# HackStack vs Paperclip Empire

The clearest difference is ads: Paperclip Empire at none against HackStack's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HackStack sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Paperclip Empire sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

HackStack ships an update weekly, Paperclip Empire every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HackStack | Paperclip Empire |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paperclip-empire-idle-tycoon/id6768628361/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **4** |
| Positive reviews | — | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 68 MB | 163 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Jacob Woodfield](https://appshunter.io/developer/1889214907) | [Banshee Technologies S.L.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1881292738) |

## What reviewers say

### HackStack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hackstack/id6761376937)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Banner Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Offline Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ops Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove All Ads | $6.99 | one-time |


### Paperclip Empire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paperclip-empire-idle-tycoon/id6768628361)

Start with a single paperclip and tap to build an empire. Automate production, hire staff, and unlock new products to grow your wealth. Renovate your shop to reset progress with a permanent multiplier and start over with a head start.

**Highlights:** Tap to start production, Build automation and hire staff, Unlock new products and upgrades, Renovate shop for permanent multipliers, Hand-illustrated patent-manual aesthetic, Offline progress tracking, Random events

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Autopress Basic: 1 Tap per Second | $0.99 | one-time |
| Instant Boost: 1 Hour of Earnings | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Clip of Abundance | $0.99 | one-time |
| Autopress Steady: 3 Taps per Second | $2.99 | one-time |
| Instant Boost: 24 Hours of Earnings | $2.99 | one-time |
| Autopress Rapid: 5 Taps per Second | $3.99 | one-time |
| VIP: Offline Earnings up to 24h | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HackStack free?

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

### Is Paperclip Empire free?

Paperclip Empire is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do HackStack or Paperclip Empire have ads?

HackStack shows ads; Paperclip Empire does not.

### Which is updated more often, HackStack or Paperclip Empire?

HackStack ships an update weekly, and Paperclip Empire every 4 days. Most recently, HackStack was updated on September 15, 2026 and Paperclip Empire on September 10, 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.*