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Gaming · head to head

Epic Games Store vs Shadow PC

Epic Games Store logo

Epic Games Store

Gaming

PC game storefront with a lower revenue cut for developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shadow PC logo

Shadow PC

Gaming

A full Windows machine in a datacentre, rented by the month

From
$29.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Epic Games Store has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Epic Games Store far fewer community features than Steam: no workshop, limited forums and a weaker review system; Shadow PC you rent hardware, not a catalogue, so the subscription buys you nothing to play; every game is purchased separately and the real monthly cost is Shadow plus whatever you spend on games.
  • They diverge on capability: Epic Games Store covers 12% revenue share, Shadow PC covers Full Windows instance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Epic Games Store and Shadow PC actually diverge.

Attributes where Epic Games Store and Shadow PC differ
AttributeEpic Games StoreShadow PC
Starting priceFree$29.99/month
Pricing modelFree to use; individual games purchased separatelyPer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, WebWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, Smart TV

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Gaming).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Epic Games Store

  • 12% revenue share
  • Unreal Engine royalty waiver
  • Weekly free games
  • Cross-platform services

Only in Shadow PC

  • Full Windows instance
  • Install anything
  • Dedicated GPU tier
  • Broad client support
  • Peripheral passthrough
  • Storage add-ons

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Epic Games Store

  • Buying PC games, often at lower prices than competing storesnot Shadow PC
  • Claiming the weekly free gamenot Shadow PC
  • Developers wanting a better revenue share than the 30% standardnot Shadow PC

Shadow PC

  • Running Windows-only games or applications from a Mac, a Linux desktop or a Chromebooknot Epic Games Store
  • Playing heavily modded games that catalogue streaming services do not permitnot Epic Games Store
  • A student or contractor who needs a capable Windows workstation for a few months rather than a purchasenot Epic Games Store
  • Households that want gaming performance without buying and housing a desktop towernot Epic Games Store

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Epic Games Store

  • Far fewer community features than Steam: no workshop, limited forums and a weaker review system
  • A smaller catalogue, and its exclusivity deals have been unpopular with players
  • The client has a longstanding reputation for being slower and less capable than competitors
  • A smaller audience means developers trade reach for the better revenue split

Shadow PC

  • You rent hardware, not a catalogue, so the subscription buys you nothing to play; every game is purchased separately and the real monthly cost is Shadow plus whatever you spend on games.
  • Included storage is a few hundred gigabytes while modern titles run to a hundred gigabytes each, so extra storage is effectively compulsory and the advertised price understates what most subscribers pay.
  • The company went through receivership in 2021 and changed hands, after which prices rose sharply and grandfathered plans ended, so there is a documented precedent for the terms shifting under existing subscribers.
  • Capacity is regional and has been sold out before, with waiting lists for new subscribers, and anyone far from a datacentre gets latency that undermines the whole point.
  • It is a real Windows machine, which means you own its problems: updates, driver issues, malware exposure and a disk that fills up, all of which a catalogue service handles for you.

Pricing, plan by plan

Epic Games Store

Free
  • Epic Games StoreFree
    • Free account
    • Weekly free games
    • Game purchases billed individually

Shadow PC

$29.99/month
  • Shadow PC$29.99/month
    • Dedicated Windows instance with administrator rights
    • GPU allocated to your machine
    • Base storage allocation of a few hundred gigabytes
  • Shadow PC Power$undefined/month
    • Higher GPU class than the base plan
    • Sold as a monthly upgrade on top of the standard subscription
    • Aimed at high refresh rate and heavier creative workloads
  • Storage upgrade$undefined/month
    • Additional disk beyond the included allocation
    • Billed monthly per block of storage
    • Required in practice once you install several large games

Which should you pick?

Choose Epic Games Store if

  • You need 12% revenue share.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Web.
  • You also want unreal engine royalty waiver.
Epic Games Store review

Choose Shadow PC if

  • You need full windows instance.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, Smart TV.
  • You also want install anything.
Shadow PC review

Questions people ask

Is Epic Games Store or Shadow PC better?
Neither clearly leads. Epic Games Store starts at Free and Shadow PC at $29.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Epic Games Store or Shadow PC?
Epic Games Store has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Epic Games Store and $29.99/month for Shadow PC.
Does Epic Games Store or Shadow PC run on more platforms?
Epic Games Store runs on Windows, macOS, Web. Shadow PC runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, Smart TV.
Can I use Epic Games Store for free?
Yes. Epic Games Store has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Shadow PC starts at $29.99/month.
What is Epic Games Store best used for?
Epic Games Store is most often used for buying pc games, often at lower prices than competing stores, claiming the weekly free game, developers wanting a better revenue share than the 30% standard. Of those, buying pc games, often at lower prices than competing stores and claiming the weekly free game are not what Shadow PC is typically brought in for.
What can Epic Games Store do that Shadow PC cannot?
Epic Games Store covers 12% revenue share, Unreal Engine royalty waiver, Weekly free games, Cross-platform services. Shadow PC covers Full Windows instance, Install anything, Dedicated GPU tier, Broad client support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Epic Games Store: Is the Epic Games Store free?

Yes, the store and account are free. Games are purchased individually, and one is given away free each week.

Shadow PC: Does the subscription include games?

No. Shadow is a rented Windows PC. You install Steam or any other launcher and buy games yourself, which is why it costs more than services that include a catalogue.

Epic Games Store: Why do developers use it?

A 12% revenue share against the 30% platform standard, plus waived Unreal Engine royalties on sales through the store.

Shadow PC: Can I use it for work as well as gaming?

Yes. It is a full Windows instance with administrator rights, so Adobe applications, CAD, development tools and Blender all run on it, subject to your own software licences.

Epic Games Store: How does it compare with Steam?

Steam has a much larger catalogue and far richer community features. Epic competes on price, developer revenue share and free games.

Shadow PC: How much storage do I get?

A few hundred gigabytes on the base plan, which covers roughly two to four current large games. More is available as a paid monthly add-on.

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