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Heroic Games Launcher vs Shadow PC

Heroic Games Launcher logo

Heroic Games Launcher

Gaming

Open source client for Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries on Linux, Windows and macOS

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 Heroic Games Launcher has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Heroic Games Launcher it depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.; 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: Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries, Shadow PC covers Full Windows instance.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Heroic Games Launcher and Shadow PC actually diverge.

Attributes where Heroic Games Launcher and Shadow PC differ
AttributeHeroic Games LauncherShadow PC
Starting priceFree$29.99/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOSWindows, 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 Heroic Games Launcher

  • Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries
  • Cross-platform
  • Wine and Proton management
  • Steam Deck packaging
  • Cloud saves
  • Add to Steam

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.

Heroic Games Launcher

  • A Steam Deck owner who wants to play Epic or Amazon titles they already ownnot Shadow PC
  • A Linux desktop user with a GOG library and no interest in configuring Wine by handnot Shadow PC
  • A macOS user wanting access to a GOG library without a Windows machinenot Shadow PC
  • Someone consolidating three storefront clients into one interface on Windowsnot Shadow PC

Shadow PC

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

Where each one falls short

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

Heroic Games Launcher

  • It depends on reverse-engineered backends for each store, so an authentication change at Epic or Amazon breaks logins until unpaid maintainers respond.
  • It does not handle Steam, so anyone with a mixed library still runs two clients and the consolidation is partial.
  • Cloud save support varies by store and by game, and finding out that a title does not sync usually happens after losing progress.
  • It is an Electron application, so memory use is high for what is fundamentally a list of games, which matters on a handheld with limited resources.
  • Games protected by kernel-level anti-cheat still do not run on Linux, and the launcher cannot change a publisher decision.

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

Heroic Games Launcher

Free
  • Heroic Games LauncherFree
    • Full functionality
    • No paid tier
    • Store accounts used directly

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 Heroic Games Launcher if

  • You need epic, gog and amazon libraries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want cross-platform.
Heroic Games Launcher 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 Heroic Games Launcher or Shadow PC better?
Neither clearly leads. Heroic Games Launcher 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, Heroic Games Launcher or Shadow PC?
Heroic Games Launcher has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Heroic Games Launcher and $29.99/month for Shadow PC.
Does Heroic Games Launcher or Shadow PC run on more platforms?
Heroic Games Launcher runs on Linux, Windows, macOS. Shadow PC runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, Smart TV.
Can I use Heroic Games Launcher for free?
Yes. Heroic Games Launcher has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Shadow PC starts at $29.99/month.
What is Heroic Games Launcher best used for?
Heroic Games Launcher is most often used for a steam deck owner who wants to play epic or amazon titles they already own, a linux desktop user with a gog library and no interest in configuring wine by hand, a macos user wanting access to a gog library without a windows machine, someone consolidating three storefront clients into one interface on windows. Of those, a steam deck owner who wants to play epic or amazon titles they already own and a linux desktop user with a gog library and no interest in configuring wine by hand are not what Shadow PC is typically brought in for.
What can Heroic Games Launcher do that Shadow PC cannot?
Heroic Games Launcher covers Epic, GOG and Amazon libraries, Cross-platform, Wine and Proton management, Steam Deck packaging. Shadow PC covers Full Windows instance, Install anything, Dedicated GPU tier, Broad client support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Heroic Games Launcher: Why does this exist when Epic has its own launcher?

Epic publishes no Linux client. Heroic fills that gap and then extended to GOG, Amazon, Windows and macOS.

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.

Heroic Games Launcher: Is it safe to log into my store accounts?

It is open source and widely used, and it authenticates against the real store endpoints. As with any third-party client, you are trusting the maintainers and the build you installed.

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.

Heroic Games Launcher: Does it work in Steam Deck game mode?

Yes, generally by adding titles to Steam as non-Steam shortcuts, which is a documented part of the normal workflow.

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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