Local Network when macOS asks, and allow SofaDeck under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility so it can press keys.
- Scan the QR code from the menu-bar item with your iPhone camera and type the PIN.
- Give your favourite Shortcuts a keyboard shortcut (step 4 above), then add a hotkey button for each on the phone — or build the whole sequence as a SofaDeck macro.
- Tap the mic and say a button's name ("start work") to run it by voice.
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getThe newest SofaDeck features — routines, automatic profiles, mic mute and OBS control — are on the Mac too in SofaDeck 1.0.9 for Mac. More for Mac users: change and create Mac keyboard shortcuts, remote-control your Mac from your iPhone and a button deck for Mac.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best automation app for Mac?
Start with Shortcuts, which is built into macOS Monterey and later and runs from the menu bar, Spotlight, a keyboard shortcut or Siri. Automator is still included for older workflows. For scripting there's AppleScript in Script Editor, and paid or open-source tools for power users. For one-tap routines from your phone, a button-deck app such as SofaDeck runs multi-step macros on the Mac.
Is Automator being replaced by Shortcuts?
Apple's newer automation work goes into Shortcuts, and Shortcuts can import many Automator workflows. Automator is still included in current macOS, so existing workflows keep working, but new automations are best built in Shortcuts.
How do I run a Mac shortcut with a keyboard shortcut?
In the Shortcuts app, open the shortcut, click the info (i) button in the right sidebar, choose Add Keyboard Shortcut and press the combination. You can also pin shortcuts to the menu bar or keep them in the Dock.
Can I start Mac automations from my iPhone?
Yes. Give a Mac shortcut a keyboard shortcut, then press that combination from a SofaDeck button on your iPhone (combinations need SofaDeck Pro). SofaDeck macros can also open apps and websites, set the volume and type text on the Mac without the Shortcuts app.