# Shadow Node vs Pulse Citadel

The clearest difference is ads: Pulse Citadel at none against Shadow Node's shown. Pulse Citadel also leads on update cadence (daily vs weekly). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Shadow Node ships an update weekly, Pulse Citadel daily. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shadow Node | Pulse Citadel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulse-citadel/id6779441554/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **4** |
| Positive reviews | — | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 109 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [NETBYTE UG (haftungsbeschränkt)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1854412817) | [Blindsided Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1538856129) |

## What reviewers say

### Shadow Node

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-node-idle-hacker/id6759072485)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $1.99 | one-time |


### Pulse Citadel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulse-citadel/id6779441554)

Engage in a compact sci-fi defense experience where you bring a dormant machine to life. Launch combat simulations, convert defeated enemies into energy, and strategically expand your defense system through a research grid. Unlock powerful weapons and abilities to overcome waves of adversaries.

**Highlights:** Hand-authored research grid, Automated Citadel combat, Unlockable weapons, Active abilities, Prestige rebuild perks, Local progression tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Game Unlock | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shadow Node free?

Shadow Node is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Pulse Citadel free?

Pulse Citadel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Shadow Node or Pulse Citadel have ads?

Shadow Node shows ads; Pulse Citadel does not.

### Which is updated more often, Shadow Node or Pulse Citadel?

Shadow Node ships an update weekly, and Pulse Citadel daily. Most recently, Shadow Node was updated on October 7, 2026 and Pulse Citadel on October 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*