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Automate Desktop
What Automate Desktop is
Automate Desktop is Fortra’s Windows software for automating repetitive desktop work from one machine. Its no-code Task Builder uses forms, drag-and-drop actions, and more than 600 prebuilt building blocks. Users can record browser and desktop activity, then automate clicks, menu selections, and text entry in websites and applications. The software extracts, transforms, and moves data from browsers, email, databases, Excel, PDF, CSV, and OCR files. Event triggers and conditions start workflows, while execution logs, error handling, and recovery support operations. File tasks can run on schedules or events and include SFTP, FTP over SSL, server-to-server FXP, PGP encryption, and compression. Integrations include AWS, Azure, VMware, SharePoint, Exchange, Active Directory, Dynamics CRM, Excel, Chrome, Firefox, Oracle, MySQL, XML, JSON, PDF, and PowerShell. It is on-premises, with local control of systems and sensitive data. Pricing is on request; a fully functional 14-day trial is offered.
Who it suits
Automate Desktop is intended for individual users and teams in finance, operations, IT, and back-office roles. It suits Windows environments needing single-machine desktop, browser, data, and file-transfer automation.
What it does well
- 600+ prebuilt automation building blocks
- Desktop and browser recording
- Event triggers and recovery tools
- Scheduled and secure file transfers
- On-premises local control
What to know first
- Windows platform only
- Designed for one machine and one user
- Centralized multi-machine execution unavailable
- API unavailable in Desktop
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Automate Desktop | Single machine, single user; quote based on automation goals, deployment requirements, and budget | On request |
As automate.fortra.com lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Automate Desktop provides broad no-code automation for a single Windows machine, including browser, desktop, data, and transfer tasks. Its single-machine scope and missing centralized features matter for larger deployments.
Facts from Automate Desktop's own pages
- Data extraction
- It can extract, transform, and transport data from browsers, email, databases, Excel, PDF, CSV, and OCR files. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Desktop and browser automation
- It can interact with websites and desktop applications, including clicking links, selecting menus, and entering text, and supports recording desktop and browser automation. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- File transfer
- It supports scheduled or event-triggered file operations, including SFTP, FTP over SSL, server-to-server FXP transfers, PGP encryption, and compression. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1982 · automate.fortra.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Eden Prairie, Minnesota, United States · automate.fortra.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Listed integrations include AWS, Azure, VMware, SharePoint, Microsoft Exchange, Active Directory, Dynamics CRM, Excel, Chrome, Firefox, Oracle, MySQL, XML, JSON, PDF, and PowerShell. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Fortra describes Desktop as single-machine automation for individual users and identifies finance, operations, IT, and back-office teams as use areas. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Operating system requirements
- The overview lists Windows 10 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, and 2019 as compatible operating systems. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Product limits
- The comparison page marks centralized multi-machine execution, a centralized repository, workflow auditing, enhanced security and audit features, and an API as unavailable in Automate Desktop. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Automate Desktop helps individual users automate repetitive desktop tasks, web interactions, data extraction, reporting, and file transfers from a single machine. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Recorder availability
- Fortra says the Automate Recorder may or may not be included for Automate Desktop users and advises contacting a sales manager for details. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Security and control
- Fortra describes Automate Desktop as on-prem software that supports machine-based execution and local control of sensitive data and systems. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- Fortra's Automate Desktop page lists phone, email, and support request contact options and describes Automate Care as providing a dedicated Technical Account Manager. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Trial and onboarding
- Fortra offers a fully functional 14-day trial with onboarding from a specialist, a 15-minute requirements call, and a setup focus on one workflow. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Triggers and recovery
- Features include event-based triggers and conditions, execution logging, and error handling and recovery. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
- Workflow building
- Its Task Builder uses no-code, form-based development and drag-and-drop actions, with more than 600 prebuilt automation building blocks. · automate.fortra.com, 8 Oct 2026
Where Automate Desktop stands on Freedom251
- Task Automation Software#27 of 35