Comparison

Hacktivate vs DFE Forensics Essentials Prep

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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)
Features
Read full description

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

About

DFE Forensics Essentials Prep

Features
Read full description

PASS YOUR DIGITAL FORENSICS ESSENTIALS EXAM Master cybercrime investigation with 500+ practice questions covering evidence collection, file system analysis, and forensic methodology. 500+ practice questions 5-minute study sessions Track your progress Remove mastered questions Text-to-speech support Dark mode available WHY GET CERTIFIED? Digital forensics professionals earn up to $127K annually (PayScale 2024). EC-Council certification validates your ability to investigate cybercrimes and collect admissible evidence for legal proceedings. WHAT YOU'LL MASTER: • NIST Four-Step Forensic Process including collection, examination, analysis, and reporting • Order of Volatility principles following RFC 3227 standards • Chain of Custody documentation and evidence integrity procedures • Daubert and Frye Standards for expert testimony admissibility • MBR and GPT disk structures with partition table analysis • NTFS Master File Table attributes, metadata, and timeline reconstruction • FAT12, FAT16, and FAT32 file system structures • Slack space analysis for hidden data recovery • Live acquisition versus dead acquisition methodologies • Windows Registry forensics including hives, keys, and artifact analysis • Memory forensics with RAM dump analysis and process investigation • Network forensics including packet capture and protocol analysis • Email investigation techniques for header analysis and message tracking • Malware analysis with static and dynamic examination methods • Dark Web investigation and anonymity network tracing STUDY ANYWHERE: Coffee breaks. Commutes. Lunch hours. Turn dead time into digital forensics expertise. Download now. Pass your exam. Master cybercrime investigation.

Screenshots

Hacktivate4 screens
DFE Forensics Essentials Prep3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DFE Forensics Essentials Prep at none against Hacktivate's 4. DFE Forensics Essentials Prep also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.5). Hacktivate's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 months). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hacktivate sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. DFE Forensics Essentials Prep asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hacktivate ships an update every 5 days, DFE Forensics Essentials Prep every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Hacktivate versus DFE Forensics Essentials Prep: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHacktivateDFE Forensics Essentials Prep
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (32 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings32 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS18.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size184 MB27 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHudson Heavy IndustriesDavy Raitt

Bugs and requests

Hacktivate

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • 🐛 Useless but paid-for hint system

Requested features

1 request
  • Dark mode option

DFE Forensics Essentials Prep

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Hacktivate

One-time4
  • Hint Packet$0.99
  • Hint Payload$3.99
  • Hint Overload$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Unlock Campaign$14.99
None

DFE Forensics Essentials Prep

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hacktivate free?
Hacktivate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DFE Forensics Essentials Prep free?
DFE Forensics Essentials Prep is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Hacktivate or DFE Forensics Essentials Prep have ads?
Neither Hacktivate nor DFE Forensics Essentials Prep shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hacktivate or DFE Forensics Essentials Prep?
Hacktivate ships an update every 5 days, and DFE Forensics Essentials Prep every 4 months. Most recently, Hacktivate was updated on October 7, 2026 and DFE Forensics Essentials Prep on September 30, 2026.

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