Comparison

HackStack vs TechEmpire

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

Head to head
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.

About

TechEmpire

Features
Read full description

Build your startup. Create products. Grow your team. Become a tech empire. TechEmpire is an idle business simulation game where you build a technology company from the ground up. Start with limited resources and a big idea. Develop products, attract users, generate revenue and reinvest your earnings into an increasingly ambitious company. BUILD PRODUCTS Turn ideas into products and bring them to market. Assign developers, improve your products and grow their user bases over time. BUILD YOUR TEAM Hire employees and decide where their time is best spent. Balance development, maintenance, research and the other needs of a growing technology company. RESEARCH NEW TECHNOLOGIES Progress through a technology tree spanning software engineering, mobile technology, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, electronics and robotics. SCALE YOUR COMPANY More users bring greater opportunities โ€” and greater challenges. Manage marketing, product health, infrastructure and operating costs as your company grows. MAKE STRATEGIC DECISIONS Choose where to invest your money and people. Focus on the technologies and products that fit the company you want to build. KEEP GROWING TechEmpire continues progressing while you're away, letting you return to new resources and opportunities. Can you turn a small startup into the next global technology empire? TechEmpire is actively developed by RightNation Systems, with new content, technologies and gameplay features planned for future updates. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

HackStack4 screens
TechEmpire4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: TechEmpire at none against HackStack's shown. HackStack's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HackStack ships an update weekly, TechEmpire every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 13, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
HackStack versus TechEmpire: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHackStackTechEmpire
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeekly โ€” betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesNo โ€” better
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.6 โ€” better18.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size68 MB587 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJacob WoodfieldRightNation Systems OU

In-app purchases

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
4 purchases

TechEmpire

One-time4
  • Small Capital Injection$0.99
  • Medium Capital Injection$3.99
  • TechEmpire Premium$5.99
Show 1 more
  • Large Capital Injection$12.99

Questions

Is HackStack free?
HackStack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TechEmpire free?
TechEmpire is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HackStack or TechEmpire have ads?
HackStack shows ads; TechEmpire does not.
Which is updated more often, HackStack or TechEmpire?
HackStack ships an update weekly, and TechEmpire every 6 weeks. Most recently, HackStack was updated on November 13, 2026 and TechEmpire on November 13, 2026.

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