Comparison

Shadow Node vs HackLab

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

HackLab

Master ethical hacking in a realistic terminal environment. Learn cybersecurity techniques through hands-on missions, from scanning to exploitation, with an AI-powered hint system and global leaderboards.

Highlights
  • Authentic terminal gameplay
  • Mission-based progression
  • AI-powered hint system
  • Rank progression and leaderboards
  • Daily missions and streaks
  • Real cybersecurity skills practice
  • Simulated safe environment
Features
Read full description

BECOME A CYBERSECURITY SPECIALIST HackLab AI is the most immersive mobile hacking simulator ever created. Step into a realistic terminal environment and master the art of ethical hacking through hands-on missions — no prior experience required. Unlike passive course apps, HackLab puts you directly in the hacker's seat. Type real commands into an authentic terminal, exploit vulnerabilities, and crack into simulated systems. Every mission teaches you actual cybersecurity techniques used by professionals. ▸ AUTHENTIC TERMINAL GAMEPLAY Type real commands like nmap, sqlmap, and curl into a fully-functional terminal simulator. Every command is parsed, evaluated, and responds with realistic output. Feel the satisfaction of running a successful exploit. ▸ MISSION-BASED PROGRESSION Progress through three attack phases: SCAN → ANALYZE → EXPLOIT. Each mission teaches a specific skill — from port scanning to SQL injection, credential enumeration to log analysis. Unlock harder challenges as you level up. ▸ AI-POWERED HINT SYSTEM Stuck on a step? Our intelligent hint engine provides contextual clues at three escalating levels. Get vague nudges, directional tips, or nearly-explicit walkthroughs. Learn at your own pace. ▸ RANK UP FROM SCRIPT KIDDIE TO LEGEND Earn XP with every completed mission. Progress through five ranks: Script Kiddie → Hacker → Elite → Root → Legend. Compete on the global leaderboard and prove your skills. ▸ DAILY MISSIONS + STREAKS New mission delivered every day. Build a streak, earn bonus XP, and climb the rankings. Perfect for your daily commute or training session. ▸ REAL CYBERSECURITY SKILLS - Port scanning with nmap - SQL injection exploitation - XSS probing and payload crafting - Network reconnaissance and enumeration - Log analysis and forensics - Web application security testing - Multi-phase attack chains ▸ SAFE ENVIRONMENT Every mission runs in a completely simulated environment. No real systems, no real risk. Learn dangerous techniques safely before applying them in legitimate CTF competitions or authorized penetration tests. ▸ EARN BADGES Unlock achievements: First Breach, Speed Demon, Ghost (zero errors), No Hints, Streak Master, Pro Hacker. Show off your hacker credentials. ▸ GLOBAL LEADERBOARD See how you rank against hackers worldwide. Track your progress toward the top 1%. ▸ BUILT FOR SERIOUS LEARNERS Whether you're preparing for a CompTIA Security+ exam, studying for OSCP, or just curious about how real cyberattacks work, HackLab gives you the practical experience no textbook can provide. ▸ PRO SUBSCRIPTION Upgrade to unlock unlimited missions, advanced scenarios, all difficulty tiers, and unlimited hints. One subscription, full access. Download HackLab AI now and start your journey from script kiddie to legendary hacker. --- Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://coddykit.com/terms/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Shadow Node4 screens
HackLab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: HackLab at none against Shadow Node's shown. Shadow Node's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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 HackLab sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shadow Node ships an update weekly, HackLab every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Shadow Node versus HackLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadow NodeHackLab
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.6 (5 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size109 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNETBYTE UG (haftungsbeschränkt)MEHMET CANKER (TR)

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Shadow Node

One-time1
  • Premium$1.99
6 purchases

HackLab

Subscriptions2
  • HackLab Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • HackLab Pro Annual$24.991 Year
One-time4
  • 10 Hint Credits$0.99
  • 5 Mission Unlocks$1.99
  • 7-Day XP Boost$2.99
Show 1 more
  • HackLab Pro Lifetime$59.99

Questions

Is Shadow Node free?
Shadow Node is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HackLab free?
HackLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Shadow Node or HackLab have ads?
Shadow Node shows ads; HackLab does not.
Which is updated more often, Shadow Node or HackLab?
Shadow Node ships an update weekly, and HackLab every 2 weeks. Most recently, Shadow Node was updated on September 19, 2026 and HackLab on September 24, 2026.

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