Comparison

Shadow Node vs HackStack

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

Head to head
About

Shadow Node

Features
Read full description

Welcome to Shadow Node – the ultimate hacker idle experience. You are an elite hacker on a mission to infiltrate global networks, breach high-security servers, and mine valuable data fragments. Your ultimate goal? The legendary Shadow Node—a network so secretive it is only spoken of in whispers on the deepest dark web forums. Are you ready to bring the digital world to its knees? FEATURES Progressive Hacking Network Work your way up from simple local networks to complex government databases. Every successful hack brings you closer to the top of the digital food chain. Idle Gameplay: Your Botnet Never Sleeps Progress even while you’re offline. Your scripts automatically gather data fragments while you're away. Return to collect massive rewards—perfect for hackers on the go. Deep Upgrade System Invest in cutting-edge hacking tools, AI assistants, massive botnets, and quantum processors. Optimize your mining rate with hundreds of unique upgrades. Strategic Prestige System Perform a strategic reset to unlock permanent bonuses and multipliers. Plan your ascension carefully to exponentially increase your earning potential. Milestones & Achievements Complete challenging objectives to unlock legendary Dark Matter upgrades that fundamentally transform your gameplay. Immersive Cyberpunk Atmosphere Experience an atmospheric soundtrack and a dark aesthetic designed to pull you deep into the world of cybercrime. HIGHLIGHTS Offline Progression: Your mining operations run 24/7. Fully Customizable: Tweak visual effects, haptic feedback, and choose from multiple languages. Mobile Optimized: Smooth gameplay and intuitive touch controls. PREMIUM MODE (Optional) Maximize your efficiency with the Premium Upgrade: 2x Mining Rate: Double the speed of your data extraction. Ad-Free: No interruptions, just pure hacking. Instant Boosts: Get immediate payouts with zero delays. Leave no trace. Download Shadow Node now and begin your ascent to hacker stardom!

About

HackStack

Features
Read full description

Build your hacking empire from nothing. HackStack is an idle clicker set in a cybersecurity underworld. You tap to run exploits, deploy tools that earn while you sleep, research new tech, and build out your rig. It's a cyberpunk parody of the infosec world with real hacking history baked into every corner. EXECUTE exploits to earn CREDS, your in-game currency. Start with a humble Port Scanner. End up running Neural Exploits and a Digital Consciousness. Every tool you deploy keeps earning even when you close the app. RESEARCH 24 tools across 6 categories. Each one comes with an intel card covering real cybersecurity history and lore. 177 cards to find. BUILD YOUR RIG. Upgrade your CPU, RAM, GPU, Storage, Cooling, and PSU. Better hardware means faster research and access to higher-tier tools. EARN CERTIFICATIONS across three branches: Offensive, Defensive, and Management. 23 certs, 69 tiers. They shape how you play and what you can unlock. SURVIVE BREACHES. Phishing attacks, ransomware, DDoS, insider threats. They show up unannounced, they mess with your income, and you need to deal with them fast. COMPLETE DAILY OPS for XP. Quick wins, standard missions, and challenge-tier operations. Something different every day. PRESTIGE when you're ready. Wipe your progress, earn Shadow Creds, buy permanent upgrades, and come back stronger. Free to play. No pay-to-win. Made by one developer who thought Cookie Clicker needed more firmware implants.

Screenshots

Shadow Node4 screens
HackStack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Shadow Node at 15.0 against HackStack's 17.6. On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Shadow Node sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and HackStack sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Shadow Node versus HackStack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadow NodeHackStack
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size109 MB68 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNETBYTE UG (haftungsbeschränkt)Jacob Woodfield

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Shadow Node

One-time1
  • Premium$1.99
4 purchases

HackStack

One-time4
  • Remove Banner Ads$2.99
  • Remove Offline Ads$2.99
  • Remove Ops Ads$2.99
Show 1 more
  • Remove All Ads$6.99

Questions

Is Shadow Node free?
Shadow Node is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HackStack free?
HackStack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Shadow Node or HackStack have ads?
Both Shadow Node and HackStack show ads.
Which is updated more often, Shadow Node or HackStack?
Shadow Node ships an update weekly, and HackStack weekly. Most recently, Shadow Node was updated on September 19, 2026 and HackStack on September 15, 2026.

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