HackerX vs Hacktivate
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HackerX
Learn the fundamentals and advanced techniques of ethical hacking and cybersecurity. This app offers comprehensive courses for beginners and experienced individuals, covering topics from basic hacking concepts to penetration testing and digital forensics. Gain practical skills to secure systems and build a career in the field.
- Learn cybersecurity basics
- Advanced hacking skills
- Ethical hacking tutorials
- Penetration testing
- Digital forensics
- Beginner-friendly lessons
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Want to become an ethical hacker to make your career in hacking? Learn cybersecurity and hacking basics and advanced skills using this amazing app - Learn Ethical Hacking - Ethical Hacking Tutorials. On this Ethical Hacking Learning app, you will be able to start with the basics of cybersecurity and hacking so that you can build your skills around it. You can build your hacking skills on the go from Hacking Tutorials on this app. COURSE CONTENT • Understand the basics of Hacker • Know who is known as a Hacker and what is Hacking? • Introduction of security • Types of Hackers • Know about malware • What is Virus - Trojans & Worms You will be able to uncover a lot about the world of cybersecurity and potential vulnerabilities that can exist in computer systems and computer networks of today's world. Learn hacking skills online for free with Learn Ethical Hacking app. This ethical hacking learning app is a free IT and cyber security online training network offering in-depth hacking courses for noobs, intermediate and advanced hackers. With a course library spanning topics such as ethical hacking, advanced penetration testing and digital hacking forensics, this app is the best place to learn hacking skills online. With this app, anyone can take a hacking course. Our app-based learning platform is free and open to all who wish to learn. This is because our app's goal is to make IT, cyber security, penetration testing, and ethical hacking available to everyone, regardless of circumstance. As you start out on your hacking journey It is important to understand what it means to be an ethical hacker. Ethical hackers are hackers who penetrate networks with the goal of uncovering that network’s weaknesses on the owner’s behalf. This way the network owner is better able to secure their system from malicious attacks. If this sounds like something you are interested in pursuing, then you have come to the right place. SUPPORT US If you have any feedback for us, please write us an email and we will be happy to help you out. If you have liked any feature of this app, feel free to rate us on app store and share with other friends.
Hacktivate
Engage in a cybersecurity challenge with 240 missions across a global map, utilizing real hacking techniques. Learn skills from basic ciphers to advanced firewalls, with tutorials and scalable difficulty.
- 240 graded cybersecurity missions
- Real-world hacking techniques
- Hacker's Toolbox (hashing, encryption, ciphers)
- Global progression across continents
- Comprehensive tutorials and documentation
- Scalable difficulty for all levels
- Cross-device sync (iPhone, iPad, Mac)
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Crack codes. Break firewalls. Conquer the map. Hacktivate is the ultimate cybersecurity challenge: a world map of 240 missions where every puzzle is built on real cybersecurity techniques hackers use. From classic ciphers to covert steganography, you’ll sharpen your brain while infiltrating deeper into the network. No fluff. No filler. Just pure challenges. - 240 graded missions across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and more – unlock all the continents with a one-time purchase. - The Hacker’s Toolbox: hashing, encryption, XOR, ciphers, and beyond. - Real-world attack techniques through Unix terminals, web browsers, digital forensics, SQL injection, and more. - Global progression: unlock regions and learn different specialties each time. - Comprehensive tutorials and documentation teach you the skills you need to win. - Difficulty that scales: from rookies breaking their first code to cyber masterminds cracking the strongest firewalls. - Play on iPhone, iPad, and Mac with a single purchase – your progress is auto-synced. - Include 10 challenge hints for free, but you can buy more using in-app purchase. Every lock is a challenge. Every mission is a test. Every solution pulls you deeper into the system. The network is waiting, and your mission starts now! Terms of service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Privacy policy: https://www.hacktivate.app/privacy Hacktivate for schools: https://www.hacktivate.app/schools
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Hacktivate at weekly against HackerX's every 6 weeks. Hacktivate also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 76%). HackerX's advantage is ratings volume (2.9K vs 33) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. HackerX sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Hacktivate sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for HackerX against 4.7 for Hacktivate. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HackerX has 2.9K ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of HackerX's written reviews are positive against 89% of Hacktivate's.
HackerX ships an update every 6 weeks, Hacktivate weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HackerX | Hacktivate |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (2.9K ratings) — better | 4.7 (33 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.5% of reviews | 88.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2.9K — better | 33 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 63 MB | 184 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nigel Crasto | Hudson Heavy Industries |
Customer experience
HackerX
Hacktivate
User reviews
HackerX
From 2.9K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Great teaching
- 💡 Beginner-friendly
- 🚀 Straightforward lessons
- 👍 Organized and simple
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy tests and quizzes
- 💰 Paywall for full access
- 🔍 Requires external tools/websites
- 🔍 Outdated content
- 🔍 Limited free content
Hacktivate
From 33 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great set of puzzles
- 👍 Fun and educational
- 👍 Brain-building
- 👍 Great idea, great implementation
- 👍 Great game
Room to improve
- 💰 The price of the full game
Bugs and requests
HackerX
Reported bugs
4 issues- Lessons not displaying properly
- Inability to select answers in tests
- App freezing or getting stuck on loading screens
- Compatibility issues with Mac OS
Requested features
6 requests- Dark mode option
- More advanced content
- Ability to skip lessons based on prior knowledge
- Better support and troubleshooting
- Sync progress across devices
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- More certification options
Hacktivate
Reported bugs
1 issue- 🐛 Useless but paid-for hint system
Requested features
1 request- Dark mode option
In-app purchases
HackerX
- Limited Time Special Discount!$9.99
- Hacking Lifetime Access Plan$24.99
Hacktivate
- Hint Packet$0.99
- Hint Payload$3.99
- Hint Overload$9.99
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- Unlock Campaign$14.99
Questions
Is HackerX free?
Is Hacktivate free?
Which has better reviews, HackerX or Hacktivate?
Do HackerX or Hacktivate have ads?
Which is updated more often, HackerX or Hacktivate?
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